A thousand-year-old family that began with the Battle of Makino

Chapter 255 Going Further

The fourth year of Han Dynasty (the fourth year of Yuanshi)

Wang Mang elected his daughter as queen and announced a general amnesty to the world.

He also sent eight people including Da Situ Sizhi, Chen Chong and others to various parts of the country to inspect social customs and prepare for what was to come.

With the support of the Empress Dowager and the Empress above, the trust of hundreds of officials below, and the praise of the people, Wang Mang believed that it was time to go one step further.

August
Taibao Wang Shun and others reported: "The Spring and Autumn Annals list the great meanings of merit. The highest is to establish virtue, the second is to establish merit, and the third is to write books and establish theories. Only the most noble sages can do these.

For those who are ministers, they receive the greatest reward during their lifetime and become ministers admired by people after their death. Yi Yin of the Yin Shang Dynasty and Duke Zhou of the Zhou Dynasty are such people. "

At one time, more than 8,000 people submitted a petition, saying: "Yi Yin is the Aheng, and Zhou Gong is the Taizi. The Duke of Zhou enjoys the title of seven sons, and has received more rewards than the Grand Duke. As for the honor of Taifu Wang, it should be based on the Do what Chen Chong said."

The Queen Mother was not able to make a decision, so she sent the memorial to the officials and asked them to discuss the regulations carefully.

An official wrote: "The land in the two counties that were previously enfeoffed, as well as Huangyouju and Xinye counties should be returned. The titles of Yiyin and Duke of Zhou should be used, and the title of prime minister should be added to Duke Anhan, ranking above the three Dukes.

The prime minister's official salary should be six hundred stones. When Sangong writes to Heng, he should start by saying, "I'll take the liberty to say so." Officials are not allowed to have the same name as Duke Anhan. When going out, he was accompanied by twenty Qimen soldiers, thirty Yulin cavalry, and ten carts at the front and rear.

Anhan Gong's mother was granted the title of Gongxianjun, and was awarded fiefdom to 2,000 households. She also wore a gold seal and a red ribbon. He gave his two sons, Wang An as Xiangxin Marquis and Wang Lin as Shangdu Marquis. The queen's betrothal gift was increased by 37 million, making it 100 million to show the solemnity of the etiquette. "

After the charter was finalized, the Queen Mother came to the front hall and conferred the title in person.

Wang Mang thanked him in front, and his two sons thanked him in the back, just like Zhou Gong's old practice. Wang Mang kowtowed and refused, and after leaving the palace, he submitted a report about the title, saying that he was only willing to accept the title given to his mother, but would return the seals and titles of Wang An and Wang Lin.

The Empress Dowager handed over the matter to Grand Master Kong Guang, Grand Protector Wang Shun, Young Master Bai Xuan and others, all of whom said: "Rewards are not enough for merit. Modesty, thrift, retreat and courtesy are the consistent virtues of Duke Anhan, and they must not be dependent on each other."

So after three resignations and three concessions, Wang Mang wrote: "On the night of the Wuwu Day in June of the second year of Yuanshou, I was introduced to the Weiyang Palace as the new capital lord; on Gengshen day, I was appointed as the Grand Sima, and I took up the post of three ministers. position.

On Bingchen day of the first month of the first year of the Yuan Dynasty, he was appointed as Taifu and rewarded his minister with the title of Duke Anhan, occupying the official position of Liufu.

In April this year, he was appointed Prime Minister again on Jiazi Day, occupying the position of Grand Duke. I consider it for myself. The title is Marquis of Xindu, the title is Anhan Gong, the official titles are Prime Minister, Taifu and Grand Sima. The title is noble, the title is prominent, and the official position is important. One person receives five great honors. It is really not me. capable.

According to the survey in the third year of the Yuan Dynasty, the harvest across the country has returned to normal, and all officials should be restored.

"Baizhuan" says: "The emperor's ministers have power throughout the country." I believe that the prime minister should take it as his responsibility to correct the officials and govern the world, but he has no seal of approval and the name does not live up to the reality.

I don't have the talent to hold multiple positions at the same time. Now that the imperial court has made a mistake in appointing me, I asked the censor to engrave the Prime Minister's seal, which is called "Prime Minister Taifu Da Sima Seal." Fu He Da Sima's seal. "

The Empress Dowager agreed to Wang Mang's request, so when Wang Mang went out, he was followed by ten carts in front and behind, accompanied by Shangshu Lang who was on duty as director, Shi Yushi, Ye Zhe, Zhonghuangmen, Qimen guards and Yu Lin. military.

Wang Mang often held the prime minister's talisman in his hand, and would be picked up by his visitors wherever he stayed. The salary of the prime minister's subordinates was 600 dan. When the third prince reported to the prime minister, he claimed to "presumptuously said".

October
Wang Mang requested the construction of ceremonial buildings such as Mingtang, Piyong, and Lingtai, as well as national buildings such as the market (market) and Changmancang (national warehouse). He also built 10,000 residences for scholars, attracting thousands of scholars and people with special abilities from all over the world. Chang'an vigorously promoted the education of rituals and music, and wanted to regulate the behavior of people in the world with rituals.

Wang Mang's move attracted the hearts of Confucian scholars all over the world. Confucian scholars from all over the world gathered in Chang'an. Wang Mang's series of measures to improve the status of Confucian scholars made Wang Mang a saint in the hearts of Confucian scholars.

Even in the Bai Kingdom, which has always been a holy land of Confucianism, most Confucians went to Chang'an. Chaoge, known as the Confucian capital of the world, and the commercial capital, lost its title of Confucian capital for a while, and Chang'an became the new Confucian capital of the world.

And Wang Mang has become the center of Confucianism, and his poems praising Wang Mang are widely circulated in the world.

December

More than 480,000 people, as well as princes, princes, and clans, submitted petitions to request a reward from Anhan Duke Wang Mang.

Finally, after discussion among the ministers, it was decided to add nine tins to Wang Mang.

Jiuxi's life symbolizes supreme courtesy.

Jiuxi, one means chariots and horses: golden chariots and large chariots, military chariots and rong chariots, and two black horses (eight black horses). Those who are virtuous will be given chariots and horses.

The second is clothes: Gunmian's clothes, plus a pair of matching red jackets. Give it to those who can bring peace to the people.

The third one is Lexuan: an instrument for tuning and tuning. Give it to those who make the people happy.

The fourth is Zhuhu: red painted gate. Those with many people will give it to them.

The fifth day is Nabi: The specially chiselled level of the emperor makes the climber invisible. Give it to those who can do good.

Sixth: Huben: Huben guards and the weapons they hold, such as halberds and spears. Give it to those who can turn away evil.

The seventh is bow and arrow: Tong bow has hundreds of arrows, Xuan bow has thousands of arrows. Give it to those who can conquer the unjust.

Eighth: Ax and ax: Axes and axes made of bronze can be used to conquer on behalf of the emperor without asking for instructions. Give it to those who can punish the guilty.

Jiuyue: 第鬯: a fragrant wine used for sacrificial ceremonies, brewed from rare black millet and tulips. Give it to those who are prepared for filial piety.

In the same year, eight custom envoys sent by Wang Mang came back and said that the customs of the world were uniform. They forged folk songs and folk songs of each county and feudal state to praise virtues, a total of 30,000 words. Wang Mang reported it to the public and clearly recorded it in the documents.

He also reported that everything in the market has a second price, there are no lawsuits in the government, there are no thieves in the city, there are no hungry people in the suburbs, people do not pick up people on the road, and the system of men and women not walking together is implemented, and violators only receive symbolic punishment.

Twelve people including Liu Xin and Chen Chong were all granted the title of marquis for building Mingtang and promoting enlightenment.

All the officials thought that under Wang Mang's governance, the world was at peace, so they praised Wang Mang even more.

The fifth year of the Han Dynasty (the fifth year of the Yuan Dynasty)

When the Han Emperor fell ill, Wang Mang prayed to heaven and died on behalf of the Han Emperor.

Everyone said that Wang Mang's actions were in line with Duke Zhou, and he was worthy of being called a saint in the world.

Now the Han Emperor has become a puppet, and all major events in the world depend on Wang Mang. Wang Mang has become the de facto emperor. He feels that he can no longer let one person ride on his head, because some things must be done by his own. In name, it is achieved through coercive means.

If the name is not correct, the words will not be fulfilled. Now the measures to resettle the refugees and disaster victims by evacuating family property, he himself knows that it is only a drop in the bucket.

So he was ready to take action.

That night, Wang Mang summoned Zhen Feng at his residence. The two talked for many hours. Finally, Zhen Feng came out with a pale face. December

Emperor Han suddenly fell ill and died on his bed.

Wang Mang led his ministers to give him a posthumous title of "Ping". When he governed without being obedient, he was called Ping; It was Emperor Xiaoping of the Han Dynasty. He had no temple name and was buried in Kangling.

In order to prevent an older new emperor from ascending the throne and bringing in new relatives, which would cause him to expend energy on solving problems and not be able to manipulate the political situation arbitrarily, Wang Mang appointed Liu Ying, the great-great-grandson of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty, who was only two years old, as the crown prince.

At this time, Liu Qing, Marquis of Quanling, wrote a letter saying: "When King Cheng of Zhou was a boy, he was called Ruzi, and Duke Zhou acted as the agent of the government. Now that your majesty is still young, Duke Anhan should be allowed to act on behalf of the emperor, just like Duke Zhou did back then."

All the ministers believed that the Han Dynasty could be reborn under the leadership of Wang Mang, and they all said: "It should be like Qing Yan."

That month, Meng Tong, the magistrate of Wugong County, dredged the well and dug out a white stone with a round upper part and a square lower part. There were vermilion words on it, which read "Announcement that Prince Mang of Anhan is the emperor."

Wang Mang asked the princes to report this matter to the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother said: "This is to deceive the people of the world and cannot be followed."

Taibao Wang Shun persuaded the Queen Mother: "The matter has reached this point. There is no other way. If we want to stop him, we are powerless. Furthermore, Wang Mang does not dare to have any ambitions. He just wants a name to act on behalf of the emperor and strengthen his authority." Power is all about subduing the world."

The Queen Mother finally agreed and issued an edict to let Wang Mang act as the emperor's government official, calling him a false emperor. His subjects called Wang Mang the emperor regent, and Wang Mang called himself "Yu".

He also ordered that the reign title be changed to Jushe in the second year.

The first year of Han Dynasty (the first year of Jushe)

Wang Mang went to the southern suburbs of Chang'an to worship the gods, and to the eastern suburbs to welcome the coming of spring. He held a grand shooting ceremony in the Mingtang, entertained the three elders and the fifth watch, and went back after the ceremony. Set up five historians under the pillar, with the same salary as the censor, so that they can observe Gong Mang's handling of government affairs and stand on both sides to record his words and deeds.

March
Wang Mang issued an edict and established Liu Ying as the crown prince, known as Ruzi.

Wang Shun was appointed as Taifu Zuofu, Bai Xuan was Tai'a Youfu, and Zhen Feng was Taibao successor. Four junior official positions were also established, with salaries of two thousand dan each.

However, Wang Mang's series of actions that were equivalent to those of an emperor immediately aroused a backlash from the opposition, mainly the Liu clan.

April
Liu Chong, the Marquis of Anzhong, discussed with Zhang Shao, the Prime Minister of Anzhong, and said: "The Anhan Duke Mang's dictatorship in court affairs will definitely endanger the Liu clan. It is not that there are no people who oppose him in the world, but no one dares to take action first. This is the Liu family's fault." shame.

I am willing to lead people of my own clan to take action first. By then, the whole country will definitely respond positively, and the Liu family's orthodoxy will definitely return. "

So Zhang Shao and others followed him, with more than a hundred people, and led their troops to attack Wancheng the next day.

However, the group of them did not even enter the city gate, and were suppressed by the bandit-suppressing captain, and failed.

The second year of Han Dynasty (the second year of Jushe)

September
Zhai Yi, the prefect of Dongjun, raised an army and proclaimed Yanxiang Hou Liu Xin as the emperor. He sent a "Revelation against Thieves" to all counties and feudal states: "The traitor Wang Mang poisoned Emperor Ping to death and acted as emperor. He wanted to cut off the Han Dynasty. Now, I am ordered by heaven to attack him..."

As Zhai Yi's message spread throughout the country, all counties and feudal states were shaken. For a time, all parts of Guandong responded to Zhai Yi, and his army soon reached more than 100,000 people.

To make matters worse, the "thieves" Zhao Ming and others in the 23 counties west of Chang'an also rose up in rebellion and responded to Zhai Yi and others in Guandong.

Wang Mang was so worried about all this that he couldn't even eat. He held Ru Ziying in his arms and prayed in the ancestral temple day and night. He also wrote an article imitating the "Great Edict", explaining that his throne was temporary and that he would definitely return the throne to Ru Ziying in the future. .

At the same time, they continued to mobilize large armies to suppress, hoping to destroy the troops of Zhao Ming in Guanzhong and Zhai Yi in Guandong.

So he appointed Marquis Wang Yi of Chengdu as the former general to send troops to attack Zhao Ming and others in Guanzhong, and Xiuwu Hou Baiwei as the left general to send troops to attack Zhai Yi and others. He also asked his trusted generals to go out of the pass first to guard the key roads and chokepoints, waiting for the court. The counterinsurgency army arrives.

November

After Wang Yi wiped out all the "thieves" in Guanzhong and left a certain amount of troops to continue suppressing them, he led the army to rush to Guandong to help Bai Wei.

The Kwantung rebels numbered tens of thousands, while Bai Wei only had tens of thousands of Central Army troops. Although they were elite, they were still small in number.

In order to prevent the spread of Zhai Yi's rebellion, Bai Wei divided his army into more than a dozen groups and surrounded Dongjun. He cooperated with local county soldiers to guard key roads and passes, and blocked Zhai Yi in Dongjun. Unable to move.

He personally commanded more than 10,000 elite troops and tens of thousands of county soldiers who came to support him, constantly attacking cities and territories, oppressing Zhai Yi's living space.

December

By the time Wang Yi led his troops to support him, tens of thousands of Zhai Yi's troops had been besieged in Puyang City by Bai Wei and tens of thousands of Central Army troops.

As soon as Wang Yi arrived, the two armies joined forces to attack the city from the west and south. Ten months later, Puyang City fell and Zhai Yi died in the rebellion. Then the two armies divided into two groups and continued to suppress small rebellions in various places.

The third year of Han Dynasty (the third year of residence)

New Year
Wang Yi and Bai Wei's armies wiped out the local rebellion and returned to the court with their troops.

Wang Mang was very happy and held a banquet in the White Tiger Hall of Weiyang Palace to reward the generals. Chen Chong was also ordered to review military achievements and distinguish their high and low grades.

Wang Mang said: "Now that we are formulating etiquette and creating music and teaching, we can objectively examine the Zhou Dynasty. There are five levels of nobility and four levels of fiefdom. There are clear written records. There are three levels of nobility in the Yin Dynasty. There is an explanation for it in the legend, but no text. .

Confucius said: 'The system of the Zhou Dynasty was established based on the systems of the Xia and Shang dynasties. How rich and beautiful it is! I support the weekly system. Therefore, I request that the generals should obtain titles and fiefs. The titles should be divided into five levels and the fiefs should be divided into four levels. "

Therefore, for the generals who were fighting the rebellion, the highest-ranking people were marquis and earl, followed by viscount and baron. Those who should be given the title of Marquis of Guannei were called Fucheng. There were several hundred people in total.

Those who attack Xihai County are called "Qiang", those who attack Huaili County are called "Wu", and those who attack Zhai Yi are called "Lu". "

Finally, Wang Yi was granted the title of Pingwuhou, and Bai Wei's Xiuwuhou was changed to Pingluhou, and a thousand households were added to the settlement.

The officials who opposed Wang Mang were eliminated, the rebels who rebelled against Wang Mang were put down, all obstacles were removed, and Wang Mang began to take the final step.

A man named Wei Zhang presented the Golden Chamber Policy Book to the Temple of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, saying to the effect that Wang Mang was the destined emperor. In the end, eleven people in the list were given official titles by Wang Mang.

December

After making all preparations, Wang Mang forced the Queen Mother Wang Zhengjun to hand over the imperial seal, and after accepting Ru Ziying's abdication, he proclaimed himself emperor and went to the Gaozu Temple to worship him. The royal crown became the emperor's throne, and the country's name was changed to "Xin".

Wang Mang claimed to be the new ancestor, changed Chang'an to Chang'an, and changed the year to "the first year of the founding of the country".

(End of this chapter)