I, Am a Living Yama; Empress Advises Me to Stay Calm

As Yang Yi finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Everyone stared at him in shock, their faces filled with disbelief.
Wait, this is what he meant by giving more land to the feudal lords?
They were stunned. They had thought that Yang Yi was suggesting the court grant additional land to the feudal lords after all his roundabout talk. Unexpectedly, it was still about dividing the feudal lords’ own territories!
By allowing all sons to inherit the feudal lord’s fiefdom, it would create chaos within their households. Traditionally, only the eldest legitimate son could inherit the land, but now every descendant would receive a share. Would this not lead to infighting?
Moreover, once the land was divided, each descendant would be left with only a small portion, making it easier for the court to control them in the future.
Everyone gasped as the realization dawned on them.
This is Yang Yi’s plan!
Under the guise of court rewards, he was effectively proposing the Tui’en Order. This was an overt strategy to weaken the power of the feudal lords under the guise of imperial benevolence, compelling them to feel gratitude while tightening the court’s grip on them.
The only ones pleased by this were the descendants of the feudal lords. Even though they recognized the Tui’en Order as poisoned candy, they were willing to accept it.
This strategy turned the conflict between the feudal lords and the court into internal strife among the lords themselves. Meanwhile, the court would reap the benefits without needing to intervene directly.
This poisonous strategy was truly an open conspiracy. Even knowing it was a ploy, the feudal lords had no choice but to swallow it.
The realization sent chills down the spines of the officials as they looked at Yang Yi, who smiled serenely, exuding a cold, ruthless air.
This man is truly formidable.
Wu Yuanqing stood dumbfounded. Although not the sharpest, he wasn’t completely ignorant. Yang Yi’s proposal sounded benevolent, but it was indeed poisoned.
He even suggested rewarding the feudal lords with land. In the end, it’s still taking a piece from their own flesh.
Clinging to a thread of hope, Wu Yuanqing bit his lip.
“Minister Yang, is that all there is to the Tui’en Order you mentioned?”
Yang Yi met Prince Liang’s desperate gaze, his smile barely shifting.
“Yes, Your Highness. I have finished explaining. This Tui’en Order is designed to extend the Empress’s benevolence to your descendants. If Her Majesty approves, it will be an act of great imperial mercy. Does Your Highness have any other concerns?”
The veins on Wu Yuanqing’s forehead throbbed as his face turned pale.
Turning abruptly to the Empress, he shouted, “Your Majesty, Minister Yang’s Tui’en Order is unacceptable…”
Wu Zhao’s eyes glimmered with faint amusement.
“Oh? I find Minister Yang’s strategy brilliant. Prince Liang, you’ve often come to me with complaints about the injustice of the inheritance system, where only the eldest legitimate son inherits the fief, and the others are left with nothing.
“Today, I will adopt Minister Yang’s strategy. From now on, Great Zhou will implement the Tui’en Order. All your descendants shall inherit fiefs.”
Wu Yuanqing felt as if his head had been struck by a hammer. If he hadn’t realized that the Empress and Yang Yi were acting together, he would have been a fool.
The Empress had been waiting for this moment all along. Fear gripped him as his gaze met Wu Zhao’s slight smile, sending a shiver from his feet to his heart.
Defeated, he bit his lip and lowered his head like a beaten dog.
“Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the favor.”
The hall was silent as the officials exchanged knowing glances. If they couldn’t see Yang Yi’s intentions now, they were beyond help. The Empress and Yang Yi had clearly orchestrated this together. And this Tui’en Order—its brilliance and cruelty left them in awe.
This strategy was vicious beyond belief.
…
Half a month later, in the Han Dynasty’s capital at Ganquan Palace, the hall shimmered with black dragon patterns and bronze and jade artifacts, exuding majesty and nobility.
Exquisite silk carpets adorned the floor, while a purple-bronze Qilin incense burner filled the air with a faint, pleasant aroma.
“Your Majesty…”
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed as Grand Minister of Agriculture, Sang Hongyang, rushed in. A man dressed in a black, wide-sleeved dragon robe turned, his sharp features fixed in a stern expression.
“Sang Hongyang, why are you in such a hurry? What has happened?”
“Is there a problem with the tribute?” He began to worry.
If there was a problem with the tribute, the Han Dynasty would be in trouble for years to come. The treasury was already running out of money.
Sang Hongyang quickly replied, “Your Majesty, it’s not a tribute problem; it’s good news, extremely good news.”
Liu Che was taken aback and looked at Sang Hongyang in astonishment.
“What good news? What is it?”
Sang Hongyang took a deep breath.
“Your Majesty, there is a way to deal with these feudal lords…”
Liu Che’s expression changed, his eyes suddenly sharp.
“What did you say?”
The Seven States Rebellion had always been a thorn in his side. Back then, Emperor Wen had renounced the state’s right to mint coins, allowing local feudal lords like King Liu Pi of Wu to mine copper and mint their own money. With money, these feudal lords naturally gained the power to challenge the court.
Later, his father, Emperor Jing, weakened the local feudal lords, leading to a rebellion between the lords and the court. Although the Seven States Rebellion was eventually suppressed, the feudal states remained a source of unrest for Liu Che. If there was a way to eliminate them completely, that would be ideal. But eliminating these feudal lords was no easy task.
Liu Che gradually calmed down. He spoke in a deep voice. “I know you are worried about the country, but right now the nation needs stability… If it requires military action, it is absolutely out of the question.”
Sang Hongyang quickly replied, “Your Majesty, this plan does not require the use of troops… It doesn’t even require any financial, material, or human resources to deal with these feudal lords…”
Liu Che’s expression changed, then he became slightly angry.
“Are you mocking me? Without using a single soldier and without any financial or material resources, you can deal with the feudal lords? If it were that easy, how did the Seven States Rebellion happen?”
Sang Hongyang’s face was grave as he spoke seriously.
“Your Majesty, I would not dare… This strategy is called the Tui’en Order! The so-called Tui’en Order abolishes the system of primogeniture in the feudal states and replaces it with a system where all sons inherit equally.
“In this way, the sons of the feudal lords will be sure to answer to the court and not rebel.”
Liu Che’s eyes widened with astonishment. “This… this…”