Chapter 357: The King’s Storm (Class)

What happened in Jiangling soon spread to Ziling. The latest chapter of the Holy Temple

When the news came back, Xiang Zhuang and Xiang he and Bailixian studied the personnel issues in Jingxiang.

When Linjiang Kingdom was destroyed more than two months ago, the Chu army actually only occupied Jiangling City. The other four counties and 50 counties were offered by Jingxiang gentry. At that time, in order to appease the Jingxiang gentry and stabilize the situation in Jingxiang as soon as possible, Xiangzhuang basically did not make any changes in the personnel of these dozens of counties, and even the four county magistrates were Jingxiang gentry.

This situation is obviously contrary to the basic power structure of Chu. The current basic power structure of Chu is a high degree of centralization. What is centralization? That is, the court or the monarch, who must have absolute dominance over the military, personnel and political affairs of the whole country. The personnel of Jingxiang are not subject to the court. Is that still called centralization?

In history, Jingxiang formed a huge gentry group during the Han Dynasty. This gentry group was so powerful that even the central government could not control it. During the Three Kingdoms period, neither Liu Biao, Liu Bei nor later Sun Quan could truly and effectively control Jingxiang. As a time traveler, how could Xiang Zhuang not pay attention to it?

Xiangzhuang had just broken up the Jiangdong gentry, how could he watch the Jingxiang gentry take shape and become bigger?

The strategy of Xiangzhuang to prevent the formation of the gentry's forces was very simple, but it was very effective. It was the mechanism of employment in other places advocated by later generations. Simply put, the gentry in Jiangdong could only go to Jingxiang or Bashu to serve as officials, while the officials in Jiangdong could only be the scholars from Jingxiang or Bashu to take responsibility.

Of course, this is just a local official, and there are no geographical restrictions for Beijing officials.

The two counties of Bashu were taken by the Chu army from the Han army. As an internal force, Bashu tycoon had no political demands. Therefore, the personnel arrangements of each county and each county were easy, and the officials appointed by the Lingyin Mansion had already taken office. However, the situation in the four counties and fifty counties in Jingxiang was special, and it would take some twists and turns to do so if you want to make a difference.

However, it is still necessary to select a group of officials to prepare first. The latest chapter of the Church

Xiang He had just submitted a list to Xiang Zhuang. All of these officials were students of the Imperial College selected by the national examination, and all of them had experience in county work. Before Xiang Zhuang could review the list, Qu Bucai walked in with a serious expression. Seeing Xiang He and Baili Xian were there, Qu Bucai hesitated a little.

Xiang Zhuang frowned and asked, "Old Qu, what's the matter?"

Qu Bucai took out a seal from his sleeve and handed it to Xiang Zhuang.

After reading the secret letter, Xiang Zhuang just smiled. Liu Bang actually envoyed Gao Chu to King Jing? However, this thought was destined to be wasted. As the most trusted confidant general under his command, what kind of person Gao Chu was? Xiang Zhuang knew the most. If he had not had enough understanding of Gao Chu, how could Xiang Zhuang feel assured that he could have defended the whole country?

After reading it, Xiang Zhuang handed over the secret letter to Xiang He and Bailixian circulated it.

Xiang He frowned after reading it, but Baili Xian smiled and shook his head and said, "King, Zhang Liang is afraid that he would disdain such a sinister trick. This is probably Chen Ping's offer. However, this time, Chen Ping was wrong. Shi Zhi was right. Even though he really had the intention of being unjust, he had no soldiers or generals in his hands, so why should he be the king?"

Xiang Zhuang smiled slightly and established a military system in order to prevent the generals from holding troops and respecting themselves.

However, Xiang Zhuang still trusted Gao Chu. Even if he had no military system, he would never rebel against Chu and become independent.

Xiang, however, was a little worried and suggested: "King, Shizhi's loyalty to you is unquestionable. His killing of Han envoys in public is a clear proof. However, it is hard to guarantee that he has no idea in his mind. Besides, this Jingxiang Battle, Shizhi destroyed Peng Yue's 100,000 troops, which is indeed outstanding in combat. Do you think, can you be named the fake King of Jing?"

"No, absolutely no!" Baili Xian said anxiously, "King, this precedent cannot be opened. Otherwise, if Liu Bang will sign Zi Ang as King of Bashu tomorrow, will the king also have to sign Zi Ang as the fake King of Shu? If Liu Bang signs Tianfang as King of Jiujiang again? In this way, my great Chu will fall apart and the country will become disgrace."

Xiang Zhuang nodded and said, "There is no need to mention the matter of being a king."

Xiang didn't say anything more, and it was indeed not a good idea.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Xiang Zhuang met Xiang again, Baili Xian said, "Ziyi, Ziliang, it's getting late, so you can go home quickly, leave the list, I will take a closer look in the afternoon."

"Now." Xiang, Baili Xian, all stood up, said goodbye and left.

Xiang Zhuang stood up and stretched his waist, and went straight to Cao Ji's palace. Shortly after Xiang Zhuang left, a palace maid suddenly appeared from behind the screen in the corner, and then headed straight to the harem.

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Let’s talk about Bailixian. After leaving the palace, he went to Bishu’s mansion and played a game with Bishu. When Bailixian returned to his house, it was already dark. Outside the gate, he met his second brother Bailimao.

Bailixian jumped out of the carriage and asked Bailimao, "Second brother, why are you back?"

Bailimao was responsible for training the soldiers of Danyang County. He usually stationed in Danyang and rarely returned to Zhiling.

Bailimao pulled Bailixian to the corner of the doorman and lowered his voice: "Brother, I heard that Gao Chu wants to enfeoff King Jing?"

Baili Xian frowned and asked in a deep voice: "Second brother, who did you hear? Why don't I know, brother?"

Baili Mao looked around and no one was around and lowered his voice, "I just went into the palace to see my younger sister, it was my younger sister who said it."

"What, what did the younger sister say?" Bailixian frowned even more and more when he heard this. He only found out in the morning. How did the younger sister know about it? Could it be that the king told her? But it was wrong. The king has always been disgusted with the harem's interference in politics. How could he tell her this to her? Is anyone going to make a fuss about this?

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Almost at the same time, several visitors also came to Xiang Tuo's general's mansion, including Xiang Tuo's conscience alpaca. However, since Xiang Tuo became the general, a large number of Xiang Tuo's conscience generals have basically been idle, and even the errands of training soldiers from various counties are not on their turn.

If the treatment is unfair, these confidants will inevitably complain.

To be honest, the factions in the Chu court are quite complicated now. In general, there are the Old Chu system, the Old Qin system, the Old Wei system, and the Old Qi system. Among them, the Old Chu system is the most powerful, but it is divided into multiple factions, including the Xiang Da system, the Xiang Tuo system, the aristocratic family, the meritorious and noble family, etc., which are extremely complicated.

But in general, these major factions are under the effective control of Xiang Zhuang.

After drinking a few cups of white wine, the words of the clerks gradually increased, and the alpaca said particularly explicitly: "General, Gao Chu has been crowned king, you should consider it for your own sake."

"Alpaca, shut up!" Xiang Tuo frowned, "When did Gao Chu become the king?"

The alpaca curled his lips and said, "General, the entire Zhiling is spread all over now."

"That's a rumor." Xiang Tuo said decisively, "I asked the Lingyin, and the king had no intention of dividing the feudal."

"The king is unintentional?" said alpaca, "But he is willing to be Gao Chu, he is very explicit in his words. What do I really have the will to be independent, but I have no soldiers or generals, how can I be the king? Listen, what I mean, if he has soldiers and generals, he really wants to be the king. He is clearly a threat. Can the king not care about it?"

"You know nothing." Xiang Tuo said angrily, "Gao Chu is showing his loyalty to the king!"

"Show loyalty?" Alpaca and several generals looked at each other, but they had never heard of such loyalty.

Xiang Tuo sighed and said with a little desolate feeling: "You don't understand Gao Chu, let alone the King. The King is wise and wise. It is a delusion to deceive him and hide it from him. Gao Chu is precisely because he knows this that he says something. The King is more at ease. If he refuses to say it, the King will be suspicious."

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The next morning, the Chu Palace went to the study room.

Xiang Zhuang looked gloomy and asked Qu Bucai, "Old Qu, what's going on? Where did the rumors about Gao Chu Feng King Jing spread?"

When Gao Chu was named king, only Xiang Zhuang, Xiang He and Baili Xian knew about it, but they never thought that it would spread throughout the entire Zhiling overnight, almost causing a storm! Xiang Zhuang's political sensitivity was extremely high, and he immediately realized that someone deliberately spread the news and was building momentum.

What do they want to do? Do they want to build momentum to push Gao Chu to the throne? Or do they want to kill Gao Chu?

It is obvious that this matter must involve the frequent struggle between several factions. To be honest, Xiang Zhuang is still happy to see factional struggle. As long as it does not exceed his control and does not consume national strength, the more intense the factional struggle, the better the superior will be able to control the situation and firmly control the overall situation with the momentum of mediation.

Therefore, Xiang Zhuang knew that several major factions had formed in the court, so he did not interfere.

However, now this matter is a bit out of line. Spreading rumors like this is like forcing the palace. Whether it is to build momentum to push Gao Chu to the throne or to take the opportunity to kill Gao Chu, this is a challenge to his royal power. This is something that Xiang Zhuang must consider whether to be a king. How can he let others interfere?

Qu Bucai bowed and said, "King, the rumors were spread from the palace."

"It was scattered in the palace?" Xiang Zhuang said in a deep voice, "Shiman Palace? Yishui Palace? Or another palace?"

At this moment, Xiang Zhuang was really a little surprised. He did not expect that the factional disputes in Chu had already penetrated into the harem? This is not a good thing. Throughout the dynasties, the harem interfered in politics has always been a taboo. However, the heroes have always strictly prohibited the harem from interfering in politics. There is no reason, because the harm of the harem interfering in politics is too great.

"This, the villain really doesn't know." Qu Bucai was really embarrassed. If he didn't involve the inner palace, Qu Bucai had a hundred ways to quickly find out the source of the rumors, but once it involved the inner palace, he would have no choice but to do anything. Ebony could not arrest the queen, princess or a dozen wives, and be punished and served?
Chapter completed!