Xunyang Chai Sang.
By the time news of Huan Xuan reached here, several months had passed since Tao Yuanming had resigned from office.
Taking advantage of the turmoil within the Northern Prefecture Army, Huan Xuan had seized Jiankang and taken Liu Zong hostage.
Unfortunately, he had been too impatient. Rather than follow Cao Cao's example from two hundred years earlier—holding the Han Emperor hostage to command the Under Heaven Vassal Lords—he had seized control of the court for only a year. At the end of the second year of Yuanxing, he deposed Liu Zong, usurped the throne, and declared himself emperor, changing the dynasty's name to Great Chu!
Six hundred years ago, Han had destroyed Chu. Six hundred years later, Chu had destroyed Han. Huan Xuan had played a clever game with the prophecies.
"But now that he's done this, plenty of people are unhappy."
Verdant Green Maiden clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Tao Yuanming swung his hoe, turning over the soil, and asked, "What is the Goddess's opinion?"
At that, Verdant Green Maiden glanced at him. "You can see what's happening for yourself. Why ask me? Are you pretending to be ignorant even with me?"
Tao Yuanming smiled sheepishly at her words.
Of course he could see the situation clearly.
If Huan Xuan had followed Cao Cao's example and held the Son of Heaven hostage to command the vassal lords, that would have been fine. Everyone under Heaven would have been happy, and all that would have changed was that people followed the Prime Minister's orders instead of the Han Emperor's.
But now he had gone straight to usurp the throne and declare himself emperor. That would naturally anger all the nobles whose fortunes were tied to the Han Emperor!
Our wealth and status depend on the