A Dynasty in Crisis: The Death of Emperor An and the Rise of the Yan Clan

The year 125 CE marked a pivotal moment in Later Han history with the death of Emperor An at the young age of 32. His sudden demise during an imperial tour near Ye County triggered a dangerous succession crisis that would expose the deep fractures within Han leadership. Empress Yan and her brothers Yan Xian, along with court eunuchs Jiang Jing and Fan Feng, made the fateful decision to conceal the emperor’s death for four days while transporting his body back to the capital – a desperate move to maintain control during the transition.

This deception set the stage for the Yan clan’s dramatic rise to power. The empress dowager, seeking to prolong her regency, orchestrated the enthronement of the child Liu Yi (Marquis of Beixiang) over the legitimate heir Liu Bao (Prince of Jiyin). The spectacle of the displaced Prince of Jiyin weeping outside the palace gates, barred from mourning his own father, became a powerful symbol of the regime’s illegitimacy that would later fuel opposition.

The Yan Clan’s Brief Ascendancy and Brutal Fall

For several tense months, the Yan clan consolidated power through ruthless purges. Yan Xian, as General of Chariots and Cavalry, eliminated rivals like the influential General Geng Bao and his faction. The Yan brothers took control of key military positions – Yan Jing as Commandant of the Guards, Yan Yao as Colonel of the City Gates, and Yan Yan as Bearer of the Gilded Mace. Their dominance seemed complete when the young Liu Yi was formally enthroned.

However, their triumph proved short-lived. When the boy emperor fell gravely ill that October, palace eunuch Sun Cheng saw an opportunity to restore Liu Bao. In a daring nighttime coup on November 4, Sun Cheng and eighteen fellow eunuchs stormed the palace, killed Jiang Jing, and coerced the powerful eunuch Li Run to support them. Their swift action caught the Yan faction unprepared – Yan Jing was killed resisting arrest, while Yan Xian and his brothers were executed days later.

The Eunuch Triumph and Creation of the Nineteen Marquises

The successful coup brought eleven-year-old Liu Bao to the throne as Emperor Shun, but real power now rested with the eunuch faction. In an unprecedented move, Sun Cheng and his eighteen co-conspirators were enfeoffed as marquises with fiefs ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 households – collectively known as the “Nineteen Marquises.” This marked the first major instance of eunuchs receiving noble titles, setting a dangerous precedent for Later Han politics.

The new regime showed some restraint, allowing the deposed empress dowager to live in retirement rather than executing her. However, the political landscape had fundamentally shifted. As historian Hu Sanxing later noted, the coup succeeded partly because court officials saw restoring Liu Bao as legitimate, while the Yan faction’s incompetence and debauchery left them vulnerable.

Frontier Campaigns and Administrative Challenges

While court intrigues dominated the capital, military developments continued on the frontiers. General Ban Yong, son of the famous Ban Chao, achieved significant victories against the Xiongnu in the Western Regions during 125-127 CE. His campaigns restored Han influence in Central Asia, though his later recall and imprisonment over a scheduling dispute (despite his military successes) demonstrated the regime’s capriciousness.

The government also faced administrative headaches, as seen in the 127 CE controversy over Ban Yong’s dismissal. The legalistic insistence on punishing him for arriving late to a rendezvous (while rewarding his colleague Zhang Lang for early arrival) drew criticism from contemporaries who saw it as counterproductive to frontier stability.

The Reform Efforts of Zuo Xiong

Amid these challenges, reform-minded officials like Zuo Xiong attempted to address systemic problems. His 132 CE memorials proposed crucial changes to personnel selection:

1. Stabilizing Local Appointments: Arguing that frequent transfers of commandery administrators bred instability, he advocated longer tenures for effective officials.

2. Merit-Based Promotions: He criticized the practice of promoting based on connections rather than achievement, noting how mediocre officials often rose through flattery rather than competence.

3. Age and Qualification Standards: His controversial proposal required nominees for “Filial and Incorrupt” positions to be at least 40 years old and demonstrate either classical learning or administrative skills.

Though partially implemented, these reforms faced resistance from entrenched interests, particularly eunuchs who benefited from the status quo. The case of Xu Shu, a nominee rejected for being underage despite his “exceptional talent,” highlighted the tensions between rigid standards and flexible meritocracy.

Intellectuals and the Dilemma of Service

The reign saw notable scholars grappling with whether to serve the compromised Han court. The renowned hermit Fan Ying was famously coerced into accepting office in 131 CE after repeated summonses. His disappointing performance in advisory roles led to public criticism, exemplified by Zhang Kai’s remark: “You’ve shown you neither understand advancement nor retreat.”

This intellectual dilemma was further explored in Li Gu’s letter to Huang Qiong, which invoked Confucian models of service. Citing Mencius’ taxonomy of sages – the fastidious Bo Yi, the accommodating Liu Xiahui, the responsible Yi Yin, and the adaptable Confucius – Li argued for a middle path between uncompromising purity and shameless accommodation.

The Limits of Reform and Gathering Storms

Despite some successes, reform efforts ultimately faltered against institutional inertia and special interests. When Zuo Xiong challenged the improper ennoblement of Emperor Shun’s wet nurse Song E and the Liang family (relatives of Empress Liang), his protests were largely ignored. The 133 CE earthquake that followed these controversial ennoblements was interpreted by many as heavenly disapproval, but the emperor’s attachment to his benefactors proved stronger than reformist arguments.

The reign’s final years saw continued frontier troubles with Xianbei incursions and administrative challenges. The 132 CE selection of Empress Liang marked the rise of another influential consort clan, whose power would grow dramatically in subsequent reigns – particularly through her brother Liang Ji, one of the most notorious regents in Han history.

Conclusion: A Transitional Reign with Lasting Consequences

Emperor Shun’s reign (125-144 CE) represented both the fading possibilities of Han revival and the consolidation of trends that would lead to the dynasty’s decline. The empowerment of eunuchs through the Nineteen Marquises, the growing influence of consort clans like the Liangs, and the failure of substantive reforms all pointed toward the crises that would erupt in subsequent decades.

Yet the period also produced remarkable figures like the principled censor Yu Xu, the brilliant scientist Zhang Heng (inventor of the seismometer), and the reformist Zuo Xiong – men whose vision for good governance continued to inspire even as the Han system entered its twilight years. Their struggles against institutional decay and special interests would echo through Chinese history as both warning and inspiration for later generations of scholar-officials.