In 74 BCE, after Emperor Zhao of Han died, the Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief Huo Guang, who held the reins of power, established Liu Xun as emperor, known historically as Emperor Xuan of Han.
Thanks to his role in welcoming Emperor Xuan to the throne, Huo Guang was granted an additional 17,000 households. His relatives and close friends all held key positions at court. Whenever a memorial was submitted, Huo Guang would review it first before presenting it to the emperor. Emperor Xuan remained extremely deferential and compliant in Huo Guang's presence.
Despite holding immense power, Huo Guang's wife, Huo Xian, remained unsatisfied. To secure their daughter Chengjun's entry into the palace, she bribed a female physician to poison Empress Xu. When Huo Guang discovered this, he not only failed to expose the crime but used his authority to shield the physician from justice.
In 68 BC, the powerful minister Huo Guang died of illness, freeing Emperor Xuan of Han from his grip. The emperor took personal control of the court, accepted the advice of imperial censor Wei Xiang, stripped the Huo clan of their official posts, and reformed the old system of submitting memorials. Soon after, the conspiracy to poison Empress Xu was exposed, leading to the execution of the entire Huo family.
From that point on, Emperor Xuan of Han steeled his resolve, striving to govern the nation into prosperity and strength. For every official dispatched to the provinces, he personally summoned them, first listening to their words, then observing their actions. With the support of Chancellor Wei Xiang, he implemented a series of measures to boost production and ease the people's burdens, gradually reviving the country's fortunes.
Emperor Xuan of Han reigned for 25 years, ultimately reviving the declining Western Han dynasty and ushering in a period of resurgence.
Later, people used the idiom "Li Jing Tu Zhi" to mean rousing one's spirit to strive for good governance.
Source: *Book of Han*, Chapter "Biography of Wei Xiang"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "励精图治" came to describe rousing one's spirit to strive for good governance.