Let alone Yan, even if the four eastern states united, it would be very difficult to completely exterminate the Barbarians.
This land is unsuitable for farming or immigration. Maintaining actual occupation of the desert is an unrealistic task.
If it were truly feasible, the Earl of North Border, having been established here for a century, would have done so long ago.
"This is something that can’t be helped. You may not know this, but one hundred years ago, during the prime of the Barbarians’ Golden Family, they placed enormous pressure on Yan.
One of my imperial ancestors, an Emperor, died in battle. The Crown Prince then immediately ascended the throne and personally led a campaign.
Now that we’ve finally managed to subdue the Barbarians, we naturally cannot give them the opportunity to rise again."
"Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood my meaning."
"Fine, you’re full of witty remarks. Continue."
"Relying on military force alone is too costly. As far as I know, a large portion of Yan State’s annual treasury income must be transported to Beifeng Prefecture, correct?"
The 300,000-strong North Border Army cannot be supported solely by the household of the Earl of North Border, nor by the strength of Beifeng Prefecture alone. It is the contributions from the entire Yan State that sustain this army of 300,000 cavalry, which strikes fear into the hearts of the Barbarians!
However, Yan State’s finances are already strained due to the proliferation of powerful clans. Maintaining such a massive field army naturally plunges it into deeper distress.
If the Barbarian threat could be resolved in the long term...
it’s not just about saving the expenses of the 300,000-strong North Border Army.
If you could directly move the 300,000-strong North Border Army from the north to the south,
would expanding our territory still be considered a difficult task?
"Then what solution do you propose?"
"Your Highness, my point is this: military power is essential, and its absolute dominance must be ensured at all times. However, to fundamentally resolve the Barbarian problem, we need another weapon."
"Hah! And here I thought you were about to propose some brilliant statecraft. Turns out it’s just that old stuff about poetry, books, rites, and etiquette?
Let me tell you, during my grandfather emperor’s reign, there was a Confucian scholar at court named Di Shan. He was one of the few great Confucian scholars in Yan State at the time and had studied at an academy in Qian State. He once suggested to my grandfather emperor that he use the benevolence, righteousness, and morality of Confucianism to influence the Barbarians, gradually teaching them etiquette and civilizing them, thereby bringing great order to the desert.
And do you know how my grandfather emperor responded to his suggestion?"
"Simple. He was sent to Beifeng Prefecture to serve as a garrison officer."
"Hmm? Have you heard of this?"
"A very accurate guess. Six months later, a Barbarian tribe raided the border, breached that fortress, and took Di Shan’s head."
"Your Highness, I am not suggesting we use the Confucian method to deal with the Barbarians."
"We can look around—in Yan State, in the other three states, even in the Western Region or lands further west. We need to find a religion with beliefs similar to those of the Barbarians, one that teaches that this life is inconsequential, encouraging people to look forward to happiness in the next life, or one that calls for people to cease productive work and dedicate themselves to serving their deities."
"I believe I’ve heard of such things."
"Find them, then fund them to proselytize in the desert. Simultaneously, using the deterrent power of the Earl of North Border, require the Barbarian tribal chieftains to support this missionary work. Attack any who refuse. Those who support it and develop well can be granted a title, for example, the ’Unconquered Portion of the North Border Army.’
Do this, and within two generations, we will see results. By then, the Barbarians will have become..."
"Warm, hospitable, and skilled in song and dance."
Saying this, Zheng Fan stretched lazily and added,
"The entire desert will be filled with an atmosphere of peace and serenity. Even if they starve to death, freeze to death, or are flogged to death by their nobles, they will die with sweet smiles on their faces."
"Your subordinate is here." Googlᴇ search novel·fire·net
"After listening to you, I feel a chill in my heart."
"That’s because Your Highness has a weak constitution."
"..." The Sixth Prince.
The Sixth Prince wiped the sweat from his brow, smiled, and said,
"Zheng Colonel, your method is one of uprooting! It digs out the very foundation of the Barbarian people!"
The Barbarians believe in the Barbarian God. The phrase ’Barbarian God above’ is equivalent to their most basic form of identification.
But if they could be made to change their faith, it would be tantamount to tearing them apart. From then on, the culture and beliefs of the desert would no longer be unified.
A Barbarian who doesn’t believe in the Barbarian God—can they still be called a Barbarian?
Meanwhile, use political means to corrupt their aristocracy, and religious means to influence their vast lower class...
"Zheng Colonel, the court of Yan is missing a position for someone like you!"
"Your Highness, you praise me too highly."
"It’s a pity, though. I cannot tell my father, the Emperor, or the other ministers about this method, much less my second brother. Firstly, I am unwilling to give this method to someone else and let them take credit for its brilliance. Secondly, if they were to find out that I, this idle Prince, am actually concerned with matters of state... alas, the consequences would not be pleasant."
"There will always be opportunities in the future."
The Sixth Prince pointed at Zheng Fan and said with a laugh,
"How many times is that now?"
"Your Highness, it’s already the second day."
"Hmm, true. But Zheng Colonel, how did you devise such a method?"
"Your Highness, I am a native of Beifeng Prefecture. My family has received imperial favor for generations, and I dare not for a moment forget my duty to be concerned for the state..."
"Alright, alright, stop, stop! I won’t ask anymore. Save those words for when you have the chance to speak them to the one on the Dragon Throne."