The Origins of Chengtang's Realm, the Homage of Eight Hundred Feudal Lords, and a Private Meeting with the Four Great Marquis!

In the eighth year of Di Xin's reign.

The realm was at peace, with favorable weather and abundant harvests.

Yet because Di Xin had allocated all the taxes collected from the Nine Provinces toward developing Shang's territory,

within the lands firmly controlled by Great Shang, eleven passes stood guard over the realm.

To the east, Soul-Roaming Pass guarded against Jiang Hengchu, the Eastern Marquis.

To the northeast, Chentang Pass guarded against Chong Houhu, the Northern Marquis.

To the south, Three Mountains Pass guarded against E Chongyu, the Southern Marquis.

To the west, Sishui Pass, Tong Pass, Lintong Pass, Chuanyun Pass, Jiepai Pass, and other locations guarded against Ji Chang, the Western Marquis, whose power and reputation had steadily grown!!!

These passes were garrisoned by heavy troops and guarded by fierce generals!

There were even Disciples of the Sect of Interception stationed there, hired with generous National Fortune subsidies.

With such stringent precautions and layer upon layer of watertight defenses, who would dare rebel against Di Xin?

Even if they were dissatisfied with Di Xin using the Nine Provinces' taxes to develop Shang,

they did not dare say much.

Speaking of which, the Shang Dynasty's rule was unlike Great Xia's complete control in those days. Instead, it was a structure of states within a state.

This was because Shang's ancestor had built his realm by winning over the regional overlords and giants, dividing the realm among them. He was then supported by three thousand feudal lords as the Human Race Co-Lord, and thus the Shang Dynasty was established!

As time passed,

big fish ate little fish, and little fish ate shrimp.

The three thousand feudal lords gradually became the present eight hundred feudal lords, along with many barbarian lands that refused royal rule.

At present, Great Shang had eight hundred feudal