Confucian prime ministers in the middle and later period of the Western Han Dynasty

A group of Confucian prime ministers appeared in the middle and later period of the Western Han Dynasty. They were contemporary Confucian scholars with very high reputation, and can be worthy of the name of outstanding talents. But under the political system that imperial power strengthened and the right of prime ministers weakened seriously, it was difficult for them to be able to develop their ability to the full. Most of them regarded getting the emolument and protecting the location as their basic aim, lacked sense of duty and dared not make political achievement. This seriously affected the affairs of state of the middle and later period of the Western Han Dynasty.