As for the local places, they are like local tyrants, being able to control everything without the slightest issue from outside their family gates. This is the survival mode of these aristocratic families that have been handed down through countless ages.
They don’t need to ascend to the throne; they just need to manipulate the imperial court from behind the scenes. When chaos ensues and the emperor is killed, even if the world is remade, the imperial court remains their mouthpiece. This is the ultimate developnt of how aristocratic families survived during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, manipulating the state.
In the end, even soone as formidable as Emperor Taizong of Tang had to endure it. These thods may not show imdiate results, but certain aristocratic families have played these gas for thousands of years, eventually becoming so entwined that, apart from the emperor sitting on top of the country, the civil and military officials ranking from one to nine are all their people.
This type of aristocratic family, which operates under the cloak of secrecy, conducts everything openly, and is not fundantally different from the emperor; it’s just a matter of a title.
Of course, there’s no need to ntion soone like Yuan Shu, who fights over titles. Titles are things that have ensnared many people throughout history.
However, the Chen Family currently has this mode of thinking. It’s not without reason that the Nine-Rank System originates from the Chen Family; they are folks who prioritize substance over appearances.
"I did not clarify my intentions," Chen Xi glanced at Chen Guang and Chen Shang, "What I an is to stand behind the empire and control it, without revealing oneself. In the imperial court, apart from the emperor, everyone is a mouthpiece; there’s not even an emperor, just a group. As for how to control a group, I don’t think you’re less capable than ."
Chen Shang and Chen Guang were both shocked, Chen Xi’s words struck them like a thunderbolt. However, on reflection, it seems plausible; the so-called Holy Emperor governs through delegation, essentially ans the emperor doesn’t do anything, and the Daijin resolve all matters of the kingdom.
Ideally, the emperor wouldn’t interfere with politics or military affairs, allowing all governance to be managed by Daijin.
Thus, if the emperor doesn’t do anything, wouldn’t it be possible to have only Daijin, not just a single person, but a group? Aristocratic families love groups; it’s easier to infiltrate, find scapegoats, and manipulate!
"If this is the case," Chen Guang’s eyes flashed vividly as he glanced at Chen Yun nearby, recognizing her as one of the few unmatched beauties, highly esteed in dance and the arts. Nevertheless, concerning matters of the Chen Family’s fate, negligence is not an option.
Seeing the fierce deanor in Chen Guang and Chen Shang’s eyes, Chen Xi turned his head and saw Chen Yun, accustod to her seamless presence, had forgotten to dismiss her.
"Yun’er, you should wait outside," Chen Xi coughed lightly twice, "I’ll call you back when needed."
Although Chen Yun’s face showed a trace of panic, her movents remained gracious and unflustered. The worst thing about a Maid is encountering things she shouldn’t, which can be life-threatening.
After Chen Yun left, Chen Guang and Chen Shang addressed Chen Xi, "This matter of great importance to the family cannot be neglected!"
"Rest assured, she won’t disclose it to anyone. Normally, she doesn’t go out, and when she does, she’s with ," Chen Xi rolled his eyes, "Moreover, I didn’t ntion being in the Central Plains."
Chen Guang and Chen Shang were taken aback. Not being in the Central Plains doesn’t constitute an empire; a small country in the Western Regions might rival the Xun Family through old tactics without needing such elaborate thods.
Chen Xi picked up a bamboo rod beside him, began explaining, pointing at the central Asian region on the map until Chen Guang and Chen Shang were utterly flabbergasted.
"This is impossible!" Chen Guang slamd the table and shouted, how can the world be so vast, how could there be lands more fertile than the Central Plains, how could there be any places better than the Central Plains, this is absolutely impossible, their worldview cannot accept it!
"Yun’er, bring the books I asked you to prepare," Chen Xi called to the door outside, too indifferent to distance himself from Chen Yun.
Turns out Yun’er was among the first to grasp the larger world; since when Chen Xi drew maps, Yun’er was beside him, pouring tea. Chen Xi never had a strict deanor towards Yun’er, who would inquisitively ask questions for which Chen Xi would provide answers.
However, Yun’er accepted this reality more easily than those like Li Youu; she had no worldview of her own, accepting anything Chen Xi conveyed, adhering to all his reasonable and unreasonable demands unconditionally.
With the Biography of King Mu, Classic of Mountains and Seas, Records of the Grand Historian, along with so fragnts, the books Yun’er brought promptly pieced together all the countries in Central Asia. During the strength of the Great Han Dynasty, the Eurasian Continent underwent extensive exchanges.
Most of these countries were overshadowed by the empire’s powerful radiance. Even the aristocratic family didn’t focus too much on these countries; the Great Qin, Dayuan, Parthia, Yuezhi, all had clear records of exchanges.
"The world is truly vast..." Chen Guang mumbled then dejectedly stared at the map, "Then, what’s the point of all our past disputes and battles? Is this land as fertile as Qing, Xu, Ji, Yanu, Yu?
"Not entirely; there are harsh lands as well as fertile ones. For instance, here, requires no rotation of crops, with three harvests per year," Chen Xi pointed to India, where the land is exceptionally suitable for farming.
"So, our aristocratic families are basically a joke?" Tears slowly trickled down Chen Shang’s elderly eyes, realizing that the land where ancestors fought and bled, and the roots of disputes over millennia, were actually a joke. In this vast world, Yani Huang’s descendants shrank into a corner for a thousand years!
"It’s not exactly a joke, you’ve accumulated over a thousand years of combat experience, engaging in power sches within a military balance context. None of the empires shown on this map is an opponent," Chen Xi remarked with a peculiar mindset, almost teasingly, but with solid truth.
Perhaps each nation has its strategic martial advantages; however, when it cos to scheming and politics, aristocratic families absolutely obliterate others intellectually. For instance, the ans employed by the Seven Great Parthian Nobles in exploiting their country, families like them would undoubtedly outshine them.
Thus, waste is rely misplaced resources; let the aristocratic families, nurtured within their holand for over a thousand years in mastering power sches, confront those at relatively novice levels of civil discord. Without restrictions, they’d stir up untold chaos.
If they still lost in terms of power sches, these aristocratic families would’ve long ago ended themselves unspectacularly; this crowd mastered a thousand years of conflict expertise, maintaining their operations where they’re most skilled—Chen Xi could guarantee this.
The destructive force arising from power sches is left unchecked. The broken pots and pieces are initially ant to be parceled out; even if shattered, they aren’t precious.
Indeed, the thod Chen Xi ntioned, where there is no emperor, but collective governance by ministers, serves as an experintal trial. Going beyond borders to conquer a piece of land then implenting this type of governance system helps accrue knowledge for future transformations in the Han Empire’s polity.
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