The Luo State Ruling House's attitude toward Qi State was now exceedingly complicated. The Ji-Jiang Alliance formed by Qi and Luo had protected Zhou State through centuries of wind and rain.
Just how important was a stable alliance?
In the past, the Ji-Jiang Alliance had been willing to relinquish even short-term gains already within its grasp for the sake of mutual friendship. Political trust between the two sides had been extremely high, utterly unlike the alliances among the States now, where betrayal came at the slightest provocation.
But Qi State had now drifted further and further from the Zhou Dynasty. Although the Jiang-surnamed Lü Clan still held the position of Lord of the State and retained considerable influence, the real power to shape Qi State's policies was no longer in the Ducal House's hands.
The Ji-Jiang Alliance had not fractured. It had simply disappeared.
Wei State had been the first to advocate reform, and its strength had rapidly grown. It defeated Qin State to the west and Chu State to the south, then battered all the vassal states under heaven awake: so reform was this important. As other states undertook reforms, Wei State's institutional advantage gradually disappeared.
Yet with the Wei Wuzu to rely upon, Wei State remained formidable. Then, just as they had previously weakened Chu State, Qi, Qin, and Chu independently chose to weaken Wei State.
Previously, however, Wei State had had the Three Jin Alliance, making it difficult to strike. Now Wei State had dismantled the Three Jin Alliance itself. It was practically courting its own destruction.
Qin State was the most excited of all. Its reforms had been the weakest over these years, because it was far too remote and attracted the fewest talented people. Most had gone to Qi State, while others had gone to