I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

...

The autumn rain was cold and dreary.

It chilled to the bone when it drenched the skin.

The streets were hazy, the mist and fog making it seem almost like the Immortal Realm.

The capital was surrounded by mountains on three sides, a location of excellent feng shui, easily defended and hard to attack. However, with the growing number of workshops, the Imperial Court encountered an issue it hadn't foreseen.

Coal ash and smoke accumulated in the air, unable to be dispersed by the wind, often forming a dense fog that choked the nostrils at dawn and dusk.

The rain that fell from the sky now left black, murky traces upon the ground.

The Imperial Court wasn't unaware of this issue, and Imperial Censors frequently suggested relocating the capital, but Xianjing was an ancient capital of a thousand years, and it represented the Orthodox roots of the Cloud Continent—tied, seemingly, to the rise and fall of the nation's destiny.

With the equipping of new firearms, the Zhou soldiers became an unstoppable force, defeating so-called elite troops from other nations with ease.

Seeing the Zhou on the verge of restoring the prestige of the Great Qian Dynasty, Emperor Tianshun would rather breathe smog morning and evening and die in the capital!

That day,

the Imperial Court posted a royal edict, first commemorating the achievements of Ancestor Zhou and previous emperors, then mentioning the many battles won and territories expanded by the current dynasty.

This was followed by the promulgation of many new laws, as many old ones no longer fit the changing times.

For instance, the keeping of slaves was now deemed inappropriate by the Imperial Court; they should instead be considered free citizens, allowed to work in the workshops.

The full text, several hundred to a thousand characters long, listed more than a dozen changes to the laws. The actual core, however, lay in a single sentence: "As of the tenth year of Tianshun, the imperial examinations will be temporarily suspended, with a new official selection system to be announced by the Imperial Court."

The wording was brief, but the implications were vast. The imperial examination system had been in place for a millennium, a tradition ingrained in the bloodline.

Now, it was the old elite's last stronghold, their only means to contend with the new nobility and to have a say within the Imperial Court!

In the later years of Ancestor Zhou's rule, only the selection system for officials had been altered, focusing more on promoting practical new nobility, but he had never considered abolishing the imperial examinations to avoid destabilizing the court.

When the royal edict was released, public sentiment surged.

In the taverns,

it was busier than usual.
Find adventures at empire

Zhou Yi stood behind the counter, listening to the old elite angrily cursing and planning to go to the palace gates to remonstrate en masse.

"The imperial examinations, which emperor was it that spread them far and wide?"

"Hongchang? It's been too long; I can't quite remember. A thousand years in the blink of an eye, and now they plan to abolish it!"

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly; this was a landmark event, right or wrong, with far-reaching consequences, sure to be recorded by historians. As for the old elite's outrage and clamoring for rebellion, the end result would inevitably be acceptance of reality.

The new nobility had already seized control of the military, and with the support of Long Spears and Cannons, they were certain to seek a greater say!

"The Great Zhou Imperial Clan has truly inherited the Grandmaster's ways, developing Long Spears long ago, clearly keeping a hidden hand against outsiders!"

Last New Year's Eve, Zhou Yi visited the imperial palace and witnessed the top Firearms of the current Imperial Court.

The Imperial Guards formed ranks, and hundreds of Long Spears fired in unison, from which not even an Innate Grandmaster could escape!

Bai Shiyu couldn't stop his steps. Hearing some overly radical comments, like Chen Jiye advocating for a joint assault on the palace, he quickly pointed to the sign on the table, reminding everyone to lower their voices.

"I have never spoken softly; during Ancestor Zhou's feast for the nobility in the palace, I also spoke my mind!"

Chen Jiye paused with his iron cane, thumping on the ground: "I've lived for a century and never suffered such humiliation. How would I face my ancestors after death?"

Clack clack clack!

Yang Chong opened and shut his gold pocket watch, almost breaking the spindle, and said in a cold voice, "What's happened with the Red Alliance lately; why have they been quiet these recent days?"

Ever since its establishment, the Red Alliance had been frequently attacking workshops and smashing machinery, culminating last New Year's Eve with a peak confrontation against the Imperial troops.

Even after being subjected to a bloody massacre following their defeat, it indirectly showed that the Red Alliance had gained momentum, comparable to the White Lotus Sect and Taiping Dao from past years that had disrupted the Imperial Court.

The old elite usually mocked the Red Alliance, claiming they were just lowly peasants unable to reach the heavens. Now, feeling the pressure from the Imperial Court and new nobility, they began to reminisce about the Red Alliance, with tentative thoughts of giving them covert support.

Their ancestors had done the same: proclaiming loyalty to the emperor among the common people, while secretly colluding with rebels and esoteric sects.

Thus would the empire turn hands, and the ancient clans would never fall.

Lu Bo frowned slightly and said, "The Red Alliance hasn't stirred for more than half a year. I've had people investigate secretly, and it seems they're plotting something big. The specifics aren't clear, though."

"Something big?"

Yang Chong shook his head, "What capabilities could a bunch of peasants have? Probably planning to smash a major workshop. Such a rabble, even with our support, won't amount to much."

Chen Jiye said gloomily, "Without the imperial examinations in the future, with the new nobility in power, what will distinguish you and me from those peasants?"

Yang Chong said fiercely, "Are we to just accept this? I don't believe the Four Books and Five Classics can govern a nation, but I know they are one of the pillars of our family's heritage!"

"If the Imperial Court dares issue this edict, they must be fully prepared."

Chen Jiye spoke up, "Even if it means the Nine Clans are exterminated for attempting regicide, could we really overcome Long Spears and Firearms?"

Bai Shiyu overheard this and rushed over to stop it.

"Mr. Chen, be cautious with your words, please!"

"Humph!"

Chen Jiye held back his frustration and sorrow, "We cannot let the Imperial Court insult us this way. I'll go back and call together the Nine Clans to kneel outside the palace. The emperor longs for a legacy on the pages of history; tens of thousands of scholars dying in admonition—such an act has never been recorded before!"

"We're with you, together!"

In the tavern, a dozen or so old elites, all having heard the news and left helpless and distraught, agreed to Chen Jiye's proposal after coming to drink away their worries.

Bai Shiyu did not continue the reminder, watching coldly as the old elites noisily discussed how to emulate the ancients in presenting memorials, how to resist angering the Imperial Court, yet still fight for power. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.