Enfeoffment Renewed, Twelve Lords

Before Luo Su could help Shen You and Zhou Yun to their feet, several more men bowed down and loudly requested postings beyond the Royal Domain.

Luo Su and the others at the banquet turned to look. They were the clan heads of the Zhang Clan of the Ji Lineage, the Ji Clan of the Jiang Lineage, and the Xu Clan.

Luo Su had not expected such excellent results. He hurried to help them up, saying, "I understand your wishes, gentlemen. As a descendant of the Sage King, I am naturally willing.

"However, I do not, after all, oversee all the affairs of the King. Tomorrow, I will raise this at the Regency Council and have the other lords vote on it.

"For such a great undertaking that will strengthen our Zhou State, there should be little difficulty. You may rest easy."

The head of the Ji Clan of the Jiang Lineage had originally intended to give the matter more thought, but the Shen Clan's earlier words had struck him right in the lungs.

The Shen Clan had merely competed with the Lü Clan a century ago. The Ji Clan was a branch that had split directly from the Lü Clan!

What branch clan had never dreamed of toppling its parent clan?

In actual history, the Qin Clan, which had branched off from the Zhao Clan of the Ying Lineage, had shown no mercy whatsoever when slaughtering the royal house of Zhao State.

Not every parent clan treated its branches as well as the Luo Clan did.

The Lineage System divided people into high and low, noble and humble, from birth. For branch clans like theirs, dealing with an arrogant parent clan was nothing short of miserable.

For the Ji Clan, remaining within the Royal Domain meant they would never surpass the Lü Clan, which had married into the royal house for generations.

The Ji Clan had numerous members and considerable power. It could easily transfer vast amounts of manpower and resources to its fief while retaining a certain degree of influence within the Royal Domain.

Trading some authority within the Royal Domain for an independent fief seemed a very worthwhile bargain to the Ji Clan, and one worth attempting.

The Xu Clan, meanwhile, had fallen from power within the Royal Domain. With too few talented members, it had seen the authority under its control stripped away little by little through successive minor adjustments to the official system.

Now, at last, someone worth nurturing had emerged from its legitimate line, but the Xu Clan no longer possessed enough influence to raise him to the rank of high minister.

The position of the Lords of the Royal Domain was indeed prestigious. Though its upper limit was fixed, the system of hereditary offices and stipends had allowed even a clan as short of talent as the Xu Clan to hold power for so many years.

Lords Outside the Royal Domain were different. Failure in campaigns against the barbarians could mean death and the destruction of their states. Yet during their years in Luoyi, the lords they had encountered most often were those from the east.

Under the crushing blows dealt by the great states of Qi State, Luo State, Song State, and Wei State, the Eastern Yi had been weakened to the utmost. The eastern Marquisate States now faced no danger at all, provided they did not deliberately stir up trouble.

Influenced by everything he had seen and heard, together with the expansion of the Zhou State's strength over the years, the Xu Clan head seemed to have developed something of a misunderstanding about the difficulty of governing the Xia Lords and Yi People in early Zhou.

The Zhang Clan of the Ji Lineage was the most unusual of them all. Its head, Zhang Shao, was a man of considerable political wisdom.

From the long string of titles conferred on Marquis Lü Bai of Qi when he went to Haojing, he had vaguely deduced that Luo Su intended to revive Haojing. What happened at tonight's banquet confirmed his suspicions.

To revive Haojing, the route between the two capitals had to be thoroughly opened up, at least to the same extent as the east. It could not remain as it was now, with Xia and Yi intermingled and countless Rong and Di tribes still living across vast tracts of land.

In Zhang Shao's view, over the next dozen or so years, Luo Su would gradually enfeoff great nobles within the Royal Domain like them on the land between Haojing and Luoyi. Just as the Sage King had established the Royal Domain around Luoyi, he would develop that territory as the heart of the Zhou State.

The land there enjoyed a favorable geographical position. To the north, it bordered territory already opened up by Jin State and other Ji-Surname Feudal Lords; to the south lay boundless room for expansion.

Historical records stated that the Sage King had intended to implement this plan in his own time. However, expansion in the east had been too successful. Endless land and wealth flowed into Luoyi and the various Marquisate States, drawing in the resources of the entire Zhou State and leaving no spare manpower or supplies to develop other regions.

As a result, after the Sage King's death, the plan for the Two Capitals System had been shelved for decades. Only now had his direct descendant, Luo Su, launched it once more.

Luo Su had shrewdly chosen a moment when the Royal Domain around Luoyi possessed an excess of strength, and its internal conflicts would explode unless redirected outward.

Most importantly, Luo Su, who sought to advance the plan, happened to possess sufficient prestige, sufficient power, and a sound political reputation. In a sense, he had favorable timing, advantageous terrain, and the support of the people.

Had Luo Su known of this analysis, he would have given Zhang Shao a thumbs-up.

Although Luo Su's primary aims were, first, to slow the inexorable flow of land within the Royal Domain into the hands of Dukes and Ministers and great nobles and improve its finances, and second, to ease the political problems caused by great nobles swallowing up the lands of lesser nobles.

Establishing a true Two Capitals System, strengthening the projection of power into the central and western regions, ultimately rebuilding Haojing's defenses, and even moving the Son of Heaven westward were all part of his plans.

Within his limited lifetime, he wanted to finish the most difficult work so that his son could inherit a relatively stable position among the Three Dukes.

Whatever these men truly thought, Luo Su was already very pleased with tonight's results. Of the seventeen great clans he had invited, eight had voiced their support. With roughly half their number behind him, the initiative was now firmly in his hands.

The remaining nine clans now felt rather awkward. On the surface, Luo Su had never once demanded that they accept postings outside the Royal Domain since the banquet began.

The other eight clans had acted entirely on their own initiative, beseeching Luo Su to issue gold-sealed edicts in the Regency Council's name and grant them the golden investiture documents of feudal lords.

It was all voluntary, which made things very awkward.

Some, such as the Wang Clan of the Ji Lineage, were descendants of the royal house and enjoyed the closest ties to it. Successive Sons of Heaven had trusted them, and they genuinely did not wish to leave the Royal Domain.

Others, such as the Qi Clan of the Si Lineage, already had a Qi State beyond the Royal Domain, and a duchy at that. If they went out to found a state, they would have to bow to the Duke of Qi at assemblies of the lords. As their senior lineage and superior state, it would certainly come to squeeze favors and resources from them, which left them deeply uncomfortable.

Moreover, they truly held great power within the Royal Domain. They reliably occupied high ministerial positions and occasionally even ranked among the Three Dukes. Their Fiefs were vast, rivaling the hundred-li territories of dukes and marquises—and these were fertile fields within the Royal Domain.

Though Luo Su's words sounded pleasant, promising that they would retain their status as Lords of the Royal Domain even after taking outside postings, politics demanded balance.

Even if Luo Su agreed, the other clans would not. Once large numbers of their members departed for their fiefs, they would inevitably have to surrender some authority within the Royal Domain.

Those who lacked ability and prestige yet clung stubbornly to power would only become targets for every arrow. Everyone would rise against them, and in the end they would die without even a place to be buried.

As though he had not noticed the awkward atmosphere, Luo Su laughed heartily. "I have only recently had the honor of joining the lords of the Regency Council. In meeting you today, I hoped that men of talent like yourselves would serve the state. And indeed, you have given me a tremendous surprise.

"My ancestor was the Mystic Sage King, who could commune with Heaven and govern the affairs of men. As a child, I read his Treatise on Governance. The Sage King called himself a man of utmost sincerity. As the saying goes, 'The way of utmost sincerity allows one to know what is to come.' Thus, whether governing, commanding armies, or ruling the people, he met no obstacle he could not overcome and no undertaking he could not accomplish.

"Today, I too have felt a trace of that utmost sincerity. The Sage King carried out enfeoffment on a grand scale and opened up the lands of the Eastern Yi, allowing the Zhou State to flourish. Now, as I renew enfeoffment and open up the lands of the Western Rong, the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven shall surely prosper forever."

The serving women filled everyone's cups, and they all drained them with Luo Su. Yet every man keenly caught the words "open up the lands of the Western Rong."

Their hearts immediately surged with excitement!

Just as I thought. Zhang Shao surveyed those at the banquet without betraying any emotion, secretly pleased with his foresight. The Marquis of Luo's targets today were the twelve clans among us. Three have agreed already, and the Zhang Clan is the strongest of them. It seems that in this opening of the Western Rong lands, my Zhang Clan will take the lead.

The last large-scale military operation had been the Eastern Campaign and the enfeoffments that followed. The benefits of eastern expansion had still not been exhausted and continued to nourish the Royal Domain around Luoyi. Great states such as Qi State, Song State, and Luo State were always the center of attention when gifts were presented at assemblies of the lords.

Back then, the Zhou State had not been as strong as it was now. Every lord taking possession of his fief had fought alone. If all seventeen clans could now depart together on a large scale, the newly established states could watch over and aid one another. Compared with those early days, the difficulty had been greatly reduced.

Now, apart from a few clans whose resolve remained firm, another four men decided to venture out and try their luck. After all, at worst, their standing within the Royal Domain would decline somewhat.

Luo Su's gaze swept across the faces of the remaining men. A smile lingered on his face, but a bitter chill flashed deep in his eyes. With twelve great clans taking outside postings, a vacuum of power would inevitably emerge within the Royal Domain. He was no philanthropist who would sew a wedding gown for someone else to wear.

The only reason I invited you so politely to drink and discuss this was that you were indeed powerful when united. But now your allies have become mine. Whether you wish to leave or not, you will!

At the next day's Regency Council meeting, the Marquis of Qi was absent, but everyone else was present, including the regent Queen Mother. Luo Su announced what could be called the greatest undertaking in thirty years.

"Currently, twelve great clans are willing to send at least half their members out of Luo. The three Ying Lineage clans and the Xu Clan are even willing to send more than seventy percent. They have chosen sons of their legitimate lines, and the Fei Clan has even sent its eldest legitimate son. They are determined to return to their ancestral lands."

The regent Queen Mother was the most delighted, her voice rising involuntarily. "The Duke of Luo truly deserves to be called the Zhou State's foremost minister. Over these years, there has been less and less land within the Royal Domain. I have held back many Fiefs from being granted, and from time to time I have heard words of resentment. By resolving this problem, the Duke of Luo has lifted a weight from my heart.

"You truly are a descendant of the Sage King, capable of what others cannot accomplish. In years past, King Wu said that the Sage King was the most talented man in the Zhou State, and that only with his assistance could the realm be brought to peace. Later, the Sage King indeed secured the altars of state and brought prosperity to Zhou.

"Now the Son of Heaven is young. Only with a great minister such as the Duke of Luo to assist him can he sit securely upon the throne."

Luo Su smiled faintly. "Your Majesty flatters me. The Sage King was a heavenly being incarnate. How could your servant compare with him? These matters are merely gleanings of another's wisdom, nothing more than the fulfillment of my duties."

The regent Queen Mother waved her hand. "Do not be modest, Duke of Luo. This undertaking involves a great many nobles and a tangled web of relationships. I know I lack the ability to govern the state, so I entrust it entirely to you. The seal of the Regency Council shall be used at your sole discretion."

The others attending said in unison, "We shall act as commanded."

Those who, in theory, held the greatest power in the entire Zhou State were now gathered here. Under this political authority, the vast strength of the Royal Domain began to reveal itself.

The lords' council soon proclaimed the matter throughout the Royal Domain in a gold-sealed edict, then sent messengers in every direction to announce it to all the Marquisate States under Heaven.

"I once asked the Grand Tutor about governance. The Grand Tutor told me that the Sage King had said the key to the Zhou State's prosperity lay in appointing worthy talent and establishing beneficial institutions. Now I have the lords of the Regency Council to assist me. Su of the Luo Clan, a descendant of the Sage King, possesses the bearing of his ancestor and talent that can order Heaven and Earth. He is a great worthy to whom the realm may be entrusted.

"The Sage King established enfeoffment, lineage laws, rites, and music for the Zhou State, and thus Zhou flourished. For decades, enfeoffment has fallen into neglect and lineage laws have grown lax. This grieves me to the depths of my heart, for it is a sign that the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven is waning.

"Before his death, the Sage King said that the day rites collapsed and music fell into ruin would be the day the Zhou State's Mandate of Heaven ended. I grant royal authority to the Regency Council, determined to revitalize the state and renew enfeoffment. Proclaim this to All Xia under Heaven, that all may hear it!"

After four marquises had been invested in the south, the Royal Domain now invested twelve lords at once. Such a large-scale enfeoffment drew the attention of the entire Zhou State.

Lai of the Fei Clan of the Ying Lineage was invested as Marquis of Fei and granted one hundred and fifty li of fertile land in the Qin River Valley. His eldest legitimate son would go to take possession of the fief, and additional money, grain, cloth, and silk were bestowed upon them.

Yun of the Zhou Clan of the Ji Lineage was invested as Marquis of Western Zhou and granted one hundred and fifty li of land west of Yi-Luo.

You of the Shen Clan of the Jiang Lineage was invested as Marquis Shen, with his fief north of Haojing. He too was granted one hundred and fifty li of land.

To distinguish Marquis Shen You from the previously invested Marquis Shen Bo, Marquis Shen You was called Marquis Shen of Western, while Marquis Shen Bo was called Marquis Shen of Southern.

Shao of the Zhang Clan of the Ji Lineage was invested as Marquis of Zhang, with a fief west of Jin State and north of Haojing, and granted one hundred li of land.

The Xu Clan and Jiang Clan of the Ying Lineage were invested as earls, but by special favor were granted one hundred li of land and permitted to use the musical instruments and cauldrons of marquises, though not their ritual vessels. Their fiefs were likewise in the Qin River Valley, where they could watch over and aid Fei State.

The Ji Clan of the Jiang Lineage was likewise invested as an earldom and granted one hundred li of land by special favor, but was permitted to use only the musical instruments of marquises.

The Chen Clan of the Si Lineage, Xu Clan of the Jiang Lineage, Xie Clan, and Gao Clan of the Jiang Lineage, and the Li Clan of the Ji Lineage were all invested as earldoms, each receiving seventy li of land according to established precedent.

These twelve fiefs largely occupied key positions between Haojing and Luoyi, beside mountains and rivers, on strategically vital ground.

[Your clan has left a deep mark upon history. Your clan has once again accelerated the course of history. The system will gradually strengthen the presence of the Historical Correction Force. The rate at which your Fortune Points increase has accelerated.]

"Hm?"

The sudden message startled Ji Zhao.

The previous enfeoffment of four Marquisate States had been completed quite simply, because the personal connections of the three princes and Yu Xiu were all straightforward. They only needed to take their trusted followers and possessions with them.

This time, however, all twelve clans were great nobles within the Royal Domain. Even setting aside their political influence, their economic relationships alone were extraordinarily tangled.

The Lineage System established by Ji Zhao stipulated that sons born outside the legitimate line had to establish separate households and adopt new clan names upon reaching adulthood. They would found junior lineages and become the ancestors of their own branches, no longer permitted to offer sacrifices to the ancestors of the parent clan.

Legitimate sons did not need to change their clan names, but the fourth generation did. This signified that the blood relationship between the two sides had grown distant, and the next generation would no longer belong to the ruling house, but only to its extended clan.

Within the Zhou State of the present day, many houses had not strictly enforced the second rule in order to strengthen their ruling lines. Even so, there were still a great many clans founded by sons outside the legitimate line.

Most survived by working for their parent clans and following them in service to the Son of Heaven.

Taking the three Ying Lineage clans as an example, the Fei Clan, Xu Clan, and Jiang Clan were all senior lineages. These nobles faced no struggle to survive and were quite prolific. They had few legitimate sons but heaps of other sons, with dozens of junior lineages dependent on them for their livelihood.

Marriage between those of the same lineage surname was forbidden, and marriages among the junior lineages made their economic ties extremely complicated.

The Regency Council, which briefly existed in the middle period of Western Zhou, was the first governing institution with the character of an aristocratic republic in China's age of Royal Institutions. During its five years of existence, a group of exceptionally capable slaveholding nobles with progressive ideas advanced a series of far-reaching reforms.

The prosperity of this era demonstrated that placing a state under the control of a group of experienced professional bureaucrats was viable, and this had a profound influence on later history.-A General History of the World, Western Zhou, Volume II