Chapter 18: Why Is My Life So Miserable?

“Are you familiar with back ulcers?” Lu Xuan pondered for a moment.

Back ulcers?

Liu Bang and Zhang Liang exchanged a glance, both immediately thinking of the same person.

Fan Zeng!

In the tumultuous era of the Chu-Han contention, Xiang Yu’s strategist Fan Zeng suffered from back ulcers, a disease notoriously difficult to cure.

Liu Bang recalled clearly how much trouble Fan Zeng had caused their Han forces. It was Chen Ping’s scheme of sowing discord that successfully made Xiang Yu suspicious of Fan Zeng.

In a fit of anger, Fan Zeng resigned and returned home.

Tragically, Fan Zeng died en route, his back ulcer flaring up, resulting in a miserable demise.

At present, imperial physicians have no definitive cure for back ulcers, nor does folk medicine offer any effective remedy.

This weighed heavily on Liu Bang’s heart. Could it be that his son, Ying’er, was beyond medical help?

“Lord Lu, are there any treatments for back ulcers in later times?” Liu Bang asked with deep concern. It seemed that his earlier neglect of Liu Ying during childhood, coupled with the immense pressures he faced over the years, had led to this severe and incurable condition. He needed to find a cure as soon as possible.

“There are, naturally, treatments in later times, but here we are in an ancient feudal dynasty, so we must rely on traditional methods,” Lu Xuan replied calmly.

“First, apply herbal poultices externally to help the crown prince clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling, and discharge pus. Medicinal plants such as honeysuckle and dandelion are used.”

“Next is moxibustion to warm and open the meridians, strengthen the body’s righteousness, and dispel evil; then internal decoctions of Chinese herbs. Back ulcers often arise from internal heat toxins and blood stagnation. Herbs like Angelica dahurica and Saposhnikovia root can dispel wind and clear heat toxins from the exterior; Angelica tail, red peony root, frankincense, and myrrh promote blood circulation and resolve stasis, improving local blood flow at the ulcer site; Trichosanthes root and fritillaria clear heat, resolve phlegm, disperse nodules, and facilitate pus discharge.”

“There is more...” Lu Xuan continued slowly. His clear understanding of treating back ulcers stemmed from his history studies, as many notable figures in history perished from this disease.

Fan Zeng of the Chu-Han period, Jia Yi the statesman in early Western Han, Liu Biao who controlled Jingzhou in the late Eastern Han, the renowned Tang poet Meng Haoran, Xu Da the founding general of the Ming dynasty, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

Because of this, he had taken a special interest in the disease of back ulcers.

Of course, historical records about Zhu Biao’s death are not detailed, and many historians have proposed various theories: cold exposure, psychological stress, cardiovascular disease, and so forth.

Yet back ulcers remain the closest to the truth.

Records state that in the 23rd year of Hongwu, in June, Zhu Biao developed back ulcers—a bacterial infection marked by large pustules on the back, redness, swelling, oozing, intense itching, and piercing pain.

Despite the full efforts of imperial physicians, the condition improved only temporarily; the infection likely remained.

After inspecting Shaanxi in August of the 24th year of Hongwu, Zhu Biao fell ill and never recovered. Possibly due to the unresolved back ulcers weakening his immune system, combined with travel fatigue and climate changes, he contracted a cold or another viral infection and eventually died.

Thus, the prescription Lu Xuan currently offered aimed mainly to stabilize Crown Prince Zhu Biao’s health. Not only was he now blind, but Liu Bang could not see the prince and was far away, uncertain of the exact nature of his illness.

Lu Xuan dared not prescribe a definitive cure for back ulcers yet.

The current formula was intended to suppress symptoms, and if Zhu Biao’s death was not caused by back ulcers, this treatment would cause him no harm.

After three months, upon seeing Zhu Biao in person, a thorough diagnosis and specific prescription could be given.

Liu Bang silently memorized everything Lu Xuan said, as did Zhang Liang.

When Lu Xuan finished, Liu Bang glanced at Zhang Liang, who understood immediately and left the side hall to prepare the prescription for the crown prince at the imperial physician’s quarters.

“I’ll have your steward prepare some food for you,” Liu Bang said.

After Zhang Liang had gone, Liu Bang took Lu Xuan’s hand and spoke gently, “Lord Lu, you mentioned the ‘Fengtian Jingnan.’ What exactly is that about?”

This was something Liu Bang had long wished to understand but had been delayed due to the Han Xin affair.

Otherwise, he would have asked plainly days ago.

Sending Zhang Liang away was not out of distrust—he had complete faith in Zhang Liang, Xiao He, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo, and other ministers—only the non-imperial princes were subjects of suspicion.

In other words, if ministers did not control military power, Liu Bang’s generous nature meant he would never think of purging meritorious officials.

“The ‘Fengtian Jingnan,’ well, it’s a complicated matter...” Lu Xuan shook his head.

The more Lu Xuan withheld, the more Liu Bang’s heart grew uneasy.

“Just tell me. For now, I won’t inform anyone in the capital.”

“Very well,” Lu Xuan agreed, trusting Ji Shu’s counsel. He only feared that revealing too much might cause Zhu Yuanzhang to suspect him of spreading rumors.

After all, what he was about to disclose was shocking even in Zhu Yuanzhang’s eyes.

He spoke softly: “It all began with the issue of the vassal kings. For various reasons, the founding emperor decreed that his sons be enfeoffed as regional vassal kings. They had grain, population, and armies, and even enjoyed autonomy within their fiefs. While the reigning emperor lived, there were naturally no problems.”

“If the crown prince succeeded, with his prestige, there would be no trouble either.”

Liu Bang nodded instinctively. By now, he no longer doubted Lu Xuan’s words and firmly believed this was the Han dynasty he knew.

He understood his son Liu Ying well.

Liu Ying possessed many admirable qualities— even the most unruly Liu Ruyi respected this elder brother. If Liu Ying ascended the throne, the vassal kings would surely remain obedient within their territories.

“But fate was unkind. The crown prince died young, and the emperor passed the throne to his eldest grandson.”

“However, this eldest grandson was not the crown prince’s firstborn son but his second. The crown prince’s primary wife, Lady Chang, died early, and his eldest legitimate son also passed away young, so he elevated Lady Lü’s son.”

“Thus, this second son, who later became the Jianwen Emperor, became the eldest grandson.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Bang’s heart sank deeply. What sins had he committed in this life that so many of his loved ones died before him?

His empress Lü Zhi, his crown prince Liu Ying, the crown prince’s consort Lady Chang whom he had never met, and now his crown prince’s son!

If he had done any misdeeds, it was only petty ones—bullying village dogs in youth, deceiving widows in adulthood—but he had never committed atrocities like Xiang Yu’s massacres.

Why then was misfortune so relentless in his family?

Was this the price of ruling the world?

Or was it that he simply lived too long?

Lu Xuan, unaware of Liu Bang’s emotional turmoil, continued:

“The Jianwen Emperor, to be fair and objective, was quite capable and had the potential to become a renowned ruler. At the start of his reign, he abolished harsh laws, favored the virtuous and the learned, sought to restore ancient institutions; he granted amnesty, promoted agriculture and sericulture, established schools, evaluated officials, reformed internal and external bureaucracies, honored filial piety, and provided disaster relief.”

“But he was too hasty and ruthless—soon after ascending the throne, he began to curtail the power of the vassal kings!”