The Meritorious Officials Group wanted official posts.
In the Great Han Dynasty, office clearly outweighed noble rank. With both office and rank, one had everything; with rank but no office, one was merely a fat sheep awaiting slaughter.
The great deeds the Meritorious Officials Group had performed at the dynasty's founding had earned rich rewards. Besides their noble ranks, they held a near monopoly on the court's senior offices.
Especially during Emperor Gao Liu Bang's reign, the Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers had all belonged to the Meritorious Officials Group. In actual history, this situation had persisted until Emperor Wu's reign.
Although Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing had both struck forcefully at the highest-ranking meritorious officials, the episode of Zhou Yafu's encampment at Xiliu showed that the Meritorious Officials Group's dominance could not be broken by striking down just one or two people.
Only during Emperor Wu's reign, when the Wei-Huo Military Meritorious Officials Group burst onto the scene, had the Founding Meritorious Officials Group finally been swept into the rubbish heap.
But in this world, the crucial Rebellion of the Lü Clan had never occurred. Liu Ying, an emperor whose legitimacy was beyond dispute, had smoothly taken power, followed by Luo Xin carrying the emperor on his back. The meritorious officials had lost that crucial step of supporting Emperor Wen of Han's accession, and their influence had begun gradually declining during Empress Lü's time.
Although they remained the largest force, another force had formed at court through recommendations by the Luo Clan, the Lü Clan, and others. Composed chiefly of scholars from the Hundred Schools, it could not be underestimated either.
Jia Yi was a key figure among them. Many people had guessed that he was the chancellor Luo Xin was preparing for the emperor's personal rule.
The Meritorious