At the end of the Western Han Dynasty, Wang Mang took control of the court.
西汉末年，王莽掌握朝政多年。
He constantly changed policies, hoping to improve the country.
他不断修改制度，想让国家变得更好。
One day, he decided to reform land ownership and redistribute farmland.
一天，他决定改革土地政策，重新分配土地。
He ordered officials to take land from landlords and give it to poor farmers.
他命令官员把地主的田地收回，分给贫苦百姓。
At first, the people cheered, thinking life would improve.
一开始，百姓拍手称快，以为生活会变好。
But the landlords were furious and began to resist.
但地主们不满，纷纷反抗，事情变得复杂。
In some places, officials delayed the order to avoid offending the landlords.
有的地方，官员不敢得罪地主，拖延执行。
In others, farmers got land but had no tools or seeds to farm.
有的地方，百姓得了田，却没有工具和种子。
Wang Mang then changed the currency system and banned old coins.
王莽又下令改变货币制度，废除旧钱币。
But merchants refused to use the new money, causing economic chaos.
结果，商人们拒绝使用新钱，市场一片混乱。
Food prices soared, and people could no longer afford to eat.
粮食涨价，百姓买不起饭，开始怨声载道。
Rebellions broke out across the land, and the court lost control.
各地叛乱不断，朝廷已经控制不住局势。
Wang Mang tried to fix the situation, but it was too late.
王莽想要补救，可是事情已经失控。
He issued new laws, but no one obeyed him anymore.
他颁布新的法令，但没人再听他的命令。
His ministers fled, and even his army turned against him.
大臣们暗中离开，军队也开始倒戈。
In the end, chaos engulfed the empire, and rebels stormed the palace.
最终，天下大乱，百姓攻入皇宫，王莽被杀。
Once things spiral out of control, they become impossible to stop.
一发而不可收拾，形容事情一旦开始，变得越来越严重，无法控制。
