Summary of the period
The reign of Emperor P'ing (1 B.C.-A.D. 6), is the period during which
Wang Mang consolidated his control of the government in such a fashion
that he could not later be removed. Emperor P'ing was only in his ninth
year when he came to the throne and he died before he was capped (the
ceremony marking the attainment of a youth's majority), so that during
this whole period Wang Mang actually wielded the imperial authority.
He eliminated the influence of any imperial relatives, except his own clan.
He raised himself from one honor to another by the ingenious use of
Confucian humility. He married his daughter to the Emperor, against
the opposition of the Grand Empress Dowager. He secured the loyal
cooperation of Confucians, especially the famous Liu Hsin1a. This period
was thus one of conspicuous success on the part of Wang Mang. After
Emperor P'ing had died, Wang Mang was charged with regicide, but
that allegation may have been merely propaganda. These matters will
be discussed seriatim.
