Chapter 6 Restructuring——Wang Mang's dream of "Great Harmony"

In the autumn of the fourth year of Emperor Dihuang, Chang'an, the capital of the new dynasty. The inner hall of the palace.Wang Mang, who was lying on the bed, yelled, and woke up from the nightmare again, his whole body was covered in cold sweat. He hadn't had a sound sleep for many days in a row, and when he was really tired, he only slept for a few moments.I can't eat anything, and at most I just drink some wine with flatfish every day. There was no one in the empty temple.Wang Mang seemed to want to shout, but then he leaned weakly on the bed.In the deep sunken eye sockets, dead fish-like eyes stared blankly at the Jiu Jue who fell over in front of him.

In June of this year, Wang Mang led the way with a giant "one foot long and ten circumferences", and countless "beasts, tigers, leopards, rhinoceros and elephants to help the mighty" one million (actually 430,000) troops, "formerly Sing and dance" to suppress uprisings in various places.I thought that this army, which "has never been so prosperous since the Qin and Han Dynasties", should be "destroyed after passing through", but it was defeated by eight or nine thousand green forest troops in Kunyang, only earning thousands of remnants. Flee back to Luoyang.

The Green Forest Army took advantage of the situation and marched forward, pointing directly at Chang'an. When the news came, Guanzhong was in chaos. Wang Mang is very clear about how much territory he can control with his palm, and his subjects are also very clear—even Liu Xin, the national teacher who relies on his shoulders, is desperate, and actually wants to rob Wang Mang and surrender to the Gengshi regime. Although all emperors hope that their dynasty can prosper forever, King's Landing is doomed to be only wishful thinking.So some unlucky emperors had to face their doom. The impoverished emperors behaved in different ways.Some bargained with the ministers who came to kill the lord, from the king of the county to the second emperor of Qin who could not be an ordinary person; Such a head, I don’t know who came to chop it off” Emperor Sui Yang; there was Chongzhen who regretted that his children were born in the emperor’s house...

But apart from the likes of Jin Huidi, who made people laugh at the hungry people through the ages because they were surprised "Why don't they eat minced meat?" The farce staged by Wang Mang in the desperate situation was still as vigorous and lively as ever. Finally, he summoned all the Confucian scholars and warlocks and picked an auspicious day. In the early morning of that wild sandstorm, the suspension bridge at the South Gate of Chang'an creaked down.The smoke and dust billowed, and the glittering guard of honor slowly emerged. Habayashiro, who used to be arrogant in the past, is also a little depressed today.

Wang Mang was still riding in the car that his subjects privately called "the hearse". The six-horse-drawn Jin Yuyubao nine-fold Huagai ascended the fairy chariot, but the 300 yellow scarf wrestlers who escorted him shouted "Ascension to the Immortal" today, which was a bit hoarse and reluctant. The civil and military officials, dressed in court attire, walked silently one by one, following a long line in the back row of the car.The shabby Chang'an people lay on both sides of the road tremblingly, raising their heads quietly from time to time, secretly thinking about what new tricks the ridiculously holy lord leading the ministers wanted to do.

southern suburbs.After thousands of Confucian scholars recited long and dull prayers at the same time, no one gave an order, and everyone burst into tears.Immediately, mourning erupted in the wilderness. This is what both "Zhou Li" and "Spring and Autumn" mentioned: "If the state has a catastrophe, weep for it." Wang Mang cried especially sadly, sometimes beating his chest and stamping his feet, sometimes kowtowing to the ground, and sometimes shouting to the sky: "Heaven, heaven, since Mang was ordered, why don't you kill all the thieves? If my order was a mistake, then use thunderbolts to punish me." Come on, God! God!" He was almost suffocated with grief.

In the autumn wind, 68-year-old Wang Mang cried like a helpless orphan.Dust, snot, and tears spoiled the brand new gown. He really felt wronged. Wang Mang is a representative figure in history who combines the faint tyrant and treacherous officials and thieves. The reason why he was able to obtain this qualification was because of his conspiracy to usurp for two thousand years—in the era of the world, threats from around him were indeed the most dangerous, and they should be guarded against the most. However, Wang Mang’s disastrous defeat cannot be said to be mainly due to conspiracy: he is not the first one to engage in that kind of abdication trick. He is not the last one. It is difficult to count how many people in the future generations have directed this kind of farce, but no one can deny that it includes the founding kings of Tang and Song Dynasties.

It can even be said that his process of replacing the Han Dynasty can be regarded as a model of successful abdication: almost no resistance was encountered, and not much blood was shed, which was simply what the people wanted. If tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people petitioned to sing praises, and later generations suspected that it was concocted by Wang Mang himself, then even if he had a big opinion on Wang Mang, he was only given the treatment of "biography" in the "Hanshu" and released. Ban Gu, who was derogatory in the last article, also had to write in the book:

"(Wang Mang) started with his relatives, and worked hard to gain reputation. The clan was called filial piety, and his teachers and friends were benevolent. He was in the position and assisted the government. When he was successful and mourning, he worked hard for the country and walked straight. If you think that in the corrupt and degenerate environment in the late Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang, who was a foreign relative in power, was pretending to be honest and self-disciplined by those virtuous corporals before usurping the throne. If it is unscrupulous and cruel to commit suicide by slaves, then the price Wang Mang paid for usurping the throne is too great:

For thirty-one years, he lived this so-called "hypocrisy" life! Later generations sometimes really cannot equate the new emperor Mang who cried hoarsely in the southern suburbs of Chang'an with the great Sima Wang Mang who steadily controlled the Western Han regime.It seemed that there was a pair of huge sharp scissors that cut Wang Mang's reputation and career in half with a click, and cut him in half with his enthronement as the boundary. It was the all-out restructuring after he ascended the throne that dragged Wang Mang into the abyss of eternal doom. "The strong have thousands of fields, and the weak have no place to stand. They also set up slaves and maids in the same stalls as cattle and horses. They are controlled by the subjects and their lives are arbitrarily determined. Rape and abuse are for profit, and even sell their wives a little bit. , Against the heart of heaven, against human relations... Father and son couples have been farming all year round, and the income is not enough to survive. Therefore, the rich have more than a dog and a horse, and they become evil because of their arrogance;

From the edict, I seem to be able to see Wang Mang, who was extremely indignant at the powerful, with a pitiful and stern expression when he looked down at the poor moaning and turning sideways in the dire straits. Of course, China has always been the country with the most bureaucratic articles and the most wonderful techniques, and the more weeping, the more irrelevant it is.However, Wang Mang's edict should be able to express his true feelings. As soon as he sat down firmly, Wang Mang couldn't wait to extend his hand to the living beings in the sea of ​​suffering: "Today it is renamed Tianxia Tian as 'Wang Tian', and slaves and maidservants as 'Private Belonging', and none of them can be sold or bought;" "If the man's mouth is less than eight, but the field is more than one well, the rest of the field will be distributed to the neighbors of the nine ethnic groups;" "Five balances and six managements" to control industry and commerce as a whole, to balance prices, to sell salt, wine, and iron organs, to bring minted money to the state, and to restrict wealthy merchants from stealing the bones; ... A series of strict edicts can clearly make future generations understand Wang Mang's firm determination to sweep away the injustice in the world. In recent years in the West, many scholars are full of curiosity about Wang Mang.They were surprised to find that in the "prehistoric ancient times, there was such a 'liberal' economic policy" when even Jesus had just begun to preach. They even praised Wang Mang as an idealist, socialist, and revolutionary. (See Huang Renyu) Indeed, when I read these edicts for restructuring, sometimes I really have a feeling of not knowing what happened: Were these edicts really issued two thousand years ago?This is simply the policy program promoted by the revolutionaries of the last century!There is always an absurd thought in the trance, Wang Mang, could it be written in a novel like the one that was popular a few days ago, and the people around us travel back to the distant past through time and space? But the facts are the facts. Everyone with a little knowledge of history knows that Wang Mang had already decided his fate of failure before the crying ceremony, which was unprecedented. His restructuring failed completely, and the failure was faster and worse than he imagined. Restructuring—social reform—is actually a process of redistribution of rights. Socialists may not recognize "survival of the fittest", but they cannot erase the difference in ability of each individual.No matter how neat and fair the initial starting line is, it won't take long for people on the field to distance themselves.Those who run ahead can get supplies first, and those who get supplies run faster.Therefore, the longer you run, the greater the distance must be. After each dynasty has been successfully passed down for several generations, from top to bottom, from bottom to top, the powerful will slowly develop and become tangled, like a tree, first gradually grow up and become thicker, and the crown of the tree will expand circle by circle. The roots are winding and stretching in the bottom... and then the shade of the trees is gradually approaching and connecting, the roots are intertwined and connected with each other, like a snake, it will slip through every crack and firmly hold the ground.On the top, take up the sunlight; on the bottom, absorb the water.Knock on one tree and that tree shakes, and pick off leaves and the roots of the tree will burst. Even if it is just a reform that cuts out branches and leaves, it is a desperate contest of power and strength. Its difficulty has caused almost all reformers in history to be ruined and ruined.At that time, the poor people for whom the reformers fought for their rights all their lives often either watched the failure of the reform with cold and numbness, or rushed forward frantically and tore the flesh and blood of the losers—all of them pushed the source of their pain to The reformers are on their way.Indeed, all the consequences of failed reforms must be borne by the people at the bottom; the powerful have a means of passing on the losses, and they can even take advantage of the reforms to make a fortune. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Zheng Guozi was reformed.In the first year, the people made up songs to curse him: "Confiscate my clothes, weave up my fields, whoever kills Zichan, I am willing to do it with him!" Zichan ignored it and forced it.In the third year, the people made up another song: "I have children, and Zichan teaches; I have fields, and Zichan cultivates them; when Zichan dies, who can succeed?" The common people receive the benefits brought by the reform, but they must also end up wishing that they can eat meat and sleep with their skins forever. Compared with Wang Mang's frenzied and amazing moves later, Zheng Guo's reforms can only be said to be small. For thousands of years, there have been countless heroes, wise rulers and virtuous ministers, but how many of them have truly succeeded in drastic reforms?Does Wang Mang have this ability? Wang Mang has never worried so much, he is very confident. He firmly believed that his ideal would soon be realized on the mess he took over from the Western Han Dynasty. He was full of enthusiasm to build one beautiful dream after another on the snowflakes of edicts——his royal palace was almost always lit all night. He really took the beautiful descriptions and broad ideas of Confucianism as the truth, and really thought he was the reincarnated Duke of Zhou.Didn't he rely on the Confucian teachings of self-cultivation and governing the country step by step to reach the pinnacle of the world?Isn't the benefit of Confucianism fully reflected in oneself? Take another step forward and apply the sacred plan in the classics to your own country, won't the world be unified soon? Didn't the news come from all over the world, and auspicious signs appear frequently in the world—isn't this God's praise for me? Subjects, be patient for a while, and soon the heavenly "Datong World" will be here. His planned restructuring should be as smooth and easy as his job search. His plan didn't even stipulate some specific details. He believed that his approach would definitely win the heartfelt support of all people, so a few imperial decrees were enough and effective, even a few words would do—— Just like naming the Xiongnu "Subduing Nu", it should be able to make the Xiongnu surrender. He thought that as long as he formulates a policy that conforms to Confucian classics and ancient etiquette, his subjects will be grateful and will actively and meticulously implement it by themselves. Just like what Ban Gu said when he ridiculed him: "If you are reckless, you think that the world will be peaceful if you make a law." Unaware of every order, only the executive officials will secretly rejoice: since then, there is another broad and empty government order that can be distorted wantonly, thus adding another way to make money and compete for positions. Wang Tian, ​​Wu Jun, and Liu Guan are all nothing more than ropes and sharp knives that can be manipulated over and over again. What's more deadly is that the Confucianism that Wang Mang is proud of seems to be too shallow.Why do those policies that are formulated according to the ancient books and thoughtful considerations always feel that they are not smooth and applicable?He had to revise again and again, adjust again and again, retreat again and again, and abolish his own policies again and again. Sometimes Wang Mang also felt that the ancient books were not very useful, and he really didn't understand clearly: Why didn't the sage even explain how the currency system of our new dynasty should be calculated, and what copper coins should be?I had to fumble and change by myself.Later, even the ancient tortoise shells came into play.As for the chaos and pain of the common people under the policy of changing orders and flying everywhere, they can't take care of it for a while. Yes, how can we care about the common people?Even the ministers couldn't figure out what the court's changing decrees were trying to say.They don't even know what their official name should be now, what county or county their hometown should be called—— Luckily, someone came up with a way: every time below, after the inexplicable new official title and new title, the original title is always marked in small print. The whole world was devastated, and the original wound hadn't healed at all, and it was ravaged by Wang Mang's passion. In the end, he didn't understand that the Confucianism that he regarded as the standard, if it really had any effect, was only for conservation, not for reform. Besides, he never thought that he was reforming. He felt that his reform was just to restore the ancient peace and prosperity mentioned in "Zhou Li". His restructuring not only made the poor still "unable to survive", but even the rich were "unable to protect themselves".His new dynasty is really not as long as a mediocre Fanjun. Wang Mang also became one of the few strange tragic figures in history who was both the founding king and the subjugated king. Finally, reports from all over the country said that there had been "thieves" and "desperates".Wang Mang was still under illusion at first, and sent envoys to appease him.The envoy came back and replied, saying that the thieves scattered and reunited again and again because the laws were too complicated and harsh, and the common people were at a loss; working hard for a year as an ox and a horse was not enough to pay tribute in the end; Living on starvation, but at some point a catastrophe will strike from the sky—isn’t there a decree that traitors mint copper coins privately, and neighbors have to sit down?In addition, those treacherous officials have changed their ways to use political laws to seize money-so, why not treat them differently? This was the truth, but Wang Mang was still unwilling to admit his failure at this time, and still refused to believe that he forced the kind people to rebel. Hearing this, he was furious and immediately dismissed the post of envoy.So when the envoys returned later, they had to say that those were self-inflicted thugs who could not survive. Just send troops to suppress them. Our new dynasty is prosperous, and mere thieves can't last long.Wang Mang was overjoyed at this, and with an order, the clever envoy was promoted. But does Wang Mang still have the ability to extinguish the fire that spread throughout the new dynasty? After all, Wang Mang is Wang Mang, and he has his own set of magical methods.Seeing that there were more and more thieves, he asked Taishi to calculate the history of 36,000 years, and planned to change it to one yuan every six years, proclaiming that the new dynasty of the world would last at least that long.He also wrote a letter claiming that he would become an immortal and ascend to heaven like Emperor Xuanyuan Huangdi back then—he planned to use this kind of nonsense to deceive the people in order to eliminate the rebels everywhere. I guess that when Ban Guxiu wrote "Han Shu", he might feel dumbfounded when he wrote this section.He wrote down a sentence: "Everyone laughs at it." The new dynasty is no longer new, and the old is getting old quickly. Yes, very fast, really fast. Just after crying, less than two months later, the Green Forest Army invaded Chang'an. Most of the ministers ran away. Outside the palace gate, thick smoke billowed and golden drums blared. "Capture Wang Mang alive!" "Don't let him get away!" "Go and eat Wang Mang's meat!" The shouts were louder and louder than the last; the beating wood slammed into the palace gate again and again, and the dust fell down; sharp arrows and locusts roared in all directions; While staring greedily at Wang Mang, his eyes shot green light; court ladies and concubines were crying and running around; In the main hall, Wang Mang, who had lost even his few white hairs, was dressed up again, wearing a blue dragon robe, neatly fastened the Jade Seal of Chuanguo, and holding on to the sword that was said to have been used by Emperor Shun. Dagger sat upright trembling.And according to Tian Wenlang's calculations, he constantly adjusted the direction of the mighty handle that never left his body—this baby was specially cast by him to imitate the Big Dipper in the sky to defeat rebellions everywhere, muttering to himself: "God gave me virtue, what can the Han soldiers do to me?" For a moment, he regarded himself as the former teacher Confucius who had said something similar, and there seemed to be some blood on his livid and haggard face. It's just that he hasn't eaten much for many days, and his voice is very weak.