The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 836 - 817: Strongest Fox Spirit 17

The Emperor Shang had never considered the affairs of the vassals.

For him, as long as the vassals pledged allegiance and paid tribute, that was enough; he really hadn’t thought about anything else.

Mainly because his ancestors had always been like this, he hadn’t thought about changing.

However, Feng Anan made him face a reality.

That is, he assumed the vassals were pledging allegiance to him, but they were actually wealthier than he was.

And those noble families, their wealth was also extremely prosperous.

Moreover, Feng Anan told Emperor Shang that if changes weren’t made, regardless of how high the grain yield was, regardless of how prosperous the land was, the benefits would be reaped by the vassals and nobles, and Emperor Shang and the common people wouldn’t get much benefit from it. He would still be the high and mighty yet impoverished king, and the common people would still struggle for food and clothing.

And when the wealth of the vassals and nobles accumulates to a certain degree, they would want to rebel, to overthrow him, the hollow Emperor Shang.

Emperor Shang spent several days not going to the harem, pondering these matters.

He wanted to consult someone.

However, all the ministers in court came from noble families; they wouldn’t tell him the truth.

Therefore, the only person he could consult was Shi Antian.

After all, Shi Antian and Feng Anan had no family to rely on; they could only rely on him, the Great King.

He summoned Shi Antian to the palace to ask what ideas Shi Antian had.

Shi Antian told Emperor Shang, "My thoughts are to reduce the powers of the vassals, and also to promote people from poor families to suppress the noble families. Emperor, you can abolish the vassal state system and adopt the prefecture-county system..."

The more Emperor Shang listened, the brighter his eyes became.

He was the Great King; he retained political sensitivity and knew upon hearing these ideas that they would be beneficial to him. If these systems could be implemented, they would greatly strengthen centralization.

In the future, the land would truly be his, and his word would be law.

Emperor Shang believed Shi Antian had great talent and began to employ him significantly.

Moreover, Emperor Shang also started to weaken the rights of the nobles.

Anning lived in Chaoge, watching Emperor Shang fall into the trap, feeling even more settled in her heart.

A thousand years ago, she began her planning, increasing productivity, providing seeds to the people, teaching them various skills, all to push social development and create fertile ground for the current reforms.

She placed Feng Anan and Shi Antian within the harem and court to push the implementation of reforms.

She understood that even though productivity had increased, it wasn’t the perfect time for reforms.

The current slave society couldn’t shift to a feudal society without significant upheaval.

The reforms might even die prematurely.

This was precisely what Anning wanted.

It is said that advancing half a step is genius, advancing a full step is madness; Anning intended to advance a full step.

The Heavenly Dao had already determined the rise of Zhou and the fall of Shang, therefore, Anning intended to minimize losses.

Must the replacement of a dynasty necessarily involve large-scale wars, pulling in Chan Sect and Jie Sect disciples as sacrifices, standing on their remains to establish a new dynasty?

Not necessarily.

Understand that if the two sects start a conflict, the beneficiary would be the Western Sect.

The Western Sect had risen by abducting many disciples from Chan Sect and Jie Sect during the Sealing God Tribulation.

Anning did not wish to benefit the Western Sect, nor did she want many acquaintances to fill this deep pit.

Thus, her goal was to avoid large-scale wars, yet still ensure the fall of the Shang Dynasty.

Now, this plan was being implemented step by step.

Initially driving reforms, in the course of these reforms, the interests of vassals and noble families would inevitably be affected, naturally leading them to resist to the end.

Talk of loyalty to the nation only holds when their own interests are unaffected.

When their interests are threatened, how many can turn a blind eye?

Huang Feihu’s rebellion was due to his sister and wife being killed by Emperor Shang, losing two close relatives, he betrayed his homeland; when his entire family’s interests were threatened, his backlash was even bigger.

Such rebellion mirrored among all the courtiers, the Shang Dynasty truly reached its end.

Just as Anning had planned.

When Emperor Shang vigorously pushed reforms, insisting on reducing powers of the vassals, the vassal states began to resist.

When he sought to promote people from poor families and implement the imperial examination system, the noble families in Chaoge also started resisting.

The Queen Jiang in the harem was always particularly fearful, unsure of when Consort Su would target her, waiting and waiting, yet Consort Su made no move.

Then Queen Jiang learned of matters in the court, learned of Emperor Shang’s plans to reduce vassal powers, to implement the imperial examination system, and so forth.

At that moment, Queen Jiang seemed to understand something.

She realized that if things continued this way, the Shang Dynasty wouldn’t last.

Yet, she dared not speak to Emperor Shang, nor seek out Feng Anan.

She was truly afraid.

Jiang Ziya couldn’t sit still.

He had heard of these events and thought a monster was causing trouble, destabilizing the Shang Dynasty’s foundation, eager to enter the palace to eliminate the monster.

Anning intercepted him halfway.

"Friend, hold on a moment."

Jiang Ziya glared at Anning, extremely angry: "Hu Dao You, what is the meaning of this? Your sister has influenced the Great King, seeking to destabilize the court’s foundation, and you do not stop her, but instead obstruct me?"

Anning pulled Jiang Ziya outside Chaoge.

She found a quiet place and asked Jiang Ziya with a smile, "Has my sister ever killed anyone?"

Jiang Ziya shook his head: "Never."

"Has she ever caused chaos? Harmed anyone? Stirred up trouble in the harem?" Anning asked with a grin.

Jiang Ziya paused for a moment: "Never."

Anning clapped her hands: "That settles it. My sister hasn’t killed anyone, not even a bug; she’s even vegetarian in the harem. If she bears no karmic debt, by what right would you strike her down?"

These words changed Jiang Ziya’s expression.

"All things in the world are equal, the Human Clan are beings of the world, but is the Demon Clan not the same? My sister has not caused harm nor chaos, no one can strip away her life," Anning seriously gazed at Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya furrowed his brow: "But what she’s doing is..."

Anning waved her hand: "Let me ask you, if reducing vassal powers succeeds, switching to the prefecture-county system, returning land to the people, wouldn’t this enrich the people and strengthen the court?"

Even Jiang Ziya did not wish to concede, but it was the truth; he nodded.

Anning further queried: "If the noble family’s power is weakened, and the imperial examination system established, wouldn’t this make the world more equitable, providing people from poor families a fair path forward?"

Jiang Ziya nodded again: "Yes."

Anning smiled: "So, if things are like this, what fault does my sister have, what fault does the Great King have? They both desire nothing but for the people to live better lives. The fault lies with those who wish to resist the court; if the vassals have fidelity to the court, they should readily accept the reduction of powers, if courtiers are loyal to the court, they should compete for positions via the imperial examination like any commoner. If they were all devotedly serving, wholeheartedly for the nation, what problems would remain? Clearly, it’s the disloyalty among vassals and noble families, yet Fellow Jiang finds fault with them not, but rather seeks out my sister, one with pure intentions for the country and its people; Fellow Jiang, is this your sense of justice?"

Anning’s articulate speech left Jiang Ziya speechless.

He found himself incapable of arguing with Anning.

Anning was right.

Emperor Shang was pushing reforms for the sake of the country and the world, for the people’s lives to improve.

Even he, as one devoted to cultivation, knew if the reforms succeeded, the people’s lives would get better day by day, and the court’s foundation would strengthen.

If he knew, surely those vassals and noble families were aware as well.

Yet, they opposed reforms for personal gain, thus all wrong was on them.

And rather than addressing the guilty, Jiang Ziya targeted a young woman with cries for execution; what mindset was this?

This is nothing more than bullying the weak while fearing the strong.

The more Jiang Ziya thought, the more embarrassed he felt. He blushed as he respectfully said to Anning: "Hu Dao You, I was mistaken, I..."

Anning smiled, waving her hand: "Fellow Jiang, you exaggerate; I know your hearts are for the country and people, it’s pure but you misunderstood for a moment, now that you’ve seen clearly, it’s fine."

Jiang Ziya felt even more ashamed.

He told Anning: "I will speak with my fellow disciples about this, and ensure they do not misunderstand Hu Dao You’s sister."

True to his word, Jiang Ziya soon sent messages to his fellow disciples.

Then, none of the Chan Sect Disciples who intended to intervene, actually went down the mountain to involve themselves in the matter.