The tribute system for inner and outer vassals devised by Luo Chen had inherited part of the Zhou Dynasty's rites and institutions. However, the Zhou Dynasty's system had been stricter, drawing clearer distinctions between the vassals, while the Han Dynasty's was much simpler.
At present, there were two and a half All Xia states within the four seas. The first was the common sovereign of All Xia, the central dynasty ruled by the Son of Heaven-Great Han. The other was the extremely remote Kingdom of Lingnan, which honored the Son of Heaven's commands by opening up the lands of Lingnan.
The remaining half was Duke Zhao's State, whose status was exceedingly strange: it was an outer vassal, yet much like an inner vassal; independent, yet not independent. It was a subtle distinction.
The grand tribute ceremony held once every five years was one of the greatest political events in all of Great Han.
Especially after the Han Court had thoroughly subdued all the feudal kingdoms, no feudal lord sought excuses to avoid attending any longer.
The feudal kingdoms throughout the realm sent enormous delegations to Chang'an to express their loyalty to the imperial house, whose blood ties to them grew ever more distant.
All the bustle and commotion vanished when the delegation from Duke Zhao's State entered Chang'an City, and everyone's attention turned to it.
The delegation from Duke Zhao's State had an unmistakably distinctive character. From its banners to the patterns on its carriages and the clothing its members wore, images of soaring phoenixes were everywhere. This was the totem inherited from the ancient Zhou State.
The delegation numbered over a thousand, including five hundred fully armed horsemen mounted on tall, powerful horses the Luo Clan had purchased at great expense. Their charging power was formidable. Large bows and