Tracing China: Through history, dialogue between ancient and modern

Chapter 197 How Wang Mang Comes Back
Wearing a dragon robe and speaking like a jackal, Wang Mang has no regrets about what he has done in his life.

It's just that he is not reconciled and does not recognize the "new dynasty" he worked so hard to build, and the country has been subjugated for more than ten years.

I don't even want to believe that there is reincarnation in the way of heaven, and he, who is high and powerful, usurped the throne of others with the surname Liu of the Han Dynasty, and Liu Xiu quickly rose to proclaim himself emperor, swept Kyushu, and re-established a powerful Han Dynasty.

In the future, I will go to Jiuquan.

What face does he have to face those former Han emperors?

"The junior thinks that you have made three major mistakes in your life, otherwise, you wouldn't end up where you are today." Lin Feng said.

"Which three mistakes?" Wang Mang's face was ashen, and even the light in his pupils was full of despair.

For these three mistakes.

The viewers who watched the program also immediately expressed their opinions on the Internet.

"Wang Mang is actually blindly worshiping the ancients, and the system of the early civilization does look similar to the present, but there are big differences in essence."

"Wang Mang's diplomacy also failed. After he took office, he changed the Xiongnu's seal, the seal was changed to Gongnu, and the seal was changed to Zhang. He deliberately lowered the status of the Huns and elevated himself; and there was also an envoy who destroyed the Xiongnu's original seal of the Han Dynasty. It caused the Xiongnu to accumulate resentment, which laid the root of disaster for later border troubles."

"To be honest, the first time I saw Wang Mang's theory of communism was not based on some online articles. A wise man commented like this; just like Greek democracy, it is the glory of a dark age, although it is also full of dross , Should we ignore it? There are objective opinions about Togu’s return to the ancient style.”

"What is a vernier caliper? The craftsmanship of the Qin Dynasty has reached that level. The error of the bow and arrow unearthed in the Qin Dynasty is no more than a few millimeters. The vernier caliper is a typical measuring device, and it is just an appearance, not modern at all. Vernier Caliper"

"Is there one of Wang Mang's policies that is conducive to the liberation and development of productive forces? Is there one that is conducive to the elimination of exploitation and the elimination of polarization?"

"Absolutely not. His reforms are full of infinite admiration for the power of the imperial court. From beginning to end, he is reckless for his own self-interest regardless of any economic and social laws, and ignores the suffering of the people. For such a person who has no love for the people at all It is blasphemy to say that he has any color of publicism!"

"Every era has its loud voice, and so does Wang Mang."

"That's right, we can't use today's eyes and stand in the position of 2000 years later to speak ill of each other, right?"

……

In the lens.

Lin Feng's so-called "three major mistakes" are not a critical tone, but a gesture of persuasion like a friend.

No red face, no anxious eyes, just talking about one thing in a flat manner.

Where did Wang Mang go wrong?

Maybe he himself knows everything, but the situation is like this, and he can no longer reverse it.

Only empty lament it!

Wang Mang's first mistake.

The most important thing is that the timing of change is wrong.

When did Wang Mang's reforms start?
AD 8 was the year when Wang Mang usurped the Han.

It can be said that Wang Mang's ass began to reform before he sat on the throne of the emperor.Why is it not a good time to introduce reforms?

Because large-scale reform must meet two prerequisites.

First, the ruling power should be relatively strong.

At that time, the administrative system had no executive power, and it was weak against the powerful landlords at the local level, and it was even more helpless against the relatives of the emperor in the central court, and the interior was extremely dilapidated.

Second, social conflicts have not yet intensified.

Because the reform itself will intensify the contradictions, and some hidden contradictions will be exposed. If the social contradictions are already very sharp at that time, then carrying out large-scale reforms may cause turmoil.

At that time, on the one hand, within the ruling class, the anti-Wang Mang forces were very strong, and the conflict with the Wang Mang group was very fierce; on the other hand, class conflicts were sharp, and peasant uprisings continued one after another.

Wang Mang's choice of reform at this time is like putting an already extremely weak patient on the operating table for major surgery, which is extremely risky.

Someone asked, then you say that he does not reform at this time, what should he do?
Lin Feng said that Wang Mang must do at least three things.

One is to weaken the power of nobles and relatives.

The second is to rectify the administration of officials, strengthen the power of the government, and fight against corruption.

The third is to reduce taxes, ease class conflicts, and wait until the country's vitality has recovered before carrying out major institutional reforms.

……

After hearing this first mistake, Wang Mang had a thoughtful expression recalling the past.

Drink a cup of tea.

Only then did he say, "Everything has changed. If I had seen through it back then, I wouldn't have ended up like this."

Unspoken.

If you don't really do some things, you won't know whether it is right or wrong.

Along the way.

Only now did Wang Mang truly see clearly that his path was wrong.

Unfortunately there is no turning back.

Lin Feng said, "The younger generation's point of view is just from the perspective of the later generations."

Wang Mang said, "Young man, as an outsider, you are already extraordinary if you can see the situation clearly."

"What was my second mistake?"

Lin Feng said, "The direction of change is wrong."

The guiding ideology of Wang Mang's reform was to restore the kingly way in the era of the former kings that Confucianism said.

To put it bluntly, it means restoring various specific systems from the ancient times.

Almost all of the reforms proposed by Wang Mang can be found in the Confucian classics, and they are strictly implemented.

For example, Wang Mang's land is state-owned, and each family of eight people is divided into [-] mu. Where is the theoretical basis for this?

"Mencius" said, "There are wells in a square, and the wells are nine hundred acres. Among them are public lands, and the eight families all privately own one hundred acres and raise public lands together."

Isn't this eight families dividing nine hundred acres?
Another example is the implementation of five averages, where is the basis?According to the records of "Han Shu Shi Huo Zhi", it is said in "Le Yu":

"The emperor takes the land of the princes to establish five equals, so there will be no two households in the city, and the four people will always be equal."

It can be said that "retro" is the core concept of Wang Mang's transformation.

However, history is progressive.

Wang Mang restores things that have been eliminated by history, which is turning the wheel of history backwards and violating the basic laws of the development of things.

After speaking.

Lin Feng said again, "Of course, if you put any ordinary people of later generations on your throne, they may not do as well as you."

Wang Mang smiled wryly, "Young man, are you praising me?"

Lin Feng said, "Senior, after 2000 years, you still have a strong and colorful stroke in the history books. Whenever people talk about the two Han dynasties, they can't get around your new dynasty. You are also famous in history." gone."

It's just that the reputation doesn't sound very good.

Wang Mang said, "And the last mistake?"

Lin Feng said, "This junior really wants to tell the truth?"

Wang Mang nodded and said, "In another year, I will be decapitated, so why not?"

For this third mistake.

The audience also stared wide-eyed and listened carefully, for fear of missing any details.

Lin Feng spoke up, saying that the series of reform plans appointed by Wang Mang were almost all mistakes.

Totally denied it.

One can imagine how much this hurt Wang Mang's confidence?
His face is full of decadence now, and he doesn't have much confidence in himself, right?
What is the program.

That is, the specific implementation of the policy content.

One, the goal is wrong.At that time, private management and commodity economy had developed, and the feudal system had been established. Wang Mang wanted to return to the state-owned system under the slave system. How could it be possible?

Second, the steps are wrong. No reform can be achieved in one step. It must be done step by step. There is no transitional stage in Wang Mang's reform. ; If you want to go a long way, how can you not fail?

On the other hand, Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu later, made a small change every time, and slowly advanced, and the results were very remarkable.

Third, the method of advancement is wrong. Promoting change is a highly technical job. We must find ways to resolve conflicts, understand them with reason, move them with emotion, lure them with benefits, and force them with punishment.

And what about Wang Mang?I only know how to wield a big stick recklessly.

Finally, rely on the wrong strength.

Who did Wang Mang rely on for his reforms?One depends on the imperial court.It is true that the reform mainly depends on the government, but if you look at the ancient officials in his court, almost all of them are rich and powerful. Isn't this seeking skin from a tiger?The second depends on wealthy businessmen.For example, the six pipes are implemented by big businessmen.

The result of relying on these people to carry out reforms is that these people take advantage of policies to plunder, and if they are not destroyed, there will be no justice!

In general.

Wang Mang's reforms not only failed to achieve any results, but intensified various conflicts, large and small.

This series of mismanagement caused chaos and Wang Mang's nonsense in foreign policy, not only the common people rose up, but even intellectuals, local wealthy families, etc. began to rise up against Wang Mang.

He himself was decapitated.

It is no surprise.

"Young man, you are from after 2000, and you look at the problem from the standpoint of that later age. In your opinion, is there any chance for me to come back?"

Wang Mang suddenly asked.

This question also made Lin Feng stunned. He didn't expect that Wang Mang still wanted to make a comeback.

Looking at Wang Mang's hopeful expression.

Lin Feng said in his heart that he hadn't thought about it either!

no way.

He posted the difficult problem of "how Wang Mang made a comeback" on the live broadcast platform through the "traceability system" on his body.

There are a thousand Hamlets in the eyes of a thousand people.

Brainstorming, maybe someone can give the answer that Wang Mang needs deep in his heart!
Really?

Anyway, for a while.

About; what should Wang Mang do to ensure that he will not die and the new dynasty will continue?
Few people expressed their views.

"Brother Wang, there is such a terrifying... great magister Liu Xiu in front of you. He became emperor in 25 AD. I feel that you really can't beat the son of the plane."

Some viewers were helpless to speak out.

……

(End of this chapter)