Volume One, Chapter Ten: The Clan Dilemma

From the quality perspective, even the lowest grade of inferior Xuan paper is far more practical than parchment. This is precisely why Li Xian emphasized in the letter that even the poorest quality Xuan paper, along with the papermaking technique, should not be sold for less than one hundred thousand gold coins.

Though one hundred thousand gold coins is a hefty sum, papermaking is truly a world-changing product! It is absolutely worth the price.

In fact, even when it comes time to sell, she does not intend to settle for just one hundred thousand gold coins. Instead, the price should be raised to two hundred thousand gold coins. Once the technique is out, medium-grade and high-grade Xuan paper will inevitably be gradually refined and improved. While the general direction remains unchanged, the three tiers of papermaking—high, medium, and low—ultimately lead to the same outcome.

Thus, the original papermaking method is the true key.

Gong Yuyan understood this perfectly.

“Your Majesty, once you make your decision, I will arrange it immediately...” Qing Wei whispered softly. She could see that the emperor’s heavy frown had noticeably eased as he studied the sheets of paper.

Perhaps Li Xian from the Li family village could indeed be entrusted with great responsibilities.

“Very well, make the arrangements. But remember to keep it strictly confidential. Anyone involved in the papermaking who tries to leave must be dealt with harshly—even if it means killing a thousand mistakenly, not a single one shall be spared...” Gong Yuyan said coolly.

Qing Wei nodded and left to carry out the orders.

At that moment, the Empress selected a sheet of medium-quality Xuan paper, carefully wrote out a letter, attached it to the leg of a carrier pigeon, and sent it off swiftly.

Before long, the letter arrived at a courtyard somewhere in Li family village.

“Yiyi, ask him this: The clans with noble titles have long been plagued by the problem of collecting salaries without performing duties, severely affecting the treasury’s balance. Moreover, the clans engage in nepotism, occupying seventy percent of the court’s official positions. Is there a moderate approach to solving this?”

The letter contained only a few words. Gong Yuyan wished to ask Li Xian directly, to see if he had any answers.

Upon reading it, Gong Xinyi was stunned for a long moment, then quietly glanced toward Li Xian, who was nearby, working on some handiwork.

Her own mother was asking her father such a question?

Could it be... Father had a solution?

After a while, filled with curiosity, Gong Xinyi quietly approached Li Xian and tugged on the corner of his clothing.

Li Xian looked at his daughter and smiled. “What did your mother say?”

He had naturally noticed the arrival of the carrier pigeon. Besides his unwed wife, no one else could have sent a message here.

---

Gong Xinyi blinked and hesitated, unwilling to repeat her mother’s exact words.

So she chose to paraphrase in her own way.

After a moment’s thought, she said, “Daddy, actually Grandpa is an official in the Daqian court. He mentioned a problem and wants Yiyi to respond. Yiyi doesn’t know the answer, so she wants to ask Daddy.”

Li Xian smiled. So even at five years old, she couldn’t help but reveal a bit of her background.

An official of the Daqian court?

His wife was indeed no ordinary woman.

Li Xian pondered for a moment and nodded. “Go ahead, let me see if I have an answer.”

Gong Xinyi smiled sweetly, then stretched out her arms as a signal. Li Xian lifted her onto his lap. Then, in a childish voice, she said, “Grandpa says the clan problem in the court is severe—ghost officials, nepotism, domination of court affairs. Over seventy percent of officials are clan members, and because of noble titles and stipends, the treasury is under great pressure. Is there a way to solve this?”

Li Xian immediately furrowed his brow.

This was no simple question.

He hadn’t expected Yiyi’s grandfather to ask such a sharp question.

Clans—this was one of the greatest afflictions that troubled ancient emperors!

Throughout history, aside from expanding territories and nurturing the people, the primary task of emperors could be summarized in one phrase: strengthening central authority.

Clans were among the biggest obstacles to this goal.

Could it be that Daqian had long suffered from clan dominance?

More than seventy percent of officials being clan members—this was indeed excessive.

If it continued, the treasury would surely be drained, and there were many such cases recorded in history.

After thinking quietly for a moment, Li Xian smiled and said, “I won’t say anything yet. Yiyi, what do you and Xiao An think should be done about this?”

At this, Xiao An, who had just returned with some firewood, stopped thoughtfully.

Gong Xinyi also furrowed her brows. The question clearly puzzled her.

Although she was bright, as a five- or six-year-old girl, grappling with such a vast court-level issue was difficult.

“Daddy, Yiyi thinks this situation is really troublesome, because Grandpa is not a clan member and hates this phenomenon very much,” Gong Xinyi blinked and said. Naturally, she was lying again—apart from her mother, she had no other relatives.

All others had either been killed when her mother rose to power or had fled, no doubt harboring deep hatred for her mother.

---

As for the question itself, it was indeed challenging.

If even her mother could not resolve it, how could she?

“Xiao An,” Li Xian said, glancing at the boy nearby.

Xiao An had been with him for several years and had absorbed much knowledge during that time.

After a moment’s silence, Xiao An spoke seriously, “Sir, is it alright to say these things?”

He knew how sensitive such topics were.

Li Xian chuckled softly and replied, “Go ahead. We’re just at home. It’s fine.”

Xiao An nodded and earnestly began, “The Empress of Daqian has reigned for five years. Throughout this time, Daqian has not enjoyed effective rest and recuperation. Instead, many troubles arise each year. The Empress has few trusted confidants and now must deal cautiously with the clans. The state is weak, the treasury has little silver, and last year’s snow disaster only worsened matters. Xiao An believes that under these circumstances, a policy of conciliation should be adopted—gradually addressing the problem rather than targeting any one clan directly. Otherwise, internal conflict will intensify. It’s like what you said before, sir—the boiling frog.”

“The boiling frog?” Gong Xinyi asked curiously.

She knew what warm water was, and she knew what a frog was, but together...? She had never heard that phrase before.

Xiao An glanced at Li Xian, and seeing him nod, he explained: “The water represents the court, and the frogs are the clans. When the water is good, the frogs thrive, reproducing and passing on noble titles and stipends from generation to generation. Because the clans monopolize the court and promote only relatives, even powerful neighboring states like Qi and Chu would gradually be dragged down—let alone the weakest state, Daqian.”

Hearing the words “weakest state,” Gong Xinyi pouted but said nothing.

Being frequently by her mother’s side, she knew well the current state of Daqian. Xiao An’s words rang true.

“To deal with the frogs, the water must be heated slowly over a long time. Even if it becomes very hot later, the frogs won’t resist and may even lose the ability to resist. But if you start by boiling the water quickly, the frogs will jump out, splashing water everywhere, damaging the state’s power. If there are many frogs, they might overturn the water vessel, causing Daqian to collapse completely, perhaps even face extinction.”

At this, Gong Xinyi shivered!

No wonder her mother’s strike against the clans last year sparked a fierce backlash, destabilizing the court—it was because of this!

Then, cautiously, Gong Xinyi asked, “How do you conciliate?”