Chapter 30 Section 4 Family and State Affairs

All four of Wang Mang's sons died, and rumors spread all over the place, saying that Wang Mang "the one who started the figurine has no descendants"?Wang Mang was already a white-haired man giving away a black-haired man. Hearing the words of exposing scars and gouging out sores, he became more and more angry.However, anger turns anger, and the immediate practical problem has to be resolved as soon as possible, that is, who will inherit the empire in the future.Fortunately, Wang Mang's son had two backups. When Wang Mang was demoted by Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty and returned to the feudal country of Xinyedu, he had sex with his maids and gave birth to two illegitimate children—Wang Xing, Wang Kuang, and Wang Mang. At first, I almost forgot that there were two sons, but now that the son-in-law is dead, Wang Mang remembered the two of them, recognized them as their ancestors, and brought them back to Chang'an from Xinyedu Township. Gong Jiangong.

Generally speaking, since Wang Xing and Wang Kuang are the sons of the emperor Wang Mang, they should be conferred titles as kings, why are they only dukes?In fact, it's not that Wang Mang is stingy with the prince, Wang Mang is also out of necessity.According to the hierarchy of etiquette, regardless of ordinary people or emperors and generals, the status of the family must be the eldest son (born by the regular wife) > the son (born by the regular wife) > the concubine (born by the concubine) > the nephew (illegitimate son), Wang Xing and Wang Kuang He is the lowest-ranked illegitimate child, and his status is basically unworthy of publicity. Wang Mang started his career as a rite, and he did not dare to break the etiquette system rashly, elevating the status of an illegitimate child to a legitimate son, so as to slap himself. There will be a lot of criticism and uproar for it.Therefore, Wang Mang had no choice but to make the two princes first, and he did not dare to make the king, let alone appoint one of them as the prince, the successor of the empire, so it continued to be undecided.

The selection of successors was difficult, and a bigger problem came one after another, that is, whether the new dynasty could last until Wang Mang took over. Four years ago, when the refugees first started, the scale was not large, with dozens or hundreds of people, it was a team of refugees.If it is appeased at this time, the situation can easily calm down.However, the so-called ass decides the head, due to the bureaucratic habits of the imperial bureaucrats, the best time to respond was delayed.For the sake of political achievements, the bureaucrats took chances and did not report at all at first, thinking that they could get away with it.After the situation escalated, even though they dared not report it, they concealed a lot of things.Just like this, the county deceived its county, and the county deceived the court. After the court ministers saw the report, it was not serious. Such a trivial matter did not need to alarm the emperor, so Wang Mang was kept in the dark.

When Wang Mang was finally alarmed, the seriousness of the situation can be imagined.I have to admit that Wang Mang's love for the common people is not just talking about it. He really has the poor people in his heart. Therefore, after receiving the report of the refugees, he immediately issued a reply: pardon them all and allow them to return to their hometowns. Like Wang Mang's ambitious reforms, Wang Mang's reply also failed to be implemented.After the refugees returned to their hometowns, they still couldn’t solve the problem of food. Coupled with the heavy burden of tribute and taxes, they worked hard all year round and used all their harvests to pay taxes. , Confiscated his home and sent him to prison. If this sums up, he might as well be a refugee again, eat the king's meal, and be a free man.What is even more hateful is the actions of the government: when the refugees are concentrated, they are powerful, and the government can do nothing.Once disbanded and broken up into pieces, the officials took the opportunity to retaliate and hunt down and kill the scattered refugees, using this as a political achievement and asking for credit.

As a result, the refugees scattered and reunited, which could not be cut off.Seeing that the pardon had no effect, Wang Mang couldn't help being furious, and scolded at the court: "Cut the leeks and cut the willows! The refugees and thieves, would you rather have a seed?" The former Wang Mang had far more knowledge than this.As an excellent politician, like an excellent literary work, it should come from life and be higher than life.However, Wang Mang now has no life, and what he relies on is only his feelings. However, where there is feeling, there is illusion.Wang Mang still rules the empire, but he no longer understands his empire.Wang Mang still loves his people deeply, but he no longer understands his people.He was alone in the magnificent Weiyang Palace, patting his head, thinking of course, the sufferings of the world and the hardships of the people's livelihood are so far away for him.He can't understand the miserable situation of the refugees at all. He just thinks that you refugees have violated countless laws of the empire by leaving your hometown without authorization and preying everywhere. However, I pardon you and give you a new life. I am so magnanimous, kind and dignified, but you treat my kindness as a donkey's liver and lungs, and it is not appropriate to leave good people alone, and insist on wandering around. Are you born masochists?

Wang Mang scolded the refugees angrily, which was tantamount to defining the sex of the refugees, and the officials expressed their support one after another. Your majesty, you have the virtues of the three emperors, and your benevolence surpasses the five emperors. Everyone in the world can see and know.Some refugees, not only do not appreciate His Majesty's kindness, but are willing to degenerate, because they are born to be thieves.Your Majesty need not worry, how can fireflies shake the light of the sun and the moon, these refugees and thieves will soon fend for themselves.Wang Mang was overjoyed and added rank and honor to these officials.Seeing this posture, the rest of the officials, of course, followed suit and only reported good news but not bad news.

However, four years have passed, and instead of fending for themselves, the refugees have grown in size and gathered more and more people. They have swept across the region, including Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Jingzhou, Bingzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Yangzhou, and the entire In the Kanto region, thieves and refugees are everywhere. Wang Mang just woke up like a dream, knowing that he was fooled by the officials under him. These refugees were originally just a minor disease of the country. Land delay has become a serious disease of the country. I also advised Mr. Wang Mang that the serious illness is not a terminal illness, and the world’s affairs are so corrupted that you should be more or less like other emperors, and first resort to common routines such as reducing food, praying to heaven, and sinning against yourself, to show that you care about the people , Share the worries with the people.Superficial articles are always to be done. Aren't you the best at superficial articles?After Wang Mang finished listening, he turned his back, covered his face with his sleeves, and wept bitterly.