In the 25th year of Yuanzhen, at the birthday banquet of the Crown Princess, Zhao Hanzhang announced her abdication and her intention to pass the throne to Zhao Mingming.
The courtiers were momentarily silent.
Zhao Hanzhang’s character was well-defined; the courtiers had long understood her temperament through years of cooperation. She preferred to engage in trivial matters to display virtues such as modesty and affection, but never used significant issues to test people’s hearts.
Therefore, they all knew that since the matter of abdication had been spoken aloud by Zhao Hanzhang, she had firmly decided upon it.
For over twenty years, there hadn’t been a decision by the emperor that wasn’t accomplished, let alone something like abdication.
If they were to dissuade her, the new emperor might perceive them as opposing her ascension;
If they were to praise her highly, the elderly emperor might think they had long since sided with the new emperor...
Hence, they decided to let it go, considering it a family affair of the emperor, and kept their heads low, listening intently.
The officials within the court had experienced various changes: some had passed away, some had retired into seclusion, and others had naturally progressed in their career or introduced newcomers.
Ji Yuan and Ming Yu had been demoted a few years back but were reinstated after reforms in new laws, now still holding the Prime Minister’s position.
Upon hearing Zhao Hanzhang intended to abdicate, the two exchanged a glance, realizing they too should retire to make way for talent.
This time was different from before; once they retired, they wouldn’t return.
With each dynasty comes its ministers; many ministers like Ji Yuan and Ming Yu shared this insight.
Over the years, Zhao Hanzhang had promoted many young people through the recommendation examinations. They had participated in governance for over ten years, were in their prime years, and had been appointed to various local positions for experience. A few years ago, they returned to the capital for a stint, served as officials for a few years, and were again sent out without being abandoned.
Initially, people did not anticipate this, because Zhao Hanzhang was in her prime, but now it is clear these individuals were groomed for the Crown Princess.
Your Majesty had planned her abdication for over a decade ago?
Thinking deeply about it is unnerving!
Besides Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Mingming had also cultivated her own team.
Following the successful conclusion of the "abolishment of regular service," Zhao Hanzhang allowed her to oversee state affairs, while she sporadically ventured out for inspections. Last year, when there was a rebellion among the native people in Jiaozhou, Zhao Hanzhang suddenly appeared in Jiaozhou while inspecting Jiangnan.
She directly assumed military authority in Jiaozhou and redeployed forces from Guangzhou, Jingzhou, and Ningzhou, not only quelling the Jiaozhou rebellion but also decisively advancing to the Mekong River.
The Jiaozhou being mentioned now corresponds to the Vietnam area in later generations; before the Song Dynasty, the Vietnam area was always directly under Huaxia’s jurisdiction.
Since Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the world, this region was called Baiyue, subordinate to the central government, which continued through Han and during Wei Jin, it was directly under Eastern Wu, after Eastern Wu’s downfall, it fell under Jin.
Naturally, after Jin fell, it came under Zhao Hanzhang’s Hua Country.
Historically, after Eastern Jin’s downfall, the region didn’t separate and continued to belong to the Southern Country, with the Tang Dynasty establishing the An Nam Protectorate here, headquartered in Hanoi, Vietnam at the time.
It wasn’t until the Song Dynasty when Zhao Kuangyin enfeoffed the King of Ding Country as the Commandery Prince of Jiaozhi, acknowledging its independence, turning the direct domain into a tributary state, no longer Huaxia territory.
Zhao Hanzhang didn’t wish to leave territorial disputes for future generations; this Jiaozhou rebellion was partly due to the central government dispatching several officials to manage, which conflicted with local Tusi’s interests;
Secondly, it was stirred up by people from the Southern Tribe.
That was Xianshan Country, consisting of areas in Laos and Thailand.
Yet... Xianshan Country had fallen, fragmented into tribes with no unified state.
Upon capturing some individuals for questioning, Zhao Hanzhang learned that these tribes, knowing the Eastern Sect Master Country was growing stronger, wished to send emissaries to pay homage and hoped the emperor would endorse a king for them (preferably from their tribe), but Jiaozhou tribes harbored conflicts with them, fearing they might gain court support after contacting Luoyang.
Thus, they united with some local officials to thwart their tributes, keeping the Southern Tribe from crossing the blockade.
Despite years of effort, they couldn’t see Zhao Hanzhang, so these tribes fiercely incited Jiaozhou’s Tusi to rebel.
This reverse approach indeed successfully drew Zhao Hanzhang’s attention, prompting her to battle to the Mekong River, incorporating these tribes.
No need to appoint a king, just assign a Prefectural Governor instead; henceforth, everyone is under Hua Country’s administration, nullifying fears of internal conflict.
This battle not only terrified Jiaozhou’s Tusi and Southern tribes but also shocked the courtiers.
The emperor personally led a campaign without even notifying the court, abruptly heading to the border, simply unheard of!
Yet Zhao Hanzhang relished a sense of freedom long unexperienced.
Originally, she planned to abdicate when Zhao Mingming turned thirty; with seven or eight years overseeing the state, akin to a deputy emperor, she’d be accustomed by then, facilitating a smooth power transition.
She would be fifty-one by then. By previous life’s retirement age, it counted as retiring a few years early due to injuries, deserving the title of a diligent laborer.
Utterly perfect!
However, the taste of freedom was truly addictive.
Thus, after returning to Luoyang from Jiaozhou, Zhao Hanzhang quietly consulted with Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan was even more pitiful than Zhao Hanzhang; despite her annual inspections, he remained stationed in Luoyang, with the furthest point reached being a few stretches of the Yellow River. When she proposed, he nodded immediately, and the couple discreetly set their plans into motion.
First, they observed Zhao Mingming’s state governance, noting she handled affairs without mishap, Zhao Hanzhang decided not to reclaim power, using reasons like illness and physical weakness to let her continue supervising, making occasional appearances to guide her.
Thus, Zhao Mingming governed for two years, and Zhao Hanzhang deemed it feasible, so she announced the news of abdication.
The abdication ceremony required time to prepare.
In major events, the emperor would invariably consult Guo Pu, Director of the Imperial Observatory.
Guo Pu selected a favorable date in January.
Zhao Hanzhang was very pleased with this date.
January, it’s slack farming season, nothing much to do, many holidays, everyone has spare time; it’s the new year’s opening, changing the era name is suitable.
Most wonderfully, two months post-abdication is the time for spring flowers to bloom, very fitting for travel.
Thus, Zhao Hanzhang grandly agreed.
On the 12th day of the first lunar month, in the 26th year of Yuanzhen, also known as He Shun First Year, Crown Princess Zhao Renjia ascended to the throne, Zhao Hanzhang became the Supreme Emperor, relocated out of the Imperial Palace to the General’s Mansion.
Due to this, Zu Ti and Beigong Chun quietly removed their mansion plaques marked ’Great General’ and stored them in the warehouse.
He Shun lasted only three years; in the fourth year, the new emperor changed the era name to Jianchang, initiating a new era.
Future generations viewed this change as a complete power transfer.
Because in He Shun First Year, Ji Yuan resigned, and in He Shun Third Year, Zu Ti resigned, Zhao Hanzhang, the Supreme Emperor, and Fu Tinghan also left Luoyang, touring the nation, only then did the Supreme Emperor’s shadow and old ministers relent their control.
Hence He Shun First Year to He Shun Third Year was also jokingly called by later generations as the extra Chapters of Yuanzhen from the 26th to the 28th year.
This led to frequent debates among internet users over whether Zhao Hanzhang reigned for 25 years or 28 years?
Ultimately, 25 years won subtly with a slightly higher number of votes, because since Zhao Hanzhang, her descendants have unanimously reigned for only 24 years.
Excluding those who died early, those who could reach this age all unanimously abdicated at 24 years, elegantly named as not surpassing the Grand Ancestor Emperor.
Certainly, Zhao Hanzhang came a descendant, Emperor Hua Wu, does not count; this emperor ascended at 12 years old, ruled for 27 years, finally abdicating to his son when discreetly hinted by courtiers, because he stated, "Grand Ancestor Emperor indeed reigned for 28 years," leading to debates of whether it was 25 or 28 years.
After his son ruled for three years, having appointed his father-in-law as Prime Minister, and allowed his brother-in-law into the Council Hall, even misappropriated treasury silver to build private palaces, he couldn’t bear his son’s foolishness any longer, directly deposed his son, ascended the throne himself, and then actively procreated.
This time, he ruled for 24 years.
In the 24th year, he abdicated to his daughter who was only 16, sitting beside the throne observing her governance until Emperor Xiao turned 20 and was capable of handling matters, then removed the Supreme Emperor’s throne.
Therefore, this Emperor Wu, although not the longest-living among successive emperors of Hua Country, had the longest actual reign and control time.
Among the most controversial emperors, resembling his ancestor Zhao Hanzhang, he is most frequently discussed.

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