Chapter 2978
Words:895Update:23/06/08 14:54:12
He said solemnly, "It's a very serious matter. I'm afraid we'll have to wait a long time for him to come back."
Feng Wu said, "I want to know what exactly happened."
Feng Wu might not be strong enough yet, but her medical skills and formations might be able to help.
Emperor Wu didn't answer Feng Wu's question. Instead, he asked, "Do you know why a tiny country like Dongsang, which is less than a tenth the size of the Junwu Empire, is able to invade our borders and even invade our empire 14 years ago?"
Feng Wu gave it some thought. "Is it because their medical skills, formations, and inscriptions are more advanced than ours?"
Emperor Wu asked, "Do you know why?"
Feng Wu shook her head.
Emperor Wu said, "Because they have a father!"
Feng Wu was bewildered.
Emperor Wu said, "We're indeed the only countries on this continent, but there's another continent to the east, and it's an even more powerful country."
Feng Wu asked, "What? I've never heard of it before. "
Emperor Wu said, "Because I wasn't strong enough to know about it before."
Feng Wu fell silent.
Emperor Wu said, "That country is located overseas, and it's several years away from us. We don't have much contact with them, so we don't have to be afraid of them. However — "
Emperor Wu gave it some thought and said, "But they've been very supportive of Dongsang. All of Dongsang's ancient technology comes from that country."
Emperor Wu didn't seem to want to mention that country by name, so he just brushed it off.
"Let's not talk about that country anymore. Let's talk about Dongsang."
Feng Wu nodded.
Emperor Wu went on. "Apart from those ancient technologies, what else do you think Dongsang has that's so powerful?"
Feng Wu recalled that Jun Linyuan had forced her to read some books about Dongsang, and her eyes lit up. "Is it a blood tax?"
Emperor Wu nodded. "That's right."
What exactly was a blood tax?
It sounded simple, but it was also very cruel.
Every five years, the government of Dongsang would select children between the ages of five and seven from merchants, craftsmen, and farmers in the city.
The smartest child would be chosen from every 50 households.
The recruited children would serve in the emperor's personal army, and their superiors and eunuchs would train them in a uniform manner.
They would never be allowed to marry!
Apart from eating and sleeping, the rest of the time was used to study and train.
It was an elimination system, and the last survivor would become a knowledgeable and powerful personal guard!
Because they were all commoners and had no connections, they were absolutely loyal to the Emperor.
Because of their absolute loyalty to the Emperor, all the military officers, officials, and even the Prime Minister came from this Imperial Guard.
Feng Wu said, "Actually, the emperor of East Sang has his own way of controlling them. These guards can only retire at the age of forty. Only then can they get married and have children. Furthermore, it is stipulated that their children are not allowed to join the guards."
Emperor Wu nodded. "That's why Dongsang has thrived for so many years."
Because if he didn't get married or have children, he would only be a single person, so he would definitely be completely loyal to the Emperor.
Emperor Wu was envious.
Who didn't want their own army and courtiers to be strong and knowledgeable, and to be completely loyal to them? No matter what they said or did, there wouldn't be any imperial censors coming out to complain.
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