pjbooks Chapter 230 Reading Prophecy
Chapter 230 Reading Prophecy
"There's a book called 'The Red Talisman,' which you've probably all heard of, because it contains the line: 'Wang Liang, the chief of the guards, makes the Black Tortoise.'"
"Liu Xiu was extremely surprised, and coincidentally, among the officials he was about to appoint was an official named Wang Liang."
"Therefore, Liu Xiu directly appointed this person as Grand Minister of Works and granted him the title of Marquis of Wuqiang. Wang Liang was also a meritorious official, having come from Youzhou with Geng Yan. So there weren't many people who opposed him."
"Immediately afterwards, based on the account of Sun Xian's campaign against the Di in the 'Red Talisman,' Liu Xiu appointed a man named Sun Xian as Grand Marshal."
"This was infuriating. A group of ministers and generals rushed forward and said that Wu Han and Jing Dan should be appointed as Grand Marshals! Liu Xiu realized that everyone disagreed when he saw this scene, and then he realized that he had angered the masses, so he backed down."
A bystander from the Ming Dynasty exclaimed: Good heavens! Is this person using this book as an answer key and copying it exactly?!
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: This seems to be during Liu Xiu's later years. He understood what an emperor must go through, and that it's easy to become confused in old age!
A skilled farmer from the Tang Dynasty: He himself became emperor because of a prophecy, how could he not believe in such things!?
……
Lin Ke sighed inwardly. That's why feudal superstition is unacceptable. However, she herself is not an atheist, after all, she believes in the God of Wealth!
Thinking of this, Lin Ke silently added: Money, money, money from all directions!!!
After a moment, she continued, "Reading prophecies and apocryphal texts was almost Liu Xiu's most obsessive pursuit in his later years. There was once a man named Huan Tan who advised him to take benevolence and righteousness as his foundation and not to believe in such strange things!"
"Huan Tan was a famous scholar in the late Western Han Dynasty, so he was quite learned and talented. Because he looked down on the common Confucian scholars (shallow and pedantic literati), he was often ostracized. However, he did become an official during the reign of Liu Xiu."
"He did not approve of Liu Xiu's behavior of heeding prophecies, and he also fulfilled his duty as a subject by repeatedly submitting memorials to advise him."
"However, Liu Xiu was too convinced of the importance of prophecies and omens, so he was always unhappy with Huan Tan's advice!"
"On one occasion, in order to better observe celestial phenomena, Liu Xiu ordered a meeting to discuss whether to build the Lingtai (a cemetery for observing celestial phenomena). Huan Tan was also present at the meeting. During the meeting, Liu Xiu asked him: 'What do you think about using apocryphal texts to decide important national affairs?'"
Liu Zhuzhu, the Great Han: I think he's lost his mind!
"This left Huan Tan speechless. Even the most muddle-headed emperor has never used apocryphal texts to decide matters of state. Tell me, aren't you getting a little too cocky?!"
"What else could Huan Tan say? After a moment of silence, he bluntly said: 'I never read prophecies!' Liu Xiu was very puzzled by his answer. How could someone not read prophecies? So he quickly pressed for an answer."
"Huan Tan was somewhat straightforward and directly replied to Liu Xiu that the prophecies were not scriptures, so Liu Xiu got angry again and immediately ordered Huan Tan to be beheaded."
"Huan Tan was terrified and kept kowtowing and begging for mercy. In the end, Liu Xiu demoted him to the position of Assistant Prefect of Liu'an County. He died in depression on his way to take up his post. It was pitiful that Huan Tan was over seventy years old and had to go through such a thing before he died."
Empress Li Erfeng of the Tang Dynasty: Alas, this reminds me of my good-for-nothing grandson!
Emperor Li Longji of the Tang Dynasty (retired): ...
Zhu Baba of the Ming Dynasty: Our family also has a rebellious son!
Emperor Zhao Kuangyin of the Song Dynasty: So, this is my rebellious younger brother?!
A scion of a prominent family in the Song Dynasty: I never realized before that Liu Xiu was so obsessed with prophecies!
……