Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 491 The First Three Years of the Founding of the Kingdom

“Every time I come back here, I see a different view.”

Strolling along the Zhangshui River,
He Bo casually picked up a few pebbles and skipped them across the rippling river.

The pebble bounced a few times on the waves before sinking to the bottom and becoming part of the torrent in front of it.

"Sometimes it looks just like it did back then, and sometimes it doesn't look quite the same."

Ximen Bao and others, who returned to their hometown with God, also remarked, "Times have changed."

"Many things will never be the same."

Thinking back to that year,

When Ximen Bao first arrived in this place as the county magistrate, the three families had not yet completely divided Jin, and Ye had just gained the attention of Marquis Wen of Wei, who intended to use its geographical advantage to control Zhao and Han.

at that time,
Ye County is still a small city with a small population, and there are wild men roaming around it. Ximen Bao needs to organize a force to go there and drive them away.

And now?

The seven kingdoms are gone, the six kingdoms are united as one.

Ye City, which once belonged to the State of Wei, became Ye County of Wei Commandery under the Han Dynasty.

What was once an inconspicuous little place has developed into the seat of a prefecture.

That's how Ye City is.
Along with the Zhang River, it flowed through time and gradually became prosperous and thriving.

More and more people are traveling between the two banks of the Zhang River.

Where originally only a ferry could be used to cross, later generations built bridges;
The once barren countryside has been transformed into a landscape of houses and fields.

A family of several people will live in the house, and golden grains will grow in the fields.
In spring and summer, the whole family would work together, like ants, carefully turning over the soil and sowing a few seeds.

In the autumn, the whole family would still work together to harvest the ripe crops, drag them to the threshing floor, pound and dry them with tools, and finally cook them into food.

"That's where the winnowing threshing took place back then."

"Back then, I couldn't even hold all the water in my belly!"

Old Gui pointed in a direction and suddenly said, "It's a pity we can't raise it now."

He Bo laughed at him, "How can you treat someone else's house like a threshing ground?"

"Aren't we afraid that if we just let it scatter, someone will simply put the grain in a bag and run away?"

Madam Simon pointed in another direction and said, "That's where the River God Temple is located."

He Bo got angry when he heard this.

He put his hands on his hips and said, "Damn it, how could anyone dare to demolish my temple!"

"Not only did they demolish it, they actually built a shrine on the original site to worship that old bastard Ximen Bao!"

"Could this guy's contribution to Ye be comparable to my endless Zhang River?"

As time goes by and people change,

Emperor Yuan of Han was not the only emperor whose temples were forcibly demolished, leaving him without descendants to offer worship.

The temple of Emperor Yuan was demolished and converted into a place where his empress would eat.
He Bo's temple was demolished and converted into a place for his men to eat.

This is also why He Bo was willing to help Emperor Yuan by peeking into the mortal world after hearing about his plight.

Madam Ximen covered her mouth and laughed, "The Zhang River nourishes things silently, but this old man is a real character."

"Hundreds of years have passed, and the ghosts and gods have not shown their presence much, but the irrigation canal that draws water from the Zhang River is still flowing."

in this way,

No wonder the locals turned around and commemorated Ximen Bao, the first person to build Ye.

Moreover, from a certain perspective,
Converting the River God Temple into the Ximen Dafu Ancestral Hall is also a way for the locals to continue the spirit of "Ximen Bao governing Ye"!
But He Bo was still very angry.

He glared at Madam Ximen, "You're just going to protect this old devil!"

He turned and walked into the Ximen Dafu Temple, then became jealous again, "The temple is maintained with more care than it was when I was worshipped."

"Damn it!"

"If only I had known there would be a major flood this spring!"

When the main Yellow River overflows, its tributaries will naturally be affected to some extent.

Even many years ago,
As the amount of silt in the Yellow River increases, the Zhang River itself also turns yellow.

The once clear and green Zhang River has now become a river that lives up to its name.

Yuancheng, which is currently bearing the brunt of the Yellow River's flow, is not far from where the Zhang River merges into the main channel.
Or,

This city is nestled between the Zhang River and the Yellow River. Following the Zhang River upstream, you can cross the boundaries of one or two counties and arrive at Ye City.

The Yellow River was blocked there, which caused the Zhang River to rise as well, adding pressure to the dikes built in Ye.

If we follow the pattern of torrential rains in spring and summer,

At that time, the floodwaters in Ye City should have overflowed first, and then the excess floodwaters would have squeezed into the main channel, turning into the force of the Yellow River to destroy the Yuan City dike.

But He Bo still has some affection for his hometown, and he can't just let go like he does in other places.

Even the incorruptible prime minister Ximen Bao seemed somewhat somber when discussing matters concerning Ye.

So He Bo waved his hand and addressed his ghosts and spirits:
"The seeds of spring have already been sown; let's wait until the autumn harvest to see what happens!"

that's it,
The wheat and millet ripened in autumn.
He Bo was also summoned to Ye City by Ximen Bao, in preparation for shaking the mountains and rivers.

unfortunately,

God's mercy cannot change anything.

When the group of old friends wandered around Ye County and finally returned to the banks of the Zhang River,

Tax officials knocked on the doors of the people in the fields that had just been harvested.

He brought with him orders from the Prefect of Wei Commandery to send this year's grain from Ye County to Yuancheng, and to conscript able-bodied men to repair the ancestral tombs of Emperor Wang Mang.

From subject to emperor,
Therefore, the tombs of the Wang family of Yuancheng should naturally be upgraded to imperial mausoleums.

Wang Mang was a filial descendant.
He will not enjoy the glory of the family's promotion all to himself.

So last year, he issued an imperial edict requiring the Prefect of Wei Commandery to carry out this task.

The prefect immediately allocated grain stored in the Wei County granary and conscripted manpower from several nearby counties to pack them up and send them to Yuancheng.

But that's still not enough.

Imperial mausoleums cannot be built overnight.
The Wang family of Yuancheng still gathered there in large numbers, nitpicking the project and frequently reporting to Wang Mang that things were not done well enough, and that Wei County did not take the emperor's orders seriously, etc.

This prompted Wang Mang to issue repeated imperial edicts urging him to expedite the process, putting considerable pressure on the governor of Wei Commandery.

more importantly,
Some of the grain and people packed and sent to Yuancheng would inevitably "disappear" by accident.

The prefect went to question Wang's men about whether someone had taken advantage of the situation to steal state property, but was met with a barrage of insults.
"The world already belongs to the king, so what does 'the property of the imperial court' mean?"

"Can taking things from your own home be considered stealing?"

"If you think you don't have enough people or money, just go to the whole of Wei County and other counties to recruit people and let them continue to contribute to the country. Why are you coming to us?"

The prefect could only return with his face covered in spittle, then stomped his feet, determined to carve out some flesh and blood from Ye City, the seat of the prefecture, which was essentially his own body, to satisfy Yuan City's appetite.

He even had very optimistic ideas:
“I, as the prefect, will only serve for a few years before being transferred, but the Wang family of Yuancheng has taken root here and is a relative of the emperor. They are not to be trifled with.”

"For now, use what you have to please them, complete the emperor's task, and earn the court's reward."

"Once I'm promoted and go to Chang'an, what will this empty treasury and reduced population have to do with me?"

Let's focus on building up our political achievements first!
then,

When God cares for his homeland and loves all people,
Officials directly responsible for the local area
Even emperors who ruled the world and called themselves the sovereign and father of the people did not care about the common people under their feet.

They are still demanding.

Like insects gnawing at the roots of a large tree.

"So what will the world become?"

A carp swam from the Yellow River to the Zhang River, where it was caught by God and then transformed into a weary old man.

"Anyway, it has nothing to do with me anymore."

He Bo watched as officials took away grain from the homes of the crying people, and one man after another was forced to leave their families, bringing their own provisions to offer their flesh and blood to the noble royal family. He replied to Wang Yanshi with emotion.

"You should go and record the hydrology of the Yellow River and draw the outline of the river channel, hoping that wise descendants will inherit and carry forward your work."

Having said that,

He Bo and the people around him disappeared.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky.

The autumn rain fell.

The already surging Zhangshui River was further amplified by the violent winds and torrential rain.

It followed the newly loaded grain and the restrained laborers toward Yuancheng. The river also flowed from the direction of Chang'an, generously opening its arms to absorb the tributaries along the way, just as Yuancheng generously received the offerings of the entire Wei Commandery.

After turning one bend after another...

The river water became turbulent.

Countless people

There are also countless streams of water.
that's it,
From Ye, from other places,
Crowded in the bloated, swollen Yuan City.

Until it could no longer bear the strain and a crack appeared.

……

"what?"

"The river has breached its banks in Yuancheng?"

Chang'an City
Upon hearing of this incident, Wang Mang immediately asked the person who reported it, "Has the ancestral tombs of my Wang clan been damaged?"

"This is not."

"That's good!"

Wang Mang breathed a sigh of relief. "Since the tomb wasn't damaged, let's leave it for now."

The officials below the hall hesitated to speak.

At last,
A man with a troubled conscience stepped forward, holding his official tablet, and advised the emperor, "Heaven has sent down a warning; the court should take it seriously, find ways to mitigate it, and prevent the disaster from becoming more severe."

Wang Mang was furious and rebuked him, saying, "The Yellow River often flooded during the Former Han Dynasty, wasting countless amounts of money and manpower. Was it ever properly managed?"

"The country is at a critical juncture in its reform; how can we waste our energy on things that are not well managed?"

"Moreover, since I received the abdication and ascended the throne, I have acted with caution and prudence, and have not indulged in extravagance in my food, clothing and daily life."

"How could this be Heaven expressing its displeasure with me!"

Subsequently,

Wang Mang then ordered his men to drag this charlatan away and execute him.

Seeing this, the ministers dared not utter another word of advice, fearing that they too would end up in the same predicament.

Wang Mang then softened his tone, adopting his usual humble and condescending demeanor, and addressed his ministers:
"My anxiety and restlessness stem from matters of national importance, not from a lack of awareness of the importance of providing relief to disaster victims."

"The treasury is not yet full, and there is no extra land to settle the displaced people. Even if we wanted to, how could we solve this problem?"

"As long as the reforms are successful, everything will be alright!"

As Wang Mang spoke, a sense of anxious restlessness and unspeakable frustration was evident in his eyes.

After becoming emperor,
His stance, his vision, and his goals all changed because of the "throne".

He wanted to consolidate his rule and ensure that the Imperial Seal, which he had worked so hard to obtain over many years, could be passed down to his descendants.

to this end,

He issued many new decrees and made changes to many places in the Former Han Dynasty.

In order to make the world realize as quickly as possible that the sun under their heads had changed to the Wang family,
Wang Mang even had the experience of issuing multiple reform decrees in a single day.

But as his late teacher said,
It's different now.

Many things are different now.

As a subject, Wang Mang was a figure who could command a large following.

Every suggestion he made was recognized and praised by his colleagues.
Every time he issued decrees in the name of Emperor Ping or Regent, his subjects would shout "Long live the Emperor!"

But when he tried to put his brilliant ideas into practice as emperor, he always encountered obstacles.

The subjects were unwilling to obediently hand over their land, wealth, and people.

Even the new coins minted by Wang Mang were not used.

This left Wang Mang feeling extremely distressed and powerless.

But he had no one to confide in.

It's been too many years.

He had become accustomed to suppressing his emotions, squeezing his inner bitterness, dissatisfaction, and resentment inside his body.

He doesn't need to tell others about those things.

He doesn't need to rely on those who are weaker and more incompetent than him.

He also didn't believe that those who claimed to care for him harbored the same thoughts in their hearts.

Wang Mang would only think those people were hypocritical.
Just like himself.

Even under such a long disguise,
Wang Mang's reforms inevitably aligned with the "rites and laws" he utilized.

He firmly believed that "etiquette and law" could bring him benefits.
So, following the historical records, he collected artifacts from the Zhou Dynasty, intending to recreate them and display them before the world, to tell those who had supported him because of his advocacy of rites and laws:
"Look!"

"I am the Duke of Zhou of the new era!"

However, the latter, contrary to his usual behavior, expressed strong opposition, and some of his ministers advised against it:
"How can the times of the Three Dynasties be the same as today?"

"It is impossible to use the methods of the ancients to deal with the current problems."

This instilled in Wang Mang a strange sense of unease—

Did he regard "rites and laws" as the ultimate standard, as sacred and inviolable?
This is certainly impossible.

Because he had poisoned his own monarch.

But can he break free from "etiquette and law"?

That's impossible too.

Because everything he possesses was given to him by "etiquette and law".

The mask was firmly branded onto his face.

When it is impossible to remove it under any circumstances, what difference is there between it and the skin and flesh on Wang Mang's body?

Therefore,
When someone told him:
Even if you act in accordance with "etiquette" and utilize it to the fullest extent, there are still some things that cannot be achieved.

It cannot rally everyone.

It can't solve everything.

You must find a way to face and solve the problem yourself, with complete honesty and without any pretense!

For Wang Mang,
What difference is there between this and skinning him alive?

Does he still have a true self?
Does he still dare to face the world with his true self?

He can't do it!
Wang Mang became very distressed and became even more obsessive about implementing his reforms.

He was no longer the Wang Mang who could only depend on and please others.
He is the emperor of the new dynasty, the Son of Heaven of the Chinese world, which now spans the ocean to the east and connects to Rome to the west!
He can use the power in his hands and his position to force others to accept his reforms and obey his "etiquette".

such,

His physical body is still there.
He doesn't have to endure the pain of having his flesh torn apart.

"They're just a bunch of scumbags..."

"The river overflowed, flooding Shandong and Henan. What does that have to do with Chang'an?"

"All I want is reform, all I want is to uphold the rules of propriety..."

"When a peaceful and prosperous era arrives, and the Wang family's rule is consolidated, the new generation of people will only praise my virtues and will not remember my mistakes..."

"No!"

"I am a saint!"

"I did nothing wrong!"

With this in mind, Wang Mang ended the court session.

He walked towards his own Weiyang Palace.
Then, in a state of confusion, he arrived at the palace where his mother had lived.

The woman he sculpted into a clay statue passed away in the first year of Wang Mang's reign, without leaving any further words for her children.

Because she knows,
Wang Mang disliked listening to his incompetent mother's nagging.

For the sake of their own "benevolence and filial piety"
Wang Mang did not remove anything from the palace after his death.

He ordered that his mother's belongings be preserved, and that he visit her frequently as if she were still alive, to remember her fondly.

"so……"

"I cannot make mistakes."

Wang Mang looked at the Buddha statue that his mother had recited prayers for for many years and murmured to himself.

(End of this chapter)