As they made their way along, Chaoge City had become a sea of joy. Countless people cheered, sang, and danced.
He had fulfilled the people's expectations, riding at the head of the procession so they could catch a glimpse of their King in person.
Every time he waved, the people cried out in response, further strengthening his resolve to protect Great Shang.
His foremost goals from now on would be to give the people peaceful, prosperous lives and make Great Shang flourish.
The celebrations in Chaoge City continued for a full day. By the next morning's court session, the people's excitement had yet to fade.
Before Morning Court began, the assembled officials were already discussing matters. They all assumed the King would speak about the Rebellion of the Lords that day.
However, judging by the relaxed expressions on their faces, it was clear they didn't take the rebellious lords seriously at all.
To many, that was only natural. It was just a rebellion by a few lords, after all.
The King had led an Imperial Expedition and subdued the Seventy-Two Route Lords of the North Sea in a month. So what if the lords rebelled?
If all else failed, the King could simply lead another Imperial Expedition. Surely he could put down the Rebellion of the Lords then?
With this mindset, the civil and military officials had shed their usual worry and felt much more at ease.
After Morning Court began, Zi Shou looked at the assembled officials, rose to his feet, and declared, "Since I led the Imperial Expedition, the Three-Year Development Plan has made slow progress. This matter must be taken seriously!"
No one had expected the King to speak about the Three-Year Development Plan instead of the Rebellion of the Lords.
Since the King had left on the Imperial Expedition, the lords in every region had rebelled, leaving Great Shang beset by troubles at home and abroad. Naturally, no one had been in the mood to carry out the Three-Year Development Plan.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. This is entirely my responsibility. I deserve a thousand deaths!" Bi Gan stepped forward and said, his face full of shame.
The King had entrusted him with such an important task, yet he had failed to live up to the King's expectations. He had long been overcome with shame.
"You need not apologize, my lord. I do not intend to hold anyone accountable. I know how difficult this task is, but it still must be done," Zi Shou said.
There were, in fact, many objective reasons why the Three-Year Development Plan had been slow to advance.
Bi Gan had done his utmost and had, in truth, done very well. Zi Shou naturally had no intention of punishing him.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will do everything in my power to carry out the Three-Year Development Plan!" Bi Gan declared firmly.
How could he not know how much good the Three-Year Development Plan would do for Great Shang if it were carried out successfully?
When the King had been away from Chaoge City, Bi Gan had inevitably been constrained at every turn. But now, the King had returned.
With the King in Chaoge City, no one would dare act recklessly. This was the perfect opportunity to push the Three-Year Development Plan forward without restraint.
"I believe that carrying out this plan will take more than a day or two, and we will need the help of many people of exceptional talent.
"By my command, beginning tomorrow, a Hall of Talents shall be established in Chaoge City. An Edict of Talent Recruitment shall be issued, inviting capable and extraordinary people from across the land to serve!" Zi Shou declared.
As soon as he said this, the great hall fell silent. Everyone stared at Zi Shou in disbelief.
Regardless of birth, wealth, or status, ability alone would be the measure. The court was sincerely inviting outstanding people from across the land to serve.
In Great Shang as it stood, this was an unprecedented break with convention. The civil and military officials were so shocked they couldn't speak.
But seeing the King as he was now, who would dare say no?
"Your Majesty, the rebellion of the lords has yet to be put down. Should we send out troops to suppress it?" Grand Tutor Wen advised.
In the eyes of many, this was the real matter for that morning's court session, not the King's sudden announcement of an Edict of Talent Recruitment.
Of course, for many, that announcement was like a bolt from the blue. They couldn't begin to digest such shocking news.
"Order the Four Lords to place the Lord of the West in command and each lead a campaign against the rebellious lords," Zi Shou said.
The civil and military officials exchanged glances. Before Morning Court, they had already come up with many plans for subduing the rebellious lords.
Every official had prepared a host of proposals, whether to dispatch an army, divide the lords and defeat them one by one, or use some other strategy.
Some had considered ordering the Four Lords to suppress the rebellions in various regions, but in the end, they had all dismissed the idea.
Within Great Shang Territory were eight hundred lords, among whom the Four Lords wielded the greatest power and had long stood at the head of the realm's lords.
Why not put the Four Lords in charge of suppressing the rebellious lords? It was all a matter of taking precautions.
As the Three-Year Development Plan was gradually implemented, it had begun to encroach on the interests of the various lords. That was why some of them had rebelled.
The Four Lords had not rebelled yet, but no one could guarantee that they never would.
Would sending the Four Lords to suppress the rebels lead them to join forces?
Or might the Four Lords deliberately let the rebels grow stronger, using the campaign to build up their own power and expand their influence?
In the eyes of most officials, the Four Lords should not only be left alone but secretly kept under watch.
Now the King intended to send them to suppress the rebellions. Naturally, this was beyond what many had expected.
But after the victory in the North Sea, the King's prestige had risen considerably, and the situation at court had changed completely.
In the past, as soon as Zi Shou proposed this, many officials would have jumped up to oppose him.
Now, even those who had their doubts dared not say much, seeing that Grand Tutor Wen, Bi Gan, and the other senior officials had not objected.
Many officials assumed that the King had a deeper purpose behind his decision, even if they had yet to discern it.
A decision that should have met with countless objections passed with ease, and the edicts for the Four Lords were issued soon afterward.
This also showed that after the victory in the North Sea, the King's word at court was beginning to carry absolute authority.
After Morning Court, many officials waited until they had left the Royal Palace before daring to discuss the campaign against the lords.
"With the Four Lords on the move, who knows what kind of trouble will follow? Let's hope they really are loyal."
"I'm worried all Four Lords will rebel together. Then the realm truly will descend into chaos!"
"Watch your words! If the King dares to do this, he must have good reason. Have you forgotten? He just led an Imperial Expedition!"
While the officials were busy discussing the matter, Grand Tutor Wen, Bi Gan, Huang Feihu, and the other senior ministers were also in audience with the King.
Though they had not objected during Morning Court, they were still somewhat concerned about the Four Lords.
"Your Majesty, with the Three-Year Development Plan underway, I'm afraid the Four Lords cannot be trusted," Bi Gan said.
Though he had not directly objected, he had now expressed his concerns clearly.
"The Four Lords stand at the head of all the realm's lords and wield great power, but each of them is different," Grand Tutor Wen said.
The Four Lords were Lord of the East, Jiang Huan Chu; Marquis of the West, Ji Chang; Lord of the South, E Chong Yu; and Lord of the North, Chong Hou Hu.
Grand Tutor Wen's meaning was clear: the Four Lords were not all alike. They needed to be treated differently, not lumped together and condemned.
For example, Lord of the East, Jiang Huan Chu, was Empress Jiang's father and Zi Shou's father-in-law. He was someone they could win over.
"If the Four Lords really do rebel, it may not be a bad thing," Zi Shou said.
The Four Lords were powerful, each ruling a vassal state that was practically an independent kingdom. Great Shang had little ability to restrain them.
Once the Three-Year Development Plan was gradually implemented, it would inevitably encroach on the interests of the various lords.
It was no longer a question of whether they would rebel. Faced with the tide of events, they would have no choice but to do so.
If they didn't rebel now, they would rebel later. The Great Shang he intended to build could never be one where the lords carved out territories of their own.
Since rebellion was inevitable, the sooner the lords rose up, the better.
He was still the Human Sovereign. Before the Canonization of the Gods began, he had nothing to fear, even if every lord in the realm rebelled.
Once the Canonization of the Gods began, the All Gods and Buddhas would enter the fray in person, and there would be far more variables.
"What if the Four Lords don't rebel? What does Your Majesty intend to do?" Grand Tutor Wen asked.
Compared with the worry on Huang Feihu's and Bi Gan's faces, Grand Tutor Wen seemed much more composed.
He had considered the possibility that the Four Lords might not rebel, and perhaps he had already seen through the King's intentions.
"If they don't rebel, then I should naturally reward them. From now on, all the lords' heirs will be eligible to inherit their titles," Zi Shou said.
If the Four Lords didn't rebel, he had already prepared the greatest stratagem in history for them: the Decree of Grace.
No matter what the Four Lords chose, he would hold the initiative.
"Excellent! Your Majesty, go ahead without hesitation. If all the lords in the realm rebel, this old minister will lead the army to crush them!" Grand Tutor Wen said.
He could already sense the King's resolve. There was no point trying to dissuade him now.
Moreover, hearing the King's words, he immediately understood the power of the greatest stratagem in history.
As long as it benefited Great Shang and the King had already made his decision, then he should be allowed to act without restraint.
Even if every lord in the realm rebelled, Grand Tutor Wen would lead the campaign himself. He would never let Great Shang fall.
"With the Grand Tutor's confidence, I have confidence as well. What is there to fear, even if the heavens and earth are turned upside down?" Zi Shou said with a smile.
If the Four Lords rebelled, he could simply lead another Imperial Expedition and settle the matter with a decisive battle.
If the Four Lords remained obedient, the power of the greatest stratagem in history would leave them no choice but to submit.
To repel outside threats, one must first secure one's own house. With the Canonization of the Gods drawing ever closer, how could he face the All Gods and Buddhas if he failed to forge Great Shang into a single, unbreakable whole?
The decision on how to deal with the rebellion was settled, and the news quickly spread throughout the realm.
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