| | 王莽傳下: |
四年五月，莽曰：「保成師友祭酒唐林、故諫議祭酒琅邪紀逡，孝弟忠恕，敬上愛下，博通舊聞，德行醇備，至於黃髮，靡有愆失。其封林為建德侯，逡為封德侯，位皆特進，見禮如三公。賜弟一區，錢三百萬，授几杖焉。」 |
| | In the fourth year, fifth month, Mang said: "The Keeper of the Office of Presiding Sacrifices and Teacher to the Crown Prince Tang Lin, and the former Censor-in-Attendance Jiu Qin of Langya, are filial sons and respectful brothers who are loyal and forgiving. They respect their superiors and love those beneath them; they have broad knowledge of ancient lore and possess complete virtue. Even in old age, they have committed no faults." He was granted the title of Jiande Hou to Lin and Fengde Hou to Qin. Both were given the special rank of Tejin, and they received honors equivalent to those of the Three Dukes. They were also granted a plot of land for their brothers, 3 million coins, and presented with canes and stools."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
六月，更授諸侯茅土於明堂，曰：「予制作地理，建封五等，考之經藝，合之傳記，通於義理，論之思之，至於再三，自始建國之元以來九年于茲，乃今定矣。予親設文石之平，陳菁茅四色之土，欽告于岱宗泰社后土、先祖先妣，以班授之。各就厥國，養牧民人，用成功業。其在緣邊，若江南，非詔所召，遣侍于帝城者，納言掌貨大夫且調都內故錢，予其祿，公歲八十萬，侯伯四十萬，子男二十萬。」然復不能盡得。莽好空言，慕古法，多封爵人，性實遴嗇，託以地理未定，故且先賦茅土，用慰喜封者。 |
| | In the sixth month, he re-granted to the marquises and dukes their fiefs of land at the Mingtang Hall. He said: "I have created a system for geography, establishing five ranks of enfeoffment. I examined it in the classics, verified it with historical records, considered its principles thoroughly, pondered over it repeatedly, thinking about it again and again. Since the first year of the founding of this state nine years ago, only now has it finally been settled." "I personally established the stone platform for ceremonies, displayed four-colored sacrificial grass and soil, respectfully announced it to Mount Tai, the Grand Earth God, and the Earth Deity, as well as our ancestors and their consorts, and then formally conferred them." Each shall go to his fief, nurture and govern the people, and thereby accomplish achievements. Those residing along the frontier or in southern Jiang, who are not summoned by imperial decree to serve as attendants in the capital city, shall receive their salaries from the Minister of Revenue and the Director of Goods, using funds from the old treasury. The salary for a public official is 800,000 coins per year; for marquises and viscounts it is 400,000; and for earls and barons it is 200,000." Yet they still could not fully obtain them. Mang loved empty rhetoric and admired ancient laws, often bestowing titles on many people. In reality, he was stingy, but he used the excuse that the geography had not yet been finalized; thus, he first assigned symbolic fiefs of grass and soil to pacify and please those who were granted enfeoffments.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是歲，復明六筦之令。每一筦下，為設科條防禁，犯者罪至死，吏民抵罪者浸眾。又一切調上公以下諸有奴婢者，率一口出錢三千六百，天下愈愁，盜賊起。納言馮常以六筦諫，莽大怒，免常官。置執法左右刺姦。選用能吏侯霸等分督六尉、六隊，如漢刺史，與三公士郡一人從事。 |
| | In this year, the regulation of the Six Monopolies was once again enforced. For each of the six monopolies, detailed regulations and prohibitions were established; those who violated them could be punished by death. An increasing number of officials and commoners were thus convicted and punished. In addition, all those holding slaves or servants from the rank of Grand Official downward were ordered to pay 3,600 coins per person. The people across the land became even more distressed, and bandits began to rise up. Feng Chang, Minister of Revenue, advised against the Six Monopolies; Mang became greatly enraged and dismissed Chang from his post. He established Left and Right Officers for Enforcing Law to Detect Corruption. Competent officials such as Hou Ba were selected and assigned separately to supervise the Six Commanders and the Six Units, similar to the Han dynasty's Cishi (Inspector), each accompanied by one official from the Three Dukes' staff in their respective commanderies.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
臨淮瓜田儀等為盜賊，依阻會稽長州，琅邪女子呂母亦起。初，呂母子為縣吏，為宰所冤殺。母散家財，以酤酒買兵弩，陰厚貧窮少年，得百餘人，遂攻海曲縣，殺其宰以祭子墓。引兵入海，其眾浸多，後皆萬數。莽遣使者即赦盜賊，還言「盜賊解，輒復合。問其故，皆曰愁法禁煩苛，不得舉手。力作所得，不足以給貢稅。閉門自守，又坐鄰伍鑄錢挾銅，姦吏因以愁民。民窮，悉起為盜賊。」莽大怒，免之。其或順指，言「民驕黠當誅」，及言「時運適然，且滅不久」，莽說，輒遷之。 |
| | Guitian Yi and others from Linhuai became bandits, taking refuge in Huajiang Changzhou. Also rising up was Lü Mu, a woman from Langya. Initially, Lü Mu's son had been a county official who was wrongfully executed by the local magistrate. Lü Mu distributed her family's wealth to brew wine and buy weapons, secretly supporting poor young men. She gathered over a hundred followers, attacked Haiqu Xian county, killed its magistrate, and used the head as an offering at her son's tomb. She led her forces into the sea, and her numbers gradually increased until they later reached tens of thousands. Mang sent envoys to pardon the bandits, but those who returned reported: "The rebels disperse, only to regroup again." When asked why this happened, they all replied that the legal prohibitions were too numerous and oppressive, leaving them unable to lift a hand. The produce from their hard labor was insufficient to cover tribute and taxes. Even if they stayed at home and kept to themselves, they were still punished for the crimes of their neighbors in coin forgery or copper possession. Corrupt officials thus caused further distress among the people. The people, driven to desperation, all rose up as bandits." Mang was furious and dismissed them. Those who followed his wishes, saying "The people are arrogant and cunning; they should be punished," or claiming "This is merely a matter of timing, and the unrest will soon end," were favored by Mang and promptly promoted.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是歲八月，莽親之南郊，鑄作威斗。威斗者，以五石銅為之，若北斗，長二尺五寸，欲以厭勝眾兵。既成，令司命負之，莽出在前，入在御旁。鑄斗日，大寒，百官人馬有凍死者。 |
| | In this year's eighth month, Mang personally went to the southern suburbs and cast a "Weidou" (a talismanic implement of power). 𝑙 The Weidou was made from five kinds of copper and stone, shaped like the Big Dipper, measuring two feet and five inches in length. It was intended to suppress and overcome all hostile forces through talismanic power. After it was completed, he ordered the Keeper of Fate to carry it; whenever Mang went out, he walked ahead, and when entering, he remained by the emperor's side. On the day of casting the Weidou, it was extremely cold, and among the officials, people, and horses there were those who froze to death.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
五年正月朔，北軍南門災。 |
| | On the first day of the fifth year's first month, a fire broke out at the southern gate of the Northern Army barracks.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
以大司馬司允費興為荊州牧，見，問到部方略，興對曰：「荊、揚之民率依阻山澤，以漁采為業。間者，國張六筦，稅山澤，妨奪民之利，連年久旱，百姓飢窮，故為盜賊。興到部，欲令明曉告盜賊歸田里，假貸犁牛種食，闊其租賦，幾可以解釋安集。」莽怒，免興官。 |
| | He appointed Fei Xing, Keeper of the Grand Marshal's Office, as governor of Jingzhou. Upon his audience, he asked Xing about strategies for governing upon arrival in his new post. Xing replied: "The people of Jing and Yang generally take refuge in mountains and lakes, making a living through fishing and gathering." "Recently, the state imposed the Six Monopolies and levied taxes on mountains and lakes, depriving the people of their livelihood. Combined with years of prolonged drought, the common folk have become starving and destitute, hence they turn to banditry." "When I arrive in my post, I will clearly inform the bandits to return to their villages and fields. I will lend them plows, oxen, seeds, and food, and reduce their taxes and levies; this should be sufficient to pacify and settle them." Mang became angry and dismissed Xing from his post.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
天下吏以不得奉祿，並為姦利，郡尹縣宰家累千金。莽下詔曰：「詳考始建國二年胡虜猾夏以來，諸軍吏及緣邊吏大夫以上為姦利增產致富者，收其家所有財產五分之四，以助邊急。」公府士馳傳天下，考覆貪饕，開吏告其將，奴婢告其主，幾以禁姦，姦愈甚。 |
| | Officials across the land, unable to receive their salaries, engaged in corrupt practices for profit; magistrates of commanderies and county administrators amassed fortunes amounting to thousands of gold pieces. Mang issued an edict stating: "After a thorough investigation, since the second year of the founding of the state when the Hu and Lu tribes first harassed the Central Plains, all military officers and officials along the frontier who are of the rank of 大夫 (Doctor) or higher and have enriched themselves through corrupt means—four-fifths of their family's total property shall be confiscated to assist in frontier emergencies." Officials from the imperial court rushed to all parts of the country, investigating and verifying cases of corruption. They encouraged officials to report their superiors, slaves and servants to denounce their masters—all in an attempt to curb malfeasance—but instead, corruption became even worse.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
皇孫功崇公宗坐自畫容貌，被服天子衣冠，刻印三：一曰「維祉冠存己夏處南山臧薄冰」，二曰「肅聖寶繼」，三曰「 |
| | The imperial grandson Gongchong Gong Zong was implicated for drawing his own likeness, wearing the robes and headdress of an emperor, and carving three seals: one reading "Weizhi Guancun Ji Xia Chu Nanshan Zang Bing," a second reading "Susheng Baoji," and a third reading
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| | 王莽傳下: |
德封昌圖」。又宗舅呂寬家前徙合浦，私與宗通，發覺按驗，宗自殺。莽曰：「宗屬為皇孫，爵為上公，知寬等叛逆族類，而與交通；刻銅印三，文意甚害，不知厭足，窺欲非望。春秋之義，『君親毋將，將而誅焉。』迷惑失道，自取此辜，烏呼哀哉！宗本名會宗，以制作去二名，今復名會宗。貶厥爵，改厥號，賜諡為功崇繆伯，以諸伯之禮葬于故同穀城郡。」宗姊妨為衛將軍王興夫人，祝詛姑，殺婢以絕口。事發覺，莽使中常侍鹊惲責問妨，并以責興，皆自殺。事連及司命孔仁妻，亦自殺。仁見莽免冠謝，莽使尚書劾仁：「乘乾車，駕巛馬，左蒼龍，右白虎，前朱雀，後玄武，右杖威節，左負威斗，號曰赤星，非以驕仁，乃以尊新室之威命也。仁擅免天文冠，大不敬。」有詔勿劾，更易新冠。其好怪如此。 |
| | "Defeng Changtu." In addition, Zong's maternal uncle Lü Kuan had previously been relocated to Hepu but secretly communicated with Zong. When this was discovered and investigated, Zong committed suicide. Mang said: "Zong is a grandson of the emperor and holds the rank of Grand Official. Knowing that Lü Kuan and others were traitors, he still communicated with them; he carved three copper seals whose inscriptions carried dangerous implications. He showed no restraint and secretly desired what was not his to have." According to the principles of The Spring and Autumn Annals, "When a subject is close to the ruler but plots rebellion, he must be punished." He was deluded and lost his way, bringing this punishment upon himself. Alas, how sorrowful!" Zong's original name was Hui Zong; he had previously changed it to a single-character name as part of the new regulations. Now, his name has been restored to Hui Zong. His title was downgraded, his designation changed, and he was posthumously given the honorific name Gongchong Miou Bo. He was buried with the rites for a marquis in the old Tonggu Cheng commandery." Zong's elder sister Fang became the wife of Wang Xing, the Wei General. She cursed her grandmother-in-law and killed a servant to prevent her from speaking out. When this matter was discovered, Mang sent Zhongchangshi Que Yun to interrogate Fang and also held Xing accountable. Both committed suicide as a result. The case extended to the wife of Kong Ren, Keeper of Fate; she too committed suicide. Ren appeared before Mang, removing his hat in apology. Mang ordered the Minister of State Affairs to accuse Ren: "He rode a carriage with a canopy representing heaven, drawn by horses symbolizing the Yellow River, with a blue dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right, a red phoenix at the front and a black tortoise at the rear; he held the Weijie staff in his right hand and carried the Weidou talisman on his left. He called himself 'Chixing.' This was not to show arrogance toward Ren, but rather to demonstrate respect for the authority of the New dynasty." "Ren arbitrarily removed his celestial official's hat; this is a grave act of disrespect." An imperial decree was issued not to prosecute him, but instead he was ordered to change into new ceremonial headgear. Such were his strange and eccentric inclinations.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
以直道侯王涉為衛將軍。涉者，曲陽侯根子也。根，成帝世為大司馬，薦莽自代，莽恩之，以為曲陽非令稱，乃追諡根曰直道讓公，涉嗣其爵。 |
| | Wang She, Marquis of Zhidao, was appointed as Wei General. She was the son of Hou Gen, Marquis of Quyang. Gen had served as Grand Marshal during the reign of Emperor Cheng and recommended Mang to succeed him. As a gesture of gratitude, Mang considered the title Quyang inappropriate for Gen's virtue; he posthumously bestowed on Gen the honorific name Zhidao Rang Gong (Righteous Way Yielding Duke). She inherited his marquisate.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是歲，赤眉力子都、樊崇等以饑饉相聚，起於琅邪，轉鈔掠，眾皆萬數。遣使者發郡國兵擊之，不能克。 |
| | In this year, Li Zidou and Fan Chong of the Chimei rebels gathered together due to famine, rising up in Langya. They moved about robbing and looting, their numbers reaching into the tens of thousands. Envoys were sent to mobilize troops from commanderies and states to attack them, but they could not be defeated.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
六年春，莽見盜賊多，乃令太史推三萬六千歲曆紀，六歲一改元，布天下。下書曰：「紫閣圖曰『太一、黃帝皆僊上天，張樂崑崙虔山之上。後世聖主得瑞者，當張樂秦終南山之上。』予之不敏，奉行未明，乃今諭矣。復以寧始將軍為更始將軍，以順符命。易不云乎？『日新之謂盛德，生生之謂易。』予其饗哉！」欲以誑燿百姓，銷解盜賊。眾皆笑之。 |
| | In the spring of the sixth year, seeing that banditry was widespread, Mang ordered the Grand Historian to calculate a calendar based on the cycle of 36,000 years, changing the era name every six years and announcing it throughout the land. He issued a decree stating: "The Zige Tu says, 'Taiyi and the Yellow Emperor both ascended to heaven as immortals, holding music on Mount Kunlun Qianshan.'" "A future sage ruler who obtains an omen shall hold music atop Qin Zhongnan Mountain." "I am not wise enough, and my implementation has been unclear. Only now do I understand the meaning." He reappointed the Ningshi General as the Gengshi General to conform with the auspicious omen. Does it not say in the Book of Changes? "Renewal day by day is called great virtue; giving life to life is what the Yi means." "I shall indeed partake of this!" He wished to deceive and dazzle the people, hoping to pacify the bandits. The common people all laughed at him.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
初獻新樂於明堂、太廟。群臣始冠麟韋之弁。或聞其樂聲，曰：「清厲而哀，非興國之聲也。」 |
| | He first presented new music at the Mingtang and the Grand Ancestral Temple. The ministers, for the first time, wore Linwei hats made of horned leather. Some who heard the music said: "It is clear and sharp yet sorrowful; this is not the sound of a rising state."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是時，關東饑旱數年，力子都等黨眾浸多。更始將軍廉丹擊益州不能克，徵還。更遣復位後大司馬護軍郭興、庸部牧李嘱擊蠻夷若豆等，太傅犧叔士孫喜清潔江湖之盜賊。而匈奴寇邊甚。莽乃大募天下丁男及死罪囚、吏民奴，名曰豬突豨勇，以為銳卒。一切稅天下吏民，訾三十取一，縑帛皆輸長安。令公卿以下至郡縣黃綬皆保養軍馬，多少各以秩為差。又博募有奇技術可以攻匈奴者，將待以不次之位。言便宜者以萬數：或言能度水不用舟楫，連馬接騎，濟百萬師；或言不持斗糧，服食藥物，三軍不飢；或言能飛，一日千里，可窺匈奴。莽輒試之，取大鳥翮為兩翼，頭與身皆著毛，通引環紐，飛數百步墮。莽知其不可用，苟欲獲其名，皆拜為理軍，賜以車馬，待發。 |
| | At that time, the eastern regions beyond the Guan Mountains had suffered from years of famine and drought, and Li Zidou's rebel faction was growing in numbers. Lian Dan, General Gengshi, failed to subdue Yizhou and was recalled. He then sent Guo Xing, former Grand Marshal and military commander, and Li Zhu, governor of Yongbu, to attack the southern tribes such as Ruodou. The Grand Tutor Shisun Xi was tasked with clearing out bandits in the rivers and lakes regions. Meanwhile, the Xiongnu launched increasingly severe raids on the frontier. Mang then widely conscripted men from across the land, as well as convicts sentenced to death and slaves of officials and commoners, calling them "Zhu Tu Xi Yong," designating them as elite shock troops. He levied a tax on all officials and commoners nationwide, collecting one out of every thirty assets; all silk and cloth were to be transported to Chang'an. He ordered officials from the ranks of Grand Ministers down to those with yellow sashes at the commandery and county levels to raise and maintain military horses, with the number required varying according to their rank. He also widely recruited individuals possessing unusual skills or techniques that could be used against the Xiongnu, promising them positions of high rank regardless of customary precedence. Thousands upon thousands came forward with proposals: some claimed they could cross rivers without boats or rafts, linking horses together to ferry an army of a million across; others said they did not need provisions, claiming that by taking certain herbal medicines, entire armies could go without hunger. Some claimed the ability to fly, traveling a thousand li in one day and spying on the Xiongnu from above. Mang would test them, once making a pair of wings from the feathers of large birds and covering the head and body with hair-like material. Connected by rings and fastenings, it flew for several hundred paces before falling to the ground. Realizing these claims were impractical, Mang merely sought their reputations and thus appointed them all as "Lijun" (military officers), bestowing carriages and horses upon them while keeping them on standby.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
初，匈奴右骨都侯須卜當，其妻王昭君女也，嘗內附。莽遣昭君兄子和親侯王歙誘呼嘗至塞下，脅將詣長安，強立以為須卜善于後安公。始欲誘迎當，大司馬嚴尤諫曰：「當在匈奴右部，兵不侵邊，單于動靜，輒語中國，此方面之大助也。于今迎當置長安槁街，一胡人耳，不如在匈奴有益。」莽不聽。既得當，欲遣尤與廉丹擊匈奴，皆賜姓徵氏，號二徵將軍，當誅單于輿而立當代之。出車城西橫廄，未發。尤素有智略，非莽攻伐西夷，數諫不從，著古名將樂毅、白起不用之意及言邊事凡三篇，奏以風諫莽。及當出廷議，尤固言匈奴可且以為後，先憂山東盜賊。莽大怒，乃策尤曰：「視事四年，蠻夷猾夏不能遏絕，寇賊姦宄不能殄滅，不畏天威，不用詔命，貌佷自臧，持必不移，懷執異心，非沮軍議。未忍致于理，其上大司馬武建伯印韍，歸故郡。」以降符伯董忠為大司馬。 |
| | Initially, You Gudu Hou Subu Dang of the Xiongnu was the daughter-in-law of Wang Zhaojun and had previously submitted to Han rule. Mang sent Wang Xi, the nephew of Wang Zhaojun and Marquis Heqin, to lure Hu Chang to the frontier. They forced him to come to Chang'an and installed him by force as Subu Shanyou Hou An Gong (Marquis of Subu Shanyou). Initially, they had intended to lure Dang over. The Grand Marshal Yan You advised: "Dang is in the right wing of the Xiongnu and has not led troops to invade our borders; whenever the Chanyu moves or acts, he informs China. He is a great asset for this region." "Now that we have brought Dang to Gaotie Street in Chang'an, he is merely one Hu person. It would be more beneficial for him to remain among the Xiongnu." Mang did not listen. After capturing Dang, Mang wanted to send Yan You and Lian Dan to attack the Xiongnu. Both were granted the surname Zheng and titled as the Two Zheng Generals; they were ordered to kill the Chanyu's entourage and install Dang in his place. They departed from Hengzhuo, west of the capital city, but had not yet set out. Yan You had long been known for his wisdom and strategy. He repeatedly advised against Mang's campaigns in the western regions, but was not heeded. He composed three essays discussing the ancient generals Yue Yi and Bai Qi who were ignored by their rulers, as well as matters concerning frontier affairs, submitting them to indirectly advise Mang. When the matter of Dang was discussed in court, Yan You firmly argued that the Xiongnu could be left for later and that attention should first be given to the bandit problem in Shandong. Mang was greatly enraged and issued a decree against Yan You, stating: "For four years in office, you have failed to suppress the southern tribes who harass China; you have not eradicated bandits and criminals. You show no fear of imperial authority, disobey royal commands, appear defiantly self-assured, insist stubbornly on your own views, harbor dissenting thoughts, and obstruct military planning." "I have not yet decided to punish you severely. Therefore, relinquish your seal of office as Grand Marshal and the title Wujian Bo (Marquis of Martial Construction), and return to your original commandery." He appointed Dong Zhong, Marquis Jiangfu Bo, as Grand Marshal.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
翼平連率田況奏郡縣訾民不實，莽復三十稅一。以況忠言憂國，進爵為伯，賜錢二百萬。眾庶皆詈之。青、徐民多棄鄉里流亡，老弱死道路，壯者入賊中。 |
| | Yiping Lian Shuai Tian Kuang reported that the property assessments of commoners in commanderies and counties were inaccurate, so Mang reinstated a tax rate of one out of every thirty. Because Kuang had given loyal advice for the state's welfare, his title was upgraded to Bo (Marquis), and he was granted 2 million coins. The common people all cursed him. Many civilians from Qing and Xu commanderies abandoned their hometowns and fled, with the elderly and weak dying along the roads, while the strong joined bandit groups.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
夙夜連率韓博上言：「有奇士，長丈，大十圍，來至臣府，曰欲奮擊胡虜。自謂巨毋霸，出於蓬萊東南，五城西北昭如海瀕，軺車不能載，三馬不能勝。即日以大車四馬，建虎旗，載霸詣闕。霸臥則枕鼓，以鐵箸食，此皇天所以輔新室也。願陛下作大甲高車，賁育之衣，遣大將一人與虎賁百人迎之於道。京師門戶不容者，開高大之，以視百蠻，鎮安天下。」博意欲以風莽。莽聞惡之，留霸在所新豐，更其姓曰巨母氏，謂因文母太后而霸王符也。徵博下獄，以非所宜言，棄市。 |
| | Han Bo, the Inspector of Suye Lian Shuai, submitted a report: "There is an extraordinary man who is one zhang tall and has arms ten times around. He came to my office and said he wished to fight against the Hu bandits." He called himself Jumu Ba, claiming to be from the southeast of Penglai and the northwest of Wucheng, near the sea where things are clearly visible. His size was such that a light carriage could not carry him, nor could three horses pull his load. On the same day, they used a large cart drawn by four horses, raised a tiger flag, and transported Jumu Ba to court. When resting, Ba would place his head on a drum, and he ate with iron chopsticks; this was how the Mandate of Heaven supported the new dynasty. I wish Your Majesty would construct a large armored high cart, prepare the clothing of Bin Yu, and send one great general with 100 tiger 贲 soldiers to meet him on the road. The gates of the capital that cannot accommodate his size should be opened wider, so as to impress all the southern tribes and stabilize the realm." Bo's intention was to advise Mang indirectly. Mang, upon hearing this, disliked it and kept Jumu Ba in Xin Feng. He changed his surname to "Jumu," saying that it was because of the Empress Dowager Wenmu, a sign of imperial destiny for a king or warlord. Mang summoned Han Bo and put him in prison, accusing him of speaking out what was inappropriate; he was executed publicly.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
明年改元曰地皇，從三萬六千歲曆號也。 |
| | The following year, the era name was changed to "Dihuang," following a calendar title of thirty-six thousand years.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
地皇元年正月乙未，赦天下。下書曰：「方出軍行師，敢有趨讙犯法者，輒論斬，毋須時，盡歲止。」於是春夏斬人都市，百姓震懼，道路以目。 |
| | On the Yiwu day of the first month in the first year of Dihuang, a general pardon was granted throughout the realm. An edict was issued: "As military campaigns are about to begin, anyone who dares to cause disturbances or break the law shall be immediately tried and executed without delay. This order will remain in effect until the end of this year." As a result, people were beheaded in public squares during spring and summer; the common people were terrified, exchanging glances on the roads.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
二月壬申，日正黑。莽惡之，下書曰：「乃者日中見昧，陰薄陽，黑氣為變，百姓莫不驚怪。兆域大將軍王匡遣吏考問上變事者，欲蔽上之明，是以適見于天，以正于理，塞大異焉。」 |
| | On the Renshen day of the second month, the sun was completely darkened. Mang considered this an ill omen and issued a decree: "Recently, at noon the sun was obscured; yin oppressed yang, and dark vapors caused this change. The common people could not help but be startled and astonished." "Zhaoyu Great General Wang Kuang sent officials to investigate those who reported the unusual event, attempting to conceal the emperor's wisdom. Therefore, this omen was revealed by heaven in order to correct affairs according to reason and eliminate a major portent."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽見四方盜賊多，復欲厭之，又下書曰：「予之皇初祖考黃帝定天下，將兵為上將軍，建華蓋，立斗獻，內設大將，外置大司馬五人，大將軍二十五人，偏將軍百二十五人，裨將軍千二百五十人，校尉萬二千五百人，司馬三萬七千五百人，候十一萬二千五百人，當百二十二萬五千人，士吏四十五萬人，士千三百五十萬人，應協於易『弧矢之利，以威天下』。予受符命之文，稽前人，將條備焉。」於是置前後左右中大司馬之位，賜諸州牧號為大將軍，郡卒正、連帥、大尹為偏將軍，屬令長裨將軍，縣宰為校尉。乘傳使者經歷郡國，日且十輩，倉無見穀以給，傳車馬不能足，賦取道中車馬，取辦於民。 |
| | Mang, seeing that bandits were numerous in all directions, wanted to suppress them again and issued another decree: "My great ancestor Huangdi established the realm; he led troops as Supreme General. He raised a magnificent canopy, set up the constellation of Douxian (the Dipper), appointed Grand Generals internally, and placed five Grand Commanders externally, twenty-five Great Generals, 125 Deputy Generals, 1,250 Assistant Generals, 12,500 Captains, 37,500 Marshals, 112,500 Scouts, 2,250,000 Sergeants, 450,000 Officer Assistants, and 13.5 million soldiers—this arrangement corresponds to the Yijing (Book of Changes) saying 'the advantage of bows and arrows is used to awe the world.'" "I have received the mandate in accordance with heavenly signs, examined the precedents of former men, and will now prepare them systematically." Thus, he established the positions of Grand Commanders for the front, rear, left, right, and center. He bestowed the title of Great General upon all provincial governors; the heads of commandery militias, Lian Shuai (commandery inspectors), and Da Yin (great magistrates) were given the rank of Deputy Generals; magistrates at the subordinate level became Assistant Generals, while county administrators became Captains. Envoys traveling by official conveyance passed through commanderies and states, with nearly ten groups per day. The granaries had no visible grain to supply them; the number of transport carts and horses was insufficient, so they levied carts and horses along the way from the common people.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
七月，大風毀王路堂。復下書曰：「乃壬午餔時，有列風雷雨發屋折木之變，予甚弁焉，予甚栗焉，予甚恐焉。伏念一旬，迷乃解矣。昔符命文立安為新遷王，臨國雒陽，為統義陽王。是時予在攝假，謙不敢當，而以為公。其後金匱文至，議者皆曰：『臨國雒陽為統，謂據土中為新室統也，宜為皇太子。』自此後，臨久病，雖瘳不平，朝見挈茵輿行。見王路堂者，張於西廂及後閣更衣中，又以皇后被疾，臨且去本就舍，妃妾在東永巷。壬午，列風毀王路西廂及後閣更衣中室。昭寧堂池東南榆樹大十圍，東僵，擊東閣，閣即東永巷之西垣也。皆破折瓦壞，發屋拔木，予甚驚焉。又候官奏月犯心前星，厥有占，予甚憂之。伏念紫閣圖文，太一、黃帝皆得瑞以僊，後世褒主當登終南山。所謂新遷王者，乃太一新遷之後也。統義陽王乃用五統以禮義登陽上遷之後也。臨有兄而稱太子，名不正。宣尼公曰：『名不正，則言不順，至於刑罰不中，民無錯手足。』惟即位以來，陰陽未和，風雨不時，數遇枯旱蝗螟為災，穀稼鮮耗，百姓苦飢，蠻夷猾夏，寇賊姦宄，人民正營，無所錯手足。深惟厥咎，在名不正焉。其立安為新遷王，臨為統義陽王，幾以保全二子，子孫千億，外攘四夷，內安中國焉。」 |
| | In July, a great wind destroyed Wanglvtang Hall. He issued another decree: "On the Renwu day at the bu hour, there was a violent wind and thunderstorm that uprooted houses and broke trees. I am greatly alarmed; I am deeply fearful; I am profoundly terrified." "After pondering for ten days, my confusion was resolved." "In the past, according to the heavenly mandate, An was established as King Xin Qian and assigned to govern Luoyang; he became Duke Tongyi Yang." "At that time I was acting in a provisional capacity, and out of humility I did not dare to accept the title, but instead bestowed it upon the public." Later, when the Jin Kui text arrived, those who discussed it all said: "To govern Luoyang as Tongyi means to establish control at the central land for the new dynasty; he should be made Crown Prince." From then on, Lin suffered from a long illness. Although his condition improved somewhat, it never fully recovered; when he appeared at court audiences, he had to be carried in a litter while holding onto a mat for support. Those who visited Wanglvtang Hall were accommodated in the western wing and the back pavilion for changing clothes. In addition, because the Empress was ill, Lin had nearly left his original residence to move elsewhere; his concubines remained in Dongyong Xiang (the East Eternal Alley). On the Renwu day, a violent wind destroyed the western wing of Wanglvtang Hall and the inner chamber in the back pavilion used for changing clothes. A large elm tree with a girth of ten times in the southeast corner of the pool at Zhaoning Hall fell to the east, striking the eastern pavilion. This pavilion was precisely the western wall of Dongyong Xiang. Roofs were torn off and tiles shattered; trees uprooted, I was greatly startled. In addition, the official in charge of celestial observations reported that the moon had passed near the star before Xinxing (Heart Star), an omen with ominous implications. I was deeply worried about it. Reflecting upon the texts and diagrams of Zige, both Taiyi (the Supreme Deity) and Huangdi attained immortality through auspicious signs; future emperors should ascend Zhongnan Mountain. What is referred to as the King Xin Qian is in fact a descendant of Taiyi Xin Qian. Duke Tongyi Yang was the successor who, through the five systems and the principles of propriety and righteousness, ascended to a higher status. Lin had an elder brother but was called Crown Prince; this is not in accordance with proper naming conventions. The Master Xunigong said: "If names are not correct, words will be unsmooth; if words are unsmooth, then punishments will be unjust. When punishments are unjust, the people do not know how to act." Since my ascension to the throne, yin and yang have not been in harmony; winds and rains do not come at proper times. Droughts, locusts, and pests frequently cause disasters, resulting in scarce crop losses. The people suffer from hunger, while southern tribes harass China and bandits commit crimes. The common folk are caught in turmoil, unsure of how to act. Deep reflection on the cause reveals that it lies in improper naming conventions. Therefore, let An be established as King Xin Qian, and Lin as Duke Tongyi Yang. This will preserve both sons, ensuring countless descendants, repelling the four barbarian tribes from outside, and securing peace within China."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是月，杜陵便殿乘輿虎文衣廢臧在室匣中者出，自樹立外堂上，良久乃委地。吏卒見者以聞，莽惡之，下書曰：「寶黃廝赤，其令郎從官皆衣絳。」 |
| | That month, a discarded tiger-patterned imperial robe from the Buling Pavilion, which had been stored in a chest inside the room, emerged on its own and stood upright in the outer hall. After some time, it finally fell to the ground. The officials and soldiers who saw this reported it, and Mang was displeased. He issued a decree: "The yellow treasure and crimson color are ominous; therefore, all attendants of my sons shall wear red."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
望氣為數者多言有土功象，莽又見四方盜賊多，欲視為自安能建萬世之基者，乃下書曰：「予受命遭陽九之厄，百六之會，府帑空虛，百姓匱乏，宗廟未修，且祫祭於明堂太廟，夙夜永念，非敢寧息。深惟吉昌莫良於今年，予乃卜波水之北，郎池之南，惟玉食。予又卜金水之南，明堂之西，亦惟玉食。予將新築焉。」於是遂營長安城南，提封百頃。九月甲申，莽立載行視，親舉築三下。司徒王尋、大司空王邑持節，及侍中常侍執法杜林等數十人將作。崔發、張邯說莽曰：「德盛者文縟，宜崇其制度，宣視海內，且令萬世之後無以復加也。」莽乃博徵天下工匠諸圖畫，以望法度算，及吏民以義入錢穀助作者，駱驛道路。壞徹城西苑中建章、承光、包陽、大臺、儲元宮及平樂、當路、陽祿館，凡十餘所，取其材瓦，以起九廟。是月，大雨六十餘日。令民入米六百斛為郎，其郎吏增秩賜爵至附城。九廟：一曰黃帝太初祖廟，二曰帝虞始祖昭廟，三曰陳胡王統祖穆廟，四曰齊敬王世祖昭廟，五曰濟北愍王王祖穆廟，凡五廟不墮云；六曰濟南伯王尊禰昭廟，七曰元城孺王尊禰穆廟，八曰陽平頃王戚禰昭廟，九曰新都顯王戚禰穆廟。殿皆重屋。太初祖廟東西南北各四十丈，高十七丈，餘廟半之。為銅薄櫨，飾以金銀琱文，窮極百工之巧。帶高增下，功費數百鉅萬，卒徒死者萬數。 |
| | Astrologers who interpreted atmospheric signs often claimed there were omens of earthworks. Mang, seeing the numerous bandits in all directions and wishing to appear as one capable of establishing a foundation for ten thousand generations, issued another decree: "I have received my mandate amid the calamity of Yangjiu and the convergence of Boliu; the imperial treasuries are empty, the people lack resources, and ancestral temples remain unrebuilt. Therefore, I will conduct a combined sacrifice at the Mingtang Hall and the Grand Ancestral Temple, day and night pondering these matters without daring to rest." "Deep reflection reveals no better year for auspicious prosperity than this one. I have divined a site north of Boshi and south of Langchi, where jade-like food shall be offered." "I also divined another location to the south of Jinshui and west of Mingtang Hall, where jade-like food will also be offered." "I shall construct a new site there." Thus, construction began in the southern part of Chang'an city, covering an area of one hundred qing. On the Jia Shen day of the ninth month, Mang personally inspected the site and took part in the foundation-laying ceremony by lifting tools to strike three times. The Minister of Works Wang Xun and the Chief Architect Wang Yi, holding imperial edicts, along with dozens of officials including Du Lin, an Attendant-in-Ordinary and a Palace Attendant in charge of law enforcement, oversaw the construction. Cui Fa and Zhang Han advised Mang: "Those with great virtue should have elaborate rituals; we should elevate the system's grandeur, display it to all under heaven, and ensure that future generations will never be able to surpass it." Mang then widely summoned craftsmen and various designs from across the realm, using them to determine measurements and standards. Officials and commoners who contributed money or grain in accordance with righteousness to assist in construction traveled along roads in caravans. They demolished and dismantled the Jianzhang, Chengguang, Baoyang, Datai, Chuyuan Gong palaces, as well as the Pingle, Danglu, and Yanglu Guan pavilions in the western garden of the capital—more than ten structures in total—and used their materials to construct the Nine Temples. That month, heavy rain fell for more than sixty days. An order was issued: any commoner who contributed 600 hu of rice would be appointed as a Lang (attendant), and these Lang officials were granted higher ranks, noble titles up to Fu Cheng. The Nine Temples: 1. The Temple of Huangdi, the Great Ancestor Tai Chu; 2. The Temple of Emperor Yu, the First Ancestor Zhao; 3. The Temple of Chen Huwang, the Lineage Ancestor Mu; 4. The Temple of Qi Jingwang, the Dynasty Founder Zhao; 5. The Temple of Jibei Minwang, the Royal Ancestor Mu—these five temples were not to be abandoned. 6. The Temple of Jinan Bowang, the Venerated Ancestor Zhao; 7. The Temple of Yuancheng Ruwang, the Venerated Ancestor Mu; 8. The Temple of Yangping Qingwang, the 戚 Ancestor Zhao; 9. The Temple of Xindu Xianwang, the 戚 Ancestor Mu. All halls were built with double-tiered roofs. The Temple of Huangdi Tai Chu Zuo was forty zhang in length on each side—east, west, south, and north—and seventeen zhang high; the other temples were half that size. They made bronze eaves decorated with gold, silver, and carved patterns, exhausting the ingenuity of all artisans. The construction was high at the top but wide at the base; the cost amounted to hundreds of millions, and thousands of laborers died in the process.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
鉅鹿男子馬適求等謀舉燕趙兵以誅莽，大司空士王丹發覺以聞。莽遣三公大夫逮治黨與，連及郡國豪傑數千人，皆誅死。封丹為輔國侯。 |
| | A man from Julu named Ma Shiqiu and others plotted to raise armies in Yan and Zhao to kill Mang. Wang Dan, an official of the Ministry of Works, discovered this plot and reported it. Mang dispatched officials from the Three Dukes to arrest and punish those involved in the plot, implicating thousands of influential figures from commanderies and states; they were all executed. Dan was enfeoffed as Hou Fu Guo (Marquis of Auxiliary State).
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| | 王莽傳下: |
自莽為不順時令，百姓怨恨，莽猶安之，又下書曰：「惟設此壹切之法以來，常安六鄉巨邑之都，枹鼓稀鳴，盜賊衰少，百姓安土，歲以有年，此乃立權之力也。今胡虜未滅誅，蠻僰未絕焚，江湖海澤麻沸，盜賊未盡破殄，又興奉宗廟社稷之大作，民眾動搖。今復壹切行此令，盡二年止之，以全元元，救愚姦。」 |
| | Since Mang had not followed the proper seasons and regulations, the common people resented him. Yet he remained complacent and issued another decree: "Ever since these extraordinary measures were implemented, peace has been maintained in the six major towns and large cities; drums of alarm rarely sound, bandits have diminished, the people are content with their land, and harvests have followed regularly—this is due to the power of my authority." "Now, the Hu bandits have not yet been exterminated, the southern tribes have not been completely destroyed, and unrest still simmers like boiling water in rivers, lakes, and seas; bandits remain unchecked. Yet I am proceeding with this grand construction for ancestral temples and state altars, causing the populace to become unsettled." "Therefore, I now issue this decree anew; these measures will continue for two more years and then cease, to preserve the people and rescue them from ignorance and corruption."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是歲，罷大小錢，更行貨布，長二寸五分，廣一寸，直貨錢二十五。貨錢徑一寸，重五銖，枚直一。兩品並行。敢盜鑄錢及偏行布貨，伍人知不發舉，皆沒入為官奴婢。 |
| | In this year, both large and small coins were abolished and replaced with the new "Huo Bu" currency. It was two cun five fen in length, one cun wide, and equivalent to twenty-five Huo Qian (currency units). The "Huo Qian" had a diameter of one cun, weighed five zhu per piece, and was worth one unit. Both types were circulated concurrently. Anyone who dared to privately cast coins or circulate the Huo Bu currency alone, and any five people who knew of it but did not report it, would be seized and made state slaves.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
太傅平晏死，以予虞唐尊為太傅。尊曰：「國虛民貧，咎在奢泰。」乃身短衣小袖，乘牝馬柴車，藉槁，瓦器，又以歷遺公卿。出見男女不異路者，尊自下車，以象刑赭幡汙染其衣。莽聞而說之，下詔申敕公卿思與厥齊。封尊為平化侯。 |
| | Tai Fu Ping Yan died; Yu Tangzun was appointed as the new Tai Fu. Tangzun said: "The realm is impoverished and its people poor; this blame lies in excessive luxury." He therefore wore short robes with narrow sleeves, rode a female horse and an ox cart, slept on straw mats, used earthenware, and also distributed these examples to the high officials. When he saw men and women walking together on the same road, Tangzun would personally get off his carriage and use a red flag marked with symbolic punishment to stain their clothes. Mang heard of this and was pleased, issuing an edict instructing the high officials to emulate Tangzun's example. Tangzun was enfeoffed as Marquis Pinghua.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是時，南郡張霸、江夏羊牧、王匡等起雲杜綠林，號曰下江兵，眾皆萬餘人。武功中水鄉民三舍墊為池。 |
| | At this time, Zhang Ba of Nanjun, Yang Mu and Wang Kuang of Jiangxia, among others, rose up in Yundu Lulin, calling themselves the Xiangjiang Army; their forces numbered over ten thousand each. The people of Sanshe Dian village in Zhongshui Xiang, Wugong, built a pond.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
二年正月，以州牧位三公，刺舉怠解，更置牧監副，秩元士，冠法冠，行事如漢刺史。 |
| | In the first month of the second year, provincial governors were elevated to the rank of Three Dukes. Because their officials had become lax in their duties, new assistant supervisors for each province were appointed with the rank of Yuan Shi (lowest official grade), wearing formal caps and performing duties similar to Han dynasty Cishi (provincial inspectors).
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是月，莽妻死，諡曰孝睦皇后，葬渭陵長壽園西，令永侍文母，名陵曰億年。初莽妻以莽數殺其子，涕泣失明，莽令太子臨居中養焉。莽妻旁侍者原碧，莽幸之。後臨亦通焉，恐事泄，謀共殺莽。臨妻愔，國師公女，能為星，語臨宮中且有白衣會。臨喜，以為所謀且成。後貶為統義陽王，出在外第，愈憂恐。會莽妻病困，臨予書曰：「上於子孫至嚴，前長孫、中孫年俱三十而死。今臣臨復適三十，誠恐一旦不保中室，則不知死命所在！」莽侯妻疾，見其書，大怒，疑臨有惡意，不令得會喪。既葬，收原碧等考問，具服姦、謀殺狀。莽欲祕之，使殺案事使者司命從事，埋獄中，家不知所在。賜臨藥，臨不肯飲，自刺死。使侍中票騎將軍同說侯林賜魂衣璽韍，策書曰：「符命文立臨為統義陽王，此言新室即位三萬六千歲後，為臨之後者乃當龍陽而起。前過聽議者，以臨為太子，有烈風之變，輒順符命，立為統義陽王。在此之前，自此之後，不作信順，弗蒙厥佑，夭年隕命，嗚呼哀哉！跡行賜諡，諡曰繆王。」又詔國師公：「臨本不知星，事從愔起。」愔亦自殺。 |
| | This month, Mang's wife died and was posthumously honored as Empress Xiaomu. She was buried west of Weiling Changshouyuan, ordered to serve the Empress Dowager Wensi eternally; her tomb was named Yinnian Mausoleum. Initially, Mang's wife had become blind from weeping after Mang repeatedly killed her sons; therefore, Mang ordered Crown Prince Lin to reside in the middle quarters and care for her. Yuan Bi, one of the attendants who served Mang's wife, was favored by Mang. Later, Lin also became involved with Yuan Bi; fearing that their affair would be discovered, they plotted to kill Mang together. Lin's wife Yin was the daughter of Guoshi Gong and could interpret stars; she told Lin that there would soon be a gathering in white robes within the palace. Lin was pleased, believing their plot was about to succeed. Later, he was demoted to Duke Tongyi Yang and moved out of the palace into an outer residence, becoming increasingly anxious and fearful. At this time, Mang's wife was seriously ill; Lin sent her a letter saying: "The emperor is extremely strict with his descendants. Previously, both the eldest and middle grandsons died at thirty." "Now I, Lin, am also about to reach thirty; I truly fear that if I suddenly lose my position in the inner palace, I will not know where my fate lies!" When Mang learned of his wife's illness and saw her letter, he became furious, suspecting that Lin had ill intentions, and did not allow him to attend the funeral. After the burial, Yuan Bi and others were arrested for interrogation; they fully confessed to their adultery and plot to murder. Mang wanted to keep the matter secret, so he ordered the execution of the investigating official Siming Congshi and buried him in prison; his family did not know where he was. Mang gave Lin poison, but Lin refused to drink it and instead committed suicide by stabbing himself. He dispatched Zhongshu Piaoqi Jiangjun Tongyue Hou Lin to bestow the spirit robe, seal, and ceremonial sash upon him. The edict read: "The divine decree states that Lin should be established as Duke Tongyi Yang. This means that after thirty-six thousand years of the new dynasty's reign, descendants of Lin shall rise in power from Longyang." Previously, those who had proposed that Lin be made Crown Prince were met with a violent wind as an omen; thus, following the divine decree, he was instead established as Duke Tongyi Yang. Before this and after this, none shall be deemed trustworthy or compliant; they will not receive divine protection but instead suffer early death. Alas, how sorrowful! "Record his deeds and bestow a posthumous title upon him; the title is King Miou." He also issued an edict to Guoshi Gong: "Lin originally knew nothing about astrology; the matter originated from Yin." Yin also committed suicide.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是月，新遷王安病死。初，莽為侯就國時，幸侍者增秩、懷能、開明。懷能生男興，增秩生男匡、女嘱，開明生女捷，皆留新都國，以其不明故也。及安疾甚，莽自病無子，為安作奏，使上言：「興等母雖微賤，屬猶皇子，不可以棄。」章視群公，皆曰：「安友于兄弟，宜及春夏加封爵。」於是以王車遣使者迎興等，封興為功脩公，匡為功建公，嘱為睦脩任，捷為睦逮任。孫公明公壽病死，旬月四喪焉。莽壞漢孝武、孝昭廟，分葬子孫其中。 |
| | This month, Wang An of Xin passed away from illness. Initially, when Mang was a marquis and returned to his fiefdom, he favored attendants Zengzhi, Huaineng, and Kai Ming. Huaineng had a son named Xing; Zengzhi had a son Kuang and a daughter Zhu; Kai Ming had a daughter Jie. All were left in the state of Xindu because they were not considered legitimate. When Wang An's illness worsened, Mang, who was himself childless, drafted a memorial for him to submit: "Although the mothers of Xing and others are humble and lowly, their status is still akin to that of imperial sons; they cannot be abandoned." The memorial was presented before the high ministers, who all said: "An is friendly to his brothers. It would be appropriate to bestow titles and ranks upon him during spring or summer." Therefore, a royal carriage was sent with envoys to welcome Xing and others; Xing was conferred as Gongxiu Gong, Kuang as Gongjian Gong, Zhu as Mutou Ren, and Jie as Mudai Ren. Sun Gongminggong Shou died from illness; within a few months, four funerals took place. Mang destroyed the temples of Emperor Wu and Emperor Zhao of Han, scattering his descendants' burials within them.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
魏成大尹李焉與卜者王況謀，況謂焉曰：「新室即位以來，民田奴婢不得賣買，數改錢貨，徵發煩數，軍旅騷動，四夷並侵，百姓怨恨，盜賊並起，漢家當復興。君姓李，李音徵，徵火也，當為漢輔。」因為焉作讖書，言「文帝發忿，居地下趣軍，北告匈奴，南告越人。江中劉信，執敵報怨，復續古先，四年當發軍。江湖有盜，自稱樊王，姓為劉氏，萬人成行，不受赦令，欲動秦、雒陽。十一年當相攻，太白揚光，歲星入東井，其號當行。」又言莽大臣吉凶，各有日期。會合十餘萬言。焉令吏寫其書，吏亡告之。莽遣使者即捕焉，獄治皆死。 |
| | Li Yan, the Da Yin of Weicheng, conspired with fortune-teller Wang Kuang. Kuang told Yan: "Since the establishment of the Xin dynasty, peasants' land and slaves cannot be bought or sold; money has been repeatedly reformed, levies are frequent, military campaigns have caused unrest, foreign tribes have invaded simultaneously, the people resent this, bandits rise together, and the Han dynasty will surely revive." "You bear the surname Li; the sound of 'Li' is that of Zheng, which corresponds to fire. You are destined to become an assistant to the Han dynasty." Therefore, Kuang composed a prophetic text for Yan, stating: "Emperor Wen is filled with anger, commanding an army from beneath the earth; he informs the Xiongnu in the north and the Yue people in the south." "Jiang Zhong Liu Xin, holding a weapon to repay grievances, will continue ancient traditions and raise an army in the fourth year." "Bands of robbers on rivers and lakes have emerged, claiming the title Fan Wang. They bear the surname Liu; their forces number in the tens of thousands, marching in formation, refusing to accept pardons, and seeking to stir up unrest in Qin and Luoyang." "In the eleventh year they will attack each other; the planet Venus will shine brightly, Jupiter will enter the constellation Dongjing, and their title shall be proclaimed." He also mentioned the dates of fortune or misfortune for Mang's high ministers. The total text amounted to over one hundred thousand words. Yan ordered an official to copy the book, but the official fled and reported it. Mang sent envoys to arrest Yan immediately; after interrogation in prison, they were all executed.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
三輔盜賊麻起，乃置捕盜都尉官，令執法謁者追擊長安中，建鳴鼓攻賊幡，而使者隨其後。遣太師犧仲景尚、更始將軍護軍王黨將兵擊青、徐，國師和仲曹放助郭興擊句町。轉天下穀幣詣西河、五原、朔方、漁陽，每一郡以百萬數，欲以擊匈奴。 |
| | Bandits and rebels rose in the Three Fu regions; therefore, a new office of Du Wei (Commander for Capturing Bandits) was established. Officials were ordered to dispatch law enforcement envoys to pursue them within Chang'an, raising alarm drums and banners for attacking bandits, with envoys following behind. He dispatched Taishi Xizhong Jingshang and Gengshi Jiangjun Hujun Wang Dang to lead troops against Qing and Xu, while Guoshi Hezhong Cao Fang assisted Guo Xing in attacking Gouting. Grain and currency were transported from all over the empire to Xhe, Wuyuan, Suofang, and Yuyang; each commandery received supplies in the millions, intended for a campaign against the Xiongnu.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
秋，隕霜殺菽，關東大饑，蝗。 |
| | In autumn, frost fell and destroyed beans; there was great famine and locusts in Guandong.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
民犯鑄錢，伍人相坐，沒入為官奴婢。其男子檻車，兒女子步，以鐵鎖琅當其頸，傳詣鍾官，以十萬數。到者易其夫婦，愁苦死者什六七。孫喜、景尚、曹放等擊賊不能克，軍師放縱，百姓重困。 |
| | Commoners who violated the law by minting coins were punished with collective liability among five people, and they were seized and made into state slaves or concubines. The male offenders were placed in iron cages, while the children and women walked on foot; their necks were shackled with iron chains, and they were transported to Zhongguan by the tens of thousands. Those who arrived had their husbands and wives separated; about six or seven out of ten died from sorrow and suffering. Sun Xi, Jingshang, Cao Fang, and others failed to suppress the rebels; their generals acted recklessly, further burdening the people.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽以王況讖言荊楚當興，李氏為輔，欲厭之，乃拜侍中掌牧大夫李棽為大將軍、揚州牧，賜名聖，使將兵奮擊。 |
| | Mang, because Wang Kuang's prophetic words claimed that Jingchu would rise and the Li family would serve as its assistant, wished to counteract this. Therefore, he appointed Shizhong Zhangmu Dafu Li Shen as Grand General and Governor of Yangzhou, bestowing him with the new name Sheng, ordering him to lead troops in a vigorous campaign.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
上谷儲夏自請願說瓜田儀，莽以為中郎，使出儀。儀文降，未出而死。莽求其尸葬之，為起冢、祠室，諡曰瓜寧殤男，幾以招來其餘，然無肯降者。 |
| | Chu Xia of Shanggu volunteered to persuade Gu Tianyi; Mang appointed him Zhonglang and sent him out to deal with Gu. Yi Wen surrendered, but before he could be released, he died. Mang sought out his body for burial, erected a tomb and shrine for him, posthumously naming him Guaning Shangnan. He hoped this would attract the rest of the rebels, but none were willing to surrender.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
閏月丙辰，大赦天下，天下大服民私服在詔書前亦釋除。 |
| | On the Bingchen day of the intercalary month, a general pardon was declared throughout the empire; all private civilian clothing and attire that had been worn before the edict were also released from prohibition.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
郎陽成脩獻符命，言繼立民母，又曰：「黃帝以百二十女致神僊。」莽於是遣中散大夫、謁者各四十五人分行天下，博采鄉里所高有淑女者上名。 |
| | Lang Yang Chengxiu presented a divine decree, stating that the mother of the people should be established as successor. It also said: "The Yellow Emperor attained immortality by marrying one hundred and twenty daughters." Mang therefore dispatched forty-five Zhongsan Dafu (middle-ranking officials) and Yezhe (attendants) each to travel across the empire, collecting names of virtuous young women highly regarded in their hometowns.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽夢長樂宮銅人五枚起立，莽惡之，念銅人銘有「皇帝初兼天下」之文，即使尚方工鐫滅所夢銅人膺文。又感漢高廟神靈，遣虎賁武士入高廟，拔劍四面提擊，斧壞戶牖，桃湯赭鞭鞭灑屋壁，令輕車校尉居其中，又令中軍北壘居高寢。 |
| | Mang dreamed that five bronze figures in the Changle Palace stood up; he was alarmed by this. Recalling that the inscription on the bronze figures included the words "the emperor first united the empire," he immediately ordered the Shangfang artisans to chisel out the inscriptions from the chests of the bronze figures he had dreamt about. He also felt disturbed by the divine presence of Emperor Gao's temple, so he sent Hu 贲 warriors into the temple. They drew swords and struck in all directions, chopped up doors and windows, sprinkled peach soup and cinnabar whips on the walls, ordered a Light Chariot Jiao Wei to reside within it, and also commanded the Central Army Northern Camp to occupy the high sleeping quarters.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
或言黃帝時建華蓋以登僊，莽乃造華蓋九重，高八丈一尺，金瑵羽葆，載以祕機四輪車，駕六馬，力士三百人黃衣幘，車上人擊鼓，輓者皆呼「登僊」。莽出，令在前。百官竊言「此似狈車，非僊物也。」 |
| | Some claimed that during the time of the Yellow Emperor, a magnificent canopy was built to ascend to immortality; thus, Mang constructed a nine-tiered ornate canopy, eight zhang and one chi in height, adorned with golden tassels and feathered decorations. It was mounted on a secret mechanism four-wheeled carriage drawn by six horses. Three hundred strongmen dressed in yellow robes and head coverings accompanied the procession; people on the carriage beat drums while those pulling it shouted "ascending to immortality." Whenever Mang went out, he ordered this canopy to be placed in front of him. The officials secretly remarked, "This resembles a dog-drawn cart and is not an object for immortality."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是歲，南郡秦豐眾且萬人。平原女子遲昭平能說經博以八投，亦聚數千人在河阻中。莽召問群臣禽賊方略，皆曰：「此天囚行尸，命在漏刻。」故左將軍公孫祿徵來與議，祿曰：「太史令宗宣典星曆，候氣變，以凶為吉，亂天文，誤朝廷。太傅平化侯飾虛偽以媮名位，『賊夫人之子』。國師嘉信公顛倒五經，毀師法，令學士疑惑。明學男張邯、地理侯孫陽造井田，使民棄土業。犧和魯匡設六筦，以窮工商。說符侯崔發阿諛取容，令下情不上通。宜誅此數子以慰天下！」又言：「匈奴不可攻，當與和親。臣恐新室憂不在匈奴，而在封域之中也。」莽怒，使虎賁扶祿出。然頗采其言，左遷魯匡為五原卒正，以百姓怨非故。六筦非匡所獨造，莽厭眾意而出之。 |
| | In this year, Qin Feng of Nanjun commanded nearly ten thousand followers. Chi Zhaoping, a woman from Pingyuan, was skilled in interpreting classics and could predict outcomes with eight divination methods; she also gathered several thousand followers among the river barriers. Mang summoned his ministers to ask about strategies for capturing rebels; they all said, "These are heaven's prisoners and walking corpses, whose lives will end within a moment." Therefore, General Gong Sun Lu was summoned to participate in the discussion. Lu said: "The Taishi Ling Zong Xuan is responsible for stars and calendars, observing atmospheric changes, interpreting omens as auspicious when they are actually ominous; he has disrupted astronomy and misled the court." "Tai Fu Pinghua Hou fabricates falsehoods to steal fame and rank, calling himself 'the son of the bandit's wife.'" "Guoshi Jiashen Gong has reversed the Five Classics and destroyed traditional teachings, causing confusion among scholars." "Mingxue Nan Zhang Han and Dili Hou Sun Yang created the well-field system, compelling peasants to abandon their land and trades." "Xihua Lu Kuang established six monopolies, exhausting merchants and artisans." "Yufu Hou Cui Fa flattered to gain favor, preventing the lower classes from communicating their concerns upward." "These few men should be executed to appease the empire!" He also said: "The Xiongnu cannot be attacked; we should instead establish a marriage alliance with them." "I fear the Xin dynasty's troubles do not lie in the Xiongnu, but within its own borders." Mang was angry and ordered Hu Ben Fu Lu to escort him out. Nevertheless, he somewhat adopted his words and demoted Lu Kuang to the position of Wuyuan Cuzheng because of the people's complaints. The six monopolies were not solely created by Kuang; Mang removed him to appease public opinion.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
初，四方皆以飢寒窮愁起為盜賊，稍稍群聚，常思歲熟得歸鄉里。眾雖萬數，亶稱巨人、從事、三老、祭酒，不敢略有城邑，轉掠求食，日闋而已。諸長吏牧守皆自亂鬥中兵而死，賊非敢欲殺之也，而莽終不諭其故。是歲，大司馬士按章豫州，為賊所獲，賊送付縣。士還，上書具言狀。莽大怒，下獄以為誣罔。因下書責七公曰：「夫吏者，理也。宣德明恩，以牧養民，仁之道也。抑強督姦，捕誅盜賊，義之節也。今則不然。盜發不輒得，至成群黨，遮略乘傳宰士。士得脫者，又妄自言『我責數賊「何故為是？」賊曰「以貧窮故耳」。賊護出我。』今俗人議者率多若此。惟貧困飢寒，犯法為非，大者群盜，小者偷穴，不過二科，今乃結謀連黨以千百數，是逆亂之大者，豈飢寒之謂邪？七公其嚴敕卿大夫、卒正、連率、庶尹，謹牧養善民，急捕殄盜賊。有不同心并力，疾惡黜賊，而妄曰飢寒所為，輒捕繫，請其罪。」於是群下愈恐，莫敢言賊情者，亦不得擅發兵，賊由是遂不制。 |
| | Initially, people from all directions had taken up banditry out of hunger and hardship; they gradually gathered in groups but always hoped that with a good harvest, they could return to their hometowns. Although their numbers reached into the tens of thousands, they only assumed titles such as "Giant," "Attendant," "Third Elder," and "Presiding Sacrifices," dared not occupy any cities or towns, but instead moved from place to place in search of food, merely lacking for a day at most. All the local officials and governors died in chaotic battles; the rebels did not dare to kill them intentionally, yet Mang never understood the reason. In this year, Daisima Shi Anzhang of Yuzhou was captured by rebels; the bandits delivered him to the county authorities. Shi returned and submitted a memorial detailing the situation. Mang was furious, had him imprisoned, accusing him of false accusations. He then issued a letter to rebuke the Seven Dukes, saying: "Officials are meant to administer justice." "They should proclaim virtue and show kindness, nurturing the people—this is the way of benevolence." "Restraint of the strong and supervision of evildoers, capturing and punishing bandits—this is the standard of righteousness." "But now it is not so." "Bandits arise and are not immediately captured, forming large groups that block and seize officials and messengers." "Those officials who manage to escape then recklessly claim, 'I scolded the bandits: "Why are you doing this?"'" "The rebels replied, 'It is because of poverty.'" "They protected me and let me go.'" "Nowadays, common people who comment on such matters often speak in this way." "Only poverty, hunger, and cold drive people to break laws and commit crimes; the serious cases become bandit groups, while minor ones resort to theft. These are no more than two categories. Now they form plots and alliances in hundreds or thousands—this is a major act of rebellion and disorder. How can this be attributed merely to hunger and cold?" "Therefore, the Seven Dukes must strictly command their officials—dutiful ministers, Cuzheng, Lianshuai, and Shuyin—to carefully nurture law-abiding citizens and urgently capture and eliminate bandits." "Anyone who does not unite in purpose, work together to suppress evil and expel bandits, but recklessly claims that such acts are caused by hunger and cold shall be arrested and punished accordingly." As a result, the officials became even more fearful, daring not to speak of the bandits' situation or to raise troops without authorization; thus, the rebels were no longer controlled.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
唯翼平連率田況素果敢，發民年十八以上四萬餘人，授以庫兵，與刻石為約。赤糜聞之，不敢入界。況自劾奏，莽讓況：「未賜虎符而擅發兵，此弄兵也，厥罪乏興。以況自詭必禽滅賊，故且勿治。」後況自請出界擊賊，所嚮皆破。莽以璽書令況領青、徐二州牧事。況上言：「盜賊始發，其原甚微，非部吏、伍人所能禽也。咎在長吏不為意，縣欺其郡，郡欺朝廷，實百言十，實千言百。朝廷忽略，不輒督責，遂至延曼連州，乃遣將率，多發使者，傳相監趣。郡縣力事上官，應塞詰對，共酒食，具資用，以救斷斬，不給復憂盜賊治官事。將率又不能躬率吏士，戰則為賊所破，吏氣寖傷，徒費百姓。前幸蒙赦令，賊欲解散，或反遮擊，恐入山谷轉相告語，故郡縣降賊，皆更驚駭，恐見詐滅，因饑饉易動，旬日之間更十餘萬人，此盜賊所以多之故也。今雒陽以東，米石二千。竊見詔書，欲遣太師、更始將軍，二人爪牙重臣，多從人眾，道上空竭，少則亡以威視遠方。宜急選牧、尹以下，明其賞罰，收合離鄉。小國無城郭者，徙其老弱置大城中，積藏穀食，并力固守。賊來攻城，剛不能下，所過無食，勢不得群聚。如此，招之必降，擊之則滅。今空復多出將率，郡縣苦之，反甚於賊。宜盡徵還乘傳諸使者，以休息郡縣。委任臣況以二州盜賊，必平定之。」莽畏惡況，陰為發代，遣使者賜況璽書。使者至，見況，因令代監其兵。況隨使者西，到，拜為師尉大夫。況去，齊地遂敗。 |
| | Only Tian Kuang, a Lianshuai of Yiping who had always been bold and courageous, mobilized over forty thousand civilians aged eighteen or older, armed them with weapons from the state armory, and made an oath by carving it into stone. Chimi heard of this and dared not enter the territory. Kuang submitted a self-reproach memorial, but Mang rebuked Kuang: "You raised troops without being granted the tiger token; this is playing with military power. Your crime deserves punishment." "However, since you claimed to have certainly captured and eliminated the bandits, I will for now refrain from punishing you." Later, Kuang volunteered to cross borders to attack the rebels; wherever he went, he achieved victory. Mang issued an imperial edict ordering Kuang to oversee governorship affairs of Qing and Xu commanderies. Kuang submitted a memorial stating: "When bandits first arise, their origins are very small; they cannot be captured by local officials or groups of five people." "The fault lies with senior officials who do not take it seriously; counties deceive their commanderies, and commanderies deceive the imperial court. When there are a hundred cases, they report ten; when there are a thousand, they report one hundred." "The imperial court neglected the issue and did not constantly supervise or hold them accountable, so it eventually spread across multiple commanderies. Only then were generals dispatched and numerous envoys sent to successively monitor and urge action." "Commanderies and counties devoted themselves to serving their superiors, responding to interrogations and demands, providing food and drink, preparing resources and expenses merely to avoid execution. They had no time or concern left for governing officials' duties or suppressing bandits." "The generals could not personally lead their officers and soldiers; when they fought, they were defeated by the bandits. The morale of officials gradually declined, all for the sake of wasting the people's resources." "Previously, when the imperial pardon was issued, bandits wished to disband. However, some were instead ambushed and attacked, fearing they would be driven into mountain valleys where news of this spread rapidly among them. Thus, commanderies and counties surrendered to the rebels, causing widespread alarm as people feared being deceived or exterminated. Amidst famine, the populace was easily stirred; within ten days, more than a hundred thousand joined their ranks—this is why bandits have grown so numerous." Now, to the east of Luoyang, one dan (100 catties) of rice costs two thousand coins. "I secretly observe the imperial decree, which intends to dispatch Tai Shi and Gengshi General—two key ministers—as envoys with large retinues. Their journey will drain resources along the way; too few would lack authority over distant regions." One should urgently select governors, magistrates and those below them, clarify rewards and punishments, and reunite the scattered populace. For small states without walled cities, relocate their elderly and weak into large fortified cities, stockpile grain supplies, and unite forces to hold the defenses. "If bandits attack a city, they will be unable to capture it; where they pass, there is no food available, and thus they cannot gather in large groups." "In this way, if we invite them, they will surely surrender; if we attack, they will be annihilated." "Now, sending out more generals and commanders is causing suffering for commanderies and counties, which is even worse than the bandits themselves." One should recall all envoys traveling by imperial relay carriages to allow commanderies and counties to rest. "Entrust me, Kuang, with the bandit problem in these two states; I will surely pacify it." Mang feared and resented Kuang secretly arranged for a replacement, sending an envoy to bestow Kuang with an imperial edict. When the envoy arrived and met Kuang, he was ordered to take over command of his troops. Kuang followed the envoy westward; upon arrival, he was appointed as Shiyu Daifu (a title). After Kuang left, Qi territory fell into disorder.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
三年正月，九廟蓋構成，納神主。莽謁見，大駕乘六馬，以五采毛為龍文衣，著角，長三尺。華蓋車，元戎十乘在前。因賜治廟者司徒、大司空錢各千萬，侍中、中常侍以下皆封。封都匠仇延為邯淡里附城。 |
| | In the first month of the third year, the roofs and structures of the Nine Temples were completed, and ancestral tablets were enshrined. Mang paid homage, riding in a grand procession with six horses; he wore a dragon-patterned robe made of five-colored hair and donned a horned headdress three chi long. A ceremonial canopy carriage was led by ten chariots of the Yuanrong type. He then bestowed one million coins each upon the Siku and Daskong who oversaw temple construction, and all officials from Shizhong and Zhongchangshi downwards were enfeoffed. Doujiang Chou Yan was enfeoffed as the Lord of Handan Li Fucheng.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
二月，霸橋災，數千人以水沃救，不滅。莽惡之，下書曰：「夫三皇象春，五帝象夏，三王象秋，五伯象冬。皇王，德運也；伯者，繼空續乏以成曆數，故其道駮。惟常安御道多以所近為名。乃二月癸巳之夜，甲午之辰，火燒霸橋，從東方西行，至甲午夕，橋盡火滅。大司空行視考問，或云寒民舍居橋下，疑以火自燎，為此災也。其明旦即乙未，立春之日也。予以神明聖祖黃虞遺統受命，至于地皇四年為十五年。正以三年終冬絕滅霸駮之橋，欲以興成新室統壹長存之道也。又戒此橋空東方之道。今東方歲荒民飢，道路不通，東岳太師亟科條，開東方諸倉，賑貸窮乏，以施仁道。其更名霸館為長存館，霸橋為長存橋。」 |
| | In the second month, a fire broke out at Bajiao; thousands of people tried to put it out with water, but it could not be extinguished. Mang was alarmed by this and issued an edict stating: "The Three Sovereigns exemplified spring, the Five Emperors exemplified summer, the Three Kings exemplified autumn, and the Five Hegemons exemplified winter. "Sovereigns and kings represent moral mandate; "hegemonic lords merely continued from emptiness to scarcity in order to complete the calendar sequence, hence their way is mixed and flawed." Only the main roads of Chang'an are often named after nearby places. On the night of the Gusi day in the second month, and on the Jiuwu hour (the first hour of the next day), a fire broke out at Bajiaqiao. It spread from east to west; by dusk on the Jiuwu day, the entire bridge was consumed by flames. The Daskong personally inspected and investigated; some claimed that poor people had been living under the bridge, and suspected they set a fire accidentally, causing this disaster. The next morning was Yiwu day, which was also the Day of Lichun (the Beginning of Spring). I have received my mandate from the divine and sacred ancestors Huang and Yu, inheriting their legacy; by the fourth year of Dihuang, it has become the fifteenth year. It is precisely in the third year that winter ends and the fire-destroyed Bajiao bridge is extinguished, symbolizing my desire to establish a new dynasty with eternal unity. Moreover, this bridge serves as a warning against the empty path of the East. Now, with famine and hunger in the East, roads are impassable. The Taishou of Dongyue has urgently issued decrees to open granaries in the Eastern regions, providing relief loans to the poor and needy as an act of benevolence. "Change the name of Baguan to Changcun Guan, and Bajiao to Changcun Qiao."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是月，赤眉殺太師犧仲景尚。關東人相食。 |
| | In this month, Chimei rebels killed Tai Shi Xi Zhongjingshang. People in Guandong were eating each other due to famine.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
四月，遣太師王匡、更始將軍廉丹東，祖都門外，天大雨，霑衣止。長老歎曰：「是為泣軍！」莽曰：「惟陽九之阨，與害氣會，究于去年。枯旱霜蝗，飢饉薦臻，百姓困乏，流離道路，于春尤甚，予甚悼之。今使東嶽太師特進褒新侯開東方諸倉，賑貸窮乏。太師公所不過道，分遣大夫謁者並開諸倉，以全元元。太師公因與廉丹大使五威司命位右大司馬更始將軍平均侯之兗州，填撫所掌，及青、徐故不軌盜賊未盡解散，後復屯聚者，皆清潔之，期於安兆黎矣。」太師、更始合將銳士十餘萬人，所過放縱。東方為之語曰：「寧逢赤眉，不逢太師！太師尚可，更始殺我！」卒如田況之言。 |
| | In the fourth month, Tai Shi Wang Kuang and Gengshi Jiangjun Lian Dan were dispatched eastward. At Zu Dumen Gate, it rained heavily, soaking their clothes until they stopped. Elders sighed and said: "This is the weeping army!" Mang said: "The calamity of Yangjiu coincided with harmful qi, culminating last year. Droughts, frosts, and locust plagues have caused repeated famines; the people are exhausted and wandering the roads. This is especially severe in spring, which deeply grieves me." Now I have ordered Taishou of Dongyue Tejin Baoxin Hou to open the granaries in eastern regions and provide relief loans to those in need. The Tai Shi's procession will not pass through any road without sending officials and envoys to open granaries, in order to preserve the common people. "The Tai Shi, along with Lian Dan, the Da Shi Wuwei Siming Wei You Daisima and Gengshi Jiangjun Pingjun Hou, went to Yanzhou to oversee their assigned regions. They were tasked with clearing out remaining rebels from Qing and Xu who had not yet dispersed or regrouped after previous uprisings, ensuring peace for the common people." Tai Shi and Gengshi led more than a hundred thousand elite soldiers; wherever they passed, their troops acted recklessly. The people of the East remarked: "Better to encounter Chimei than Tai Shi!" "Even Tai Shi is still tolerable; Gengshi will kill us!" Events unfolded exactly as Kuang had predicted.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽又多遣大夫謁者分教民煮草木為酪，酪不可食，重為煩費。莽下書曰：「惟民困乏，雖溥開諸倉以賑贍之，猶恐未足。其且開天下山澤之防，諸能采取山澤之物而順月令者，其恣聽之，勿令出稅。至地皇三十年如故，是王光上戊之六年也。如令豪吏猾民辜而攉之，小民弗蒙，非予意也。易不云乎？『損上益下，民說無疆。』《》云：『言之不從，是謂不艾。』咨虖群公，可不憂哉！」 |
| | Mang also sent many officials and envoys to teach the people how to boil grass and trees into a kind of curd, but this curd was inedible, causing further trouble and expense. Mang issued a decree stating: "Because the people are in dire straits, even though we have widely opened granaries to provide relief, I still fear it may not be sufficient. "Therefore, temporarily lift restrictions on all mountain and marsh reserves across the land. Anyone who can gather resources from mountains and wetlands in accordance with seasonal regulations may do so freely without being required to pay taxes." By the thirtieth year of Dihuang it remained unchanged, which was also the sixth year of Wang Guang's reign. "If powerful officials and unscrupulous commoners take advantage to commit wrongs, while ordinary people do not benefit, this is contrary to my intention." "Is it not said in the Yijing?" "'Reduce from above to benefit those below; the people will be joyfully without bounds.'" "The Book of Documents says: 'If words are not followed, it is called not learning from mistakes.'" "Alas, esteemed ministers, can this not be a cause for concern!"
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是時下江兵盛，新巿朱鮪、平林陳牧等皆復聚眾，攻擊鄉聚。莽遣司命大將軍孔仁部豫州，納言大將軍嚴尤、秩宗大將軍陳茂擊荊州，各從吏士百餘人，乘船從渭入河，至華陰乃出乘傳，到部募士。尤謂茂曰：「遣將不與兵符，必先請而後動，是猶紲韓盧而責之獲也。」 |
| | At that time, the Xiang River forces were strong; Zhu Li of Xinshi, Chen Mu of Pinglin and others all regrouped their followers to attack villages and towns. Mang dispatched Dajiangjun Kong Ren of the Siming Command to Yu Zhou, and ordered Nayan Dajiangjun Yan You and Zhizong Dajiangjun Chen Mao to attack Jing Zhou. Each was accompanied by more than a hundred officials and soldiers; they traveled by boat from Wei River into He River until reaching Huayin, where they disembarked and continued via imperial relay carriages, arriving at their posts to recruit troops. Yan You said to Chen Mao: "Sending generals without giving them military tokens, requiring them to request permission before taking action—this is like tying up a Hanlu dog and yet expecting it to catch prey."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
夏，蝗從東方來，蜚蔽天，至長安，入未央宮，緣殿閣。莽發吏民設購賞捕擊。 |
| | In summer, locusts came from the east, flying in such vast numbers that they blocked out the sky. They reached Chang'an and entered Weiyang Palace, crawling along palace halls and pavilions. Mang mobilized officials and commoners to set rewards for capturing and killing the locusts.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽以天下穀貴，欲厭之，為大倉，置衛交戟，名曰「政始掖門」。 |
| | Because grain prices were high across the land, Mang wished to suppress them and built a large granary, guarded by soldiers with crossed halberds. He named it "Zhengshi Yemen."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
流民入關者數十萬人，乃置養贍官稟食之。使者監領，與小吏共盜其稟，飢死者十七八。先是，莽使中黃門王業領長安巿買，賤取於民，民甚患之。業以省費為功，賜爵附城。莽聞城中飢饉，以問業。業曰：「皆流民也。」乃巿所賣粱丽肉羹，持入視莽，曰：「居民食咸如此。」莽信之。 |
| | With tens of thousands of displaced people entering the Guan region, he established relief officials to provide them with food. However, envoys in charge colluded with petty officials to steal the provisions; as a result, seventeen or eighteen out of twenty people starved to death. Previously, Mang had Zhonghuangmen Wang Ye oversee market purchases in Chang'an, buying goods from the people at low prices; this greatly burdened the populace. Yi was credited with saving expenses and was granted a title as Lord of Fucheng. When Mang learned of the famine in the city, he asked about it from Yi. Yi replied: "They are all displaced people." He then bought millet porridge and meat soup from the market, brought it in to show Mang, saying: "The residents eat nothing but this." Mang believed him.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
冬，無鹽索盧恢等舉兵反城。廉丹、王匡攻拔之，斬首萬餘級。莽遣中郎將奉璽書勞丹、匡，進爵為公，封吏士有功者十餘人。 |
| | In winter, Suolu Hui of Wuyan and others raised arms to rebel against the city. lando Lian Dan and Wang Kuang attacked and captured it, beheading more than ten thousand rebels. Mang sent a Zhonglangjiang with an imperial edict to commend Dan and Kuang, promoting them to the rank of Gong (prince), and enfeoffed more than ten officials and soldiers who had rendered meritorious service.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
赤眉別校董憲等眾數萬人在梁郡，王匡欲進擊之，廉丹以為新拔城罷勞，當且休士養威。匡不聽，引兵獨進，丹隨之。合戰成昌，兵敗，匡走。丹使吏持其印韍符節付匡曰：「小兒可走，吾不可！」遂止，戰死。校尉汝雲、王隆等二十餘人別鬥，聞之，皆曰：「廉公已死，吾誰為生？」馳奔賊，皆戰死。莽傷之，下書曰：「惟公多擁選士精兵，眾郡駿馬倉穀帑藏皆得自調，忽於詔策，離其威節，騎馬呵譟，為狂刃所害，烏呼哀哉！賜諡曰果公。」 |
| | A Chimei faction under Dong Xian and others, with tens of thousands in Liang Jun, was active. Wang Kuang wanted to attack them, but Lian Dan believed that after recently capturing the city and exhausting their troops, they should instead rest their soldiers and preserve their strength. Kuang did not listen and led his forces forward alone; Dan followed him. A battle was fought at Chengchang, where their forces were defeated and Kuang fled. Dan ordered an official to take his seal, insignia, and military token from Kuang, saying: "A child may flee, but I cannot!" He thus stayed behind and died in battle. Jiao Wei Ru Yun, Wang Long and more than twenty others were fighting separately. Upon hearing this, they all said: "Lord Lian has already died; for whom should we live?" They galloped toward the enemy and all died in battle. Mang mourned deeply and issued a decree: "The public had many elite soldiers at his command; he could freely mobilize swift horses, stored grain, and treasury reserves from multiple commanderies. Yet he suddenly ignored imperial orders, abandoned his authority, rode about shouting recklessly, and was slain by the rebels. Alas, how sorrowful!" "He was posthumously honored with the title 'Gong Gong.'"
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| | 王莽傳下: |
國將哀章謂莽曰：「皇祖考黃帝之時，中黃直為將，破殺蚩尤。今臣居中黃直之位，願平山東。」莽遣章馳東，與太師匡并力。又遣大將軍陽浚守敖倉，司徒王尋將十餘萬屯雒陽填南宮，大司馬董忠養士習射中軍北壘，大司空王邑兼三公之職。司徒尋初發長安，宿霸昌廄，亡其黃鉞。尋士房揚素狂直，乃哭曰：「此經所謂『喪其齊斧』者也！」自劾去。莽擊殺揚。 |
| | Guojiang Aizhang told Mang: "In the time of our great ancestor Huangdi, Zhonghuang Zhi served as a general and defeated Chiyou. "Now I hold the position once held by Zhonghuang Zhi; I wish to pacify Shandong." Mang sent Zhang eastward, ordering him to join forces with Tai Shi Kuang. He also dispatched Dajiangjun Yang Jun to defend Aocang, ordered Siku Wang Xun to lead more than a hundred thousand troops to garrison Luoyang and occupy Nangong, directed Daisima Dong Zhong to train soldiers in archery at the central army's northern fortress, while Daskong Wang Yi concurrently held all three high offices. When Siku Xun first departed from Chang'an and stayed at Bachang Jiu, he lost his yellow halberd. Xun's subordinate Fang Yang, who had always been eccentric and impetuous, wept and said: "This is exactly what the Classic says 'losing one's ritual axe'!" He then submitted a self-reproach and resigned. Mang had Yang executed.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
四方盜賊往往數萬人攻城邑，殺二千石以下。太師王匡等戰數不利。莽知天下潰畔，事窮計迫，乃議遣風俗大夫司國憲等分行天下，除井田奴婢山澤六筦之禁，即位以來詔令不便於民者皆收還之。待見未發，會世祖與兄齊武王伯升、宛人李通等帥舂陵子弟數千人，招致新巿平林朱鮪、陳牧等合攻拔棘陽。是時嚴尤、陳茂破下江兵，成丹、王常等數千人別走，入南陽界。 |
| | Bandits from all directions often gathered in groups of tens of thousands to attack cities and towns, killing officials down to the rank of Erqianshi. Tai Shi Wang Kuang and others suffered several military defeats. Mang, realizing that the empire was collapsing and rebellion widespread, with his situation desperate and plans exhausted, proposed sending Fengsu Dafu Si Guoxian and others to travel across the land, lifting prohibitions on well-field systems, slave ownership, mountains, lakes, and the six state monopolies. All edicts since he assumed power that were inconvenient for the people would be rescinded. Before these measures could be implemented, coincidentally Emperor Guangwu and his elder brother Qi Wu Wang Bo Sheng, as well as Li Tong from Wan, led several thousand young men from Chongling, recruiting the forces of Xinshi Pinglin Zhu Lin, Chen Mu, and others to jointly attack and capture Ji Yang. At that time, Yan You and Chen Mao defeated the Xiangjiang forces; Cheng Dan, Wang Chang, and several thousand others fled separately into Nanyang territory.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
十一月，有星孛于張，東南行，五日不見。莽數召問太史令宗宣，諸術數家皆繆對，言天文安善，群賊且滅。莽差以自安。 |
| | In the eleventh month, a comet appeared in the constellation Zhang, moving southeastward and remained visible for five days before disappearing. Mang repeatedly summoned Tai Shi Ling Zong Xuan to inquire, but all the scholars of divination and numerology gave false answers, claiming that the celestial phenomena were peaceful and auspicious, and that the rebel forces would soon be annihilated. Mang was somewhat reassured by these responses.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
四年正月，漢兵得下江王常等以為助兵，擊前隊大夫甄阜、屬正梁丘賜，皆斬之，殺其眾數萬人。初，京師聞青、徐賊眾數十萬人，訖無文號旌旗表識，咸怪異之。好事者竊言：「此豈如古三皇無文書號諡邪？」莽亦心怪，以問群臣，群臣莫對。唯嚴尤曰：「此不足怪也。自黃帝、湯、武行師，必待部曲旌旗號令，今此無有者，直飢寒群盜，犬羊相聚，不知為之耳。」莽大說，群臣盡服。及後漢兵劉伯升起，皆稱將軍，攻城略地，既殺甄阜，移書稱說。莽聞之憂懼。 |
| | In the first month of the fourth year, Han forces gained WANG Chang and others from Xiangjiang as allies. They attacked Qian Dui Daifu Zhen Fu and Shuzheng Liangqiu Ci, killing both and slaying tens of thousands of their troops. Initially, when the capital heard that there were hundreds of thousands of rebels in Qing and Xu commanderies who had no official banners or insignia to identify them, all found it strange and unusual. Those fond of speculation secretly remarked: "Could this be like the ancient Three Sovereigns, who had no written records or posthumous titles?" Mang was also puzzled inwardly and asked his ministers about it; none of them dared to respond. Only Yan You said: "This is not at all strange. Whenever Huangdi, Tang, or Wu led armies in the past, they always relied on banners, standards, and commands. Now these rebels have none of those; they are merely starving and cold common bandits, like flocks of sheep gathering together without any knowledge of such things." Mang was greatly pleased, and all the ministers were convinced. Later, when Han forces led by Liu Bosi rose up, they all claimed the title of General and attacked cities to seize territory. After killing Zhen Fu, they sent letters citing their authority. Mang heard about this and became anxious and fearful.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
漢兵乘勝遂圍宛城。初，世祖族兄聖公先在平林兵中。三月辛巳朔，平林、新巿、下江兵將王常、朱鮪等共立聖公為帝，改年為更始元年，拜置百官。莽聞之愈恐。欲外視自安，乃染其須髮，進所徵天下淑女杜陵史氏女為皇后，聘黃金三萬斤，車馬奴婢雜帛珍寶以巨萬計。莽親迎於前殿兩階間，成同牢之禮于上西堂。備和嬪、美御、和人三，位視公；嬪人九，視卿；美人二十七，視大夫；御人八十一，視元士：凡百二十人，皆佩印韍，執弓韣。封皇后父諶為和平侯，拜為寧始將軍，諶子二人皆侍中。是日，大風發屋折木。群臣上壽曰：「乃庚子雨水灑道，辛丑清靚無塵，其夕穀風迅疾，從東北來。辛丑，巽之宮日也。巽為風為順，后誼明，母道得，溫和慈惠之化也。《》曰：『』禮曰：『承天之慶，萬福無疆。』諸欲依廢漢火劉，皆沃灌雪除，殄滅無餘雜矣。百穀豐茂，庶草蕃殖，元元驩喜，兆民賴福，天下幸甚！」莽日與方士涿郡昭君等於後宮考驗方術，縱淫樂焉。大赦天下，然猶曰：「故漢氏舂陵侯群子劉伯升與其族人婚姻黨與，妄流言惑眾，悖畔天命，及手害更始將軍廉丹、前隊大夫甄阜、屬正梁丘賜，及北狄胡虜逆輿泊南僰虜若豆、孟遷，不用此書。有能捕得此人者，皆封為上公，食邑萬戶，賜寶貨五千萬。」 |
| | The Han forces, riding on their momentum of victory, proceeded to besiege the city of Wan. Initially, Emperor Guangwu's paternal uncle Shenggong was already among the Pinglin forces. On the first day of the third month, Xinwei (March 15, 23 AD), the Pinglin, Xinshi, and Xiangjiang forces under generals Wang Chang, Zhu Lin, and others jointly enthroned Shenggong as emperor. They changed the era name to Gengshi Yuan Nian and appointed a hundred officials. Mang heard of this and became even more terrified. Wishing to appear outwardly composed and reassure himself, Mang dyed his beard and hair. He then advanced the daughter of Shi Shi from Dulung, whom he had selected as a virtuous maiden from across the empire, as empress, offering 30,000 jin of gold in dowry, along with carriages, horses, slaves, silk, and treasures counted by the tens of thousands. Mang personally welcomed her between the two steps of the front hall, performing the ritual of sharing a sacrificial meal in Shangxitang. Three ranks were established: He Pin, Mei Yu, and He Ren, each holding status equivalent to that of a gong (prince). Nine Ping Ren held the rank equivalent to qing (minister); Twenty-seven Mei Ren held status equal to daifu (high-ranking official); Eighty-one Yu Ren ranked as yuan shi (junior scholar-officials): in total, 120 women were appointed, all of whom wore seals and sashes, carrying bows and quivers. The emperor conferred the title Heping Hou on the empress's father Chen, appointed him as Ningshi Jiangjun (General Ning Shi), and both of his sons were made Shizhong. On this day, a great wind blew off roofs and snapped trees. The ministers offered congratulations, saying: "On the Gengzi day of rainwater sprinkling the road and on Xinchou day when it was clear and dust-free, that evening a strong wind blew swiftly from the northeast. Xinchou is the day of Xun's palace. Xun represents wind and harmony; this signifies that the empress has clear virtue, a motherly way well fulfilled, embodying warmth, kindness, and benevolent influence. The Yijing says: "Receive this great blessing from your royal mother." The Rites say: "Receiving the joy of Heaven, blessings without limit shall endure." All those who wished to overthrow the Han and destroy Liu were thoroughly washed away like snow swept clean, completely annihilated without a trace. Grain is abundant and flourishing; all plants thrive in profusion. The common people rejoice, the multitude depend on blessings, and this is a great fortune for the empire!" Mang daily met with magicians such as Zhao Jun of Zhuo Jun in the inner palace to test their arts, indulging in licentious pleasures. He issued a general pardon for the entire realm, yet still declared: "The former Han clan's Chongling Hou Liu Bosi and his relatives, through marital ties and factional alliances, spread false rumors to mislead the people, defying Heaven's mandate. Along with those who personally killed General Gengshi Lian Dan, Qian Dui Daifu Zhan Fu, Shuzheng Liang Qiu Ci, as well as northern Di Hu bandits Ni Yu Bo and Nan Bu 虏 Ruo Dou, Meng Qian, they are not to be included in this pardon. Anyone who captures these individuals will be enfeoffed as an Upper Gong, granted a fief of ten thousand households, and awarded treasures worth fifty million."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
又詔：「太師王匡、國將哀章、司命孔仁、兗州牧壽良、卒正王閎、揚州牧李聖亟進所部州郡兵凡三十萬眾，迫措青、徐盜賊。納言將軍嚴尤、秩宗將軍陳茂、車騎將軍王巡、左隊大夫王吳亟進所部州郡兵凡十萬眾，迫措前隊醜虜。明告以生活丹青之信，復迷惑不解散，皆并力合擊，殄滅之矣！大司空隆新公，宗室戚屬，前以虎牙將軍東指則反虜破壞，西擊則逆賊靡碎，此乃新室威寶之臣也。如黠賊不解散，將遣大司空將百萬之師征伐劋絕之矣！」遣七公幹士隗囂等七十二人分下赦令曉諭云。囂等既出，因逃亡矣。 |
| | He also issued an edict: "Tai Shi Wang Kuang, Guojiang Aizhang, Siming Kong Ren, Yanzhou Mu Shou Liang, Cuzheng Wang Hong, and Yangzhou Mu Li Sheng must urgently advance with all the forces under their command—totaling 300,000 troops—to suppress the rebels in Qing and Xu. Nayan Jiangjun Yan You, Zhizong Jiangjun Chen Mao, Cheqi Jiangjun Wang Xun, and Zuo Dui Daifu Wang Wu must urgently advance with the forces under their jurisdiction—totaling 100,000 men—to suppress the rebel bandits of Qian Dui." Clearly inform them with assurances in vermilion and blue, offering a path to life. If they remain confused and refuse to disperse, all forces shall unite and attack together until they are completely annihilated!" Daskong Long Xin Gong, a relative of the imperial clan, previously served as Huya Jiangjun. When he moved eastward, rebel bandits were shattered; when he struck westward, rebels crumbled—this is indeed a loyal and precious minister to the New dynasty. "If these cunning bandits still refuse to disperse, I shall dispatch Daskong with an army of a million men to campaign and completely eradicate them!" He sent Qi Gong Ganshi Wei Xiao and seventy-one others to distribute the decree of general pardon, explaining it to the people. After leaving, Wei Xiao and others fled and disappeared.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
四月，世祖與王常等別攻潁川，下昆陽、郾、定陵。莽聞之愈恐，遣大司空王邑馳傳之雒陽，與司徒王尋發眾郡兵百萬，號曰「虎牙五威兵」，平定山東。得顓封爵，政決於邑，除用徵諸明兵法六十三家術者，各持圖書，受器械，備軍吏。傾府庫以遣邑，多齎珍寶猛獸，欲視饒富，用怖山東。邑至雒陽，州郡各選精兵，牧守自將，定會者四十二萬人，餘在道不絕，車甲士馬之盛，自古出師未嘗有也。 |
| | In the fourth month, Emperor Guangwu, along with Wang Chang and others, launched a separate attack on Yingchuan, capturing Kunyang, Yan, and Dingling. Mang, upon hearing this news, became even more frightened. He dispatched Daskong Wang Yi to Luoyang in haste and ordered Siku Wang Xun together to mobilize a million troops from various commanderies, calling them the "Huya Wwei Bing" (Tiger Teeth Five Might Forces), to pacify Shandong. Those who received titles and fiefs had their authority decided by Wang Yi. In addition to employing experts in the military strategies of sixty-three schools, each carried maps and books, received weapons and equipment, and were prepared as military officials. The state treasury was drained to support Wang Yi, who carried many treasures and fierce beasts in an attempt to display wealth and intimidate Shandong. When Wang Yi arrived in Luoyang, each commandery and state selected elite troops, with local governors personally leading them. The total number of forces assembled for the campaign amounted to 420,000; additional troops continued to arrive along the way. The grandeur of chariots, armor, soldiers, and horses was unprecedented in ancient times.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
六月，邑與司徒尋發雒陽，欲至宛，道出潁川，過昆陽。昆陽時已降漢，漢兵守之。嚴尤、陳茂與二公會，二公縱兵圍昆陽。嚴尤曰：「稱尊號者在宛下，宜亟進。彼破，諸城自定矣。」邑曰：「百萬之師，所過當滅，今屠此城，喋血而進，前歌後舞，顧不快邪！」遂圍城數十重。城中請降，不許。嚴尤又曰：「『歸師勿遏，圍城為之闕』，可如兵法，使得逸出，以怖宛下。」邑又不聽。會世祖悉發郾、定陵兵數千人來救昆陽，尋、邑易之，自將萬餘人行陳，敕諸營皆按部毋得動，獨迎，與漢兵戰，不利。大軍不敢擅相救，漢兵乘勝殺尋。昆陽中兵出並戰，邑走，軍亂。天風蜚瓦，雨如注水，大眾崩壞號謼，虎豹股栗，士卒奔走，各還歸其郡。邑獨與所將長安勇敢數千人還雒陽。關中聞之震恐，盜賊並起。 |
| | In the sixth month, Wang Yi and Siku Xun departed from Luoyang heading toward Wan. Their route passed through Yingchuan and went past Kunyang. Kunyang had already surrendered to the Han, and Han forces were defending it. Yan You and Chen Mao joined up with the two generals, who then launched their troops to surround Kunyang. Yan You said: "The one claiming imperial status is in Wan; we should advance quickly." "If he falls, all the other cities will naturally be pacified." Wang Yi said: "With an army of a million, all in our path should be annihilated. Now we can massacre this city, advance with blood on the ground, and march forward singing ahead and dancing behind—why not do it joyfully!" Thus they encircled the city in dozens of layers. The defenders inside the city requested surrender, but it was refused. Yan You again said: "The military strategy says, 'Do not block a retreating army; leave an opening when besieging a city.' We should follow the art of war and allow them to escape, so as to terrify those in Wan." Wang Yi again refused to listen. At this time, Emperor Guangwu mobilized several thousand troops from Yan and Dingling to come to Kunyang's rescue. Wang Xun and Wang Yi underestimated the situation and personally led more than ten thousand men into formation, ordering all other camps to remain in place without moving, confronting the Han forces alone. They were defeated in battle. The main army dared not act independently to come to their aid, and the Han forces took advantage of their victory to kill Wang Xun. The defenders within Kunyang emerged to fight alongside them; Wang Yi fled, causing chaos in his army. A fierce wind blew tiles from the sky, and rain poured down like water in a torrent. The great army collapsed into chaos with cries of panic; even tigers and leopards trembled in fear as soldiers fled in all directions, returning to their respective commanderies. Wang Yi alone returned with the several thousand "Chang'an Brave" troops he had commanded back to Luoyang. When Guanzhong heard of this, it was thrown into shock and fear, and bandits rose up in all directions simultaneously.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
又聞漢兵言，莽鴆殺孝平帝。莽乃會公卿以下於王路堂，開所為平帝請命金縢之策，泣以視群臣。命明學男張邯稱說其德及符命事，因曰：「易言：『伏戎于莽，升其高陵，三歲不興。』『莽』，皇帝之名。『升』謂劉伯升。『高陵』謂高陵侯子翟義也。言劉升、翟義為伏戎之兵於新皇帝世，猶殄滅不興也。」群臣皆稱萬歲。又令東方檻車傳送數人，言「劉伯升等皆行大戮」。臣知其詐也。 |
| | They also heard from the Han forces that Mang had poisoned Emperor Xiao Ping. Mang then convened a meeting of the gongqing and all officials below at Wanglu Tang, opened the golden chest containing the documents he had prepared on behalf of Emperor Ping to request his life be spared, and wept as he showed them to the ministers. He ordered Zhang Han, a male scholar of clear learning, to extol his virtues and recount the events of the Mandate of Heaven. Zhang then said: "The Yijing says: 'Hide the enemy in the thicket; raise it on high ground, but for three years it will not rise.'" "'Mang' is the emperor's name." "'Sheng' refers to Liu Bosi." "'Gao Ling' refers to Gao Ling Hou Zi Zhai Yi as well." "This means that Liu Sheng and Zhai Yi are the hidden enemy forces in the reign of the New Emperor, yet they will still be annihilated and never rise again." All the ministers shouted "Ten thousand years!" in acclaim. He also ordered several people to be sent eastward in prison carts, declaring that "Liu Bosi and others have all been subjected to capital punishment." I know this is a deception.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
先是，衛將軍王涉素養道士西門君惠。君惠好天文讖記，為涉言：「星孛掃宮室，劉氏當復興，國師公姓名是也。」涉信其言，以語大司馬董忠，數俱至國師殿中廬道語星宿，國師不應。後涉特往，對歆涕泣言：「誠欲與公共安宗族，奈何不信涉也！」歆因為言天文人事，東方必成。涉曰：「新都哀侯小被病，功顯君素耆酒，疑帝本非我家子也。董公主中軍精兵，涉領宮衛，伊休侯主殿中，如同心合謀，共劫持帝，東降南陽天子，可以全宗族；不者，俱夷滅矣！」伊休侯者，歆長子也，為侍中五官中郎將，莽素愛之。歆怨莽殺其三子，又畏大禍至，遂與涉、忠謀，欲發。歆曰：「當待太白星出，乃可。」忠以司中大贅起武侯孫伋亦主兵，復與伋謀。伋歸家，顏色變，不能食。妻怪問之，語其狀。妻以告弟雲陽陳邯，邯欲告之。七月，伋與邯俱告，莽遣使者分召忠等。時忠方講兵都肄，護軍王咸謂忠謀久不發，恐漏泄，不如遂斬使者，勒兵入。忠不聽，遂與歆、涉會省戶下。莽令鹊惲責問，皆服。中黃門各拔刃將忠等送廬，忠拔劍欲自刎，侍中王望傳言大司馬反，黃門持劍共格殺之。省中相驚傳，勒兵至郎署，皆拔刃張弩。更始將軍史諶行諸署，告郎吏曰：「大司馬有狂病，發，已誅。」皆令弛兵。莽欲以厭凶，使虎賁以斬馬劍挫忠，盛以竹器，傳曰「反虜出」。下書赦大司馬官屬吏士為忠所詿誤，謀反未發覺者。收忠宗族，以醇醯毒藥、尺白刃叢僰并一坎而埋之。劉歆、王涉皆自殺。莽以二人骨肉舊臣，惡其內潰，故隱其誅。伊休侯疊又以素謹，歆訖不告，但免侍中中郎將，更為中散大夫。後日殿中鉤盾土山僊人掌旁有白頭公青衣，郎吏見者私謂之國師公。衍功侯喜素善卦，莽使筮之，曰：「憂兵火。」莽曰：「小兒安得此左道？是乃予之皇祖叔父子僑欲來迎我也。」 |
| | Previously, Wei Jiangjun Wang She had long cultivated the Daoist Ximen Junhui. Jun Hui was fond of celestial phenomena and prophecies, and told Wang She: "A comet is sweeping over the palace constellations; the Liu clan will rise again. The name of the State Teacher Gong corresponds to this." Wang She believed his words and passed them on to Daisima Dong Zhong. On several occasions, they both went together to the Guoshi Dianzhong Lu Dao to discuss stars and constellations, but the State Teacher did not respond. Later, Wang She went alone to see him and wept before Xinxing, saying: "I truly wish to help you preserve our clan's safety. Why do you not believe me!" Xin then explained the celestial phenomena and human affairs, stating that success was inevitable in the east. Wang She said: "Xindu Aihou is a young man who has been ill, and Gongxian Jun has long indulged in wine. I suspect the emperor was never truly born of our family." Dong Zhong commanded the central army's elite troops, Wang She led the palace guards, and Yixiu Hou controlled the palace interior. If we act together with a shared plan to seize the emperor and surrender eastward to the Son of Heaven in Nanyang, our clan can be preserved intact; Otherwise, we will all be annihilated!" Yixiu Hou was Xin's eldest son and served as Shizhong Wuguan Zhonglangjiang. Mang had always favored him. Xin resented Mang for killing his three sons, and also feared a great disaster was coming; thus he conspired with Wang She and Dong Zhong to launch an uprising. Xin said: "We should wait for the planet Venus to appear before proceeding." Dong Zhong, as Sizhong Dazui and General Wu Hou Sun Ji, who also commanded troops, conspired with him again. Sun Ji returned home, his complexion changed, and he could not eat. His wife was surprised and asked him about it; he told her the situation. The wife informed her younger brother, Yunyang Chen Han, who wanted to report this. In the seventh month, Sun Ji and Chen Han both reported it together; Mang sent envoys to separately summon Dong Zhong and others. At that time, Dong Zhong was just finishing a military drill in the capital. Hu Jun Wang Xian told him that their plot had not been carried out for too long and feared it might be exposed; he suggested instead to kill the envoys immediately and lead troops into action. Dong Zhong did not listen, so he met with Xin and Wang She at the entrance of the provincial office. Mang ordered Que Yun to interrogate them, and they all confessed. The Zhonghuangmen guards each drew their swords and escorted Dong Zhong and the others to Lu. Dong Zhong drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, but Shizhong Wang Wang announced that "the Daisima has rebelled," and the Huangmen guards seized their swords together and killed him. The entire provincial office was thrown into alarm, with soldiers being mobilized to the Langshu Office, where everyone drew their swords and raised crossbows. Gengshi Jiangjun Shi Chen toured the various offices, informing the attendants and clerks: "The Daisima is suffering from madness. He has had an episode and has already been executed." He ordered them all to lower their weapons. Mang wanted to ward off ill omens, so he ordered the Hu Ben guards to use a horse-slaying sword to dismember Dong Zhong's body. They placed it in a bamboo container and announced as they carried it away: "The rebellious bandit is being expelled." He issued an edict pardoning the officials, soldiers, and attendants of the Daisima's office who had been misled by Dong Zhong; those who had conspired to rebel but had not yet been discovered. They arrested Dong Zhong's family members and buried them in a single pit along with strong wine, poison, white-edged swords, and other weapons. Liu Xin and Wang She both committed suicide. Mang considered the two men to be close relatives and long-standing ministers, and was ashamed of their internal collapse; therefore, he concealed the details of their executions. Yixiu Hou had always been cautious, and Liu Xin never informed him; he was merely relieved of his post as Shizhong Zhonglangjiang and reassigned to the position of Zhongsan Dafu. In later days, near the side of the Shoushan Xianren in the palace's hookdun area, there was an old man with a white beard and blue robes. Palace attendants who saw him privately referred to him as "Guoshi Gong." Yangu Gong Hou Xi had long been skilled in divination. Mang asked him to cast a hexagram, and he said: "There is an omen of military conflict and fire." Mang said: "How could this child be involved in such superstitious practices?" "This is my imperial ancestor, Shu Fu Zi Qiao, who wishes to come and welcome me."
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽軍師外破，大臣內畔，左右亡所信，不能復遠念郡國，欲謼邑與計議。崔發曰：「邑素小心，今失大眾而徵，恐其執節引決，宜有以大慰其意。」於是莽遣發馳傳諭邑：「我年老毋適子，欲傳邑以天下。敕亡得謝，見勿復道。」邑到，以為大司馬。大長秋張邯為大司徒，崔發為大司空，司中壽容苗訢為國師，同說侯林為衛將軍。莽憂懣不能食，亶飲酒，啗鰒魚。讀軍書倦，因馮几寐，不復就枕矣。性好時日小數，及事迫急，亶為厭勝。遣使壞渭陵、延陵園門罘罳，曰：「毋使民復思也。」又以墨洿色其周垣。號將至曰「歲宿」，申水為「助將軍」，右庚「刻木校尉」，前丙「燿金都尉」，又曰：「執大斧，伐枯木；流大水，滅發火。」如此屬不可勝記。 |
| | Mang's military forces were defeated outside, his ministers rebelled within, and he had no one to trust at his side. He could no longer think of distant commanderies and states; instead, he wanted to summon the magistrates of nearby counties for consultation. Cui Fa said: "The county magistrates have always been cautious; if we summon them now without an army, I fear they may take it as a sign of suspicion and commit suicide. We should find some way to greatly reassure their minds." Thus, Mang sent Cui Fa by fast carriage to inform the magistrates: "I am old and have no suitable son; I wish to entrust you with rule over all under heaven. "Order them not to refuse, and if they see me, do not mention this again." When the magistrates arrived, they were appointed as Daisima. Dachangqiu Zhang Han became Daisitu, Cui Fa became Daisikong, Sizhong Shourong Miao Xin became Guoshi, and Tongshuo Hou Lin became Wei Jiangjun. Mang was so anxious that he could not eat; he drank only wine and ate carp. When tired of reading military documents, he would lean on a table to sleep, no longer using his pillow. By nature, he was fond of auspicious dates and minor numerological arts; as the situation became dire, he relied solely on talismans and rituals to ward off misfortune. He sent envoys to destroy the gate screens of Weiling and Yanling Mausoleum, saying: "Do not let the people think about them again." He also used ink to stain the surrounding walls with dark colors. He called the approaching general "Su Su," declared Shen Shui as "Zhu Jiangjun," You Geng as "Kemu Jiao Wei," and Qian Bing as "Yaojin Duyi." He also said: "Seize a great axe, cut down withered trees; flood the great waters, extinguish the flames." Such actions were too numerous to record.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
秋，太白星流入太微，燭地如月光。 |
| | In autumn, the planet Venus entered Taiwei, its light illuminating the earth like moonlight.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
成紀隗崔兄弟共劫大尹李育，以兄子隗囂為大將軍，攻殺雍州牧陳慶、安定卒正王旬，并其眾，移書郡縣，數莽罪惡萬於桀紂。 |
| | The Wei Cui brothers of Chengji jointly seized control of the Da Yin Li Yu, appointed their nephew Wei Xiao as Grand General, and attacked and killed Youzhou Zhu Teng Chen Qing and Dinging Zuzheng Wang Xun. They gathered his forces, sent letters to commanderies and counties, and listed ten thousand crimes of Mang that surpassed those of Jie and Zhou.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
是月，析人鄧曄、于匡起兵南鄉百餘人。時析宰將兵數千屯鄡亭，備武關。曄、匡謂宰曰：「劉帝已立，君何不知命也！」宰請降，盡得其眾。曄自稱輔漢左將軍，匡右將軍，拔析、丹水，攻武關，都尉朱萌降。進攻右隊大夫宋綱，殺之，西拔湖。莽愈憂，不知所出。崔發言：「周禮及春秋左氏，國有大災，則哭以厭之。故易稱『先號咷而後笑』。宜呼嗟告天以求救。」莽自知敗，乃率群臣至南郊，陳其符命本末，仰天曰：「皇天既命授臣莽，何不殄滅眾賊？即令臣莽非是，願下雷霆誅臣莽！」因搏心大哭，氣盡，伏而叩頭。又作告天策，自陳功勞，千餘言。諸生小民會旦夕哭，為設飧粥，甚悲哀及能誦策文者除以為郎，至五千餘人。鹊惲將領之。 |
| | In this month, Deng Ye and Yu Kuang from Xi led over a hundred rebels to rise up in Nanxiang. At that time, the magistrates of Xi commanded several thousand troops stationed at Qiang Ting to guard against Wu Guan. Deng Ye and Yu Kuang said to the magistrates: "The Liu emperor has already been enthroned; how can you not know your fate!" The magistrates requested surrender, and thus captured all their forces. Deng Ye declared himself Fuhan Zu Jiangjun, and Yu Kuang as You Jiangjun. They captured Xi and Dan Shui, attacked Wu Guan, and the Du Wei Zhu Meng surrendered. They advanced to attack You Dui Daifu Song Gang, killed him, and captured Hu in the west. Mang became even more anxious, not knowing what course of action to take. Cui Fa said: "According to the Rites of Zhou and the Zuo Zhuan commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, when a great disaster strikes a state, one should weep in order to ward it off. Hence, the Yijing says: 'First wail and cry, then laugh.' "We should weep and appeal to Heaven in order to seek salvation." Knowing his defeat was inevitable, Mang led his ministers to the southern suburbs and recounted the beginning and end of his Mandate of Heaven. Looking up at the sky, he said: "Heaven has already decreed that I, Mang, should rule; why then have you not destroyed these rebels?" "If indeed I, Minister Mang, am unworthy, then let Heaven strike me down with thunder and lightning!" He then clutched his chest in great weeping until he was breathless, falling to the ground and bowing his head. He also composed a proclamation to Heaven, detailing his own achievements in over a thousand words. Scholars and commoners gathered to weep at dawn and dusk, offering meals and porridge. Those who were especially sorrowful or could recite the proclamation were appointed as Lang officials; over five thousand people were thus selected. Que Yun was put in charge of leading them.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽拜將軍九人，皆以虎為號，號曰「九虎」，將北軍精兵數萬人東，內其妻子宮中以為質。時省中黃金萬斤者為一匱，尚有六十匱，黃門、鉤盾、臧府、中尚方處處各有數匱。長樂御府、中御府及都內、平準帑藏錢帛珠玉財物甚眾，莽愈愛之，賜九虎士人四千錢。眾重怨，無鬥意。九虎至華陰回谿，距隘，北從河南至山。于匡持數千弩，乘堆挑戰。鄧曄將二萬餘人從閿鄉南出棗街、作姑，破其一部，北出九虎後擊之。六虎敗走。史熊、王況詣闕歸死，莽使使責死者安在，皆自殺；其四虎亡。三虎郭欽、陳翬、成重收散卒，保京師倉。 |
| | Mang appointed nine generals, all of whom were given the title "Hu" (Tiger), collectively known as the "Nine Tigers." They led several tens of thousands of elite troops from the Northern Army eastward and brought their wives and children into the palace to serve as hostages. At that time, ten thousand catties of gold in the provincial treasury constituted one 匮 (a unit for storing valuables), and there were still sixty such 匮 remaining. The Huangmen, Gou Dun, Zang Fu, Zhong Shangfang, and other offices each had several 匮 stored at their locations. The Changle Yufu, Zhongyufu, and the central treasury at Dunei and Pingzhun held vast amounts of money, silk, pearls, jade, and other valuables. Mang loved these even more, and granted each soldier under the Nine Tigers 4000 coins as a reward. The soldiers deeply resented this and had no desire to fight. The Nine Tigers reached Huayin Hui Xi, where they encountered a narrow pass, and turned northward from Henan to the mountains. Yu Kuang held several thousand crossbows and launched an attack by climbing onto the mounds to challenge them. Deng Ye led more than twenty thousand men, emerging from the south of Fenxiang through Zajie and Zuogu, defeating one part of their forces before moving north to strike at the rear of the Nine Tigers. Six of the Tigers were defeated and fled. Shi Xiong and Wang Kuang arrived at court to surrender for their deaths, but Mang sent envoys demanding where the dead were. Both committed suicide; the other four Tigers fled into hiding. The three remaining Tigers, Guo Qin, Chen Hui, and Cheng Zhong, gathered scattered troops to defend the capital's granary.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
鄧曄開武關迎漢，丞相司直李松將二千餘人至湖，與曄等共攻京師倉，未下。曄以弘農掾王憲為校尉，將數百人北度渭，入左馮翊界，降城略地。李松遣偏將軍韓臣等徑西至新豐，與莽波水將軍戰，波水走。韓臣等追奔，遂至長門宮。王憲北至頻陽，所過迎降。大姓櫟陽申碭、下邽王大皆率眾隨憲。屬縣斄嚴春、茂陵董喜、藍田王孟、槐里汝臣、盩厔王扶、陽陵嚴本、杜陵屠門少之屬，眾皆數千人，假號稱漢將。 |
| | Deng Ye opened Wu Guan to welcome the Han forces. Chancellor Sizhi Li Song led over two thousand men to Hu, where he joined Deng Ye and others in attacking the capital granary, but failed to capture it. Deng Ye appointed Wang Xian, an official of Hongnong, as Jiao Wei and led several hundred men north across the Wei River into Zuo Fengyi territory to surrender cities and seize land. Li Song dispatched a deputy general, Han Chen, directly westward to Xinfeng, where they fought against Mang's Bo Shui Jiangjun. The Bo Shui forces fled. Han Chen and his men pursued the fleeing enemy all the way to Changmen Palace. Wang Xian marched north to Pinyang, where every city along the route surrendered upon his arrival. Prominent local families such as Liyang Shen Dong and Xiagui Wang Da all led their followers to join Wang Xian. In the subordinate counties, such as Shulian Yan Chun of Shili, Dong Xi of Maoling, Wang Meng of Lantian, Ru Chen of Huaili, Wang Fu of Zhouzhi, Yan Ben of Yangling, and Tu Men Shao of Duliu, each led thousands of followers who adopted false titles and claimed to be Han generals.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
時李松、鄧曄以為京師小小倉尚未可下，何況長安城，當須更始帝大兵到。即引軍至華陰，治攻具。而長安旁兵四會城下，聞天水隗氏兵方到，皆爭欲先入城，貪立大功鹵掠之利。 |
| | At that time, Li Song and Deng Ye believed the small capital granary had not yet fallen; how much more so would Chang'an city resist. They thought they needed to wait for a larger force from the Gengshi Emperor. They immediately led their troops to Huayin and prepared siege equipment. Meanwhile, troops from around Chang'an gathered at the city walls. Hearing that Wei Shi's forces from Tianshui were approaching, they all vied to be the first into the city, eager for the glory and spoils of conquest.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽遣使者分赦城中諸獄囚徒，皆授兵，殺豨飲其血，與誓曰：「 |
| | Mang sent envoys to pardon all prisoners in the city's jails, arming them and having them slaughter pigs and drink their blood as part of an oath: "
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| | 王莽傳下: |
有不為新室者，社鬼記之！」更始將軍史諶將度渭橋，皆散走。諶空還。眾兵發掘莽妻子父祖冢，燒其棺槨及九廟、明堂、辟雍，火照城中。或謂莽曰：「城門卒，東方人，不可信。」莽更發越騎士為衛，門置六百人，各一校尉。 |
| | Whoever does not support the Xin dynasty shall be recorded by the gods of the ancestral shrine!" Gengshi Jiangjun Shi Shen was about to cross Weiqiao, but they all scattered and fled. Shi Shen returned empty-handed. The rebel forces dug up the tombs of Mang's wife, parents, and ancestors, burned their coffins as well as those in the Nine Temples, Mingtang, and Biyong. The flames illuminated the city. Someone told Mang: "The gate guards are men from the east; they cannot be trusted." Mang then mobilized Yueqi soldiers as his personal guard, placing six hundred at each gate and assigning one Jiao Wei to command them.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
十月戊申朔，兵從宣平城門入，民間所謂都門也。張邯行城門，逢兵見殺。王邑、王林、王巡、鹊惲等分將兵距擊北闕下。漢兵貪莽封力戰者七百餘人。會日暮，官府邸第盡奔亡。二日己酉，城中少年朱弟、張魚等恐見鹵掠，趨讙並和，燒作室門，斧敬法闥，謼曰：「反虜王莽，何不出降？」火及掖廷承明，黃皇室主所居也。莽避火宣室前殿，火輒隨之。宮人婦女謕謼曰：「當奈何！」時莽紺袀服，帶璽韍，持虞帝匕首。天文郎桉栻於前，日時加某，莽旋席隨斗柄而坐，曰：「天生德於予，漢兵其如予何！」莽時不食，少氣困矣。 |
| | On the first day of the tenth month, the wu shen day, troops entered through Xuanping Chengmen, which was commonly known as Dumen by the people. Zhang Han was on patrol at the city gates and encountered soldiers who killed him upon sight. Wang Yi, Wang Lin, Wang Xun, Que Yun, and others each led troops to resist the attack at the northern gate. The Han forces killed over seven hundred of Mang's most fiercely fighting soldiers. As dusk fell, all the officials and their residences fled in panic. On the second day, the ji you day, young men in the city such as Zhu Di and Zhang Yu, fearing they would be looted, rushed to Huanbinghe, set fire to workshop doors, chopped at the gates of the Hall of Reverence for Law, and shouted: "Rebel bandit Wang Mang, why do you not come out and surrender?" The fire spread to Yeting Chengming, which was where the Huanghuangshi ZHU resided. Mang fled from the fire in front of Xuanshi Qian Dian, but the flames always followed him. The palace women and concubines cried out: "What are we to do!" At that time, Mang was wearing a dark blue robe, with the imperial seal sash fastened around it, and holding the dagger of Emperor Yu. The Astronomer-in-Attendance held up a divining board in front, noting the day and hour. Mang turned his seat to follow the direction of the handle of the Dipper, saying: "Heaven has endowed virtue upon me; what can the Han forces do to me!" At this time, Mang had not eaten and was already weak from exhaustion.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
三日庚戌，晨旦明，群臣扶掖莽，自前殿南下椒除，西出白虎門，和新公王揖奉車待門外。莽就車，之漸臺，欲阻池水，猶抱持符命、威斗，公卿大夫、侍中、黃門郎從官尚千餘人隨之。王邑晝夜戰，罷極，士死傷略盡，馳入宮，間關至漸臺，見其子侍中睦解衣冠欲逃，邑叱之令還，父子共守莽。軍人入殿中，謼曰：「反虜王莽安在？」有美人出房曰：「在漸臺。」眾兵追之，圍數百重。臺上亦弓弩與相射，稍稍落去。矢盡，無以復射，短兵接。王邑父平、鹊惲、王巡戰死，莽入室。下餔時，眾兵上臺，王揖、趙博、苗訢、唐尊、王盛、中常侍王參等皆死臺上。商人杜吳殺莽，取其綬。校尉東海公賓就，故大行治禮，見吳問綬主所在。曰：「室中西北陬間。」就識，斬莽首。軍人分裂莽身，支節肌骨臠分，爭相殺者數十人。公賓就持莽首詣王憲。憲自稱漢大將軍，城中兵數十萬皆屬焉，舍東宮，妻莽後宮，乘其車服。 |
| | On the third day, the geng xu day, at dawn when it was bright, the ministers supported and assisted Mang as he descended from the front palace to Jiaochu in the south, exited through Baihu Men to the west, where Gong Xin Gong Wang Yi presented a carriage waiting outside the gate. Mang got into the carriage and went to Jiantai, intending to block the water of the moat. He still clutched the talismans and the Dipper of Power. Over a thousand officials including ministers, grandees, attendants-in-attendance, Yellow Gate Attendants, and other court officials followed him. Wang Yi fought day and night, exhausted to the point of collapse. His soldiers were almost entirely dead or wounded. He galloped into the palace, struggled through difficulties to reach Jiantai, where he saw his son, Shi Zhong Mu, taking off his official robes in an attempt to flee. Wang Yi scolded him and ordered him back, and father and son together defended Mang. The soldiers entered the palace hall, shouting: "Where is the rebel bandit Wang Mang?" lando A concubine came out of a room and said: "He is at Jiantai." The soldiers pursued him, surrounding him in hundreds of layers. Those on the terrace also shot arrows and crossbow bolts at them, gradually thinning their numbers. When the arrows ran out, they had nothing left to shoot with, so hand-to-hand combat began. Wang Yi's father Ping, Que Yun, and Wang Xun were killed in battle, and Mang fled into a room. In the afternoon, the soldiers climbed onto the terrace. Wang Yi, Zhao Bo, Miao Xin, Tang Zun, Wang Sheng, Attendant-in-Attendance Wang Can and others all died on the terrace. The merchant Du Wu killed Mang and took his sash of office. Jiao Wei Gong Bin Jiu from Donghai, who had previously served as the Grand Director of Ceremonial Affairs, saw Du Wu and asked where the owner of the sash was. Du Wu said: "In the northwest corner of the room." Gong Bin Jiu recognized him, and beheaded Mang. The soldiers dismembered Mang's body, cutting it into pieces of flesh and bones, with dozens fighting among themselves to get a part. Gong Bin Jiu took Mang's head to Wang Xian. Wang Xian declared himself the Han Great General, and all 几十 thousand troops in the city were under his command. He occupied the Eastern Palace, took Mang's concubines as his own wives, and used Mang's carriages and robes.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
六日癸丑，李松、鄧曄入長安，將軍趙萌、申屠建亦至，以王憲得璽綬不輒上，多挾宮女，建天子鼓旗，收斬之。傳莽首詣更始，縣宛市，百姓共提擊之，或切食其舌。 |
| | On the sixth day, the gui chou day, Li Song and Deng Ye entered Chang'an. General Zhao Meng and Shentu Jian also arrived. Because Wang Xian had obtained the imperial seal and sash without immediately presenting them, and was holding many palace women hostage while raising the banners of an emperor, they captured and executed him. Mang's head was sent to Gengshi, displayed in the market of Wan. The common people all took turns beating it; some even cut and ate his tongue.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
莽揚州牧李聖、司命孔仁兵敗山東，聖格死，仁將其眾降，已而歎曰：「吾聞食人食者死其事。」拔劍自刺死。及曹部監杜普、陳定大尹沈意、九江連率賈萌皆守郡不降，為漢兵所誅。賞都大尹王欽及郭欽守京師倉，聞莽死，乃降，更始義之，皆封為侯。太師王匡、國將哀章降雒陽，傳詣宛，斬之。嚴尤、陳茂敗昆陽下，走至沛郡譙，自稱漢將，召會吏民。尤為稱說王莽篡位天時所亡聖漢復興狀，茂伏而涕泣。聞故漢鍾武侯劉聖聚眾汝南稱尊號，尤、茂降之。以尤為大司馬，茂為丞相。十餘日敗，尤、茂并死。郡縣皆舉城降，天下悉歸漢。 |
| | Li Sheng, the Inspector of Yangzhou for Mang, and Siming Kong Ren suffered a defeat in Shandong. Sheng died resisting, while Ren led his troops to surrender. Soon after, he sighed: "I have heard that those who eat another's food will die by their cause." He drew a sword and killed himself. At the same time, Cao Bu Jian Du Pu, Da Yin Chen Ding of Dinging, Shen Yi, and Lian Shuai Jia Meng of Jiangiu all held their commanderies and refused to surrender, and were executed by Han forces. Wang Qin, Da Yin of Shangdu, and Guo Qin who guarded the capital granary heard of Mang's death and surrendered. Gengshi honored their loyalty and enfeoffed them both as marquises. Taishi Wang Kuang and Guojiang Ai Zhang surrendered at Luoyang, were sent to Wan, and executed there. Yan You and Chen Mao suffered a defeat at Kunyang, fled to Qiao in Pei Jun, declared themselves Han generals, and summoned local officials and civilians. You spoke at length about how Wang Mang had usurped the throne and was thus doomed by heaven, while the holy Han dynasty was destined to rise again. Mao knelt in submission, weeping bitterly. When they heard that Liu Sheng, the former Han Zhongwu Hou, had gathered a following in Ru'nan and declared himself emperor, You and Mao surrendered to him. They appointed You as Taishi Ma and Mao as Chengxiang. After more than ten days, they were defeated, and both You and Mao died. All the commanderies and counties surrendered their cities, and all under heaven returned to Han rule.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
初，申屠建嘗事崔發為詩，建至，發降之。後復稱說，建令丞相劉賜斬發以徇。史諶、王延、王林、王吳、趙閎亦降，復見殺。初，諸假號兵人人望封侯。申屠建既斬王憲，又揚言三輔黠共殺其主。吏民惶恐，屬縣屯聚，建等不能下，馳白更始。 |
| | Initially, Shentu Jian had once served Cui Fa as a teacher of poetry. When Jian arrived, Fa surrendered to him. Later, when Fa spoke again in this manner, Jian ordered Chancellor Liu Ci to execute Fa and display his head as a warning. Shi Chen, Wang Yan, Wang Lin, Wang Wu, and Zhao Hong also surrendered but were later executed. Initially, all the rebel forces who had taken up false titles hoped to be enfeoffed as marquises. After Shentu Jian executed Wang Xian, he also declared that the three Fu regions had conspired to kill their lord. The officials and common people were frightened, and garrisons gathered in the subordinate counties; Jian and others could not subdue them, so they hurried to report this to Gengshi.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
二年二月，更始到長安，下詔大赦，非王莽子，他皆除其罪，故王氏宗族得全。三輔悉平，更始都長安，居長樂宮。府藏完具，獨未央宮燒攻莽三日，死則案堵復故。更始至，歲餘政教不行。明年夏，赤眉樊崇等眾數十萬人入關，立劉盆子，稱尊號，攻更始，更始降之。赤眉遂燒長安宮室市里，害更始。民飢餓相食，死者數十萬，長安為虛，城中無人行。宗廟園陵皆發掘，唯霸陵、杜陵完。六月，世祖即位，然後宗廟社稷復立，天下艾安。 |
| | In the second month of the second year, Gengshi arrived in Chang'an and issued an edict granting a general amnesty. All except Wang Mang's sons had their crimes pardoned, so the Wang clan was spared. The three Fu regions were completely pacified. Gengshi made Chang'an his capital and resided in the Changle Palace. The government treasuries remained intact, except for Weiyang Gong, which had been burned during the three-day siege of Mang. However, once the fighting ended, everything was restored to its former state. After Gengshi arrived, for more than a year, government policies and teachings failed to be implemented effectively. The following summer, the Chimei rebels led by Fan Chong with dozens of thousands of followers entered Guan Pass, enthroned Liu Pensi as emperor and declared him ruler. They attacked Gengshi, who surrendered to them. The Chimei then burned the palaces, markets, and streets of Chang'an, killing Gengshi. Famine caused people to eat each other; tens of thousands died, and Chang'an became a wasteland with no one left in the city. All ancestral temples and imperial tombs were looted, except for Baling and Duling, which remained intact. In the sixth month, Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, after which ancestral temples and state altars were reestablished, and peace returned to all under heaven.
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| | 王莽傳下: |
贊曰：王莽始起外戚，折節力行，以要名譽，宗族稱孝，師友歸仁。及其居位輔政，成、哀之際，勤勞國家，直道而行，動見稱述。豈所謂「在家必聞，在國必聞」，「色取仁而行違」者邪？莽既不仁而有佞邪之材，又乘四父歷世之權，遭漢中微，國統三絕，而太后壽考為之宗主，故得肆其姦慝，以成篡盜之禍。推是言之，亦天時，非人力之致矣。及其竊位南面，處非所據，顛覆之勢險於桀紂，而莽晏然自以黃、虞復出也。乃始恣睢，奮其威詐，滔天虐民，窮凶惡極，毒流諸夏，亂延蠻貉，猶未足逞其欲焉。是以四海之內，囂然喪其樂生之心，中外憤怨，遠近俱發，城池不守，支體分裂，遂令天下城邑為虛，丘壟發掘，害遍生民，辜及朽骨，自書傳所載亂臣賊子無道之人，考其禍敗，未有如莽之甚者也。昔秦燔詩書以立私議，莽誦六藝以文姦言，同歸誅塗，俱用滅亡，皆炕龍絕氣，非命之運，紫色麴聲，餘分閏位，聖王之驅除云爾！ |
| | Commentary: Wang Mang initially rose from the ranks of an imperial relative, restraining his conduct and striving in action to gain a reputation. His clan praised him for filial piety, while his teachers and friends returned their admiration to benevolence. When he assumed office as a regent, during the reigns of Emperor Cheng and Emperor Ai, he worked diligently for the state and acted with integrity; his actions were often praised. Was this not what is said in "In the family, he must be known; in the state, he must also be known," and yet "He appears to seek benevolence but his actions contradict it"? Mang, though lacking benevolence and possessing the talent for deceit, also took advantage of the power accumulated by four generations of his uncles. He encountered a time when Han was in decline, with imperial succession having failed three times, while Empress Dowager Wang, who lived to an old age, served as his nominal authority. Thus he was able to indulge in treachery and bring about the disaster of usurpation. To sum up this account, it was also a matter of heavenly timing, not something achieved by human effort alone. When he usurped the throne and sat facing south as an emperor, occupying a position that was not rightfully his, the danger of collapse was even greater than in the cases of Jie and Zhou. Yet Mang remained complacent, believing himself to be reborn as Huangdi or Yudi. He then began to act with unrestrained arrogance, exerting his power and deceit. His tyranny overwhelmed the people; he reached the height of cruelty and wickedness, spreading poison throughout Zhuxia and causing chaos among the southern and northern barbarians, yet this still was not enough to satisfy his desires. Thus, within the four seas, people lost their joy in living; resentment arose both at home and abroad. Rebellions broke out near and far, city walls could not be defended, and bodies were dismembered. This led to all cities under heaven becoming desolate, tombs being looted, and suffering spreading among the common people, even reaching the bones of the dead. Among those recorded in historical texts as treacherous ministers, rebellious sons, or wicked men, when their disasters are examined, none were as severe as Wang Mang's. In the past, the Qin burned poetry and books to establish their own doctrines; Wang Mang recited the Six Arts to cloak his treacherous words. Both ended in destruction and ruin, perishing together. They were like dragons lying dead without breath, not destined for life. Their purple-colored clouds and false claims of legitimacy were merely the clearing away by a sage ruler!
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