"In its prefectures and counties, the officials and the people are talented and talented, and they can be generals and ministers and those who can conquer the country." [Book of Han Dynasty: Chronicles of Emperor Wu]
Regarding the control of the Western Regions, the imperial court was initially divided into two opinions. A group of people headed by Situ Yang Biao believed that the imperial court should exercise strong control over the countries in the Western Regions based on the old system of protecting the Western Regions.
Those who disobey can also be abolished or destroyed. However, Sikong Zhao Wen and Chariot General Cao Cao, who are well aware of the emperor's aspirations, hold different opinions. They abolish the country, establish counties and counties, and immigrate to the border. All systems are compared with those in the mainland.
Supplemented by assimilation, it can become a new Han region in thirty to fifty years.
"The Western Regions are isolated from the Han Dynasty, and the roads are far away. There is no gain in obtaining them, and there is no harm in discarding them. How can we get them?" When the emperor and his ministers were staying at the Grape Palace in Shanglin Garden, they talked about the grapes from the Western Regions that had been planted here.
, seeing the past and discussing the present, they couldn't help but discuss matters in the Western Regions.
Yang Biao gently moved half a step to the side, dodged a vine, and continued: "What's more, each country has its own king and leader, and they are not subordinate to each other. Although there are powerful countries, they have no tendency to annex them, so they can use the strategy of restraining them.
.Since the revival of Emperor Guangwu, the Western Regions have thought about the mighty virtue of the Han Dynasty and successfully succeeded in the internal affairs. After His Majesty re-established the Han Dynasty, they sent several envoys to the court to ask for troops to stop the war in the western border. If the army can relieve the people's hangover
, Is it possible to seek profit from being a fisherman and to combine benevolence and righteousness? Later, even if we propagate Confucian classics and advocate sinicization, I am afraid it will be difficult every step."
Cao Cao immediately had a different opinion and raised his hands and said: "What Mr. Yang said makes sense, but when the Western Regions treat the imperial court, they often surrender when they are strong and rebel when they are weak. What kind of trust can there be? The Western Regions are the arms of the imperial court, and they are intimidating and submissive.
Xianbei. According to the Holy Will, it is also an important route to and from Anxi, Haixi and other countries. The key here is critical. How can we rely solely on the strategy of restraining the army and relying on the loyalty praised by the countries?"
Zhao Wen also said: "The Western Regions have repeatedly surrendered and rebelled. In the final analysis, they and the imperial court are not of the same mind. They rely on the power of the imperial court to compete with the Xiongnu, and the imperial court can only make friends with them to break the arms of the Xiongnu. Now the Xiongnu does not exist.
, Xianbei is weak, how should the countries in the Western Regions regard this situation as far as the imperial court is concerned?"
"Government is benevolent and righteous, and all countries will naturally admire it and submit to it. In the past, Emperor Guangwu was rejuvenated, and his virtues were with me. His great country, Shache, belonged to Khotan. He sent several envoys to pledge their pledges to the Han, and I am willing to ask for the protection of the vassal. Isn't this the case?
?" Yang Biao insisted on his opinion. He objected from the standpoint of wasting his strength: "We have to spend a lot of time on expeditions and military officials to garrison far away. Their money, food, soldiers, and civilian services are countless. They have worked hard to gain a vast land, but the output is not enough
Why bother doing this for a county in the Central Plains? I hope Your Majesty will be wise to you."
The emperor waved his hand to stop everyone's argument. He walked slowly, looking at the mostly withered wild grapevines in the palace garden, thinking about everything. Although Shanglin Garden has begun to be maintained, due to financial constraints, there has been no large-scale renovation.
The emperor himself had no intention of doing so, so small palaces such as the Grape Palace still maintained their original appearance.
"It is indeed against the court's grace to resort to force blindly. The troops sent to the Western Regions are benevolent and righteous troops. They are to save the people of the Western Regions from hanging and punish the people of the Western Regions for their crimes, not cruel soldiers." The emperor turned around and looked at it.
Cao Cao warned: "Be sure to tell Xiahou Yuan about this, so that he will take a warning. As the protector of the Western Regions, you can't just think about using troops and attacking with troops. You should discuss this with You Chu."
Cao Cao knew that this was meant for him, so he cupped his hands and said: "I beg you, Xia Houyuan destroyed two kingdoms in succession, and the Western Region was shaken. Apart from rewarding his merits, he should also be warned, lest he become arrogant and miss the imperial plan.
."
"Let's make him a pavilion lord." The emperor waved his hand casually and said as if nothing had happened: "Let Yan Qi draw a map, measure the fields, and count the households when traveling to Chu in Qiuci. His counties, counties, towns, and pavilions are all as inland.
A pavilion has been sealed for him."
"Your Majesty..." Seeing the turn of the conversation, Yang Biao hurriedly said: "Those two countries are guilty and can be deposed. However, the other countries will inevitably feel embarrassed. From now on, if they all protect the Western Regions, it will be difficult."
"So let Jiang Qian, Yin Mo and the others continue to declare their morality. With Xia Houyuan's majesty of destroying two countries in a row, they must have listened and realized that the situation is different now." The emperor reached out and picked off a withered grape leaf.
, gently kneaded it into pieces in his hands, and said slowly: "Since the imperial court was transformed by the benevolence and righteousness of the saint Xuanda, it will not easily destroy the blameless country. As long as they abandon their vulgar customs, accept Xuanhua, and move with them in the future.
In the past, the Han people got along well with each other, so what else could the Western Region Protector do to them? Naturally, they treated them as their own people."
Yang Biao nodded and replied, as long as the emperor did not intend to go to war with the Western Regions, he could also accept the Western Region strategy at this stage.
"After returning, he issued an edict to the Imperial College, asking them to select Imperial College students to go to the Western Regions. They would be dispatched by Chang Shi Youchu to use Ming Jing, Ming Dharma, business and other subjects in different places. Jiang Qian stayed in the Western Regions and served as the Protectorate.
Literary, together with Yin Mo, Zhang Lu and others, plan to organize the missionary work of Tai students." The emperor let go and threw away the broken leaves, clapped his hands, turned and walked back: "I will issue an edict to all the prefectures and counties in the world, and order the prefectures to raise Mao.
Each of the "cai" and "capable officials" from the county will be transferred to the Western Regions to appraise their talents and serve as officials. Those who are willing to go will be promoted to one level."
Since the emperor focused on recruiting scholars through imperial examinations and strictly restricted the recruitment of talents, the prefectures and counties in various places have rarely recommended talents. Even if they have, the emperor has occasionally taken the initiative to issue edicts and visits, such as large-scale recruitment.
Talented and capable officials are rare.
Yang Biao came back to his senses and said: "The newly opened land in the Western Region, but the counties such as Qiuci and Yanqi, may not need so many people to run it..."
"Mr. Yang, there must be more than just these counties." Cao Cao interjected: "The countries in the Western Regions treat their people harshly and cannot handle them. There are thieves and thieves in them all year round. Now that they are our country, the imperial court will naturally help them govern the place and provide benefits.
Common people, let them bathe in the virtues of the imperial court even though they are thousands of miles away."
"But how can all the princes and princes be willing to do this?" Yang Biao was greatly surprised. He said worriedly: "A large number of officials entering the Western Regions to take over the general affairs will inevitably cause turmoil. The Protectorate has been newly opened and its foothold is not stable. How can this be done?
With the power of destroying Qiuci and Yanqi, I am afraid it will be difficult to maintain peace."
"Naturally, we are not taking away their power, but assisting them in governing the people." Cao Cao tried to explain according to his own ideas: "The officials sent there, even if they are excellent students, they are not familiar with the geography and folk customs of the Western Regions.
How can we manage things? They are just providing some assistance, and the people in charge are still the kings and princes. Who would reject a group of capable officials who are obedient and non-threatening?"
Cao Cao's idea was to place a group of people within the countries in the Western Regions. After they became familiar with the affairs of each country, they would then subtly take over the political power and evade the princes and nobles of the countries. By then, no matter what they did, they would get twice the result with half the effort.
Yang Biao still thought that this would be overbearing and would easily arouse conflicts among the countries. When the Western Region became turbulent, how could Xia Houyuan's three thousand Han troops alone be able to suppress it? It would be impossible to withdraw in despair.
The plan to increase troops was in trouble again. The consequences were so serious that Yang Biao had to argue with Cao Cao again.