Goodness, the vast empire the founding emperor created is truly remarkable! Later emperors inherited this foundation and furthered their family connections. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, it was discovered that some feudal lords had exceeded the designated land grants, or there were cases of irregular appointments. Some members of the royal family had been reduced to commoners, creating a significant imbalance in social status. So Emperor Xiaowu instructed the imperial censor, "If feudal lords want to grant land to their descendants for personal reasons, they must submit a detailed report. Then, I will personally decide their titles and fiefdoms." Since then, the emperor's collateral relatives have all received titles. Like the *Shijing* says, "The descendants of King Wen, from the direct line to the collateral branches, can continue for a hundred generations."
Real Histories
