Solving problems was difficult, but solving the people who raised them was simple. After Liu Dan carried out a round of killings, the voices of opposition among the people immediately vanished.
As for the court, Liu Dan stood as firm as Mount Tai. After all, the army would absolutely support an emperor who scraped wealth from All Under Heaven to supply its needs. Liu Dan was building palaces, but military supplies had not stopped; he had merely added another layer of taxes.
The blazing sun poured boundless light and heat over the earth. Not a cloud hung in the sky, not a trace of moisture lingered in the air, and not a speck of green remained on the ground.
Countless hungry people in ragged clothes trudged across the parched earth, like walking corpses beneath the vicious sun.
Then countless voices rang out in their minds: "We can't survive anymore. Why not rebel?
"Being refugees means death, and rebelling means death too. Kill those corrupt officials who do nothing but bleed us dry!
"The treasuries hold countless stores of grain, and the commanderies and counties hold countless weapons.
"If they won't let us live, then none of them should live either!
"Emperor Gao resisted Tyrannical Qin. Now we're resisting tyranny. Who can say we're wrong?
"Rise up! Get moving!"
Why not rebel?
Kill those corrupt officials who bled them dry!
This was not one person stirring up rebellion, but a thought harbored in countless hearts. Most of those trudging beneath the sun already had blood on their hands.
Someone stood on high and shouted loudly. Countless refugees gathered together and formed a band. As the band grew, people emerged to manage it. Then, as more and more people took charge of others, levels of management arose, separating the upper and