Liu Xiu

  • The Battle of Kunyang [Eastern Han]

    A Fragile Victory and a Fateful Decision After proclaiming Liu Xuan as the Gengshi Emperor, the Han restoration forces split their efforts: Liu Yan was sent to besiege Wan County once more, while Wang Feng, Wang Chang, and Liu Xiu marched on Kunyang (modern Ye County, Henan). Kunyang, lightly defended, fell quickly, followed by…

  • The Rise of Liu Brothers [Eastern Han]

    The Liu Brothers of Chongling In Chongling County, Nanyang (modern Henan), lived Liu Qin – a distant descendant of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang. He was the eighth-generation grandson of the Han founder, and his three sons – Liu Yan (eldest), Liu Zhong (second), and Liu Xiu (youngest) – were ninth-generation heirs of…

  • The Blue Stream [Tang Poems]

    — Wang Wei I follow the Blue Rill To the Stream of Yellow Blooms. It winds from hill to hill Till far away it looms. It roars amid pebbles white And calms down under pines green. Weeds float on ripples light, Reeds mirrored like a screen. Mind’s carefree, alone; The clear stream flows with…

  • Why the Eastern Han Dynasty chose a new capital? [Three Kingdoms]

    In Chapter 6 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Yuan Shao organizes an alliance of 18 warlords to jointly attack Dong Zhuo. The coalition’s forces vastly outnumbered Dong Zhuo’s garrison in Luoyang, and generals like Sun Jian posed a significant threat. Consequently, Dong Zhuo chose to burn down the current capital, Luoyang, and relocate…

  • Relocating the capital: The mandate of heaven or a desperate retreat? [Three Kingdoms]

    In the year 190 AD, Dong Zhuo deposed Emperor Shao and installed Emperor Xian, seizing absolute control of the imperial court. This act ignited outrage across the land. A coalition of eighteen warlords from the Guandong region(the region east of Hangu Pass), led by Yuan Shao as their nominal leader, formed a united army…