Thousand-year-old family: its rise began with Shang Yang’s reforms

Chapter 338: Raise My Three-foot Sword

"Having a benevolent heart and doing benevolent things may lead to bad consequences" is the most accurate and correct description of the changes carried out by Wang Mang's regime.

In fact, when Wang Mang began his reforms, no one in the world thought anything was wrong except two people.

They all felt that Wang Mang had achieved everything that the ancient sages had achieved.

Its policies included nationalizing the land and calling it "Wangtian". To some extent, this was indeed very similar to a policy in the 1940s and 1950s of later generations, so it was also circulated in later generations that Wang Mang was a so-called time traveler.

But in fact, public ownership of land is not a system that appeared in later generations.

Before Shang Yang's reforms in the Qin Dynasty, land had always been publicly owned. Because productivity was still very low at that time, it was necessary to let everyone come together to farm and work to ensure that the land would not be abandoned.

By the time of Shang Yang's reform, the emergence and expanded use of iron farm tools and ox-drawn plows had greatly increased productivity, so public ownership was no longer suitable for this era. Therefore, Shang Yang changed to private ownership and allowed the free buying and selling of land.

On the one hand, this is due to the demand for improved productivity, and on the other hand, it is due to the emergence of the landlord class and their desire to expand their power and thereby improve their social status.

No doubt about it.

By that time, private land ownership was no longer suitable for the needs of the development of productivity and social demands. Because there was enough manpower at that time, the land was once again changed to public ownership.

This is the need of a new country and also the need of society.

But, was there really such a demand during Wang Mang's period?

A set of data can actually quickly highlight this problem.

Fifty-six million people.

This number is likely to fluctuate, but can be recorded as approximately 60 million.

Judging from the territory of the Han Dynasty at that time, has it really reached a point where the land can no longer meet the needs of ordinary people and the time has come to nationalize the land?
not at all.

There are actually not many periods in history that are suitable for the reform of "public ownership". The period of Emperor Qin Shihuang after the Qin Dynasty unified the country is one, and the late Ming Dynasty is another.

The reasons why the two of them are suitable for the "public ownership" reform are very different, even completely opposite.

The reason why the period of Emperor Qin Shihuang was suitable for public ownership reform was that at that time most of the land in the world was controlled by the nobles of the six kingdoms, and the common people did not actually have much land. If Emperor Qin Shihuang nationalized the land, he would be able to control the people's hearts to a certain extent.

Given the majesty of the First Emperor, the nobles within the Qin Empire would most likely not dare to rebel.

As for the nobles of the six countries?

They are enemies.

Afterwards, as long as the land was distributed as usual, with at most an additional period of use, and compensation in gold and silver, the chaotic situation after Qin unified the world could be alleviated to a great extent - most importantly, after these lands were nationalized, the land promised to the old Qin people by the First Emperor, or the Qin royal family, could be fulfilled.

Stabilize the basic situation and win the hearts of the six nations.

Under such circumstances, coupled with measures to unify the country such as standardizing the writing system and the wheel gauge, Qin was able to quickly settle the world, and then slowly deal with the hidden nobles of the six kingdoms.

The reason why the late Ming Dynasty was suitable for the implementation of "public ownership" was that most of these lands were in the hands of the landlord class and land annexation had become very serious.

What is even more terrifying is that these landlords are actually "capitulationists".

For example, the Eight Great Shanxi Merchants.

For example, those "righteous people" standing in the court who seem to be upright.

Which one of them has not annexed tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of pieces of land?
Having said that, the Han Dynasty at that time was absolutely not suitable for promoting public ownership. The reason was very simple - the land annexed by the landlord class had not yet reached a peak, and they were still in the process of spiraling upward.

This is the course of history.

They hold most of the power and are at the peak of their powers.

They are still beneficial to this world and this dynasty.

The population of the Han Dynasty is still too small.

Wang Mang’s other policies were somewhat “forward-looking” or “too idealistic”.

Today, the emperor is still the biggest landlord in the entire Han Dynasty.

So, not surprisingly, the policies implemented by Wang Mang were opposed by everyone.

This reform was extremely difficult.

The situation was so difficult that Wang Mang's heart began to waver.

At this time, a bigger coincidence appeared. This coincidence made Wang Mang's wavering heart firm again, and even made him happier and more wanton.

The emperor is seriously ill.

In the 21st year of Huanglong, after Wang Mang's reforms had been going on for a year, the emperor's body finally fell ill due to his absurdity day and night.

When he was critically ill, the emperor, under the advice of Queen Wang and Prime Minister Wang, felt that the Han Dynasty could not be without a monarch.

Under the advice of the two, he felt that the former prince must have endless resentment towards him in his heart. After all, it was he who forced his mother to death and exiled him.

So he made Queen Wang's five-year-old youngest son "Liu Ying" the crown prince, and said that if he died, the crown prince would inherit the throne and become the emperor, while the prime minister and uncle-in-law Wang Mang would be regent.

In October of the 21st year of Huanglong, not long after the emperor issued the edict and announced it to the world, the emperor died.

His posthumous title was "Shen", and he was Emperor Xiaoshen.

Many people in the world were dissatisfied with the posthumous title given to Emperor Huanglong.

Why be cautious?
Being quick and respectful is called "prudent"; being quiet and taciturn is called "prudent"; being far-sighted is called "prudent"; being cautious and self-disciplined is called "prudent"; being reverent day and night is called "prudent"; being careful and diligent is called "prudent".

Is there anything about Emperor Huanglong that deserves this posthumous title, which can be said to be a favorable one? Even a moderate evaluation with some praise?
Thoughtful? Quiet?

It's a joke.

However, this posthumous title was presided over by the young emperor, approved by the empress dowager, and decided by the regent.

After the young emperor ascended the throne, because he was too young and the empress dowager obeyed her brother in everything, she handed over all state affairs to Wang Mang and even abolished the position of the Minister of the Central Government for a time.

You should know that this position was specially used by the emperor to restrict the position of prime minister during the reigns of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing.

Abandoning this position undoubtedly handed all power to Wang Mang.

But the young emperor is too young to have a say, and the empress dowager has expressed her support. Who can do anything?
Everyone's eyes turned to the silent Guandu.

But Guandu remained silent.

It seemed that Chen really no longer cared about state affairs.

And so the turmoil continued.

At the end of the 21st year of Huanglong, the prime minister issued an edict to change the era name to "Xinyuan", so the following year was the first year of Xinyuan.

In March of the first year of the Xinyuan period, the emperor issued an edict to confer the title of Duke of Anhan on Wang Mang.

In April of the first year of the Xinyuan period, the emperor issued an edict to bestow the Nine Gifts on Wang Mang, Duke of Anhan, and allowed him to bow without using his name, enter the court without kneeling, and wear a sword and sandals when entering the palace.

For a time, he was extremely powerful and had many followers, perhaps comparable to the 3,000 followers of Mengchangjun during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

In the first year of the Xinyuan period, reforms continued.

Guandu
Wang Mang was not out of his mind, so his reforms avoided the fiefdoms of the kings and Guandu. After all, as early as the time of the previous emperor, or even earlier, Chen's Guandu City had almost become a small fiefdom.

He was also afraid that after he attacked Guandu City, the Chen family would have a legitimate reason to attack him.

So life in Guandu City goes on as usual.

In the courtyard, the autumn water ripples and the withered trees stand by the pond, showing the coldness of winter.

Chen Chong sat in the courtyard, and opposite him sat a young man who had just been crowned. He was the King of Hongnong. In front of the two of them was a chessboard with black and white pieces crisscrossed.

Liu Xiu frowned slightly, with a curious look on his face: "According to the prince's speculation, Wang Mang's reform is bound to fail?"

"But why?"

Chen Chong looked at the black and white pieces crisscrossing on the chessboard, with a look of regret and confusion on her face: "Actually, I don't know either."

He looked into Liu Xiu's eyes and met his gaze. Everyone could see the innocence in his eyes.

"In fact, this endgame was not set up by me, but by my father. After hearing about Wang Mang's reforms, he stayed in Zhushen Tower for three months. After he came out, he set up this endgame."

"But my father generally agreed with Wang Mang's reforms."

Agree?
Liu Xiu was even more confused: "Since King An agrees, why do you think Wang Mang will definitely fail?"

Chen Chong blinked: "The King of Hongnong asked me, who should I ask?"

He shook his head: "Just look around."

In the building
Chen Shu placed the book in his hand on the ground, looking confused: "Why, why?"

"According to the words and deeds left by our ancestors, they should have agreed with Wang Mang's reforms. Why did the final result have to be failure?"

There were countless books randomly placed around him. These books were all the classics of ancient sages that he had been reading recently, as well as some letters from past generations of the Chen family, and even some notes from his ancestor Chen Ye.

Chen Shu couldn't understand this matter, so he trapped himself in the Zhushen Building.

In the third year of the Xinyuan period, the reform lasted for three years.

The world gradually began to complain about Wang Mang, but the prime minister who had fallen into a state of madness seemed not to notice it.

He launched a final attack brazenly.

He wants to be emperor!

In September of the third year of the Xinyuan period, Duke Anhan Wang Mang brazenly deposed the emperor, and then forged an imperial edict claiming that the emperor had abdicated.

The country's name was changed to "Xin" and the era name was changed to "Shijianguo", which was the first year of the Shijianguo.

In the same year, there was a lot of discussion throughout the country, and all the Liu kings rebelled!

It is one thing for you to control the government when the young emperor is on the throne, but it is another thing entirely for you to attempt to usurp the throne and shake the country!

The world is in war!

Guandu City

Chen Shu opened his eyes in confusion in Zhushen Tower. He looked at the distant Chang'an City and sighed in his heart.

Is this the reason why Wang Mang failed?

He had not yet seen the essence of the matter, nor had he seen who were among the people who supported the rebellion of the Liu kings.

In the second year after the founding of the country, an expected person also joined the rebellion.

Former crown prince, Liu Xiu!

But the Liu kings had no other opinion on this. To them, Liu Xiu was the same as them in terms of etiquette and law.

why?
Because even if Wang Mang's throne was obtained in an illegitimate way, the throne of the previous emperor, Emperor Xiaoai, was obtained in a legitimate way!
During the reign of Emperor Xiaoshen, he issued an edict and conferred the title of King of Hongnong on Liu Xiu.

As a result, Emperor Xiaoai became the major clan without an heir, and Liu Xiu, like all the other kings, became minor clans!

Exactly the same identity, exactly the same Xiaozong.

Who is more qualified than who?

What's more, although the King of Hongnong was on good terms with the Chen family, the Chen family did not express any support for him!
In that case
Get out of the way! I can do it too!

Three years after the founding of the country, the kings of the world were in turmoil.

However, Wang Mang, the Emperor of the Xin Dynasty, was still immersed in his reforms and began to promote them by force. Some county governors and even some prominent families within the Xin Dynasty began to secretly support these rebels.

Among them, there are three major forces standing behind the former crown prince and current King of Hongnong.

First, the Yin family.

If he wants to be an official, he should be the Prefect of the Guards, and if he wants to marry, he should marry a woman named Yin Lihua.

Second, the Guo family.

A wealthy and noble family, the Guo in Guo Shengtong, the niece of King Zhending.

Third, Chen.

Guandu Chen family.

There is no need for more modifiers, just two simple words "Guan Du" can describe the Chen family.

Most of the time, there is no need to even say the word "Guan Du".

In this world, apart from the Chen family of Guandu, who else dares to call himself a "descendant of the Chen family"?
Everyone knows about the first two forces because they are exposed, but no one knows about the latter force, not even the Yin and Guo families.

Because Chen Chong did the same thing as Chen Zhanying did back then, he changed his identity.

The Chen family did not want to support anyone because the head of this generation, Chen Shu, was a very mediocre person. His mediocrity usually meant stability, but at this time it meant missing opportunities.

But God bless the Chen family.

Although the current head of the Chen family is a mediocre person, the next head of the Chen family, who is also the only son of this generation of head, is not a mediocre person.

On the contrary, Chen Chong is very smart.

Or he can be compared to the Duke Anguo of that time.

It was six years after the founding of the country. Two years was enough time for Liu Xiu to do something.
For example, he broke up all the so-called "cleansing the emperor's side" kings' forces one by one, and then annexed them under his own command. Except for the Liu family, all the forces were killed by him.

So far, there are only two forces left in the Han Dynasty.

First, there was the "clear the imperial court and restore the Han Dynasty" force led by Liu Xiu.

Second, the "New Dynasty" led by Wang Mang.

The world is equally divided.

Seven years after the founding of the country, Wang Mang finally raised his head from his reforms, as if he had just seen this rising force, and prepared to start "suppressing bandits" on a large scale.

Yes.

Wang Mang did not recognize this force as the kings who restored the Liu family, and he denounced Liu Xiu as a "bandit."

The country was founded nine years ago.

The bandit suppression campaign lasted for two years, but Liu Xiu's power grew larger and larger. By the ninth year, he was already on par with Wang Mang.

昆阳
Before Shahe
Liu Xiu stood by the river in high spirits.

Holding a long sword.

"The wind is rising!"

He turned around, his eyes sharp: "Take up my three-foot sword and quell the Han usurper!"

(End of this chapter)