After that banquet, Luo Su returned to normal in everyone's eyes.
His methods remained forceful, but he no longer backed people into a corner.
He still handled affairs of state with perfect order. Whatever problem was placed before him, he could offer a sound solution within moments.
The Marquis of Jin and the Marquis of Chen were frequently summoned by him. Under his supervision, they steadily advanced the effort to renew the blood ties between the Ji feudal lords and the Son of Heaven.
With this institution in place, many Ji feudal houses whose blood ties to the royal house had grown exceedingly thin would see their future lords become close blood relatives of future Sons of Heaven once more.
Among Luo Su's policies, this was one that seemed unimportant but was actually crucial. The closeness of blood ties would subtly and naturally influence the political leanings of the various feudal states.
Many feudal states rallied around the Son of Heaven. For a moment, it almost seemed that the prosperity of the Sage King's regency had returned.
Five years was neither a long time nor a short one. Ji Xi underwent his capping ceremony and assumed personal rule, bringing the Regency Council's mission to an end.
This governing body for the transitional period reached the end of its life. Without delaying even a single day, Luo Su returned royal authority to Ji Xi.
That day, Ji Zhao received several system messages in succession.
[Your family's political credibility has increased.] [All royal houses have become less wary of your family.] [Your family's appeal to the Talent of a King’s Assistant has decreased.] [Your family's ethos has changed. The probability of ambitious schemers emerging has greatly decreased.]
The increase in the family's credibility was obvious. Not everyone could decisively fulfill a political promise and relinquish the power of a regent.
As the Luo Clan's image of having no designs whatsoever on the throne sank deep into people's hearts, worthy talents who longed to earn merit by helping a new sovereign rise would no longer flock to them.
Nor would any mighty ruler with ambitions to rule the realm regard the Luo Clan as a rival. Meanwhile, the clan would become every emperor's first choice when entrusting his orphaned heir to someone on his deathbed.
As for the change in the family's ethos, first of all, under Ji Zhao's influence, his direct descendants could never harbor ambitions to usurp the throne.
This family ethos mainly affected legitimate-line descendants outside his direct line. There were neither very many nor very few of them, and they could still represent the Luo Clan.
The less ambitious they were, the better it was for the Luo Clan's survival. Still, Ji Zhao felt that as his influence on reality grew, he might one day be able to eliminate the possibility of descendants rebelling on their own and implicating the entire family.
After Luo Su stepped down as regent, there was the fact that he had never exercised royal authority in the king's stead. He had merely presided over the Regency Council and governed indirectly, sharing power with several others.
His position had been a far cry from Ji Zhao's, when there could be no two suns in the sky. Thus, he remained in the Royal Domain to govern as head of the Heavenly Office.
He governed this way for more than a decade, until his health suddenly collapsed.
After years of toil, Luo Su suddenly fell ill one winter, and his condition rapidly worsened until he could no longer rise from his bed.
The news stirred towering waves throughout the Royal Domain. Ji Xi immediately left his palace to visit Luo Su at his residence.
"Teacher, you must rest and recover. Zhou State cannot go a single day without you!"
Ji Xi's expression was sorrowful. Even setting aside their many years of affection, Luo Su's selfless assistance over the years alone made it impossible for him to accept losing such an important minister.
Luo Su himself, however, was very calm. Birth, aging, illness, and death were all decreed by the Mandate of Heaven. The Luo Clan revered Heaven and understood its mandate.
His only lingering concern was Zhou State's realm. Although the state had grown ever more prosperous over the years, many hidden dangers remained.
"Your Majesty, this time I may truly be going to meet the Sage King. There are some things I wish to tell you."
Ji Xi held Luo Su's hand and said sorrowfully, "Speak, Teacher. I am listening."
"Your Majesty, King Li once mobilized a vast host to campaign south against Jingchu. In the end, he lost all Six Armies, and it took twenty years to recover.
"Do you know why he failed?
"Was it merely because he drew close to petty men and distanced himself from worthy ministers?
"You must never think that way!
"That is a dangerous thought. Even if King Li's southern campaign had succeeded, what would it have accomplished?
"The King must remember what I have always told you: war is the ground of life and death, the road to survival or destruction.
"Only by not fighting can one remain undefeated. Keeping the Son of Heaven's Six Armies in the Royal Domain is the greatest deterrent to everyone.
"If you recklessly take up arms, the Son of Heaven's strength and weakness will be exposed to prying eyes. That cannot be tolerated.
"The Son of Heaven's Six Armies should be used only to quell rebellions among the feudal lords. Do not lightly wage war against the Rong and Di.
"Wherever the Rong and Di invade, summon the feudal lords and use their troops to suppress those invaders.
"I fear greatly that future kings will personally campaign against the barbarian peoples to flaunt their military prowess. Once defeated, they will fall beyond redemption.
"Enfeoffment and the patriarchal clan system are the Son of Heaven's sword, used to display his benevolence and majesty. Use them skillfully, but do not abuse them.
"Be particularly cautious when granting land within the Royal Domain. If Lords Outside the Royal Domain can be used, have them temporarily fill the roles of Lords of the Royal Domain."
"Respect ministers who treat you with deference, rebuke those who fail to observe ritual propriety, and constantly call upon the feudal lords. Only then can you draw them close to you.
"The patriarchal clan system is the final barrier protecting the Son of Heaven. You must warn every future king never to take the lead in undermining it. Once rites collapse and music falls into ruin, Zhou State will cease to exist."
Ji Xi was almost in tears. Over the years, he had often heard Luo Su speak these words. Even at death's door, Luo Su was still emphasizing the policies and institutions vital to Zhou State's realm.
"Teacher, I understand."
Seeing Ji Xi nodding repeatedly, apparently having taken his words to heart, Luo Su voiced his final wish. "Your Majesty, I hope to be buried in Zhou State's ancestral land. That way, I can be closer to the Sage King."
"Very well. I will make the ar... arrangements at once." The king's attendants immediately went to prepare a carriage.
The journey from Luoyi to Haojing was not a short one.
Several thousand soldiers escorted Luo Su's carriage. They kept as close as possible to Jin State's sphere of influence, where there would be far fewer Rong and Di tribes along the way.
Luo Su lay inside the carriage, which had been padded with layers of soft cloth. No jolting could disturb him.
There were wrinkles on his face, and his complexion was poor. He lay quietly in his wife's arms, with his heir beside him.
"Father, we will soon reach Haojing City."
Luo Su knew he was dying. He had asked the Son of Heaven, Xi, to bury him in Haojing City so that he could be a little closer to the Sage King.
Legend said that before leaving this world, a person would look back on his entire life. Luo Su could attest that this was no mere legend.
He considered his life to have gone smoothly. He had been born into a great Ji state, and not long after his birth, the eldest legitimate son had been injured. Everything belonging to the Luo Clan had fallen to him.
His Great Ancestor was the Sage King, the regent whom the Zhou people revered like a god. His grandfather and father had both served among the Three Dukes assisting the Son of Heaven, and Luo State was one of the powerful regional states in the east.
Not even the Jiang-surnamed Lü Clan of Qi State, which had intermarried with the Sons of Heaven for generations, could compare with such a pedigree.
He had inherited his father's position among the Three Dukes. During his years assisting Ji Wan, he had not accomplished all that much, but he had stopped Ji Wan from doing many absurd things.
That had earned him tremendous political prestige. Combined with the foundations built over four generations of the Luo Clan, he had already become, in all but name, second only to the king.
Then Ji Wan had refused to heed remonstrations and insisted on campaigning south. In the end, he had suffered a crushing defeat at the Han River, narrowly escaping the destruction of his entire army.
Ji Wan had died there. Xiong Dun had marched north and threatened the Royal Domain, and Luo Su had led troops to defend the king.
Every shining moment of his life had begun with that defense of the throne. Talking Chu State's army into retreating single-handedly had sent his prestige soaring beyond the heavens.
The establishment of the Regency Council had brought his power to its pinnacle.
Over his lifetime, he had invested more than forty feudal lords. As for vassals outside the Five Ranks of Nobility, there was no telling how many there had been.
These lords were scattered between Haojing and Luoyi, with the most distant reaching south of the great river.
As Haojing rose, the Dog Rong had long ceased to initiate wars, instead continuing westward.
For at least fifty years, as long as no ruler like Ji Wan appeared, Zhou State would not need to fear a reversal from offense to defense.
What else did I do?
I also met the ancestor once. Will I see him again after I die?
Luo Su's consciousness grew increasingly hazy. Dimly, he seemed to see a hall filled with statues.
But when he looked closely, those statues were still only half-finished.
Among them was a statue of himself, so vivid and lifelike that it almost seemed to be a real person.
What is that?
Luo Su felt a sense of closeness, as though his blood were calling to him.
"This is the Hall of Heroes. You are the first heroic spirit to come here." His ancestor's voice rang out.
The Hall of Heroes!
In an instant, he understood everything about the Hall of Heroes. A smile appeared on his face.
"Ancestor, I look forward to the day I see you again."
Though he was an old man at the brink of death, boundless light burst from his eyes.
His consciousness went completely dark!
[Luo Su has passed away. He was the Luo Clan's first Child of the Mandate of Heaven. Heaven and earth mourn together. Calculating Luo Su's lifetime achievements. You have obtained an earth-tier item—Sumeru Mustard Seed.] [Earth Tier · Sumeru Mustard Seed: The user can obtain a space existing within the void, capable of storing nonliving objects. Note: Access to this space can be granted to the head of the Luo Clan.]
Without hesitation, Ji Zhao used it immediately!
[You have obtained a Sumeru Mustard Seed space. Please explore freely.]
"My lord father has passed away!"
Luo Li, the heir soon to become the Marquis of Luo, cried out sorrowfully.
"Our lord has passed away!"
The eunuchs of Luo State's court announced the heartbreaking news to everyone in their shrill voices.
"Wooo..."
Grief-stricken sobs resounded throughout the convoy. The messengers who had remained ready at all times immediately set off east to report the news throughout Luoyi's Royal Domain.
[Earth Tier · Heroic Spirit Card: Blood descendant successfully received. Character received: Luo Su.]
Ji Zhao quietly put away the card and gazed at his favorite descendant. This was already the third time he had seen off one of his direct blood descendants.
He had poured a great deal of care and effort into Luo Su: smoothing his path to succession, answering his questions and resolving his doubts, fully appearing before the Luo Clan Descendants for the first time, bestowing a divine artifact of the Mandate of Heaven upon him, and spending vast amounts of fortune to grant him the Ancestors’ Blessing.
The rewards Luo Su had brought him were also considerable. Now that he had passed away, Ji Zhao felt sorrow as well.
Then he turned his gaze toward the Luo Clan's new head.
[Founding ancestor: Ji Zhao, Luo Zhao Clan head: Luo Li (fifth-generation Descendants of the Ji-surnamed Luo Clan) Noble rank: Marquis (sovereign) State: Zhou Dynasty (Luo State). Faction: Royal clan. Ability attributes: Political Maneuvering: 78; Statecraft: 79; Personnel Management: 94; command: 72; martial prowess: 70; military strategy: 73. Faction reputation: Hatred, coldness, neutrality, friendliness, respect, worship. Clan Head's Prestige: ① Royal house: Friendly; ② royal clan: Friendly; ③ feudal lords: Friendly; ④ army: Friendly; ⑤ people of the state: Friendly. Clan Prestige: ① Royal house: Respect; ② royal clan: Respect; ③ feudal lords: Neutral; ④ army: Friendly; ⑤ people of the state: Respect.]
Judging by his ability attributes, he was something like an enhanced version of Duke Huan of Qi. His score of 94 in Personnel Management showed that he was exceptionally skilled in the art of rule, capable of maintaining a perfect balance of power, and had his own insights into employing talent.
For a feudal ruler, given the Luo Clan's prestige and degree of control within Luo State, knowing how to manage people was enough. Moreover, a governance score of 79 was more than sufficient to administer a feudal state spanning several hundred li.
But for a minister who would serve as one of the Three Dukes in the Royal Domain, his Political Maneuvering and Statecraft scores were the lowest among all successive Marquises of Luo. This meant he would need to establish a staff and employ worthy talents to devise plans and strategies for him.
Still, after Luo Su's governance, Zhou State had no major problems. A little patching and mending would suffice.
Starting with Luo Su, Ji Zhao's influence on reality had grown ever greater. He left Luo Li a bamboo slip that was a Blank Item, took away all the other items, and departed.
Luo Li felt a chill between his brows, and information appeared in his mind out of thin air.
Surprise appeared in his eyes. As the successor, he knew of the ancestor's existence.
But only now did he learn about the Mandate of Heaven Divine Artifacts, a supreme secret of the Luo Clan known only to its head.
The convoy carrying Luo Su's remains entered Haojing City, and countless nobles came to pay their respects. In these years, during which he had no longer worked tirelessly to weaken the nobility, his prestige had grown even greater than before.
Traveling at full speed, the messenger soon returned to Luoyi with news of Luo Su's death.
The Son of Heaven, Xi, was deeply grieved. He dispatched a delegation of the highest ceremonial rank, with his father-in-law, the Marquis of Chen, going to Haojing in his stead to offer condolences.
He summoned the ministers to the royal palace to discuss the matter most important to a political figure-his posthumous name.
Naturally, everyone proposed laudatory names. In the end, the Son of Heaven, Xi, made the decision to bestow the posthumous name "Wen."
"The rules for posthumous names say, 'He who orders heaven and earth is called Wen.' Teacher possessed precisely that ability. 'He who is virtuous and broadly learned is called Wen.' Teacher was noble in character and rich in learning, making this name fitting. There is also, 'He who grants noble ranks to the people is called Wen.' Teacher greatly expanded enfeoffment and should be called Wen. Other criteria include being firm without cruelty, and being loyal and trustworthy while treating others with propriety.
"Moreover, the person Teacher admired most throughout his life was the Sage King.
"In bygone years, the Sage King assisted King Kang, just as Teacher assisted me.
"Buried beside the Sage King and called Duke Wen of Luo, Teacher would surely be pleased. It will also be a fine tale for posterity."
The feudal lords and Dukes and Ministers all bowed in assent, praising the Son of Heaven's wisdom.
Duke Wen of Luo was broad-minded and far-sighted, bold in undertaking responsibility, and capable of ordering heaven and earth. From the time he took office, he rose early and slept late, holding the reins of government himself. Over twenty years, the realm was brought to order, and the King’s enterprise flourished anew.
Among those whose achievements shone in the annals of history, who after the Sage King surpassed him? -Records of the Grand Historian, "House of Luo"
Brothers, I update four thousand characters every day, but I never drag things out. The pacing takes flight straight away.
All right, I just wanted to ask you brothers not to stockpile chapters while the book is being promoted. Otherwise, I won't get another round of recommendations.
Before you continue