knife

Chapter 734 The Edict of Grace

"Decentralization my ass!" Lu Xin rolled his eyes and looked at Li Dachui, saying, "Our big families have indeed been decentralized, splitting into countless small families, and these small families have been scattered far and wide. It's extremely difficult for them to get together and do anything. But then your central government can control everything. You're only decentralizing at the local level, aren't you?"

Li Dachui chuckled and said, "Personally, I prefer a large government, where the imperial court decides what should and shouldn't be done, and concentrates resources on major tasks. There are just too many things to do in this world. If you try to do everything at once, wanting this and that, the result is that you can't do anything well, right?"

"Wouldn't it be better for a family like ours to support you?" Lu Xin lamented, "Does it really have to be broken up?"

"For a thousand years, we have lived in a society dominated by powerful clans and aristocratic families. The entire society is controlled by these people. It is too difficult for ordinary people to change their fate. These clans and aristocratic families control everything. It can be said that from the moment an ordinary person is born, what they can do and what they should do is basically predetermined. This society is becoming more and more rigid, more and more inflexible, more and more like a stagnant pool. The stench within is brewing a storm that could destroy everything!" Li Dachui glanced at Lu Xin and said, "You should be glad that I am the one to clean up this situation. If it were someone else, it might have been handled very differently!"

"What kind of method?"

Li Dachui couldn't help but recall a certain person surnamed Huang, who had slaughtered them one by one according to the family genealogy of powerful clans until they were all wiped out.

"Kill every single one of your aristocratic families."

"Li Dachui, you're one of us too!"

"Therefore, what I'm doing is reform, not revolution!" Li Dachui said. "The foundation of the new Qin Dynasty's rule will absolutely not be aristocratic families like yours, but rather millions of small and medium-sized landowners, merchants, and self-cultivating farmers. Brother Lu, the new Qin Dynasty will not allow any more super-families to emerge; if there are, they will be eliminated. The history of aristocratic families dominating the court and official positions will be gone forever. The new imperial examination system will uphold the principle of selecting officials based solely on merit, and a large number of officials from the lower classes will appear in the court. Any practice of annexing land or monopolizing commerce will be met with a crackdown from the court. It can be said that the good days for aristocratic families are over from now on!"

"You're still doing the same things your father and mother did back then!" Lu Xin sighed.

"I'm much smarter than them!" Li Dachui chuckled. "Of course, the enemies I face are actually much weaker than they were back then. Thirty years ago, the Qin Dynasty was at its zenith, and although those powerful families showed signs of decline, they were still barely holding on!"

"Actually, I didn't have a choice, did I?"

"Right now, Mao Daxian is also talking with Cui Shu!" Li Dachui said to Lu Xin, "The Beiting Protectorate is very lenient towards its partners. Your property has been protected, and your clansmen will not face any obstacles in their official careers, just like the Chang family. Isn't that good?"

"How could there be no obstacles!" Lu Xin said angrily, "The position of Prefect of Fanyang has been held by our Lu family for almost two hundred years. I'm afraid it will never be our turn again. But our family's roots are here; from now on, we can only be considered local gentry!"

"If you don't want to be the governor of Fanyang, you can be the governor of another prefecture, as long as your clansmen are talented!" Li Dachui laughed heartily. "But if you, Lu Xin, still want to continue as governor, I can arrange for you to continue, but you will definitely be the last one!" "What's the point? What's the use of having a form but no spirit? What's the point of carrying an empty shell?" Lu Xin shook his head. "I'll join your Protectorate General's Office. When the court is re-established, you wouldn't feel at ease not having someone like me by your side. When we conquer Chang'an, I'll find a nice house there and live a life of debauchery, oblivious to worldly affairs. I think you'd love to see me like that!"

"To be honest, that's really true!" Li Dachui laughed. "If you really become like that, you can come to my house every now and then and I'll grill meat for you!"

Lu Xin shook his head helplessly.

“Since we’ve already chosen this path, we have no choice but to continue. Although it’s not the best option for us, it’s not the worst either!” After thinking for a moment, Lu Xin said, “The Liu family of Hedong and the Sima family of Bohai were among the first victims of this era’s dramatic changes. But Li Dachui, do you really have to go to the frontier? I think it’s fine for the Cui family to go; I’m your old partner and comrade-in-arms!”

“I also need reliable people to keep an eye on them!” Li Dachui said with a sly smile. “Otherwise, wouldn’t it be troublesome if they caused me some trouble on the border?”

"Although I know you're just talking nonsense, it still makes me feel much better!" Lu Xin said. "Fine, anyway, those who go will inevitably be from the Lu family's collateral branches, and many might even be beyond the fifth degree of kinship. Let them do whatever they want. One big Lu family will become thousands upon thousands of small Lu families. For me, it will definitely be a loss, because I will no longer be able to have absolute authority and command a large following. People, once they have their own interests, will naturally prioritize not suffering losses, even if they are as close as brothers. This is the most basic logic behind your splitting up of the aristocratic families, isn't it? Who gave you this idea?"

"I came up with it myself!" Li Dachui said, "Initially, this plan actually had a formal name, called the Edict of Grace. Dividing the powerful clans was only part of it; some parts were also aimed at future high-ranking officials and marquises. Once the new dynasty is established, there will definitely be lavish rewards. For example, you, Lu Xin, will definitely be able to become a Marquis within the Pass in the future without any problem!"

Can it be inherited?

"Of course not. When you die, the title will be downgraded, and the property of your marquisate will be divided among your children proportionally. Well, the one who inherits the title will naturally get more, the others will get less, and the illegitimate children will get even less. Anyway, everyone will get a share, without favoritism! Mao Daxian and the others are still refining this plan. I'm just giving you a heads-up."

"Damn it!" Lu Xin cursed angrily. "You're not satisfied with just dismantling the powerful clans; you want to completely sever the soil that forms them! This 'granting favor' is brilliant; who can object? I, Lu, have seven or eight sons now. Apart from my eldest son, who is destined to inherit my position, everyone else would definitely support it wholeheartedly!"

“If my descendants are like me, what’s the point of leaving them money? If they are virtuous and wealthy, it will diminish their ambition; if my descendants are not like me, what’s the point of leaving them money? If they are foolish and wealthy, it will only increase their faults,” Li Dachui said.

After hearing this, Lu Xin pondered for a long time.

(End of this chapter)