If Wen Yanran hadn’t read the tips in the comment section, she felt she would have missed quite a lot of important content.
But then Wen Yanran noticed another issue: although she had gathered quite a few useful generals under her command, who exactly could she go to war with now?
After pondering for a moment, Wen Yanran decided it wasn’t a problem – if she remained patient and just kept stirring up trouble, enemies would eventually come.
After the Yan Clan Rebellion, many issues in the northern territories were brought out into the open.
The local powerful families and the border camp generals had colluded with each other, which was why Yan’s troops were able to advance unimpeded all the way to the vicinity of the front camp. Had it not been for the officers and soldiers of the front camp, from Shi Zhuhe on down, who remained loyal and devoted to the imperial court, joining forces to repel the rebels beyond the city walls, it was quite possible that someone would have “opened the gates to welcome the king’s army.”
Wen Yanran dispatched the Ministry of Justice, Censor-in-Chief Song Wenshu, and Minister of Justice Tao Su to assist in handling the case of the northern rebellion – although Tao Su also bore the surname Tao, he was not from the same clan as General of Chariots and Cavalry Tao Jia.
The officials in the north felt an oppressive sense of doom, as if dark clouds were pressing down on the city.
In the past, when the emperor had remained impassive and made no overt moves, they had already lived in constant fear and anxiety. Now that he was finally about to take action, it was enough to make one’s very soul tremble with terror.
Take the Yan clan members, for instance. Although they had been annihilated on the battlefield, the imperial court did not forget to settle accounts afterward. At the time, they had concocted excuses for leading their troops to the front camp, but such justifications were clearly insufficient to fool the seasoned court officials. After an investigation, many officials were put in shackles and arrested and brought to the capital, resulting in a large number of vacancies in the northern region virtually overnight.
Wen Yanran already had many loyal ministers under her command, yet as she looked at the list of vacancies submitted by the Ministry of Personnel, she still felt a shortage of talent.
The Vice Minister of Personnel came forward to seek instructions. “Your Majesty, there are numerous vacancies in the northern region. Shall we follow the precedent set in the eastern territories and open the Talent Selection Examination?”
Wen Yanran smiled slightly. “Naturally, it shall be held.” She then added, “Official schools have been established in every region – it is time to assess their effectiveness.”
The official schools had been founded in the second year of the Zhaoming era, and now that it was the beginning of the fifth year, it was hardly surprising that the Emperor wished to evaluate their results.
The Vice Minister of Personnel keenly perceived the underlying meaning in the Emperor’s words.
Back when the Emperor had sought to stabilize the eastern territories, though she had not granted special favors to the local aristocratic families, she had allowed the sons and daughters of the powerful clans to participate in the Talent Selection Examination, appointing those who passed as local officials. This was done to prevent resentment over the demolition of their fortified manors. If that approach could be described as “giving a sweet date after ten blows,” then today’s emperor was increasingly revealing her stern disposition as a sovereign.
Now that her wings were fully feathered, the Emperor had no intention of pacifying the northern region. Instead, she intended to make these rebels who dared to challenge her authority pay a bloody price.
Since the Emperor had declared that she would assess the results of official school education, it meant that this examination would be based entirely on the foundation of those official schools.
The Emperor’s stance quickly spread to the northern region, and many families discerned a clear message from it – the central court had no intention of negotiating with them. For the sake of their families, even those who had not been implicated in the Yan conspiracy would be wise to surrender without delay.
Although official schools had been established for several years now, progress varied across regions. The most developed were, of course, in Jianzhou, followed by the eastern territories, then the southern and western regions respectively. As for the northern region, it remained little more than an empty shell for now.
Since they had once dared to refuse cooperation with the Emperor, the Emperor would now strip them of their qualifications for official service.
For aristocratic families, access to official careers was an absolute lifeline. Many clans that had been waiting on the sidelines could not help but begin private discussions, exploring whether there was any possibility of a compromise.
Though the Yan clan had been annihilated, the northern region as a whole still possessed considerable strength – it was not entirely without room for bargaining.
“If we are to proceed with this, we must find someone to take the lead.”
“To sway the Emperor’s resolve, this person must be a figure of great renown.”
After some discussion, everyone agreed that Wen Hong was the most suitable candidate.
In terms of seniority, he was the Emperor’s uncle by clan; in terms of official rank, he had served as a prefect since the late emperor’s reign; moreover, his reputation among the aristocratic families had always been exemplary.
Yet some voiced objections, “Gentlemen, you are mistaken. Wen Hong is absolutely not someone to be relied upon. He is utterly loyal to the young emperor and has consistently bent to the imperial will to protect himself – whatever Jianping requests, he provides. Back when the Liubo Canal was being constructed, he continuously sent stone materials to the capital. I have long since received intelligence that Zhang, that advisor of his, has already sent outstanding members of his own clan to study at the official schools in Jianzhou, always ready to serve the young emperor. If we attach ourselves to such a man, would we not find ourselves betrayed and handed over to the Sovereign at the first opportunity?”
“…”
Everyone was filled with indignation – Wen Hong had been in the northern region for so many years and had always gotten along well with everyone, so why was he unwilling to take a clear stance and stand against the Sovereign?
Moreover, Wen Hong was simply too accommodating. Compared to him, even Yuan Yanshi seemed less meticulously subservient – after all, as a Grand Councilor and auxiliary minister, Grand Tutor Yuan at least managed to offer a few words of counsel when the Emperor undertook major construction projects.
“Since Wen Hong cannot be relied upon, we must find another way.”
If resistance was impossible, submission was also a good choice. Rather than being handed over to the Emperor by someone else, it was better to surrender willingly and avoid having to share the benefits with intermediaries. The Cui clan in the southern region, for instance, had set an excellent example – despite having been trusted followers of the Marquis of Quanling, they had successfully boarded the new sovereign’s great ship.
“How did the Cui clan manage to become confidants of the Emperor?”
Someone replied, “Back when the Marquis of Quanling perished, the Cui clan could no longer continue to support their former master and had no choice but to pledge allegiance to the Emperor. Therefore, not only must we avoid overly close relations with Commandery Administrator Wen, but we should also take the initiative to distance ourselves from him, lest we arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.”
Those gathered here for discussions usually cared a great deal about maintaining appearances under normal circumstances, but once they began to speak openly, they no longer worried much about such niceties.
“What you say is reasonable. However, beyond that, the Cui clan did two other things: first, they supported the Sovereign in the construction of the Liubo Canal; second, they risked life and danger by sending outstanding talents from their clan as envoys to the Western Tribes.”
As the words fell, the room fell into a momentary silence. It was a long while before someone prostrated themselves on the floor in salute and said, “Thank you for the advice. I understand now.”
The prominent families in the northern region fell into several categories. One type was like cicadas in autumn – clinging to the fading glory of their clans with mournful cries, lacking the courage to make any underhanded moves, merely hoping that the Emperor might show some mercy and allow them to preserve their former influence. Another type refused to accept the loss of power and, despite knowing that the situation was beyond salvage, still struggled to make something happen.
Both categories required firm handling; the only difference was that the first type was easier to deal with. Of course, given the central court’s current strength, handling the second type would not prove difficult either.
Then there were those families who could clearly see the situation of the realm and were willing to adapt. Upon realizing the Emperor’s strength, they instead hoped to seize the opportunity and follow in her wake.
They fully understood the Emperor’s formidable nature. The current Sovereign was no longer the child who had to tread carefully when first ascending the throne. Over the past few years, the central court’s power and prestige had been strengthened to an unprecedented degree. Even if one wished to bow down, not everyone was qualified to do so.
After discussions, many of these families actually took the initiative to submit memorials to Jianzhou.
Inside the Western Yong Palace.
Wen Yanran glanced at the pile of memorials from the northern region on her desk, then slowly opened one.
By now, she no longer wished to conceal her tyrannical and unenlightened side, and she had anticipated that the northern factions would inevitably begin to push back.
Yet no matter how the local powers resisted or how scholarly public opinion criticized her, Wen Yanran was determined to carry out her will – the troops of Jianzhou were firmly in her hands, and the commanding generals of the other four camps were all newly promoted officials she had personally appointed. In terms of military force alone, there was no power left that could stand in her way.
“I, your servant, humbly petition, hoping that Your Majesty will follow the precedent set in the eastern territories – dismantle the fortified manors in the north, establish official schools, survey the farmlands, register the common households, and ensure that decrees from above and below flow unimpeded…”
This was a joint memorial submitted by several families.
Wen Yanran’s gaze sharpened. “…?”
With the central court wielding such great power, it was only natural that some would switch sides. But Wen Yanran doubted they could all reach a consensus. So she pulled out several more memorials from underneath to read – these were indeed not entirely identical to the first. Among them were not only proposals urging the emperor to dismantle fortified manors and establish official schools, but also offers to send able-bodied members of their clans, along with their own provisions and private troops, to the southern region to construct canals. In short, a wide variety of proposals, far too many to list individually.
Just as Wen Yanran found herself perplexed by the attitude of the northern aristocratic families, Wen Hong, the Commandery Administrator of Wuzheng Commandery, found himself equally confounded.
He could understand that some would choose to pledge allegiance to the Sovereign, but were they not a bit too numerous? After all, land and population were crucial for ensuring a family’s continued existence. Why would these powerful clans prefer to offer such assets to the Emperor rather than put up any resistance?
Zhang Bingshan coughed dryly twice and said, reluctantly, “Perhaps it is because of the official schools.”
The powerful local clans did not enjoy the same reputation as the established aristocratic families, making it difficult for them to enter official service through the normal channels. Thus, the path of entering official schools and then being appointed as local officials through examinations held great appeal to them.
Beyond these powerful clans, there were naturally also the established aristocratic families in various regions. The reason these aristocratic families, who lacked no opportunities for official appointments, wielded such immense influence was largely due to their monopoly on educational resources. However, with the improvement of papermaking techniques and the rise of block printing, the cost of producing books had dropped significantly. Coupled with the establishment of village schools, unit schools, and official schools, the number of people receiving education had increased accordingly. The imperial court now had more choices when selecting officials, and these families gradually lost their ability to constrain the Sovereign.
Looking back now, the Sovereign had indeed advanced step by step with meticulous planning.
Seizing the opportunities presented by subduing the Western Tribes and quelling the rebellion in the eastern territories, the Emperor had reformed the land grant system. She had sent officials to survey farmlands and allocate land based on population, prohibiting private land transactions. At the same time, she had adjusted the taxation system by abolishing the poll tax and instead taxing based on the amount of land owned, thereby alleviating to some extent the land consolidation issues that had plagued the late Great Zhou.
More of the labor force was being freed up to participate in national development, and the old order of the Great Zhou was gradually being dismantled piece by piece.
Sweat beaded on Zhang Bingshan’s forehead. Before his lord, he had always maintained a detached demeanor, presenting himself as one whose calculations never failed. Yet now, events unfolding in the northern region had consistently defied his expectations. The surrounding powerful families, for reasons unknown, had all coincidentally chosen to distance themselves from Wen Hong and pledge allegiance to the imperial court. What further undermined his standing in Wuzheng Commandery was that his own niece, Zhang Weixiu, had inexplicably lost her senses – she had abandoned her clerical post under Wen Hong and gone to study at the official schools in Jianzhou instead.
Of course, judging by the fate of the Yan clan, this might not have been a mistaken choice after all.
Zhang Bingshan now faced two problems: first, he worried that his lord might suspect him of lacking loyalty; second, despite having offered counsel for so long, his lord had only drifted further from his ambitions, making his own professional competence seem far from satisfactory.
No one knew how long the silence had stretched when Wen Hong suddenly turned to his most trusted advisor. “I have yet to thank you for your guidance today.”
Zhang Bingshan asked, “…What does my lord mean by this?”
A mixture of lingering fear and relief colored Wen Hong’s voice as he spoke, “Had it not been for your counsel back then, urging me to maintain the posture of a loyal minister and comply with the young emperor as much as possible, the government office of Wuzheng Commandery would likely now be surrounded by the front camp troops!” He paused, then added with admiration, “Your foresight is profound, yet you do not claim credit for your achievements – truly exceptional.”
As he reflected on past events, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief -regardless of what thoughts he may have harbored in his heart, judging solely by his past actions, he was unquestionably a loyal minister of the Great Zhou. Many times, even before the Sovereign had spoken, his commandery had already found ways to facilitate matters for the imperial court.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Bingshan felt a surge of complex emotions. “Thank you for your trust, my lord. From now on, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to your service!”
The reason he had become Wen Hong’s chief advisor and enjoyed his lord’s unwavering trust for so many years was not only due to his own ability to always present a coherent explanation for his advice, but also owed much to Wen Hong’s remarkable talent for filling in the gaps with his own imagination.
