Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 170 Alliances and Enemies: Only the "Decree to Reduce Feudal Powers"!
With the start of winter approaching.

The carriages and horses of the candidates from the ten provinces of the Great Zhou Dynasty crushed the thin frost on the official roads and arrived in Luoyang, the capital city, three months ahead of schedule, in preparation for the spring imperial examinations.

On the main street, the lanterns of the various post stations burned all night, illuminating the bluestone pavement with a bright red glow—a glow that was quickly covered by the snow that fell the next day, much like the unseen glint of swords and bloodshed hidden beneath brocade robes.

As a result, invitations to various poetry and literary gatherings, banquets for fellow townsmen, banquets for mentors, and social gatherings in Luoyang City increased dramatically, to the point that they were too numerous to mention.

Regardless of whether they were from powerful families, aristocratic clans, or poor scholars, they all tried every means to participate in various literary gatherings, promote their literary reputation, and raise their social standing.

—Only in this way can you attract the attention of the chief examiner of the imperial examination!
The top scholars from the ten provincial examinations of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who emerged victorious from the ten provincial examinations and became the top scorers, were born with an aura of prestige and received much attention. Naturally, they were also frequent guests at all kinds of banquets!

A literary gathering banquet is clearly not of sufficient importance if it fails to invite a top scholar (jieyuan).

Jiang Xingzhou declined the official title of Langzhongling (a high-ranking official) from the Prince of Langya, which made him a hot topic in Luoyi and he received numerous invitations to literary gatherings.

After all, not everyone can resist the temptation of a high-ranking official position with a salary of two thousand piculs of grain.

A prestigious mansion in Luoyi.

"Jiang Jieyuan from Jiangnan has arrived—"

With a long shout from the gatekeeper, the entire room fell silent.

As soon as Jiang Xingzhou, dressed in a simple blue robe, entered the hall, hundreds of gazes immediately locked onto him like hooks and locks.

A retainer of a vassal king waited patiently in the corridor, holding a gilded invitation.
Some scions of powerful families held up poems and peered around the banquet, hoping the top scholar would offer guidance and instruction.

Not to mention the various characters who use the guise of toasting to spy on others.

Brother Jiang!

A young master from a wealthy family in a certain place respectfully presented his visiting card, saying, "My father and Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of Rites were classmates. There will be a snow appreciation banquet tomorrow, and the Vice Minister will be attending in person. I wonder if you could spare some time to attend?"

"Please wait, Scholar Jieyuan!"

The chief secretary of the Liang Prince's residence emerged from the shadows. "The Liang Prince has recently acquired a copy of an ancient book and has specially invited Scholar Jiang to appraise it. I wonder when Scholar Jiang will be available?!"

I will definitely keep the appointment when I have time!

Jiang Xingzhou clasped his hands in a slight smile and accepted them one by one, but the name cards in his sleeves had already accumulated into a thick stack.

He knew that these gold-embossed papers didn't bear invitations, but rather a trap set—

The hometown banquet weaves a web of human relationships.
The banquet hosted by my mentor featured a mentorship network.
Not to mention those banquets ostensibly for marriage alliances, which were clearly intended to bind all the top scholars in the world into the chess game of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In the distance, the outline of the Imperial College was faintly visible through the snow and mist.

The most brutal battlefield in the entire plan is undoubtedly the imperial examination next spring!
It's quiet at night.

Jiang Xingzhou, still slightly drunk, returned to Zhuangyuanlou and sat alone by the west window, the gilded business cards piled on the table reflecting the flickering candlelight.

—The invitation card with the black leopard pattern from the Liang Prince's Mansion still carries the fragrance of plum blossoms.

—The inscription on the jade tablet of the Cui family of Qinghe bears the handwriting of the clan elder.

Even the Vice Minister of War sent someone to deliver an invitation to a special literary gathering on "Frontier War Poems".

—General Kang, the one-eyed Left Feather Forest Army commander of the Northern Imperial Guard, sent a secret letter with a tiger-shaped seal on one corner, inquiring whether he was interested in joining the border army!
Invitation cards are piling up, too many to count!
Jiang Xingzhou attended more banquets.

His understanding of the relationships and connections within Luojing became increasingly clear.

The power factions within the Great Zhou Dynasty were exceptionally complex and chaotic!
This is by no means something that can be accomplished by one person alone, moving freely within the political landscape of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Allies are a must!
No one likes someone who wavers between different factions and those who remain neutral; such a person will only be ostracized by everyone.

In this divine capital of Luoyang, a lone wolf cannot survive past midnight—it will either be devoured by a pack of beasts or freeze to death in the snow.

Those who tried to please everyone and thought themselves clever were ultimately chopped up and their bodies thrown into the moat.

He needs to choose a faction within the imperial court to establish himself and gain a foothold in the court!

The sound of the night patrol's clapper came from outside the window, three long and two short.

"From a poor family."

Jiang Xingzhou stared at the stack of documents on the table, which contained records of the imperial court's influence.

One of the volumes is titled "List of Officials from Humble Origins in the Imperial Court".

The densely packed red annotations in that book were all the results of his conversations with the scholars and guests at the banquet these past few days.

Logically speaking, given his humble origins as a scholar, his best option would undoubtedly be to unite other scholars from humble backgrounds to form their own faction.

People with similar backgrounds, social classes, and interests are more likely to band together.

Unfortunately, the influence of those from humble backgrounds is currently the weakest, accounting for less than one-tenth of the court's power, and they are also a disorganized group with no connection to each other.

The tung oil lamp wick crackled and popped.

Jiang Xingzhou's fingertips caressed a porcelain teacup on the table. The tea dust floating in the tea soup swirled around, much like those officials from humble backgrounds scattered throughout the court—they all came from humble origins, yet ultimately could not gather any power.

Although a Du official in the Ministry of Rites came from a peasant family in Longxi, he studied hard and finally entered one of the Six Ministries. Now he has married a concubine's daughter from the Zheng family in Xingyang.

Li Langzhong of the Ministry of Works remained poor as always, but it was rumored that he had been on very good terms with the Cui family of Qinghe for many years.
"This morning, another imperial censor from a humble background was demoted to Lingnan!"

He dipped his finger in tea and drew a crack on the table. "I heard it was because he rejected the memorial submitted by Vice Minister Xu at the court assembly."

Those from humble backgrounds in the imperial court are like tea stains on this table—either they are silently wiped away by silk or they seep into the wood and rot away with it.

For officials from humble backgrounds, surviving in Luoyang is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Aside from a few classmates from impoverished families in Jiangnan, such as Gu Zhimian, Jiang Xingzhou has people he can trust.

Other scholars from poor families would not follow him, nor could they trust him.

Even if he were to take the lead and try to build a faction of people from humble backgrounds to gain a foothold in the imperial court, the idea was good, but unrealistic.

It takes a very long time to build up one's own power!
Jiang Xingzhou took out his treasured Chengxintang paper, "Since poor families can't accumulate wealth like grains of sand!"

He dipped the wolf-hair brush into the inkstone with a sharp stroke, and ink splattered like stars. "Then I can only choose another faction in the court as my refuge!"

He meticulously analyzed the various factions and forces within the current Great Zhou Dynasty court—the royal family, relatives of the empress, the inner court, powerful clans, nobles, feudal lords, families of scholars, and families of sages.

"emperor!"

Choosing sides with the emperor, the supreme ruler on his throne, is undoubtedly the best solution.

If one can gain the emperor's favor, it is a shortcut to rapid advancement in one's career.

Unfortunately, emperors have always been above all other forces, but since ancient times, emperors have been most averse to factions. They can only tolerate lone ministers before their thrones, and they are extremely suspicious of each other.

Moreover, how many ministers in the court are eyeing the emperor's side, vying for his favor?
Those who attempt to climb the dragon's scales often end up crushed to pieces before even reaching the dragon's throne.

This path is not worth considering!

"Eunuchs and female officials of the inner court!"

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his gaze sweeping over the most treacherous force in the imperial court—

Eunuchs, female officials, and close attendants of the emperor.

Female officials were not court officials, but rather officials of the inner court who served the emperor.

Eunuchs held the seal of office, and female officials wielded the pen; both could speak before the emperor, their words determining life and death.

These people may seem lowly, but because they serve the emperor closely, they wield hidden power and, with a little maneuvering, can manipulate events in the court.

There are countless examples of powerful eunuchs disrupting the government and female officials wielding power in previous dynasties; a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

Moreover, those who served in the inner court were ultimately unable to enter the grand halls of the imperial court.

Even if they gain power temporarily, they will ultimately be unable to escape the label of "treacherous and wicked" and will be despised by scholars.

To rely on the inner court is the worst possible strategy!

Not consider!

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze was cold and deep as he swept over another entrenched and enormous force in the court—the ancient aristocratic clans!

A super-powerful conglomerate, with a foundation built over millennia.

The iron cavalry of Longxi, the powerful clans of Guanzhong, the Confucian scholars of Shandong, the five surnames and seven noble families... not to mention the twelve families of Wang and Xie in Jiangnan, whose officials filled the court and whose families were high-ranking officials for generations.

These noble families, who pride themselves on their noble lineage, regard those from humble backgrounds as worthless.

Even if they serve under powerful families, they are nothing more than pawns who charge into battle for them. Once their last drop of value is squeezed out, they are discarded like worn-out shoes.

Countless talented individuals from humble backgrounds in previous dynasties thought that by attaching themselves to these powerful families, they could rise to prominence, only to end up being discarded like a spent bird after its harbinger has served its purpose.

To be at someone else's mercy!

Not consider!

"A family renowned for its imperial examinations!"

He lightly tapped the "List of Families" on the table with his fingertips, his gaze falling on those newly rich families who, though lacking a thousand-year-old foundation, were full of vitality—families with a long history of imperial examinations!
A family with a long tradition of passing the imperial examinations, and a rising star in the imperial court.

Three generations of officials, a family established for a century.

Although not as deeply rooted as the Five Clans and Seven Families, they were more numerous and widespread. These newly rich families, who rose to prominence with the imperial examination system, occupied prefectures, counties, and towns, and their sons were found in all six ministries.

Although they have not yet risen to the ranks of minister or vice minister in the imperial court, they have the advantage of being numerous and occupying the bottom ranks of various government offices.

What's even more remarkable is that these newly rich scions of aristocratic families have not yet developed the arrogant temperament of those ancient powerful clans.

If we choose those with potential and lend a helping hand, we might just cultivate a great tree and turn them into allies.

"For example, Han Yugui, Cao An, Lu Ming, and so on. They are not from powerful clans, but rather scions of prominent families in the prefectures and counties, with family roots spanning over a hundred years, yet they have not reached the level of powerful clans!"

However, careful selection is necessary to eliminate those short-sighted individuals from among the scions of prominent families.

"Next up is the group of war meritorious nobles!"

Jiang Xingzhou lightly stroked the jade belt at his waist with his fingertips, his gaze sweeping over a list of names—the meritorious families whose legacy of war still lingered in the imperial court.

Founding heroes and revitalizing ministers have always been a major force in the imperial court.

These hereditary dukes, marquises, and earls were descendants of those who followed Emperor Taizu in conquering the country and Emperor Shizu in restoring it. Their iron certificates, still bearing the marks of blood, symbolized their hereditary wealth and status.

The Xun Gui Group is a one-shot deal; if they miss this opportunity to make a name for themselves, they'll miss out forever.

However, with the imperial examination system now flourishing, the heroes of yesteryear are now showing signs of decline and are unable to keep up with the pace.

The once-powerful and prestigious Gui Group, now in its twilight years, is heading towards decline.

The Xue brothers, Gui and Fu, failed to pass the county-level exam this year. With their mediocre talents, it will be extremely difficult for them to pass the provincial-level exam or the metropolitan-level exam!
Without studying diligently until one's thirties or forties, one probably wouldn't be able to pass the imperial examination!
This is common among the sons of noble families.

The fact that the nobility group is weak actually presents a good opportunity!
What the nobles sought was nothing more than to restore their family's prestige and survive in the cracks of the court; they needed the help of the new elites.

What he sought was precisely the enduring legacy of these military families, though their influence had waned.

The nobles needed him, so he allied with the noble groups, and they helped each other both inside and outside the court!

"The Noble Group has always had a good reputation because its ancestors made military achievements and were enshrined in the Confucian Temple!"
My marriage to Xue Lingqi is a match made in heaven, a perfect alliance with the Great Zhou Noble Group!

Jiang Xingzhou paused, thinking to himself.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating the blood-red annotations on the "List of Princes and Feudal Kings" on the desk.

"Next, another major power in the court—the feudal lords and princes!"

Jiang Xingzhou tapped his fingertips heavily on the ten military governorships circled in vermilion ink, a cold glint flashing in his eyes—

The feudal lords and vassal kings—these remnants of regional separatism who should have long since vanished with history—still entrenched like a malignant tumor in all directions. Each of the ten great vassal kings possessed a powerful army, established its own taxes, and even dared to disregard imperial decrees for the succession of royal titles!

This is a chronic problem of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

Each emperor was always on high alert, and the entire court regarded them as a major threat, yet they were never able to eradicate them completely.

Jiang Xingzhou suddenly sneered.

He had previously tried to consult various classics of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the library of the Duke of Xue's mansion.

However, they found only one document: the "Edict on Reducing the Power of the Feudal States".

Another major national policy that should have been paired with it, the "Decree of Grace," has not been found at all; it has vanished without a trace!

At the time, Jiang Xingzhou was also baffled by this and couldn't figure out the reason.

Just consider it a matter of different historical paths taken by the Great Zhou and the Chinese civilization!

"The Edict on Reducing the Power of Feudal States still exists, but the Edict on Granting Grace is nowhere to be seen."

Jiang Xingzhou unconsciously tapped the table with his knuckles, his thoughts churning.

No wonder, throughout the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, no one has ever successfully reduced the power of the vassal states!

The failure to reduce the power of regional military governors has resulted in the continuation of the current system of regional military governorships.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze suddenly sharpened, and he slowly closed the "List of Princes and Feudal Kings".

"Enough, feudal lords and vassal kings, just withered bones in their tombs!"
These dying people are not worth wasting your energy on.

Let you live a little longer.

"We will find a way to send them off on their final journey in the future."

Jiang Xingzhou quietly clenched his fist in his sleeve.

Only by taking the heads of these feudal lords and kings can I establish unparalleled merit for myself in the Great Zhou!

Otherwise, what merits did he possess to rise to the central government, becoming a high-ranking official in the three provinces and six ministries, and overshadowing everyone else?

"The last power is the Sage Family!"

A stick of incense curls gently, and before the desk lies the "List of Families of Sages".

Jiang Xingzhou stared at the gilded character "圣" on the bamboo slip, his fingertips hovering in mid-air—

From semi-saints to near-saints, and finally to saints, all transcend worldly affairs and remain untouched by mortal dust.

These direct descendants of sage families, inheriting the bloodline of sages for thousands of years, possess semi-saintly texts, reside in blessed lands and sage-protected realms, isolated from the world, forming their own distinct family.

The majestic residence of the sage stands alone amidst the clouds.

Those who possess the semi-sacred text can refuse invitations from kings and nobles;

The author of Wyatt's manuscript dares to laugh at the disputes in the imperial court.

The sages and their families here do not use the gold and jade of the imperial court as their steps, but rather take the sage's way as their foundation.

No one dared to offend them, and they had no need to join any faction in the court.

The court intrigues were nothing more than ants fighting each other, and the change of imperial power could hardly affect the sage's family in the slightest.

There is a record that the Grand Tutor of the court once personally presented the imperial seal and paid a visit, but was stopped a hundred miles away by half a scroll of the Spring and Autumn Annals.

The pride of the descendants of saints is evident.

"With a sage backing them up, they truly have no taboos."

This was the force that Jiang Xingzhou had the most to no avail of after much deliberation.

What's most unsettling are the occasional appearances of scions of noble families—some dressed in white, selling wine, others in blue robes, swords in hand. Seemingly carefree and unconventional, they are actually insightful about the ways of the world. Only at crucial moments do they intervene in the course of the Great Zhou Dynasty's politics.

However, even sages dislike getting involved in cause and effect or becoming too deeply entangled in worldly affairs.

Under the constraints of the sages, the scions of sage families rarely appeared in the court or among the common people of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

In recent centuries, the descendants of the saint have become increasingly reclusive, with only the jade lamps in front of each residence reflecting the still-wet wax residue every night.

"That's all."

"Since the sage restrains his disciples from easily getting involved in worldly affairs."
I live in peace with the descendants of the saints, keeping to myself and not interfering with their affairs.

Jiang Xingzhou thought to himself.

Only when he ascends to sainthood will he have the strength to compete with the saintly families.

Jiang Xingzhou sat upright at his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the sandalwood table as he meticulously analyzed the intricate web of power within and outside the court—

The emperor, in his golden palace high above the heavens, looks down upon all living beings;

Relatives of the empress and members of the royal family, like vines clinging to a tree, use the power of the palace to climb up the ladder of imperial authority;
The inner court, where eunuchs and female officials hold the seals of office, is treacherous and unpredictable; a single imperial edict can overturn the tide.

These three are an integral whole and should not be moved lightly.

The powerful clans, with their profound history spanning millennia, are arrogant and corrupt. They usurp high positions, seize vast tracts of land from the Great Zhou Dynasty, and live off its wealth.

The nobles rose to power through military achievements, and their swords and weapons, though gradually covered in dust, have not yet withered away;

The ten vassal kings, each with their own territory and powerful armies, were destined to be thorns in the side of the emperor and his ministers.

New elites from families that had passed the imperial examinations, and rising gentry, exuding an imposing aura;

A family of sages, transcending worldly affairs, their writings can awe mountains and rivers.

Jiang Xingzhou's eyes turned slightly cold, reflecting the most suitable ally—a meritorious nobleman, whose blades were not dulled and whose blood was still hot, making him easier to ally with than those old and decrepit clans that had been entrenched for thousands of years.

If one can harness its power, one might be able to pave a path to heaven in the imperial court.

While newly established families of scholars who rose through the imperial examinations may have shallow foundations, they excel in their outspokenness. If they can be managed and become allies, they are a handy and swift sword.

As for the feudal lords and vassal kings? To fight the imperial court for taxes and the people's livelihood is a path to certain death.

A thousand-year-old aristocratic family? Deeply entrenched and rotten to the core.

His Majesty's vigorous promotion of the imperial examination system has made powerful clans the primary threat.

The powerful clans would eventually be swallowed up by the rising tide of the new imperial examination system.

—Both of them are certain to die!

(End of this chapter)