Zaoyang was not only the place where Liu Xiu grew up, but also where he rose to prominence. It was from here that Liu Xiu established the Eastern Han Dynasty. In Zaoyang, Liu Xiu underwent a transformation from a member of the imperial clan and an official's son, to a commoner living in poverty. He experienced the bitterness and hardships of life, evolving from an innocent youth into a cautious, honest, diligent, frugal, and strategically brilliant young man, and ultimately becoming a remarkable and awe-inspiring historical figure. The stories left behind by Liu Xiu and his deep affection for his hometown on this fertile land have been celebrated as fine tales for thousands of years.
**Grew up in Zaoyang**
Liu Xiu belonged to the Western Han imperial clan, and historical records provide detailed accounts. The "Dongguan Hanji · Volume 1 of the Emperor's Annals" states: "Emperor Guangwu Shizu, the ninth-generation descendant of Emperor Gaozu, continued the lineage of Emperors Wen and Jing." The "Book of the Later Han · Annals of Emperor Guangwu" states: "Emperor Guangwu Shizu, named Xiu, styled Wenshu, was a native of Caiyang in Nanyang, the ninth-generation grandson of Emperor Gaozu." Since Liu Xiu was a descendant of Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wen, and Emperor Jing, how did he become so deeply connected to Zaoyang? The "Book of the Later Han" provides an explanation: "...in the fourth year of Yuandi's Chiyuan era, he was relocated to the Bai Shui village in Nanyang, still using Chongling as the name of his domain, and thus moved there with his cousin, Ju Lu Commandant Hui, and other clan members." From this, it is clear that Liu Xiu's family had already arrived in Bai Shui village by his grandfather's generation. According to research by relevant authorities, in the late Western Han Dynasty, four counties were established within the territory of present-day Zaoyang: Huyang County to the north, Jiyang County to the northwest, Fuyang County to the east, and Caiyang County to the southwest. Regarding the location of Bai Shui village, the "Commentary on the Water Classic" records: "The former residence of Emperor Guangwu is 40 li southeast of the city, known as Bai Shui village, also called Huangcun." Li Xian, annotating the "Book of the Later Han," states: "Emperor Guangwu's former residence is southeast of present-day Zaoyang County, with the Bai Shui river two li south of the residence." In the second year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, Yuanshi, a censor of Henan Circuit, and Libangyong, a censor of Shanxi Circuit, erected a stele at Huangcun Temple, which reads: "Huangcun is located 40 li southeast of Zaoyang, with Shenglong Mountain to its left, Xiangshui Pond to its right, a range of mountains in front, and the Bai Shui river winding behind." Based on this description, the Chongling Bai Shui village is located in present-day Wudian Town, Zaoyang City.
Historical records state that in the first year of Jianping during the reign of Emperor Ai of the Western Han (6 BC), Liu Xiu was born in Jiyang County, Chenliu Commandery (northeast of present-day Lankao County, Henan Province), where his father, Liu Qin, served as the county magistrate. Liu Xiu was born in an era fraught with contradictions and unrest. At the age of nine, his father died, leaving Liu Xiu and his siblings orphaned and without means of support. They had to return to their ancestral home, Bai Shui village in Chongling, Zaoyang, to be raised by their uncle, Liu Liang. "Guangwu was orphaned at nine and raised by his uncle Liang."
In Bai Shui village, Zaoyang, Liu Xiu lived for nearly 20 years. There, he worked alongside his clansmen and fellow villagers, rising with the sun and retiring at sunset. He was kind and helpful, "generous and loving," "diligent in farming." He was also skilled in business; every year after the busy summer and autumn harvests, he used his spare time to drive donkeys, transporting grain and other agricultural products to Xinye and Nanyang for sale, increasing his income. During the Tianfeng era of Wang Mang, Liu Xiu went to Chang'an, the political and cultural center of the nation at the time, to study. He entered the Imperial Academy and studied the "Book of Documents" under the tutorship of Zhongdafa Xu Ziwei. However, he did not confine himself to one text but pursued broad learning. In an era of unrest and frequent warfare, he made every effort to study and discuss Confucian classics and literature whenever he had free time, "his knowledge of classics was extensive, his administrative skills and literary eloquence unparalleled in previous generations." In Chang'an, his horizons greatly broadened, and his mind was honed. He was deeply concerned with current affairs and politics, "whenever court decrees were issued, he was the first to know, and would explain them to his fellow students." (Dongguan Hanji). His diligence in study, thoughtful nature, and wide social contact gradually matured Liu Xiu politically. Later, due to financial difficulties, Liu Xiu had to drop out of school and return to Zaoyang to resume his familiar life of farming and reading.
Today, within Wudian Town, the ruins of Huangcun and the old city of Chongling are still preserved. The Huangcun ruins are located next to Bai Shui village in present-day Wudian Town, where the Zaoyang municipal government has built the Huangcun Site Exhibition Hall. The Chongling old city ruins are located in Chongling village, Wudian Town, and served as the administrative seat for the Western Han Chongling Marquisate, the Eastern Han Zhangling County, the Three Kingdoms Yiyang Commandery, the Northern and Southern Dynasties Anchang County, and the Sui Kaihuang era Chongling County. To commemorate that Zaoyang produced Liu Xiu, the founding emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, a stone stele was erected at the western gate of the city, inscribed with "Hometown of Emperor Guangwu Shizu of Han." Also during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Jingchen, the magistrate of Zaoyang, erected a stele at Neiguantai in the west of the city, inscribed with "Ancient Imperial Hometown," to commemorate that Zaoyang produced two emperors: Liu Xuan, Emperor Gengshi of the Western Han, and Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han. Both stone steles are now housed in the Zaoyang Museum.
**Rose to Power in Zaoyang**
Zaoyang was not only the place where Liu Xiu grew up, but more importantly, the place where he rose to power. It was from here that Liu Xiu went on to establish the Eastern Han Dynasty and create the "Guangwu Restoration."
According to historical records, although Liu Xiu and his siblings, living in Bai Shui village, Chongling, belonged to the imperial clan, due to their distant connection to the main imperial lineage, they were in fact commoners. After Wang Mang usurped the throne, harboring ill will towards the Liu family, all members of the Liu clan were stripped of their offices and titles. After Liu Liang, Liu Xiu's uncle and magistrate of Xiao County, was dismissed, he also returned to Bai Shui village, Chongling, to farm. Liu Xiu deeply hated Wang Mang and was determined to restore the Han dynasty under the Liu family.
Wang Mang's reforms, based on ancient models, harmed the interests of the nobility, increased the tax burden on farmers and merchants, and combined with consecutive natural disasters, led to widespread suffering and chaos. Rebellions erupted across the land, rising up against Wang Mang's tyrannical rule. At this time, Liu Xiu was implicated due to his guests being bandits, and thus "fled to Xinye to avoid officials, selling grain in Wan." Under these circumstances, the 28-year-old Liu Xiu believed the time was ripe to rise up against Wang Mang and restore the Han. In the eleventh month of the third year of Di Huang (22 AD), "Emperor Guangwu then led his guests back from Wan to Chongling," joining his elder brother Liu Yan, who raised the banner of "restoring the great enterprise of Gaozu and securing the world for ten thousand generations," thus beginning the "Chongling Uprising." Liu Yan and Liu Xiu raised "seven or eight thousand Chongling youths," including Liu Xiu's uncle Liu Liang, his second brother Liu Zhong, his cousin Liu Ci, and the sons of the Chongling Marquis, Liu Zhi and his brothers, who "all joined the army," and Deng Chen from Xinye, who also led his followers to join them at Chongling. As this rebel army started their uprising in Chongling, they were historically known as the "Chongling Army," and because they rallied under the banner of restoring the Han dynasty, they were also called the "Han Army." Although Liu Xiu was not yet the main leader of the rebel army at the time, he played an important role in organizing and initiating the uprising.
To strengthen their rebel forces, Liu Yan and Liu Xiu decided to ally with other peasant armies. They contacted the Xinshi Army led by Wang Feng and the Pinglin Army led by Chen Mu, forming a coalition. Due to their shared goal of opposing Wang Mang's rule, the coalition quickly gained significant momentum. "They attacked westward to Changju; Emperor Guangwu initially rode an ox, only obtaining a horse after killing the magistrate of Xinye. They then advanced to massacre Tangzi Township and killed the magistrate of Huyang." The Changju mentioned here is present-day Sizhuang in Zaoyang, and Tangzi Township is present-day Taiping Town, north of Tangzishan in Zaoyang. The victories at Changju, Tangzi Township, Xinye, and Huyang opened the way for the Han Army to defeat the powerful Wang Mang forces in Nanyang, laying the foundation for the later victories at Nanyang and Kunyang, and ultimately the restoration of the Eastern Han.
**Affection for Zaoyang**
In 25 AD, Liu Xiu ascended the throne, reestablishing the Han regime, historically known as the Eastern Han.
After pacifying the empire, Liu Xiu promulgated and implemented a series of policies and measures that benefited the country and its people and strengthened the military, setting the nation on the path of "restoration." Even amidst his busy schedule, he never forgot his hometown and remained deeply attached to his native soil. Historical records state that during his 32-year reign, Liu Xiu returned to his hometown of Zaoyang five times. In Zaoyang, he frequently performed ancestral rites and visited, greeted, and hosted his clansmen and fellow villagers, expressing his deep affection.
While returning in glory, Liu Xiu also bestowed many favors upon his hometown. First, he upgraded the administrative status of his hometown. After subduing the main separatist forces and with national unification becoming a certainty, in the sixth year of Jianwu (30 AD), he issued an edict to elevate his ancestral hometown, Chongling Township, to Zhangling County, using the name of his ancestral mausoleum. Second, he implemented special preferential policies for Zhangling County. In the spring of the sixth year of Jianwu, Liu Xiu issued an edict exempting Zhangling from land taxes and various corvée duties. Liu Xiu not only cherished and cared for his hometown of Zaoyang but also held deep affection for his birthplace and childhood home. Historical records state that Liu Xiu, regarding his birthplace Jiyang County, issued edicts three times to exempt the entire county from corvée duties for eight years; regarding his childhood home, Nandun County, he issued edicts twice to exempt the entire county from land taxes for two years and corvée duties for one year. The traditional virtues of this great and enlightened ruler—his love for his hometown, attachment to his native soil, and gratitude—have been passed down in his hometown of Zaoyang to this day and will surely be carried forward for generations to come.