Lü Clan disturbance
"[full citation needed] From that point, Emperor Hui only "indulged himself with wine and women" and no longer made key governing decisions, leaving them to his mother.
There was no pretension that he was actually in charge: Emperor Hui's mother Empress Dowager Lü maintained control of the imperial court.
When Wang criticized Chen and Zhou in private for contravening Gaozu's edict, they claimed that their compliance with Empress Dowager Lü's position was necessary to protect the empire and the Liu family.
Empress Dowager Lü then appointed Wang Ling to the position of Grand Tutor (太傅; tàifù)— the emperor's teacher.
He declined, claiming illness, and Lü removed him from his position as Chancellor, sending him away from the capital to his fief of Anguo (安國, in modern Baoding, Hebei).
Afterwards, the princess's son, Zhang Yan (張偃), was created Prince of Lu on Empress Lü's orders.
Continuing to consolidate her family's power, she arranged the marriage of Lü Lu's daughter to Liu Zhang, a grandson of Gaozu by descent from a different consort.
He remained in the imperial court in Chang'an to serve as Grand Tutor and assist Empress Dowager Lü.
In the summer of 180 BCE, Empress Dowager Lü Zhi died, having elevated ten relatives to noble ranks of prince or marquess, an assault against the power of the royal house.
In the autumn of 180 BCE, Liu Xiang did indeed start a military campaign with his own forces and also gained the support of the nearby Principality of Langye.
Allegedly, at this time, the Lü clan was ready to take over the imperial dynasty but did not do so because they were concerned at the reactions of Zhou Bo, Liu Zhang, and the principalities of Qi and Chu.
After requiring the guards to affirm their loyalty to the imperial Liu clan, Zhou Bo took over the northern division.
They believed that Emperor Gao's oldest surviving son, 23-year-old Prince Liu Heng of Dai, was the better choice, because he was known to be filial and tolerant, and because his mother Consort Bo's family was known to be careful and kind.
Apparently, they felt that the massacre of the Lü clan was unjustified, and were concerned that the officials intended to make Prince Heng a puppet, ready to take real power themselves.
He believed that the supporters of the Han dynasty and would not tolerate a takeover, and that given that there were many other principalities outside the capital, the officials would be unable to usurp imperial power even if they wanted to.
Still uncertain, Prince Heng sent his uncle Bo Zhao (薄昭) to Chang'an to meet with Marshal Zhou, who guaranteed that the officials were sincere in their invitation and had no ulterior motive.
