Chapter 23 preamble

It was an age shrouded in prophecy. All kinds of prophecies were regarded as divine revelations in that era.Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, and there were hundreds of thousands of people who offered pictures and prophecies. Otherwise, it is not enough to show the destiny of the destiny. Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, was also obsessed with this way. His old man's strange prophecies and pictures were almost superstitious.When he rebelled, it was because the Li brothers showed him the prophecy of "Liu's resurgence, Li's assistant".Later, with a heavy army in his hand, he separatized Hebei and dominated the Central Plains. His ministers persuaded him to proclaim himself emperor, but he refused to die—why?Because he felt that the formalities were still missing, and the destiny was not granted.Thanks to his old classmate Qianghua, who knew him well, he made up a "Red Fu Talisman" and presented it, saying that "Liu Xiu sent troops to arrest the Daoist, the four barbarians gathered and fought wildly, and the fire was the main force at the time of April and Seventh." Liu Xiu felt that the merit was enough. Consummation, dare to be the emperor.

After he became emperor, he still had superstitious beliefs. He and his minister Zheng Xing studied suburban sacrificial activities and proposed to use "prophecy" to solve difficult problems. But, unprofessional!Boss Liu doesn't care whether you are professional or not, he stared at him: If you say you don't read "prophecy", that means you are going to fight against me?Look what he said!This Mr. Zheng was so frightened that he wanted to die, so he quickly defended: Boss, you misunderstood... I, this... It's just that I haven't read enough books (it hasn't touched such profound things as "prophecy"), how dare I against you! "The king of Chu has a thin waist, and many people starved to death in the palace."Mr. Liu Xiu's unrecognizable hobby has caused the popularity of prophecy since the Eastern Han Dynasty.

The Eastern Han Dynasty prospered with prophecy and declined because of prophecy. In 183 A.D., that is, the sixth year of Emperor Guanghe of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the gates of Luoyang, the capital city, and government offices and temples in various places were painted with the word "Jiazi" overnight with white clay.What does it mean?Many people are at a loss.The next year is the year of Jiazi, is there any change that is about to happen?But there are some people who are not puzzled at all, because they are spreading such a prophecy everywhere: "The sky is dead, and the yellow sky will stand. When the age is Jiazi, the world will be blessed!"

They are believers in "Taiping Dao". In recent years, the emperor has been busy opening shops in the harem and doing business in person.Also because he liked to ride a donkey cart, the dignitaries in the capital followed suit one after another, and for a while the donkeys were sold for the price of a horse.What's more creative is that he also put a "Crown of Excellence" on the head of the fighting dog - of course, this is also different according to the dog's record. There is no suspicion of getting an official by chance. The "Crown of Jinxian" was originally the official hat of Chinese officials in the imperial court. It is indeed a bit insulting to wear it on the head of a dog.However, the folk song at that time sang: "If you are a scholar, you don't know the book. If you are a filial piety, your father lives away. Han Suqing is as white as mud, and Gao Diliang is as timid as a chicken." It seems that dogs are not the only ones who are not worthy of this hat. their heads.

If this is the kind of talent in the court who turns and resists humiliation, he can't blame the careerists who are ready to move.