Chapter 546 New Expansion Pack, Wang Mang (asking for monthly ticket)
It’s just a big dream in heaven, and several spring and autumn seasons on earth.
Since the death of Emperor Xiaoshao Liu Yun, the Han Dynasty has been like a tranquil pool of water, calm and peaceful without a single ripple. No one wants to know what kind of stormy waves are beneath the tranquil surface of the water.
In this way, spring went and autumn came, the winter was cold and the summer was becoming more and more unbearable. Year after year, the seemingly calm court moved forward, but a heavy atmosphere was brewing between the world.
It was not until the condensed trend that Ji Zhao had been paying attention to was completely formed that the great event brewing in the world itself began.
On that day, a white rainbow pierced the sun, the earth was surging with fire, and a meteor shower fell on the Han Dynasty's counties. Countless points of light fell with the meteor shower, and purple spots were faintly flashing among the light points.
Ji Lingjun instantly felt something familiar from it. There was a hint of the same smell on the Phoenix Destiny in her body.
"Grandfather, is this the unprecedented change you mentioned?
Is the family going to step down from the high platform just because of this big change?"
With so many Destinies scattered across the world, almost everywhere, Ji Zhao raised his eyebrows. Is this the new way to play with the world's destiny?
[How can there be anything that lasts forever? How can there be an immortal empire in the world?
The moment you reach the top of the mountain, there is a bottomless abyss ahead.
The glory of the Han Dynasty is engraved in the annals of history, and the deeds of the sage kings shine in the long river of history, but everything will eventually come to an end.
When only a rotten body is left and the uplifting spirit of the past is completely destroyed, isn't a splendid death better than a lingering life?
The wise man with a mission will use light and virtue to break through this dark world.
Large expansion pack: The end of the Han Empire begins.
The world is further improved, please let your family explore it. 】
The system's voice, which had not been heard for a long time, sounded at the right time. After the continuous failures in reversing destiny and the years of being in a bad state, it was probably really powerless to save the situation. The contradictory situation in the world had already been established here, so naturally, the new expansion pack began.
The end of the Han Empire!
This was actually within Ji Zhao's expectations, Xiu'er and Wang Mang, although he didn't know whether these two people would appear, after all, the world was already very different.
But if they appear, these two people must have different qualities. There is no need to say much about Xiu'er's popularity and reputation. Wang Mang is actually not weak either, especially in modern times, Wang Mang's evaluation is not low.
Now that the mandate of heaven no longer belongs to one person, Liu Xiu may not be able to truly seize the world!
Even judging from the changes in the previous Zhou, Qin and Han dynasties, these famous emperors in history did not necessarily ascend to the throne normally.
…………
“Isn’t it a pleasure to learn and practice it from time to time?”
“…”
"The village is dying and cannot accept..."
The sound of reading aloud rang out in the private school. The great scholar who taught the class couldn't help but smile as he looked at this prosperous scene.
The teachings of sages have been developed for hundreds of years and have been constantly refined in practice. Today, they are flourishing and cannot be interrupted.
After hundreds of years of development during the Han Dynasty, especially after the opening of private schools, the trend of preaching and teaching among the people became popular, and a large number of scholars emerged.
These scholars who are well-read in poetry and literature are actually the most powerful force in the political arena.
However, they are usually quite divided, relying on the power of clan members and foreign relatives. After all, the three highest officials nowadays are basically clan members and foreign relatives.
Even if a scholar serves as prime minister, there must be a general who is a relative of the emperor or a censor who is a clan relative to check and balance him.
There are several main paths for these scholars: being selected as filial and honest officials, being selected as scholars, and entering the imperial court, which have the brightest future.
If there is no such opportunity, then you can enter the counties and accept the recruitment of the county governor and the county magistrate. Later, you will also have the opportunity to be recommended and enter the court.
The other way is to go through the connections with kings and princes. The status of prime minister of a prince is basically equivalent to that of a county governor, and the marquises who guard the garrison are also popular. This group of people have the quota to recommend people to the court.
Even if they were not recommended to the imperial court, with their connections, it would not be difficult for these people to get an official position in any of the counties in Guandong.
In this world, there are always people with abilities who gradually replace those with abilities. Scholars are better than those with noble bloodlines or even royal families.
From strategy, to governance, and even military affairs, these scholars can beat the former.
Even if the former occupy the high position by relying on their innate nobility, the scholars can only be humble, but deep down they look down on those who show off their power only by relying on their bloodline.
The sound of reading in the private school was still loud. In a small pavilion, two people were playing chess. A white-faced, beardless scholar pressed down a chess piece and sighed, "The world is so exhausted now. More and more people are rising up, but the court is still in a state of drunkenness and debauchery.
If the system is not reformed, and the powerful are allowed to run rampant and lawless, and officials continue to oppress the people, how much more suffering will the people of this world have to endure?"
The scholar's clothes were clean but obviously a bit old, and even had two patches on the cuffs. He was also wearing plain clothes underneath without any decorations. It was quite simple, but not surprising because his name was Wang Mang.
He was well-known in the county. He was filial and polite, treated his elders with respect and sincerity, was diligent, frugal and steady, and always used his money to help the poor and the unfortunate, but he himself was reluctant to use even a piece of fancy clothes.
He had a high prestige among the scholars in the county. After being selected as an official by the Ministry of Rites, he still served in the county, but his reputation gradually spread to the imperial court.
The person who was playing chess with Wang Mang sighed and said, "The imperial court is powerful. The people who are rising up now are far less than those in the last years of Emperor Li. They cannot threaten the nobles in Guanzhong and the emperor. The Han Dynasty is still very stable. According to the current trend, it will be no problem for it to survive for another two hundred years."
Wang Mang had no good feelings towards these officials who were just sitting there doing nothing but eating and drinking. He snorted coldly and said, "The Han Dynasty?
The people are the most important, the king is the least important, and the country is next. What is the use of a king who cannot govern the people?
What is the use of a country that cannot prosper?
In order to make those nobles live a life of drunkenness, extravagance, corruption, moral depravity, forget the teachings of the ancient sages, and still be free and at ease? "
It seemed that his friend understood Wang Mang's character quite well. In response to these rather unorthodox remarks, he did not say anything but just sighed heavily.
Wang Mang looked at the black and white chess pieces on the chessboard, paused, and then said in a firm tone: "I will accept the court's call and go to Chang'an."
This surprised his friend. He did not expect that Wang Mang, who was unwilling to go to Chang'an before, would change his mind. He could not help but ask in doubt: "Ju Jun, why did you suddenly have such an idea?"
Wang Mang said with a gloomy face: "I have thought it through. Can crying day and night make the world prosperous?
Could criticizing current ills affect the high-ranking officials in the court and the emperor?
Only by taking part in the battle yourself can you make the world prosperous!
If you want to get things done, you must have enough power. In the past, King Luo Wen, Marquis Bowang Wulie and Duke Zhao Zhongyi were all able to carry out reforms easily after they reached the highest positions in the country.
Now that the Wang family is powerful and the world's situation is gradually leaning towards us, it's time to go to Chang'an.
When I become the most powerful official in the country, I will restart the ways of Duke Zhaozhongyi. I will go one step further than Duke Zhaozhongyi and completely put an end to the plunder of the common people by the powerful.
I do not want to simply restore the reign of Emperor Xiaowen. It has collapsed to such a situation in just a hundred years. Looking through the history books, only the kingly rule of the former states of Zhou and Luo lasted the longest.
The world closest to the Great Harmony described in the scriptures of sages!
Leading the world into a harmonious world is the unshirkable responsibility of scholars like me in this world."
"Ju Jun, you are really too radical. This is an overreaction. It will be enough if we can restore the world to the time of Emperor Xiaocheng."
Wang Mang pressed down a chess piece and said, "However, the right way is not enough to correct the wrongs. Without thunderbolts, the darkness shrouding the Han Dynasty cannot be broken. If you don't seek the best, how can you get a good result?
I once studied in Zhaocheng and witnessed how the Luo family governed the country. As long as I behave properly and set an example, I can attract like-minded people and put the world back on track. "
The friend shook his head when he heard this. He did not quite agree with Wang Mang's approach and ideas, but he had great trust in Wang Mang's character. He had been doing this for twenty years, day after day. Who could not admire him?
In the eyes of all those who know Wang Mang, Wang Mang is a nearly perfect Confucian scholar-official, possessing the virtues of a saint. He treats everyone equally, is compassionate, does not flatter his superiors, and does not bully his subordinates. He is a breath of fresh air in the circle of powerful people with many weirdos.
It was this kind of reputation that made Wang Mang's elders value him, and his prestige among scholars led to a lot of calls for him to become an official.
Wang Mang's refusal made the court even more determined to win.
“Bang!”
The friend pressed down the white piece and said softly, "Jun Ju, you lose."
Wang Mang looked at the chaotic chessboard, somewhat puzzled, not knowing why the situation suddenly reversed. His friend pointed to one spot and said, "You focused too much on one spot, and therefore lost the overall situation."
Wang Mang nodded, realizing what was going on. He straightened his crown and robes, stood up, greeted and left.
Looking at Wang Mang's leaving figure, the friend frowned slightly, recalled what Wang Mang had just said, and looked at the black and white pieces on the chessboard.
————
Wang Mang was a complicated person. He came from a wealthy family but lived a simple life. He was able to behave himself when the children of aristocrats generally became decadent and extravagant. He had a strong sense of justice and, like most scholars, liked to criticize current social ills, hoped for change, and put it into practice.
If all of this was just a gesture to reach a high position, I cannot understand it, because after he achieved his goal, he remained the same, treating most people with respect and humility.
He was a moral role model and reform pioneer promoted by scholars in the dark ages when the dynasty was gradually collapsing. But a new question was put before everyone: why him?
Is this a choice of fate, or a necessity of personal struggle? - Biography of Wang Mang
(End of this chapter)
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