Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 486 Residence Photography
"Wang Mang really wanted to be emperor..."

"But thinking about it, it makes sense!"

"What power in the world is greater and more powerful than that of the emperor?"

When Wei Ji, who had cried herself to death from excessive grief for her son, finally reunited in the underworld with her husband, son, and relatives who had been poisoned along with Liu Kan and subsequently exterminated by Wang Mang on various pretexts,...

The wise men of the underworld also gathered together to discuss matters of the mortal world.

Wang Yu, who was passing by, accidentally encountered this group of ancestors sitting by the Ruoshui River, who brought their own wine, food, and cushions, and talked about other people's private matters without any pretense.

He only heard two sentences before his face turned ashen, he became disoriented, and he turned and ran away.

Although I've heard from my ancestor, King Jian of Qi, that...
Since the underworld and the mortal world have little communication, the dead do not have any problems or worries when they talk about the affairs of the living, and they are too lazy to hide anything or engage in any "secret plots behind closed doors".

They learned God's openness and have always enjoyed speaking ill of others loudly and boldly.

As Wang Mang's ambition to usurp the Han throne became increasingly difficult to conceal, and the two-hundred-year-old Han dynasty became increasingly precarious, the idle and bored dead men naturally wouldn't miss this hot topic.

This made Wang Yu, the new ghost, extremely terrified.

After all, the moment he stepped outside, he could hear all sorts of ancestors discussing his father's usurpation of the throne.
Well-informed individuals who spot him will extend a "Prisoner of Heaven" finger, beckoning Wang Yu over, wanting to interview him about his views on the matter, and to find out what kind of person Wang Mang really is beneath his long-hidden true nature...

Who can help but feel fear?

Not to mention that Wang Yu is a firsthand witness to the "filial piety of father and son," so it is indeed normal for him to react with a gasp when his father's name suddenly rings in his ears.

of course,

What most easily made Wang Yu feel a chill on his neck was...

While walking on the streets of Fengdu, I unexpectedly encountered the late Emperor of the Han Dynasty—

Although his ancestors had already told him that the founding emperor, along with several restless and ambitious former emperors, had gone to Western Qin to engage in a power struggle with Ying Qin, they were all using the suffering of their opponents to satisfy their own inner pleasure.

But there are always a few who don't like to wander around and travel far away.

to this end,

Wang Yu had no choice but to borrow money from his ancestors to settle his residence in Fengdu, rather than in Haoli, the ghost capital where most of the dead who were rich in life and could also receive considerable offerings after death gathered.

Although housing prices in Fengdu are not low,

However, the chances of Wang Yu, who is somewhat lazy and averse to work, running into the late Emperor of the Han Dynasty here are much smaller.

However, Fengdu, which is just as prosperous as Haoli, sometimes attracts the latter to come and visit.

Like Emperor Yuan, who was suffering from the impending collapse of the Han dynasty.

During this period, he liked to bring his son, Liu Xing, the Prince of Zhongshan, and his grandson, Emperor Ping, Liu Kan, here to relax.

After all, Emperor Yuan also needed to avoid his father, who had settled in Haoli City, and other gossipy old men.

On previous trips with his children and grandchildren, those fellows always couldn't help but laugh at Emperor Yuan Liu Shi:
"People only realize their mistakes after they die."

"When you were alive, I never saw you act like a 'good grandson'?"

Emperor Yuan was so angry that his face turned red, and he turned and left.

His son, Liu Xing, was an honest and kind man who, even in death, did not taint himself with the evil influences of the underworld. Therefore, he did not know how to retort and could only follow his father, covering his face in death.

Fortunately, Liu Kan inherited his mother's sharp tongue and was able to speak up for his useless grandfather and father.

Emperor Yuan, Liu Shi, liked him even more because of this.

But the child's life was not peaceful before his death, and he became even closer to his grandmother and mother after his death, which made Liu Shi feel both awkward and a little heartbroken.

Subsequently,

He then discussed it with Feng Yuan, and they decided that he would bring Liu Kan to Fengdu for a while to strengthen the bond between grandfather and grandson.

This caused Wang Yu, who wanted to avoid the Liu family, great distress, fearing that he would be implicated by his father after his death, arrested on the spot by the enraged Emperor Yuan, and then severely punished.

Fortunately,

Wang Yu's dream ultimately did not come true.

Emperor Yuan did not have much ill will towards him.

Emperor Ping, Liu Kan, who was killed by Wang Mang, a ruthless strategist, did not harbor any resentment towards him.

This precocious young man, unfortunately, was directly killed by Wang Mang, who was cautious by nature and gave him no chance to develop. The emperor even curiously asked Wang Yu:
"Is the cup of wine that Wang Mang poisoned you the same thing as the bowl of medicine that he poisoned me?"

This left Wang Yu speechless.

All he knew was that he felt utterly desperate when he drank that cup of poisoned wine.

After drinking it, my stomach ached constantly, and my breath smelled of blood; I couldn't speak at all.

It took a long time before they stopped struggling.

"Then it shouldn't be just one type."

After listening to Wang Yu's description of his experience before death, Liu Kan scoffed, "I died quite quickly. I suppose no matter how arrogant Wang Mang was, he wouldn't dare let the Han emperor roll around on the ground and die bleeding from all seven orifices."

The more gruesome the death, the more difficult it is for history books to cover it up.
Moreover, the more you try to cover it up, the more outrageous and unofficial history you might end up with.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xing, who was standing nearby, put his arm around his son's shoulder with heartache, and Emperor Yuan also sighed deeply.

Wang Yu stood awkwardly in front of the three generations of the family for a while, and after realizing that they were engrossed in the comforting atmosphere of their family, he took the opportunity to slip away.

His wife, Lady Lü, seeing this, asked him why he looked so hurried.

Wang Yu could only sigh, "...That person really won't let me go even after he's dead."

Lady Lü knew who he was referring to, so she joined in the lament.

Actually,
After ordering the death of his eldest son, Wang Mang did not arrange a funeral or sacrifice for him.

His rising status also prevented others from discussing the persecution that had taken place between father and son.

This meant that most of the offerings Wang Yu received after his death came from his own mother.

She still misses her child and hopes that he can find peace after his death.

Even though she was imprisoned by her husband within high walls, she could only keep her eyes open with her blindness, accompanied only by the candlestick burning with flickering light.

"When do you think Mother will be able to reunite with us?"

Lady Lü knew that such words were tantamount to cursing someone to die young.

One can imagine the situation of the mother-in-law, Wang, and the carefree laughter of the dead in the underworld.
She felt that even if she died, it would be much better than living by Wang Mang's side.

Wang Yu thought so too.

But he remained silent for a while before saying, "I have a few brothers."

"Mother will not abandon them."

Wang Mang was not a person who valued blood ties and family affection.
Not to mention he already has a bunch of young, ignorant grandchildren who he can slowly teach into the kind of children he wants to be.

Those sons who had already come of age and had their own agendas naturally became even lower in status.

Wang Shi was worried that they would also be killed by Wang Mang, so how could she be willing to give up everything and embrace the freedom of the underworld?

A child is a mother's constraint.

She was willing to endure all suffering for this.

Lady Lü also thought of the children she had given birth to.

The smallest one of them,

Before she had ever drunk her mother's milk or been held in her mother's arms, she was taken away by people sent by Wang Mang as soon as she was born.

Lady Lü had never even seen what the child looked like.

All that was left for her was a white silk ribbon hanging from her neck.

The couple looked at each other without saying a word.

This small courtyard in Fengdu has once again fallen into a period of silence.

In the mortal world,

The Grand Tutor's residence, which belonged to Kong Guang, also exuded an air of decay and decay.

Even though Anhan Gong had the mansion renovated and decorated with countless magnificent carvings to show his respect for his teacher, he couldn't stop this kind of atmosphere from seeping in.

after all,

The owner of the mansion is about to die.

This house, belonging to the living, would naturally become the final resting place for the deceased, along with its owner. A healer carefully scooped up a spoonful of medicine, intending to feed it to the emaciated Kong Guang.

But the old man, still unconscious, clenched his teeth tightly, and the medicine he was forced to drink always flowed out from the corners of his mouth.

After trying several times,

The physician had no choice but to give up and sent someone to inform the fake emperor, "The Grand Tutor is about to die."

Kong Guang's body was like a leaky sack; he had only managed to stay afloat thanks to the various precious medicines that Wang Mang had found.

Wang Mang hung the rickety plaque above his head to portray himself as righteous before his position was secure.

And now,
The signboard that was forcibly nailed down will eventually have to be taken down.
Having established the "Jushe" reign title and already ascended the throne, Wang Mang, who was only one step away from sitting on the throne, no longer needed Kong Guang as his teacher.

If this old man, who represented Confucian etiquette and had a rigid personality, had continued to live, he might have become an obstacle to Wang Mang's further advancement.

At this time, the Han imperial family and loyal ministers had already united into several forces to oppose Wang Mang, who was about to usurp the throne.

In this era of constant popular uprisings, some of which have gained considerable momentum,

Wang Mang needed a group of Confucian scholars who could find reasons for his usurpation from the complex Confucian classics, rather than descendants of Confucius who adhered to the rites and laws.

Therefore,
When news of Kong Guang's critical illness arrived, Wang Mang did not, as before, demand that the doctors keep him alive.

He boarded a carriage and went to the Grand Tutor's residence to visit Kong Guang.

Perhaps it was a final burst of energy before death.
When Wang Mang arrived, Kong Guang looked to be in good spirits; compared to his previous unconscious state, he was at least able to speak.

"I heard you've been very busy lately, with more and more problems waiting to be dealt with and policies being implemented in an increasingly impatient manner."

Kong Guang said to his disciple, "Where is your patience?"

Wang Mang, adopting a posture of strict adherence to etiquette, sat upright before his teacher's sickbed and replied:
"What I'm after will soon be mine."

"As for those obstacles, they are nothing more than a few trials and tribulations!"

Kong Guang then laughed, "Although I've never seen your face clearly, I have taught you for a long time after all..."

"Look at you, you're probably just being stubborn!"

What little bit of hardship?
Kong Guang did not think that those things did not cause Wang Mang distress and anger.

"This is the price you pay to get to that position!"

He stared blankly into his cloudy old eyes at the bird that had landed on the windowsill and was preening its feathers, muttering to himself:
"It took me decades to realize that people and things are not necessarily compatible."

Even though there may be virtuous people in the world who go against their own position and want to do things that are in accordance with their conscience and morality,

But most of them are still despicable meat-eaters.

Their vision is too high.
Their vision is too narrow.
They only pay attention to what's in front of them.

When Wang Mang, who had originally sat with them, enjoying the same scenery and food, suddenly changed his seat and saw different scenery and tasted different food,
Meat-eaters will reject this "outlier".

Even before that,
The other party was extremely popular and sought after by them.

Will you regret it?

Kong Guang asked his disciple one last question in a low voice.

Wang Mang paused for a moment, then stroked his aging face and his hair streaked with white, and firmly told his teacher, "I will not regret it!"

A long time ago,
So I chose this path.
And for this he abandoned his mother, wife, and children...

How could he possibly regret it!
"Well!"

Kong Guang exhaled his last breath and said hoarsely, "I'll be waiting for you in hell!"

After he finished speaking,

He closed his eyes.

Wang Mang stared at him silently for a long time, until Kong Guang's face turned the deathly yellow of someone who had just died. Only then did he reach out and pull the thin blanket over Kong Guang's face.

He still felt a little regretful:
A new era is about to begin.

I hope that my teacher in heaven can see me replace Liu Han and become the sun shining brightly in the sky.

After all, such joy
Ultimately, it should be shared with loved ones.

"...God has commanded us to share with you the wisdom of traditional Confucianism."

On Kong Guang's side,

The two old men who came to greet him and take him to the underworld said just that to him.

Kong Guang was surprised by his new demeanor, and then became completely confused by what the other person said.

He asked, puzzled, "I am a descendant of Confucius, why do I need you to share with me?"

Fortunately, he immediately remembered the teachings of his ancestors: "Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me."

“I was a very confused and useless person when I was alive. It wasn’t until I was old and weak that I realized my situation.”

"Now that I am still conscious after death, I should indeed cherish this opportunity to learn from you."

In his later years, Kong Guang often lamented his own dullness.

His aging body and the grave mistakes he had already made made it impossible for him to undo or make amends.

Now that I'm a carefree dead man, I can finally fulfill my wish to continue my studies.

Upon hearing his words, the two elders nodded and said, "He is quite teachable."

Kong Guang, curious about their origins, asked, "Who are you people?"

"What do you mean by the God we just mentioned?"

Could such a fool as him possibly receive God's attention?
On second thought,
The Mandate of Heaven is about to be stolen.

It is no wonder that such a momentous event would attract the attention of God, who observes all things.

But the old man simply stroked his beard and smiled as he told him, "You'll find out later."

After all,

They took Kong Guang with them and gradually traveled away.

He Bo, who was enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet in the summer, opened his eyes, rolled over, and lay on the ground in a posture even more perfect than the turtle next to him, letting the sun bake his back.

Ok,
There's no need to rush to reunite with old friends; there's plenty of time later.

at the moment,

He simply turned his head and said to the "New Xia Grand Commander" who was processing coconuts with a righteous indignation, "Get to work!"

"I'm waiting to take these things to Taixi for my son to eat!"

Forced by the tyranny of the original body, the latter could only pry open coconut after coconut with its bare hands to make pastries.

Meanwhile, far away in the west, Ye Su, whose name, bestowed by her master, suggests a blood relation to her mother, is enjoying the unfinished snacks sent by her elders from across the sea, while eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new delivery.

"Master, you said..."

The child, busy chewing, took a moment to ask his trusted elder, "Will we receive another package of pastries before we leave Rome?"

"That depends on how fast the pigeons fly," Zhao Shen replied casually as he translated the Taiping Jing into Roman.

The child continued chewing, "Hopefully it can flap its wings more forcefully."

After swallowing the pastry in his mouth, the child belatedly added, "Of course!"

"If it gets tired from flying, I'll feel sorry for it!"

Zhao Shen glanced at him, then called his disciple to carry the guy out, so he wouldn't disturb his work.

“Remember, don’t let Joseph take him to play with woodworking.”

"Otherwise, if you get your hands nailed again, you'll have to go and comfort them."

Maria looked at the child's wrapped hands and nodded decisively.

“If Joseph does that again, I will have a Roman cross made for him and send it to his Om Messiah!”

But it's strange,
Mingming Yesu is the carpenter's son.

Why do I always end up getting nails in my palms whenever I try to learn carpentry from my father?

(End of this chapter)