The Regency Council

The ministers who had enthroned Ji Wan assigned him the posthumous name "Li" and forbade his burial in the ancestral royal tombs. Instead, they chose a desolate wilderness for his mausoleum, nailing him firmly to history's pillar of shame.

Since Ji Xi had not yet come of age and could not govern, the Empress Dowager would rule from behind the curtain. The Marquis of Luo became Grand Tutor and head of the Heavenly Office, Duke Shuang of Song became Grand Preceptor and head of the Autumn Office, the Marquis of Qi became Grand Guardian and head of the Summer Office, the Marquis of Jin headed the Spring Office, the Marquis of Chen headed the Earth Office, and the Marquis of Han headed the Winter Office.

The Marquis of Jin was the most satisfied. The Spring Office oversaw ritual and could manage some clan affairs. Though it lacked the Grand Clan Head's direct authority, he understood Luo Su's stance and was already quite pleased with the present arrangement.

The Marquis of Chen now felt the benefits of being a royal in-law keenly. From the ruler of a marginalized marquisate, he had suddenly gained sweeping authority over the royal domain's land, household registers, and taxes.

Luo Su himself had finally secured the highest authority in the Zhou State. The Heavenly Office possessed immense powers: it led its subordinate officials in governing the state and assisted the king in coordinating the various realms. In practice, its head was the chief minister.

The sun had just risen, a pale fish-belly white showing in the east. The carriage of Queen Mother Qi Jiang and King Xi moved through the palace, beneath the bronze phoenixes poised in flight upon its roofs.

Recalling Ji Wan's years of folly, Qi Jiang glanced at the king beside her and said softly, "The king's palace should be occupied by a sage ruler. Xi, remember this: never become someone who brings calamity upon the realm as King Li did, leaving you too ashamed to face your ancestors after death."

King Xi nodded firmly, his words ringing like stones striking the ground. "Rest assured, Mother. I will take his example as a warning, study diligently under my teacher, and bring prosperity to the Zhou State."

Inside the palace, Luo Su and the other five stood respectfully waiting. When they saw the royal carriage approach, they stepped forward to greet it. As the carriage stopped, King Xi jumped down first, swept his gaze around, then ran straight toward Luo Su and called joyfully, "Teacher!"

The Queen Mother descended from the carriage, and Luo Su and the others bowed together. She and King Xi returned their greetings.

Looking at King Xi, who had already grown quite robust, Luo Su felt as though he could see the Zhou State's future. King Li's years of rule had done it enormous harm; it needed an excellent successor.

Luo Su and the others entered the council hall with the Queen Mother and the king. Queen Mother Qi Jiang took the seat of honor with King Xi beside her. As Grand Tutor and head of the Heavenly Office, Luo Su presided over this crucial meeting.

"My lords, the Rebellion of Xiong Dun has been quelled. Now we must advance the king's affairs. The Sage King once said: if names are not properly established, words cannot ring true; if words do not ring true, affairs cannot succeed. In what capacity the six of us govern the Zhou State is now our foremost concern."

Through his achievements in suppressing the rebellion, Luo Su had seized all authority over the royal domain. Yet their power derived from the Queen Mother, who served as regent for King Xi, and was therefore highly unstable. None of the six could tolerate this. On this point, even the Marquis of Qi could only side with Luo Su.

It was reasonably appropriate for Luo Su to raise this demand. Had another lord proposed it, malicious people might have slandered him behind his back.

But the Marquis of Luo was different. His founding ancestor, the Sage King, had once exercised royal authority in the king's stead. The three Marquises of Luo who followed had devoted themselves faithfully to royal affairs, placing the royal house's interests above those of the Luo State. Everyone had witnessed this, and the royal house's political trust in the Marquis of Luo had reached its peak.

Queen Mother Qi Jiang said solemnly, "Everyone seated here is a leading minister of the realm. Grand Tutor, speak freely. We can surely agree upon an arrangement."

Seeing the Queen Mother declare her position, Luo Su said, "At the founding of Zhou, the Sage King received the late king's testament and served as prince regent, exercising royal authority in his stead. His position could not have been more legitimate.

"But the late King Li suddenly passed away, and the present king has not yet come of age and cannot govern. According to ritual law, the Queen Mother temporarily serves as regent. This is the royal house's authority and must not be lightly relinquished.

"I propose that we establish a Regency Council to oversee all major military and state affairs, with the seven of us serving as its lords.

"Any matter requiring the king's seal shall be submitted to the council for a decision. Once the king comes of age, the council shall dissolve immediately."

What Luo Su proposed was to add a regency title to the six men governing the realm. Their actual powers would change little, but their standing would be entirely different.

Their position would stand as immovable as a mountain. To serve as regent was to exercise authority in the king's place.

Even the power to restore authority to the king lay in the regent's hands. If someone impeached them, they could openly demand:

"Who stands below the dais, accusing this very official?"

Most members of this council were Luo Su's allies. Through it, he could wield a regent's power without personally taking the position of regent.

The others each had their own thoughts. The Queen Mother was a wise woman, and she knew that the regency powers she had obtained through her status could not be maintained indefinitely.

Besides, both the Marquis of Qi and the Marquis of Luo were her pillars of support. With one commanding military affairs and the other civil affairs, the realm would remain secure.

With that thought, Queen Mother Qi Jiang openly sided with Luo Su. "I believe the Grand Tutor's words are sound.

"Granting you dukes and marquises the title 'lord of the Regency Council' will discourage those with ulterior motives from coveting power, and make the royal domain's Dukes and Ministers and the Lords Outside the Royal Domain abandon unnecessary ambitions. The royal domain's coffers are empty. Restoring good governance here is what matters."

Since even the Queen Mother agreed, the others naturally had no objections.

Luo Su had most likely made this proposal to keep the royal domain from sinking into a whirlpool of political struggle. His prestige was unmatched; few had even opposed his appointment as Grand Tutor. The title of lord of the Regency Council would not raise his own standing all that much.

Luo Su acted with the speed of thunder and the force of wind. Once the most important matter was settled, he immediately called for the seal so the decision could be promulgated throughout the royal domain and the various states.

[The Luo Clan's patriarch has become chairman of the Regency Council. Your clan has once again gained a glorious history of exercising the regency. Your clan's influence has increased once more, and your Fortune Points have risen substantially.]

The sudden system notification drew Ji Zhao's attention. Looking at the spirited Luo Su, Ji Zhao shook his head. Serving as regent was hardly so simple.

Once an attendant carried the decree away, everyone began discussing the second matter: the great undertaking of granting fiefs and founding states.

"Enfeoffing four marquises in a single day-what a grand occasion for the dynasty! Does the Grand Tutor have any candidates in mind?"

Luo Su laughed despite himself. "My lords, do not jest. Enfeoffing rulers is a weighty matter of The Way of the King. I am merely the king's steward, an unremarkable minister who carries out his duties according to the rules.

"The Rites of Zhou states quite clearly who may be enfeoffed: either ministers of outstanding merit or royal kinsmen of noble blood. Those are the only choices."

At Luo Su's words, everyone understood and turned toward Queen Mother Qi Jiang. Among royal kinsmen of noble blood, whose lineage could be more exalted than the reigning king's brothers?

Qi Jiang's brows immediately knitted. One of her sons had become king, and the other would naturally receive a fief, but she had never considered sending him to such a remote place as the south.

In the Zhou State of that era, fiefs of equal territory fell into four grades. The first consisted of those around Luoyi's royal domain. Their populations were large, their lands fertile, their commerce prosperous, and their culture flourishing. These were lands favored by Heaven.

The second comprised the stretch of land from the Jin State to Haojing's royal domain, where the Zhou State's ancestral temples stood.

The third consisted of lands opened up in the east, such as the Luo State and Qi State. The culture of All Xia already flourished there, Eastern Yi tribes were growing fewer, and the lands were quite prosperous.

The worst were those in the north, south, and west: poor, ravaged by warfare, and populated by numerous barbarian peoples.

Even for a marquisate, Qi Jiang would not send her son to such a place.

She therefore frowned and said, "The late king's Second Son by the Primary Wife is only a young child. How could he shoulder the burden of defending against the Chu State? The late king had three sons born of concubines, all of whom have come of age. They hold fiefs within the royal domain, but their ranks are merely earl, viscount, and baron.

"With Xi's accession, all beneath Heaven rejoice. His elder brothers should receive higher titles to demonstrate his benevolence. Let the three be raised to marquises and their Marquisate States relocated to Tang, Sui, and the other such places."

In a few words, she had settled the princes' futures neatly. Those present could not help admiring her decisiveness; she showed not the slightest concern that the princes' maternal families might object.

The others agreed at once and began drafting the decree.

Luo Su said, "The lands of Shen and Lü are the most critical. Among the commanders who accompanied King Li on his personal campaign, Yu Boxiu rendered meritorious service. Promote him to Marquis Shen, grant him both cities of Shen and Lü, and give him a fief two hundred li across to display the king's gracious favor."

The Zhou State had expanded greatly by then, and even an earldom could span a hundred li. Yet grants of land still followed the old rules of the Rites of Zhou.

Yu Bo belonged to one of the Ji lineages. Since his fief was now being relocated, he would naturally need a generous grant of land and other rewards, lest the court acquire a reputation for mistreating royal kin.

"Since the Sage King's regency, the royal domain's official structure has become tangled and cumbersome. I have reviewed and organized it. The Three Grand Ministers are generally honorary appointments granted to venerable clan elders, most of whom do not participate in government. Since that is so, let us establish this as a fixed institution, making them the king's senior kinsmen.

"As for the offices of the Royal Aides, let the six offices—Heavenly, Earth, Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter—hold the rank of high minister. The Grand Clan Head shall oversee the Ji-Surname Feudal Lords, and the Junior Clan Minister shall oversee lords of other surnames. We shall also appoint a Chief Court Diplomat to handle dukes and marquises, and a Junior Court Diplomat to handle earls, viscounts, and barons.

"The lords of the four regional commands shall rotate every eight years, with the posts held by lords who have rendered meritorious service. This will also allow the king to grow closer to his royal kinsmen and noble relatives."

Luo Su had gone to painstaking lengths to strengthen relations between the king and the lords whose blood ties to him were steadily growing more distant. If a powerful lord went his entire life without ever seeing the king, how could anyone speak of loyalty?

The Heavenly Official Bureau.

Without question, this was now the center of power for all beneath Heaven. Every matter in the royal domain, every matter in the Zhou State, had to pass through the Heavenly Office for judgment.

The Marquis of Jin, head of the Spring Office, and the Marquis of Chen, head of the Earth Office, wore beaming expressions. They felt they had reached the pinnacle of their lives.

Luo Su filled all three cups and smiled. "Marquis of Jin, Marquis of Chen, please drink."

Both offered their thanks together. "We are sorry to trouble you, Grand Tutor."

After drinking the warmed wine, the Marquis of Chen asked, "For what important matter has the Grand Tutor summoned us?"

Rather than answer, Luo Su turned to the Marquis of Jin. "Your ancestor was King Wu's younger brother. Four generations have passed since then, and your blood ties to the king are already quite faint."

At these words, both the Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Chen immediately grew solemn.

"If things have reached this point after only four generations, what of a hundred years, three hundred years, five hundred years from now? Will the descendants of future ages still defend the king? I have grave doubts.

"Since the Sage King's time, the position of Grand Clan Head has passed down through the Luo Clan. By my generation, this problem has become severe. I cannot leave it unaddressed, so I have devised a solution.

"As head of the Spring Office, the Marquis of Jin now has authority over clan affairs. The Marquis of Chen shall serve as Junior Clan Minister and can coordinate with lords of other surnames. Thus, I wish to entrust this matter to you both."

The Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Chen exchanged a glance, then answered together, "Please speak, Grand Tutor. We will spare no effort."

"The royal domain preserves genealogical records of all the realm's lords. Record the men and women of marriageable age in their families, especially those with brothers and sisters.

"King Xi has married the Marquis of Chen's legitimate daughter. Under the accompanying-concubine system, I fear you may have to send all your daughters into the king's harem.

"In my view, there is no need. Keep one or two legitimate daughters and daughters of your clan to marry into the families of other Ji-Surname Feudal Lords—for instance, to the Marquis of Jin's son."

"The prohibition against marriage between those of the same surname cannot be broken. Instead, use the blood of other surnames to bring the king and his lords closer together, and give the Zhou State a little more stability."

Smiles appeared on both men's faces as they listened. This would not be difficult, and it would benefit them both considerably. They agreed immediately.

Watching the Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Chen leave, Luo Su pondered for a moment. This method should somewhat counter the lords' growing estrangement from the king. But as their strength continued to swell, the king would also have to strengthen his own power.

From what our ancestor meant, the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven must at least last no less than Yin Shang's. Our ancestor laid a hundred-year foundation for the Zhou State. Can I do the same?

Countless tangled thoughts weighed upon his heart. An attendant entered to announce that Marquis Shen had come to visit.

As soon as Marquis Shen Xiu entered, he performed a deep ceremonial bow. "Xiu pays his respects to the Grand Tutor."

Luo Su had shown Marquis Shen immense kindness. In truth, Marquis Shen had been born of an illicit union; he did not even qualify as a concubine's son. In that age, his status had been as lowly as a servant's.

One deeply dark irony was that Ji Zhao had established the clan system and the enfeoffment system, creating an age of rigid hierarchy in which blood ties determined almost everything.

Yet he himself, and the successive Marquises of Luo whom he secretly influenced, cared nothing for bloodlines.

That was also why Luo Su had abandoned Ji Wan without hesitation. Every rule was merely a tool for preserving their rule.

Only through Luo Su's secret assistance had Marquis Shen risen from an illegitimate child to become a lord.

His birth mother had also been posthumously honored as a lady, and no one dared mock his origins to his face anymore. Such kindness surpassed even the gift of birth and upbringing.

Now Luo Su had intervened again, raising him from a commander to a lord charged with guarding the south, equal in standing to the king's high ministers. He had also been enfeoffed as a marquis, becoming the founding ancestor of a lineage whose descendants could henceforth take Shen as their clan name. For a noble, surpassing his ancestors was the greatest glory.

How could Marquis Shen not kowtow deeply to Luo Su and serve him with the devotion of a hound or horse?

Luo Su helped him up with a smile. "There is no need for this, Marquis Shen. You are an outstanding talent of the royal clan and distinguished yourself on the southern campaign. Now you are a marquis governing a realm two hundred li across. You may establish your own ancestral temple and boast of your achievements to your descendants. I should be congratulating you."

Only then did Marquis Shen kneel and sit opposite Luo Su. "It was entirely thanks to your support, Grand Tutor. I am ashamed to accept such praise. As for the southern campaign-alas, my failure to protect the king was a dereliction of duty."

"Do not belittle yourself, Marquis Shen. King Li provoked Heaven's wrath and the people's resentment. Serving such a ruler, it was already no easy feat to accomplish what you did. There is no need to be overly anxious when you go to Shen to establish your state. Build the Shen State well over the course of your lifetime, and that will suffice.

"As long as I remain in Luoyi, Xiong Dun will not march north. Once you reach Shen, campaign westward to expand your strength, and remember to maintain contact with the other three states. You all bear the Ji surname and cannot intermarry, so it would be best to marry sisters and become brothers-in-law.

"Now that Xiong Dun has returned, even I cannot predict how sentiment within the Chu State will change. But after his death, another clash will surely come. I hope that by then the Shen State will be capable of shouldering a great responsibility."

Luo Su explained his requirements to Marquis Shen Xiu. He no longer concerned himself solely with policies during his own time in power; he had begun laying plans for the next generation. That was why, despite knowing Xiong Dun would not march north in his lifetime, he still transferred Yu Boxiu's fief to Shen.

"Xiu, there is something I wish to say. Hear me out.

"Over the past seventy-odd years, so many enfeoffed states have perished. The reasons were complex, but at their root lay nothing more than rulers given over to pleasure and neglected government. Thus, a state's survival rests upon the choice of its successor.

"The Shen State stands on the front line facing the Chu State. You must be cautious. I hear that your Second Son by the Primary Wife is only ten, yet can recite the Sage King's complete writings from memory. If you are willing, I can take him as my student and find him a noble daughter of the Song State to marry."

Wild joy instantly flooded Marquis Shen Xiu's face. His son could study under the foremost man at court and marry a noble daughter from a ducal clan. Who could refuse?

Without the slightest hesitation, he said, "I am willing. Once I return, I will send my son to your residence, Grand Tutor."

Luo Su was very pleased with Marquis Shen's decisiveness. They chatted and laughed, and Luo Su explained the duties the Shen State would need to shoulder before letting him leave.

As Marquis Shen Xiu left the Heavenly Official Bureau headquarters, a faint sigh tempered the delight on his face. He understood the meaning behind Luo Su's earlier words.

His eldest legitimate son was incorrigibly unruly and extraordinarily stupid, notorious even among the Luo Clan's ducal kin. He simply had not expected word to reach Luo Su.

He was now to guard the Shen State and curb the Chu State's expansion. This was a century-long strategy for the Zhou State, and Shen was its most important piece. Luo Su was dissatisfied with his successor and had pointedly offered to take his Second Son by the Primary Wife as a student and marry him to a noble daughter of Song State. This was a warning to handle the matter himself. Luo Su could hardly have shown greater kindness or consideration.

Grateful for Luo Su's favor, Marquis Shen Xiu calmed himself somewhat, then decided to arrange an accident for his eldest legitimate son that would strip him of his right to inherit.

King Kang said, "Royal Uncle, when you served as regent, all beneath Heaven submitted. What does it mean to exercise the regency?"

The Sage King said, "Only the instruments of authority and the titles of rank must never be lent to others. They are the ruler's charge. A regent holds both; a king must not grant them lightly."-Later Chapters of The Way of the King

Brothers, please take a look: this book is alternate history, alternate history. I said it in the very first chapter, too. It is a game built with history as its foundation, combined with unofficial folk histories, tales of spirits and strange creatures, and legendary stories. A game!