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The nature of this "Annals"

This chapter, like the other "Imperial Annals," does not pretend to be
what we would call a history of the period. It is actually an expanded
chronological summary, useful for purposes of convenient reference. The
actual history is to be found in the other parts of this large book, especially
in the "Memoirs," and most of all in the "Memoir of Wang Mang,"
a translation of which is appended to this chapter. The part of that
"Memoir" devoted to these six years is more than twice as long as are
these "Imperial Annals." That "Memoir" should accordingly be read in
connection with these "Imperial Annals."