Lü Ze

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Lü Ze was born into a locally prominent family of Shanfu County in the state of Wei during the late Warring States period. His father Lü Gong moved the household from Shanfu to Pei County in Sishui Commandery to avoid an enemy. Lü Gong was friendly with the magistrate of Pei County, and after settling there he met Liu Bang, then head of a local ting, at a banquet. Impressed by Liu Bang's bearing, Lü Gong married his daughter Lü Zhi to him, establishing a marriage alliance between the Lü and Liu families. As Lü Gong's eldest son, Lü Ze held an important place within the family, had close relations with Liu Bang, and later became a significant member of Liu Bang's political and military group.

Uprising at the End of Qin and the Anti-Qin War

In 209 BCE, the first year of Qin Er Shi, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled at Dazexiang, and uprisings spread through the former states. Liu Bang raised troops in Pei County, and Lü Ze joined his camp as a guest commander. The Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu in the Records of the Grand Historian states that the Marquis of Zhoulü, Lü Ze, "followed from the beginning as a guest because he was the elder brother of Empress Lü." This indicates that Lü Ze joined Liu Bang from the outset and did so as a guest commander rather than simply as a directly subordinate officer, suggesting a certain degree of independent command.

In 208 BCE, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu joined forces in an advance west and attacked Yongqiu. Feng Wuze, a Gentleman in Lü Ze's force, took part in the battle. The Table of Marquisates from the Reigns of Hui and Jing records that Feng Wuze, Marquis of Bocheng, had served King Daowu as a Gentleman, joined Emperor Gaozu's uprising at Feng, and attacked Yongqiu. The allied army of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu defeated the Qin forces and killed Li You, Administrator of Sanchuan.

In 207 BCE, Guo Meng, a household guard in Lü Ze's force, defeated Qin troops at Gangli and later defeated the Qin commander Yang Xiong at Quyu. The Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu records that Guo Meng, Marquis of Dongwu, rose at Xue as a household guard, belonged to King Daowu's command, defeated Qin forces at Gangli, and fought Yang Xiong's army at Quyu. Although these achievements are recorded under Lü Ze's subordinates, they belonged to forces under his command and indicate his repeated military participation in the anti-Qin war.

Reconquest of the Three Qins and Garrison at Xiayi

In 206 BCE, Liu Bang was made King of Han and entered Hanzhong. Lü Ze served as one of the ranked generals and campaigned with him. The Book of Han, in the first "Biographies of Imperial In-Laws," states that both of Empress Lü's elder brothers were ranked generals who followed the campaigns, with the elder, Lü Ze, becoming Marquis of Zhoulü and the younger, Lü Shizhi, Marquis of Jiancheng. Lü Ze's subordinate Chong Da participated in the reconquest of the Three Qins. The Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu records that Chong Da, Marquis of Qucheng, joined with thirty-seven men, entered Hanzhong under King Daowu, and helped pacify the Three Qins.

After Liu Bang secured the Three Qins, he sent the generals Xue Ou and Wang Xi through Wuguan to join Wang Ling's forces and try to return to Pei to bring Liu Taigong, Lü Zhi, and the other family members to safety. Xiang Yu blocked them at Yangxia, and they could not advance. Lü Ze instead led troops back toward Dang County ahead of the others. According to the Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu, Lü Ze took part in reconquering the Three Qins and led troops into Dang ahead of the main force. Liu Bang separately sent Lü Shizhi back toward Feng and Pei to protect Lü Gong, Liu Taigong, and the other relatives.

In 205 BCE, the second year of Han, Liu Bang took advantage of Xiang Yu's main army being occupied in Qi and, with the armies of five princes, seized Pengcheng with a force said to number 560,000. Xiang Yu returned with thirty thousand elite cavalry and crushed the Han army at the Battle of Pengcheng, forcing Liu Bang to flee. Lü Ze, then a Han commander, had troops stationed at Xiayi in Dang Commandery. Liu Bang reached Lü Ze's camp by a side route and gradually gathered his scattered soldiers, eventually stationing at Dang County. The Basic Annals of Xiang Yu in the Records of the Grand Historian records that Empress Lü's elder brother, Marquis of Zhoulü, was commanding Han troops at Xiayi, and that the king of Han went secretly to join him and gradually recovered his troops. Lü Ze thus provided crucial military support at one of Liu Bang's most dangerous moments.

Xingyang and the Battle of the Wei River

In 204 BCE, Chu and Han forces confronted one another around Xingyang. Liu Bang was besieged by Xiang Yu and the situation was critical. Feng Wuze fought hard and protected Lü Ze during the breakout from Xingyang. The Table of Marquisates from the Reigns of Hui and Jing records that Feng Wuze fought Xiang Ji, defended King Daowu during the escape from Xingyang, and received a marquisate for the achievement. This account also places Lü Ze on the Xingyang front.

In 203 BCE, after Han Xin pacified Qi, Xiang Yu sent the general Long Ju with two hundred thousand troops to assist Qi. Ding Fu and other officers from Lü Ze's command were placed under Han Xin's direction and fought alongside Cao Shen, Guan Ying, Fu Kuan, Ding Li, Lü Matong, Cai Yin, and others at the Battle of the Wei River, where Long Ju was killed. The Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu records that Ding Fu, Marquis of Yangdu, belonged to King Daowu and killed Long Ju at Pengcheng before becoming Grand Marshal. Lü Ze's force therefore participated in a major battle that helped determine the course of the Chu–Han war.

Enfeoffment and Death

In 202 BCE, the fifth year of Han, Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor and founded the Han dynasty. Chong Da, a commandant under Lü Ze, took part in the Battle of Chen and helped defeat Xiang Yu's army. On the bingxu day of the first month in 201 BCE, the sixth year of Emperor Gao, Liu Bang granted marquisates to meritorious followers and enfeoffed Lü Ze as Marquis of Zhoulü; his younger brother Lü Shizhi became Marquis of Jiancheng. The Table of Meritorious Marquisates under Emperor Gaozu records the first year of "Marquis Lingwu Lü Ze" in that year.

Lü Ze died around 199 BCE, the eighth year of Emperor Gao, and received the posthumous title Lingwu. The Basic Annals of Empress Lü states that Empress Lü's elder brother, the Marquis of Zhoulü, "died in service." Xu Guang's commentary identifies him as Lü Ze, says he died in Emperor Gaozu's eighth year, and records the titles Marquis Lingwu and the later posthumous elevation King Daowu. The Table of Imperial In-Law and Grace Marquisates in the Book of Han, however, records Lü Tai as being reassigned as Marquis of Fu in Emperor Gao's ninth year, suggesting Lü Ze died between the eighth and ninth years. The precise cause of death is not recorded and is summarized only by the phrase "died in service."

In 198 BCE, Lü Ze's eldest son Lü Tai inherited the title and was reassigned as Marquis of Li. In the summer of 194 BCE, the first year of Emperor Hui, Lü Ze's posthumous title Lingwu was reaffirmed, giving the combined title Marquis Lingwu of Zhoulü. In 187 BCE, the first year of Empress Gao, Empress Lü posthumously elevated him as King Daowu. Some scholars, however, have argued that "Daowu" may be a textual corruption of "King Dao"; the issue remains uncertain.

Major Activities

Military Contributions

Lü Ze led troops during both the anti-Qin war and the Chu–Han Contention. His subordinate Feng Wuze fought at Yongqiu, Guo Meng at Gangli and Quyu, Chong Da in the reconquest of the Three Qins, and Ding Fu at the Battle of the Wei River where Long Ju was killed. Although many of these achievements are preserved under the names of subordinates, they belonged to Lü Ze's force and demonstrate the military role of his command.

Supporting Liu Bang after the Defeat at Pengcheng

In 205 BCE, the second year of Han, Liu Bang's allied army of 560,000 was routed by Xiang Yu's thirty thousand elite cavalry at Pengcheng. Liu Bang fled to Xiayi and joined Lü Ze's camp. Lü Ze supplied military support and helped him gather scattered soldiers and stabilize the situation. This assistance was important to Liu Bang's ability to rebuild his forces and continue the Chu–Han struggle.

Enfeoffment and Posthumous Honors

In 201 BCE, Lü Ze was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhoulü. After his death around 199 BCE, his son Lü Tai inherited his title and was reassigned as Marquis of Li. During Empress Lü's rule, Lü Ze was posthumously elevated as King Daowu, though one view gives King Dao, and his son Lü Tai was created King of Lü. The sequence of posthumous honors shows Lü Ze's importance within both the Lü clan and the early Han political order.

The stages of his military service and titles were as follows: in 204 BCE (third year of Han), at the battle of Xingyang, the palace gentleman Feng Wuze escorted Lü Ze out of the city; in 203 BCE (fourth year of Han) his subordinate Ding Fu and others served under Han Xin and took part in the battle of the Wei River, killing the Chu general Long Ju; in 202 BCE (fifth year of Han) his commandant Chong Da took part in the battle at Chen and broke Xiang Yu's army; on the bingxu day of the first month of 201 BCE (sixth year of Gaodi) he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhoulü; he died about 199 BCE (eighth year of Gaodi) with the posthumous name Lingwu; in 198 BCE (ninth year of Gaodi) his eldest son Lü Tai inherited the title and was transferred to Marquis of Li; in 194 BCE (first year of Emperor Hui) the posthumous name Lingwu was confirmed, giving the full style Marquis Zhoulü Lingwu; in 187 BCE (first year of the Empress Dowager Gao) he was honoured as King Dao of Wu, another account giving King Dao. His achievements appear mostly under his subordinates' names, yet all belonged to Lü Ze's command, which shows his capacity to lead troops; his moving out to support Liu Bang after the defeat at Pengcheng and help gather the scattered soldiers was one element in Liu Bang's recovery.

His place in the Chu-Han war is reflected indirectly in the achievements of his subordinates: Feng Wuze, Guo Meng, Chong Da and Ding Fu appear respectively at Yongqiu, Gangli, Quyu, the Wei River and Chen, and all of them belonged to Lü Ze's command, which shows that he held a comparatively independent fighting unit within Liu Bang's group. After the defeat at Pengcheng, when Liu Bang withdrew to Xiayi and joined Lü Ze's camp, Lü Ze sent out his troops to support him and helped gather the scattered soldiers, one element in Liu Bang's recovery along the Xingyang line. His posthumous name was Lingwu, his eldest son inherited the title in the ninth year of Gaodi and was transferred to Marquis of Li, in 194 BCE the names were recorded together as Marquis Zhoulü Lingwu, and in 187 BCE he was honoured as King Dao of Wu, showing that the rise of the Lü family's standing under Emperor Hui and the Empress Dowager Gao rested directly on the accumulation of military merit.

Personal Relations

• Father: Lü Gong. He moved to Pei County to avoid an enemy and became related by marriage to Liu Bang.
• Younger brother: Lü Shizhi. Enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiancheng and later killed in the aftermath of the Lü clan crisis.
• Younger sisters: Lü Zhi (Empress Gao of Han) and Lü Xu (wife of Fan Kuai).
• Sons: Lü Tai (inherited a marquisate and was later created King of Lü) and Lü Chan (Marquis of Xiao and later King of Lü, killed during the Lü clan crisis). Historical sources do not clearly establish whether Lü Tai and Lü Chan were full brothers or their order of birth. Some later scholars have suggested that Lü Chan may have been a son of Lü Shizhi adopted into Lü Ze's line; this remains uncertain.
• Liu Bang: Lü Ze was Liu Bang's brother-in-law. He joined him as a guest commander, participated in the campaigns that established Han, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhoulü.
• Feng Wuze: A Gentleman under Lü Ze who protected him during the breakout from Xingyang and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Bocheng.
• Guo Meng: A household guard under Lü Ze who defeated Qin forces at Gangli and Quyu and became Marquis of Dongwu.
• Chong Da: Lü Ze's subordinate who helped reconquer the Three Qins and defeat Xiang Yu's army at Chen, later Marquis of Qucheng.
• Ding Fu: A member of Lü Ze's forces who participated in killing Long Ju and became Marquis of Yangdu.
• Guo Ting: Served under the Marquis of Zhoulü and, as a commandant, fought Xiang Ji; later Marquis of Aling.

Historical Assessment

Han Period / Contemporary

Sima Qian's Basic Annals of Empress Lü in the Records of the Grand Historian states that Empress Lü's two elder brothers both served as commanders and records that Lü Ze "died in service," recognizing his role as a military figure who died in state service.

The Book of Han, in the first "Biographies of Imperial In-Laws," states that both brothers were ranked generals who followed the campaigns and that the elder, Lü Ze, became Marquis of Zhoulü. Ban Gu thus records Lü Ze's contribution as a campaigning general.

Song and Yuan Periods

Sima Guang's Textual Criticism of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance examined an error in the Hereditary House of the Marquis of Liu in the Records of the Grand Historian, where "Marquis of Jiancheng Lü Shizhi" was mistakenly written as "Marquis of Jiancheng Lü Ze," and argued that "Ze" should be "Shizhi." This became important for clarifying Lü Ze's biography.

Ming and Qing Periods

Cheng Yizhi's Shiquan followed Sima Guang's judgment and further discussed the textual error in the Hereditary House of the Marquis of Liu.

Liang Yusheng's Shiji Zhiyi examined the issue in detail, arguing that Marquis of Jiancheng was Lü Shizhi and Marquis of Zhoulü was Lü Ze, and that the error arose because the characters for "Ze" and "Shi" were confused and the character "zhi" was lost.

Zhao Yi, in the Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories, discussed Empress Lü and cited the idea that daughters of the Lü clan were married specifically into the Liu clan so as to bind the two families together. The wording ultimately derives from the concluding appraisal in the Book of Han's "Biographies of the Five Kings of Gaozu," which Zhao Yi reused in his discussion.

Modern Period

Chen Zhi's New Evidence on the Records of the Grand Historian, combining excavated evidence with transmitted sources, examined Lü Ze's enfeoffment, posthumous title, and later elevation and suggested that "Daowu" may be a corruption of "King Dao."

Li Kaiyuan's The Establishment of the Han Empire and Liu Bang's Group treats Lü Ze as a central figure in the faction associated with the empress's family within Liu Bang's coalition. It emphasizes the somewhat independent character of Lü Ze's command and interprets his force as an important element in Liu Bang's management of the founding-merit group.