Chapter 77

(ps: Brothers, I couldn't sleep, Tomato's push-stream mechanism is too problematic, it's got me all flustered; when the data is good, I think of seeing things through to the end, I want this book to be longer; when the data is bad, I want to drop the book immediately… now my mood while typing is like drinking poison.

no.

The Tang Dynasty, Emperor Dezong, the era meaning 'Establishing the Center', and the era meaning 'Upright Origin' are mentioned; these are era names and an emperor's name. Emperor Dezong is a personal name not in the glossary, so we render it as 'Dezong'.

We also have Emperor Shunzong, which appears in the glossary as Emperor Shunzong, so we should use that exact English.

In line 【4】, Chang'an City appears; as a meaningful place name it should be translated to 'Long Peace City'. The term An-Shi Rebellion contains the surnames An and Shi, which should be rendered as 'An' and 'Shi', giving 'An-Shi Rebellion'.

Line 【5】 no new names.

Chang'an City remains that most prosperous mighty city under heaven. On the streets, carriages and horses flow like water; shops stand close together; Hu merchants and Han people rub shoulders; it seems the scars of the An-Shi Rebellion have long been concealed by the facade of this prosperous age.

But only those who truly stand at the heart of this power know how rotten the foundation beneath this prosperity is.

Minister of War's residence

The name Wang You is given in the glossary.

He was already past sixty, his temples frosted, his face etched with the traces of time. Yet his eyes, unlike his age, remained clear and deep, as if they could see through all the world's turmoil.

The name Wang Xiu.

In reality, over twenty days had passed, while in the game, over twenty years had elapsed.

Since he led that grand Two Taxes Law reform, the Tang treasury indeed filled, the Court had money, could train new troops, could relieve disasters, letting this storm‑tossed dynasty gain a little stability, enough to linger a few more decades.

He, Wang You, thus saw his prestige grow daily, yet he did not use that prestige to advance further, remaining in the Minister of War's post.

This line mentions Wang Ce, the title General of the Dragon Martial Army, and the Imperial Guards.

It refers to the Wang family and the court.

But Wang Xiu's inner unease now had the possibility of becoming reality.

The double‑edged sword he personally forged, named the Two Taxes Law, did indeed cut through many chronic ills in its first few years.

But as time passed, the drawbacks also began to show, just as he had worried back then.

It mentions the monarch, officials, and the tax collection system.

These years, to cope with frontier wars and satisfy the imperial household's extravagance, the Court repeatedly raised the tax rate of the Two Taxes; local officials, for their own performance and private purses, added layer upon layer, inventing pretexts.

It refers to the inspection system and related institutions.

The people's burden, unnoticed, had returned to pre‑reform levels, and even become heavier than before.

It refers to an older brother.

An elderly yet steady and resonant voice came from outside the door.

Wang Ce strode in; although he was also nearing sixty, his years of military service kept his posture straight as a pine, and he bore an imposing, anger‑free aura.

He walked to Wang You's side, looked at the memorial on the desk from the localities concerning tax revenue, and shook his head.

"I've long said, your method gave the Court a lease on life, but also gave corrupt officials a sharper knife; if the people's hearts are lacking, what good is even the best system?"

It notes Wang You (Wang Xiu).

"Yes, the people's hearts are lacking. I can change the system, but I cannot change people's hearts; this realm is likely to fall into chaos again."

"It won't come to chaos." Wang Ce's tone was firm. "At least not for now. Your Majesty may be suspicious, but he's not yet senile. As long as I serve in the Imperial Guards, no one dares to cause trouble in Chang'an."

Wang You (Wang Xiu) knew his brother spoke the truth. But his gaze looked farther.

It refers to Emperor Dezong of the Tang dynasty, personal name Li Shi; since it is not in the glossary, we render the personal name as 'Li Shi' and keep 'Tang' as the dynasty name, giving 'Tang Emperor Dezong Li Shi'.

Thus the name Tang Dezong Li Shi is rendered as Tang Emperor Dezong Li Shi.

By his side had gathered a group of young officials equally filled with ideals.

It includes the names Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, and Liu Yuxi, all of which are found in the glossary.

Those names, famous in later literary history, now in Wang Xiu's mind represented a doomed, brief yet glorious reform.

It refers to the reform movement known as the Eternal Perfection Reform, which derives from the era name meaning 'Eternal Perfection'.

It mentions Wang Xiu.

no.

It refers to family rules.

This time, he did not act, and he felt somewhat unwilling.

It discusses eunuch autocracy and warlord separatism.

It notes the Wang family's exposed influence.

He wanted to ensure his family's lineage, yet he did not wish to see the chaos that followed the Tang's fall; after so long in the game, the people living around him were no longer mere NPCs, but living, breathing humans.

The phrase meaning 'Five Barbarians' Chaos' refers to the historical turmoil caused by the five barbarian peoples.

However, if the tragedy of the Five Barbarians' chaos were not to repeat, if he could grant this dynasty a few more decades of life, allowing the vitality of Huaxia to retain a bit more, then all he had done would be worthwhile.

This thought, like a seed, took root and sprouted wildly in his heart.

"Big brother, what are you thinking?" Wang Ce asked, frowning as he watched his ever‑changing expression.

"Nothing." Wang You (Wang Xiu) came to, shook his head, "Just thinking that today might be about to change."

ellipsis.

The year is given as 805 AD.

It again mentions Emperor Dezong Li Shi and notes his passing away.

It refers to Crown Prince Li Song and Emperor Shunzong, the latter being listed in the glossary as Emperor Shunzong.

It mentions a stroke.

It refers to senior officials and powerful eunuchs.

no.

Emperor Shunzong of Tang, though unable to speak, remained clear‑minded; his eyes burned with the flame of reviving the Tang Dynasty.

The term Hanlin Academician translates to Hanlin Scholar.

A swift and fierce reform thus opened its curtain.

It includes Wang Shuwen, Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi, and the group known as the Two Wangs Eight Simas.

It mentions Prefect of the Capital Prefecture Li Shi, the Palace Market, and the fiscal authorities over salt and iron and transport.

This series of actions shook the entire court.

Those once overbearing eunuchs and military governors felt fear for the first time.

And Wang You, as the Minister of War, was also drawn into the center of this storm.

That day, as Wang You had just finished his shift, at the gate of his residence, he was stopped by an inconspicuous carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing Wang Shuwen's somewhat gaunt face, but his eyes were unusually bright.

"Wang Minister of War, may I have a word?"

He did not refuse, calmly boarding the carriage; when the reforms began, he had anticipated today.

"Wang Minister of War," Wang Shuwen got straight to the point inside the carriage, "Your Majesty and we intend to enact new policies, revive the court's discipline. Yet the eunuchs and regional warlords wield great power, deeply entrenched. We have no troops, no authority, and find every step difficult."

He looked at Wang You, his eyes full of expectation and sincerity.

"Your younger brother, General Wang Ce, commands the Imperial Guards, unsurpassed in loyalty and bravery; and you, Minister of War, are highly esteemed at court, with disciples and former officials spread across the land. If we could gain the aid of you two brothers, what need do we have to fear that our new policies will fail?"

Wang You (Wang Xiu) fell silent, this question he had been considering all along; he recalled the family statutes he had set when the game first began, recalling the family rule "Not to involve oneself in the succession, not to contend for the great treasure."

But he also recalled the devastation of the An-Shi Rebellion, and those displaced commoners.

"What the Wang Family ought to do is to be an evergreen tree that never falls for a thousand years."

The words passed down generation to generation by the Wang Family's descendants echoed in his ears; these were words he himself had spoken, yet now he doubted this saying.

When the great hall is about to collapse, how can there be intact eggs? If this great tree falls, the evergreen tree—where could it cling to?

Wang You (Wang Xiu)'s inner self was engaged in fierce conflict.

After a long while, he finally slowly raised his head.

"Wang Scholar," his voice remained calm, "This matter is of great importance; I cannot decide it alone. Please allow me to consult with my younger brother first, then I will give you a reply."

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