Ao Bing Harbors Killing Intent

Chapter 681: Ao Bing Harbors Killing Intent

Southern Continent, Chaoge City.

As the Cycle of Heaven and Earth turned, night fell and stars emerged, just as the lanterns were first lit. King Zhou sat upon a jeweled throne borne by nine men, leaving the Great King's Hall with weariness on his face.

Recently, the vassal lords' backlash had grown increasingly fierce. Great Shang's military strength was ample, but quite a few hidden dangers had already surfaced.

Of the Eight Hundred Vassal Lords, a hundred had rebelled. That was still within expectations.

After all, with several royal decrees, he had forced half the vassal lords onto a single path: either continue submitting to Great Shang, or rebel themselves and be beaten into submission by Great Shang.

The Grand Preceptor had advised him to temporarily ease his pressure on the court's powerful nobles, thereby alleviating the strain he now faced...

The Grand Preceptor was, in the end, too steady and conservative.

Reform must shed blood;

Innovation must be aided by harsh punishments.

Great Shang's foundation had accumulated too many problems, too many chronic ills. If he could not cut them down with a swift blade, all efforts would be in vain. Worse, Great Shang would fall into a situation where the vassal lords jointly held it hostage, and the nation would perish within mere decades.

Now, the reforms had begun to bear fruit. Shang lands were growing ever more prosperous, and commoners had begun accepting and assimilating slaves. Though there was still a long road ahead, this national strength alone was enough to awe the heroes of the realm.

Ji Chang was imprisoned, the Marquis of the South was dead, and the Marquis of the North had been tamed by him. Of the leaders among the Eight Hundred Vassal Lords, only the