Contents

Preface

I The First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty and his Empire

1. "A rare commodity worth the effort of investing"

2. Keeping a firm grip on all power

3. Annexing the six neighboring states

4. Centralization of power

5. Hu Hai usurping power

6. The declining years of the Qin

II Commoner Emperor Liu Bang and the Founding of the Great Han Dynasty

1. A " scoundrel"

2. Launching a rebellion

3. The new rule

4. The dinner at Hongmen

5. The contention between the Chu and the Han

6. Eliminating the meritorious aides

7. Empress Lu takes over the supreme power

III Liu Xiu, the "Bronze Horse" Emperor Who Revived the Han Court

1. The de facto emperor, Wang Mang

2. Liu Xiu rises in revolt

3. The battle at Kunyang

4. Building his power base in Hebei

5. The rule of gentleness

IV Three Generations of the Sima Family that Ran Two Dynasties

1. Faking Illness in preparation for power

2. Killing of the emperor

3. Unifying the country

4. Debauched emperor; extravagant officials

5. An idiot in the imperil seat

6. An ugly woman and a vicious empress

V Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and His Brutal Son

1. A difficult path to the throne

2. Unifying China

3. Advocating diligence and frugality

4. The disaster of replacing the crown prince

5. A licentious and tyrannical ruler

VI Father and Son, Co-founders of the great Tang Dynasty

1. Rise in revolt

2. Taking Chang'an

3. The Xuanwumen Incident

4. Eager for suggestions

5. Assigning the right people to right jobs

6. Rule by understanding people

VII Wu Zetian, the First and only Woman Emperor

1. Entering the imperial palace for the first time

2. Entering the imperial palace for the second time

3. As empress

4. The woman ruler from behind the scenes

5. changing the crown princes three times

6. Governing by her style

7. Unwillingly returning power to her son

VIII Zhao Kuangyin Ascends the Throne by Launching a Coup

1. Born in the age of turmoil

2. Taking the throne

3. Reducing the power of army generals

4. making the pan for unification on a snowy evening

5. Promoting cultural development and enlisting the service of the talented

6. The unsolved, age-old mystery

IX Kublai Khan, Founder of the Yuan Dynasty

1. Grandfather Genghis Khan

2. Marching south to take the Song

3. Establishing the Yuan Dynasty

4. Adopting the Han Chinese System

5. Killing the corrupt officials

X Zhu yuanzhang: from Monk to Emperor

1. A young monk who experienced tremendous hardships

2. From soldier to commander

3. Onto the pinnacle of power

4. Concentration of power by an extremely conceited emperor

5. Rule by force and killing of meritorious subordinates

6. Rewarding the farmers

7. Inner-struggle leading to war again

XI The Twelve Emperors of the Qing Dynasty

1. Nurhachi, who began with thirteen sets of armour

2. Huangtaiji sowing discord among his enemies

3. Emperor Shunzhi entering the Central Plains at the age of six

4. Kangxi, one of the most successful Chinese emperors

5. The mystery concerning Yongzheng's ascension to the throne

6. The dissolute Emperor Qianlong

7. Emperor Jiaqing rid the country of the most corrupt official

8. Daoguang became emperor by both intelligence and gallantry

9. Emperor xianfeng owed his succession to his teacher

10. Tongzhi, the "naughty child emperor"

11. Guangxu was made emperor because of his young age

12. Puyi, the last emperor

Appendix

Chronological Table of Chinese Dynasties