Isolated town in northern border region

Xiao Lie's voice echoed in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, like a knife cutting through the old curtains.

He knelt before the ancestral tablets of the Xiao family, his back straight and his voice loud and clear.

"From this day forward, the Great Chu will have no more emperors! No more royal families!"

"Fathers and ancestors of the Xiao family, I, Xiao Lie, the unworthy descendant... from this day forward, sever my imperial line!"

There was a deathly silence inside and outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Then, like a pot of water being boiled, it suddenly boiled over.

Several elderly members of the royal family with white hair rushed out.

An elderly man with a cane pointed at Xiao Lie's back with trembling hands.

"You...you're insane!"

"To sever the imperial succession?"

Do you even know what you're saying?

"The empire built by the Xiao family's ancestors, you just cut it off with a single sentence?"

Another member of the royal family spoke in a shrill voice.

"Who do you think you are?"

"You're also a member of the Xiao family!"

"You've severed your own roots!"

Another man rushed forward and snatched the halberd from the guard beside him, his eyes bloodshot.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

But as soon as his hand touched the shaft of the halberd, it was firmly held down by the guards beside him.

Just kidding, if someone were to use his halberd to injure the King of the Northern Frontier, even ten lives wouldn't be enough for him!

Xiao Lie stood up from in front of the memorial tablet, turned around, and drew his long sword.

The blade gleamed coldly in the dim light of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, its tip pointing towards the ground.

His gaze calmly swept over the angry, terrified, and resentful faces, and the clamor in the hall was silenced in an instant. Xiao Lie was like a striped tiger looking down at its prey.

No one rushed forward anymore. Even the man who had been held down by the guards stopped struggling. He was just panting heavily, staring intently at Xiao Lie.

"From today onwards..."

Xiao Lie spoke, his voice not loud, but every word was as firm as a steel nail.

"Take inventory of all royal properties throughout the country and return them all to the people of Great Chu!"

These words shocked the court officials and infuriated the imperial family!

"Xiao Lie! You're trying to sever the lineage of my Xiao family!"

"Our ancestors, through arduous pioneering efforts, established our dynasty. Our Xiao clan should rightfully be the royal family of the Great Chu!"

"If you dare to spout such nonsense again, I will remove your name from the family register today!"

Xiao Lie twitched the corner of his mouth and glanced at the old clansman.

"Expel him from the list? Show me how you expel one!"

Xiao Lie tilted his head, waiting for the other party to reply.

The old member of the imperial clan was speechless.

It was just a threat, but now Xiao Lie's words have put him in a difficult position, leaving him unable to back down.

Xiao Lie removed from the list?

Even if they're still relatives now, Xiao Lie is already being ruthless; if they're really expelled...

Xiao Lie then had absolutely no more worries!

Xiao Lie waited for a long time, but the old clansman couldn't say a word.

He simply stopped paying attention to the imperial family and turned to look at the court officials on both sides.

How much does the royal family spend each year?

"How much of the revenue each year is not recorded in the national treasury?"

"How many fiefs have been granted to the royal family over the years?"

"Gentlemen, think about it..."

"My Xiao family has been supported by the people of Great Chu for so many years; it's time to give back."

As soon as he finished speaking, three people stepped forward from the ranks of civil officials.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a thin face but a firm gaze.

He clasped his hands and bowed.

"This humble official is Wang Chongwen, a member of a collateral branch of the Wang family, currently serving as the Director of the Agricultural Reclamation Department of the Ministry of Works. I am willing to share Your Highness's burdens."

Xiao Lie looked at him and nodded.

"Are you from the Wang clan of Yongzhou?"

Wang Chongwen raised his head.

"Yes. Although I come from the royal family of Yongzhou, I have studied the classics and believe in the principles of justice."

"I am willing to accept the order to inventory the imperial property and return the land to the people."

Xiao Lie didn't ask any further questions.

"You are in charge of a province. Investigate all royal properties within its borders, register them meticulously, and ensure no prince, duke, or fiefdom is overlooked. Can you do that?"

Wang Chongwen clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"If I fail to do so, I am willing to offer my head in return!"

Xiao Lie then looked at the other two.

"And you?"

The man on the left stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"This humble official is Sun Boyuan, courtesy name Zhanzhi, a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites' Sacrificial Affairs Department."

"My ancestral home is the Sun family of Qingzhou, and my family has served as officials for generations. I am quite familiar with the genealogy of the imperial clan and the evolution of their fiefdoms. I am willing to share your burdens, Your Highness."

The person on the right also stepped forward.

"This humble official is Zhao Jinghuan, courtesy name Chizhi, Assistant Director of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue, a fifth-rank official."

"The Zhao family of the capital has a branch that has handled many cases involving imperial estates and fields in the Ministry of Justice. I know where those files are now."

"If Your Highness trusts me, I am willing to bring up all the old grievances."

Wow! These two are definitely the vanguard!

Xiao Lie nodded in agreement.

"The three of you will each govern a state."

"This task is solely under my control, not under the jurisdiction of the Six Ministries, nor through the Office of Transmission."

The breathing of all the civil and military officials in the hall changed in that instant.

They originally thought Xiao Lie was just putting on an act.

Abolishing the imperial succession is crazy enough, how could they possibly touch the Xiao family's businesses that have been in operation for hundreds of years?

But these three real appointments were like a stone thrown into the water!

Taking stock of royal private property means that a vast amount of land, manors, shops, and fiefs will be unearthed.

The inventory officers will decide "how to count" and "how to register" these items that have been unearthed.

Who will do the inventory, and how will they be done? There's so much money to be made here that it's tempting to anyone!

Following closely behind, more and more officials from the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Justice stepped forward.

Someone volunteered loudly.

"This humble official is willing to share Your Highness's burdens!"

Someone pushed their way to the front.

"Your Highness, I have served in the Ministry of Revenue for many years and am familiar with the accounts. I request permission to proceed!"

Some people even shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Your Highness, I am willing to go to any province within the Great Chu territory!"

Xiao Lie glanced around and randomly selected thirteen people.

Thirteen civil officials, one for each prefecture.

"You thirteen men will each be responsible for the inventory of one prefecture."

"After the investigation is completed, a list will be compiled and submitted."

Those who were called on beamed with joy, while those who weren't called on couldn't hide their disappointment.

After all, such a lucrative position would be enough to ensure that several generations of people would live comfortably without worry if they could snatch it!

But Xiao Lie wasn't finished speaking; he looked towards the military officers.

"Inventing the royal family's private assets will certainly encounter considerable resistance, making it inconvenient for you all to proceed."

"Therefore, I have decided that each investigator should also have a military commander by his side to bolster their strength."

The ranks of military officers instantly erupted in cheers.

A captain wearing old armor stepped forward.

"Your Highness! This humble general is willing to go!"

Another military general stepped forward.

"Your Highness, I have been stationed at the border for many years and am familiar with local affairs!"

The third, fourth, and fifth generals crowded to the front, vying to volunteer.

Don't be fooled by the fact that these are all military officers; they might all be incredibly shrewd and capable individuals!

They might not be as good as the civil officials at composing poems, but when it comes to wit and strategy, these men who have been through countless battles and court affairs are just as capable.

These military officers all understood that by working alongside the civil officials to inventory the Xiao family's assets, they could not only gain a foothold in the local area but also get a share of the profits.

There are rewards to be earned and lucrative opportunities to be made; it's all beneficial and without any harm.

Xiao Lie then selected thirteen more people, one military officer per prefecture, to be paired with a civil official, and they were to take up their posts immediately.

Those who were chosen were overjoyed, while those who weren't chosen had their eyes dim for a moment before quickly brightening again, as they began to plot how to snatch this lucrative job for themselves.

Xiao Lie took in the subtle change, his expression remaining unchanged, and turned to walk towards the stone steps outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

He knew these people each had their own agendas and were definitely not acting in the interest of the country or its people, but he didn't care.

To prevent these people from going too far, Xiao Lie had no choice but to bleed them a little to keep them tantalized.

Just when everyone thought Xiao Lie's arrangements were over, he spoke again.

"Furthermore, I intend to make all the technologies of the Northern Frontier public and establish the Great Chu Chamber of Commerce."

"All ministers may invest."

"The specific allocation of shares will be determined after the royal family's private assets have been inventoried."

The room fell silent once again.

The goods from the northern frontier—glass, soap, ironware, leather goods, and cloth—are familiar to everyone in the hall, whether civil or military.

The powerful families of Yongzhou, who were previously treated like dogs by Xiao Lie, are now rolling in wealth!

A single glass teacup can be worth an entire estate, and a bolt of fine cloth from northern Xinjiang can be exchanged for a piece of silk.

Once the Great Chu Chamber of Commerce is established, the technology will be fully deployed in the northern frontier, which will be a continuous source of wealth.

Those who hadn't been assigned to the investigation now had something to look forward to!

They can also become shareholders!

Moreover, at that time, it won't be luck that matters, but the family's heritage!

What is needed to establish a chamber of commerce?

Capital, assets, connections... these aristocratic families have it all!

Moreover, Xiao Lie deliberately scheduled the share allocation after the cleanup of the Xiao family's assets, clearly indicating to these investigators that he was telling them this.

"Don't even think about making money; I, Xiao Lie, have plenty of it!"

Everyone calculated the score at the same moment.

When investigating the Xiao family's assets, we can't be too ruthless, otherwise we can forget about the shares.

But as long as you honestly complete the task, the subsequent benefits will be far greater than this little bit of extra money.

In a short time, Xiao Lie used absolute interests to bind the entire court to his side.

The inspectors kept an eye on the industries, the military officers kept an eye on the inspectors, and the shares in the chamber of commerce entangled everyone.

He stood above everyone else, responsible for distributing the benefits.

The members of the Xiao clan stood in a corner of the ancestral temple, looking at each other in bewilderment.

Someone opened their mouth as if to say something, but seeing the burning light in the eyes of the civil and military officials around Xiao Lie, they swallowed their words back.

They turned to look at Xiao Mu, as if hoping he would say something.

Xiao Mu stood there, his face pale and his lips trembling slightly.

He knew, of course, that if Xiao Lie were to carry out the investigation order, the Xiao family's centuries-old business would be uprooted.

But he knew even more clearly that he was no longer the one giving orders. The civil and military officials listened to Xiao Lie, and the people couldn't wait for Xiao Lie to take control of the Great Chu.

If they do not speak up now, they will be blocking the last escape route for the royal family.

Xiao Mu stepped forward.

"King of the Northern Frontier, as a prince, by colluding with your ministers to establish a merchant guild, aren't you competing with the people for profit?"

"If officials and merchants collude to inflate prices, will the people of Great Chu have any way to survive?"

His voice sounded particularly weak in front of the empty Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Xiao Lie turned around and glanced at him, his gaze neither angry nor contemptuous, but merely sweeping over him calmly. Then he turned to the elders of the clan, his voice steady.

"My inventory of the royal family's private property is for the benefit of the people of Great Chu."

"But members of the royal family are also relatives of my Xiao family, and I will naturally not cut off their means of survival."

"The Great Chu Chamber of Commerce will allocate 10% of its shares specifically to the Xiao clan members."

"If there are outstanding talents in the clan, I will nurture them well and allow them to realize their ambitions."

The wind direction changed in an instant.

An elderly member of the royal family with white hair immediately bowed.

"Lie'er's words make sense! Investigating the assets and returning the benefits to the people—this is precisely where the benevolence and righteousness of the Xiao family lie!"

Another member of the royal family chimed in.

"I've said it before, during Xiao Mu's years in power, the Xiao family's reputation has been completely ruined."

"Lie'er's actions are to vindicate the Xiao family!"

The third member of the royal family was even more direct.

"Xiao Mu! How dare you even speak?"

"If it weren't for your incompetence and folly, my Xiao family wouldn't be in this state!"

Xiao Mu stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the clan elder whose face-changing skills were extraordinary.

He opened his mouth, his lips moved a few times, but in the end no sound came out.

Those elders of the royal family who were just angry now surrounded Xiao Lie. Some bowed and greeted him, some smiled broadly, and some began to criticize Xiao Mu.

Just then, a garrison captain ran quickly into the Imperial Ancestral Temple Square and knelt on one knee.

"Report—Luo Daniu, the commander of the Northern Frontier Vanguard Battalion, has led three thousand Vanguard Battalion soldiers into the city in formation."

"Commander Xiao Xiong of the Azure Wolf Cavalry has already set up camp outside the city with five thousand Azure Wolf Cavalry!"

All the civil and military officials in the hall looked towards the city gate.

The sound of orderly footsteps came from afar, each step landing on the bluestone slabs. The sound was like a war drum, instantly silencing the entire area.

Luo Daniu rode a tall horse at the front, while the soldiers of the Trapped Camp, clad in dark armor, marched in unison, their swords and spears standing tall. The menacing aura they exuded silenced the people on both sides of the street.

Xiao Lie stood on the steps of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, waiting until the footsteps were close enough for everyone to hear before he spoke.

"Gentlemen, now that the imperial power has been abolished, the Great Chu cannot lose its rules and regulations."

"I am but a military man, and I have already exhausted myself in governing the northern frontier, so..."

He paused for a moment.

"I intend to establish the Great Chu Kingdom."

"The Great Chu has thirteen states, and the parliament has thirteen seats. Each state nominates one person as a representative to participate in decision-making."

"From now on, the national policies of the Chu Kingdom will be jointly formulated by the Great Chu Parliament!"

"I am the first Speaker of this Parliament... Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

No one objected.

Those civil officials who were tasked with the investigation, the military officers assigned to supervise them, the courtiers tied to the Chamber of Commerce shares, and the members of the imperial family who had just changed their tune...

Everyone made the wisest choice amidst that synchronized footsteps.

Someone cupped their hands in greeting.

"Your Highness is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and possesses unparalleled benevolence; you are truly fit to preside over the parliament!"

Someone bowed.

"I second that opinion."

Someone shouted.

"The Northern Frontier King's actions are beneficial to the country and its people!"

Xiao Lie stood on the highest step of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, his gaze sweeping over the faces that bowed in agreement, then he turned and looked at the row of ancestral tablets of the Xiao family.

Those names are quietly arranged in the incense smoke, like a row of silent witnesses, bearing witness to the end of an old era.

Xiao Lie's move was tantamount to relinquishing his power, and no one present would disagree with it.

Moreover, of the thirteen states of the Great Chu, eight are already under Xiao Lie's control. This means that as long as Xiao Lie is alive, the National Assembly will be his sole authority!

In his lifetime, Xiao Lie was determined to thoroughly reform the Great Chu and even the entire world!