The rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple were one thing. They took place every year and had little to do with ordinary people, who could not even catch a glimpse of the Son of Heaven.
But the sacrifice to Heaven was different: they could behold the Son of Heaven's august countenance.
Who under heaven did not want to behold the Son of Heaven's august countenance?
Take Yuan Shao's execution of Yuan Shu, for instance. Had Liu Xie not appeared, so many people would never have come to watch. The vast majority had come to see the Son of Heaven.
Moreover, after their gathering at the Xun Residence that day, the Great Aristocratic Families all sprang into action. They began cutting into their own flesh, preparing lavish offerings for the ceremony to express their willingness to pledge allegiance.
The Xuan Room.
Xun Chen presented a long list of gifts to Liu Xie with both hands, saying respectfully, "Your Majesty, this is the list of offerings from the various clans. Please look it over."
Liu Xie accepted the list. Names crowded the page, each representing a great clan. Their offerings were extraordinarily generous, too: money, grain, treasures, and huge timbers-everything imaginable. The array left him dazzled.
"These clans really are rich."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Liu Xie's eyes.
This list alone revealed just how deep the foundations of these Great Aristocratic Clans ran. Lesser households could not compare; a single gesture from them displayed such lavish generosity.
The offerings on the list were worth enough to arm an army of a hundred thousand to the teeth!
After marveling inwardly, Liu Xie smiled at Xun Chen. "My minister, you deserve considerable credit for persuading so many clans to pledge their allegiance willingly."
"Your Majesty praises me too highly." Xun Chen bowed slightly