Answer:
The ruler provided military protection for the nobles’ land.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zhou Empire was ruled by the Zhou dynasty, which was Chinese. This dynasty was the first to apply ''The Mandate of Heaven'', which basically was centered in divine figures, an Emperors were seen as God's will, this policy was the most durable in the Chinese Empire.
On the other hand, the system applied in the Zhou Empire is often compared with Feudal ones, because it had similar policies towards nobles, including military protection.