In the final three to four decades of the Western Han Dynasty, a unique figure emerged on the political stage—Wang Mang, who once replaced the Han Dynasty to become emperor and established the Xin Mang regime.
Wang Mang's aunt was Empress to Emperor Yuan of Han, elevating the Wang clan to extraordinary status. During Emperor Ping's reign, the politically astute Wang Mang earned the title "Marquis of Han Stability." Soon after, he poisoned Emperor Ping, declared himself acting emperor, and installed the two-year-old Liu Ying as crown prince. Thus, Wang Mang ruled as regent under his marquis title, wielding imperial authority.
Wang Mang, weary of toiling endlessly for others, secretly coveted the throne but feared public opinion. To gauge his standing among the people, he dispatched eight "customs inspectors" across the empire to survey local sentiments.
Six months later, the customs envoy returned to the capital to report his findings to Wang Mang, presenting both concrete examples and a clear conclusion.
"Now the customs of the people across the eight directions have greatly improved over recent years, and social order is excellent—much like the era of the Rule of Wen and Jing: the common people have ample food and clothing, with no starving victims to be seen; thieves and bandits have vanished entirely, truly making it so that no one picks up lost items on the road and doors need not be locked at night; the folk are honest and kind, with hardly any civil disputes, so government offices have no cases to handle; in the markets, buying and selling is fair, with no two prices for the same goods, nor any fraud of passing off inferior products or arbitrarily raising prices."
……
Wang Mang listened carefully. When he heard "fair prices in the market," he nodded—market prosperity and stable prices were signs of social stability, proving that the series of measures he had taken as regent were effective. He felt satisfied and relieved; everything was far better than expected.
Wang Mang believed the moment had finally arrived to replace the Han Dynasty—decades of effort all leading to this day. Reflecting on his journey, he marveled at how he had always championed orthodoxy, upheld ritual law, restrained his desires, served the public, and governed diligently for the people. Achieving this day had been no easy feat. Wang Mang had successfully built his moral authority and earned widespread support from his subjects and officials.
Wang Mang, now ready to become emperor in truth, fabricated a divine mandate. Using a white stone unearthed from a well, inscribed with "Anhan Gong shall be emperor," he proclaimed heaven's will and finally ascended the throne with "justified" authority.
"The phrase 'No Two Prices in the Market' means buying and selling without price disparity, signifying fair trade and no deception. It describes a healthy social atmosphere."
Source: *Book of Han*, "Biography of Wang Mang, Part One"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "市无二价" came to describe how buying and selling without price disparity signifies fair trade and no deception and describes a healthy social atmosphere.