Several days later, at court.
Shang Rong stepped forward and said, "Your subject has a report."
"Proceed."
Shang Rong said, "Reports have arrived from various regions, saying that Your Majesty's punishment of large numbers of nobles has provoked the wrath of men and gods alike. Nobles throughout the land are now dissatisfied."
The nobles of Chaoge dared to be angry but not to speak, while those elsewhere mourned the rabbit's death like the fox, fearing they would be next. This time, the entire noble class had been thrown into turmoil.
Although the vast majority dared not act rashly at such a time, there were always some who wanted to stir up trouble in secret.
The nobles of Li Commandery, for instance.
Li Commandery had originally been under Marquis Li's rule. After Zi Shou had Marquis Li beheaded, he converted Li Territory into Li Commandery and appointed Jiang Wenhuan its governor. Jiang Wenhuan had even driven back the Rongdi single-handedly.
But Li Commandery had plenty of problems. Jiang Wenhuan had brought no officials with him when he assumed office, and he was hardly an expert in governance himself. Calling him utterly unconcerned would not have been an exaggeration.
The administration of the entire commandery depended on the nobles. Only the fierce reputation Jiang Wenhuan had earned in battle kept them from making any major moves. Anyone else would have been devoured without so much as a bone fragment left.
And the nobles of Li Commandery were the most powerful nobles within Great Shang's territory.
With Xiqi so close by, many harbored disloyal intentions and were itching to make a move.
Shang Rong said, "Hou Yan, the deputy governor of Li Commandery, has submitted a memorial vehemently detailing the harm of inflicting punishments upon nobles, declaring it truly inhumane..."
The deputy governor