noveltune Chapter 5 Division of Land and Granting of Titles
Chapter 5 Division of Land and Granting of Titles
"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king." — *The Book of Songs*, *Minor Odes of the Kingdom*, "North Mountain"
[Ding~ You have completed the historical milestone - King Wu's conquest of Zhou]
You became the Sima of the Zhou Dynasty, highly valued by King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa. Your name is etched in history, your clan reputation increases by 2000, and you have obtained the item—Earth-Rank: The Complete Works of Master Xiangshan.
The Complete Works of Mr. Xiangshan: After use, designate a member of the clan to wholeheartedly read this book, understand, deeply know, and clearly comprehend the truths within. The time required for each reading and comprehension will vary depending on the individual's aptitude, and the specific results are uncertain.
Dream Message: 3/3 (Currently unavailable)
"So this is the work of this big shot?" Zhang Zhao was shocked as he looked at the newly acquired item.
Lu Jiuyuan, a philosopher of the Southern Song Dynasty, was the founder of the "School of Mind" in the Song and Ming Dynasties. When he was three or four years old, he asked his father "Where is Heaven and Earth?" He later realized that "The universe is my mind, and my mind is the universe." What a great man!
Even Wang Yangming, who was known as one of the "two and a half sages" alongside Confucius and Mencius and who attained enlightenment in Longchang, would have to call him his patriarch!
However, what makes him happiest right now is not obtaining the item, but that he has returned to Fengyi with his wife's relatives and the army.
In January, he followed Ji Fa from the Zhou Dynasty to fight against the Yin Shang Dynasty.
In April, the royal army returned from the Yin-Shang dynasty and arrived at Fengyi.
Zhang Zhao advised Ji Fa, saying: "I hope Your Majesty will cease military preparations, promote education and culture, release warhorses to the south of Mount Hua, and release cattle to the fields of Taolin, thus demonstrating to the world that you will no longer wage war."
Ji Fa agreed, then toured the four directions and composed the "Wu Cheng" (武成).
On the day of Dingwei in the fourth month, Ji Fa held a sacrifice at the Zhou Temple. The feudal lords of Bangdian, Hou, Wei and other states came to assist in the sacrifice. The feudal lords ran back and forth, arranging sacrificial vessels such as wooden dou and bamboo bian.
Three days later, on the day of Gengxu, sacrifices were offered to Heaven and the mountains and rivers of the land, announcing the victory over the Shang Dynasty, establishing the Zhou Dynasty, and making Haojing the capital. Fifteen days later, allied vassal states and officials arrived in Haojing to receive the king's command.
The next day, Ji Fa decided to enfeoff the feudal lords, bestowing upon them the sacrificial vessels from the ancestral temples of the Shang Dynasty, and composed the chapter "The Vessels of Yin".
Ji Fa first commemorated the sage kings of the past, then rewarded and enfeoffed the descendants of Shennong in Jiao, the descendants of Huangdi in Zhu, the descendants of Emperor Yao in Ji, the descendants of Emperor Shun in Chen, and the descendants of Yu the Great in Qi.
The states of Chen and Qi, together with the state of Bei which was received by Wu Geng, son of King Zhou of Shang, were collectively known as the "Three Respected Officials".
Then, he bestowed titles and honors upon his meritorious officials and advisors, with Grand Tutor Taigong Wang being the first to receive one. Ji Fa enfeoffed Taigong Wang in Yingqiu, establishing the state of Qi to stabilize the east, and made him the Marquis of Qi.
He enfeoffed his younger brother Ji Dan in Qufu, establishing the state of Lu, and made him the Marquis of Lu. He enfeoffed Duke Shao Shi in the land of Yan, making him the Marquis of Yan. He enfeoffed Zhang Zhao in the area from the south of the Wei River to Sanguan Pass, establishing the state of Liang, to stabilize the southwestern states, and made him the Marquis of Liang.
Upon hearing that Ji Fa had granted this place to him, Zhang Zhao was both amused and exasperated, because historically, this was the fiefdom of San Yisheng.
Just as he was being granted the title of Marquis of Liang, something new appeared on his panel—an information panel.
[Ding~ You have completed the historical milestone - King Wu's enfeoffment]
You have become the Sima, one of the six ministers of the Zhou Dynasty, and also a regional lord: the Marquis of Liang. Your historical reputation has been greatly enhanced, and your clan prestige has increased by 5000.
You have obtained the wonder item - Earth-tier Shaole Palace (Construction requires 500 reserve soldiers and 300 laborers, and takes 1 year and 6 months).
Earth Rank · Shaole Palace: The clan unlocks Confucian culture, and there is a 3% chance that the culture of clan disciples will change to Confucian culture.
Dream Message: 3/3 (Currently unavailable)
Zhang Zhao was utterly shocked. The reward of this land grant was too amazing! Even a cultural wonder like the Shaole Palace had appeared.
Shao music is the music of Shun, and Shao music palace is the place where Confucius heard the Shao music. The Analects records: "When Confucius heard the Shao music in Qi, he did not taste meat for three months, saying: 'I never imagined that music could be so supreme!'"
Imagine how shocking it would be if someone suddenly proposed such a cultural theory in the early Zhou Dynasty!
If we add the previous "Complete Works of Mr. Xiangshan" to the list, the scene would be unimaginable!
He then opened the messages.
Clan Information:
Family Surname: Zhang
Family fiefdom: Liang Kingdom (Liangyi, Sanlin, Jiangyuan)
Duration of inheritance: 150 years
Number of generations: 8
Title: Marquis
Family Class: Minor Clan
Distinguished members of the family: 2
Although Liangyi was the capital of the Liang Kingdom, it could only be considered a settlement. Sanlin was a wasteland that needed to be cultivated. Jiangyuan had fertile soil, but it also needed to be cultivated.
Looking at it this way, it seems that Zhang's purge is over at this stage, and Liang's purge is also over.
Just as Zhang Zhao was inwardly complaining, the enfeoffment process was not yet over.
Ji Fa enfeoffed his younger brothers Shu Xianyu Guan, Shu Duyu Cai, and Shu Yuyu Huo to jointly govern the remnants of the Shang Dynasty and supervise Wu Geng, a group historically known as the "Three Supervisors".
Unlike the enfeoffment system of King Cheng of Zhou, which involved granting people and territory, Ji Fa's enfeoffment at this time was more like establishing military strongholds, with the aim of quickly controlling strategic locations.
It's like the land has been granted to you; whether you take it or not is your business. If you fail to take it, then you're guilty.
The southern part of the Shang Dynasty's royal domain, bordering the Yellow River, was granted to Su Fensheng, who served as the Minister of Justice, and the state of Wen was established there. The area west of Wen was granted to Tan Boda. The two states of Wen and Tan controlled the vital transportation route from Mengjin Ferry to the Shang Dynasty's royal domain.
To the north of these two states, the Zhou king enfeoffed his two half-brothers, enabling them to establish the states of Yuan and Yong, guarding the pass on the southern slope of the Taihang Mountains, and expanding eastward along the Ji River, establishing the states of Cao, Gao, and Cheng respectively.
……
After the court session ended, Zhang Zhao returned home.
The Zhang clan members were overjoyed to hear that he had been enfeoffed as the Marquis of Liang, but Zhang Zhao was not happy at this moment.
As the Sima of the Zhou Dynasty, he was required to remain in Haojing to assist Ji Fa in handling state affairs, so his son Zhang Chengsi was to go on his behalf to receive the title.
But Zhang Chengsi was only two years old. How could he possibly be in charge of the affairs of a country? Moreover, the Liang Kingdom was bordered by the Quanrong to the west and the Di and Qiang to the southwest.
Now King Wu is on the throne, and the Emperor's six armies are in the royal domain. The Liang Kingdom is located in the southwest of the Guanzhong Plain. If the Quanrong or Di-Qiang tribes invade, we can ask the King to send troops to assist Liang.
Moreover, with the realm newly established and the Zhou Dynasty in dire need of rebuilding, this was its busiest time. King Wu had shown him great favor, and he could not abandon him at this crucial moment.
This would allow all members of the Zhang and Si clans to travel to the Liang Kingdom, where Zhang Ke would then serve as regent.
Zhang Ke has been by his side since childhood and has been working for him for the past two years. While his abilities may not be outstanding, he is certainly capable of maintaining stability.
That night.
Zhang Zhao sat in his study, staring blankly at the bamboo scrolls on his desk, his mind racing as he considered the current situation.
At this moment, Si Hao carried Zhang Chengsi into the study.
"Husband, why do you look a little unhappy?"
Zhang Zhao's attention was drawn back to him by her voice. He stood up, embraced his wife, and whispered, "I was thinking about the sealing."
"Is something wrong with Liang? My husband, why don't you tell me? It will make you feel better if you talk about it," Si Hao said softly, her face showing concern.
Zhang Zhao smiled and shook his head, saying, "I am currently busy with state affairs in the court and cannot go to Liang to preside over state affairs. Therefore, I was thinking of having you take Si'er, your clansmen, and your father-in-law to Liang."
"I understand your troubles, my husband. Whatever you decide, I will follow you," Si Hao said understandingly without asking any questions.
Looking at his wife's gentle demeanor, Zhang Zhao felt a warmth in his heart and hugged her tightly, thinking, "With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for?"
Zhang Chengsi, whom they held, was chubby and fair-skinned, with big, bright eyes that darted around as he looked at his father and mother, babbling happily and waving his little hands incessantly.
Zhang Zhao looked down at him, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips. He said softly, "Ke will go with us to preside over the affairs of Liang. With him here, I feel at ease."
"I am waiting for my husband in Liang with my adopted son."
"it is good."
At this moment, the wind stirs in the bamboo courtyard, the moon rises above the banana-leaf window. Mist rises halfway up the mountain, and the Milky Way hangs in the sky.
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"Therefore, meritorious officials and advisors were enfeoffed, with Grand Master Shangfu being the first. Grand Master Shangfu was enfeoffed at Yingqiu, which became known as Qi. His younger brother, Duke Dan of Zhou, was enfeoffed at Qufu, which became known as Lu. Wen Zhao was enfeoffed at San, which bordered Liangzhou, hence the name Liang. Duke Shi of Shao was enfeoffed at Yan, and his younger brother, Shu Xian, was enfeoffed at Guan, and his younger brother, Shu Du, at Cai. The rest were enfeoffed in order." — *Records of the Grand Historian, Basic Annals of Zhou*
"The *Zhengyi* commentary states: 'The Geography Records* says: Henan was the old capital of the Yin dynasty. After the Zhou dynasty destroyed the Yin, it divided its territory into three kingdoms: Bei, Yong, and Wei. Bei was enfeoffed to Wu Geng, the son of King Zhou; Yong was governed by Guan Shu; and Wei was governed by Cai Shu. These were the Three Supervisors, responsible for overseeing the people of Yin.'" — *Zhengyi* commentary on the *Records of the Grand Historian*
"East of the capital of Yin was Wei, overseen by Guan Shu; west of the capital was Yong, overseen by Cai Shu; north of the capital was Bei, overseen by Huo Shu: these were the Three Overseens." — *The Annals of Emperors*
"The Liang dynasty began when King Wenzhao received the fiefdom from King Wu!" — Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Zhou