hsntnovel Chapter 2720 Unfinished
Chapter 2720 Unfinished
Li Shen brought up this issue again, but for the first time he used the term "multi-ethnic state".
Li Shen thought of the Greater China of later generations.
Politics is not Li Shen's forte, nor does he understand it; he simply parrots what others say.
"Your Highness Prince Ji, your idea is indeed excellent, but it won't be easy to turn them into Tang people, after all, they are barbarians."
"Only now that our Great Tang is strong can they submit to us. But if one day our Great Tang is no longer strong, they will surely turn around and bite us."
Changsun Wuji retorted that he had experienced such things before, as the barbarians had rebelled several times.
Li Shen nodded:
"I understand what the Duke of Zhao said, which is why I want them to become subjects of my Great Tang Dynasty. However, first we must change our own mindset."
Treat them as one of our own, not as barbarians.
We don't need to rush this process; we can gradually erode their influence, just like the current Anxi Protectorate, where the Gaochang remnants are managed by Qu Zhiping.
We will not allow him to have an army; he can only accept our troops for protection. We will show them the benefits of being citizens of the Tang Dynasty.
They set up schools, spoke the Tang language, and three generations later they became known as the Tang people.
Gentlemen, don't forget, the land beneath our feet was once part of the Cao Wei state, which later became the Han Dynasty for hundreds of years.
Li Shen scanned the crowd, and he made it very clear that he had been slowly eroding large tribes and countries.
The reason why the Tang Dynasty did not engage in excessive military campaigns was largely due to the principle of using barbarians to control barbarians. When attacking others, they used barbarians as their own, such as the 100,000-strong barbarian army in the Western Expedition.
The attacks on Gaochang, Tuyuhun, Tiele, and Xueyantuo were mostly carried out by Turks and Khitans.
It didn't consume much of the Tang Dynasty's resources, but it preserved the existence of these tribes.
The Tuyuhun were the first to be destroyed, but Li Shen only just learned that the Tuyuhun state still existed, and that the Tang Dynasty had installed a new king.
Li Shen couldn't understand why such a tiny place should be kept.
If it weren't for the present-day key cities of Qinghai Road, Tibet could have directly entered the Tang Dynasty through Tuyuhun.
"Does His Highness Prince Ji mean we should directly annex them, exterminate their nation, and wipe them out?" Gao Jifu spoke up at this moment.
His tone was skeptical.
"Yes, Your Highness, isn't what you're doing beneath the dignity of our Great Tang, a land of propriety? If other vassal states saw this, they would all be in danger."
Minister of Rites Xu Jingzong echoed this sentiment.
"Gentlemen, when did I ever say I wanted to exterminate your race? I only said I wanted to destroy your country. Didn't I just say that?"
Multi-ethnic states, such as the Gaochang Kingdom, can be given the title of Gaochang people, and they can also exist as subjects of our Great Tang Dynasty.
The people of my Great Tang Dynasty are the Tang people.
We could have Turkic, Uyghur, Tuyuhun, and even Tibetan and Western Turkic peoples in the future.
"You are all veteran ministers, having expanded our territory for so many years. Please don't speak to me of things like destroying our kingdoms and extinct our races."
Li Shen looked at the old men in front of him with disdain. Wasn't the Tang Dynasty's vast territory conquered by you?
Now you're telling yourself that destroying a country is bad? Isn't that just opposing for the sake of opposing?
Li Shen turned his gaze to Changsun Wuji. Gao Jifu and Xu Jingzong were both his men, and he wanted to see what Changsun Wuji's attitude was.
Changsun Wuji felt Li Shen's gaze and bowed to Li Shimin:
"Your Majesty, this old minister agrees with what Prince Ji said. If we can truly bring them into our Great Tang and make those barbarians our subjects..."
Our Great Tang Dynasty is no longer afraid of their wolfish ambitions.
"I wonder what Your Highness Prince Ji thinks should be done?"
"That's easy. We sideline their king and khan, send officials from our Great Tang to manage them, and occasionally bestow favors upon them so they will be grateful to the court."
"I suppose the Duke of Zhao would do something like this?" Li Shen looked at Changsun Wuji with a smile.
Li Shen only now realized that the people who opposed him at the banquet were probably Changsun Wuji's men.
This is about making yourself feel disgusted when you're at your happiest.
He then looked at Yu Zhining, wondering if Yu Zhining was also a member of the eldest grandson's faction.
Yu Zhining did not come from a poor family. The Yu family were core members of the Guanlong Group, and their ancestors were among the Eight Pillars of State.
He debuted as one of the Eighteen Scholars of the Prince of Qin's Mansion, and served as one of the Eighteen Scholars with Changsun Wuji for many years, so they must have had a deep friendship.
When Yu Zhining opposed him just now, was he also instigated by Changsun Wuji?
"Haha, what are you saying, Your Highness? We only know how to assist His Majesty, how can you say that we are usurping power?"
However, His Highness Prince Ji's method is indeed a good one; it's just that I wonder if those tribes and vassal states will agree to it?
Changsun Wuji laughed twice, completely ignoring Li Shen's implied meaning.
"That depends on your abilities. I know nothing about politics and can't be of much help."
However, it would be possible to contribute from other aspects, but the imperial court would need to cooperate to some extent.
The imperial court is expanding its territory, and I'm making a fortune in the process—a win-win situation. What do you all think?
Economic sanctions are simple. With Li Shen's current financial resources, dealing with tribes that don't even have their own currency is incredibly easy.
Capital, when it reaches a certain level, can completely destroy a small country.
Of course, this was of no use to a superpower like the Tang Dynasty, whose imperial court had more money and a stronger military.
You might lose not only your money, but also your life.
"Hehe, His Highness Prince Ji is indeed a business genius, still thinking about making money in this situation."
Li Shimin sneered twice, mocking that this guy wanted to make money but didn't even take him along.
"Father, you're joking. I have a large family to support."
Li Shen answered awkwardly.
"Alright, my dear ministers, you should understand what Prince Ji means. After the Lantern Festival, you will discuss a plan with the Crown Prince."
Chongwen Academy cooperated in the book repair work, sending people to search far and wide for rare and unique books.
Finally, the Prince Ji's residence was responsible for printing more copies to prevent them from becoming extinct.
The court is guiding those literati to identify themselves as citizens of the Tang Dynasty; let the Confucius family handle that matter.
Li Shimin ignored Li Shen and began issuing orders to the Three Departments and Six Ministries.
If this matter is accomplished, he will add another significant chapter to his history as emperor, further solidifying his status as a great emperor for all time.
"Your Majesty, we obey the decree!!"
These people immediately stood up and bowed in greeting.
"Well, the matter is settled. Let's not discuss state affairs today. Go and have some fun." Li Shimin waved his hand, and everyone bowed and withdrew.
Only the crown prince and his sons remained.
"Stop!" Li Shimin glared at the doorway, only to see Li Shen holding a fishing rod with one foot already outside.
"Dad, can't we go out and play?" Li Shen asked, turning around with a wronged expression.
"All you do is play around. Get over here, I have some questions for you."
(First came the Red Army, then came Heaven.)