Realm of Power

Main text 2886 Nine-rank system

I made a clerical error earlier, please correct me. I said before that most families in Southwest China are of the third or fourth grade. In fact, I wrote it wrong, it is the sixth or seventh grade. I will correct it here. Thank you to those who pointed out the error.

In the minds of the Central Asian gentry, family status is not only about status, but also about more privileges.

One level reaches the sky, and each level of family status is a qualitative leap for a family. I don’t know how many families have worked hard to improve their family status by one level. This time, the Zhongbia court will As soon as the news of releasing thirty sixth-grade clans to the local nobles in the southwest came out, it immediately caused an uproar among the local nobles in the southwest. It can even be said that it was a huge storm within the entire empire.

And the Wang family of Kawaguchi City, because of their loyalty to the court, was specially approved by the emperor, and was directly promoted from the seventh rank to the fifth rank, directly from the lower third rank to the middle rank of the middle third rank, and took over from the angel. After passing the fifth-grade family status document stamped with the imperial portal pavilion's seal, the head of the Wang family almost fainted with joy. Unexpectedly, the Wang family would one day enter the ranks of the middle-grade family.

Although it is a complete break with the Long family this time, it is worth it to be able to step into the ranks of the third-grade middle class. The Long family is about to fall. With the third-grade middle class family in hand, what is the position of the Wang family in the state capital? Can't run away! Even because the court needs someone to support the situation, it is entirely possible to mention the Wang family's family status again!

The Wang family of Kawaguchi City has shown its face in a big way. The fifth rank is the highest family in the entire southwest except the Long family.

Due to the relationship with the Long family in the entire Southwest, there has been no record of noble families being promoted for decades. As one of the guardians of the Long family, the maximum authority is to be promoted to the lower third rank. The Wang family was already at the seventh rank thirty years ago. I have already reached the top of the third rank. I thought I would have no hope of mentioning it again in this life. Unexpectedly, this time I not only crossed the big threshold of middle and lower grades, but also directly mentioned the fifth rank. I can be considered good at the middle and third ranks. of! How could the Wang family not be so happy? The head of the Wang family immediately ran to the Wang family ancestral hall with this document in hand and reported it to the ancestors of the Wang family.

"The Wang family has indeed made a lot of money this time!"

Even Chen Dongyang shook his head with emotion. Although Chen Dongyang was the military leader of the Zhangwu Army who flattered the empire, his family rank was the same as the Long family's second rank. In the Zhongbia Empire, only Zhang Zhang was the first rank of the Wu family. family, but since the Zhang family died in the Imperial Capital, there has never been a first-grade martial arts sect. , because of what happened to the Falcon Empire last year, he was demoted to the first level. Now he is at the third level, barely stuck at the end of the upper third level. If he drops further, he will enter the middle third level, and the Wang family in front of him is actually directly Rank 5, it is simply faster than riding a rocket! How not to be jealous

One of Chen Dongyang's subordinates also tilted his head. Thinking of the nouveau riche face of the head of the Wang family just now, he said angrily in Chen Dongyang's ear, "The family position has always been an important weapon in the empire. Without great achievements, it cannot be promoted. In ten years, A long time ago, the Yanzhou army and the grassland people fought bloody battles for a full year. , more than thirty people with the title of general died, and the court only took out ten pitiful sixth-grade families as rewards. This time, they took out thirty sixth-grade families at once, and only rewarded these The southwest nobles who have done almost nothing have been a little too cheap!"

"What do you know! This is not the time when the empire was at its peak. At that time, a sixth-grade family could not be exchanged for a glorious lintel even with real money and silver. Warriors like us, who fought all their lives, could be exchanged for a sixth-grade family after death. Entering the ranks of the middle three ranks, even if it is for the younger generation After accumulating great blessings, as long as the descendants are promising, they may still have a chance to enter the upper third level. But now, looking at the people coming in and out of the Linhang Portal Pavilion, you will know that those who want to enter the middle third level from the lower third level, that is, the third level. Just one hundred thousand." Chen Dongyang glared at his subordinate.

"Although the third grade can now be bought with money, but taking out thirty at once..."

"Stupid." Chen Dongyang looked to the left and right and said, "In the catastrophe of the Imperial Capital, most of the upper-third-rank portals escaped. The lower-third-rank portals were not qualified to be in the Imperial Capital, so the ones who suffered the most were the middle-third-rank ones. The Imperial Capital had 1,700 The third-grade family can finally register at Linhang, which is not even 300 families. , that is to say, the court still has at least 1,400 middle-grade and third-grade families, and a mere sixty is nothing! You don’t need to be so discouraged. As long as things can be done well this time, I, Chen Dongyang, will ask for help. Your Majesty strongly recommends you. I dare not say that each of you can get the fifth grade, at least the sixth grade can be obtained!"

"It is refreshing to follow the master, and as the master said, we will do whatever the master tells us to do." Hearing Chen Dongyang's promise, all the followers' faces were full of joy. Most of them were also descendants of the noble clan, and their family backgrounds were also high. Not too low, but the family lineage is usually only inherited by one branch of the family. , the others are all partial branches, and are inherently inferior to others. If you can get the family status reward yourself, that is another matter. It will be regarded as the glory of the family. Not only will you not be inferior to others, you may even be able to do so. Under certain circumstances, the guest becomes the master, replacing the host family and becoming the successor of the family line.

"Okay, we still have a lot to do! Everyone is working hard, and I will never treat you unfairly!"

Chen Dongyang nodded, stepped onto the carriage outside the Wang family's door, glanced at the glow in the sky, and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth. The court blatantly consecrated the Wang family. This was a sign to the entire southwest gentry that this was surrender to the court. As long as you are willing to embrace the benefits of the court, the court will never be stingy.

Chen Dongyang took a deep breath and opened a secret letter from the court that he had just received. Some names were clearly written on it. For some reason, the murderous Chen Dongyang couldn't help but glanced at these names. We tightened our collars, and the cool breeze in early spring stirred up the fallen leaves on the streets, adding a bit of a bleak feeling. As the climate warmed, the river surface The water began to turn clear, the boat made a sound, and the weeping willows sailed lightly. The wind picked up the fallen leaves nearby, and then swirled and fell on the water, drifting into the distance with the waves. The streets are narrow, the bluestone steps are long, and the wooden bridge spans the slightly narrow river. There is no wind in the carriage, but there is a lingering coldness.

This list is the list of local nobles that the court thinks need to be eradicated! The hearts of the Southwest nobles are unstable, so it is the best time to use thunderous means to quickly uproot the roots that the Long family uses to control the Southwest. The thirty-seven Southwest nobles are all nobles who have been married to the Long family in the past few decades. It is also the core of the Long family’s structure in the southwest.

These families cannot be kept!

Picking up the red pen on the table, Chen Dongyang drew a red glance at the name at the top of the list. Southwest, Guangyao, Lujia, less than thirty miles away from Kawakou, can be reached in one day, kill them all first Let’s talk later!

The southwestern border between the Falcon Empire and Zambia is a wilderness land filled with spring breeze. With the little yellow dots of stars blooming in spring, they are like a huge flowerbed spreading into the distance, and the veins of the southwest mountains in the distance are like Like a huge black dragon coiled up, blocking any view of the front.

The new wind roaring across the earth swept over the shirts behind them. On the road extending from the southwest mountains, a group of black and solemn imperial cavalry were galloping over. Compared with the spring scenery all around the mountains and plains, the black armor of the imperial army was... It looks even more cold and desolate,

"Your Majesty, the front is the defense line of the Long Family's Western Army!" The imperial official responsible for leading the way pointed to a stone wall barrier between the mountain roads in front, and said respectfully to a black-haired young man behind him, "The Long Family originally wanted to fight against The Gallic Empire used this mountainous area as its Relying on the built defense, there are a total of four ring-shaped fortresses like the front. Since Long Yang led the Long family army to march north to Yanzhou, 30,000 of the remaining 40,000 troops were stationed on this line of defense. "" Haha, Long Yang has The empire’s precautions are indeed not low! “

Hearing the guide's words, the black-haired young man smiled faintly. This seemingly wilderness area was actually not as deserted as it appeared from the outside. On the contrary, ever since the empire signed an agreement with the Southwest, people have been filling this area continuously. , not only built a trade road large enough for four horses and carriages to travel in parallel, but also stationed heavy troops. Although it is nominally needed to protect the trade routes, it may actually be converted into attack power against the southwest at any time. It is conceivable that Long Yang can have such an arrangement. Unfortunately, Long Yang made a miscalculation and deployed heavy troops by himself. The purpose is not to attack the southwest, but just to hold back the Long family's few remaining troops.

The person who caused the bloody storm in the Southwest was not the Empire. Naturally, there were others rushing to do it!

On the way back, the scene began to change. Villages began to appear next to the road. The grazing cattle and sheep were looking for grass roots. Soon a large town appeared. There was a surging flow of people inside, and the sound of the blacksmith shop was heard. The sound was clear and tinkling, and a large market appeared in the lingering morning mist. It was densely packed with temporary tents set up by caravans traveling to and from China. Businessmen from China and Belgium can be seen here, as well as merchants from the empire. There are even some non-imperial businessmen. For example, Fatty saw a businessman who spoke in Feize language in a squeaky manner. In Southwest City, this city has a businessman from China and Belgium. The name of Yafeng is the name of the city in front of you. It is also the largest gathering place for trade goods in southwest China. Five miles away from here is the Dragon Tooth City where the imperial garrison is located.

In the past year, the imperial garrison has completely wiped out the large and small bandits entrenched in the wilderness. Several of them were deserters from the Gallic army. The prosperous scene of commerce has begun to come to this land, because It is close to the southwest of Central and Bibia, and there is also a Excellent and smooth trade routes directly reach the northern part of the empire. The goods will be divided there, either going north to the north of the empire, or southward to the southern part of the empire, or along the sea route into the inland sea coast. The huge profits generated are attracting more merchants every day. The team invested in the operation of this golden line

Horses loaded with merchandise crowded the market, and merchants from Central Asia and the Empire stopped here to replenish supplies. People and horses are everywhere, no matter what the size of the people and horses coming and going, they don't dare to be arrogant or arrogant. The flags and drums have ceased, and even the weapons have been put away. Even the northern grassland people who have always been arrogant will consciously lower their heads here.

Although the grassland people in northern Central Asia were discouraged by the empire in Onnatso, and tens of thousands died in the battle, they still have to admit that the empire's loose merchant policy conquered them.

The empire is the only country that will not set up roadblocks to exploit them. As long as you bring goods and prepare food, you don't need to spend too much money, and you don't have to worry about being purged by bandits, you can easily stay within the control of the imperial army. The empire has come and gone, and over the past year, the empire has quietly become the largest buyer of goods in the Northern Royal Court.

Because only the empire would have the wealth to buy the mountains of treasures and goods that the Northern Royal Court obtained from the Central and Eastern Capital, and even the captured Central and Eastern prisoners, men and women, for the grassland that has always been in short supply of iron ore and weapons. From a human perspective, the weapons made by the empire are definitely of high quality and low price, and they have a strong conscience. They are much better than those treacherous Chinese and Libyan businessmen who pluck their feathers!

The empire is a country of merchants. As long as you don’t deliberately touch its side, you will find that the empire is actually quite easy to get along with. In the eyes of businessmen from Central and South Africa, war and peace are the result of this wilderness. The cities on it serve as dividing lines to the empire The caravan heading in this direction can relieve its inner tension here. Passing through here, the scenery of the powerful Western Continent Empire and the various customs are enough to dazzle the Central Asians who set foot on the Western Continent for the first time. Central Asians, steppe people, imperial people. You can see it all here, no matter how hard everyone fights for life or death outside. But once inside the empire, they will all tacitly restrain themselves.

"The Zhongbia court released thirty sixth-grade families in one breath to uproot the Long family from the southwest. There will be great turmoil in the southwest soon. If the Long family doesn't ask us for help, what should we do? ? "The curtains in the room have been drawn Opened the door, the dazzling afternoon sun shines directly in, a beautiful woman wearing a military cloak stands in front of the window, her waist is straight, her beautiful face is a bit resolute, but her expression and actions reveal a kind of Tired of the long journey.

"With all the betrayal and separation, the wall must be pushed down by the crowd. Long Yang may be a bit rigid, but he is definitely not the kind of extremely stubborn person. Unless he really wants the Long family to leave no grass behind. If that's the case, I It’s okay even if you don’t go to the southwest!” The fat man put down the book in his hand lightly and looked at Bertrand Bonnie standing at the window with a burning gaze. The female knight in the sun was indeed eye-catching.

"Is family status really that important?" Bonnie frowned and asked curiously.

"Of course, the significance of family rank in Zhongbia can be said to be even higher than that of the title in the Western Continent." The fat man sighed. "In Zhongbia, all noble families are divided into nine grades according to their family status, also known as The children of upper, middle, lower and upper third-level families are not only born with Holding a certain official position, and even if they do nothing, they are still supported by the country. The best among them can easily enter the ranks of important ministers of the empire, or become a guard. For example, families like the Long family, the entire Central Asia, The only ones who can become one are Li, Zhang, the four great men of the Tang and Song dynasties. There are only a dozen or so regional sects such as the Southwest Long Family in the entire Zhongbia Empire, and those with middle-ranking third-grade family status, who are capable, meritorious, and famous, can also have the opportunity to enter the center of the empire's power. Obtain considerable political status, if it can be appreciated by the emperor , it is possible to jump from the middle third level to the upper third level and become a powerful being in the empire. Those with a lower third level family background and a lower background can be the head of a regional county. Those who have touched the threshold of the middle level may be able to do it. Officials at the state level, but there is absolutely no chance of becoming a regional leader."

The fat man paused for a moment and continued, "Finally, there is a humble family without a family background. As the lowest level of the empire's noble class, it means that there is no chance to enter an official career in life. At most, it can only serve as a staff member and cannot be on the real stage. The nine-grade Zhongzheng system is the core of the gentry system that has lasted for hundreds of years in the Zhongbia Empire. In fact, To put it bluntly, this is a very effective and feasible power alliance proposed by the Central Asian University, which was facing chaos and war, in order to win over the wealthy and powerful families in various places. It kind of means that everyone can sit down and enjoy the wealth. " "You must know that most of the real elites come from these wealthy families with inheritance, and ordinary children from poor families. , there is no opportunity to access knowledge at all, and they lack a large amount of resource support, and there is almost no opportunity to rise. On the contrary, these long-standing high-profile families have a large amount of resources, wealth, land, and regional influence. , even manpower, the family strength formed by elites and high-level intellectuals accumulated from generation to generation. , are all things that the empire needs most. In order to turn these regional clans into its own supporters, this hierarchical system with strong identity markers came out. The most terrifying thing is that this system has continued. After a thousand years, it has already penetrated into the hearts of the Central Asian gentry. This is the most terrifying thing! "(To be continued.)

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like