"Let's hope there are no unexpected twists this time."
Bai Ze couldn't help but feel that every time a new kingdom was established, the second-generation monarchs always turned out to be overly autocratic.
They completely ignored the wise teachings left behind by their ancestors, leaving Bai Ze both frustrated and helpless.
[Early 10th Era: The Western Zhou Dynasty annexed the remnants of the Shang Dynasty, taking over its capital and granting amnesty to its people. They recruited the Shang citizens and soldiers for their use.]
The current Zhou King, King Wu, never forgot the warnings of his ancestors. It was the guidance of a "god" that had enabled their victory over the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of Western Zhou.
After toppling the Shang Dynasty, King Wu spread the worship of the divine far and wide. He also recorded the ancestral teachings into the official historical records to ensure future generations would preserve and honor them.
The people of the Western Zhou, deeply pious, offered their prayers, further strengthening their belief in the divine.
This devotion gradually gave rise to various interpretations of divine figures, with names like the Jade Emperor, Zeus, Odin, and others gaining popularity across the realm.
Yet, despite the diversity of narratives, belief in the divine remained universal and unwavering.
[Ding! The faith of the people grows stronger. Faith points are accumulating.]
[With the rise of faith, Western Zhou prospers further, boasting an army of 50,000 bronze-clad soldiers and a population nearing 2 million.]
However, managing such vast lands and a large population proved to be a significant challenge.
Even a wise ruler like King Wu struggled to govern every inch of the realm.
Thankfully, he remembered the four words spoken by the divine: "Systemic Reform." These words had been passed down as a divine mandate during the early days of the Zhou clan.
Understanding that this guidance was foreseen by the gods, King Wu collaborated with his ministers to devise a groundbreaking strategy the Feudal System.
Under this new system, territories and the authority to govern people were granted to royal family members and meritorious officials based on blood ties and contributions.
These regional lords were granted significant autonomy but were required to pay tribute to the central Zhou court and obey military commands.
Once finalized, King Wu implemented this system, revolutionizing Western Zhou's governance, stabilizing its territories, and expanding its control.
[Ding! In alignment with the divine mandate, the Feudal System has been born!]
[Ding! The Eight Great Feudal States have been established under Western Zhou!]
"Well, this should hold things steady for a while," Bai Ze thought with a sense of relief.
This new system promised a period of stability, allowing the kingdom to flourish without significant challenges.
But as he skimmed through the timeline, a sense of unease crept in.
Since the establishment of Western Zhou and the rise of the feudal states, nearly ten full eras have passed.
That was an extraordinarily long period.
Bai Ze understood that intelligent species reached their pinnacle through technological advancements.
For instance, the Lich tribes were powerful beings of wisdom. Without their interstellar warships and advanced weaponry, they would likely be no match for the human race.
Yet, after so many eras, the humans he had nurtured had only reached the Bronze Age. Ironworking wasn't even widespread yet, let alone advanced technologies like ships or cannons.
"How much progress can I expect if this continues?"
Bai Ze had initially planned to stay patient, but the developments ahead filled him with dismay.
[Mid-10th Era: Western Zhou remains prosperous. King Wu grows old and frail as regional lords gain increasing power.]
[Late 10th Era: Western Zhou thrives under King Kang, the successor of King Wu. The population surpasses 2.5 million, and the foundational systems remain intact.]
Despite this stability, the longevity of the feudal system began to reveal its flaws. Over time, some lords deviated from the central government's oversight.
[Early 11th Era: The current Zhou King, King Li, clashed with the people over resources, triggering corruption within the government and escalating class conflicts. This led to widespread rebellion.]
[Mid-11th Era: Opportunistic border tribes such as the Qiang, Guifang, and Donghu capitalized on the internal strife, growing stronger and frequently raiding Zhou territories.]
[Late 11th Era: King Xuan ascended the throne and sought to restore order by rallying talented individuals and mobilizing the feudal lords. Yet, faced with a deeply corrupt kingdom, his efforts were in vain.]
[End of 11th Era: King You took the throne. Infatuated with a beauty named Bao Si, he lit the warning beacons originally meant to summon allied forces for emergencies just to amuse her. This act, known as the "Beacon Fire Prank," humiliated the feudal lords and eroded their trust.]
When King You later lit the beacons again during a real emergency, not a single feudal lord answered the call.
[Early 12th Era: Under King You's rule, corruption deepened. Slavery, once abolished, returned in full force. Slave traders even emerged, with King You turning a blind eye as he indulged in his pleasures.]
[Mid-12th Era: The nomadic Quanrong tribe rose to power. Using their cavalry, they decisively defeated Western Zhou and stormed the capital, killing King You.]
Thus, the mighty Western Zhou fell.
King You's son, King Ping, succeeded the throne. Stripped of much of their power and territory, the Zhou court was forced to relocate eastward, leaving behind their fertile lands.
In the east, they rebuilt their capital and renamed their kingdom: Eastern Zhou.
[Ding! The Western Zhou Dynasty has fallen. A new era begins.]
[Ding! The Eastern Zhou Dynasty has been established!]
"What a mess..."
"Three entire eras, and we're back to square one."
Bai Ze shook his head, exasperated.
Things had been progressing so well, yet history seemed doomed to repeat itself. Just like before, the later monarchs failed to uphold their predecessors' legacy, leading to the kingdom's collapse.
"System, based on the simulation's time flow," Bai Ze asked urgently, "how much time has passed in the real world?"
[Ding! Thirty hours have elapsed, approaching thirty-one hours.]
Bai Ze's brow furrowed tightly.
"Thirty hours already? How could it have gone by so fast?"
[Ding! Time advances based on the magnitude of events. During the previous simulation, fewer significant events occurred, so less time passed.]
Bai Ze nodded blankly, his expression stiff.
Including the previous six-hour simulation and one-hour cooldown, he had already spent seven hours.
Now, with thirty hours gone, he was effectively halfway through his available time.
-support me on Patreon for more chapters, 400+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LordoftheReader