Recalling the instructions given by the late King Mi Huai before his death... let Chu State "dominate the world".
As a time traveler, Xiong Wu had a very clear conscience - if he wanted to stay safe under Qin's military front and avoid the fate of annihilation in a short period of time, he might not need to reform. But if you want to fulfill the great ambitions of the late king and even wipe out the world... Chu State must reform.
However, Xiong Wuliang still did not let go easily.
Reform is a major event, especially nationwide reform, and it is by no means a small matter - the changes in interests involved are more dangerous than a national war.
If there is one improper operation, it goes without saying that Quyanghou's line will be overturned - the entire Chu country will be shaken.
Be careful, be careful!
"Tell me in detail." Xiong Wuliang said without comment.
Qu Yuan smiled slightly, obviously confident.
Now that Xiao Junhou's butt has moved to this position, do we still need to worry about his disapproval?
Qu Yuan can be sure that his little prince is also leaning toward reform at the moment!
Facing Xiong Wuliang's intense and scrutinizing gaze, Qu Yuan smiled leisurely and said: "Let's talk about the benefits first -"
"Chu's vast territory and large population are unparalleled among all the other countries in the world - with Chu's wealth and strength, it should have been the capital of the royal family, so why can't it dominate the world so far?"
"The root cause is that the internal aristocratic factions are intertwined and exploited at every level. The wealth produced by the hard work of thousands of people has been exploited by the aristocrats, and ultimately nothing can be used for the central government..."
Xiong Wuliang tapped his fingers on the table and said nothing.
This paragraph is actually very simple to summarize - there are too many blood-sucking worms in the Chu Kingdom. These middlemen are caught between the King of Chu and the common people to earn the price difference. What should belong to the national treasury has flowed into their private pockets.
Chu State is very strong, with a vast territory and a large population. Even if hundreds of thousands of people died in one battle, they could actually replenish their numbers in a few years... The reason why Chu State cannot replace Qin State and sweep away the world is that the problem lies in Chu State's system. .
Reform must be done, the question is when and how to change!
Qu Yuan generally summarized the benefits of the reform to Chu State... Seeing that Xiong Wuliang did not argue, he became energetic.
In the past, when I told King Huai of Chu these things, I was just playing the lute to an ox.
He has to be his own little master!
I, Qu Yuan, have worked illegally for so many years, and my efforts have indeed not been in vain!
"Now is a great time for reform!" Qu Yuan first concluded and made the final decision -
The so-called centralization reform is to bring the power and wealth in the hands of the nobles to the central government.
It is conceivable that these blood-sucking nobles are definitely not happy...
This is the domestic opposition force!
In addition, once a country implements reforms, its domestic situation will inevitably change, internal strife will continue, and turmoil will occur frequently. To be honest, Chu's national defense system now relies heavily on the support and cooperation of the nobles.
Recruiting new soldiers and collecting food and grass all require the cooperation of these middlemen... Especially the private armies in the hands of these nobles (such as the Quyang New Army and the Xiaoqi Army in the hands of Xiong Wuliang) are the backbone of the Chu State's foreign campaigns.
Once he seizes power, the national defense strength of Chu will be greatly weakened.
Coupled with the turmoil in the country and the ministers having their own agendas...
If foreign enemies take the opportunity to invade, Chu will be in danger!
…
Just listen to Qu Yuan say in a cold voice: "Sima Cuo's army invaded and plundered, which greatly weakened the strength of the nobles in the country, so it was beneficial to reform internally."
"The princes have severely defeated the three neighboring countries of Qin, Wei and Han, and Qi is our great friend of Chu - all four neighboring countries of Chu will not use troops against Chu in the short term. Therefore, external conditions are also conducive to the reform! "
"This is a God-given opportunity!"
Xiong Wuliang's heart skipped a beat and he sat upright involuntarily——
A few days ago, he had been thinking about the battle in Yingdu... He really hadn't thought about it seriously and systematically.
Now Qu Yuan lifted this veil in a few words.
Don't say it, really don't say it...
The current gap period is really the best time for Chu State to carry out reforms!
"How to change the law?" Xiong Wu Liangyan asked concisely and comprehensively.
Qu Yuan was determined and said categorically: "One thing: cut off the feudal kings and centralize power to the central government."
"Second: Eliminate private soldiers and organize and train new armies!"
"Third: Encourage farming and warfare, enrich the country and strengthen the army."
"Fourth: Rectify officialdom and reform officialdom!"
…
Xiong Wuliang stood up suddenly!
The four points mentioned by Qu Yuan are almost a replica of Shang Yang's reforms in Qin.
This is not surprising!
The blueprint for Qin's successful reform has always been the target of imitation and plagiarism by other countries.
The four outlines of the reform are only thirty-two words in total. If the reform is really implemented, it will be complicated -
For example, the first article - the so-called 'cut off the feudal lord', is of course not a physical cut off, but to confiscate their power in the fiefdom.
How much was confiscated? What size?
Which feudal lords will be dealt with first? What to clean up after?
Then there is the so-called 'centralization of power' - there is no doubt that it is copying the Qin State's county system!
In Chu State, the state system was too chaotic, and the laws in various regions were inconsistent. From the perspective of the country's governance system, it was a mixture of the "prefecture and county system" and the "feudal system".
That's right, Chu State actually has a certain foundation of prefectures and counties!
For example, the four counties under Xiong Wuliang's rule have always followed the system of counties and counties.
If we want to truly achieve 'centralization of power', we will undoubtedly have to clearly and uniformly implement the county system.
Xiong Wuliang pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Although what Qu Zi said is very consistent with my opinion - there are so many threads, I have to figure them out slowly, and don't push too hard."
Qu Yuan smiled and said: "I know it well - when a big country wants to reform, of course it must follow the same example as the reform in the fiefdom, and do it slowly."
Xiong Wuliang smiled knowingly.
At the beginning, Qu Yuan was carrying out reforms in his fiefdom. The various "Academy Orders", "Fraud Check Orders", and "Farming War Orders"... were indeed done in an orderly manner, one by one.
Qu Yuan is doing things, Xiong Wuliang can rest assured!
"The most important thing right now is to deal with the refugees..." Zhao Hua interrupted.
The monarch and his ministers huddled in Xiong Wuliang's military tent and talked for a whole day and night...
…
Ten days later.
At Xiong Wuliang's 'suggestion', King Mihuai of Chu held the first major court meeting since he took the throne!
Naturally, no one was absent from such a grand court meeting.
All the ministers came together and hundreds of officials nodded.
Even the lords from remote areas came all the way to Yingdu today to meet the new King of Chu... and by the way, to 'meet' the Marquis of Quyang who now covers the sky with one hand.
"The court meeting has begun!" The chamberlain dressed in yellow clothes shouted at the top of his voice: "All the ministers are here to see you!"
Xiong Liang, the Marquis of Quyang, who was in the limelight, did not wear the court clothes that he should wear according to etiquette. Instead, he wore a red and gold-lined war robe and stood at the front, standing out among the ministers.
The ministers, nobles, and lords glanced at Xiong Wuliang, who was wearing a military robe and a solemn expression, with their peripheral vision... They all felt that a storm was coming...
"Old Lingyin, Old Lingyin!" A minister felt uneasy and whispered to Zhaoju, who was always the most thoughtful.
"Look, the posture of Marquis Quyang..."
Zhaoju didn't squint his eyes, as if he didn't hear anything.
Xiong Wuliang walked at the front without hesitation, leading the ministers into the palace...
…
