Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 465 The Humble Wang Mang
"The reason we don't recommend you for official positions or allow you to enter through family connections is because you are still young and cannot bear too much responsibility."

"The fate of the nation rests with the emperor and the officials in the court. Without sufficient ability, how can one wear a crown and sit upright in the Weiyang Palace?"

In the luxurious mansion, Wang Feng was reclining on a couch, casually speaking to his nephew Wang Mang.

Wang Mang listened with his head bowed, showing no dissatisfaction or resentment at his family's refusal to promote him to an official position.

after all,

With the ascension of the young and playful emperor,
The empress dowager, who felt she didn't have much governing ability, gradually delegated power to her trusted family members, allowing them to manage it on her behalf.

Wang Feng, the head of the Wang family, also rapidly gained immense power in the court during this year, becoming a figure revered by all.

He became the new Grand Marshal and General of the Han Dynasty, and also took charge of the Secretariat, thus holding all military and political power in his own hands.

just,

From the founding of the Han Dynasty to the present day,

The person who held the position of "Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief," a position established by Emperor Wu,

They are Wei Qing, who led his troops into the imperial court, and Huo Guang, who assisted four dynasties and contributed to the prosperity of the era.

The two of them,

He can be considered the pinnacle of civil and military achievements among the officials of the Han Dynasty, and he was awarded by the emperor after making undeniable contributions.

What merit or ability does Wang Feng possess to be able to directly assume such a prestigious and prestigious position?

Therefore, some officials objected to this.

But Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun said to her son:
"Wei Qing and Huo Guang were both relatives of the emperor."

"They entered the court by virtue of their status, and only then were they able to achieve such brilliant merits."

"Your uncle Wang Feng is not prominent at this time because, like Wei Qing and Huo Guang when they were still in Pingyang, he did not receive the promotion of a noble person, so he is not qualified to serve our Han Dynasty."

"Give him the position for now, and Wang will naturally be able to produce enough merit to convince the public later."

The emperor agreed with this.

He inherited his father's naiveté, but due to his own nature, he also became lazy and rascal.

In his opinion,

Since he has made great contributions, he can be appointed as Grand Marshal or General.

Those who become Grand Marshals and Generals can naturally achieve great merit!

What's wrong with having a capable minister destined for greatness who is also one's own uncle?
Only when his ministers help him handle state affairs can the emperor enjoy life to the fullest in the harem!

Wang Feng wholeheartedly agreed with his nephew's point of view. After receiving the imperial seal, he patted his chest and swore to him that he would do his utmost to continue the prosperous era and allow the emperor to be a carefree "emperor who reigns without worries."

Subsequently,

Wang Feng felt that he alone could not make decisions on all matters of the world and perfectly fulfill his promise to the emperor's nephew, so he began to promote members of the Wang clan.

His brothers,
His adult and underage children,
They all took on important positions in the imperial court.

Other clansmen also excitedly expressed their willingness to sacrifice their bodies to share the burden of political affairs with Wang Feng and the emperor!
Wang Mang grew up under the wing of Wang Feng, who was his own nephew, so he was naturally somewhat tempted by the idea.

However, when Wang Mang frequently visited his uncle to demonstrate his filial piety and respect to this elder,
Before he could say anything, Wang Feng took the initiative to speak and said the following to Wang Mang.

He pointed out that Wang Mang was young,

However, he failed to mention that his own youngest son, who was the same age as him, had already been recommended for an official position.

He believed Wang Mang was incompetent.
However, they did not care that most of the Wang family's children were playful, pleasure-seeking, extravagant, and dull-witted.

in other words,

He was deliberately suppressing Wang Mang, this young upstart.

Perhaps it was because Wang Feng, who was equally cunning and power-hungry, saw through Wang Mang's refined, humble, and polite appearance.

He didn't want the kid to grow up too quickly and get out of his control.

In matters involving power,

Wang Feng is a very domineering and arrogant person.

The Wang clan members he promoted,
They were all incompetent people he was confident he could control.

When the Wang family's influence extended throughout the imperial court...
Wang Feng even dared to reprimand the emperor, forcing him to comply with his wishes.

He could face Wang Mang.
This nephew, who was not even a year old, had lost his father and was now living in his family's home.
Wang Feng felt she was losing her grip on the situation.

He couldn't bear to part with the other person's talent and ability.

But they were also unwilling to allow this side branch to grow and challenge the main branch.

Therefore,
Wang Feng simply took advantage of the other party's youth...
Discipline him severely!

I think we'll have to wait a few years.
Wang Mang was able to be molded into the person he wanted, and then assist his son, ensuring the long-lasting prosperity of the Wang clan.

Upon hearing his shameless words, Wang Mang only showed a sincere expression, kowtowed to his uncle, and said some words of gratitude.

Wang Feng squinted at him, but couldn't detect any resentment in his expression.

He held a grape in his hand, playing with it for a long time, but never put it in his mouth.

At last,
He simply said, "Since you know that, then go back and study hard, and be filial to your teachers and mother!"

Wang Mang obediently agreed and withdrew from Wang Feng's sight.

Wang Feng watched him leave, pondered for a moment, and then sought out his own brother to ask:
"Was Wang Mang really a purely benevolent person?"

"I heard that he took Bao Chenghou Kong Guang as his teacher. Could it be that he learned the latter's rigidity and pedantry?"

His brother had never paid much attention to Wang Mang, but he had heard some things about his nephew.

So he replied, “As the ancients said: A gentleman is cautious even when he is alone.”

"You can pretend in public, but it's hard to maintain that facade in private."

"I heard that he is very respectful to his mother in his own courtyard, studies very diligently, and is also very kind to the servants... He must be of good character?"

Based on common sense and experience

Orphans and widows rely on each other.

In front of each other, one should be more sincere and earnest in one's words and actions.

As a person of high status, one should not need to show any respect to servants.

For the arrogant and conceited members of the Wang family,

servant,

This can hardly be considered human!

Even in the eyes of some members of the tribe,
Wang Mang condescended to greet the servants, which was truly disregard for his status and lack of dignity!
After listening to his brother's words, Wang Feng continued to play with the grape.

Finally,

He tossed the grapes, now glistening from being handled and still warm from his body, out the window, muttering to himself:
"good?"

"not good?"

"This is really a difficult situation!"

……

As for Wang Mang...
The whereabouts of my uncles are unknown.

But this does not prevent

He was aware of these things and prepared for them.

Or,

Wang Mang, who lived as a dependent from his earliest memories and was treated coldly by his own blood relatives,

They are far too cautious in their dealings with others.

After all, his widowed mother would often cry in front of him about her tragic fate and her worries about whether Wang would drive her away in the future.

"If I'm kicked out of the Wang family, my father and brothers will be very angry!"

Remembering the letters that often advised her to please the powerful Wang family so that the Qu family, like a vine, could cling tightly to his branches and dedicate themselves to the future of the family, Qu couldn't help but wipe her face and whisper.

At that time, Wang Mang was still very young, and his speech was not very fluent, nor was his walking very steady.

But he developed cognitive abilities very early.
Therefore, he was able to remember his mother's words.
Therefore, they can always be careful and never overstep the bounds.

"Mother, your child has come to inquire about your health."

When they arrived at the courtyard where the Qu family lived,

Upon seeing her, Wang Mang knelt down and kowtowed, displaying the utmost filial piety.

Madam Qu also adopted a kind motherly smile and answered her son's questions one by one.

Then the mother and son went inside and enjoyed a meal in strict accordance with etiquette.

Once the servants had taken away the bowls, chopsticks, and plates, and there was no one else around,
Qu suddenly relaxed her body and stopped singing, reciting, acting, and maintaining her posture as before.

She wanted to ask Wang Mang.
Did his uncle take care of Wang Mang's career in the same way he took care of other members of the clan?

Even if they cannot receive the same treatment as Wang Feng's youngest son,

They should also be qualified elders.

He promised Wang Mang, his nephew, who was known among his peers for his intelligence, studiousness, and courteous manners, some future benefits.

In any case, the promise still needs to be made!
But looking at her son's obedient face, devoid of any other expression, Madam Qu couldn't help but swallow the words that were about to come out.

She clutched her sleeve, wanting to get closer to her child, to ask about his life, and to inquire about his health and well-being.

However, Wang Mang took the initiative, knelt before her, and said:
"It is the son's fault for showing his mother worry!"

"I should be punished!"

Qu opened her mouth, feeling a lump in her throat.

She said reluctantly, "This is something that suddenly came to mind for me, it has nothing to do with you."

"Mother and child are one; if the mother is unwell, how can the son remain unaffected?"

Qu then closed his eyes.

After taking a few deep breaths, she covered her mouth and said to her son:
"Son, lift your head again, let me take a good look at you!"

Wang Mang respectfully straightened his body, knelt on the ground, and stared at Qu Shi's feet, not daring to violate etiquette and look directly at his mother, an elder.

Ms. Qu walked over.
The pair of shoes, which she had sewn herself and were not particularly exquisite or beautiful, were presented to Wang Mang.

then,

Wang Mang felt a pair of hands land on his head.

His hand was trembling slightly.

His movements betrayed an undeniable inner turmoil.
It only lingered over Wang Mang's head for a short while before retreating.

Then, Qu's voice, tinged with sobs, rang out:
"My son is so good!"

"There is no child in the world as sensible and filial as you!"

Wang Mang did not hesitate and continued to kowtow, confessing his "crimes" that had caused his mother grief.

Qu did not stop him.

She simply said, "Let me be a little unrestrained today."

"Wait until tomorrow... From tomorrow onwards, I will no longer be sad!"

She will become a woman who is always happy because of her filial son and harmonious family.

She would prove through her words and actions that, under Wang Mang's patronage, she, a widow, could also live a comfortable and happy life.

This would become a highlight of Wang Mang's moral character.
To further empower him to rise to prominence.

Wang Mang remained silent.

He stopped kowtowing, keeping his head down and continuing to look at the hem of his mother's clothes.

Until late at night, the lights were turned off.

After most of the people in the vast Wang family mansion fell into darkness and slumber,
Wang Mang was curled up in bed, clenching his fists, his face showing an expression of enduring pain.

Only at this moment,
Only in this private place where no one else will ever appear.
Only then did Wang Mang dare to reveal a hint of his own personality.

But that's not enough!
Far from enough!

His reputation as a "filial and incorruptible official" has not yet spread.
He hasn't yet been able to carve out a niche for himself based on his reputation and abilities.

He still needs to cling to the Wang family's roof, like a fledgling begging for food!

Even if the head of the household looked down on him,

Even as the head of this household gleefully devours the power he has tricked and stolen from the most noble of men, he thinks nothing of his own family…

Wang Mang knew that

I still need to be patient.

Just like his uncle said—

He is indeed still very young.
He really doesn't have much strength.

All his emotions,
All his anger,
All his sorrow,
Only on this bed, between the blankets, can one find a little release.

"This kid does look a bit like you!"

in the darkness,

The unseen spirit turned its head and spoke to the dead ghost beside it.

"You were a little younger than him back then, and you would sometimes hide under the covers and cry secretly!"

Ying Zheng, who had been enraged by encountering some unclean creature migrating from the east, and who had rushed back from the Western Sea to see Liu Han make a fool of himself, snorted and said without any politeness:
"If he wants to compare himself to me, he'll have to destroy Liu Han's empire first!"

Only an emperor can be compared to another emperor!

He Bo looked at him in surprise after hearing this.

"what!"

"You've eaten too many tributes from your descendants in Western Qin, and your abilities have grown considerably!"

They can actually pretend to be the Seer!

Ying Zheng couldn't understand his ramblings, but he could sense the sarcastic tone in them, so he replied:
Instead of spending time secretly observing this young man, you'd be better off doing something worthwhile!

Where is your Yangtze River?

"Xinxia is now connected to the Central Plains, but what about the Western Sea?"

He Bo immediately retorted with a snort, "Isn't this because I saw you traveling all the way back from the West Sea, so I specially came down from the plateau to greet you?"

During this period, he was determined to forcefully embrace the Yangtze River, which had been consistently refusing to accept him.

But when friends come from afar
Even if I don't treat you to a proper meal, I should at least see you!

of course,

For the Qin rulers of the Western Sea,
When they saw Liu Laosan and his group who had come from afar, they never had such thoughts.

Instead of taking advantage of the terrain to whip the latter dozens of times and drive him to another courtyard, Qin Jun chose to use tactics to exchange homes, which already shows great conscience and courtesy!

“We’re such good friends!” He Bo was still saying.

But Ying Zheng, who was always stubborn, would never admit this.

He walked away from there, hands behind his back, seemingly floating away.

Seeing this, He Bo could only disperse, leaving only a gentle breeze that passed through the window that was not closed tightly and blew on Wang Mang's face.

This kid knows nothing about the conversation between those dead men.

He was still thinking to himself:
"I need to pay my respects to my mother early tomorrow, and then visit my teacher. My reputation for being studious and Confucian is not yet sufficient..."

Although Kong Guang experienced some ups and downs in his official career during the reign of the previous emperor.

However, with the ascension of the new emperor Liu Ao, his position was actually stabilized.

The reason is quite funny:
Because the magnanimous emperor rarely heeded Kong Guang's advice, he was only preoccupied with the beauties in the harem.

Compared to the diligent and benevolent late Emperor Liu Shi,
Liu Ao became much lazier and more indulgent.

He was even willing to hand over the reins of state power to his uncles.

Why would they take the gossipy Kong Guang seriously?

Let them suffer as they always talk about "the hardships of the people"!

As long as it doesn't interfere with my enjoyment as the emperor and my savoring of the sweetness of life, that's fine!

Wang Feng, who holds power

Ultimately, it's impossible to be like a real emperor, who can first erect a signboard at will, and then throw it away and knock it down.

Moreover, Wang's arrogance and recklessness,
This has already aroused the dissatisfaction of many nobles, who feel that most of the food has been eaten by the Wang family's children, leaving them to suffer from hunger.

Therefore,
Criticism of the Wang family, a powerful maternal relative, is also increasing.

Therefore, Wang Feng needed the name "Kong" as a cover to make up for the loss of his family's reputation.

after all,

In today's world where Confucianism is the sole state ideology, we can't possibly insult the direct descendants of Confucius, can we?

Kong Guang was not very familiar with this kind of lawsuit.

However, he was keenly aware of the growing decadence of the court's atmosphere.

He doesn't understand,

Why is everyone talking about wine, women, wealth, and power?

It was as if the Han Dynasty was already secure and safe forever!

More than twenty years ago,
As a child, he followed his family from Qufu on their journey to Chang'an.

The prestige of the Han Dynasty was at its zenith back then!

Great Han Heavenly Soldiers

Great Han angel official,

Wherever he went, the people and the vassal states all welcomed him with open arms!

That vibrant scene, where everything flourishes, is still vivid in my mind!
Just over twenty years later,
The burly man had actually transformed himself.
Did it roll wildly down the rugged slope, plummeting straight off the cliff?
No matter how you look at it!
He must find a way to stop this trend!

He wants to save the world!

(End of this chapter)