Chapter 23: Was Liu Heng a Benevolent Ruler After Ascending the Throne?

Lu Xuan remembered clearly that the "death-exemption medallions" of the Ming Dynasty were first bestowed by Zhu Yuanzhang in the third year of his Hongwu reign.

However, he only knew of the most famous recipients and could not recall the complete list, nor could he be certain whether Fu Youde had actually received one. Perhaps he had?

Lu Xuan did not dwell on the matter, as he knew Zhu Yuanzhang would not move against Fu Youde at this juncture. The Crown Prince, Zhu Biao, was still alive, and since Lu Xuan had the means to save him, there was no reason for the Emperor to be in such a hurry to execute his general. Uncle Ji and the others were only asking out of concern for Fu Youde’s safety.

While Lu Xuan had spoken casually, Liu Bang and Zhang Liang’s eyes lit up. A death-exemption medallion!

Liu Bang suddenly slapped his forehead. Why hadn't he thought of such a thing? Although the name was unfamiliar, it sounded remarkably similar to the "Iron Certificates of Merit" he had envisioned. He had originally intended to issue these certificates to his meritorious officials.

"Excellent, excellent! Many thanks, Master Lu!" Liu Bang could not help but praise him, though he immediately followed up with a question: "This so-called death-exemption medallion—is it truly meant to grant immunity from death?"

"It is intended to spare one from death, but the final word always rests with the Emperor. To put it simply, if an Emperor is determined to have a subject killed, even a medallion will be of no use. However, if the Emperor does not wish for the subject to die, then the medallion becomes incredibly useful. In many dynasties, there were ministers beloved by their Emperors who were forced to face death for various reasons. When the Emperor wanted to save them but lacked a suitable excuse, such an iron certificate proved to be the most effective tool."

Lu Xuan explained this, though he noted an interesting historical irony: these medallions rarely served their intended purpose. In reality, they were often merely symbolic, lacking any true binding power.

Historically, the earliest such tokens were the "Iron Certificates of Merit" issued by Liu Bang between 201 BC and 195 BC. At that time, they were primarily used as credentials for princes and marquises, with no explicit power to exempt one from execution; that function was only gradually added during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties. Lu Xuan recalled that the King of Chu, Han Xin, the King of Liang, Peng Yue, and many others, including Chancellor Xiao He and Cao Can, had received them. Yet, they offered little protection; even if one presented the certificate when facing a capital charge, it rarely saved them from the Emperor's ultimate decree.

Ultimately, it all depended on the attitude of the sovereign.

Lu Xuan kept these thoughts to himself, as there was little point in discussing them now; these were topics he intended to delve into with Zhu Yuanzhang during their late-night conversations.

Liu Bang, his mind racing, said calmly, "Old Fang and I will go have the courtyard prepared for you. We shall return shortly."

He pulled Zhang Liang out of the side hall of the Lin Hua Palace, signaling for Xiao He and the others to follow. Once they reached a more secluded area, Liu Bang looked at Zhang Liang. "I believe this death-exemption medallion is a fine idea. It is similar in function to the Iron Certificates of Merit I planned to grant."

"But in my original design, I had not considered the power of immunity from death."

"What do you think? Should we convert these into 'Iron Certificates of Death-Exemption'?"

Zhang Liang pondered for a long time before replying, "Master Lu’s suggestion addresses our current predicament perfectly. If Your Majesty bestows 'Death-Exemption Iron Certificates,' it grants the vassal kings one chance to escape death when you eventually move to consolidate power. This way, future generations cannot claim Your Majesty was heartless toward those who helped build the empire."

"If, after being granted this clear opportunity for mercy, they still choose to cling tightly to their military power, then even if Your Majesty executes them, I believe future generations will have no grounds for criticism."

Liu Bang nodded. The benefit was clear. Everyone cared about their reputation in the eyes of posterity, himself included. If he did not care for his legacy, he would have spent his life indulging in pleasure, ignoring the state of the world. But since ascending the throne, a sense of "responsibility" had taken root within him.

"Han Xin’s certificate should be special, should it not?" Liu Bang mused. The others nodded in agreement. Xiao He then proposed a bold idea: "I have a daring suggestion: bestow three death-exemption certificates upon Han Xin!"

"First, this highlights the unique status of Han Xin as the 'King of Equal Rank,' making him more grateful and loyal to Your Majesty. Second, since Han Xin will inevitably face hostility from others, three certificates would be enough to guarantee his survival. Third, it solves our dilemma of how to ensure Han Xin ends his life peacefully after performing tasks for Your Majesty that offend the nobility, without leaving anyone with a tarnished reputation."

Liu Bang was increasingly satisfied with Xiao He’s three points. It was truly wise to consult the people of the future. He did not look down on his own ministers, for he knew their capabilities; given enough time, they could devise such perfect solutions. But time was a luxury they did not have. Consulting Lu Xuan—who clearly possessed a deep knowledge of history—allowed them to find better methods quickly, saving both time and effort.

Liu Bang suddenly felt a pang of reluctance to kill Lu Xuan.

"Zhou Bo, go and have a manor built in the back courtyard of the Lin Hua Palace. You know the requirements."

"Xiao He, spread the word about the 'Death-Exemption Iron Certificates'."

"Chen Ping, you..." Liu Bang looked at him. "Go to Consort Bo and have her bring the Fourth Prince to the Fengtian Palace to wait for me."

After issuing his commands, Liu Bang turned to Zhang Liang, his tone complex: "Marquis of Liu, how do you think I should treat Heng?"

"According to Lu Xuan, future infighting within the imperial family will weaken the Han Dynasty, which is something I do not wish to see. Furthermore, I do not wish for my descendants to slaughter one another."

"Perhaps I should depose Heng in advance?" For the sake of the Han Dynasty’s stability, Liu Bang could be ruthless, even though his fourth son, Liu Heng, was only two years old.

Zhang Liang shook his head immediately. "No, Your Majesty must absolutely not do that."

"I mean that there is still plenty of time before Lu Xuan regains his sight—at least two months. That is enough for us to uncover everything about the future of the Han Dynasty."

"If the Fourth Prince proves to be an unworthy or mediocre ruler, Your Majesty can make that decision then. But what if he possesses great ability? We must deliberate carefully."

"Let us first learn what the Fourth Prince did after ascending the throne—whether he was a capable monarch or an incompetent one."

Liu Bang’s heart settled. He realized his thoughts had been in turmoil, and he agreed that they should gather the facts before taking action.

"Then let us go and ask Lu Xuan now."