This article records the legendary Battle of Kunyang. Liu Xiu led 9,000 defenders against Wang Mang’s 420,000‑strong army. A sudden storm turned the tide; the Xin army was destroyed. Though Liu Xiu won glory, his brother was executed by the Gengshi Emperor. He hid his grief and bided his time to restore the Han.
“The Willow Scholar” is a symbolic short story from Strange Tales from Liaozhai. Blending myth, fable, and social concern, it explores the relationship between humans, nature, and spirits through the resolution of a locust plague.
Strange Tales from Liaozhai: Wang Lan recounts the supernatural journey of Wang Lan from Licheng County, Shandong.