Prefecture and County System (Seeking Subscriptions)

Lu Chuan stayed in the study like that for almost an entire day.

At dusk, he invited Wen Zhong to his residence to discuss matters.

After Wen Zhong came over, he said in surprise, "Junior Brother, calling me here so late—this is..."

Lu Chuan's expression was grave. "Senior Brother, there is something now that you must support me on."

"What is it?"

"I want to... abolish the Feudal System!"

"What did you say?" Wen Zhong's expression changed, and he stared at Lu Chuan in astonishment.

Lu Chuan shook his head. "I am not joking. This system may indeed have been beneficial at the time for stabilizing the current situation and order, strengthening the king's authority and his rule over all under heaven, but its flaws are equally obvious. Look, I have already listed them out. Read through them."

He handed Wen Zhong a bamboo slip.

Wen Zhong took the bamboo slip, opened it, and began reading carefully, his expression growing solemn bit by bit.

"It is true that the Great King possesses absolute authority, but the current feudal lords hold too much power. Within their fiefs, their authority is far too independent, with no one able to restrain them."

Lu Chuan walked over and shut the door, saying, "A person's ambition grows. On the surface, the feudal lords do not seem to be entirely peaceful with one another either, and wars often break out among them, right? Senior Brother, let me ask you—back then, why did you go suppress Yuan Futong in the north?"

Wen Zhong said in a deep voice, "Yuan Futong refused to obey the royal command, launched wars against the surrounding feudal lords, and annexed them. His heart deserved execution!"

"Exactly. This is what I mean when I say the strength of the feudal lords will also