The Succession Crisis of Emperor Zhao

The unexpected death of the virtuous but short-reigned Emperor Zhao of Han in 74 BCE at just twenty years old triggered a dynastic crisis. With no heir, the Han court faced an unprecedented dilemma: who would inherit the Mandate of Heaven?

The only surviving son of Emperor Wu, Liu Xu, the King of Guangling, was physically strong but politically inept—a man more suited to lifting weights than ruling an empire. Yet, by bloodline, he was the most legitimate candidate. The court’s de facto ruler, General-in-Chief Huo Guang, masterfully navigated the situation without openly declaring his stance. Instead, he allowed others to voice concerns about Liu Xu’s incompetence before subtly endorsing their objections.

The Controversial Choice of Liu He

With Liu Xu deemed unfit, attention turned to Emperor Wu’s grandsons. The most viable candidate was Liu He, the teenage King of Changyi, grandson of Emperor Wu through his favored consort, Lady Li. Historical records later maligned Liu He as frivolous—accusing him of hunting during Emperor Wu’s mourning period—but this was likely slander. At the time of Emperor Wu’s death, Liu He was a toddler, incapable of such transgressions.

Huo Guang and his allies gambled on Liu He’s youth, believing he could be molded into a capable ruler. Their optimism proved disastrously misplaced.

A Reign of Scandal and Excess

Liu He’s journey to the capital revealed his true character. En route, he abducted a woman for his pleasure, sparking outrage during a national mourning period. His advisor, Gong Sui, intervened, executing the slave responsible to salvage Liu He’s reputation. But this was merely a preview of his misrule.

Upon ascending the throne, Liu He transformed the palace into a den of debauchery. He hosted nightly banquets, commandeered palace women, and flouted mourning rites—behavior unbecoming of a filial successor. Worse, he honored his biological father as “emperor” in temple rites, undermining the legitimacy of his adoption into Emperor Zhao’s lineage.

The Coup Against an Unfit Emperor

Huo Guang, recognizing the danger Liu He posed to the dynasty, conspired with Grand Secretary Tian Yannian and Empress Dowager Shangguan—a teenager herself but a key figure in the power structure. They invoked the precedent of the Shang dynasty’s Yi Yin, who had deposed an unfit ruler.

Liu He’s fatal mistake was bringing 200 retainers from Changyi, threatening the established court’s power. Huo Guang and his allies, fearing displacement, moved decisively. They arrested Liu He’s entourage, isolated him, and presented Empress Dowager Shangguan with a damning indictment of his crimes. Stripped of the imperial seal, Liu He was deposed after just 27 days—one of the shortest reigns in Chinese history.

The Aftermath and Rise of Emperor Xuan

Liu He’s 200 retainers were executed, their cries of betrayal echoing in the markets. Gong Sui’s dying lament—”I should have killed Huo Guang!”—underscored the brutal calculus of power.

With Liu He exiled back to Changyi, the court turned to an unlikely candidate: Liu Bingyi (later Emperor Xuan), a great-grandson of Emperor Wu who had grown up in poverty after his family was purged in the witchcraft scandals. His lack of political connections made him the perfect puppet—or so Huo Guang thought.

Legacy: Power, Manipulation, and Historical Judgment

Liu He’s reign, though brief, offers a stark lesson in the perils of unprepared leadership and court intrigue. Huo Guang’s machinations preserved the Han dynasty but also revealed its fragility. Emperor Xuan, far from being a puppet, would later outmaneuver the Huo family, proving that even the most calculated plans could unravel.

The episode remains a gripping study of how ambition, incompetence, and survival intersected in one of China’s most pivotal dynasties.