Xie Lanzhi didn't dwell on who he was addressing. She was tired of hearing those who would go through fire and water for her, so hearing someone say that he would live up to the expectations of the Great Jin was a novelty.
Those who carry firewood for the world should not be allowed to freeze to death.
Zhao Gongming and Hai Yun. These two were truly pillars of the nation and its people.
Xie Lanzhi ordered the overturning of the policy of weakening the feudal lords and instead restored the tribute ceremony, nominally recognizing the Nine Jin as the legitimate dynasty.
As a result, many fleeing merchants, who had come from various Jin states, began to be incorporated into the Nine Jin.
Xie Lanzhi felt that simply granting her official title was not enough; she also needed to take action. Therefore, she granted the special privileges of the Tianjing East Gate to Jiu Jin and the power of the Tianzi Gate to Jiu Jin, which was undoubtedly an acknowledgment of Jiu Jin's status as the leader.
"Now, Lord Zhao's words have enlightened me. Abolishing the Jin dynasty was indeed a waste of resources and manpower."
She said, "Since all the ministers unanimously support overthrowing the enfeoffment system and restoring the tributary system, then from tomorrow onwards, the ruler of the Nine Jin should ascend the hall and, as the monarch, listen to your political views together with me."
Xie Lanzhi went along with it. Zhao Gongming was the first to stand up in support: "The Marshal's intention to restore propriety is as clear as the sun and moon and as worthy of the witness of heaven and earth."
The officials in the capital were all overjoyed. What did this mean? It meant that Prince Feng Ning would ascend the throne from a mere minor ruler, officially becoming the first heir to the throne of Xicheng. Recognizing the Xicheng Emperor's status meant that his successor was essentially... the Crown Prince!
He held a position similar to that of the Crown Prince.
Although she was a princess, it was a common practice in history for special periods to make exceptions.
That Jingchen will be promoted from a junior official to a full-fledged official directly under the Tianjing government, rising in rank along with Prince Fengning.
"The Marshal is wise!"
"The Marshal is wise!"
"The Marshal is wise!"
The shouts of obeisance resounded throughout the entire Golden Palace. Because Xie Lanzhi considered himself a general and did not claim the title of king, and his attitude was firm, most people restrained themselves from shouting "Long live the emperor!"
Soon Xie Changwang of the Xie family stepped forward and proposed: "Marshal, if we are to restore the tributary system, then your status should naturally be reflected as well. Why not take advantage of today's happy occasion and grant him the title of king at the same time?"
While it's possible to promote the imperial faction as a regional hegemon, it's more prestigious to nominally hold the title of prince. This would also silence public opinion and prevent anyone from accusing Xie of being a thief who uses the emperor to coerce the feudal lords.
The Xie clan also considered that it would be better for Xie Zhu to declare himself emperor rather than king, but since the world had not yet been completely conquered, there would be no benefit in declaring himself emperor first, so it would be better to declare himself king first.
Xie Lanzhi's attitude was ambiguous. She said, "A king, the king of Tianjing?"
"With the capital city still unconquered, it is not advisable to do anything else; let's not discuss this further for now."
Her words were self-evident. Xie Changwang immediately withdrew and bowed with Xie Shi, saying, "The Marshal is absolutely right. We should first sweep away the feudal system of the Eight Jin and establish the legitimate rule of the Nine Jin capital. Then we can declare ourselves kings."
He later became king!
A stirring voice came from the Golden Palace.
Today, Parliament decided to abolish fiefdoms.
As descendants of the royal family, the Si clan members were all annoyed that the former officials of the Golden Palace were picking on the retired emperor.
Si Xitong accepted it calmly. When her father was alive, she had always pondered her grandfather's last policy. She knew that her grandfather had relied on marrying noble wives and winning over powerful families to ascend the throne in his early years. After ascending the throne, he had other ways to repay the emperor's kindness, but he insisted on enfeoffing people. Not only did he raise wolves and tigers, but he also turned what were originally regional warlords into a powerful state. It was simply raising a tiger to cause trouble.
Si Xitong personally wrote a letter of self-reproach on the topic of the previous dynasty's wrong policies, in the name of the retired emperor's granddaughter.
The book criticizes the drawbacks of restoring the old ways, arguing that the feudal system was the main cause of the chaos in the country. It also reveals the Tianjing Incident, which was caused by internal discord and the struggle for succession within the royal family.
Because the author of the book is the ruler of Jiujin, and has just been granted special permission by the Emperor, her words carry the weight of the law, wielding power equivalent to that of the Crown Prince.
Her status was second only to Xie Lanzhi.
The Xie clan sent Xie Feng's 5,000 troops to Jiu Jin. Now that the interests of Jiu Jin and the Xie clan are intertwined, the Xie clan can no longer sit idly by and let things develop as before.
The Xie family sent troops and a lot of grain to Jiu Jin. The people of Jiu Jin, who used to live on a tight belt, heard that Her Highness the Princess had officially entered the Golden Palace to handle affairs, and that Her Highness's status had been promoted. They all cheered with joy.
Grain supplies in various parts of Shanxi immediately increased dramatically, and those who received the grain were all grateful for Prince Fengning's kindness!
"From now on, we people from Jiujin are also people from Tianjing."
"Tianjing and Jiujin are separated by only one road, but the difference is huge. In the future, we will still be citizens under the emperor's feet."
"Then we will no longer have to fear soldiers and bandits, nor will we have to worry about not having enough to eat or wear."
"Yes, everything will be alright once the sweet potatoes are harvested in May!"
People now have hope for the future.
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:48:49 on December 10, 2021 and 11:19:39 on December 11, 2021!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 迷1个;
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: RC 5 bottles; Gu Qing 4 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 63 Thank you, Lord Xie, for your ruthless methods as before.
When Si Lei arrived in Tianjing, the city was a prosperous place, comparable to Weidu.
The people of Tianjing started setting up stalls everywhere, bartering goods, and almost blocking the roads. The constables rushed over to maintain order, and the soldiers assisted in the search, fearing that some might slip through the net.
After Si Lei entered the palace, he heard that Marshal Xie wanted to abolish the system of enfeoffment.
His face turned deathly pale, and he went directly to visit Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi hadn't left the Golden Palace yet; she was waiting for him. All the other officials had left, leaving only her, a few scribes, and a group of personal guards.
Disregarding his status, Si Lei hurriedly clasped his hands and said to her, "Your Highness Si Lei greets Marshal Xie!"
Xie Lanzhi put down the commemorative document in her hand, ordered someone to serve tea, and then descended the cloud ladder in a friendly manner.
She took the initiative to ask, "Have the Seven Kingdoms rulers heard about the war between the Two Jin and Three Jin states?"
Si Lei felt that she was asking a question she already knew the answer to, so he asked, "Reporting to the Marshal, the two Jin and three Jin states would never dare to attack Xie's army. There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Of course there was a misunderstanding, but I have investigated it thoroughly." Xie Lanzhi had tea and pastries brought up, and set up a table in the Golden Palace, inviting Si Lei to take a seat.
Si Lei had no choice but to take a seat. He had come to the capital to gather information, but upon arriving, he heard rumors circulating throughout the city about the abolition of the feudal system and Prince Fengning's letter of self-reproach.
He felt the situation was spiraling out of control, and that the fire was about to reach right under his nose.
Si Lei said, "Since the marshal knows there is a misunderstanding, why not withdraw the troops? The Second and Third Jin have already made mistakes and have revealed the truth. This matter was all done by the rebellious son of the First Jin, and has nothing to do with the other Jin."
"When I say I know, I mean I'm telling the Seven Kingdoms that Jin is without fault." Xie Lanzhi had someone pour her tea, which she leisurely sipped, leaving Si Lei in a state of inner turmoil.
Si Lei suppressed his emotions: "Marshal, the Second and Third Jin are also misunderstandings. The two kings are the younger brothers of the King of Xia, and also your subjects. It would not be good for your reputation if word got out that they treated their subjects this way."
Xie Lanzhi said, "It is precisely because I know this that I want to ask the rulers of the seven kingdoms to come and assist me, just like in Tianjing, to deal with the other four Jin kingdoms."
These words clearly extended beyond the Second and Third Jin states. Si Lei immediately stood up, disregarding any sense of propriety, and clasped his hands in a fist and said urgently, "Marshal, are you perhaps going to dismiss us, your humble servants?"
"I, Weidu, have always been loyal to you and the Southern Region. Why are you treating me, Your Majesty, like this!"
Xie Lanzhi gestured for him to calm down and sit down to talk.
Si Lei sat down, but his heart was in turmoil.
Xie Lanzhi said, "I knew you were coming, so I prepared a tea table to entertain you."
After she finished speaking, her tone turned serious: "Otherwise, we would have met at the negotiating table long ago. It is precisely because of your hard work that I, the commander, removed the Seven Jin and retained its status."
"Otherwise, do you think the Seven Jin states can still be as stable and prosperous as before?"
"I always speak my mind, and I'm not afraid of angering you, Your Majesty..." She paused here, making Si Lei anxious and restless.
Xie Lanzhi finally softened her tone and said, "Weidu is probably doomed too. You still have the leisure to plead for others? You might as well worry about your own little corner of the world first."
"To avoid the sanctions of having the seal revoked."
Si Lei's pupils widened in shock. He stood up again, his expression like that of a frightened leopard. He retreated and then stepped forward, finally darting around the hall, trying to calm himself down.
But then Xie Lanzhi said, "This general intends to change Weidu and establish a commercial capital."
This time, a deafening "boom" shook Si Lei so much that his legs went weak, and he sat on the ground, his eyes glazed over, completely disoriented.
After Xie Bing helped him up, he knelt down with a thud: "I beg Marshal Xie to rescind the order! Your treatment of me is surely disheartening to the vassal states. In the future... in the future, who will be willing to serve you?"
This is what Little Phoenix meant by "no room for maneuver".
Xie Lanzhi had considered the risks. Anything could happen in chaotic times. Since it was a chaotic world, she could take advantage of the chaos to seek wealth and fortune amidst the risks. She had been lying low for half a year; it was time for her to make her move.
Previously, her primary focus was on internal affairs, specifically controlling the Xie family. Now that the Xie family is a tool in her hands, she naturally intends to utilize it.
Xie Lanzhi said, "Get up. My decision will not change."
"I will retain your status as the king only because of your loyalty. I will not abandon you and leave you to your fate."
Si Lei laughed, thinking of the prosperity Weidu had brought under his rule, only to be destroyed again under his watch. He laughed bitterly: "Does this mean that small countries never have the chance to decide their own fate?"
"If Your Majesty withdraws the grain supply from Weidu now, it's tantamount to abandoning Weidu. You won't ignore it, but how could you possibly care?"
"Do powerful regional rulers like you need to consider the feelings of a small country when you do anything?"
Xie Lanzhi coldly replied, "No, weak countries have no diplomacy."
"Your Majesty, I have been rude." Si Lei was even more disappointed, and he no longer sought instructions. Knowing that her decision would not be changed, he bowed one last time and prepared to leave the palace.
Xie Lanzhi's voice stopped him: "This general will not abandon Weidu. The King should also be more confident. Weidu's geographical location is extremely important."
Si Lei stopped in his tracks.
Xie Lanzhi continued, “Weidu is a water station in the south, with an advantageous location and extremely rich mulberry production. Its secondary industry is silk. In recent years, you have not been enterprising and only wanted to make some money from grain, ignoring the potential of the secondary industry. You have even suppressed silk to prevent it from overshadowing the grain industry.”
"If I say I will protect Weidu, then I will protect it. Think about it carefully: in chaotic times, besides grain, cloth and silk are also as valuable as gold, worth a foot of gold."
Weidu is a transit hub in the entire south. No matter what development takes place there, the goods sold there always sell out quickly. Many people are willing to pay high prices just to rent a boat to transit through Weidu to the southern region.
Si Lei is overly focused on honors, which leads to a lack of vision and a tendency towards conservatism. However, his overall abilities are acceptable.
Xie Lanzhi was also deliberately trying to discourage his ambitions. Si Lei was not qualified to become emperor, and in this chaotic world, he could at most govern the Eight Jin.
Si Lei turned around and began to calculate the gains and losses. Developing the unknown silk industry and what he had already lost, he was sure he had lost more.
"Go back and think about it," Xie Lanzhi said. "Also, I have some private news for you. I intend to keep three of the three leaders. The ninth and seventh leaders have already been decided. You can decide which one is left."
Upon hearing this, Si Lei immediately put aside his gains and losses.
He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "No, Your Majesty was entrusted to come and negotiate peace, but now you want me to make the decision..."
Xie Lanzhi warned him: "Choose one brother or none of them."