Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 493 Deaths in the East and West

When news of the Taiping Dao uprising reached Chang'an, Emperor Wang Mang was naturally furious.

He issued several decrees, ordering the mobilization of troops to quell the rebellion.

"It's one thing for officials and relatives of the imperial family in the Former Han Dynasty to rebel!"

"Why are these common people also rebelling?"

"Why couldn't they have been more patient!"

The nobles and officials of Chang'an, sensing the emperor's wrath, privately discussed:
"The new dynasty has just been established, and they can't wait to jump up and do evil. It's really bad luck!"

"Isn't it all because the emperor made mistakes!" Someone, after drinking a couple of cups of wine, started talking uncontrollably. "No emperor in the Han dynasty ever acted like the one in the present."

Looking back at the emperors Yuan, Cheng, Ai, and Ping, regardless of their inner thoughts, they all actually governed the country with "benevolence and gentleness" during their reigns.

In essence, being lenient and gentle means indulging one's subordinates, letting them do as they please, and having few constraints.

Unlike Wang Mang, who wanted to manage everything and ended up managing nothing well.

"The people of the Central Plains are in uproar and cannot be contained; in the Western Regions, there are conflicts with the Xiongnu and Wusun, and the envoys of the Sui and Qin dynasties have been demoted... This government is truly incompetent!"

Upon hearing that the emperor had changed in the East, forces throughout the vast territory ruled by the Xia people who recognized the status of the "Central Emperor" sent envoys to offer their congratulations and pay homage, demonstrating their submission and allegiance.

As for the Xiongnu...

Because Wang Mang, who placed too much emphasis on ritual, renamed his Chanyu "Xiao Chanyu," Wang Mang, in a fit of anger, launched an attack on the border of the Xin Dynasty.

then,

Unable to resist the Xiongnu invasion, Wang Mang then beheaded the prince whom "Xiao Chanyu" had sent to Chang'an to study as a hostage.

Humph,
You can't beat your dad.
Can't I even take my anger out on you, my "grandson"?!
As for the Wusun

The envoys, carrying gifts, had already shown sufficient sincerity by crossing the Western Regions. However, Wang Mang felt that among the two Kunmi, the co-rulers of Wusun, the greater Kunmi was friendly with the Xiongnu but not close to him. Therefore, he intentionally promoted the envoys from the lesser Kunmi's side, placing them in the position above the greater Kunmi's envoys.

The official in charge of protocol objected to this:
“The Great Kunmi is the ruler of Wusun, and the Lesser Kunmi is his subject. How can a subject’s envoy sit above the ruler’s envoy?”

"Your Majesty reveres the rites of Zhou, so naturally you must strictly respect the rules of the rites. How can you know the rites but violate them?"

"Doing this will not only cause the barbarians to no longer obey the Celestial Empire, but will also damage His Majesty's prestige!"

Wang Mang ignored the order and angrily ordered the official in charge of delivering the gifts to see the Duke of Zhou.

Etiquette, etiquette
Dog paw bow!
Wang Mang now hates nothing more than others talking to him about "propriety"!
Do you know,

This is his private property!

Only Wang Mang could use propriety to criticize others and elevate himself; how could others do that!

Moreover, the "Zhou Li" (Rites of Zhou)
This was the main reason why Wang Mang received the abdication of the Han dynasty.

To be criticized like this in the imperial court, isn't that undermining his legal principles?
Harboring lingering anger,

When the envoys from Qin and Sui arrived in Chang'an to congratulate the new emperor,

Wang Mang then adopted a pretentious tone and vented his dissatisfaction on these two distant compatriot countries.

秦，
It was a country that ruled the east before the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Naturally, there was a deep-seated legal hatred between it and the Han Dynasty, as well as between it and the new dynasty that succeeded the Han Dynasty.

As for the Sui Dynasty,
If Emperor Xuan had not sent people on a distant expedition to help defeat the Yuezhi people in the country and uphold the sanctity of the Chinese, it is likely that the country would have sunk into decline and been transformed by barbarians.

Legally speaking, the Han dynasty could be considered the savior of the Xin Xia territory, and Wang Mang, through peaceful evolution, obtained the abdication of the Han dynasty, so he could naturally and justifiably despise the Sui dynasty that rose from Xin Xia.

more importantly,
Both of these countries are far from the Central Plains.

Wang Mang didn't need to win them over like he did with the Wusun; he could offend them without much thought.

His attitude greatly angered the envoys from Qin and Sui.

As a vassal state of the "Son of Heaven," the Sui dynasty could not say much.
But the Qin state could hurl insults at will, and hurl them loudly—

Actually,
The Qin envoy's visit this time indicates an intention to submit to the Central Plains.

The rebellions of the Western Qin's regional military governors and barbarians could not be contained. Even with Emperor Zhuangwu's efforts to turn the tide and maintain stability in some areas amidst the turmoil, allowing the Qin to still command some of the feudal lords and regional military governors, just like the Zhou emperor before he "shot the king in the shoulder," thus preserving its dignity.

However, the fertile plains of the two rivers fell out of control and were occupied by rebellious ministers, which caused the Qin state to suffer heavy losses.

The ability to make profits through maritime trade declined significantly with the relocation of the Qin capital to Yu Bi City and the harassment and interception by the Roman navy.

Therefore, after several court meetings, the current Qin emperor finally decided to seek help from the Central Plains.

"If it can bring peace to the country and restore its former glory, I will do anything!"

On the way to see the envoy off, the young emperor said these words to him.

The envoy immediately shed tears, feeling the monarch's sacrifice and forbearance, and knowing that after so many years of struggle between Qin and Han, a result was finally about to be achieved.

However, upon arriving in Chang'an,

Before the envoy could even utter a request, Wang Mang's wild punches ignited the Qin envoy's fury. He not only expressed his anger in the court but also, in the embassy where he stayed, used Qin opera to denounce the new emperor's rudeness.

The Sui envoy living next door didn't quite understand those vulgarities like "chui," "song," and "guapi"... but just from the tone of his voice, he could tell that the Qin envoy was cursing very dirty.

So the final result,

Enraged, Wang Mang drove the Qin envoys, along with the innocent Sui envoys, out of Chang'an.

original,

Wang Mang wanted to kill them, but even in war between two countries, envoys are not killed, let alone envoys from compatriot countries like Qin and Sui.
The ministers pleaded with them, which allowed the envoys to survive.

This also fueled the resentment of Wang Mang's ministers towards him, who had been emperor for several years.

Previous reforms were implemented frequently, and most of them were merely formalities, which was bad enough.

Now even diplomacy has deteriorated to this extent, leaving the country facing both internal and external troubles...

"How could he possibly be capable of being an emperor?"

"It would be better to return the country to the Liu family!"

In the end, the drunkard mumbled out his deepest thoughts, which immediately startled many people, causing them to turn pale with fear.

They quickly closed the doors and windows, looked around to make sure no one else could hear, and then whispered to each other:
"Don't tell anyone about what happened today."

The current emperor is not a virtuous and wise man; he always harbors hatred and meanness from who-knows-where, which he then inflicts upon others.

If those words had reached my ears, I fear all of you here would have been forced to indulge your three clans.

"Drinking can lead to trouble, you'd better go home quickly!"

The others chimed in, then got up and left in a rather flustered manner.

Wang Mang, who was in the palace, was completely unaware of this and continued to stay by his aunt Wang Zhengjun's side, waiting for her death.

Wang Zhengjun was too old to speak, and her body withered like a shriveled wheat stalk. She curled up between the soft bedding, unable to open her eyes.

But knowing that Wang Mang was right beside her, her lips trembled as she still tried to curse him.

Wang Mang simply looked down at her with a smile.

After years in power, his emotions became increasingly outward.

To know,
Wang Mang had never laughed so happily, not even when his mother, Lady Qu, passed away.

"When I get to the underworld, I must tell the late emperor of the Han Dynasty so that they will know about my achievements."

Wang Mang laughed even more unrestrainedly, with an excessive confidence and a distorted refusal to believe the truth.

He still believed he could become a saint and build a new dynasty that was even more powerful and prosperous than the Han dynasty.

Would the Han emperor dare to kill the son of the Xiongnu chieftain so easily?

Would the Han emperor dare to humiliate the envoys of Qin and Sui in that way?

They can't do it!
Only Wang Mang could do it!
Even though the Qin and Sui envoys were not happy when they left,
Even as the Taiping Rebellion intensified in some areas,

But Wang Mang only regarded it as a little hardship.

What development is without its twists and turns? What era is without its growing pains? What exploration is without its difficulties?
As long as the successor to the position remains a descendant of Wang Mang,

His reputation will be absolutely guaranteed.

He is still the "living Duke of Zhou" praised and admired by the world.

Even the circle he drew in Yuancheng to protect the ancestral graves and allow the Yellow River to flow south would become a symbol of "filial piety" in the eyes of future generations.

"Humph!"

Wang Zhengjun struggled, letting out a soft nasal sound. This sound was like the last straw that broke the camel's back, making it impossible for Wang Mang to maintain his previous composure.

He jumped up and down, saying to his aunt, "Do you really think of yourself as a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty?"

"If you cannot uphold the last vestige of the Han dynasty's dignity, then you cannot go down to face your husband and his ancestors?"

"You are a woman from the Wang family!"

"It was our Wang family that seized power from the Liu family!"

"Now that you're putting on this act, how will you face your ancestors in the Han Dynasty?"

"Even if you refused to eat or hanged yourself the year I ascended the throne... it will still be written in history that you made me Grand Marshal and General-in-Chief, and that you threw the imperial seal into my arms!"

"You've enjoyed the offerings from the new room for so many years, who are you trying to impress with this haughty attitude now?"

Do you think Emperor Yuan will forgive you?

Wang Zhengjun did not respond.

Because the old man had already passed away at the beginning of Wang Mang's downfall.

Wang Mang held a grand funeral for his aunt to demonstrate his filial piety to the people of Chang'an.

"So it was the funeral of Empress Xiaoyuan of the Han Dynasty..."

On the wide streets of Chang'an, a young man who had just arrived in Beijing to study leaned against a corner, watching the coffin being pulled by a large crowd of people and luxurious carriages, and let out a soft sigh.

"To enjoy such glory both in life and after death, I truly envy."

Hearing his words, someone nearby waved their hand to correct him, "It's not Empress Xiaoyuan of the Han Dynasty."

"It is the Empress Dowager Wenmu of the new palace!"

"You're from out of town and don't know the rules of Chang'an. Don't say anything carelessly in the future and cause trouble for yourself!"

Emperor Wang Mang was a man who valued titles and honors.

Since he had ascended the throne, he would not allow others to refer to the Han dynasty as the new dynasty.

to this end,

He also specially arranged for people to help those whose thinking was stuck in the past and who grew up in the era of Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty to correct their verbal mistakes.

Many people have been arrested and imprisoned for casually using the word "big man," and have not been released to this day.

"I know, I know!"

The young man immediately agreed, bowing and clasping his hands in gratitude to the other party.

The other person appreciated his politeness and asked him, "What brings you to Chang'an?"

"I came to study at the Imperial Academy."

"From where?"

“From Caiyang County in Nanyang Prefecture.”

The other person clicked their tongue in surprise, "Nanyang? That's not very close to Chang'an!"

"I see that your attire is not very elaborate, so you must have achieved great success in your studies to convince your elders to send you to the Imperial Academy in Chang'an."

Although the Imperial Academy, the highest national educational institution established during the reign of Emperor Wu, began to decline during the reign of Emperor Ai, and now it has become a place for many children of the powerful and wealthy to obtain diplomas without real education,

But ultimately, there can only be one "Imperial Academy" in the world.
Ultimately, there were only a handful of students in the Imperial Academy.

Meat-eaters believe that studying too much is bad.

However, for ordinary people, and even low- to mid-level officials, the Imperial Academy was still a "pure and noble" place, a desirable place, and a place where it was impossible to get one's family members in without spending a lot of money.

Besides, a poor family can travel with plenty of money.

The region was plagued by the brutal Yellow Turban rebels.

One can imagine how much it must have cost to safely deliver a child to Chang'an amidst such chaos.

The young man smiled modestly and said, "I am not well-versed in the classics; I am just spoiled by my elders."

Recalling the frown his uncle had on his brow when he decided to go to the capital to study, and the piggy bank containing his accumulated wealth from his bedroom, the young man couldn't help but sigh again.

He thought:
I must make a name for myself in Chang'an, otherwise how can I repay my uncle's kindness in raising me?

Moreover, his elder brother was charitable and enjoyed associating with chivalrous figures who roamed the martial world, aspiring to emulate Emperor Taizu of Han.
I should, in any case, take King Chu Yuan as my role model and provide some assistance to my brother's cause.

With this in mind,
The young man gazed at the funeral procession of the "New Empress Dowager" for a while longer, until the high-raised soul-guiding banner and the white paper money scattered along the way disappeared into the distance. Only then did he turn away and walk towards the Imperial Academy.

"Liu Xiu, a student from Nanyang, is here to report for duty!"

……

at the same time,

Far away in Rome, Augustus, who had lived an extraordinary life to the age of seventy-seven, also met the end of his life.

With his last remaining strength, he looked at the successor before him and smiled with satisfaction.

"This is good."

“You should celebrate the continuation of the Holy Family in my death, not weep and grieve for my departure.”

His two grandsons wiped their eyes and nodded, then approached their grandfather's bedside, each taking one of his hands to offer Augustus his final blessings.

On the opposite side of the bed,
The equally aged Zhao Shen, the Great Master of the Way of Peace, was holding a nine-section staff, preparing to recite scriptures for Augustus to guide his soul.

This was Augustus's own request.

His curiosity and thirst for knowledge about the various Chinese peoples continued until the moment he was about to die.

Upon hearing that Zhao Shen, who had been preaching in the Roman provinces for many years, had returned to Rome and planned to sail back to the Qin state from there, Augustus, in a burst of youthful exuberance, summoned him and asked:
"I'm about to die, and I've heard that Taoism has some magical abilities. I hope you can do something for me."

Zhao Shen said, "This might cause me to fight with the priests in the Pantheon."

Augustus laughed and said, "What's the problem? It's as if you didn't beat people enough when you were preaching."

The Taiping Dao of Western Qin possessed an excessive amount of martial virtue, and even its preachers from various regions advocated private duels, believing that victory in debates could be achieved by physically silencing someone.

And Zhao Shen, who has served as a great and wise teacher for so many years, would naturally not be lacking in this regard.

In the past decade,

He had been to Germania and Lusitania.

They also promoted the spirit of "old age is still vigorous" and "old horses still have a stable," which led those barbarians who lacked human understanding to show signs of walking upright.

When this news reached Augustus's ears, even the monarch who ruled Rome couldn't help but marvel.

This is also why Augustus had the sudden inspiration to have the Way of Peace repeated after his death, in addition to the ritual performed by Augus's messengers to guide his soul to the underworld.

Anyway, he didn't really believe in these supernatural things.

It was just to satisfy my own perverse pleasure before I died.

Zhao Shen had no choice but to agree. He instructed his disciple Joseph to prepare for battle, and then led his grand-disciple Ye Su to Augustus's palace.

While others shed tears

Zhao Shen then had Ye Su hold the scriptures, adorn himself with jade, and hold a lit incense stick, preparing to send Augustus off.

"Why me?"

The young man, Ye Su, struck a very intimidating pose and quietly asked his master.

Augustus was such a noble man,

The Great Master should personally perform the ritual to help them pass on!

But Zhao Shen told him, "I haven't performed rituals for many years. You are more experienced than me, so you should encourage yourself!"

joke,

The Great Master of Western Qin was highly skilled in martial arts and never argued with anyone.

Now that I'm out of practice, how can I possibly embarrass myself in front of Augustus?
Let the apprentice-grandson do the work!
"Oh!"

Coconut Crisp indicated that he understood, then took a deep breath, ignoring the disdainful look of the Roman priest next to him, and got ready.

(End of this chapter)