Invested by the Former King with authority over royal government and empowered to act in the king's stead, Grand Steward, Supreme General, and Marquis of Luo Ji Zhao led his army back to the capital. At the same time, the rulers of dozens of states traveled there to pay homage to the Son of Heaven and hold an assembly, where achievements would be rewarded and offenses punished. Above all, the former lands of Yinxu were to be enfeoffed anew.
This was the first gathering of all the regional rulers in Haojing since the sweeping enfeoffments in the first year of King Kang's reign. The questions of ceremony alone threw the entire royal court into a frenzy.
Normally, a minister as powerful as Ji Zhao returning to the capital with an army would inevitably invite suspicion from those with ulterior motives. But Ji Zhao had prepared well in advance. The consorts he selected for the Son of Heaven were all noble daughters of dukes and marquises with powerful natal families. Apart from Queen Qi Jiang, the three principal consorts all came from strong branches of the rulers who bore surnames other than Ji.
Everyone could see that the Marquis of Luo was doing everything he could to maintain a balance of power in the royal capital. This eased the concerns of the Son of Heaven's relatives by marriage. Those dukes and marquises truly did not wish to confront Ji Zhao. Unless Taigong Wang openly took their side, they had no chance of winning.
At the end of the tenth month, the Eastern Campaign army finally reached the outskirts of Haojing after a month's march from Yinxu.
The Son of Heaven, Yun, personally led the regional rulers present in the capital, the Dukes and Ministers, and the royal officials serving within and beyond the court to greet the victorious Eastern Campaign army outside Haojing City's eastern royal gate. Wearing armor and a sword, Ji Zhao bowed three times to the Son of Heaven. Ji Yun hurriedly supported him and said with a smile, "Royal Uncle, you have rendered great service to the Zhou State. The Way of the King says that the Son of Heaven must treat with reverence the sage who brings good order to the realm. Besides, you once carried me on your back. That calls for the rites between father and son. To have you bow to me now would not accord with the way of the ancient sage-kings."
Ji Zhao did not insist. Turning, he pointed toward the Eastern Campaign army and said, "Your Majesty, in the first year of your reign, I obeyed your command to go to war. Tens of thousands of armored soldiers willingly fought under harsh conditions because they had received the Former King's kindness and hoped to repay some small part of it to you. That I was able to achieve such great merit was entirely thanks to the Former King's grace and your mandate of Heaven."
Ji Yun took Ji Zhao's hand and led him toward his royal carriage, saying as they walked, "The mandate of Heaven manifests in the emergence of a sage. So long as Royal Uncle remains well, the Zhou State's mandate of Heaven endures."
Surrounded by a great throng, the two entered Haojing. The army's divisions returned to their camps under their generals, where envoys from the Son of Heaven would later bestow rewards upon them.
Those eligible to receive land were brought into the Royal Palace. This Eastern Campaign had greatly demonstrated the authority of the central royal court. Those among All Xia who harbored thoughts of rebellion had been utterly crushed. After the efforts of both the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the strength of the Eastern Yi had also diminished. Yet the situation with the Four Barbarians remained quite grave.
The Son of Heaven's Six Armies could not campaign forever. War was a great affair of state, the ground of life and death, the path to survival or destruction. No one could guarantee unbroken victory.
In actual history, a major reason the Son of Heaven's authority slipped away was that the Six Armies had suffered near-total losses, leaving him without the military power needed to deter the regional rulers.
Ji Zhao intended to use this round of sweeping enfeoffments to strengthen the exchange of benefits between the Son of Heaven and the regional rulers. Simple tribute could not give the Son of Heaven of Zhou sufficient returns from their expansion, which was detrimental to the Zhou Dynasty's stability.
Another full Heaven-Worship Ceremony followed. Since Ji Yun was still young, Ji Zhao carried out most of the proceedings. Though the regional rulers spent the entire day being put through the rites, they felt no fatigue. Those who had earned merit on the campaign awaited their rewards, while those who had committed offenses resigned themselves to fate.
Night fell. The Royal Palace blazed with lamplight, strings and flutes played without pause, and the sounds of feasting filled every corner. It was a scene of great merriment.
The next day.
The Son of Heaven summoned his ministers to the Royal Palace. They entered in order of noble rank and official standing, then knelt and sat on their heels inside the hall, their expressions solemn.
Ji Zhao stood with his sword at the right of the Son of Heaven's throne, marking his position as regent. Taigong Wang stood to the Son of Heaven's left, two steps below the dais, marking his position as assisting minister.
After the formal salutations, Ji Zhao asked, "Do you, my kinsmen and meritorious servants, know why I established fiefs and states, yet did so differently from the Xia and Shang?"
Ji Zhao's abrupt question puzzled everyone in the palace. Since ancient times, members of the royal clan and meritorious servants had been rewarded with land. That was only natural. Could there be some special reason behind it?
"We do not know. We ask the Grand Steward to enlighten us."
A good supporting speaker knew when to provide the cue.
Ji Zhao delivered the speech he had long prepared. "While the Former King still lived, I discussed enfeoffment with him. This is a matter of grave importance, touching upon whether the Zhou State answers Heaven and receives its mandate. The Former King once told me that the mandate of Heaven descends only upon All Xia. The realm is land Heaven bestowed upon All Xia for their survival, yet vast stretches of fertile soil are occupied by the Yi and Di. When the Xia and Shang failed in their campaigns against those peoples, their mandate of Heaven waned. The Former King and I both feared that the Zhou State would follow in their footsteps."
Everyone in the hall heard this argument for the first time. Yet on reflection, had Yin Shang not been replaced by the Zhou State precisely because it had failed to deal properly with the Eastern Yi tribes and exhausted much of its army?
Of course, what convinced them most was Ji Zhao's invocation of the Former King. Everyone acknowledged that the Former King had received Heaven's mandate.
"Four years ago, acting in the king's stead, I carried out sweeping enfeoffments in this very palace, rewarding royal kinsmen, meritorious servants, and descendants of the former dynasties. The Son of Heaven bestowed land, people, and wealth upon them in the hope that rulers of All Xia would govern the Yi and Di, eventually transforming the Yi into Xia. In this way, our Zhou State's mandate of Heaven would endure longer.
"Yet instead of repaying the Son of Heaven's grace by campaigning against the Barbarians who refused the King's civilizing influence, they stirred up rebellion, weakening All Xia. In the end, Heaven punished them."
"The slaughter I carried out in the east was guided by the mandate of Heaven. If the rebels were not subjected to the harshest punishment, how could the achievements of loyal servants who obeyed the mandate be made manifest?
"The opening of The Way of the King declares, 'Royal dominion must not settle for a corner of the realm; Xia and Yi cannot stand as equals!' I hope you will all remember your standing as rulers of the Zhou State and govern the Yi people according to the Rites of Zhou.
"If you cannot, the Son of Heaven will spare no one who undermines the Zhou State's mandate of Heaven. According to the offense, he will reduce your rank and seize your lands, or even strip your title and abolish your state. He may go so far as to revoke your surname and reduce you to a commoner, leaving you ashamed to face your ancestors after death."
Stripped of their surnames and reduced to commoners!
Unease gripped them all. Their ancestral surnames were the source of their lineage, and their clan names the symbols of their nobility. Once both were taken away, they would become rootless ghosts. In this age of hereditary aristocracy, no office would ever fall to them. Unless the Son of Heaven showed mercy, however vast the realm might be, they would never rise again.
At once, everyone placed the suppression of the Yi and Di first among their states' priorities. This was exactly what Ji Zhao wanted.
Viewed in terms of later territorial development, the Zhou Dynasty's contribution was virtually unmatched. More than a hundred armed colonizing groups struck out in every direction, nearly wiping out the other cultural tribes throughout the Central Plains. Moreover, all remained united under their common sovereign, the Son of Heaven of Zhou, creating centuries of shared cultural identity.
This laid an extraordinarily solid foundation for the later Qin-Han unification.
Enfeoffment was a system well suited to this age. What Ji Zhao needed to do was greatly strengthen cultural exchanges between the states on that existing foundation, making all the rulers identify with All Xia and ensuring that any ruler who colluded with outside peoples became an object of scorn throughout the realm.
"I compiled three books-the Rites of Zhou, Royal Institutions, and The Way of the King-to instruct the Son of Heaven. The Rites of Zhou is the foundation of the Zhou State. You must study it earnestly if you are to serve the Son of Heaven with devotion."
Ji Zhao raised pieces of white silk for everyone to see. "The enfeoffments carried out in the first year possessed the form but lacked the spirit. Thus the four traitors overturned the proper order of yin and yang, dishonored Heaven, and brought calamity upon the people, turning our weapons inward and unleashing terrible slaughter. Today we shall establish enfeoffment anew. Henceforth, Heaven's way and yin and yang shall remain in order. You must act according to the prescribed institutions and never overstep them, so that our Zhou State may enjoy Heaven's mandate forever, and you may likewise enjoy lasting wealth and honor."
Ji Zhao's revised system of enfeoffment was finally unveiled. First, to demonstrate the Zhou State's grace, he introduced the institution of Two Kings and Three Revered.
Of the previously enfeoffed descendants of the three kings Yao, Shun, and Yu, only King Yu's descendants retained the title of Duke of Qi. The title of Duke of Song was then inherited by Zi Can, King Zhou's elder half brother, though the Song State's territory was greatly reduced. Ji Zhao granted him three groups of former Yin Shang clans and charged him with reassuring the remaining Yin Shang people. Zi Can was deeply grateful. He did not care how large his territory was or how high his rank stood. This enfeoffment proved that the Zhou Dynasty truly would no longer seek to exterminate the remnants of Yin Shang.
The descendants of the Yellow Emperor, Yao, and Shun were then enfeoffed in Zhu, Tang, and Chen respectively, all as marquises, ranking below the Two Kings.
Of course, although their ranks were high, their locations were poor. Ji Zhao had placed them all beside powerful states ruled by the Ji clan.
The regional rulers naturally did not mind this. After all, these were benefits granted for nothing. Even Yin Shang's descendants could still possess a tract of land.
Once these nominal enfeoffments were complete-
"Marquis of Qi, Marquis of Yan, Marquis of Bao, and Marquis of Hui, step forward to receive your investiture."
The four seemingly unrelated marquises hurriedly rose. Only Taigong Wang knew what Ji Zhao intended. After all, of these four, only the Marquis of Qi served as Chief Minister in the Royal Domain; the other three had been enfeoffed on the frontiers.
"Present!"
Of the four men Ji Zhao had named, the Marquis of Qi needed no introduction. One of the Three Excellencies, he was, in the eyes of the rulers and Dukes and Ministers, the only man in the Zhou State capable of opposing Ji Zhao. The other three were all younger brothers of King Wu. Born to secondary wives, they had been enfeoffed in distant lands. Four years had passed, however, and their campaigns against the Yi and Di had borne considerable fruit. They were now among the stronger branches of the Ji royal clan.
"Heaven and earth have four directions and eight extremities. The Son of Heaven resides at the center and commands all four quarters. Yet the Yi and Di of those quarters continue to pour into our lands. This cannot be forgiven.
"Qi, Yan State, Bao, and Hui are strong branches among the states of All Xia. The Son of Heaven wishes to manifest Heaven's mandate in all four directions and spread the Zhou State's rites and culture. He therefore commands you to campaign against the Eastern Yi, Western Rong, Northern Di, and Southern Barbarians.
"The Son of Heaven grants you his own staffs symbolizing war, along with the authority to summon the regional rulers to an assembly in the third month of each year. He further invests each of you with the title 'Bearer of the King's Mandate.'
"In documents of assemblies with the regional rulers, 'Bearer of the King's Mandate' shall appear first, followed by your noble title and honorific. Your standing shall equal that of the Three Excellencies.
"Upon receiving this appointment, you must send envoys in the first month of each year to attend the Son of Heaven and present captives and wealth. The Son of Heaven will reward you according to your achievements. He will send scribes to the four states to record your histories and the proceedings of your assemblies with the regional rulers.
"The appointment of Bearer of the King's Mandate shall be reassigned every five years. If your achievements are satisfactory, you may retain it. If, after several years, your achievements remain insufficient, the Son of Heaven shall revoke it and transfer it to another ruler in your quarter."
At this, everyone in the hall grew restless. The four marquises had gained the authority to assemble the regional rulers when campaigning against the Barbarians. This made them the leaders of the four quarters.
As the saying went, the great affairs of state lay in sacrifice and war. Another held that titles and the instruments of authority alone must never be lent to others.
The Son of Heaven had suddenly delegated some of his authority over warfare, as well as the power conferred by rank and title, to the regional rulers. It was truly beyond everyone's expectations.
But to Ji Zhao, the system of four frontier leaders would not only effectively unite the armies in each quarter against the Barbarians; none of those four leaders could possibly threaten the Son of Heaven of Zhou within a hundred years. Over that century, states would rise and fall, and those appointments could even serve as tools for sowing rivalry among the rulers. The benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.
Besides, the Luo State was itself one of the regional states, and it would be the foundation of Ji Zhao's security for centuries to come. An excessively powerful Son of Heaven was not entirely beneficial.
Once their initial shock passed, the rulers below the rank of count began to wonder whether refusing to attend an assembly would invite retaliation.
The four marquises also considered the policy's implications. The Marquis of Yan's lands lay in the distant northeast, while the Marquis of Hui's lay south of the great river, far from Haojing City. Few states surrounded them, and most were ruled by viscounts and barons of other surnames. They had already been fighting almost alone. If they could summon a few viscounts and barons to fight alongside them, that would at least be better than nothing.
The Dog Rong in the west were powerful, and the Son of Heaven's Six Armies had long fought them. The Son of Heaven had established four Ji-clan marquisates west of the Royal Domain, but no one knew whether they could withstand the Dog Rong. If their campaigns went badly and forced the Son of Heaven to send troops, they would certainly be held accountable. Of the four marquises, the Marquis of Bao faced the greatest pressure. At least half the future burden of defending the Royal Domain would fall upon him.
The Marquis of Qi's position was relatively favorable. The Eastern Yi had always been a principal target, and the Qi State had fought continuously since its founding. Yet the east also held the greatest number of enfeoffed rulers-nearly half of all the regional rulers had received lands there. If they could be united, the Qi State's influence would swell overnight.
But precisely because the east was important, several significant rulers were also based there, such as the Song State of the former Yin Shang. If the Duke of Song attended an assembly, although the Bearer of the King's Mandate ranked alongside the Three Excellencies, Song's ruler was an actual member of the Three Excellencies and possessed considerable strength. Given the existing difference in their status, could the Marquis of Qi still take the seat of honor?
Then there was the Luo State, now one of the powerful Ji-clan states and likewise a major eastern state, not even particularly far from Qi. Although Ji Zhao had not taken up residence there, who could disregard him? With the two states neighboring one another, who would bow to whom?
Luoyi was also under construction. Even if the State of Qi could use the title of Bearer of the King's Mandate to overrule the States of Song and Luo Er, could it possibly outrank the Son of Heaven?
Though each had his own thoughts, the four marquises naturally would not relinquish this royally sanctioned opportunity to unite the regional rulers. The other marquises also hoped to receive the title of Bearer of the King's Mandate. As for the lowest ranks, the viscounts and barons, they had no right to speak at such a grand court assembly.
The four marquises bowed their heads to the ground together, received the staffs symbolizing military command from the attendants, and returned to their places.
"During my Eastern Campaign, I saw that the wine vessels and ritual vessels of the various states were a confused jumble, ignorant and disorderly. When I conquered the Pili State, its ruler, a mere viscount, was actually using the Nine Tripods to worship Heaven.
"In ancient times, King Yu cast the Nine Tripods to secure the Nine Provinces. The Nine Tripods bear Heaven's mandate and are ritual vessels for a king. If regional rulers use the Nine Tripods, what ritual vessels should the king use? The king receives Heaven's charge and carries out its will, and thus offers sacrifices to Heaven. Is such usurpation by a regional ruler not a covetous eye upon the sacred symbols of sovereignty, an attempt at rebellion?"
Ji Zhao's voice remained fairly calm. In an age before the Rites of Zhou had appeared, such things were commonplace. But Ji Zhao could not tolerate them.
Disorder among the ruling class would bring instability to its rule. That was the greatest uncertainty in his attempt to complete the game. Only a stable political situation served his interests best.
"To address this, I compiled the Rites of Zhou, which every one of you must read in full. Clothing, palaces, food, utensils, carriages and horses, musical instruments-from birth to death, everything has rules to follow. Upon returning to your states, you must make them known to all the State People. If anyone oversteps these rules in the future, then at a single command from the Son of Heaven, the whole realm shall strike him down without delay. His title shall be stripped, his state abolished, and he shall be reduced to a commoner and torn apart by five horses!"
Torn apart by five horses!
Such a cruel punishment was not inflicted upon anyone of the shi rank or above. No wonder the offender first had to be reduced to a commoner.
Ji Zhao considered this a successful court assembly. With remarkable efficiency, the Zhou State's ruling elite had approved the policies for the coming decades. The entire dynasty was advancing through history in the form he desired.
The regional rulers returned to their fiefs with the people and wealth bestowed upon them by the Son of Heaven.
The State People of the Royal Domain left their overcrowded lands to serve in the regional states. The most outstanding among them could even become vassals of the regional rulers. Though they were not high ministers or great officers, receiving a fief still meant entering the ranks of the shi.
Everyone in the Zhou State had gained a bright future.
And Ji Zhao remained in the Royal Domain. As his fortune points slowly increased, he taught Ji Yun the way of kingship and quietly watched the news arriving from the regional rulers.
Before you continue