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Securing the West and the North Upon ascending the throne, Emperor Gaozu of Tang found himself ruling a fragmented empire. Numerous warlords had declared themselves emperors, and true sovereignty required their subjugation. The immediate threat in the west was Xue Ju, the self-proclaimed emperor of Jincheng (modern Lanzhou). Although Xue Ju died of illness,…
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Mencius went to see King Xiang of Liang. Coming out from the interview, he said to his companion, “When I looked at him from a distance, he did not appear to be a sovereign; when I came up to him, I found nothing about him that inspired respect. “