Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 560: Holy Zhou Ancestor's Instructions (Special thanks to book friend Fengzhongfeixu11111111 for 2 monthly tickets!)

On December 18th, Chai Jijun, the "King of Ya" of the Mayan continent, submitted a memorial, begging his father to allow him to take a "greeting leave" between July and August next year and return to Bian Jing to visit his father and mother.

Since Chai Jijun was named "King Ya" in the 42nd year of Kaixi, because the Mayan continent is far away from the mainland of Da Zhou, Chai Jijun has not returned to the country to visit his father and mother for eight years.

Chai Zongxun immediately replied, allowing Chai Jijun to return to Bianliang next year and take a year's leave, and asked him to come to Bianliang on the Royal Navy warship that traveled between the two places.

Considering that Chai Jijun would be returning to visit his relatives next year, it was necessary to clarify the succession system of the throne of the Great Zhou Empire. During the morning court session on December 20th, Chai Zongxun discussed this matter with his ministers.

Chai Zongxun said:

"The succession system of the throne is related to the long-term stability of our Great Zhou, so we must be cautious.

Over the past few years, I have considered all aspects.

The succession to the throne of China is either through the eldest son or the most virtuous of the two. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Considering the stability of the country, I have decided to establish the "primogeniture system" for appointing the crown prince: if there is a legitimate heir, the legitimate heir will be appointed; if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son will be appointed as the crown prince.

With the help of the "Great Zhou Ancestor System" I have established, the descendants of the imperial family can each take their place, and disasters such as the "Xuanwu Gate Incident" can be avoided. "

After hearing this, most of the ministers expressed their agreement, and since the case of King Song was a special case, no one raised any objection.

Seeing that no one objected, Chai Zongxun immediately established the "primogeniture system" for selecting the crown prince.

Chai Zongxun said:

"In order to ensure that our Great Zhou dynasty will continue to exist for thousands of generations and remain the world's most powerful nation, and to prevent the emergence of tyrants and incompetent rulers among my descendants, I have decided to establish the ancestral precepts of the imperial family of the Great Zhou dynasty.

I will speak out now, and you dear ministers, please help me to consider it."

All the ministers in the Chuigong Hall listened attentively.

Chai Zongxun took a few sips of the fragrant tea and continued:

"I have drawn up several ancestral rules. Any future emperor who dares to violate them will not be allowed to become emperor!
First: The crown prince is chosen according to the system of primogeniture, which states that "if there is a legitimate son, the legitimate son will be chosen; if there is no legitimate son, the eldest son will be chosen."

Second, "agriculture, industry and commerce are equally important." Industry and commerce must never be abandoned, and the Great Zhou Empire will always "put the people first and the world for the public."

Third: The hereditary systems of bureaucratic privileges such as the "recommendation system" and the "entrustment system" must never be restored, and the two systems of the performance evaluation system and the local celebrity bureau must never be abolished!

Talented officials for the imperial court had to be recruited through the "four subjects" of the imperial examination, and anyone, regardless of their wealth or status, could take the examination based on their aptitude and knowledge.

Fourth: Never increase taxes. The highest tax rate for agriculture, industry and commerce shall not exceed 30%.

Fifth: The military’s rotation system and retirement system, and the official term system and retirement system cannot be abolished.

Sixth: The King of Song proclaimed himself emperor and continued the worship of Taizu Guo. No matter what the circumstances, the lineage of the King of Song must be continued.

Those who cannot do this cannot become emperor.

Seventh: Rule the country according to law.

The Criminal Code of the Great Zhou is the fundamental law of our Great Zhou. It can only be improved and modified to keep pace with the times, but it must never be abolished.

Anyone who violates any one of these seven ancestral precepts will be deemed an unworthy descendant of mine and will not be allowed to become emperor!
I allow the descendants of the imperial family, the civil and military officials, and the people of the world to jointly fight against it! Choose another wise and capable descendant of the imperial family to be the emperor! "

After hearing this, the ministers discussed it and most of them agreed. Although some ministers hoped that officials would enjoy hereditary privileges for their own benefit, they dared not raise any objections in the face of the extremely powerful Emperor Chai Zongxun and the previous example of the "Lu Zhao Rebellion".

The Prime Minister Kou Zhun came out and said:
"Your Majesty, Holy Ming!
With these seven ancestral rules set by Your Majesty, and Your Majesty's unrivaled prestige, Your Majesty's descendants and emperors will surely abide by them, and make our Great Zhou Empire prosperous for generations to come!" Deputy Assistant Ding Wei came out and said:
"Your Majesty is the emperor in Chinese history who understands industry and commerce the best and cares the most about people's livelihood. For the first time, industry and commerce accounted for more than half of the national economy, and for the first time, the whole nation had enough food and clothing.

With these seven ancestral rules, we will be able to ensure that our Great Zhou will remain strong forever!"

Zhang Ning, the chief minister of the military cabinet, came out and said:

"The ancestral system established by Your Majesty will ensure that the army will always be the army of the country and become the pillar of the country to defend the country and expand the territory!"

The seven "ancestral rules" established by Chai Zongxun had actually been implemented one after another after he ascended the throne. They were only clearly announced now, so there was no real resistance.

Seeing that the ministers in the palace had no objection, Chai Zongxun immediately said:

"In everything we do, we should put the future of the country and the nation first, and the well-being of the people first!
That’s how it’s settled, then.

The Ministry of Works will select expert craftsmen tomorrow to erect a monument in front of the "Time Palace" and carve the seven ancestral precepts I set on it, so that all the people in the world will know them!"

Minister of Works Feng Zheng came out and said:
"I will obey your majesty's order.

Please name this monument.”

Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and said:
"Let's name it 'Holy Zhou Ancestor's Instructions'! I hope that no emperor of the future generations will violate the ancestral instructions and ensure that our Great Zhou will prosper for generations to come!"

The next day, the Ministry of Works selected master craftsmen to choose rare jade and began to design and make the stele.

After several months of production, the "Holy Zhou Ancestor's Instructions" stele was completed on May 20th, the 51st year of Kaixi, and stood in front of the gate of the "Time Hall".

The stele is 52 feet high and made entirely of jade, with the seven ancestral precepts set by Chai Zongxun engraved on it. Once it was made public, it attracted many people to come and watch.

Today, the people of the Great Zhou have an overall literacy rate of 5% after the court built "national schools" and the economy prospered over the past few decades. Among them, about % of men and about % of women are literate.

After reading the seven ancestral precepts on the "Holy Zhou Ancestor Precepts Monument", the people began to discuss the matter.

"Your Majesty is truly an eternal sage! These third and fourth ancestral precepts show your deepest care for us, the people!

With these seven ancestral precepts set by Your Majesty, the good life of the people of our Great Zhou will surely last for thousands of generations."

"That's right! As long as your Majesty's descendants and emperors can abide by the ancestral teachings, we can ensure that the prosperity of our Great Zhou will last forever."

"Great! With the seven ancestral precepts set by Your Majesty, businessmen like us no longer have to worry about returning to the past, where we were embarrassed and manipulated by local officials."

"Your Majesty's kindness to our people is truly unprecedented in history! I really hope that Your Majesty will live forever and ever and be the Emperor of the Great Zhou forever.

Alas, it’s a pity that no one has ever seen a fairy…

The prosperity of our Great Zhou today was not easy to come by. It was created by your Majesty and the meritorious officials of the "Time Palace" who overcame all difficulties. I am still a little worried that there will be a reckless and incompetent emperor among your Majesty's descendants..."

"It is said that with your majesty's benevolence, justice and wisdom, our Great Zhou country will surely be blessed by heaven, and your majesty's descendants should all be wise rulers.

At least I think His Royal Highness the Crown Prince must be a wise ruler."

"If there are unworthy descendants of your majesty who dare to disobey your majesty's "Holy Zhou Ancestor's Instructions", then all the princes, officials and people in the world must respond to your majesty's imperial edict and fight against the tyrants together!"

"That's right! As long as your Majesty's descendants abide by the "Holy Zhou Ancestor Instructions" set by your Majesty, we can ensure that our Great Zhou will be peaceful and the people will be safe, and our military will be strong!
If anyone dares to violate your Majesty's ancestral precepts, the millions of people in our Great Zhou will never agree! There will definitely be heroes among your Majesty's imperial descendants who will lead us, the people, to fight against the tyrant!"

(End of this chapter)