Chapter Sixteen: The Drawbacks of the Feudal System

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Fusu immediately scanned everyone present, then bowed once more and said, "Esteemed dukes and ministers, Fusu greets you."
Everyone looked at Fusu, who was behaving unusually, their faces full of confusion.
Fusu then turned to Chunyu Yue and bowed again: "Teacher, your student salutes you."
Chunyu Yue was taken aback but quickly returned the bow, saying, "Your Highness, you flatter this old man too much!"
Seeing this was about right, Fusu then looked toward Qin Shi Huang and said, "Father, the feudal system is the law of our ancestors."
"This system can stabilize political order, strengthen central control over the regions, promote economic development, consolidate royal rule, and facilitate the spread of our great Qin culture!"
Chunyu Yue immediately nodded and praised, "Your Highness speaks most wisely!"
Li Si and Zhao Gao exchanged glances.
It's secured!
Hu Hai busied himself even more energetically.
Fusu has fallen into the trap!
Meng Yi wanted to say something but held back.
A faint trace of disappointment flashed across Qin Shi Huang’s eyes, but he still spoke: "Since the feudal system has so many advantages, should our great Qin also adopt it?"
Fusu neither nodded nor shook his head.
Instead, he continued, "Father, please hear me out!"
"But—"
But?
Fusu calmly said, "But the feudal system tends to foster separatist powers, weakening central authority and resulting in inefficient governance."
A gasp swept through the assembled civil and military officials.
Fusu actually opposed Chunyu Yue’s view?
Chunyu Yue’s face darkened, and he hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, these risks can be guarded against!"
Fusu promptly waved his hand.
Seeing this, Li Si glanced at Zhou Qingchen.
Zhou Qingchen finally caught on and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, history has proven the feudal system obsolete. Forcing its implementation might cause our great Qin to collapse once more!"
"Exactly!"
Duke Wu stood and delivered a decisive blow: "Your Majesty, our great Qin made history by unifying the world and building a magnificent empire."
"A new empire requires new institutions!"
"The commandery-county system is the foundation for Qin’s future!"
"Indeed!"
"The commandery-county system is the state policy of Qin!"
As more voices joined in, the scene tilted overwhelmingly in favor of the commandery-county system.

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In contrast, Chunyu Yue’s faction was still reeling from Fusu’s counsel, many unable to react immediately.
Perhaps because Fusu, their leader, had suddenly stabbed them in the back, it caught them off guard.
*Ding~*
"Congratulations, host, you have successfully analyzed the pros and cons, dispelling the last hesitation in Qin Shi Huang’s mind. The feudal system is no longer under consideration!"
"The complete guide to the provincial system has been issued. Would you like to review it now?"
"Review!"
Thus, Fusu quickly caught up on the revised provincial system.
Li Si watched this with wild joy!
Finally, his new policy was gaining recognition. Not only would his authority be secured, but his opposition would also be suppressed.
Fusu, oh Fusu!
You truly are heaven-sent!
With this move, you saved me much trouble and gradually lost your supporters.
A double victory!
No, a victory over many fronts!
"Your Highness, you..." Chunyu Yue looked at Fusu in disbelief. Hadn't they agreed unanimously to implement the feudal system?
Why the sudden reversal?
Fusu looked at his team, each staring at him blankly.
He smiled slightly and nodded, "Don’t panic, hold steady!"
"Hold steady?" Chunyu Yue wanted to curse!
At a time like this, telling us to hold steady?
The interests and complexities involved cannot be solved with just that!
If Fusu were not a prince, Chunyu Yue would have turned his back on him outright.
Qin Shi Huang was also stunned by Fusu’s single "but."
He did not expect his son to have studied the feudal system so thoroughly; clearly, he had put in much effort.
He then shot a glance at Zhao Gao.
Zhao Gao understood immediately and rasped, "Silence!"
The once noisy crowd fell silent.
Qin Shi Huang looked at Fusu with great interest: "You always bring new perspectives to me!"
"Now I ask you,"
"If the feudal system has such great drawbacks, what about the commandery-county system?"
With the emperor’s words, all eyes once again fell on Fusu.

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"Your Majesty, this old minister is familiar with that!" Li Si eagerly stood up, just in case.
"Allow me to explain to everyone!"
Qin Shi Huang glanced at Li Si but ignored him, continuing, "Fusu, you speak."
Li Si froze awkwardly in place.
Fusu nodded, flipping through the provincial system documents and recalling lessons from history class.
He carefully said, "The commandery-county system has significant advantages in strengthening centralized power, improving administrative efficiency, and breaking the hereditary nobility system."
Li Si sighed in relief.
No worries!
No problem here.
Just as Li Si was pulling his thoughts back, Fusu added, "But—"
"The powers of local officials are strictly limited by the central government, lacking autonomy and flexibility, making it difficult to respond quickly to local conditions."
"Also, local officials wield considerable power but lack effective supervision and checks, which can easily lead to corruption."
Fusu spoke clearly and directly struck the core issues.
For a moment, everyone present pondered Fusu’s words.
Suddenly, Zhou Qingchen angrily exclaimed, "Nonsense!"
"Do local officials hold more power than the feudal lords?"
"If local officials lack autonomy and flexibility, does that mean lords can do as they please and issue arbitrary decrees?"
"And as for corruption, who is more corrupt than the lords?"
"This is a joke!"
"Alarmist and deliberately slanderous!"
Fusu glanced at Zhou Qingchen but ignored him.
"Impudent!" Chunyu Yue pointed at Zhou Qingchen and scolded, "You sycophant and flatterer, what do you know of these matters?"
"All you do is curry favor and mislead your superiors into wrong decisions. What else can you do?"
Enraged, Zhou Qingchen rolled up his sleeves and lunged at Chunyu Yue.
Chunyu Yue was unfazed, glaring, "The commandery-county system is not much better than the feudal system!"
"That is a fact!"
Seeing the scene about to erupt into chaos, Qin Shi Huang roared, "Silence!"
Then, he turned once again to Fusu, having truly underestimated the boy.
He deeply agreed with Fusu’s analysis internally but showed only mild acknowledgment, feigning disinterest: "So, Su’er, which do you think is better, the feudal system or the commandery-county system?"