On this fertile land, long years had passed before the current situation.
The earliest traceable was the Xia Dynasty, but due to the limitations of the development level at the time, it is now difficult for later generations to trace back to the scenes of that era.
Following that was the Shang Dynasty. The Shang Dynasty weathered hundreds of years of storms. The previous few monarchs, up until Wu Ding, were benevolent rulers who cared for the people, and the Shang Dynasty's influence continuously expanded.
However, after Wu Ding's death, the Shang Dynasty began a gradual decline.
The last monarch of the Shang Dynasty, Di Xin, was constantly engrossed in developing the southeastern regions, significantly expanding the Shang Dynasty's influence and territory.
But at that time, several regimes already existed in the southeastern regions. Although their strength could not be compared to the Shang Dynasty, they possessed formidable power within the southeastern territories. Kuaishu Pavilion.
The Shang Dynasty's continuous campaigns in the southeastern regions placed an ever-increasing burden on the populace, and the Shang Dynasty gradually lost popular support.
Due to years of warfare and large-scale palace construction, internal contradictions within the Shang Dynasty intensified, and even the Shang nobles who initially supported Di Xin began to grow distant and disillusioned with the dynasty.
Later, King Wu of Zhou seized the opportunity to ally with tribes such as the Qiang, Mao, and Lu, launching a joint campaign against Di Xin, which reached Chaoge. In the Battle of Muye, the Shang army was heavily defeated, and the Shang Dynasty perished from then on.
Afterward, the Zhou Dynasty was established, becoming what the central plains states referred to as the early Zhou.
The Zhou Dynasty was founded by King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, and its capital was established at Haojing.
The Zhou people originally resided in the area of the Ji River. Later, due to constant harassment from nomadic tribes on the grasslands, the Zhou tribe relocated to Hao.
They then took advantage of the state of distress caused by the Shang people's campaigns in the southeastern regions, directly defeated the Shang state, and became the new ruler of the central plains.
As with the beginnings of many dynasties, the Zhou Dynasty initially maintained a prosperous state for a long period. Through several wise rulers, the Zhou Dynasty's territory continuously expanded.
As the Zhou Dynasty's influence grew, the Zhou Son of Heaven's control over various regions began to wane. Eventually, they started to enfeoff meritorious officials, granting them territories to establish small states that became affiliated with the Zhou Dynasty.
Of course, some of the original small states, such as those in the southeastern regions at the time, were also brought into the Zhou Dynasty's sphere of influence by the Zhou Son of Heaven and incorporated into its territory.
However, good times did not last long. Subsequently, the Zhou Dynasty had several rulers who indulged in wine and women and neglected state affairs.
It was precisely under these circumstances that disputes between the regional small states became more frequent, and the Zhou Son of Heaven's authority gradually eroded and was lost in this situation.
Following this, the conflicts between the vassal states became increasingly frequent, and some powerful vassal states emerged through constant annexations.
The Zhou royal family could only watch helplessly as their vassal states grew stronger, unable to do anything about the situation.
The final Zhou Dynasty declined during an invasion by foreign forces. Haojing was breached, the Zhou royal family was annihilated, and it completely became a relic of history.
After this, the central plains vassal states constantly clashed. The state of Wei, through the diligent governance of several generations of rulers, reached its peak under Wei Xuanzong, thoroughly dominating the central plains and becoming the sole powerful state.
From then on, the state of Wei always claimed to have inherited its ancestors' legacy and to be the true legitimate power in the realm.
Subsequently, some smaller states were completely swept away, forming the current situation of six states: Wei, Chu, Yue, Wu, Zhao, and Yan.