Chapter 0001: The Calamity Arises from Liu Xiu

He lowered his head, seemingly casually walking behind the young man in plain clothes, his hands placed in front of him, with his right hand discreetly slipping into the cuff of his left sleeve.

The year 20 AD, the first year of the Earth Emperor era

Secret room

You might as well stop thinking about it; they dare to assassinate the emperor, so how could you possibly report them?

"My lord, I take my leave!" The man in black bent his body, took a few steps back, and then with a sudden movement, he vanished from sight

He carefully took the "Red Sun Talisman" out of the wooden box, trembling as he walked to the candlestick, and gently placed the scroll on the table

Liu Xin squinted his eyes and read through it from beginning to end. Then he carefully folded the silk and tucked it into his bosom, saying expressionlessly: "Remember, not a single person recorded in here can be allowed to live"

At that moment, as he was filled with countless emotions, someone approached him silently from behind.

The gaze of the common youth passed over him, looking towards the person calling him. Upon recognizing the newcomer, he was filled with joy and quickly walked over, exclaiming in surprise and delight: "Elder brother!"

Liu Xin glanced at him, let out a cold laugh, and asked: "Is your approach to directly kill them?"

Yongzhou, Henei County, Lin County, Liu Xiu, forty-nine years old, widower, bedridden.

However, at this moment, Liu Xin's execution of all those named Liu Xiu across the land is not helping Wang Mang eliminate potential threats. If he truly had such benevolent intentions, he would have long since presented the "Red Exorcism Talisman" to Wang Mang, rather than secretly hiding it away himself

As the saying goes, the people do not contend with the officials; the common folk at the market, unable to provoke the constables, were frightened and hurriedly retreated to the sides.

"Yes, my lord, I have investigated thoroughly," said the man in black as he took out a piece of silk from his bosom, bowing slightly as he presented it to Liu Xin

Across the country, the sudden deaths of so many Liu Xiu, do you not think it would raise suspicions

After Wang Mang ascended to the throne, he further promoted Liu Xin, making Liu Xin a prominent figure in the court

Elder brother, how come you are in the city

The young man in plain clothes gazed intently at the image in the notice, and could not help but silently exclaim: A true man should be like this!

Two constables passed through the market and arrived near the city gate, where they hung a white notice on the city wall. Subsequently, the two constables stood on either side of the notice.

"The Red Talisman" is a book of prophecies, which means it is a text that records predictions. As for who authored it and in what era it was written, it has long been impossible to verify.

This person is of medium height, with a sturdy build, dressed very ordinarily in a short shirt and long pants, with the pant legs rolled up quite high. He is wearing straw sandals and a straw hat on his head. From his appearance, he is no different from a farmer going to the city for the market.

The man in black remained silent

During Wang Mang's Xin Dynasty, Liu Xin was a prominent figure, not only holding a high position of power but also being the most renowned literary master of the time

A bounty of five thousand? Many illiterate commoners, upon hearing the words 'five thousand gold', all widened their eyes and were left speechless.

In a narrow and dimly lit space, there are two individuals, one seated and one standing. The seated individual is an elderly man, with graying hair and a face full of wrinkles. He is none other than Liu Xin, a close confidant of the current Emperor Wang Mang, who was promoted by Wang Mang to the position of Cavalry Commandant and Minister of Ceremonial Carriages.

After the man in black left, only Liu Xin remained in the secret chamber. He slowly stood up and walked to the inner end of the chamber

Just as he was slowly pulling out the dagger from his sleeve, someone suddenly shouted loudly behind him: "A Xiu!"

Do not be deceived by Liu Xiu's scholarly elegance; he is, in fact, a genuine farmer.

"There are five Liu Xius." A terrifying glint flashed in Liu Xin's eyes. After a moment, he asked in a deep voice: "Have their identities all been investigated thoroughly?"

The young man in plain clothes is named Liu Xiu, courtesy name Wenshu. The burly man is named Liu Yan, courtesy name Bosheng, and he is Liu Xiu's elder brother.

Go and get to work

The Xin Mang regime has lost the support of the people, the political order is in chaos, and coupled with the frequent natural disasters in recent years, the populace is struggling to survive, leading to widespread rebellions. In the north, the Red Eyebrow Army is causing turmoil, while in the south, the Green Forest Army is also in rebellion. From Liu Xin's perspective, Wang Mang's reign is nearing its end, and the opportunity for him to seize the throne is within reach. At this critical juncture, there can only be one Liu Xiu in the world.

Bingzhou

Say

Hidden in his left sleeve is a sharp dagger

He studied at the Taixue in Chang'an for three years, focusing on the Book of Documents. In contemporary terms, this means he attended one of the nation's top universities, majoring in the Department of the Book of Documents

In this regard, Wang Mang believed that Liu Xin acted very appropriately. Little did he know that Liu Xin changed his name to Liu Xiu merely to align with the language of the prophecies, intending to seize the dragon throne from under Wang Mang's very nose and ascend to the supreme imperial position

Liu Xin's name change was quite justified. Liu Xin proposed to Wang Mang that his name was homophonous with that of Emperor Ai of Han, Liu Xin. To avoid this taboo, he changed his name to Liu Xiu

Only those privileged and influential students with connections can secure an official position in the court. Students like Liu Xiu, who lack family background, connections, and resources, can only return home to farm after graduation

People were whispering to each other, engaging in lively discussions

Then, he slowly rolled up the scroll, and soon, his hand came to a stop, his gaze fixed intently on the scroll as he trembled and read aloud: "Liu Xiu dispatched troops to capture the unorthodox, the four barbarians gathered in the Dragon Fight Wilderness, and during the period of four and seven, fire is the principal element"

A notice is a document for apprehension, which also includes the portrait of the person being sought.

Like those around him, the young man in plain clothes curiously gazed at the notice that had just been posted.

Although the young man was dressed in ordinary attire, resembling that of a laborer, he exuded an air of elegance that was incongruous with his clothing

Liu Xiu nodded with a smile, deliberately patting the bulging pouch at his waist, and said: "The price is quite reasonable"

The subordinate has investigated thoroughly, the man in black said with his head lowered and bowing

Among the registered individuals nationwide, there are a total of five people named Liu Xiu The man in black spoke with his head lowered, as if he had blended into the darkness

Liu Xin continued, "Wang Mang's spies are spread throughout the world; any slight disturbance will surely alert him. When you act, you must think carefully. These Liu Xiu can be killed by bandits, by the common people in rebellion, or they could meet with an accident, drowning or being burned to death. Do you understand what I mean?"

Jingzhou, Nanyang Commandery, Caiyang County, County Town Market

Liu Xin took the silk cloth, unfolded it, and found it covered with densely packed writing. He brought the silk cloth closer to the candlestick and focused intently on the details.

Looking at the image, this person has an unremarkable appearance, but what is particularly striking is a prominent diagonal scar on the forehead.

Observing the whispering crowd, a constable standing beside the notice cleared his throat and proclaimed loudly: "The rebel Long Yuan, taking advantage of His Majesty's outing, seeks to plot treachery, which is truly a grave act of treason, utterly unforgivable. Anyone who reports this villain shall be rewarded with 5,000 gold pieces"

At that moment, the young man in plain clothes turned around, unaware of the person behind him sheathing their knife, assuming that he was just another passerby observing the notice.

However, the air of elegance about him did not come from nowhere; compared to other farmers, Liu Xiu could be considered an outstanding talent among them

Qingzhou Donglai County, Huang County, Liu Xiu, thirty-seven years old, manager of the Gui Xiang Ju Tavern, one wife and two concubines, with five children.

This sudden shout startled the person, who immediately sheathed half of the dagger back into his sleeve and then nonchalantly looked at the notice

Looking down, there is a detailed introduction. The criminal is named Long Yuan, age unknown, and place of origin also unknown, however, the bounty is as high as 5,000 gold pieces, and the charge is the assassination of the emperor

Jingzhou Nanyang Commandery, Caiyang County, Liu Xiu, twenty years old, engaged in agriculture

The nearby villagers gathered around, each standing on tiptoe and stretching their necks, curiously looking at the contents of the notice.

"That is true, but five thousand gold..."

This sentence means that in the future, there will be a person named Liu Xiu who will overthrow the Xin and Wang regime and ascend to the throne as emperor

After finishing this sentence, Liu Xin's hands trembled even more violently

Before Wang Mang usurped the throne, Liu Xin and Wang Mang were already close friends. At that time, Wang Mang repeatedly recommended Liu Xin in the court.

The man in black fell silent for a moment and said, "I kindly ask for your clarification, my lord"

In theory, those who have attended the Imperial Academy should be able to secure some official position in the court after graduation

The man referred to as "Big Brother" by him is around thirty years old, with a robust physique, a broad back and a slim waist. Looking at his face, he has thick eyebrows and large eyes, a straight nose and a square mouth, presenting a dignified appearance with a rugged aura

Unfortunately, Liu Xiu did not live in a favorable era, as the current court is the new dynasty established by Wang Mang

Make way, make way! Two constables shouted loudly as they charged forward.

The man in black paused for a moment and nodded in response: "I understand, my subordinate."

I went to the city and met a few friends

Liu Xin obtained this book from a student named Jiang Hua.

Seeing Liu Xiu's empty hands, Liu Yan asked, "Are you here to sell grain at the market again?"

Chang'an, residence of Liu Xin, the Grand Master of the Carriages and Horses

The "Red Talisman" clearly states that in the future Liu Xiu will become emperor, and Liu Xin intends to transform himself into this Liu Xiu. He does not permit the existence of any other Liu Xiu in the world, as they would become obstacles in his quest for the throne

If this momentum continues, Liu Xiu is very likely to become the most top-notch and professionally qualified farmer in the country. However, the tide of the times did not allow him to continue on this path of professional farming, but instead led him onto a perilous road that only allows for advancement and no retreat

Among the onlookers, there was a young man dressed in coarse cloth garments and trousers. He appeared to be around twenty years old, tall and slender, standing over seven feet. His appearance was striking, with thick eyebrows slanting into his temples, and a pair of tiger-like eyes that shone with vitality. His handsome features exuded a masculine vigor.

The man in black bowed and replied: "I know what to do."

Liu Yan shook his head and said with a sense of helplessness: "At present, due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, most people are struggling to have enough to eat, yet here you are, managing to bring surplus grain to the market to sell for money"

On the contrary, he has now changed his name to Liu Xiu

He stood still near the wall, lifted his leg, and stomped three times on a square tile. Immediately afterward, there was a soft click, and a nearby square tile lifted up.

Due to the passage of time, the bamboo strips used to make the bamboo slips have turned a dark brown color; however, the inscriptions on the slips remain clearly visible, with the three characters inscribed being "Chi Fu Fu"

At this moment, Liu Xin sat in the chair, staring unblinkingly at the man in black standing before him, and asked in a chilling tone: "Have you investigated the matters I asked you to clarify?"

However, Liu Xiu's three years at the Taixue were not in vain, as his agricultural techniques were indeed proficient

Liu Xin crouched down, lifted the raised square tile, and took out a wooden box from inside. Upon opening this wooden box, he found a piece of brocade inside. Unwrapping the brocade revealed a roll of bamboo slips.

After Wang Mang ascended to the throne, he significantly relaxed the admission standards for the Imperial Academy, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of students. Previously, upon graduation, the court would assign jobs to the graduates, but such generous treatment is no longer available.

Currently, Nanyang County is experiencing a severe drought, and the crops of other households have all withered. However, the crops he has planted yield good harvests every season, not only allowing him to be self-sufficient but also providing surplus grain to sell at the market.