Nobita's Time Heist

“I do want to be emperor, that’s no lie, but… not for myself. At least, not entirely.”

"I want to create a 'new' dynasty, one that is different from the old ways!"

"In that country, there was no strife, no war, no petty theft, no scheming, no opportunism, no powerful clans oppressing the people, and of course... no slaves. Everyone lived their lives in an orderly and proper manner, just as the ancients wrote, enjoying themselves and living in harmony."

"And yet, we are still far from that wonderful 'new' world..."

"Just one last small step!"

Chapter 192: Blood and Law

Night had fallen.

Nobita and his friends were placed in a corner of this luxurious, secluded mansion. Although they were given two rooms, they remained cautious, as they were suddenly staying with strangers. They all huddled together in one room, separated by hanging sleeping bags. The corner was extremely quiet, almost silent, with high walls that seemed to further isolate any extraneous sounds.

……

The pattering rain woke Nobita from his sleep. Thanks to his extraordinary talent, his control over his sleep had reached a truly mystical level. Because he could easily fall into a deep sleep, Nobita actually needed far less rest than the average person.

Given the current chaotic situation, he had intentionally reduced his sleep time and was becoming easily awakened by external noises. The even breathing sounds coming from all around indicated that his companions were still fast asleep. Da Xiong didn't wake them; instead, he untied his sleeping bag, checked that the room's security was in place, opened the door, and tiptoed out.

"What a huge house... If you're not careful, you might get lost inside."

While it was still dark, Da Xiong wandered around the palace, pondering what he had seen and heard during the day. That deeply calculating figure appeared in his mind, like an incomprehensible riddle. Seeing him felt similar to seeing the last question on a math exam.

A world without strife and slavery?

He lived a life of dependence on others from a young age, relying on his talent and the good reputation he built day by day to get to where he is today. Even when he holds great power, he still maintains concern for the absolutely vulnerable group of "slaves," and even proposed the idea of ​​abolishing slavery! Regardless of his purpose, from a worldly perspective, he should be considered a good person.

As for ambition, if it is a desire for power to create a better world, there seems to be nothing wrong with that.

but……

There was one thing that Nobita just couldn't understand.

"...Just as the ancient sages wrote, 'Be content and joyful, and let rites and music endure.'" — Wang Mang's original words came to mind. Because of similar experiences, even after traveling to the Edo period and living in an ordinary farming family, Da Xiong was almost unable to bear it. The days he spent in Tongxin Village a few days ago made him realize just how hard life was for the residents of primitive villages.

One can imagine what the situation would be like if the timeline were reversed by several hundred years.

"How could he possibly believe that ancient times were necessarily better than the present?"

Just as he was lost in thought, a rustling sound came from the yard. Looking in the direction of the sound, he saw a figure half-squatting in front of a tree, seemingly pulling weeds from the base of the tree. As if hearing the sound, the person turned around and their eyes met.

"Ah, is it you?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The girl didn't say much. She put down her work and knelt down, startling Da Xiong, who quickly dodged to the side and asked in a panic, "What are you doing? I was just saying hello!"

"You are my savior. During the day... if it weren't for your help, my arms would probably have been cut off..."

"Get up quickly! Your forehead injury isn't fully healed yet! What if you reopen it?"

……

Perhaps due to malnutrition, she appeared thin and frail. Having never celebrated her birthday, she herself didn't know her age, only saying she was "around fifteen or sixteen." She didn't even know her surname, and was called "A-Er," a name given to her by her former master's men who found it troublesome. Lacking food and clothing, pale and thin, her brow always furrowed, she had probably never encountered a good thing in her life.

The thought that such situations were commonplace in this era filled Nobita with an indescribable sadness.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been sold from person to person, and I don’t even know which family I was originally with.” She bent down and pulled weeds as she spoke. “After I entered the Prince’s mansion, they assigned me the task of weeding. There couldn’t be a single weed under any of the trees in the courtyard. They originally said I could do it tomorrow, but I thought it would be better to start sooner rather than later.”

"Hey, weeding..."

Nobita couldn't help but recall his childhood, when his mother would often drag him by the ear and make him pull weeds. Back then, he thought, why do such a pointless thing? They'll just grow back anyway, why not just leave them alone? So, every time his mother asked him to pull weeds, it was bound to be a battle of wits, and it would even involve Doraemon's magical gadgets.

Looking back now, those mundane things have become precious memories. After buying a more advanced lawnmower, I no longer have to bend down to remove weeds every time, but... the soft touch of the soil with my fingers is still wonderful to recall.

The Prince's mansion is quite large, and the courtyard is planted with many lush trees. Ensuring that not a single weed can be seen under them is no easy task.

However, in an era where even making a living is difficult, this should be considered a relatively easy job.

"No matter what, the ending is still good." Da Xiong breathed a sigh of relief, genuinely happy for her. "Being able to work here means at least I don't have to worry about being mistreated like the last family. I looked around, and there are probably several hundred servants in this house alone. I don't think each person will have too much work."

Moreover, given Wang Mang's current social status, even if she were just a servant in his household, no one would dare to provoke her outside the house, right? If servants are also divided into high and low ranks, then the girl who turned misfortune into a blessing and became a servant in the Wang family should be considered to have achieved a leap from poverty to wealth, right?

……

The girl's expression was complicated, and she didn't respond immediately. Da Xiong, who was very sensitive to emotional changes, immediately noticed that something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly. "Was there a problem with what I just said?"

"No...no, absolutely not, you're absolutely right." The girl shook her head repeatedly as if waking from a dream. "It was my fault for being so ungrateful. Being able to work here should be a blessing I earned in my past life!"

"At this point, if we're still being picky, it's really..."

……

"Snapped!"

The moment he taped her with the "Integrity" label, Nobita felt a pang of guilt. Lying is a right everyone has, and even though her lies were rather clumsy, if she persisted in her refusal, he had no other way to get the truth from her.

Having just arrived in this era, he desperately needed something called "truth," no matter how small or insignificant it might be.

Amidst this overwhelming wave of praise, what is the truth about Wang Mang?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"To be honest, Lord Wang Mang... I'm a little... a little afraid of him..."

The girl spoke her thoughts in a trembling voice.

"Previously, his second son killed a slave in the household. Because of this, Wang Mang forced him to commit suicide, which was once considered a good story."

"I just feel that this person is so heartless even to those he shares blood with. How can he be so cruel to everyone else..."

"Is there really any affection involved?"

Chapter 193: The Monster of Public Opinion

What kind of person would kill their own biological son, who is connected to them by blood?

Nobita couldn't help but put himself in his father's shoes. What if he committed an unforgivable crime one day? How would his father react? Would he kill him like the man in front of him? Or would his father, knowing he was guilty, still try his best to cover it up for him?

However, this at least proves that his desire to create a world where "everyone is the same" was not unfounded. At least in his eyes, the slave who was forced to his death and his own son were equally important.

But...doesn't this mean he'd rather kill his own son than compromise his beliefs? In a sense, as a human being with flesh and blood, Nobita truly felt a chill run down his spine. Even in ancient times, even two thousand years ago, the concept of blood ties and kinship must still hold true, just like in the future, right?

……

"Lord Anhan, who is this...?"

"Ah, he is a newly recruited retainer of my Wang family, gentlemen, please do not worry." Wang Mang half-closed his eyes and waved his hand.

According to standard procedure, a mere retainer like himself should not have been present at this occasion. However, Wang Mang's power was now almost at its zenith, and no one would bother him for such a minor transgression. Invited by Wang Mang, Da Xiong was able to enter the heavily guarded heart of the imperial city and witness firsthand the highest level of governance in this vast country. Even just standing by as a "close attendant" was quite a rare privilege.

That being said, from the moment I spoke until now, I haven't heard anything related to government affairs; it's all been about auspicious omens.

Villagers in the east caught a white chicken, an auspicious sign; people in the west saw a dragon-shaped stone, an auspicious sign; hunters in the north found a giant tortoise by the river with some kind of marking on its shell, an auspicious sign… All sorts of auspicious omens, like snowflakes, drifted into the palace, and were discussed with great enthusiasm by these pillars of the state, treating it as a matter of utmost importance. Da Xiong was utterly perplexed. Shouldn't interpreting auspicious omens really be left to the ministers? Didn't they have more important matters to discuss?

What puzzled him even more was that Wang Mang, the Duke of Anhan and the head of all civil and military officials, remained completely silent. He simply maintained a dignified sitting posture, his eyes slightly narrowed, radiating a standard "good guy" smile as he watched their discussion. His gaze swept back and forth over everyone, like a homeroom teacher standing by a window, a forced smile on his face, supervising who hadn't read aloud during morning reading.

Until... a name called "Ai Zhang" appeared in their discussion.

Wang Mang slightly raised his eyes, but still did not express his opinion. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand and gently picked his ear with his little finger.

……

The whole place was silent.

"Huh?" — The lively discussion just now seemed like Nobita was dreaming, making him even more surprised by the current situation.

Could it be that the atmosphere they seemed to be discussing important matters just now... was all an act? In reality, everyone's attention was focused on Wang Mang the whole time?

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“A student from Zitong discovered two bronze boxes. One of them is inscribed with ‘Illustrated Golden Box of the Heavenly Emperor’s Seal’, and the other with ‘Golden Book of the Red Emperor’s Seal’. We found this unusual and reported it to you.”

The ministers perused the documents in their hands, saying, "Among so many auspicious omens, this one should stand out. As for the rest, well..."

"What do you mean by 'these'?" Wang Mang asked slowly with a smile.

"Is it because the country is prosperous and the people live in peace and contentment that so many auspicious omens appear? If that's the case, there shouldn't be any distinction between high and low, don't you all think?"

With just that simple sentence, the ministers instantly turned ashen-faced, holding their breath and repeatedly agreeing. Wang Mang presented a smiling face, yet exuded a terrifying sense of oppression. Looking at their expressions, Da Xiong wouldn't be surprised if they vomited their insides the next second.

Fortunately, Wang Haoren didn't make things too difficult for them. He quickly waved his hand and said, "I'm getting old and a bit tired. Let's end the discussion here for today."

"The old rules still apply. Anyone who reports an auspicious omen will be richly rewarded. Just like before, do what needs to be done."

"As for the two bronze caskets produced by this mourning chapter... bring them up as soon as possible, I want to take a closer look."

The ministers breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had been granted a pardon. They rose, bid farewell to Duke Anhan, and left the somewhat empty hall.

……

Despite it being daytime, the main hall was brightly lit, and the huge shadows cast by the beams and pillars made the whole hall feel somewhat oppressive.

Wang Mang sighed softly, and like a real old farmer from the countryside, he bent down, picked up the documents left there by the ministers, and carefully read them one by one, pressing his fingers against the words.

"Are you serious?"

Although this happened two thousand years ago, when people were accustomed to attributing inexplicable arguments to ghosts and gods, Da Xiong believed that someone who had reached this level could not possibly be a superstitious person. His concern about auspicious omens during the council meeting just now went beyond the realm of "superstition."

"Think about it and you'll understand. That man named Ai Zhang found two copper coins with words engraved directly on them. How is that possible? Without human intervention, this kind of thing would never appear even in a thousand years!"

In essence, auspicious omens are all mass-produced in this way. Emperors are human too, and humans like to hear auspicious words. Those with sense below them will prepare some auspicious items each year, everyone will laugh and receive some gifts, and that's the end of the process. Anyone with a modicum of sense wouldn't take these things seriously. Of course, this kind of thing is a top-down influence; some emperors explicitly stated they disliked this, and those who expressed serious opinions on it generally saw no auspicious omens during their reign.

Wang Mang glanced at him, propped himself up on his arm, and smiled slightly, "So, in your opinion, this should be?"

“This is a political gamble,” Da Xiong said, looking at the files piled on the table recording auspicious signs from all over the country. “That student is gambling with his entire future. He’s betting that you will gladly accept this superficial gesture and give him enough compensation.”

"So, what do you think of the outcome?" Wang Mang continued with a smile, "Did he win the bet?"

"..."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

“Recently, I’ve felt… the power of ‘public opinion’ is truly incredible.” Wang Mang finally put down the densely packed files and sighed, “Until now, those who sit high on the throne have regarded ordinary people as ants. Why has no one ever realized how to use this power?”

“Everyone who is trampled underfoot is, in fact, born from the sperm and blood of their father and mother, after ten months of pregnancy. Every insignificant little cry, when gathered together, can generate an immense power, so immense that it can change the world.”

He revealed a meaningful smile and said in a deep voice, "These two copper chests are the embodiment of this invisible force!"

Chapter 194: My Choice

In a feudal dynasty, he was probably the only one who could manipulate public opinion so skillfully.

It was precisely because of the overwhelming public support that, even after stepping down, he was able to stage a remarkable comeback and return to the capital. Only when he was in the capital could Wang Mang's power network, cultivated over decades, come into play at the crucial moment. When the emperor died, before anyone could react, he swiftly reclaimed the power scattered among his relatives, firmly grasping both military and political power, without facing any backlash.

Because he was Wang Mang, the man everyone expected him to be, everything was so simple.

This feeling is like creating a sterile idol, starting from childhood, proceeding cautiously step by step, leaving no flaws. Using dogmatic morality to restrain words and actions, one gradually becomes the closest thing to a saint. Information spread extremely slowly in ancient times, and there was no internet monitoring him 24/7; even so, maintaining this persona for decades without it crumbling required considerable willpower.

As the biggest beneficiary of public opinion, it is only natural that they would come to such a conclusion.

“These are not just two simple bronze plaques. You are from the Western Regions, so you may not be familiar with our writing... What is written on them is that Emperor Gao (the founder of the Han Dynasty, referring to Liu Bang here) personally declared that Wang Mang should be the true emperor. He also took the names of Wang Xing and Wang Shengzhang, who changed their names, making a total of eleven people, all of whom were given official titles as assistants.” He patiently explained, “In short, this is a declaration of abdication from ‘Heaven’s Mandate’.”

"...Abdication..." Da Xiong had never heard of such a thing before. In his mind, the world had always been won through conquest. Whether it was Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, or Ieyasu, every Japanese daimyo rose to power through swords and bloodshed, and the transfer of power inevitably ushered in a chaotic era.

"Would anyone believe something so full of flaws?"

"It doesn't matter. The Han Dynasty has nurtured scholars for two hundred years, and the last bit of resistance... was completely extinguished by me two years ago. Everyone in the court and the country knows that the Liu family's rule has come to an end, and for a long time, I will be the only one in power."

Wang Mang smiled very casually, as if discussing a trivial matter like having tea and a meal. "Whether you believe it or not, things are already like this; it's just a matter of time. When the time is right, everything will fall into place naturally."

"Now, all I need to do is... wait."

……

"Why... are you telling me all this?" Nobita couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. Even though he knew it would make him seem less intelligent, he still had to ask. "If you think about it carefully, we've barely known each other for a day, right? I don't understand. In this country, can you just discuss things like changing dynasties with strangers?! Even if it's a sure thing, you can't tell anyone until it actually succeeds, can you?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

This question caused the smile that seemed to be welded to his face to slowly fade away.

Da Xiong then noticed that Wang Mang, who wasn't smiling, unconsciously revealed a sinister look between his brows. It was as if he had witnessed too much ugliness in the world, and some kind of deep emotion had settled in his eyes, like an eagle, like a falcon. Being stared at by such a gaze made Da Xiong wonder how much energy could still be unleashed from this seemingly withered body.

Is he really human?

……

"You were planning to save that slave girl before I spoke, weren't you?"

Da Xiong didn't answer. After a moment's hesitation, he chose to remain silent. He was a little worried that Wang Mang's insistence on "why" might reveal that he was merely clinging to a modern worldview, believing in "equality for all," and had felt pity for an oppressed slave girl. He didn't think it was anything particularly noble; from another perspective, it seemed to be simply because he was born two thousand years in the future. If his motives were investigated further, it might expose that he was from the future.

However, Wang Mang did not pursue the matter further, as if for him, Da Xiong's actions were enough.

"When the maternal relatives held power, extravagance ran rampant in the court. Even the emperors before them had long been indulging in sensual pleasures, and the whole country was filled with arrogant and licentious people. They held high positions simply because of their illustrious family backgrounds. They had been living a life of luxury since birth and had never realized the enormous power of 'public opinion'. If I had to say, I would look down on any of these people. But I had to associate with them in order to create a better new world."