Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 124 Wang Mang, Confucian Scholar at the Imperial Academy
In fact, Xu Hua had no idea what path to take now. This was truly the most tense period in the hundreds of years since the founding of the Han Dynasty.

It can be described as "a major change unseen in a century". The emperor gradually lost real power and could only rely on the Xu family's power in the local area to intimidate the central government, although Liu Xin was ambitious and attempted to take back all power.

But after all, there is not much progress at present. As long as Wang Gen, who has completely taken over Wang Feng’s political legacy, is alive, the emperor will have no room for maneuver, and the imperial guards have been managed like an iron barrel.

The main reason was that the Wang family controlled the treasury and the tiger talisman that commanded the troops, and they were the ones who actually paid the soldiers' salaries.

There is no such thing as loyalty or disloyalty these days. If it was an "old acquaintance" like Emperor Gao, or someone with outstanding achievements like Emperor Wen and Emperor Wu, it would be fine, but the new emperor was really unknown and his personal charm was not felt by the people of the world.

So naturally, whoever provides food, whoever gives military pay, and whoever holds the tiger talisman is the boss. Soldiers of this era would not recognize anyone except some emperors on horseback.

After all, there are too few people who have seen the emperor. Common people know nothing and they just do whatever their superiors tell them to do. Many times, for example, rebellion is not their original intention.

For example, the slogan of Liu Ruyi, the King of Zhao, was to clear the court of evil, and the soldiers all thought that they were going to help the court! It is important to have a good excuse. A good excuse can relieve the psychological burden of the soldiers and make them fight more bravely.

Even if it is discovered later, it will be too late and one can only go ahead with it. This is why the saying "only kill the main culprit" is quite effective.

Who would be willing to fight? They can't live a peaceful life, but they have to pick up a knife and fight with others. They are forced to do so. Just like the Xiongnu and Donghu before, and the Wuhuan now, they can't even live without fighting!
The same is true for nomadic peoples. Do they crave killing? The reason for the frequent northern disturbances is actually quite simple. There is not enough food. Whenever winter comes, it will be a disaster for the people! Most cattle and sheep will freeze to death, and they will also face the cold weather.

There was no other choice except to plunder the Central Plains civilization. Everyone had to stay alive. If there was no other choice, then "I would rather die than let my friend die", and save one's own life first.

Xu Bo looked at him deeply, and then slowly said: "Alas, I know what you are thinking. You are confused about the future. Now our family has been prosperous for two hundred years."

"The biggest crisis is right before our eyes. I don't know how to get through it, and I don't have the energy or time to find out. Each generation has its own tasks. I haven't done it very well, but there is nothing I can do. I can only hand it over to you for the time being."

"Remember, never compromise. My Xu family has always been on the side of the Liu family. This is the safest path. Moreover, my family has been enjoying the Han Dynasty's salary for generations, and we have been officials for generations. We should know how to be grateful. Even if they have let you down, you cannot change your principles easily!"

"Let's take that one incident as an example. It was Emperor Xuan who betrayed our clan. He was not very kind. But Emperor Kang never betrayed our family. Including Emperor Wu, Emperor Jing, Emperor Wen, Emperor Hui, Emperor Gao, which one of them was not used by him? Which one of them was not trusted unconditionally."

"This kindness must never be forgotten."

Xu Bo has always held the same views as his predecessors. I don’t know why, but most people have this attitude.

This is indeed the case. Whether it is a favor or not is secondary. This thing cannot be eaten. The actual family interests are more important.

Looking to the future, it is not safe to work alone. For example, the Liu family is now in decline, but the Xu family, as a minister, has not shown any signs of weakness, and younger generations who are capable of taking on major responsibilities are constantly emerging.

For example, Xu Zhong and Xu Min were both high-ranking officials at the level of provincial governors. There were also many prefects with the surname Xu. The governor of Qingzhou and the governor of Yanzhou were Xu Hua's cousins.

The foundation is quite strong.

The main reason is that the uncertainty is too high. If you choose to invest in someone again, you can't say whether he will abandon you in the future. The Liu family has verified that.

As long as he is courting death by becoming a king of a different surname or rebelling, nothing will happen to him. He should behave himself in normal times and know what he should and shouldn't be in charge of. For example, he would not express any opinions on major matters that could shake the foundation of the country, such as appointing a crown prince or a queen.

Even if the monarch pressed the issue, the rules would be followed. For example, the crown prince would be the eldest son and the eldest daughter, and the empress would be judged on whether she was virtuous and dignified, and whether she would interfere in important affairs of the court.

The Xu family has used this routine for hundreds of years and it is effective.

If it was a different person or a different court, it would be really hard to say what would happen. If it was a monarch who was particularly suspicious, then all the years of investment would be wasted. This is secondary. The main thing is that the family would be gone.

From a broader perspective, how could a family that frequently rebelled be accepted by the mainstream forces of the court? A fence-sitter is of no use and will never have a chance to make a name for itself.

For example, the Kong family, their backbone is weaker with each generation. Their ancestor Confucius was such a man of iron will, but their descendants only knew about "generation after generation of surrender". The Cao family usurped the Han Dynasty and surrendered, the Sima family usurped power and surrendered... They never resisted at all.

Although it has lasted for thousands of years, it has almost no say in the court and is nothing more than a little famous.

But this thing is of little use to the Xu family. Reputation is what the Xu family heads of all generations have the most. Basically, as long as they get older, their status in the Confucian and Legalist circles will rise sharply.

When Xu Bo was young, he was just an unknown person in the Imperial Academy. But after his temples turned gray, he rose rapidly, received unanimous recommendations from all the doctors in the two academies, and led to unprecedented unity, and became the most respected official in the entire Han Dynasty, the Order of the Imperial Academy.

In theory, the status of the Imperial Academy Director was above the Three Dukes, and was the same as that of the Grand Tutor, the Grand Guardian, and the Grand Preceptor.

Usually, even the three dukes and nine ministers had to be respectful, because the symbolism was so great. In addition, his status as the descendant of Xu Gong made it simply a natural "political correctness".

A group of troublemakers who dared to confront the emperor and even held rallies and marches to force him to abdicate, didn't even dare to breathe when facing Xu Bo.

He was so cowardly as never before. Even Li Nianzhao, the chief doctor of Confucianism, could straighten his back and speak to Kong Guang as a great scholar when he saw him.

When he saw Xu Bo, the Imperial College Master, he could only address him as "brother" and use respectful words, bending his waist. He did not dare to show any of his previous dominance, and there was no sign of his former rebelliousness.

In fact, the main reason is not prestige, that is relatively secondary.

The Imperial Academy Commander was the only person in the entire Han Dynasty who could dismiss the Imperial Academy Doctors! Not even the Emperor could do that! Because in theory, the Imperial Academy was not under the Emperor's control, and it was the only institution that the Emperor could not manage.

It was certainly possible when Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty first established it, after all, the doctors of the Imperial Academy were also officials. But it was different after the middle period of Emperor Kang of the Han Dynasty. In order to commemorate Xu Gong, the Imperial Academy became the first thing independent of the imperial court.

Internal appointments can only be made through recommendation and voting, or direct appointment by the Imperial Academy.

The selection method for the Imperial College Director has a bit of a "modern democratic" flavor, as it requires voting by doctoral students from the Confucian Academy and the Law School.

The one with the highest number of votes is the Imperial Academy Master! No other method will work, and no one else is qualified to be appointed.

Therefore, a big problem will arise, that is, both sides will only vote for their own people. Although the number of PhDs in the two academies is different, the number of votes is the same.

The difference is that some people get two votes and some get one vote. The chief doctor has the most votes, four.

In addition to the Confucian and Legalist academies, there is another force that is qualified to vote, and that is the family of Xu Gong, the advocate of the Imperial Academy, the Xu family!

Henan Xu has eight votes, the head of the family has four votes, and the elders of the clan have one vote each.

Generally speaking, the Xu family would give up, but the Confucianists and Legalists would argue over the ownership of the position of Imperial Academy Master because of the different votes they had. No one would give in.

In the end, after compromise, both parties will cast their votes for the head of the Xu family. In essence, it is his special identity that played a role. After all, after Xu Gong, is there anyone more reliable than this?

Therefore, it is understandable that Li Nianzhao is so respectful. If Xu Bo is really angered, he can really strip him of his title!
Moreover, it is reasonable and compliant with the law. The law school is very much looking forward to seeing it and will fully support it. Moreover, the Xu family has long had the final say there. Under various circumstances, the head of the Qinghe Xu family can maintain a transcendent position.

No one dares to offend him.

Xu Hua seemed to be thinking about something, and then he said, "Does father Wang Mang need to send more people?" "No, acting rashly will only alert the enemy. It is not easy for the family to raise these golden spies, so it is better to use them in important places."

"Well...Father, Ding has entered the palace." he said.

Ding was an important chess piece planted by the Xu family in the harem, mainly to keep an eye on what happened in the palace for them.

The Ding family is a member of the Han Dynasty's meritorious marquis group. Their ancestor Ding Fu was the Marquis of Yangdu, ranked fourteenth among the eighteen founding marquises of the Han Dynasty.

In his early years, he was a close confidant of the ancestor Xu Zhen and had been relying on the Xu family for many years. This time, the Ding family was valued by the secret agents and was chosen as an important pawn to support them in fighting against the Wang family.

It is quite suitable. With the status of Marquis of Yangdu, after Ding Fu was reborn, it would be legitimate for him to enter the palace. Even the Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun could not say anything.

Now Queen Mother Wang has been staying in Changxin Palace. After all, the emperor has come of age and there is no need for her to rule the country from behind the scenes.

She is usually quite honest. After all, the Wang family is very powerful now, and her status is fundamentally guaranteed.

Even if Ding really became the queen, it would be of no use. At present, Wang's position remains unshakable and the imperial guards cannot intervene.

"Just let her fulfill her responsibilities. The Palace Secretary is our man, he will help."

Xu Bo said calmly.

This organization does not have an actual name yet, but it has already grown in size with a clear division of labor. It is organized into buildings, and each building owner holds powerful power. The organization is divided into thirteen major parts in total.

The internal structure is roughly the owner of the building - staff - the head of the Xu family.

It has always been under the personal control of the head of the Xu family. Usually, his staff organizes and issues orders, and his influence is very great.

"Understood." Xu Hua nodded. Although he had initially taken over this spy force, the core staff had not yet contacted him, so he was not very clear about the specific plans.

It seems that the intention is to support Ding to become the queen and intentionally let her come into contact with the emperor.

"By the way, there is something reported from my father's palace, and I don't know whether I should tell it or not." Xu Hua hesitated, with a complicated expression, and found it difficult to speak.

"speak."

"Your Majesty seems to like Longyang Jun."

"Yeah." Xu Bo's expression did not change. He had known it for a long time.

This Majesty... is a man who likes men. It cannot be said that he is not interested in women, but it can be said that he has no contact with them. Although the late emperor had male favorites, he still preferred beautiful women.

It can be seen from the fact that he favored the sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede that the current emperor is really loyal. He is the only two emperors in the Han Dynasty who likes men, and his previous sexual orientation was normal.

Don't know why.

"You know?" He was a little surprised, but soon realized that the golden spies were all in the hands of his father.

In fact, that Zhongshu Ling was the golden spy, the only one Xu Hua controlled.

"That one is called Dong Xian, right? He is one of ours, including his father."

"This..." Xu Hua was stunned. Then there would be no point in placing Ding in the family. Wouldn't it be better to use Dong Xian?

"Well, since His Majesty likes it, don't stop him. Just treat it as an experience." Xu Bo waved his hands. He was also shocked when he first learned about it.

But if you think about it carefully, maybe there is a deeper meaning behind this. Supporting eunuchs and relatives of the emperor's wife has been tried, but no one has tried to support male favorites.

.........

Fu'ang Academy, a Confucian school.

Today is the birthday of the great scholar Li Nianzhao. All the students are ready to prepare a generous gift in the hope of winning his favor.

Most of the Confucian officials in the court are Li Nianzhao's disciples. If they can really make him look at them differently, then there should be no problem in recommending them as filial and honest officials. China has always attached great importance to human relationships and worldly wisdom.

In the lobby, Li Nianzhao sat in the main seat with high spirits. Although he was fifty years old this year, his spirits and appearance were as good as those in his thirties.

The fact that he forced Liu Ao to abdicate made him famous throughout the ages, and the bad posthumous title of Emperor Li of Han further confirmed this point. As a scholar, it is of course worth being happy that he has achieved his life goal.

"Haha... I wish Brother Li good fortune as vast as the East Sea and a long life as long as the Southern Mountains." Doctor Zheng Liangrong of the Imperial College congratulated with a big laugh, and the followers behind him put down the gifts one by one.

Behind them, other doctors came in one after another, all bringing gifts.

These people are among the best among the doctors, and some of them have disciples who serve as high-ranking officials in the court, or they themselves become officials.

"Congratulations." Li Nianzhao stood up and returned the gifts one by one, jokingly saying, "Why give such expensive things? I should give you better things on your birthdays next year."

"Hahaha...it's just a token of my thoughtfulness. It's enough as long as the thought is there." Zheng Liangrong said with a smile.

"Yes, that's right. What's important is the thought behind it." Li Nianzhao took a look and saw that they were all jade and other valuable items.

But one of the boxes of thick bamboo slips was quite eye-catching. He picked it up curiously and found that it was filled with Confucian classics!

And it was the Confucian classic he wrote himself!
Li Nianzhao became interested immediately. This should be a gift from a younger generation, which was quite sincere. It was much better than any valuable items, but he didn't need those.

"Which of your disciples asked me to bring this gift? It seems that you really appreciate my academic knowledge."

Zheng Liangrong's smile deepened: "My third disciple Wang Mang."

"Wang Mang..." Li Nianzhao was very impressed by this man. "Is he the candidate for the doctorate, Wang Mang from the Wang family?"

"You old man have been nagging me for that."

(End of this chapter)