Chapter 100 Section 2 Twilight Sadness

Liu Xin and Wang She destroyed their own lives by committing suicide, and at the same time destroyed Wang Mang's last confidence. In Wang Mang's long life, he has never been stingy with his butcher knife.Bloodshed and murder, he neither likes nor dislikes it, he just uses it as a means, and does what he needs, calmly and indifferently.How many people did he kill?The number cannot be calculated.For the ideal of Confucianism, for the future of the empire, it is not a problem to kill as many people as possible, and it is not a pity to kill as many people as possible. However, this time Wang Mang collapsed.

As the dictator of the empire, he was getting old and dying.Looking back on his life, he basically did two things: one is to change the dynasty and turn the Liu family into a royal family. No one can erase this point, and history will definitely record it here.The second is political reform. Since he proclaimed himself emperor, he has relied on his strong will to kidnap his own empire and rush towards the Confucian utopia.There are not many people who support this matter, but there are many people who oppose it, so it finally failed.In the twilight years of his life, he saw that the good empire was turned into a mess by him, but he was unable to clean up the mess. He felt an indescribable boredom in his heart, and he was tired of himself.

Liu Xin maintained a friendship with him for nearly fifty years, while Wang She was his trusted cousin, his closest comrade-in-arms and his own brother's joint betrayal, which finally completely defeated him who was already weak.He aged almost overnight. Before that, Wang Mang's body had always been strong and full of energy.Coupled with his excessively ugly appearance, it easily concealed his age, making him appear extremely old.However, after the death of Liu Xin and Wang She, his whole body collapsed in an instant, his movements were slow, his expression was sluggish, his speech began to be incoherent, and he often lost his mind. He could no longer think continuously like he did when he was young. He is thoroughly old.

Even the food and sex, which he was so passionate about, can't arouse his interest at this time.He has lost his appetite, and just keeps drinking and occasionally chewing on dried flatfish.Similarly, he also lost his libido. In his eyes, the harem beauties are just a bunch of skin and fat.As for the Confucian classics that he loves and worships, he has long since thrown them aside. He spends almost all his time reading various military books.After that, he never went to bed again, and his head never touched the pillow again. Seeing that Wang Mang was trying to find a way to save the country from the book of war, Da Sikong Cui Fajin remonstrated, "Why don't you recall Wang Yi?"Although Wang Yi is like a prodigal son who destroyed almost all his troops in Kunyang, at this time of desperation, perhaps only Wang Yi can bring a glimmer of life to the new dynasty.Da Sikong Cui Fa said again: "Wang Yi was defeated in Kunyang. I have no face to see your Majesty again and stay in Luoyang. Now Your Majesty has called him to come here, and he will be decisive with Wang Yi's arrogance. He is afraid that he will commit suicide as soon as he sees the imperial edict. Thank you. Your Majesty Comfort him with kind words, and tell him with stern words." Wang Mang then issued an order to Wang Yi, saying: "The death of the king is of no benefit, so I cherish my life. I am old and have no children, and I want to pass it on to the world. Thank you for your death, and don't do it again."

When Wang Yi received the edict, he had mixed feelings.He was sorry for Wang Mang, he defeated Wang Mang's army, and he did not keep Wang Mang's only son. If Wang Mang wanted him to die, he would not frown, but would feel relieved.However, with Wang Mang's character of vengeance, he would forgive him and call him back to Chang'an. This also shows the difficulty of Wang Mang's situation and his ardent expectations for him.Wang Mang's imperial edict said, "Thank you for the death of the imperial edict, and don't come back when you see him", that is, he was strictly ordered not to refuse to come, and the past is over, and there is no need to mention it after meeting, so as not to worry about him.As for Wang Mang's statement that he would pass on the throne to him, these words were of course just casual talk, to coax him like a child.

For Wang Yi, death is easy, but living with shame is even more difficult.He decided to live and do his best for his emperor and brother Wang Mang.Wang Yi returned to Chang'an, met Wang Mang, fell to the ground and cried.Wang Mang helped Wang Yi up and said, "Don't mention the past."Now that the country is in peril, will the plan be released? Wang Yi said: "Your Majesty, dare to be at ease, there is still a lot to do in the world."Now Luoyang and Wuguan are both present, and the Chinese army still has tens of thousands of elite soldiers, which can keep Chang'an safe.The great trouble of the empire lies only in the Han army.The rest of the rogues have no lofty ambitions and can be lured.I ask you to recruit Chimei, and promise him a high official and rich salary, countless gold, silver and jewels, and order him to lead the army to the east to crusade against the Han army.Even if the two bandits fight each other, Your Majesty will be in the middle, reap the benefits, and clean up the old rivers and mountains, the day will not be far away.

Wang Mang was overjoyed when he heard the words, and worshiped Wang Yi as the great Sima, and ordered him to follow his plan.