Chapter Seven: Is Chang'an Truly Chang'an (I)

If it does not rain soon ... perhaps we will truly reap nothing at all

On the day of the emperor's passing, Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun set out for the Weiyang Palace to reclaim the Imperial Seal. Subsequently, Wang Mang was appointed as the Grand Marshal, responsible for the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, and concurrently managed military orders and the Imperial Guards.

Very good. Wang Mang extended his hand and patted Mu Er's head, but then his brow suddenly furrowed slightly

Moreover, what needs to be eradicated is not limited to just this. The powerful landlords, the suppression of commerce in favor of agriculture, the circulation of precious metals, all of these must be reduced to the dust of history, even..." Wang Mang became increasingly agitated as he spoke, unable to restrain himself as he waved his hand forcefully, as if he were sweeping all those things away with a gigantic broom.

The emperor loses his mother ... ... The heavens are enraged ... ...

"Yes." Wang Mang suddenly turned around and firmly grasped Mu Er's shoulder: "Even the imperial system. One day, I will ensure that there will no longer be any emperors on this land!"

Opposite him knelt a young boy, appearing to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, yet already dressed in the attire of a Confucian scholar, wearing a cap. A pair of lively, bright eyes were fixed intently on Wang Mang before him, seemingly unfazed by his anger.

As the saying goes, spring rain is as precious as oil. However, the spring rain of the third year of the Yuan Shi era was far more precious than usual. Even until the onset of summer, only a few drops of rain had fallen.

In fact, since last year, the world has been experiencing a severe drought. Not only in Guanzhong, but even in Hebei and the Central Plains, the fields are filled with smoke, and the scorching sun burns fiercely

In the first year of the Yuan Shou era, Wang Mang was summoned back to the capital, but he merely served his aunt, the Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun. The center of power still seemed very distant to him

Ah... Mu Er nodded, suddenly realizing: "The fourteenth descendant of Confucius. What the teacher means is..."

Wang Mang lightly tapped the table with his fingers, a mocking smile appearing on his face: "You surely cannot be unaware of the family background of the current Grand Tutor, can you?"

The cries were carried into the study by the night wind, reaching Wang Mang's ears. Upon careful listening, he could still faintly distinguish the sound of the fox, which surprisingly resembled human speech

Wang Mang lightly uttered two words, then pushed the bamboo slip towards the young man in front of him with the back of his hand: "You can take a look yourself"

The memorial was submitted by the Grand Minister Kong Guang of the current dynasty. In addition to compiling reports on the disasters in various regions, he also appended his own suggestions at the end of the document

The young man picked up the bamboo slip and scanned the text with his eyes moving up and down at a speed of ten lines at a glance. In just a moment, he finished reading the content on the bamboo slip and placed it back on the table

Wang Mang furrowed his brow, carefully flipping through a handful of bamboo slips in front of him, and then slammed them heavily onto the table before him

"Old fool?" Wang Mang shook his head and sighed softly, "Mu'er, you are still too young after all"

In the third year of the Yuan Shi era, in the summer, in the month of July

I understand, Teacher. Mu Er knelt on one knee before Wang Mang, looking up at his teacher, his eyes filled with the same passionate ambition as Wang Mang: "I... will be the inheritor of your will"

After a heavy snowfall last winter, there has been little rain in Guanzhong until this spring

I naturally hope to see that day in my lifetime. However, I am well aware that the cause I must strive for cannot be accomplished overnight. Therefore, it can only remain a hope. Wang Mang gazed at the young man before him, and a vision of his younger self emerged in his eyes

Master Kong has truly become quite muddled in his old age

In these three years, he impeached He Wu and Gongsun Lu, removing them from their official positions. Subsequently, he dismissed high-ranking officials above the rank of 2,000 stones, including Zhong Taifu Shi Li, Nanjun Taishou Wu Jianglong, Taishan Taishou Ding Xuan, and Henei Taishou Zhao Chang, on various charges. He also stripped the titles of Duke of Gaochang Dong Wu and Marquis of Guannei Zhang You, among others.

He stood up excitedly, pushed open the window, and gazed out at the night sky.

From an unknown source, the cry of a fox rang out, sharp and mournful

What has caused the teacher to be angry

At this moment, there are only two people sitting opposite each other in his modest study

Great disasters are caused by the wrath of Heaven; therefore, the Son of Heaven should go to Mount Tai, lead the officials, and conduct a ritual to the heavens to pray for rain, in order to show gratitude to the divine.

"Even the ... ... imperial system, right, teacher?" Mu Er also stood up and followed behind Wang Mang.

As the Emperor was young, the Grand Empress Dowager, who was also his aunt, naturally reviewed all memorials first through Wang Mang before they were presented to the Grand Empress Dowager. Thus, the major affairs of the court were almost entirely decided by his word alone

Subsequently, Wang Mang enthroned the current emperor, who was only nine years old at the time, and the following year he changed the era name to Yuan Shi, which has now lasted for three years

This is a memorial.

However, it was soon followed by the death of the late Emperor Ai.

It was already late at night, yet the lights in Wang Mang's study were still on

"Then, what does the teacher think?" asked the young man, known as Mu Er, with a furrowed brow.

This is Chang'an, not Xindu

The young boy asked a question; although his voice was youthful, his tone was very steady

Nonsense

By the time Wang Mang was conferred the title of Duke of Anhan, he had already clearly attained a position of being above all others except for one. Even though there were still those who harbored dissatisfaction towards him, within the court, no one dared to confront him face to face any longer

Wang Mang took a deep breath, the cool air of early spring permeating his lungs, causing him to shiver involuntarily. Yet the ambition in his heart continued to burn brightly.

Kong Guang is merely foolish, but not confused. The resonance between heaven and man, the five virtues persist... If one wishes to maintain the status of the Kong family, one must first uphold this set of things that should have decayed long ago. Wang Mang gazed intently at Mu'er and said in a deep voice: "This set of things... will ultimately be shattered by us!"

After the severe drought, there came a locust plague. Particularly in the Qingzhou area, the land is barren for thousands of miles, and the number of disaster victims is countless

After the young man finished reading, he also let out a cold laugh and tossed the bamboo slip onto the table

"Yes! The disciple understands!" Mu Er nodded and said

The people of the nation are eagerly looking forward and waiting

The emperor loses his mother ... ... The heavens are enraged ... ...

It is merely his life, yet it remains simple. The residence in Chang'an is indeed somewhat excessively small compared to his title and power

foolishness