vrcanaries Chapter 225 Moving and Farming
Chapter 225 Moving and Farming
"Regarding prophecies and apocryphal texts, let's not even talk about other dynasties. Even in the Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu's predecessors followed one after another. And then there's Zhu Zhu (Liu Xiu), who was so badly deceived. His beloved daughters were married off to alchemists, only to be turned out to be frauds!"
Liu Zhuzhu (furious): There are other examples besides mentioning me! Why do you have to mention me?! Why don't you mention your own Emperor Zheng?!
Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty (laughs): Your Majesty, what are you saying! Zheng Ge was only cheated out of money, not his feelings!
First Emperor (calmly working): ...
"Ahem, speaking of which, Liu Xiu also believed in prophecies very much. After all, he himself was the biggest beneficiary of prophecies. For example, when he ascended the throne, he used prophecies to appoint officials."
"There is a book called 'The Red Talisman,' which you have probably all heard of. It's because there's a line in it that says: 'Wang Liang is in charge of guarding the Black Tortoise.' Liu Xiu was quite surprised. And coincidentally, among the officials he was about to appoint was an official named Wang Liang."
"So Liu Xiu directly appointed this person as Grand Minister of Works and granted him the title of Marquis of Wuqiang. Wang Liang was a meritorious official, a cavalryman from Youzhou who came with Geng Yan at that time, so there weren't many people who opposed him."
"Immediately afterwards, based on the account of Sun Xian's campaign against the Di in the 'Red Talisman,' Liu Xiu appointed a man named Sun Xian as Grand Marshal."
"This was infuriating. A group of ministers and generals rushed forward and said that Wu Han and Jing Dan should be appointed as Grand Marshals! Liu Xiu realized that everyone disagreed when he saw this scene, and then he realized that he had angered the masses, so he backed down."
A bystander from the Ming Dynasty exclaimed: Good heavens! Is this person using this book as an answer key and copying it exactly?!
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: This seems to be during Liu Xiu's later years. He understood what an emperor must go through, and that it's easy to become confused in old age!
A skilled farmer from the Tang Dynasty: He himself became emperor because of a prophecy, how could he not believe in such things!?
……
Lin Ke sighed inwardly. That's why feudal superstition is unacceptable. However, she herself is not an atheist, after all, she believes in the God of Wealth!
"Reading prophecies and apocryphal texts was almost Liu Xiu's most obsessive activity in his later years. Once, a man named Huan Tan advised him to take benevolence and righteousness as his foundation and not to believe in such strange things!"
"Huan Tan was a famous scholar in the late Western Han Dynasty. He did not agree with Liu Xiu's behavior of following prophecies and divination, and he also fulfilled his duty as a subject by repeatedly submitting memorials to advise him."
"However, Liu Xiu was far too convinced of prophecies and omens, so he was always displeased with Huan Tan's advice!"
"On one occasion, in order to better observe celestial phenomena, Liu Xiu ordered a meeting to discuss whether to build the Lingtai (a cemetery for observing celestial phenomena). Huan Tan was also present at the meeting. During the meeting, Liu Xiu asked him: 'What do you think about using apocryphal texts to decide important national affairs?'"
Liu Zhuzhu, the Great Han: I think he's lost his mind!
"This left Huan Tan speechless. Even the most muddle-headed emperor has never used apocryphal texts to decide matters of state. Tell me, aren't you getting a little too cocky?!"
"What else could Huan Tan say? After a moment of silence, he bluntly said: 'I never read prophecies!' Liu Xiu was very puzzled by his answer. How could someone not read prophecies? So he quickly pressed for an answer."
"Huan Tan was somewhat straightforward and directly replied to Liu Xiu that the prophecies were not scriptures, so Liu Xiu got angry again and immediately ordered Huan Tan to be beheaded."
"Huan Tan was terrified and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy. In the end, Liu Xiu demoted him to the position of Assistant Prefect of Liu'an Commandery. He died of illness on his way to take up his post. It was pitiful that Huan Tan was over seventy years old and had to go through such a thing before he died."
Empress Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: Alas, this reminds me of my good-for-nothing grandson!
Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty (retired): ...
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: Our family also has a rebellious son!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: So, this is my rebellious younger brother?!
A certain aristocratic scion commented: "But I never realized before that Liu Xiu was so obsessed with prophecies!"
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