In the fourth year of the reign of Wang Mang, in the month of May, Mang said, "Bao Cheng, the Friend of the Emperor, as well as the Imperial Advisor Tang Lin and the former Imperial Advisor Ji Quan of Langye, embody filial piety, fraternal harmony, loyalty, and forgiveness. They respect their superiors and care for those below them, possess extensive knowledge of history, and have exemplary moral character. They have not committed any faults despite their advanced age. Tang Lin is appointed as the Marquis of Jiande, and Quan as the Marquis of Fengde. Their ranks are specially promoted, and they enjoy the treatment of the Three Excellencies. I've granted each a district, three million coins, and a ceremonial staff."
In the month of June, he further granted the nobles land at the Mingtang, saying, "I've established a national administrative system with a five-tiered system of enfeoffment. After extensive research and careful deliberation, based on historical records and classical texts, the system is finalized. It has been nine years since the founding of the country, and it is now officially established. I personally oversaw the ceremony, offering sacrifices to Heaven, Earth, and our ancestors before distributing the land. Each of you must govern your fiefdom wisely and serve the state well. Those who, without imperial summons, came to the capital from the border regions or Jiangnan to serve will be given salaries from the national treasury, with officials receiving 800,000 coins annually, marquises and earls 400,000 coins, and sons and males 200,000 coins." However, not everyone received these rewards. Wang Mang was prone to empty promises, admired ancient practices, and while he granted many titles, he was notoriously stingy. Using the pretext of unsettled territorial boundaries, he temporarily granted land to appease the newly ennobled.
In that year, the Six Commandments policy was reinstated. Each commandment was accompanied by strict regulations and prohibitions, with violators facing the death penalty. As a result, more and more officials and commoners were punished. All officials and commoners owning slaves or servants were taxed 3,600 coins per household, causing widespread hardship and a rise in banditry. When Grand Counselor Feng Chang remonstrated against the Six Commandments, Wang Mang flew into a rage and dismissed him. A special agency was established to investigate and root out corruption. Capable officials like Hou Ba were appointed to supervise the six bureaus and six teams, acting like Han Dynasty prefects to assist the Three Excellencies in administering the provinces.
Lin Huai, a melon farmer, and others turned to banditry, operating in the Kuaiji and Changzhou areas. Madam Lü, the mother of Lu, also rose up. Initially, she and her son were county officials who were wrongly killed by the magistrate. She sold off her family's possessions, using the proceeds to buy weapons and enlist impoverished youths, eventually gathering over a hundred men. They then attacked Haiqu County, killing its magistrate as a sacrifice for her son’s grave. Their forces grew as they moved along the coast, eventually reaching tens of thousands.
Emperor Wang Mang issued a pardon for the thieves, stating, “If thieves are released, they will inevitably regroup.” When asked why they turned to banditry, they all expressed their resentment towards the harsh laws and regulations, claiming they were unable to raise their hands. They said their hard work was insufficient to cover the taxes. Many closed their doors to protect themselves, only to be reported by neighbors for privately minting coins, while corrupt officials caused great distress among the people. In their poverty, the people rose up as thieves. Wang Mang was furious and dismissed them. If someone dared to suggest that the people were arrogant and cunning or claimed, “The time is right, and their end is near,” Wang Mang would be pleased and promote them.
In the eighth month of that year, Wang Mang personally went to the southern suburbs and cast a massive bronze weapon shaped like the Big Dipper, intended to suppress the rebel army. Once completed, an astrologer carried it, with Wang Mang walking in front and standing beside him. On the day of the casting, it was bitterly cold, and many officials and horses froze to death.
On the first day of the fifth year, disaster struck the northern gate of the army. Fei Xing, the Grand Marshal, was appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou. He asked Fei Xing about the situation in Jingzhou, and Xing replied, “The people of Jing and Yang subsisted on fishing and hunting in the mountains and marshes. Recently, the government's expansion into six new districts, with its heavy taxation of the mountains and marshes, had ruined the people's livelihoods. After years of drought, the people are starving and impoverished, hence the rise of thieves. Upon taking office, I propose to make it clear to the thieves that they should return to their fields, lend them plows and oxen for planting, and reduce or exempt them from taxes to pacify and appease them.” Wang Mang was angry and dismissed Xing from his position.
Every official in the land, unable to get their proper pay, was busy lining their own pockets, leaving county magistrates and their families rolling in riches. Emperor Mang decreed, "Considering the Hu invasion two years after the empire's founding, any military or border official who'd gotten rich through corruption would forfeit four-fifths of their family's wealth to fund the border defenses." The decree went out across the land, sparking investigations and encouraging officials to rat each other out. But instead of stopping the rot, it just made things worse.
The grandson of the emperor, Gong Chonggong, sat and painted his own appearance, wearing the emperor's attire and crown, and carved three seals: one reads, "May this crown preserve blessings; may its wearer dwell in the southern mountains in summer, and preserve the ice like a treasure" (symbolizing the blessing of the crown), the second reads, "Reverence for the sacred inheritance" (symbolizing the inheritance of holiness), and the third reads, "Flourishing virtue" (displaying the illustration of virtue). Also, his uncle, Lu Kuan, moved to Hepu in front of the family and privately communicated with them. His secret was discovered, prompting his suicide. Mang said: "As a descendant of the emperor, holding the title of a high-ranking official, he knew that Kuan and others were rebellious, and yet he communicated with them; the seals' inscriptions are deeply damaging, revealing his boundless greed and ambition. According to the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, 'A ruler should not associate with his relatives, and if he does, he should be punished.' His folly led to his ruin; a tragic end indeed! Originally named Huizong, he later changed his name, and now has restored his original name, Huizong. His title was revoked, his name changed, and he was posthumously titled Gongchong Miubo, receiving a noble's burial in the former Tonggu County." His sister, Fang, was the wife of General Wang Xing, and she cursed her aunt and murdered a maid to silence her. When the truth was revealed, Mang dispatched the eunuch Que Yun to interrogate Fang; Xing was also implicated, and both took their own lives. The incident also involved the wife of the Minister of Destiny, Kong Ren, who also committed suicide. Ren thanked Mang for removing his cap, and Mang sent a letter accusing Ren: "His chariot, a spectacle of imperial power – Azure Dragon on his left, White Tiger on his right, Vermilion Bird before, and Black Tortoise behind – displayed the full might of the new dynasty. Yet Ren, by removing his ceremonial crown, showed a profound lack of respect." There was an edict not to accuse him, and a new crown was issued. Such was his eccentric nature. Wang She, the Marquis of Zhi, was appointed as General of Wei. He was the son of the Marquis of Quyang. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, Guan served as the Grand Marshal, recommended Mang to take over, and Mang favored him. He deemed the title of Marquis of Quyang inadequate for Guan's accomplishments, so he posthumously honored Guan as the Duke of Zhi Dao, and She succeeded to his title. That year, famine drove Li Zi Du, Fan Chong, and their Red Eyebrow followers to rebellion in Langye. Their ranks swelled to tens of thousands as they plundered the countryside.
In the spring of the sixth year, Wang Mang saw that banditry was rampant, so he ordered the Grand Historian to introduce a new calendar cycle of thirty-six thousand years, establishing a new era every six years, and issued a proclamation throughout the country. The document stated: "According to the Purple Pavilion map, 'Both Taiyi and the Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven, and the Zhang Le ritual music is performed above Kunlun Mountain. The future sage monarch who receives auspicious signs should perform the Zhang Le music above Qin's Mount Zhongnan.' I'm a bit slow on the uptake, and I haven't quite grasped it yet, so I am now informing you. Ning Shi, originally General of the Beginning, is now General of the Beginning, in accordance with the imperial decree. As the *I Ching* tells us, 'Daily renewal is called great virtue, and the constant cycle of life is called change.' Let them revel in it!" He wanted to confuse the people and disperse the bandits. Everyone laughed at him.
He premiered the new music at the Bright Hall and the Ancestral Temple, and the courtiers donned ceremonial headwear. Upon hearing the music, they said, "It's clear and mournful; not the music of a thriving nation."
At that time, there had been famine and drought in the eastern regions for several years, and Li Zi's followers, and others like them, were growing in number. General of the Beginning, Lian Dan, was unable to conquer Yizhou and returned. He then dispatched Grand Marshal Guo Xing and Governor of Yong Province Li Zhu to attack the barbarians. Grand Tutor Xishu Shisun was charged with suppressing banditry throughout the region. The Xiongnu frequently invaded the borders. Wang Mang then recruited able-bodied men, death-row prisoners, and slaves from officials and commoners across the country, naming them the "Charging Boar" troops to serve as elite forces. A 3% tax was levied on all officials and commoners, and all silk was to be transported to Chang'an. Officials from the imperial court down to the county level were required to raise horses, with the number based on their rank. Wang Mang also recruited individuals possessing unique skills in warfare against the Xiongnu, offering them high positions. Many people offered ideas; some claimed they could lead armies across rivers without boats, unite cavalry into a single force capable of crossing with a million troops; some claimed they could go without food, sustaining the army with medicine; and some claimed they could fly a thousand miles in a day to scout the Xiongnu. Wang Mang had them tested using wings made of bird feathers, but they only flew a few hundred steps before falling. Wang Mang, eager for glory, appointed them to military posts, showered them with gifts, and left them to wait for action.
At first, Xiongnu's Right Wing Marquis Xubudang, whose wife is also Lady Wang Zhaojun, had once surrendered. Wang Mang sent Zhaojun's nephew, Marquis Wang She, to lure Xubudang to the border, forcing him to go to Chang'an and establishing him as the Marquis of Xubu, a skilled administrator. Initially wanting to lure Xubudang, Grand Marshal Yan You admonished, "Xubudang is in the right part of the Xiongnu; their troops do not invade the borders, and the Chanyu communicates with China at every move, which is a great help in this aspect. Now, luring Xubudang to Chang'an, making him just another foreigner from the north, is not as beneficial as having him in Xiongnu." Wang Mang did not listen. After obtaining Xubudang, he wanted You and Lian Dan to attack the Xiongnu, both given the surname Zheng and the title of two Zheng generals, planning to kill the Chanyu and enthrone Xubudang as the Chanyu. The troops assembled at Chechengxi Hengji, but the campaign never launched. You had always been wise and resourceful, repeatedly advising against Wang Mang's attacks on the Western tribes. He wrote three essays on the underappreciation of generals like Yue Yi and Bai Qi, as well as border affairs, submitting them as reports to Wang Mang. When Xubudang was brought to court for discussion, You insisted, "We should prioritize dealing with the Shandong bandits before tackling the Xiongnu." Wang Mang exploded, accusing You of deliberate obstruction of military operations. Enraged, he dismissed You from his position as Grand Marshal and allowed him to return to his hometown. Dong Zhong was appointed as the new Grand Marshal. Yipinglian and Tian Kuang reported inaccuracies in the household registration of the people, so Wang Mang reimposed a 30% tax. For their loyal advice, Kuang was promoted to a Count and given two million coins. Public outcry followed. Many people in Qing and Xu abandoned their homes and fled, with the elderly dying on the roads and the strong joining the bandits.
Han Bo urgently reported to the emperor, saying: "A giant of a man appeared, claiming he could defeat the Xiongnu. He claimed to hail from the area southeast of Penglai, near five coastal cities northwest of there, so large he couldn't be carried by a light carriage or even three horses. That very day, he was conveyed to the court in a large four-horse carriage, flying a tiger banner. His unusual habits—sleeping with a drum for a pillow and eating with iron chopsticks—suggest this, I believe, is a heavenly omen favoring our new dynasty. I therefore request Your Majesty provide a grand chariot, a general's armor, and a detachment of one general and one hundred Tiger Guards to escort him to the capital. Should the city gates prove too narrow, Your Majesty should order them widened and raised—a display of power to impress both the southern barbarians and the entire realm."
Bo, however, saw this as an opportunity to exploit the situation and gain favor. Wang Mang, however, was suspicious. He confined Ju Wu Ba to Xinfeng, renaming him Ju Mushi, claiming the name was divinely ordained, echoing Empress Wenmu's title. Bo was subsequently imprisoned and executed for his impertinent suggestions.
The following year, the era name was changed to Di Huang, retaining the 36,000-year calendar. In the first month of the Di Huang era, a general amnesty was declared. The accompanying edict declared that during this time of mobilization, any breach of military discipline or violation of the law would result in immediate execution—no exceptions, throughout the entire year. The consequence was a wave of spring and summer executions, plunging the populace into terror; people on the streets exchanged fearful glances, afraid to speak.
In the second month, on the Ren Shen day, the sun was inexplicably eclipsed. Wang Mang, deeply disturbed, issued a decree: "The recent midday eclipse, with its ominous darkness, signifies an imbalance of yin and yang." General Wang Kuang, attempting to suppress news of the celestial event, inadvertently publicized it, thus appeasing public anxieties and seemingly fulfilling the will of heaven.
Seeing that there were many thieves in all directions and desiring to suppress them, he wrote again: "When my imperial ancestor, the Yellow Emperor, established his rule over the world, he appointed generals, set up the imperial canopy, erected the battle-standards, established the Grand General within, and stationed the Grand Marshal outside, with five levels of command. There were twenty-five Grand Generals, one hundred and twenty-five Major Generals, one thousand two hundred and fifty Lieutenant Generals, twelve thousand five hundred Captains, thirty-seven thousand five hundred Sergeants, one hundred and twenty-two thousand five hundred Infantrymen, and four hundred and fifty thousand Officers. There were three million five hundred thousand common soldiers. This is in accordance with the saying in the Book of Changes, 'The power of the mighty is enhanced by the bow's tension.' I have received the commands of my sovereign, and I am following the precedent of former times, and am now organizing my troops." Accordingly, he appointed the front and rear, the left and right, the central and the outside Grand Marshals, giving the title of Grand General to all the governors of the states, and the title of Major General to all the officers in charge of the military colonies, and to the leaders of the outlying garrisons the title of Lieutenant General. The governors of the different provinces were made Colonels, and the commandants of the various districts became Captains. Envoys traveled throughout the empire, often in large numbers, straining resources and requiring the requisitioning of supplies along the way. They were escorted by a guard of honor, and the populace was impressed to provide food and lodging.
In July, a devastating wind destroyed the Wanglutang. A letter was sent back saying: "It was Renwu (a time designation), when a series of winds, thunder, and rain caused the house to collapse and trees to break. I was terrified and consumed by anxiety. After ten days of reflection, the situation became clear. In the past, the decree was to establish An as the New Qianwang, to govern the country of Luoyang, and to be the Righteous Yangwang. At that time, I was acting regent, and I humbly declined the honor, considering myself merely a public official. Later, the Jin Kuaiwen arrived, and the discussions all said: 'Luoyang is the capital, and the new capital should be established there, and he should be the Crown Prince.' After that, my prolonged illness left me weak, even after recovery, so I sat in a sedan chair when going out. Moreover, the Empress's illness necessitated my leaving our original residence, while the concubines were in the Dongyongxiang. In Renwu, the devastating wind destroyed the west wing of the Wanglutang and the private chambers. The large elm tree to the southeast of Shaoning Hall collapsed to the east, hitting the east hall, which was the west wall of Dongyongxiang. All the tiles were broken, the roof was damaged, and the trees were uprooted, which greatly shocked me. Furthermore, the officials reported that the astrologers predicted an ominous celestial alignment, which worried me greatly. After thinking about the Purple Pavilion painting and the auspicious signs of Taiyi and the Yellow Emperor, it was predicted that the future ruler would ascend to Mount Zhongnan. The title 'New Qianwang' reflects Taiyi's lineage. The title 'Righteous Yangwang' signifies his rightful ascension to power through adherence to the Five Principles. It is inappropriate for my brother to hold the title of Crown Prince. Xuan Ni Gong said: 'If the name is not right, the words will not be in harmony, leading to improper punishment and causing the people to be wronged.' Since I ascended the throne, the natural order has been disrupted; the wind and rain have been untimely, and there has been a succession of calamities, including drought, locust plagues, and crop blights, causing the crops to be scarce, my people are suffering, helpless in the face of adversity, and the invasion of foreign tribes, with bandits and thieves rising. I deeply reflect on the fault, which lies in the incorrect name. It is only by establishing An as the New Qianwang and me as the Righteous Yangwang that we can protect our two sons for generations to come, resist external enemies, and stabilize the country."
In that month, the Du Ling Bian Palace sedan chair, with the imperial yellow and crimson robes and the worn-out articles in the box, was taken out and placed on the outer hall, and it fell to the ground after a long time. When the officials and soldiers reported this matter, I was furious and wrote back: "Let my sons and officials wear crimson robes."
Practitioners of Wang Qi, a form of divination, were believed to foresee calamities. Wang Mang observed widespread banditry. To secure his reign, he wrote a letter: "I've been dealt a rotten hand with this Yang Jiu curse, and the meeting of 106. The coffers are bare, the people starving, the ancestral temples in disrepair, and sacrifices at the Mingtang and Taimei are constant, day and night—I dare not rest. I deeply believe this year will bring good fortune. I've consulted the omens, and the north of the Bo River, south of Langchi, promises prosperity. I've also looked to the south of Jinshui and west of the Mingtang, which also shows promise. I will build anew." So he started construction south of Chang'an, claiming hundreds of hectares for the project. In September, he oversaw the work, with Wang Xun, Minister of Works, and Wang Yi, Chief Engineer, along with dozens of officials and attendants supervising the effort. Cui Fa and Zhang Han advised Wang Mang, "A truly great ruler builds a lasting legacy through wise governance and impressive public works."
Mang mobilized craftsmen nationwide, meticulously planning the project and securing funding from officials and the public alike. Work progressed relentlessly. He razed the Western Park's existing structures, using the salvaged materials to build nine magnificent ancestral temples. That month brought over sixty days of torrential rain. The people were taxed six hundred bushels of rice, and officials were rewarded with promotions and land grants. The nine ancestral temples are as follows:
- Yellow Emperor's Temple
- Emperor Yu's Temple
- King Chen Hu's Temple
- King Jing of Qi's Temple
- King Min of Jibei's Temple
- Duke Wang of Jinnan's Temple
- King Ru of Yuancheng's Temple
- King Qi of Yangping's Temple
- King Xian of Xindu's Temple
All the palace buildings were substantial. The ancestral temple of the Taichu ancestors is forty zhang in each direction, seventeen zhang high, with the remaining temples half this size. It is made of thin copper, decorated with gold and silver inlay, demonstrating the pinnacle of craftsmanship. The platform is raised layer by layer, at an enormous expense, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of workers.
A man from Julu named Ma Shiqiu and others conspired to raise troops from Yan and Zhao to overthrow Mang. The Grand Minister Shi Wangdan discovered this and reported it. Mang dispatched high-ranking officials to arrest and punish the conspirators, implicating thousands of prominent figures in the counties and states, all of whom were executed. Wangdan was appointed as the Marquis of Fuguo.
As Mang was not following the seasonal rules, the people resented him. Mang remained unconcerned and wrote a letter saying, "Ever since I implemented these laws, the capital has known peace, drums and gongs are rarely heard, bandits are few, the people are settled, and the years are prosperous, all thanks to the power of establishing authority. Now, the barbarians remain unconquered, the savages have not been completely eliminated, the rivers and lakes are in turmoil, the bandits have not been completely wiped out, and the people are shaken by the construction of ancestral temples and altars. Now, these laws will be re-implemented, and suspended after two years, in order to protect the people and save the ignorant and the wicked from themselves."
That year, larger and smaller denominations of coins were abolished, and a new currency was introduced, measuring 2.5 inches by 1 inch, with twenty-five coins equating to one standard coin. The standard coin was one inch in diameter, weighed five zhu, and was of a standard design. Both currencies were in circulation. Anyone caught counterfeiting coins or engaging in unauthorized trade would be seized and enslaved.
Upon the death of Grand Tutor Ping Yan, Yu Yutang was appointed as the new Grand Tutor. Yutang said, "Our country is impoverished and our people are poor; this is the fault of extravagance." He adopted simple, short-sleeved clothing, rode a female horse in a thatched cart, used simple mats and earthenware, and emulated the frugality of the ancient nobles. When he encountered men and women traveling together, he would dismount and symbolically soil their clothes with a red cloth.
Mang was pleased and issued a decree commending the officials for thinking of their people. Yutang was appointed as the Marquis of Pinghua.
At that time, Zhang Ba from Nanjun, Yang Mu from Jiangxia, Wang Kuang, and others rose up in the Yun Du Green Forest, calling themselves the Xiajiang Army, with a total of over ten thousand people. In Wugong, they converted three cottages into a pond.
In January of the second year, the position of governor was equivalent to that of the top three ministers, but due to the lax recommendation system in the states and counties, a deputy governor position was created, with the rank of Yuan Shi (a title in the Han Dynasty hierarchy, meaning "first scholar"), wearing the Fa crown (a ceremonial headpiece). His responsibilities were the same as those of the provincial inspectors of the Han Dynasty.
That month, Mang's wife died and was posthumously named Empress Xiaomu. She was buried in Changshou Garden to the west of Weiling, and it was ordered that his mother, Yongshi Wenmu, be constantly present at the tomb, which was named Yiniannian. Mang's wife had lost her son, and her grief over his death, possibly exacerbated by Mang's actions, caused her to weep until she went blind. Mang ordered the Crown Prince to take care of her. Mang took Yuan Bi, his wife's attendant, as a concubine. Later, Lin also had an affair with her, fearing that the matter would be exposed, and they conspired to kill Mang. Lin's wife, the daughter of the national teacher and an astrologer, predicted that there would be a meeting in the palace with someone in white clothes. Lin was pleased, thinking that their plan was about to succeed. He was later demoted to Prince Tongyi Yang and sent to an external residence, where he became increasingly worried and afraid.
When Mang's wife fell seriously ill, Lin wrote a letter to him: "The emperor is extremely harsh on his descendants. The eldest and middle grandsons all died at the age of thirty. I am now thirty, and I am really worried that I won't be able to hold on to the position of Crown Prince, and I won't know what will happen then!" When Mang's marquis wife saw the letter, she was furious, suspected Lin of ill intent, and did not allow him to attend the funeral. After the burial, Yuan Bi and others were interrogated and confessed to the crimes of adultery and murder. Mang wanted to conceal the matter, so he had the official in charge of the murder case imprisoned, and his family did not know his whereabouts. Lin was given medicine, but he refused to drink it and stabbed himself to death. The Palace Attendant and General Piao Qiji persuaded Marquis Lin to grant a posthumous title, with a decree stating: "By the decree, Lin is posthumously named Prince Tongyi Yang. This means that after thirty-six thousand years, Lin's successor will rise as the Dragon Sun. Those who have previously listened to the deliberations, as Lin was the Crown Prince, experienced the change of the fierce wind, and immediately followed the decree to establish him as Prince Tongyi Yang. Before this and after this, if one does not act faithfully and obediently, does not receive blessings, and dies young, alas!" The posthumous title was granted, named King Mou. Mang also ordered the national teacher to say: "Lin fundamentally does not understand astrology; it is all Yuan's doing." Yuan also committed suicide.
In this month, Wang An of the Xin Dynasty died of illness. When Mang was a marquis and established his own principality, he favored certain attendants, promoting them and giving them positions of power. Huaineng gave birth to a son named Xing, Zengzhi gave birth to a son named Kuang and a daughter named Zhu, and Kaiming gave birth to a daughter named Jie, all of whom remained in Xindu because they were deemed unintelligent. When An fell seriously ill and Mang himself had no sons, Mang made a petition on behalf of An, stating, "Although Xing and others' mother is of humble status, they are still imperial sons and cannot be abandoned." The officials, upon reading the petition, responded, "Prince An treated his brothers with love and should be granted titles for his brothers during spring and summer." Therefore, Xing and the others were summoned, Xing being made Duke Gongxiu, Kuang as Duke Gongjian, Zhu as Minister of Muxiu, and Jie as Minister of Mudai. Within a month, Sun Gong, Ming Gong, Shou Gong, and Wang An had all died. Mang violated the tombs of Han Emperors Xiaowu and Xiaozhao, interring his own relatives amongst the imperial remains.
Wei Cheng's Grand Minister Li Yan conspired with diviner Wang Kuang. Kuang said to Yan, "Ever since the Xin Dynasty took over, land, slaves, and servants couldn't be bought or sold freely, the currency has been changed multiple times, the requisitions are burdensome, the military is restless, the barbarians are invading, the people are resentful, and bandits are rising up. The Han Dynasty is about to be restored. Your name, Li, sounds like 'zheng' (征), meaning 'conquest' – a word associated with fire; you should assist the Han." So, they wrote prophecies, stating:
- "Emperor Wen's wrath will stir the armies from beneath the earth, notifying the Xiongnu in the north and the Yue people in the south.
- Liu Xin will hold enemies accountable from the Jiang River, continuing the ancient ways, and in four years, the army will be mobilized.
- There will be bandits in the rivers and lakes, claiming to be King Fan, surnamed Liu, with tens of thousands following him, not accepting amnesty, intending to move towards Qin and Luoyang.
- In the eleventh year, they will clash; Tai Bai will shine brightly, and the annual star will enter the Eastern Well, and their actions will be carried out."
They also detailed the fates of Mang's ministers, giving specific dates for each, totaling more than a dozen predictions. Yan had the prophecies copied, but the copyists fled and told Wang Mang. Wang Mang immediately sent people to arrest Li Yan, tortured him severely, and ultimately, Li Yan died in prison.
The bandits in Sanfu rose up, prompting the appointment of a special prefect to hunt bandits, who ordered Imperial messengers to pursue and attack them within the city of Chang'an, sounding drums to rally against the bandits. The Grand Preceptor Xizhong Jing Shang and the General of the New Dynasty Wang Dang led troops to attack the regions of Qing and Xu, while the National Teacher He Zhong Cao Fang assisted Guo Xing in assaulting Juting. Grain and currency from across the empire were transported to the four counties of Xihe, Wuyuan, Shuofang, and Yuyang, with millions in each county, in preparation for an attack on the Xiongnu.
In autumn, frost destroyed bean crops, leading to a great famine in the east, compounded by a locust plague that ravaged the land.
Coinage forgery incurred collective punishment, with five individuals punished together, and their families reduced to slavery. Men were shackled in carts, while women and children were forced to walk in chains, being taken to Zhongguan, with as many as one hundred thousand people involved. Those who arrived at Zhongguan were often separated from their families, and the vast majority perished in misery. Sun Xi, Jing Shang, Cao Fang, and others were unable to defeat the bandits; the military adviser was negligent, and the people suffered greatly.
Wang Kuang predicted that the regions of Jing and Chu would rise up, with the assistance of the Li clan, and Wang Mang sought to suppress this. He appointed the Palace Attendant and Chief Shepherd Li Shen as the Grand General and Governor of Yangzhou, giving him the name Sheng, and ordered him to lead the troops into battle.
The Duke of Shanggu, Chuxia, proposed the Melon Field ritual, which Wang Mang perceived as a subversive act, appointing him as an Imperial Attendant and directing him to carry out the ritual. The ritual document was submitted, but he died before it could be enacted. Wang Mang requested to bury his body, erecting a tomb and shrine, posthumously naming him the Martyr of the Melon Field, hoping to attract others, but none were willing to surrender.
On the bingchen day of the intercalary month, a nationwide amnesty was declared, including exemptions from official and private mourning observances. Langyang Chengxiu presented a decree advocating for the succession of the Empress Dowager, also stating, "The Yellow Emperor ascended to immortality with a significant number of women." Wang Mang then sent forty-five Grand Masters and law enforcement officers to travel throughout the country, selecting the most virtuous and beautiful women from each village to be listed.
At the Chang'le Palace, five bronze men stood up, but Mǎng found them objectionable. He thought that the inscription on the bronze men read "The Emperor first unified the world," so he ordered the craftsmen to remove the inscription. Fearing the wrath of the Han Gāo Temple's spirits, he sent Tiger Guard warriors to the temple, wrecking the temple's doors and windows, splashing ritual peach-branch soup and red whips on the walls, and making the Light Chariot Commandant stay there, as well as the Central Army's North Barracks to reside in the high bedroom. Some say that during the time of the Yellow Emperor, the Huágài was built to ascend to immortality, so Mǎng built a nine-layered Huágài, eight zhang tall, adorned with gold and jade, carried by an ornate four-wheeled chariot, driven by six horses, with three hundred strong men in yellow robes, drummers on the chariot, and pullers all shouting "Ascend to Immortality." Mǎng led the way. The officials secretly said, "This resembles a monstrous cart, not something divine." That year, in Nánjùn, there were tens of thousands of people. Chí Zhāopíng of the plains could recite the classics and gather thousands of people along the river. Mǎng summoned his ministers to devise strategies to capture the bandits, and they all said, "Those traitors are doomed." So the Left General Gōngsūn Lù was summoned to discuss, and Lù said, "The Grand Historian Zōng Xuān is fudging the astronomical records, interpreting bad omens as good, distorting the astronomical signs, and misleading the court. The Grand Tutor Pínghuà Hóu is pretending to be virtuous to gain fame; he is the son of a notorious thief. The National Teacher Jiāxìn Gōng is perverting the Five Classics, destroying the teachings, causing scholars to doubt. The Confucian scholar Zhāng Hàn and the geographer Sūn Yáng are creating fields, causing the people to abandon agriculture. Xī and Lǔ Kuāng set up six bureaus to exploit workers and merchants. The Marquis Shuōfú Cuī Fā is fawning over and flattering, causing the lower classes to be cut off. These men deserve to die in order to calm the people's anger!" He also said, "The Xiongnu should not be attacked; we should make peace with them. I fear that the new regime's problems are not with the Xiongnu, but within the country." Mǎng was furious and had the Tiger Guard escort Lù out. However, he did take some of his advice, relegating Lǔ Kuāng to the status of a commoner in Wǔyuán, blaming him for the people's grievances. The six bureaus were not solely created by Kuāng, but Mǎng yielded to public pressure and abolished them.
At first, everywhere was plagued by hunger, cold, poverty, and distress, leading to widespread banditry. They gradually gathered in groups, always thinking of returning to their hometowns when the harvest was ripe. Although their numbers were in the tens of thousands, they styled themselves as "giants," "officials," "elders," and "wine priests," and dared not attack cities or towns; they would raid for food and then disperse. The local officials and governors were killed in the chaos, not because the thieves wanted to kill them, but because Mang remained oblivious to the underlying reasons. That year, the Grand Marshal Shi was captured by the thieves in Yuzhou and sent to the county. Upon his return, he submitted a detailed report. Mang was furious and falsely imprisoned him. He then wrote a letter to the seven nobles, saying, "An official's job is to uphold justice. They should promote virtue and show kindness, nurture the people, and follow the path of benevolence. They should suppress the strong, control the wicked, capture and punish thieves and bandits, and uphold righteousness. But now, it's different. Thieves are not easily caught; they gather in groups, waylay officials and soldiers. Those who manage to escape claim they'd merely reprimanded a few thieves, only to be told by the bandits, 'It's because of poverty and hunger,' before being released. This is what most common people are saying. Only those who are poor and hungry, who commit crimes, whether major or minor, are now forming alliances with hundreds or thousands. This is outright rebellion, not just the result of poverty and hunger. You seven, you need to give your officials strict orders to protect the innocent and swiftly apprehend and punish thieves and bandits. Anyone found to be sympathetic to or collaborating with the bandits will face swift punishment, and do not falsely attribute their actions to poverty and hunger, arrest them immediately and charge them with their crimes." As a result, everyone below became even more fearful; no one dared to speak about the thieves, and they couldn't deploy troops without authorization, which only emboldened the bandits further.
Tian Kuang, known for his courage and decisiveness, mobilized over 40,000 men aged eighteen and above, armed them with weapons from the armory, and made a pact inscribed on stone. Chi Mi, hearing of this, dared not enter the region. Kuang self-reported his actions. Mang responded, "You raised an army without the tiger talisman; this is insubordination, a serious offense. However, given your confidence in defeating the rebels, I will not punish you for now." Later, Kuang requested permission to attack the rebels beyond the border, and he was victorious in every engagement. Mang appointed Kuang governor of Qing and Xu provinces by imperial decree.
Kuang reported, "The rebellion began with seemingly insignificant roots, and it is not something that local officials or small groups can handle. The blame lies with the higher officials for their negligence; counties deceive their prefectures, and prefectures deceive the court, resulting in only a fraction of the truth being reported. The court neglected its duties and failed to take prompt action, leading to a prolonged disturbance in Lianzhou. They sent generals and dispatched numerous envoys to monitor and urge action. The counties and prefectures focused on appeasing their superiors, holding feasts, and securing supplies, rather than addressing the threat posed by the bandits. The generals were unable to lead their troops effectively, and when they engaged in battle, they were defeated by the bandits, causing morale among the officials to wane and wasting the resources of the common people. Fortunately, a pardon was granted, and the bandits were inclined to disperse. However, if they regrouped and sought refuge in the mountains, the counties would be alarmed, fearing deceit and destruction. As hunger drove them to act, in a matter of days, over a hundred thousand bandits emerged. This is why the bandits have proliferated.
Now, east of Luoyang, there are only 2,000 shi of rice. I have seen the imperial decree to send the Grand Tutor and General Gengshi, two powerful ministers, with a large army. However, depleting resources along the route would leave insufficient forces to intimidate the rebels. It is advisable to urgently select governors and officials below them, clarify rewards and punishments, and gather those who have left their homes. For small states without fortifications, relocate the elderly and weak to larger cities, stockpile grain, and strengthen defenses. If the bandits come to besiege the city, they will be unable to breach it, as their path will be devoid of food, preventing them from gathering. In this way, they will either surrender or be annihilated. Yet, currently, we still send out generals, which burdens the counties even more than the bandits do. It is necessary to recall all envoys and allow the counties to rest. I, Kuang, can surely pacify the bandits in the two provinces." Mang, fearing Kuang's reputation, secretly sent a replacement and dispatched envoys to grant Kuang an imperial decree. When the envoys arrived, they saw Kuang and ordered him to oversee the troops. Kuang followed the envoys west, where he was appointed as a great officer. With Kuang's departure, Qi immediately fell.
In the third year of Wang Mang's reign, in the first month, the Nine Temples were completed and the gods were enshrined. Wang Mang made a grand entrance, riding in a magnificent carriage drawn by six horses, wearing a stunning robe of colorful feathers, embroidered with dragons, and a three-foot-long ceremonial horn. Following behind was a canopy carriage, with ten chariots of the elite imperial troops in front. The ministers in charge of the temples were each given millions of cash, and the officials were all ennobled. Chou Yan, the chief architect, was appointed city planner of Handan.
In the second month, the Baqiao Bridge, a vital thoroughfare, caught fire, and despite the efforts of thousands of people trying to extinguish it with water, it could not be put out. Wang Mang was displeased and wrote a letter saying:
"The Three Emperors represent spring, the Five Emperors represent summer, the Three Kings represent autumn, and the Five Lords represent winter. Emperors and kings symbolize virtue and fortune; lords are successors who continue the cycle to complete the historical count, hence their ways are contradictory. The way of the emperor is often named after what is close to them.
On the night of the Gengsi day in the second month, at the Jiawu hour, a fire burned the Baqiao Bridge from east to west, and by the evening of the Jiawu day, the bridge was completely destroyed by fire. The Grand Minister investigated, and some said it was suspected that poor people living under the bridge accidentally started the fire, leading to this disaster.
The next morning was the Yiwei day, the Spring Equinox. I have inherited the divine command of the Yellow Emperor and the Great Ancestor for a total of fifteen years in the fourth year of Wang Mang's reign. It is precisely because in the third year of winter, the Baqiao Bridge was destroyed, that I intend to establish a new order to unify and perpetuate it. I also warn against the strategic importance of the bridge to the east.
Now the people in the east are suffering from famine, and the roads are impassable. The Governor of the Eastern Provinces urgently issued orders to open the various granaries in the east to help the poor and practice benevolence. Therefore, the Ba Mansion was renamed the Eternal Mansion, and the Baqiao Bridge was renamed the Eternal Bridge."
During that month, the Red Eyebrows killed the Grand Minister Zhong Jing. Cannibalism became widespread in Guandong.
In April, the Grand Preceptor Wang Kuang and the General of Renewed Start Liandong were caught in a downpour outside the city gates. The elders sighed and said, "This rain's weepin' for the army!" Mang replied, "It's due to the alignment of the Nine Yangs and the harmful qi last year (referring to an astrological/spiritual alignment believed to cause misfortune). Following droughts, frosts, and locusts, bringing widespread famine, folks were destitute, wanderin' the roads, especially come spring. It breaks my heart. Now, I've appointed the Grand Preceptor of the Eastern Peak to open the treasury and help the needy. He also ordered officials to open the granaries to feed the people. He sent Liandong and the General to clean up Yan Province and deal with the bandits in Qing and Xu, pacifyin' the whole mess. They had tens of thousands of soldiers under 'em, and they caused mayhem wherever they went. Folks out east were sayin', 'Better the Red Eyebrows than the Grand Preceptor! And that General? He was worse!' This turned out to be true. Mang also sent officials to teach folks to cook up some kinda grass and wood cheese – inedible junk that just wasted everyone's time. Mang wrote a decree saying, "Even with the treasury open, it might not be enough to help everyone. So, open up the mountains and swamps. Let folks gather what they need when they need it, tax-free. Just like in the 30th year of the Earthly Emperor – that's the sixth year of Wang Guang Shang Wu. If officials exploit the people and extort them, the common people won't be spared. Ain't you fellas worried?"
At this time, the Jiang soldiers were strong, and Zhu Wei in Xinshi, along with Chen Mu of Pinglin and others, gathered together again to attack local communities. Mang sent General Kong Ren to Yuzhou, General Yan You and General Chen Mao to attack Jingzhou, each with more than a hundred officials and soldiers, sailing down the Wei River to the Yellow River, then disembarking at Huayin to recruit soldiers. You said to Mao, "Sending a general without a military token must first ask before acting; it is like setting someone up to fail."
In summer, swarms of locusts blotted out the sun as they came from the east, reaching Chang'an, entering the Weiyang Palace, and spreading throughout the halls. Mang ordered officials and citizens to set up rewards for capturing locusts.
With grain prices soaring across the land, Mang wanted to alleviate the situation, so he built a large warehouse, guarded by halberdiers, called "Zhengshi Yemen."
Tens of thousands of refugees entered the pass, and relief officials were appointed to distribute rations to them. The envoys in charge, along with minor officials, embezzled their rations, resulting in the starvation deaths of seventeen or eighteen out of every hundred. Previously, Mang had appointed the Yellow Gate Wang Ye to oversee the market in Chang'an, forcing down prices and causing widespread hardship. Ye saw saving money as a success and was rewarded with a title attached to the city. Mang heard about the hunger in the city and asked Ye about it. Ye said, "They are all displaced persons." Mang believed him.
In winter, salt riots broke out, and Lu Hui and others raised troops to rebel against the city. Lian Dan and Wang Kuang attacked and captured it, beheading over ten thousand. Mang sent a commandant with a seal to commend Dan and Kuang, elevating them to noble rank and rewarding more than ten officials and soldiers for their meritorious service.
Dong Xian, commander of the Chimei forces, and myriads of troops were in Liangjun. Wang Kuang wanted to attack them, but Lian Dan believed they should allow the troops to rest and recuperate after their recent conquest. Kuang did not listen, leading the troops alone, with Dan following. They fought together and were defeated; Kuang fled. Dan ordered an official to hold his seal and symbols, handing them to Kuang, saying, "Go, lad. I'll stay here!" He then stopped and died in battle. Captain Ru Yun, Wang Long, and over twenty others fought separately. When they heard of Dan's death, they all said, "General Lian has died; for whom shall we live?" They rushed to the enemy and all died in battle. Mang, deeply grieved, wrote: "Only General Lian had many elite soldiers and strong troops, and the horses and granaries of the various counties under his command were all at his disposal. Suddenly, due to an imperial edict, he lost his prestige and symbols, and was killed by a rebel while riding a horse. Alas, what a pity! Posthumously named Guo Gong."
General Zhang Ai said to Mang, "During the time of the Yellow Emperor, the Commander of the Central Yellow Army defeated Chi You. Now I am serving as the Commander of the Central Yellow Army, hoping to pacify Shandong." Mang sent Zhang to the east to join forces with Grand Tutor Kuang. He also dispatched General Yang Jun to guard Aocang, Minister Wang Xun to station over ten thousand troops in Luoyang to fill the South Palace as part of a strategic deployment, Grand Marshal Dong Zhong to train soldiers in shooting at the North Rampart, and Grand Minister Wang Yi to assume the responsibilities of the three public offices. Minister Wang Xun initially set off from Chang'an, spending the night in the stables of Baxiang, where he lost his yellow battle-axe (the yellow battle-axe, a symbol of his authority). Xun's subordinate Fang Yang was outspoken and bold, and he cried out, "This is what the classics call 'losing one's authority'!" and resigned. In a fit of anger, Mang had Fang killed.
Rebel forces from all quarters often attack cities with tens of thousands of men, killing officials. The Grand Tutor Wang Kuang and others fought several unsuccessful battles. Wang Mang knew that the world was in chaos, and desperate, he decided to send officials to different parts of the country to abolish the well-field system, end slavery, and lift restrictions on mountain and marsh resources. He revoked all edicts detrimental to the people since his ascension. Before sending out troops, the Emperor, along with his brother Prince Bo Sheng of Qi and Li Tong of Wan, led thousands of soldiers from the Chongling region to recruit reinforcements from Xinshi and Pinglin, including Zhu Wei and Chen Mu, to join forces in capturing Jiyang. Meanwhile, Yan You and Chen Mao routed the Xiajiang forces, while Cheng Dan, Wang Chang, and several thousand others fled and entered the territory of Nanyang.
In the eleventh month, a comet appeared in the constellation Zhang, moving southeast and disappearing for five days. Wang Mang summoned the Chief Astrologer Zong Xuan for an explanation, but astrologers all gave incorrect answers, claiming that the omens were favorable, and the rebellion would soon be crushed. This somewhat eased Wang Mang's anxieties.
In the fourth year of his reign, in the first month, Liu Bosheng's Han forces captured Wang Chang and others from Xiajiang, who were supposed to be reinforcements, and killed the Chief Officer Zhen Fu and the subordinate Liang Qiu, along with tens of thousands of their men. Initially, rumors reached the capital of tens of thousands of rebels in Qing and Xu, lacking banners or insignia, which puzzled everyone. Court gossip wondered, "Is this like the Three Emperors of old, without banners or titles?" Wang Mang was also puzzled and asked his courtiers, but none could provide an answer. Only Yan You said, "There's nothing surprising about that. Since the time of the Yellow Emperor, Tang, and Wu, military expeditions have always been accompanied by banners and orders. The absence of these now simply means they're a ragtag army of starving peasants." Wang Mang was relieved, and his court readily assented. However, when Liu Bosheng's Han forces rose up, they all claimed the title of general, conquering cities and territories. After executing Zhen Fu, they sent a defiant message to Wang Mang, filling him with dread.
The Han soldiers took advantage of their victory and surrounded the city of Wan. Initially, Sheng Gong, a cousin of the emperor, was among the Pinglin soldiers. On the first day of March, the Pinglin, Xinshi, and Xiajiang soldiers, led by Wang Chang, Zhu Wei, and others, proclaimed Sheng Gong as Emperor and changed the year to the first year of Gengshi, appointing various officials. Hearing this, Mang became even more fearful. Wanting to appear secure from the outside, he dyed his beard and hair and lavishly showered the virtuous lady Shi from Duling with gold (30,000 jin), carriages, horses, servants, finery, and jewels. Mang personally welcomed her between the two steps in the front hall, performing a celebratory banquet in the upper west hall. He appointed various ranks of women for the Empress, including consorts, ladies-in-waiting, and maids, with their ranks mirroring those of officials. The Empress's father was made the Marquis of Heping and appointed as the General of Ningshi, with his two sons serving as attendants. On that day, a strong wind blew, causing the roofs to collapse. The courtiers praised the auspicious omens: the rain on Gengzi, the clear skies on Xinchou, and the strong wind – all signs of good fortune and the Empress's virtuous influence. The Book of Changes speaks of blessings bestowed upon a virtuous ruler, and the rites tell of endless blessings from heaven. With Liu Xiu's supporters eliminated, the harvest is bountiful, the people rejoice, and the empire thrives! Mang spent his days whiling away his time with sorcerers and his harem. He issued a general amnesty but declared, "Liu Bosheng, a descendant of the Marquis of Chongling, and his family conspired against the emperor, spreading rumors and violence. They murdered General Lian Dan, Grand Herald Zhen Fu, and subordinate Liangqiu Ci, and aided the Northern Di and Hu tribes who attacked the imperial convoy. These rebels will not be pardoned. A huge reward awaits anyone who captures them: a dukedom, 10,000 households, and 50 million in treasure."
Word from the Emperor was: "Grand Tutor Wang Kuang, General Ai Zhang, Minister of Fate Kong Ren, Governor of Yanzhou Shou Liang, Chief Justice Wang Hong, and Governor of Yangzhou Li Sheng, quickly advance with a total of 300,000 troops from your respective regions to round up the bandits in Qing and Xu. General Yan You, General of Chizi Chen Mao, General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Xun, and Left Guard Wang Wu, quickly advance with a total of 100,000 troops from your respective regions to wipe out the enemy in the front line. Show 'em what you're made of! Don't get confused and back down – hit 'em hard and wipe 'em out! Grand Minister Long Xin, of the imperial clan, previously as Tiger Tooth General, when pointing east, the enemy was destroyed; when attacking west, the rebels were scattered. He is a loyal man. If they don't quit, the Grand Minister will send a million men to crush them!" Seventy-two officials were sent to spread the word...but they ran off instead!
In the fourth month, Emperor Ming and Wang Chang attacked Yingchuan, taking Kunyang, Yan, and Dingling. Mang freaked out when he heard this and sent Grand Minister Wang Yi to rush to Luoyang, along with Minister of Works Wang Xu, who mustered a million troops – the "Tiger Tooth Five Mighty Armies" – to take Shandong. Yi got a title and the power to do what he wanted, and he recruited sixty-three military experts, each bringing books and equipment, preparing soldiers and officers. The Emperor emptied the treasury for Yi, giving him tons of gold and even wild animals to show off and scare Shandong. When Yi got to Luoyang, governors brought their best troops – 420,000 strong, and more on the way! The world had never seen an army like it.
In June, Yi and Situ Xun set out from Luoyang, intending to reach Wan via Yingchuan, passing through Kunyang. Kunyang was already under Han control, with Han troops stationed there. Yan You, Chen Mao, and the two generals met, and the two generals surrounded Kunyang with troops. Yan You said, "The one claiming the imperial title is below Wan; we should advance quickly. Once they are defeated, all the cities will be settled." Yi replied, "An army of a million should leave nothing but ashes in its wake. But now, a bloody, triumphant advance, with slaughtering the city and shedding blood, singing and dancing in front and behind, is that appropriate?" So they surrounded the city with several layers. The city requested to surrender, but was denied. Yan You said again, "Let the defenders escape; a prolonged siege is unwise. It can be done according to military tactics to allow them to escape and frighten those below Wan." Yi still did not listen. The Emperor dispatched several thousand troops from Yan and Dingling to rescue Kunyang. Soon, Xun and Yi exchanged commands, taking over ten thousand men to the front lines. They ordered all camps to stay in formation and not move, only to meet and fight the Han troops, which did not go well. The main army did not dare to intervene, and the Han troops took advantage of the victory to kill Xun. The troops from Kunyang came out and fought; Yi fled, and the army fell into chaos. The wind blew tiles, rain poured like water, and fear gripped the hearts of men and beasts alike; the masses broke down crying, and soldiers ran away, each fleeing back to their hometowns. Yi alone led several thousand elite soldiers back to Luoyang. The news of this spread fear in Guanzhong, and bandits rose up. They also heard rumors from the Han troops that Mang poisoned Emperor Xiaoping to death. Mang then convened officials and ministers at Wanglutang, presenting the strategy of asking for Emperor Xiaoping's permission to ascend the throne, weeping as he looked at his courtiers. Scholar Zhang Han was ordered to praise Mang's virtues and the events of the imperial edict, saying, "According to the Book of Changes, the prophecy states: 'Bow down to Mang, ascend his high tomb, for three years he will not rise.' 'Mang' is the name of the emperor. 'Ascend' refers to Liu Bosheng. 'High Tomb' refers to the Marquis of Gaoling, Zhai Yi. It means that Liu Sheng and Zhai Yi are like the soldiers bowing down to the new emperor, and they will be wiped out and not rise again." All the courtiers shouted, "Long live the emperor." He also ordered the Eastern Barrier Car to transport several people, saying, "Liu Bosheng and others will all be executed." This, I knew, was a fabrication.
First, General Wei Wang She befriended the Taoist Ximen Junhui. Junhui was skilled in astrology and divination and said to She: "When an ominous celestial event occurs, the Liu clan will rise again, and the Teacher's name is also involved." She believed his words and told the Grand Marshal Dong Zhong. They went to the Teacher's residence several times to discuss astrology, but the Teacher did not respond. Later, She went alone and tearfully said to him: "I sincerely want to help the public and protect my clan; why don't you believe me?" The Teacher interpreted the celestial signs as a harbinger of prosperity in the east. She said: "The Duke of Aihou in the new capital is ill, and the current ruler's lineage is questionable. General Dong commands the army, I am responsible for the palace guards, and Marquis Hu will guard the palace. We'll seize the Emperor, flee to Nanyang, and claim the throne to protect our families; otherwise, we will all be wiped out!" Marquis Hu, the eldest son of the Teacher, was a General of the Household in the Imperial Guards, and he was favored by Marquis Mang. The Teacher resented Marquis Mang for killing his three sons, and fearing a great disaster, he conspired with She and Zhong to take action. The Teacher said: "We must wait for the Tai Bai star to appear before we can act." Zhong, who was in charge of the military, also conspired with Wu Hou Sun Ji, who held military command. Sun Ji returned home with a changed expression and loss of appetite. His wife asked him about it, and he told her the situation. She then informed her younger brother, Chen Han of Yuyang, who wanted to report it. In July, Sun Ji and Chen Han reported the matter, and Mang sent messengers to summon Zhong and others. At that time, Zhong was instructing the troops, and the guard Wang Xian thought that the plan had been delayed for too long and might leak out, so it would be better to kill the messengers and lead the troops in. Zhong did not listen and instead went to the Teacher's residence with him. Mang sent Qie Yun to question them, and they all confessed. The Yellow Gate eunuchs drew their swords, seizing Zhong and the others and dragging them to a cell. Zhong drew his sword to commit suicide, and the attendant Wang Wang reported that the Grand Marshal was rebelling. The eunuchs held their swords and killed him. Panic gripped the palace. Troops were summoned to the imperial offices, swords drawn, bows strung. General Shichen of Gengshi went to various offices and told the officials: "The Grand Marshal is suffering from a mad illness and has been executed." All troops were ordered to stand down. Mang wanted to appease the situation, so he ordered the Tiger Guards to use blunt swords to subdue Zhong, put him in bamboo cages, and spread rumors that he was a traitor. A decree was issued to pardon the officials and soldiers of the Grand Marshal's residence who had been misled by Dong Zhong and were not involved in the rebellion. The Zhong family was poisoned, stabbed to death with short knives, and then thrown into a pit and buried. Liu Xin and Wang She both committed suicide. Mang, fearing that Liu Xin and Wang She were his trusted old officials, concealed the matter to avoid disrupting the court order. Marquis Hu, who was cautious by nature, did not reveal the truth but was demoted from General of the Household to a lower position. Later, in the palace, there was a Taoist immortal who was referred to as the Teacher. Marquis Yan, a skilled diviner, was asked by Mang and predicted: "There will be military disasters." Mang said: "How can a child know such things? This is a sign that my ancestors and uncles are returning to restore our family's rightful place."
Not provided.
"Wang Mang's military advisor suffered a defeat, and there was internal rebellion among his ministers. He couldn't trust anyone and was unable to focus on governing the distant counties. He decided to consult with Yi. Cui Fa said, 'Yi has always been cautious. Now that he has lost popular support and is being summoned, it's feared he'll refuse the offer. He needs to be reassured.' So Mang sent Fa to urgently summon Yi: 'I am old and without a son. I intend to entrust the empire to you. Don't concern yourself with my demise; there's no need for a visit.' Upon Yi's arrival, he was appointed Grand Marshal. Zhang Han was appointed Grand Minister of Education, Cui Fa as Grand Minister of Works, Miao Xin as the National Teacher, and Hou Lin as the General of the Guards. Overwhelmed with worry, Mang could barely eat, subsisting on wine and abalone. He was tired of reading military books, so he fell asleep at his desk, no longer using a pillow. He was superstitious, relying on numerology in times of stress, and resorting to witchcraft when things became critical. He ordered the gates of the Weiling and Yanling mausoleums to be destroyed, declaring, 'Let the people forget!' He had the walls daubed with ink. His delusional proclamations continued in this vein, as he named the river 'the assisting general,' the right Geng 'the wood carving officer,' and the former Bing 'the shining gold officer,' saying, 'Hold the big axe, cut the dead wood; let the water flow, extinguish the fire.' That autumn, the Tai Bai star entered the Tai Wei constellation, its light illuminating the earth like moonlight. The Chengji brothers, Kui and Cui, seized the Grand Administrator Li Yu, installing their nephew Wei Xiao as Grand General. They then attacked and killed the Governor of Yongzhou, Chen Qing, and the Anding Commandant, Wang Xun, consolidating their forces and sending letters to the various prefectures and counties, denouncing Wang Mang's crimes as far exceeding those of Jie and Zhou."
In that month, the Xiren Deng Ye and Yu Kuang raised an army of over a hundred people in the south. At that time, the governor of Xi stationed several thousand troops at Gaoting, guarding Wuguan. Ye and Kuang said to the governor, "Emperor Liu has ascended the throne; why do you still not understand the times?" The governor surrendered and handed over his troops. Ye proclaimed himself the Han's top military commander, and Kuang as his counterpart, capturing Xixian and Danshui, attacking Wuguan, where the military commander Zhu Meng surrendered. They then attacked the Right Division Officer Song Gang, killing him, and captured Huxian to the west. Mang's anxiety deepened, leaving him at a loss. Cui Fa said, "Ancient texts like the *Zhou Li* and *Zuozhuan* say that in times of great disasters, one must weep to appease the heavens, followed by rejoicing. This is how ancient people responded to calamities." Realizing his defeat, Mang led his officials to the southern suburbs, explaining how he had received the Mandate of Heaven. He looked to the heavens and cried out, "Since Heaven has allowed me to govern the world, why doesn't it eliminate these rebels? Even if I have done poorly, please let Heaven punish me with thunder!" He wept uncontrollably, collapsing to the ground in despair. He also wrote a prayer to Heaven, recounting his achievements in over a thousand words. The people wailed day and night, bringing food offerings in a heart-wrenching display of grief. Those who could recite the petition were appointed to positions, swelling the ranks to over five thousand. Que Yun took command of this massive, grief-stricken throng.
General Wang Mang had nine men, who were known as the "Nine Tigers." He led several tens of thousands of elite soldiers from the northern army to the east, holding their families hostage in the palace. At that time, sixty chests of gold were stored in the province, with several more in the Yellow Gate, Hook and Shield, Zang Mansion, and the Central Shangfang. The imperial palaces and the capital's treasury overflowed with riches. Wang Mang, increasingly enamored with his wealth, bestowed four thousand coins on each of the Nine Tigers. The soldiers deeply resented this, but lacked the will to rebel. The Nine Tigers arrived at Huayin Hui Creek, where they were surrounded. A hail of crossbow bolts from the north forced the Nine Tigers into retreat. Deng Ye led more than twenty thousand men from Axian to the south, defeating a detachment at Zaojie before ambushing the Nine Tigers from behind. Six of the Nine Tigers fled. Shi Xiong and Wang Kuang committed suicide, while the remaining three escaped. Guo Qin, Chen Hui, and Cheng Chong regrouped their scattered troops and held the capital's granaries. Deng Ye opened the Wuguan Pass to welcome the Han forces, while the Prime Minister's Director, Li Song, led over two thousand men to the lake, joining forces with Deng Ye to attack the capital's warehouse, but failed to take it. Deng Ye appointed Wang Xian, a Hongnong official, as Colonel, leading hundreds of men north across the Wei River into the Fengyi region, conquering cities and territories. Li Song sent General Han Chen and others west to Xinfeng, where they fought against General Bosui, who fled. Han Chen and his men pursued them to the Changmen Palace. Wang Xian went north to Pinyang, receiving surrenders along the way. Prominent figures like Shen Dang of Liyang and Wang Da of Xiagui led their people to follow Wang Xian. Local officials like Yan Chun of Lixian, Dong Xi of Maoling, Wang Meng of Lantian, Ru Chen of Huili, Wang Fu of Zhuyi, Yan Ben of Yangling, and Tu Men of Duling, along with several thousand people, claimed to be Han military leaders. Li Song and Deng Ye knew that taking even a small town, let alone Chang'an, was impossible without Emperor Gengshi's main force. They then led their forces to Huayin to prepare for an attack. Meanwhile, news of Zhai Yun's Tianshui army reached the troops outside Chang'an, sparking a scramble to be the first into the city, eager for glory and loot.
Mang sent messengers to pardon all the city's prisoners, arming them, having them drink pig's blood, and swearing them in: "Anyone who doesn't fight for the new regime will face the wrath of the gods!" General Shi Chen of the Xin Dynasty tried to cross the Wei Bridge, but his troops scattered and he returned alone. They ransacked Mang's family tombs, torching the coffins and everything else – the Nine Temples, the Bright Hall, the Piyong – the flames lit up half the sky! Someone warned Mang, "Those eastern gate guards – can't trust 'em!" Mang beefed up the guard with cavalry – six hundred men at each gate, each squad led by a captain.
On the first of the tenth month, the Han troops stormed through the Xuanping Gate – what everyone called the city gate. Zhang Han was guarding the gate when the Han soldiers cut him down. Wang Yi, Wang Lin, Wang Xun, and Zhai Yun rallied their troops to defend the north gate, but over seven hundred Han soldiers fought tooth and nail for the bounty on Mang's head. As darkness fell, the officials and the rest of the city scattered. The next day, young guys like Zhu Di and Zhang Yu, scared of being looted, stormed the palace, smashed the gates, and yelled, "Wang Mang, the tyrant, surrender!" The fire reached the Yeting Chengming – the Yellow Emperor's main residence. Mang tried to escape the flames in the Xuan Palace's front hall, but the fire was on his heels. The palace women screamed, "What do we do?!"
Mang, in his deep blue robe and imperial seal, clutched a dagger that had belonged to Emperor Yu. His astrologer, Anzhi, stood there marking the time. Mang slumped down, muttering, "Heaven favors me! Those Han dogs can't touch me!" Mang was starving, weak as a kitten.
On the third day of Gengxu, at dawn, the group of ministers helped Wang Mang down from the front hall to the south of the Jiaochu, exited the Baihu Gate to the west, and waited for the new king outside the gate. Mang boarded the carriage and headed towards the Jiandai platform, hoping to hold back the floodwaters, still clutching the mandate of heaven, with over a thousand guards and officials following. Wang Yi fought day and night, exhausted, with casualties mounting, rushing into the palace, through the palace gates to the Jiandai platform, where he saw his son, an attendant, frantically trying to escape. Yi shouted at him to come back, and father and son protected Mang together. Soldiers entered the palace and shouted, "Where is the traitor Wang Mang?" A beautiful woman came out of the room and said, "He is on the Jiandai platform." The soldiers chased her, completely surrounding her. Archers on the platform also shot back, slowly driving them back. When the arrows ran out, they engaged in close-quarters combat. Wang Yi, his father Ping, Que Yun, and Wang Xun died in battle, while Mang fled into a room. In the evening, the soldiers climbed onto the platform, where Wang Yi, Zhao Bo, Miao Xin, Tang Zun, Wang Sheng, and the chief eunuch Wang Can all died. A merchant named Du Wu killed Mang and took his sash. The Colonel of the East Sea, Gong Bin, who oversaw state ceremonies, saw Du Wu and asked where Mang was. Du Wu said, "In the northwest corner of the room." Gong Bin recognized him and beheaded Mang. The soldiers then mutilated Mang's body, fighting amongst themselves, resulting in dozens of deaths. Gong Bin carried Mang's head to Wang Xian. Xian declared himself the Grand General of Han, and all the soldiers in the city, numbering in the tens of thousands, pledged allegiance to him. He abandoned the Eastern Palace, took Mang's widow as his wife, and wore his clothes and rode in his carriage. Thus ended Wang Mang's life. On the sixth day of Guichou, Li Song and Deng Ye entered Chang'an, with the generals Zhao Meng and Shentu Jian also arriving. As Wang Xian did not immediately present the seal and sash and instead brought many palace women, Jian raised the imperial flag, proclaiming the emperor, and had them all captured and beheaded. Wang Mang's head was then dragged through the streets of Wancheng, where the people mobbed it, some even cutting out and eating his tongue. The scene was truly horrific.
Li Sheng, the governor of Yangzhou under Wang Mang, and Kong Ren, the official in charge of military affairs, suffered a defeat in Shandong. Sheng died in battle, and Ren surrendered his troops. He then sighed, "I have heard that if you eat someone else's food, you must work for them, but the result is..." He fell on his sword. Cao Cao's supervisor Du Pu, Shen Yi, the mayor of Chen Ding, and Jia Meng, the commander of Jiujiang, all defended their counties and were killed by the Han army. Mayor Wang Qin and Guo Qin, who were in charge of the capital's defenses, surrendered upon hearing of Wang Mang's death. Emperor Gengshi valued them greatly and appointed them as marquises. Wang Kuang, the Grand Tutor, and Ai Zhang, the National General, surrendered to Luoyang and were taken to Wancheng and executed. Yan You and Chen Mao were defeated at Kunyang and fled to Qiao County in Pei, where they proclaimed themselves Han generals and gathered officials and people. You particularly stressed Wang Mang's usurpation, declaring that the fate of the Great Han Dynasty was over and that now was the time for revival. Mao burst into tears. When they heard that the former Han's Zhong Wu Marquis Liu Sheng had gathered people in Runan and claimed a noble title, You and Mao surrendered. They appointed You Grand Marshal and Mao Prime Minister. Within two weeks, their rebellion collapsed, and both You and Mao perished. The counties, along with their cities, surrendered, and the whole world returned to the Han.
Initially, Shentu Jian had once been Cui Fa's student, but upon Jian's arrival, Fa surrendered. Later, he changed his mind and Jian ordered Prime Minister Liu Ci to have Fa executed as an example. Shi Chen, Wang Yan, Wang Lin, Wang Wu, and Zhao Hong also surrendered but were killed. Initially, all these self-proclaimed military leaders coveted marquisates. Having beheaded Wang Xian, Shentu Jian spread rumors that the Sanfu rebels had killed their leaders. Terror gripped the populace, and the counties rose up in revolt. Unable to quell the uprisings, Jian and his men urgently reported to Emperor Gengshi.
In February of the second year, Gengshi arrived in Chang'an and issued a decree of general amnesty, pardoning everyone except Wang Mang's descendants, thus allowing the Wang clan to survive. The three prefectures of the capital region were all pacified, and Gengshi resided in the Changle Palace in Chang'an. The state treasury was intact, with only the Weiyang Palace being burned by Wang Mang's army for three days, before being restored to its original state after their deaths. After Gengshi arrived, governance stalled. In the summer of the following year, the leader of the Chimei army, Fan Chong, led many thousands of troops into the capital, self-proclaimed as emperor, and attacked Gengshi, who eventually surrendered. The Chimei subsequently burned Chang'an's palaces and markets, and Gengshi was killed. Starvation led to widespread cannibalism, killing tens of thousands. Chang'an was deserted; its streets were empty. The imperial tombs were all dug up, except for the Baling and Duling tombs. In the sixth month, Emperor Guangwu's ascension restored the imperial ancestral shrines and brought peace to the land.
