A barely perceptible hint of joy flashed in the eyes of both Ji Chang, the Marquis of the West, and Jiang Huanchu, the Marquis of the East.

Both of them harbored rebellious intentions.

If the Shang king really disregarded the opposition of the people and implemented reforms...

Then their chance has truly arrived!

Even with their composure, they couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

What Ji Chang and Jiang Hengchu didn't know was...

Although the joy in their eyes quickly disappeared, it was clearly seen by Ling Yun.

"hehe!"

Ling Yun sneered inwardly, knowing full well what those two old geezers were up to.

However, now is not the time to expose it.

......

And after achieving the desired effect.

Ling Yun stopped pushing the boundaries of these Shang Dynasty officials and slowly began to speak...

"Gentlemen."

"Change is imperative!"

"I know you don't believe me, or the five queens."

"How about we make a bet..."

Compared to the previous intensity.

Ling Yun's voice suddenly became much softer.

Grand Tutor Wen's expression softened slightly, and he said in a deep voice.

"How does Your Majesty wish to wager?"

These words were spoken.

The eyes of Shang Rong and the other Shang Dynasty officials all fell on Ling Yun.

A strange light flashed in Ji Chang's and Jiang Hengchu's eyes.

But they don't think a mere bet can change anything.

In their view.

Once change begins, it means the Shang Dynasty is about to perish...

Feeling the many gazes falling upon me.

Ling Yun raised his head slightly and smiled faintly.

"The bet is simple."

"With a three-year term."

"This transformation will last for three years."

"If the fortunes of the Great Shang Dynasty do not double in three years, then I have lost."

"vice versa."

"If I lose, I will obey you all and be a good ruler who maintains the status quo."

"But if I win, you shall no longer interfere with the reform."

"how?"

As Ling Yun's voice continued to ring out.

The stern expressions on the faces of Grand Tutor Wen, Shang Rong, and other ministers immediately softened considerably...

Three years is a long time.

However, considering the lifespan of the Shang Dynasty, it was far too short.

There is absolutely no way that our king could double the fortunes of the Shang Dynasty in just three years.

In other words...

After three years of his king's mischief.

The Shang dynasty's government was then able to return to normal.

This is much better than they had anticipated...

Ji Chang and Jiang Hengchu exchanged a silent glance, a hint of disappointment flashing in their eyes.

But soon.

The disappointment in their eyes vanished, replaced by a deep sense of determination.

As long as the Shang Dynasty continued to implement reforms.

Then they would have a great chance.

Three years is enough...

After three years of reforms.

The Shang Dynasty was destined to perish, with only one-tenth remaining.

By then.

That was their chance to rise to power and seize control of the world!

It must be said that...

Whether it was key ministers like Grand Tutor Wen and Shang Rong, or feudal lords like Ji Chang and Jiang Hengchu, each with their own ulterior motives.

No one believed that the Shang Dynasty could successfully implement its reforms!

Looking at the reactions of the officials below, Ling Yun sneered inwardly.

Whatever the ministers' intentions.

One thing is certain.

That would be to underestimate him, and even more so, to underestimate the brilliance of his past civilization.

......

After the two parties reached an agreement.

Thus began the reforms of the Shang Dynasty.

Lingyun's first decree caused an uproar throughout the land.

This decree is extremely famous in Chinese history; it was implemented during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han...

The Edict of Grace!

Under the Edict of Grace.

The fiefdoms and titles of the vassal states were no longer passed down exclusively to the eldest son. Instead, a system of equal distribution among the sons was adopted, dividing the fiefdoms and titles into several parts and passing them on to the various sons, thereby achieving the goal of dividing and weakening the power of the vassal states.

For example, Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, had eighteen sons.

Then wait until Ji Chang dies.

The fiefdom of Xiqi and the title of Marquis of Xibo were to be divided equally among these eighteen sons.

The once powerful Xiqi would also be fragmented and no longer pose any threat to the Shang Dynasty.

and.

As time went on.

Fiefdoms and titles will gradually diminish, eventually becoming nothingness...

If we follow the rules of the Grace Decree.

From the moment Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, fell from grace.

The once powerful Marquis of Xibo will become a thing of the past...

......

The logic behind the "Decree of Grace" is quite simple.

Normally speaking.

The powerful feudal lords, such as the Marquis of Xibo, would naturally not agree to this, and it would even cause a huge backlash.

The beauty of the imperial decree lies precisely in this.

Because the beneficiaries were not only the Shang Dynasty, but also the numerous descendants of the feudal lords.

These sons, excluding the eldest son, went from being unable to inherit any fiefdom or title to being able to inherit...

This is such a stroke of good luck.

They naturally agreed wholeheartedly!

The once united front of the feudal lords will inevitably develop rifts...

In this way...

Perhaps they won't even live to see the fall of the feudal lords.

The feudal lords were already in chaos!

The Edict of Grace may seem simple, but it can be considered the emperor's most powerful overt strategy!

And the implementers of the Grace Decree.

It was none other than the Minister of Personnel... Cihang!

Cihang is aloof by nature, meticulous in her work, and impartial.

It would be perfect to have Cihang implement the "Decree of Grace".

......

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