Chapter 291 Wang Mang usurps the Han (two in one)
After Wang Jian and others left, Li Nian and Meng Tian stayed behind. Seeing that the First Emperor left him and Meng Tian behind, Li Nian guessed that the First Emperor might be I want to hear about the future generations again.
Yes, it has been a while since he last talked about the Western Han Dynasty, and today he and Meng Tian just happened to be together.
We are busy lately, and the foursome are not always free to get together.
As the emperor, the First Emperor was busy handling various government affairs; Meng Yi had to protect the First Emperor's safety, and sometimes had to run errands for the First Emperor and perform some confidential tasks;
Meng Tian went to the Naval Academy to study; Li Nian was the busiest among the four. Not only did he have to advise on many policies of the Qin Dynasty, guide various technical issues, but he also copied materials from later generations...
If not The First Emperor deliberately summoned them, and it was difficult for the four of them to get together.
As expected, the First Emperor said: "Last time you talked about Wang Mang usurping the Han Dynasty, who is that Wang Mang, and what kind of virtue does he have, that he can usurp the Han Dynasty?"
Li Nian collected his thoughts and then said: "Back to Your Majesty, the main reason why Wang Mang was able to usurp the Han Dynasty was that the Western Han Dynasty was declining day by day and he had serious problems. Secondly, Wang Mang was able to usurp the Han Dynasty. Mang's origin and other factors. Even without Wang Mang, the Western Han Dynasty would have perished! "
"In other words, the Eastern Han Dynasty can resume the Han Dynasty and continue the country under the name of "Han" for nearly two hundred years. There is also 'credit'. If the Western Han Dynasty were allowed to perish on its own, there might not be an Eastern Han Dynasty anymore, but another dynasty would replace it."
The First Emperor then thought about it and understood the meaning of Li Nian's words, and said: "Is it because although Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, he also solved the symptoms accumulated in the Western Han Dynasty?"
Li Nian nodded, but he The answer was: "To be precise, Wang Mang did not solve those problems, he just Because he usurped the Han Dynasty, he took over the problems of the Western Han Dynasty. "
"It's like a branding iron. This branding iron was originally made by the Western Han Dynasty. It was formed by the resentment and dissatisfaction of the people of the world against the Western Han Dynasty. Sooner or later, it will be destroyed. Burn the Western Han Dynasty to death.”
“ But when the Western Han Dynasty was about to be burned to death, Wang Mang snatched it away and took it in his hands. The people's resentment and dissatisfaction with the Western Han Dynasty were suddenly transferred to Wang Mang and his new dynasty. The decree actually made people miss the Western Han Dynasty. "
"The final result was that Wang Mang and his new dynasty disappeared, and many problems left by the Western Han Dynasty were alleviated, but the debt was actually recorded on Wang Mang's head. Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu was very happy Xing established the Eastern Han Dynasty ”
Hearing Li Nian's words, the first emperor and the other three looked strange. This Wang Mang was also a wronged person. He didn't get much benefit from usurping the Han Dynasty. Instead, he took the blame for the Western Han Dynasty and paved the way for the Eastern Han Dynasty. All the benefits went to Liu Ji. That guy’s descendants will get it.
Meng Tian asked curiously: "Why can the problems left by the Western Han Dynasty be alleviated?"
Li Nian glanced at Meng Tian and said: "Some problems exist because there are people who have the talent to solve them. You can’t solve the problem, but if you can solve the problem, the problem will naturally be solved. . ”
“With the demise of Wang Mang’s new dynasty, many people died during the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty. After the death of so many people, many problems that had accumulated during the Western Han Dynasty disappeared.”
Meng Tian was startled after hearing this. He actually used this method to solve the problem.
But that is a problem that accumulates when a dynasty comes to an end, and many people will die.
After answering Meng Tian's question, Li Nian continued: "Among the many problems in the Western Han Dynasty, the biggest one was undoubtedly 'land annexation'."
"This is also the case for many problems in later generations. It is difficult to escape from the "law of historical cycles" as the main reason for the demise of a dynasty. "
Hearing that "land annexation" existed in many dynasties in later generations and was still the main reason for their demise, the three emperors became serious.
The history of future generations can serve as a lesson!
"The problem of land annexation can usually be understood as the world's land is limited, but the population continues to increase over time."
"When a dynasty was first established, the relationship between people and land was often that there were fewer people and more land."
“At this time, there is a lot of land in the world, but not enough people to farm it. Everyone has enough and even rich land to cultivate, and they can live in harmony with each other.”
“So this period is often a The rising period of the dynasty, the land There are too many people but not enough people. It can accommodate more people. As the population increases, more food can be cultivated and the national power of the dynasty also increases. "
"But the land is limited and the population grows. However, if it continues, the relationship between man and land will gradually change from less people and more land to more people and less land. In particular, some people will seize other people's land. For example, princes and nobles will try their best to occupy the land in the hands of the people, causing the relationship between man and land to become more and more tense. .”
"As the saying goes, 'The rich have vast fields and the poor have nowhere to stand.' And the most people in the world are the people at the bottom. What will happen when they lose their land or the land they own cannot produce enough food for them to survive? ?”
“What will happen if there is another natural disaster and the court’s strict decree?”
The first emperor and the other three did not answer, but they could think of these two. The answer to the question.
If you can't live anymore, there is nothing to fear. Why don't you rebel, kill those princes and nobles, and steal their land and food.
Li Nian did not wait for the three people to answer this question, and continued: "Their only way out is to rise up. If they can't survive, then the princes and nobles will not survive either. They will cause turmoil and let the dynasty fight for them. Buried with him! ”
"When the war ends, many people die in the troubled times, the relationship between man and earth eases, and a new dynasty enters this cycle of reincarnation."
"Although your Majesty's Da Qin is the first great empire in Chinese history, A unified dynasty, but because it was the first, it was immature in many aspects, so it failed to reach the end that a dynasty should have."
"So, the Western Han Dynasty was the first to complete the historical cycle. "In the late Western Han Dynasty, the problem of land annexation was serious, coupled with constant natural disasters, corrupt officials, the decline of imperial power, and the growing power of foreign relatives. If no one could change this situation, the Western Han Dynasty would surely perish. It was almost impossible for people in that era to change."
"This was a dead end for the Western Han Dynasty, but Wang Mang took over it!"
The First Emperor asked a question: "Since the demise of the dynasty was due to the relationship between people and land and the law of historical cycles, what does it have to do with Confucianism?"
Li Niandao: "Return to your majesty, because the Confucianism of later generations will alleviate the harm. The relationship between man and land, a method that breaks out of the law of historical cycles. "
"The tension between man and land is mainly due to the uneven distribution of land. The common people have less land, the princes and powerful people have more land, and the land types. out There is a shortage of food. "
"So if you want to solve it, you can use the method of rationally allocating land and increasing food production."
"The latter is what allowed the Qing Dynasty to have the 'Kang-Qian Dynasty'. The important reason is that the Qing Dynasty had high-yielding crops such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, which made the Qing Dynasty’s population reach tens of millions. That is not at all because the Manchu monarchs were wise and capable, but because the crop yields were much higher than in other dynasties!”
“The way to increase land yields is not only to find high-yielding crops, but also to develop science and technology to increase crop yields through more advanced technologies, such as using technology to improve crops, create more advanced agricultural tools, and make products that can greatly increase the productivity of crops. Yield of fertilizers, etc. ”
"These are solutions from the inside, and solutions from the outside: China's land is limited, but there is vast land outside China. The relationship between people and land within China is tense, but not outside China."
When the First Emperor heard this, he already understood what Li Nian meant. Just listen to Li Nian continue: "But it is difficult for later Confucianism to support these solutions. It is difficult for them to think outward and to allow the rise of new technologies."
"During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made seven voyages to the Western Seas on the orders of the Ming Dynasty Emperor Chengzu. He sailed across the oceans earlier than the Westerners. However, the charts he brought back were hidden by Confucian officials and eventually lost."
“Although some of them believed that the Ming Dynasty’s further voyages would waste people and money, they did hinder the development of the Ming Dynasty’s oceans. They refused to see the outside world and did not know the changes in the outside world. They were always limited to their own world and claimed that the heaven and earth were above the country. , let China slow down Slowly being caught up and surpassed by the West."
Li Nian turned the topic back to Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty and the Eastern Han Dynasty: "Speaking of it, Wang Mang's success in usurping the Han Dynasty also has something to do with Confucianism."
"Wang Mangzhe, a relative of the Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang Mang's aunt was the empress of Emperor Liu Xun of Han Yuan Dynasty. Liu Xun was the son of Emperor Xuan of Han Dynasty, and was evaluated by Liu Xun as "the prince who disturbed my family."
"Because my aunt is the empress." , Wang Mang naturally became a foreigner of the Western Han Dynasty. Qi."
"Of course, in the beginning, there were many Wang family members, and Wang Mang was not particularly outstanding among them, but people are most afraid of comparison. As long as he behaves differently from other peers, he will definitely attract attention. ”
"The Wang family was an aristocratic family at that time. It had a large business and was very noble. Therefore, the people in the family lived a more extravagant and sensual life."
"But Wang Mang was different. He lived a simple life and was humble. diligent He is diligent in studying, honors his mother, and is courteous to the virtuous corporal..."
"Among a group of sensual Wang family children, he stands out and stands out. It is difficult for him not to be noticed, and he does not do this for a short time. This has been the case for a long time. He was regarded as a moral example and became famous, thinking that he was a perfect moral person! Believe in Confucianism, Confucianism developed rapidly at that time and became very powerful. Your Majesty also knows the situation of Confucianism, which highly values morality."
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Li Nian didn't need to say more. The First Emperor also guessed what would happen next. How could a morally perfect man like Wang Mang not be praised by Confucians and set up as a model?
Confucianism is still very popular because Liu Shi believes in Confucianism. So once Wang Mang enters the official career, will he still be able to fly?
What's more, Wang Mang's aunt is still Liu Shi's queen. Now the halo is full. It is unreasonable for Wang Mang not to fly.
“In this case, after Wang Mang entered the court and became an official, he was quickly promoted. However, at this time, he did not reveal his ambitions. Instead, he worked seriously and continued his path to moral perfection. When his son commits a crime, he is also selfless and even handles it himself. "
"This makes Wang Mang's image of a moral perfection in people's eyes more profound. Compared with the ancient saints, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty left a poem, "The Duke of Zhou is afraid of rumors." On this day, Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time."
"However, although the Western Han Dynasty was weakening at that time, it still had some remaining strength. Wang Mang also kept his ambitions hidden. It was not until he took control of the power in the court that he began to eradicate political opponents and begin his road to usurping the Han Dynasty. Even at this time, Wang Mang still has a good reputation.”
Meng Tian was surprised. Yi Dao: "Why does he still have a good reputation, but those people can't see Wang Mang's ambitions, and there is no evil in what he does?"
Li Niandao: "Because he hides it very well, so that people don't know about him. The evil deeds he has done, and he will cover up some of them with the "righteousness to destroy relatives, public and selfless" However, people think that Wang Mang is indeed a moral model."
"Furthermore, Wang Mang has a very good relationship with Confucianism. He is extremely friendly to Confucianism and is highly supported by Confucian scholars. It was because of the propaganda of Confucian scholars that Wang Mang was promoted. The world regards him as a saint.”
“In fact. Just by looking at some of the things Wang Mang did, you can tell that he had evil intentions, such as sealing the Wei family, the mother of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty, and her family to the Zhongshan Kingdom, making her daughter the queen of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty, and after the death of Emperor Ping of the Han Dynasty, in order to better control the court Zhong Daquan made the two-year-old Liu Ying the prince. ”
It is normal to establish a two-year-old emperor, so that he can continue to be in power and usurp the Han Dynasty later...
Wait, the crown prince is not the emperor?
Meng Tian thought that Li Nian might have made a mistake and confirmed: "Make two-year-old Liu Ying the crown prince?"
Li Nian nodded and smiled: "In order to facilitate the control of the government, Wang Mang did He was appointed as the crown prince, but he promised that Liu Ying would grow up After that, he will return the government to Liu Ying and retire to his hometown. "
This is nonsense. Whoever listens to it will be stupid. If Wang Mang can really do this, he will definitely be praised in the history books. Being regarded as a model of loyal ministers by later kings, Wuhou may have to step aside.
Standing in front of everyone is Wang Mang, a perfect moral man and a model of loyal ministers throughout the ages, comparable to the sages of ancient times!
Li Nian added: "Wang Mang, who holds great power, has been regarded as the emperor even though he has not proclaimed himself emperor. Because Liu Ying is young, he acts as an agent in the government and is called a 'fake emperor' and a 'photographer'." Emperor'."
"Wang Mang has completed all the accumulation before usurping the Han Dynasty!"
"So, in the beginning On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Mang forced his aunt to hand over the imperial seal, accepted the abdication of the four-year-old Liu Ying and proclaimed himself emperor, changed "Han" to "Xin", changed "Chang'an" to "Chang'an", and determined the year title. "The founding of the country"
Meng Tian asked again: "Then no one from the Western Han Dynasty royal family or officials came out to oppose it?"
Wang Mang is about to usurp the throne. There should be some reaction from the Western Han Dynasty royal family. There should also be loyal ministers among those ministers to stand up, right?
At times like this, it is impossible for everyone to be deceived!
"The royal family of the Western Han Dynasty was naturally unwilling to be usurped by Wang Mang and opposed it. Unfortunately, their resistance was suppressed by Wang Mang. As for the ministers..."
Li Nian said in a strange tone: "Many of the subjects actually They were looking forward to Wang Mang usurping the throne, because Wang Mang's reputation is so good that many people believe that under the leadership of the great moral perfectionist Wang Mang, they will be able to get out of the predicament of the Western Han Dynasty and usher in a prosperous age."
"Among them, they support Wang Mang to usurp the Han Dynasty and replace the Liu family. There is Confucianism!”
"At that time, there were many natural disasters in the Western Han Dynasty, and Confucianism developed a thought that connected natural disasters with kings, that is, natural disasters would occur because God saw that the kings on earth had lost their virtue, so they came down."
This makes The First Emperor raised his eyebrows slightly. Now because of Li Nian, he would not take this theory seriously, but if it were before, he really did not dare to say that he would not be deceived by this theory.
The First Emperor could naturally see that Confucianism developed this theory to limit the power of the king, but this would also cause some bad consequences.
Confucianism must indeed limit its development and cannot allow it to grow wildly.
“The idea of the Confucian scholars is very simple. Since the king loses his virtue and God brings natural disasters, then if we elect a man with perfect morals as the king, won’t God stop bringing disasters?”
"It just so happens that Wang Mang is this morally perfect man!"
"Although the Confucian scholars talk about loyalty to the emperor, they believe in their doctrines and ideas more. They believe that the Liu family has lost its morals and has reached its end. It is for the sake of the world and the common people. Plan, when Zen is located in Wang Mang!"
"So they not only did not object, but also at that time! Very supportive!”
“There is another reason why Wang Mang can win the support of Confucian scholars. Wang Mang believes in Confucianism, and the policies he wants to implement in the new dynasty are in line with Confucian scholars.” He is nicknamed the time traveler because of the new policies implemented in the new dynasty. ”
Speaking of this, Li Nian explained: "'Travelers' are people like ministers, who come from later generations or other time and space, and go to a time and space that is not their own."
(End of this chapter)< br>