svetikya Page 85
Page 85
Its rise was swift, and its fall was sudden.
It's a sad state of affairs, but everyone understands that these people are destined for failure.
Liu Xiu looked somewhat embarrassed; the meeting was not as peaceful as Yin Lihua had described.
In fact, after hearing Liu Xiu's "treasonous" remarks, Yin Lu almost kicked him out of the house, and even with his brother-in-law Deng Chen's help to plead for him, he almost couldn't escape it.
The reason is simple: in Yin Lu's view, this was Liu Xiu trying to drag him down with him.
Although it was a consensus among the powerful families that Daxin was doomed, it still had the strength to strike.
At the end of the Qin Dynasty, Zhang Han led an army of 200,000 convicts and nearly wiped out the rebel armies of the six states. If it weren't for the decisive battle at Julu, the outcome would have been uncertain.
Although there are now Red Eyebrows and Green Forest bandits, they all seem to suffer the same fate as Chen Sheng and Wu Guang. Even Xiang Yu has vanished without a trace, so there's no need to say more about Emperor Gaozu.
Under such circumstances, how could the powerful clans of Nanyang, which were closest to Guanzhong, dare to make any moves?
Even this year, just a few months ago, powerful figures from Nanyang, such as Liu Xiu and Yin Shi, were studying in Chang'an, and only recently have some of them returned.
This reveals the forced "loyalty" of the powerful clans of Nanyang to the new dynasty.
He crossed his arms, unsure how to deal with his future wife.
Just now, Yin Lihua briefly recounted the news that assassins had secretly entered the inner quarters. If they hadn't happened to run into Yin Lihua, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
While assassins may lack honor and righteousness, they are indeed a powerful deterrent.
If Yin Lihua is like this, then what about Guo Shengtong?
Liu Xiu felt a pang of shame, and then said:
"Thanks to your appreciation, young lady, I was spared from being expelled from the mansion by the Yin Master."
Rain is falling heavily outside the window.
Yin Lihua seemed to sense Liu Xiu's unease, and she said in the same way:
"Is the young master worried about this autumn rain?"
Liu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and said:
"Indeed, this autumn rain came at the worst possible time. If it had come a few days later, we could have traveled north to Wancheng and then further north to meet up with my brother. If it had come a day earlier, we could have made preparations and used the river to transport supplies."
As he spoke, he shook his head and said, "It just so happens that these past few days have coincided with the Green Forest Army's northward invasion."
Although Liu Yan had already made an alliance with the bandits, Liu Xiu never truly trusted them, and he continued to ramble on:
"That's not all. My brother-in-law Deng Chen and I just returned to Xinye today. My brother-in-law went to gather troops, while I came here to persuade Yin Gong. Now, because of this rain, we've been delayed for a few days..."
It seems that because Yin Lihua is Liu Xiu's future empress and the two are already engaged, and because of her face which is exactly the same as that of the goddess Nuwa, Liu Xiu is very familiar with Yin Lihua, whom he has only met a few times, and does not stand on ceremony at all.
Yin Lihua listened quietly as Liu Xiu poured out his sorrows without interrupting. She rested her hands on her lap, remaining perfectly still, exuding the air of a well-bred lady, a stark contrast to the domineering demeanor of Nuwa that Liu Xiu remembered.
After Liu Xiu finished speaking, Yin Lihua smiled and said, "Young Master, you are feeling much better now."
Liu Xiu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Thank you for listening, young lady."
At this moment, Yin Lihua's maid Qinghe walked in, secretly glanced at Liu Xiu, and wondered to herself if this was the man Miss Yin admired.
It doesn't look that great!
Qinghe, still a young girl at heart and not yet of marriageable age, thought of Yin Lihua but looked at Liu Xiu with utmost respect and said:
"Young master, a guest is looking for you."
Liu Xiu slapped the table and laughed loudly, "It must be my brother-in-law Deng Chen who has arrived."
Seeing Liu Xiu's joyful expression, Yin Lihua said, "Since a guest has come looking for you, young master, I will not insist that you stay any longer."
She nodded, bowed and took her leave, then turned around and slowly walked away.
Qinghe wanted to follow, but Yin Lihua interrupted her, "Qinghe, see Young Master Liu off."
Xiao Qinghe mumbled something but didn't refuse.
Liu Xiu fell silent, then followed Qinghe to a house in front of the manor. The visitor was indeed Deng Chen.
He said with a smile, "I heard that the Yin family head was initially hesitant to take any action, but now he has ordered an army to rise up. This is all thanks to you, Uncle Wen!"
Liu Xiu did not take credit for it, and casually said, "It's just the will of Heaven!"
He paused, then asked, "I wonder how much my brother-in-law has gained?"
"I have recruited a thousand soldiers, which is not enough, but it is satisfactory," Deng Chen replied immediately.
Liu Xiu looked north; the sky was still overcast. He muttered to himself:
"So, in a few days, it will be time to return north."
Chapter 149 The King of Bronze and Fire in the Han Dynasty
It was already moonlight.
The city streets and alleys were quiet and deserted, except for the magnificent palace in the north of the city, which was still brightly lit and could be seen from afar.
This is Chang'an.
Bathed in the bright sunlight of the night, the palace's eaves, rooftops, carved railings, and lacquered pillars all shimmered with a silvery glow, captivating the eye.
The light shone into the hall, mingling with the candlelight and illuminating the face of the imposing man before the desk.
Fourteen years ago, the citizens of Chang'an elected Wang Mang to accept the abdication, which enabled him to ascend to the throne.
He wore a black ceremonial robe with the "Twelve Symbols": sun, moon, stars, mountain, dragon, pheasant, sacrificial vessel, algae, fire, rice grains, axe, and embroidered pattern.
Selected from the Rites of Zhou.
He flipped through the memorials before him; winter had already arrived, and the new year had just begun.
This year is known to later generations as 23 AD, and today it is called the fourth year of the Earthly Emperor.
And it was in this very year that the Xin Dynasty collapsed.
"Is Yuan Rang here?" Wang Mang suddenly asked.
"Your Majesty." A humble figure darted out from the shadows; if one did not look closely, it would be almost impossible to see that there had once been a person there.
This was also the survival rule of eunuchs; when they didn't want the emperor to notice them, even the most noble emperor would sometimes subconsciously ignore these lowly servants.
Wang Mang stared at the eunuch who served him closely and muttered to himself, "Yuan Rang, do you know? A traitor named Liu Xuan in the east has already declared himself emperor."
The fact that the eunuch remained motionless was hardly news at all.
In this era, becoming emperor was never a trivial matter; it was equivalent to "establishing a separate central government" in later times.
Wang Mang didn't expect a servant girl to answer him; he just wanted to confide in her.
However, today, apart from the eunuch before him, he couldn't find anyone else he could confide in.
He continued, "This scoundrel named Liu Xuan was coerced by bandits to declare himself emperor, and under the banner of the Han Dynasty, he has already besieged Wancheng. The one leading the troops is some Han imperial relative from Nanyang, whose title I stripped a few years ago. His name is Liu Yan."
Wancheng was the capital of Nanyang and a famous city. Once Wancheng fell, it would mean that the emperor's ambition would no longer be a trivial matter.
The eunuch remained motionless, simply listening to the emperor's message. The new emperor showed great respect to those of lowly status, unlike those "nobles" who would readily reprimand them.
However, this was the case for eunuchs like Yuan Rang.
In the previous dynasty, he could wield great power, but in the new dynasty, he no longer has that ability.
As Wang Mang spoke, he couldn't help but laugh. Without waiting for the eunuch's reply, he declared, "It's time to deal with these bandits."
The eunuch listened quietly, knowing that the emperor had finished speaking his mind and it was time for him to do his job.
As expected, Wang Mang then said, "Bring the imperial seal here."
Yuan Rang understood what the emperor was talking about. What could make the emperor take it so seriously could not be those small jade seals, but only the Imperial Seal of the State—the He Shi Bi.
Those who receive orders from heaven will live long and prosperous lives.
The eunuch didn't know why the emperor summoned the imperial seal in the middle of the night, but he knew he didn't need to know.
Just as he stepped out of the palace gate, Wang Mang suddenly called out to him.
"Wait, Yuanrang, please invite the Imperial Advisor Liu Xin over as well!"
The eunuch knew this person. Since the New Year, the emperor and the imperial advisor had been inseparable. Liu Xin had even moved into the palace. Such an honor was unmatched by ordinary people.
He accepted the order and took his leave.
Wang Mang watched the eunuch's departing figure and slowly closed his eyes. Since ascending the throne, he had worked tirelessly day and night, yet the state of the country was declining like a river flowing downhill with no end in sight.
Now even Nanyang is almost entirely in rebellion.
Greenwood bandits attacked everywhere, Han imperial relatives rose up in rebellion, and powerful clans in Nanyang followed suit.
When exactly did it begin?
Has the country reached this point?
Wang Mang was unaware that he was following the teachings of the sage in every single one of them!
Soon, a young eunuch brought over the wooden box containing the Imperial Seal of the State and placed it on the table.
Yuan Rangze had not yet returned. Wang Mang knew that Liu Xin's residence was farther away than the place where the imperial seal was located, and it would take some more time.
Wang Mang opened the wooden box in front of him almost blankly, and the He Shi Bi jade, which had been passed down for thousands of years, was placed inside.
The jade disc is warm and smooth, and touching it feels like gently touching a piece of silk.
Wang Mang gently stroked the He Shi Bi jade in front of him, but suddenly frowned as he touched a hard corner.
That was the only flaw in the entire piece of jade, and also the only golden spot on the entire white jade disc.
"A flawless jade is now incomplete," Wang Mang sighed, then suddenly fell silent.
This He Shi Bi jade was broken before he ascended the throne.
His daughter, who was also the Empress Dowager of the Han Dynasty, Wang Yan, always believed that he was a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty and never imagined that one day her father would usurp the throne from her husband's son.
So, on the very day Wang Mang usurped the Han throne, the Empress Dowager smashed the jade disc to the ground, breaking off a corner. Wang Mang ordered people to repair it with gold, but ultimately the Imperial Seal of the State was still damaged.
Since usurping the Han throne fourteen years ago, his daughter has refused to see him, and Wang Mang has not dared to see his daughter either.
This matter is over.
Just as Wang Mang was lost in his memories.