94Chapter 94: The Ambition of the Kings, the Confucianists' Move
There are always some people who hide in the back when external forces are rampant, and then start to "stand up" when the bravest and most selfless people in the group eliminate the external forces.
They began to feel that they were in control again, began to feel that they could make decisions, began to feel that they could act without restraint, began to feel that... they could act in a superior position without restraint.
Among this group of people, the largest proportion is made up of "powerful people" and "scholars".
In the Han Dynasty, it would be "princes" and "Confucianism".
When the Han-Xiongnu War was at its peak, these two forces stayed away, fearing that the blood of the Han central court would be splattered on them. After Chen Qing and others completely drove the Xiongnu out of Mobei, they wanted to divide up the benefits.
A brand new land that has not been touched by any of the major forces of the Han Dynasty!
How great are the benefits involved!
As a result, the princes and powerful people began to get restless and wanted to write a petition to divide up this part of the benefits.
It's just a pity that Emperor Wu was not a fool.
Therefore, before this group of people submitted a petition to divide up this part of the power, Emperor Wu established the "Mobei Xingjun" here. The "division" of Mobei Xingjun was very large, including all the land originally occupied by the Xiongnu.
This can almost call itself a "country", and even an "empire". After all, although the grasslands occupied by the Huns are not suitable for farming, they are very suitable for grazing.
After the establishment of the new prefecture, Emperor Wu appointed Chen Yu as the prefect of Mobei Prefecture with lightning speed, a prefect with the same rank as the "Three Dukes", and handed over all the power of Mobei Prefecture to Chen Yu.
Yes, full power.
Including military, administrative, financial, and personnel appointments.
Everyone in the court said that Emperor Wu was crazy, but only Emperor Wu himself knew that he was not crazy and was very calm.
He didn't trust anyone to be entrusted with such a big place as Mobeixing County, and he only felt safe to entrust it to Chen Yu.
Of course—he had a backup plan.
Following the fake imperial edict "ordering the world to find talented people", he found a talented person who had been lost among the people.
The court officials had no idea how talented he was, but Chen, Emperor Wu, and even Dou, who had long been a second-rate or even third-rate family, all praised this man highly.
This person was called "Rong Liu", with the courtesy name "Yuxia", and was from the Rong family of Liaodong.
Emperor Wu appointed this talented person as the "County Magistrate" of Mobei County, the second-in-command of the entire Mobei County, to govern Mobei together with the top leader Chen Yu.
The goal he gave Chen Yu was to develop the Mobei Xingjun within ten years and turn it into a horse-breeding base for the entire Han Dynasty, to cultivate a large number of cavalry, and to operate it as a "stronghold" for the Western Regions.
When the original "Xiongnu" and "Han" united to become one country, the end of the Western Regions was about to come.
The Dayuezhi, which had originally allied with the Xiongnu to fight against the Han Dynasty, quickly submitted a letter after the Xiongnu was defeated, claiming to be a vassal state and expressing its willingness to submit. It was willing to offer a large amount of money and treasures every year in order to obtain the protection of the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Wu did not refuse.
It's not because he is kind-hearted, but because he currently cannot spare the time or effort.
When the leadership of the Mobei Commandery and the new imperial court was finalized, the hearts of the princes began to flutter. Or rather, it wasn't their hearts that began to flutter. Rather, it was the chess pieces in Emperor Wu's plan that began to move.
In the eyes of Emperor Wu, the number of princes was simply too many!
He must strike hard against this!
In the court, Chao Yun, one of the Nine Ministers, stood up.
Yes, Chao Yun.
His father is...Chao Cuo!
He was Chao Cuo, who advocated the reduction of power among the princes during the reign of Emperor Jing but never succeeded and even provoked the Rebellion of the Seven Princes.
His father had passed away in the last years of Emperor Jing's reign, but he left behind a lot of political resources. Emperor Jing felt a little guilty about his father, after all, he had exploited him for so long, so he promoted him to an official position with a salary of 1,000 stones.
After Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he found that this boy was quite capable, so he simply appointed him as the Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers.
Chao Yun proposed a measure that was more subtle than the "reduction of vassal power" proposed by his father, but also more ruthless. This policy was called... the Enfeoffment Order.
Of course, according to Chao Yun, this policy was thought up by him and his "good friend" and close confidant.
That man's name was...Zhufu Yan.
Emperor Wu then summoned Lord Father Yan and appointed him as Langzhongling, treating him as one of the most important counselors in the country.
.... .....
Apricot Garden
Dong Zhongshu had a faint smile on his face. He looked into the distance in the direction of Chang'an City. Many disciples behind him were packing up their things.
Beside him, a disciple with a worried look on his face asked, "Teacher, is our time coming?"
Dong Zhongshu laughed heartily: "Yes, our time has come!"
There was a hint of shrewdness in his brows. "In Chang'an, Chao Yun is sharpening his sword, preparing to fulfill his father's dying wish and implement the reduction of feudal lords. Meanwhile, militarily, the world has already achieved great unification."
"At this moment, of the four major elements that constitute the stability of the world, military unification has been achieved, and political unification is about to begin. Of the remaining most important "ideology" and "economy", ideology...is our stage!"
Dong Zhongshu's brows were filled with arrogance: "I have already seen through the so-called 'investigation of things' of the two Chen children, and have integrated their ideas into my great Confucianism."
"This time when I go to Chang'an, I will definitely ask Your Majesty to abolish all other schools of thought and only promote Confucianism!"
"And the rise of Confucianism is happening today!"
"Go to Chang'an and make all the families bow down to you!"
.... .....
Imperial College
Chen Yi and Chen Yi sat opposite each other with gentle smiles on their faces, and one of them slowly placed the black piece down.
"Brother, do you think Dong Zhongshu will come to promote his Confucianism?"
Chen Yi smiled slightly: "This is inevitable."
A hint of playfulness and mischief crossed his face. "He thought our thinking stopped at the study of things, so he would definitely absorb the study of things and form his own Confucianism. But he didn't know that we had further realized new ideas."
"The new thought belongs to the study of things, yet it transcends the study of things."
"His Confucianism can't handle us."
He narrowed his eyes and said calmly, "What's more... the lesson of the Qin Emperor's failure in his unification philosophy is heavy enough. A single school of thought will not bring spring. We should allow this philosophy to flourish... in all its glory."