aircannonsinc Chapter 983 Choosing a concubine isn't about personal preference, it's about interests!
Chapter 983 Choosing a concubine isn't about personal preference, it's about interests!
Suddenly, calls for the selection of imperial concubines arose one after another, as if this was an unquestionable national policy that urgently needed to be implemented.
Sitting on his throne, Gao Yao looked down at his "passionate" ministers, his heart filled with mixed emotions and a deep sense of unease. Deep down, he was a modern man, bound by the concepts of monogamy and fidelity. Many time travelers might initially fantasize about the bliss of a harem of concubines, but only upon truly being in that position do they discover that it's not simply about pleasure, but an extremely complex political and human dilemma.
Even if his physical strength far surpasses that of ordinary people, how can he possibly find enjoyment in dealing with hundreds or even thousands of women, bound by countless rules and regulations to the point of looking like they were all cut from the same mold? He probably wouldn't even be able to match their names to their faces. While it's human nature to be fickle, maintaining a sense of novelty and memory among hundreds of women, while simultaneously dealing with the resulting jealousy, infighting, and countless trivial matters, is nothing short of a disaster. The more women there are, the higher the management costs and the more trouble they bring—that's an undeniable fact.
More importantly, these women selected for the palace were all "standard products" who had undergone rigorous screening. A clean family background and three generations of ancestral integrity were the basic requirements; physical examinations to confirm virginity were mandatory; and they had to be proficient in various court etiquettes, with strict regulations governing their speech and behavior.
This was ostensibly to ensure the purity and nobility of those around the monarch, but in reality, it molded living individuals into puppets devoid of personality. Their manner of speaking, their eating etiquette, and even their reactions when serving the emperor could be taught to conform to a uniform pattern, for fear of making a mistake and being branded with the infamy of being "indecent" or "licentious."
Gao Yao had considered changing these outdated customs and practices to create a more relaxed and natural atmosphere in the harem. However, he lacked the power to do so.
On the one hand, as the ruler of a nation, what kind of image would it project if he spent his days instructing his concubines on how to be "uninhibited" in his presence? Even if he had the ability, he lacked the leisure and sustained motivation to challenge deeply ingrained traditions. On the other hand, he had too many pressing matters to attend to—rectifying officialdom, improving people's livelihoods, addressing potential threats, and even contemplating how to more profoundly change the era. Perhaps after the country is completely at peace and the world is tranquil, he will have the leisure to make some changes, but certainly not now.
Therefore, his first reaction was to refuse. However, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and others had already brought the matter to the forefront and used lofty principles such as "the foundation of the state" and "a matter of course" to bind him, leaving him with almost no suitable reason to refuse or evade. If he forcibly refused, not only would he alienate these core ministers, but he might also be interpreted as irresponsible towards his descendants and the fate of the state.
Gao Yao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and looked intently at Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and the others in the prince's presence. He understood that their seemingly natural, even somewhat eager, proposal to select a concubine was not merely for the so-called "proliferation of the royal family." Behind it lay a vast and complex network of power and interests.
Xiao He and others remained tight-lipped about who would be the queen because they knew that the final decision rested firmly in Gao Yao's hands. Especially during this crucial stage of conquering the land, Gao Yao's will was paramount; he could choose his partner entirely according to his own preferences, and his ministers would not, and dared not, interfere too much.
But the "selection of concubines" itself was far more significant than Gao Yao's personal preference. It was an important political move, a tool for maintaining and consolidating power.
The reasons are not complicated. The territory and population controlled by Gaoyao today are far greater than when it was confined to the South China Sea Commandery. Its people now number over 23 million, almost equivalent to the total population of the once-powerful Qin Dynasty. Such a vast empire has created an unprecedented shortage of talent. Many remote counties have had to rely on local powerful clans and gentry for grassroots governance and to maintain stability. A large number of surrendered or defected nobles from the former six states, former Qin officials, and the emerging military elite all need to be properly resettled and won over.
The relocation of the capital from the South China Sea to Xianyang, the shift of the political center, brought not only glory but also hidden anxieties. What would those meritorious officials and former subordinates who remained in their original locations, the generals guarding the frontiers, the newly subjugated forces, and even the subjugated foreign tribes think? Would they feel uneasy, or even harbor rebellious intentions, because the emperor was far away? People's hearts are unfathomable; the most dangerous thing is unfounded speculation. Once doubts arise, they can easily lead to chaos.
The "selection of imperial concubines" was an extremely convenient and effective strategy for appeasement and binding. Selecting eligible women from the families of local powerful clans, meritorious officials, and important generals into the palace, regardless of whether they ultimately gained the emperor's favor, symbolized that their families had established a closer connection with the emperor and the central government.
This acts like a powerful placebo, making these local power brokers consciously tie their interests to the Gaoyao regime, thus motivating them to work more diligently and curbing their centrifugal tendencies to some extent. This is essentially an expansion and institutionalization of the strategy Gaoyao employed when he first married his wives.
Not only in dealing with external forces, but also within the internal court, the selection of imperial concubines served a balancing and appeasing function. Within the vast bureaucratic system, different factions and cliques naturally formed—the loyalists, the surrendered officials, the military merit faction, the civil official faction… These factions competed for power, resources, and influence. How to ensure the loyalty of these officials and make them feel secure about their status and their families' future? One of the most direct and effective ways was to establish kinship ties with the monarch.
This relationship was like an invisible contract and a bond of trust. For officials, having a woman from their family enter the palace meant gaining the status of "royal relative," which secured their political position, guaranteed their lives and property, and provided them with more opportunities for promotion and personal gain.
For the monarch, the selection of concubines and their families allowed for a better observation, understanding, and even guidance of the court officials' movements and attitudes. It revealed who was trustworthy and which forces needed to be guarded against or won over. Essentially, this was a two-way political investment and exchange of benefits. The monarch used the selection of concubines to win over key ministers and power groups, while ministers sought greater security and political capital by sending their daughters to the palace.
Having figured these points out, Gao Yao's initial resistance to modern ideas, though not completely dissipated, was replaced by a deeper sense of helplessness and rationality. He looked around at the ministers in the hall who had followed him to conquer the country. The expectations in their eyes were not merely based on etiquette, but also contained a profound consideration for consolidating their own positions and ensuring the long-term stability of the regime.