Gaining Strength in the Chaos

Chapter 3

After the death of Liu Bang at the beginning of Han Dynasty, Queen Lyu specialized in power, which led to the demise of the royal family named Liu.

Later, Zhou Bo, Grand Preceptor and Situ Chenping had started a rebellion. They had executed the various servants and ascended the throne to take Wang Qi's place. They were called Emperor Zongwen. Emperor Wen's edict said that because of the chaos of the descendants, the imperial harem was not to interfere with court matters. Those who violated it would be sentenced to death! There was nothing wrong with the charge of consort Fu and Ding at this time.

At this time, the imperial edict had been drawn. Wang Mang took it and looked at it, saying, "Your Majesty, please use the seal." He strode up without waiting for the emperor's reply. He picked up the jade seal on the long table and looked at the yellow silk covered with black words.

The officials knelt on the ground and cried in unison, "Your Majesty is wise. Your Excellency, I'm wise!" Wang Mang smiled and turned to the Emperor of Ping. "Your Majesty, retreat!" The Emperor of Ping waved his long sleeves and said, "Retreat!"

It was the second day when the people in Chang'an City heard that Dong Xian's family had been exterminated and Consort Dowager committed suicide. Every household was decorated with lanterns and colored banners and drums, as if the festival was coming. Everyone said that the Emperor was wise, and Dong Xian's evil was rewarded with evil. He deserved to die.

When Dong Xian was in court, his sons and nephews ran amok in Chang'an City. When they saw beautiful women, they would rob them to have fun, whether they had gotten married or not. They would buy or sell them by force, extort and traffic, and even kill or set fire to crime. They would commit all kinds of crimes. People in the city were severely harmed and report to the public. They dared to be angry but dared not speak. When they heard the news, they all said that God had eyes for them.

Han Cheng's business at a restaurant on South Street was particularly good today. It turned out that he was just a butcher who sold meat for a living. After a lot of efforts from the couple, he just ordered a restaurant to open. Now he was already the well-known big boss of Chang'an City.

His wife Xiaocui was in charge of the chef, while Han Cheng was the head cook. Han Cheng also invited a few people to run errands in the hall. Han Xiaohu was nowhere to be found.

Xiao Cuiyuan was a maid in Wang Cang's residence. After that, Wang Cang was the one who made the decision. He removed her name of a servant and made her a slave to Han Cheng. Xiao Cui had been cooking well ever since she was a child. The restaurant's business was booming, and Xiao Cui had earned the greatest credit for it. The couple sometimes chatted in the middle of the night, and Big Brother Wang Cang was as kind as a mountain. Without Big Brother Wang Cang, they would not have had the fortune they had today.

At this time, Han Xiaohu was practicing boxing in a forest outside the city. There was a man next to him, watching Han Xiaohu pacing and throwing his fists like the wind. The man was wearing a gray shirt, tall and thin, long and long-developing eyebrows, and had a leopard head and a tiger head. When his eyes opened and closed, there was a bright flash in them.

He was leaning against a crooked tree with an indifferent expression. Han Xiaohu was sweating profusely. His footsteps were like a swimming dragon, as if his feet were not touching the ground. His punches were both hard and soft, but they were actually fast. He had the style of a well-known martial artist.

With a loud shout, he threw out his fist, and a tree the size of a bowl had broken down. "Bang", it fell to the ground, and dust flew. Han Xiaohu withdrew his fist and straightened his waist, and his Qi returned to his dantian. He asked, "Master, look, have I finished this fist position?"

The man in the gray robe said, "Practice it? How could it be easy! It took me 15 years to master 36 Heaven List Fist Methods with great momentum and profoundness. You have only learned it for less than 10 years!"

Han Xiaohu couldn't help but lower his head and feel discouraged. He said in grey, "But with your current achievement, it's not too bad. You can practice the Earth Evil Axe Technique once."

Han Xiaohu replied and walked under the tree to pick up a pair of axes. He saluted the man in grey and then walked to an empty area in the forest.

One of his axes pointed to the sky, the other to the ground. His Qi was as dense as a mountain, and he stood as still as a mountain. At this moment, the wind was blowing in the forest, and the grass was filled with sorrow. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout and moved his axes away from his hands. Han Xiaohu's fingers were half-closed, and his wrists were slightly trembling. The axes were spinning at a high speed around him. They were controlling the axes with Qi.

Then he roared, "Break!" The two beams of cold light were as fast as lightning and as fast as shooting stars. Wherever the cold light flashed, more than a dozen trees were cut off at the same time. Then the two axes flew back to his hands.

Han Xiaohu's face was as red as blood, and he was sweating profusely. He gasped for breath and looked extremely tired. The gray-clad man's eyes were full of praise, and he said with a smile, "Yes, you've already got the detailed framework of the 72 Style Earthly Fiend Axe Technique. In the future, you still need to practice hard. Your internal strength is not enough, so you can't use it forcibly, otherwise, your body will be damaged. Well, it's getting late. You should go back. Come again at this time tomorrow!"

Han Xiaohu bowed and said, "Yes, Master." When he looked up, he found that the gray-clad man had already disappeared. Han Xiaohu shook his head helplessly and turned to leave.

Duke Anhan's estate was on the western streets, only several hundred steps away from the Imperial Palace.

The mansion was majestic with red walls and green stairs, which made it look more magnificent. The back of the gate faced south, and there was a stone lion on each side. They were nearly three meters high, with threatening gestures. Their momentum was extraordinary.

There were a few large sedan chairs parked at the entrance, with several large horses being taken care of by a few manservants. After walking more than ten steps into the entrance, a wall made of marble appeared. There was a painting of Mr. Zhou's F painted on it. The two words on the wall were,Mr. Zhou's feeding and home-to-earth feeding.

It was said that the previous Emperor, Han Bei, had personally given it to Wang Mang as a gift. The main hall was next to the screen wall. The main hall was very large, and even compared to Wei Yang Palace's Hall of Imperial Capital, it wasn't much inferior.

There was a man sitting at the head of the hall. It was Wang Mang. The dozen or so people sitting on both sides were the famous court officials. Except for Dong Xian and Sima, all the rest of the people had arrived. Judging from the lineup, it seemed that they were from another small court.

The farmer Kongguang said, "Master Prime Minister, now Dong Xian has been killed and the imperial harem has been settled. All the people in the world are excited. They all call you Prime Minister An Han, who is the current emperor and the next emperor Zhou. Now you are in a low position and the people's livelihood is declining. I wonder if Master Prime Minister has a good plan to help the people and support the strong men?"

Wang Mang laughed upon hearing this. "Yiyin and Duke Zhou are both great sages of the past. How would I dare to accept such a treatment? However, it's hard to return from the current state's political affairs. We government officials don't have the ambition to rule the state and fear death in the state. We don't have enough money and food to feed ourselves in our government, and there are crime minions outside our country waiting for us. It can be said that both internal and external problems are at stake, and danger is lurking in all directions!" After a pause, he said, "Nowadays, only by accepting all talents and carrying out a new policy can we cross this difficult stage. At that time, I hope that all of you will spare no effort to be in company with us."

Everyone bowed together and said, "How dare you!"

Situ Magong said, "Last night, in the golden palace, Lord Prime Minister was very strict and killed all the traitors and villains. There were a lot of civil and military officials in the imperial court. Everyone admired and praised him. However, the emperor was unhappy. It seemed that he was dissatisfied with you. The implementation of the new system is imperative now, and it is not our blessing to be suspected by you at this time!"

At this moment, Sikong Zhenfeng smiled and said, "I have a timely plan that can keep everyone safe for the time being. I only need Your Excellency Prime Minister Heng's permission." Wang Mang said, "What good idea do you have, Your Excellency Sikong? Tell me about it."

Zhen Fengdao said, "His Majesty hasn't gotten married yet. I've heard that Duke An Han has a beautiful and intelligent daughter and can take charge of the harem and the nation. As long as Lord Prime Heng agrees and report this to the Empress Dowager, this matter will definitely succeed. This way, we can reassure His Majesty and seal the mouths of the world. When the time is ripe, we can come up with a plan. When that time comes, it won't be up to His Majesty to decide."

Everyone was shocked and said that it was a brilliant idea. Wang Mang nodded again and again. He stood up at once and shouted, "Come on, let's set up the Changxin Palace! I want to see the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Wang Zheng, the Empress Dowager, was the mother of Emperor Yuan, and also Wang Mang's aunt. She lived in the Changxin Palace in the palace. Wang Mang met Empress Dowager and made a plan, and all Empress Dowager agreed.

On the next day, all the civil and military officials reported that the daughter of Anman was both virtuous and talented and could be the Empress. The Emperor, Liu Yan, also met Wang Mang's daughter in person and was very satisfied. Therefore, he announced an edict to select a auspicious day to hold the wedding.

In the fifth year of the Primeval and the second month of spring, all the officials of the court came to the mansion of the An Kingdom to greet the Empress. For a while, tens of thousands of people in Chang'an City were in an empty alley and there was a hubbub.

How could ordinary people see such a scene? They only felt that the scene was dazzling and extremely prosperous.

The Hans also squeezed their way through the crowd and looked up, sighing. From then on, Wang Mang had earned the title of father-in-law and was even able to control the whole country. The country of the Han Empire was already within his grasp. Wang Mang would draw the people over to his side and do his best. He would also do his best to please the Empress Dowager. With the help of the Empress Dowager, Wang Mang sighed. "Even though Wang Mang is my nephew, he still acts respectfully and filially. Even my own son is nothing more than this." He listened to Wang Mang's advice and cared for him even more.