Chapter 32: Deliberations on Witchcraft and Curses

To Zhang Bo’s surprise, today’s Liu Che no longer bore the arrogant, world-conquering aura he had before; instead, there was a hint of restlessness about him.

Curious, Zhang Bo wondered what had happened in the Eastern Han to bring about such an expression on Liu Che’s face.

“Your Majesty, may I ask what has occurred?”

Seated on a stone bench, Liu Che looked at Zhang Bo, who was watering melons and fruits, and spoke of the purpose of his visit.

“Zhang Bo, are you aware of the Witchcraft Scandal?”

Oh no, this was bad.

Originally, the Witchcraft Scandal took place in the late reign of Emperor Wu, but now the mid-reign Emperor Wu knew of it—there was only one explanation.

Emperor Wu had read the script.

Of course, reading the script was not a bad thing. Zhang Bo had intended to wait until Emperor Wu or Zhuge Liang could read before transmitting their respective dynasties' histories onto their devices, to avoid repeating the mistakes of their past lives.

But clearly, someone could not accept their own actions twenty years later.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. I do indeed know about the Witchcraft Scandal.”

During this time, Zhang Bo had been catching up on studies, reviewing various knowledge from the reign of Emperor Wu to the late Eastern Han. Even without a device, he could now roughly recount certain events.

“Then tell me, was the witchcraft affair true or not?”

Zhang Bo rolled his eyes.

Did he not know the nature of his own wife and son?

Wei Zifu, though born humble, had started as a singer in the household of Liu Che’s sister, Princess Pingyang. By chance, Liu Che favored her, and from then on, her rise in the palace was meteoric.

From a mere singer to Empress, Wei Zifu was unlike her predecessor, Empress Chen, who grew arrogant with favor. Wei Zifu was known for her virtue and kindness. Even the notoriously cynical Sima Qian praised her with the words “Her virtue is truly admirable,” testifying to her status as a wise and benevolent empress.

Yet this gentle empress possessed a firmness as well.

When her son was falsely accused, she stood firmly behind him, opening the armory and mobilizing the palace guard of Changle Palace.

In the end, her efforts failed, and Wei Zifu died to prove her resolve.

What left the deepest impression on Zhang Bo about Wei Zifu was the formidable dowry she brought to the Han dynasty.

General Wei Qing, Champion Marquis Huo Qubing, and the future pillar of Han, Huo Guang.

Liu Ju, the legitimate eldest son of Emperor Wu, was raised with great expectations. His tutors were renowned Confucian scholars, which made Liu Ju compassionate and forgiving.

Of course, it was this very kindness that harmed Liu Ju.

Facing various slanders against him, Liu Ju refrained from striking back harshly, emboldening his detractors and ultimately leading to the outbreak of the Witchcraft Scandal.

Yet Liu Ju, unlike Prince Fusu who resigned himself to death, rose up in resistance.

But his opponent was Emperor Wu himself.

The result: Liu Ju’s suicide, marking the end of the largest political upheaval in Western Han history.

“Your Majesty, the historical records state it was a false accusation.”

Liu Che of course knew the records well—he had read that passage dozens of times—but the “Records of Emperor Wu” only contained a brief account, leaving him unable to grasp the full picture.

So upon hearing Zhang Bo’s confirmation, Liu Che showed no overt emotional reaction; it was all as expected.

He was here merely to verify his judgment.

After a moment of silence, Liu Che spoke again.

“Shopkeeper, tell me, what do you think caused our father-son predicament?”

Zhang Bo hesitated.

Casting a few furtive glances at Liu Che, he wondered what would happen if he provoked the emperor too much.

Although Liu Che appeared to be thirty-eight, Zhang Bo hadn’t forgotten that this Liu Che would live to the age of sixty-nine—a record for ancient emperors.

In other words, Liu Che was in his prime.

And since Liu Che often went hunting in the Shanglin Garden, skilled in horseback archery, Zhang Bo estimated that if it came to blows, he wouldn’t stand a chance and would have to flee.

Of course, it was best if Liu Che didn’t strike first; otherwise, Zhang Bo would have to draw his weapon.

“Your Majesty, are you sure you want to know?”

Seeing Liu Che clench his fists and breathe heavily, Zhang Bo hurriedly waved his hands.

“Very well, Your Majesty. I shall share my humble thoughts on the Witchcraft Scandal.”

“I believe one cause was the deaths of General Wei Qing and Champion Marquis Huo Qubing. What do you think?”

In Zhang Bo’s view, if either Wei Qing or Huo Qubing had lived, even Jiang Chong, the instigator, would not have dared to start the conflict.

Wei Qing’s military prestige was formidable—had he lived to around sixty, with the influence he wielded, Liu Ju’s rebellion might even have succeeded.

As for Huo Qubing, a hotheaded youth, when Li Gan—the son of the disgraced general Li Guang—wounded Wei Qing, Wei Qing kept the matter quiet. But when Huo Qubing learned of it, he eliminated Li Gan without hesitation.

With such an example set, Jiang Chong was utterly reckless in framing Liu Ju.

Hearing Zhang Bo’s assertion that had Wei Qing and Huo Qubing survived, the scandal might have been averted, Liu Che nodded.

He thought the same.

“Of course, that is only one reason. Your Majesty, you are Confucian in appearance but Legalist in practice, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean by Confucian on the outside and Legalist on the inside?”

“It means promoting Confucian ideals on the surface, but governing through Legalist methods.”

A flicker of interest crossed Liu Che’s face.

That was an intriguing perspective.

“To me, whether Confucian or Legalist, they are merely tools. There is no such thing as outside Confucianism and inside Legalism.”

Great, that was pointless to say.

“Your Majesty, what I mean is related to the law. Is it not true that in the Han dynasty, harsh officials were employed?”

“Indeed.”

To Liu Che, these severe officials were very useful. If he showed any displeasure toward someone, the harsh officials would tear into them like mad dogs until they were utterly destroyed.

“Now, Your Majesty has found the Crown Prince the best scholars of the age. In fact, the future Crown Prince is growing into a kind and magnanimous man, which stands in direct opposition to the harsh officials.”

“What do you mean?”

“In truth, Your Majesty, you often traveled abroad in your later years, leaving palace affairs to the Crown Prince. Because you governed with severity and the Crown Prince with kindness, during your absences, the Crown Prince would often overturn excessively harsh punishments.

This made the harsh officials fearful. With such a Crown Prince ascending the throne, they would certainly suffer. So they did everything to slander him.”

“Did I believe it then?”

Zhang Bo shrugged helplessly, everything was understood without words.

“In fact, Your Majesty, the root cause of the Witchcraft Scandal was you.”