Having children earns benefit, start competing for dominance in the world by marrying a wife

Lu Chen naturally had considered the possibility of division by establishing two courts, but for him, establishing dual courts was merely a temporary transition.

Once the transition period ended, the court in the Capital City would definitely be gradually disbanded, and he would dispatch his most trusted officials to the Capital City, as well as station his most trusted troops there.

Of course, the most critical point was that he would also bring his brothers and sisters to Yan County; he would not leave those princes behind in the Capital City.

By then, the officials remaining in the Capital City wouldn't have any significant matters to attend to; they would effectively be in the Capital City to retire and guard the Lu family's ancestral tombs.

Seeing that the ministers in the court had ceased further discussion, Lu Chen knew they must have accepted his proposal, so he continued, "After the relocation of the capital, it may be possible to relocate back to the Capital City in the future. Once I have completed the tasks at hand, I plan to build a new Capital City."

"If my ministers have no other opinions, feel free to express them now," he added.

At this moment, Situ Ce stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this official has heard that the North Country possesses something known as a 'fire train,' which can not only travel a thousand miles in a day but also doesn't need to stop and rest. Is this true?"

Lu Chen replied, "Indeed, it exists. Once you all arrive at Anping City, you'll be able to take the fire train northwards. From Anping City to Yan County will take only a day or two."

Situ Ce said, "This official suggests that after the relocation, we construct a railway track from Yan County to the Capital City. That way, in the future, it will be more convenient for the citizens of the Capital City who wish to travel north and for those in Yan County who wish to travel south."

Lu Chen said, "When I was in Qi Country, I had already ordered the laying of rails; within a year, the fire train should be able to reach the Capital City."

Situ Ce declared, "Your Majesty is wise!"

With the fire train as a means of transportation, the future travel time from Yan County to the Capital City would be greatly reduced. In this way, even if the capital was relocated to Yan County, Lu Chen could still firmly control the power in the Capital City.

Seeing that no one else spoke up, Lu Chen then said, "If no one else has any other opinions, let us settle the matter of relocation. After today's court session, each of you should write a memorial, outlining your thoughts on the relocation, as well as whether you are willing to accompany me north in your memorials."

"I can assure you all here that whether you accompany me north lies entirely in your personal will. I will not make things difficult for you. Even if you do not go north and stay in the Capital City, I will still arrange some matters for you to handle."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's assurance, the ministers uniformly exclaimed, "His Majesty is sagacious!"

Lu Chen actually intended to keep those of the conservative faction in the Capital City; these conservatives were not easy to kill. If an emperor killed indiscriminately, others would not trust you in the future. Even if Lu Chen had absolute martial power, he would not act recklessly, as an emperor had to properly balance benevolence and authority.

However, Lu Chen was a man set on achieving great things, and if he brought the conservative faction north, it would be difficult to implement some policies in the future.

His team had to consist of officials with drive. In this relocation, those who remained were sure to be mostly conservative officials, which was perfect for leaving these sly old foxes behind to guard the ancestral tombs.

At this point, Lu Chen asked, "I have finished stating my affairs. Do my ministers have anything else to discuss?"

As Lu Chen's words fell, a minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, most of the princes have come of age and it's time for them to be granted their fiefs."

Upon hearing this, the ministers tensed up inside.

Although they all knew that fiefs may no longer be granted, they still wanted to test Lu Chen's intentions.

Lu Chen glanced at the several princes standing in the grand hall and chuckled to himself. He could tell they were still harboring delusions of escaping his control to enjoy unfettered freedom.

But he would not give them that opportunity.

Lu Chen then said, "You have reminded me of something, and I had almost forgotten there is still one more matter."

"Effective immediately, Great Sum abolishes the feudal system and fully adopts the county system, hereafter maintaining noble titles only for the privileges of gold and silver."

As this statement was made, the great hall instantly fell silent, and the fists of the several Princes standing beside the ministers clenched in an instant, for they knew Lu Chen was going to proceed in this way.

At that moment, a conservative minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, it must not be done, the feudal enfeoffment system is a time-honored tradition, how can it be abolished just like that."

Lu Chen immediately replied, "I already have ten children this year, but I am only in my twenties, plus I can live a thousand years at the very least. By that calculation, when I pass away, I would have either a thousand or eight hundred offspring."

"If my children have children, and their children have children, does that mean everyone should be made a Prince?"

"If everyone were to be made a Prince, in less than a thousand years, Great Xia would have tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of Princes; I fear that we could not even accommodate them all, even if we included the lands of the major empires."

This...

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, the court ministers were speechless, and they couldn't help but wonder, could the new Emperor be so fertile?

Isn't he already of a strength above that of a Grandmaster? Generally speaking, the higher one's Martial Arts Realm, the more difficult it is to have offspring.

And the more one practices martial arts, the more one must abstain from sensual pleasures, so how does the new Emperor have ten children already this year?

Lu Chen continued, "The Great Ancestor implemented the feudal enfeoffment system out of necessity, as he was unable to control all the lands of Great Xia and had to assign Princes to govern them."

"But times have changed. Now Great Xia doesn't need any Seigniors; I am perfectly capable of managing all the lands. If one day Great Xia expands to the extent that even I can't manage it, then I would consider feudal enfeoffment."

Lu Chen's words carried a tremendous weight; he was essentially telling the entire court that he intended to wipe out other empires and expand the territory of Great Xia.

With Lu Chen having said so much, no minister dared to say anything further. They all understood that the abolition of the feudal enfeoffment system was inevitable, and from now on, the lives of the Emperor's principled princes and grandsons would probably become more difficult.

Enjoy more content from empire

At this moment, Lu Chen scanned the people in the great hall and then said, "Let this matter be settled. My beloved subjects, do you have any other matters?"

Then another minister stood up to discuss the affairs of Prince Lu Yi. After the matters of Prince Lu Yi were discussed, the ministers brought up many other issues.

After all, this was Lu Chen's first court meeting, and it was natural that many matters had accumulated over time. However, many of these issues actually didn't require his attention, but the ministers insisted on reporting them.

Lu Chen was thinking that he should promptly relocate the capital to Yan County and leave all these matters to Zhuge Zhongguang to deal with.

Lu Chen's first court meeting took an entire day, and the ministers even had their lunch in Xuanzheng Hall.

Lu Chen felt the substantial burden of being Emperor; although wielding immense power and able to have whatever he desired, there were indeed countless matters to attend to.

Lu Chen suddenly had the urge to become a negligent ruler and abandon all responsibilities.

Being Emperor was too exhausting.

In the evening, after the court was dismissed, Lu Chen felt exceptionally weary. He was about to return to his sleeping quarters when a palace maid approached him and said, "This servant greets Your Majesty!"

Lu Chen recognized at a glance that this maid was from the Snowstorm Palace and promptly asked, "What is it?"

The maid replied, "Madam Chen said she is about to return to Mysterious Moon Palace."

Upon hearing these words, Lu Chen paused for a moment and then stated, "I am aware."

Afterward, Lu Chen proceeded to visit Chen Wanrong.