socalfunplaces Chapter 244: Discussion on Countermeasures
Chapter 244: Discussion on Countermeasures
The southern states must not be abandoned! In future considerations, these Lingnan regions, which are regarded as insignificant "bones", will become the third most important position after the Guanzhong region and the Bashu region!
As we all know, the importance of the Guanzhong states cannot be ignored, and Bashu not only provides food supply, but also controls the strategic channel of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, so it can attack the southern provinces at any time!
The story of Wang Jun's tower ship sailing from Yizhou directly to Jinling illustrates the value of this strategy.
Now, can we control all the southern states with the power of the times? I have heard that after the Tang and Song dynasties, the centralization of power gradually controlled the southern region, and after the Ming and Qing dynasties, the centralization of power completely controlled Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. What about the centralization of power? I seem to have found the key!
It was the timing and route difficulties that prevented some items from being delivered to Your Majesty immediately, such as a giant shrimp over a foot long, large fish that could feed 10,000 people, and lychees that tasted like amber, as well as the endless precious wood resources in the vast forest.
Speaking of lychees, perhaps he was referring to lychees? Fusu thought to himself.
Ren Xiong pointed to the coconut and explained, "This is called Xu Yu. Its skin is very strong and its flesh is very rich. It contains a liquid that is like milk. Drinking it can reduce inflammation and heat, and it tastes as sweet as sugar."
"In fact, I originally wanted to bring you a magical treasure called "Ganjiao", but unfortunately it has gone bad due to the bumpy journey..."
"Sweet bananas...are they bananas? If you were asked to wait until they are fully ripe before sending them to me, they would not be able to stay fresh. This is really beyond my expectation!" Feng Chang pretended to be shocked as he listened to Ren Xiong describing the item as if he was recounting a family matter.
After Ren Xiong finished his story, he added: "There is a large island outside the area under my jurisdiction. This island is large enough to be comparable to a certain county in the inland. If this island is included, the territory covered by several counties in the South China Sea will far exceed the vastness of the Yinshan grassland..."
"Oh, this is probably talking about Hainan Island. However, the various counties in the South China Sea have not yet been managed in a unified manner. It is not easy to conquer Hainan Island..." Feng Chang nodded silently and began to listen to the new information.
He said: "Your Majesty should know that the previous king of Qin State took a unique approach and allowed Sima Cuo to quickly annex the land of Bashu, and Li Bing built the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. This was like having a grain storage gift from heaven. Now that Your Majesty has become the ruler of the world and the leader of China, you should consider the long-term interests of your descendants when formulating policies. In the face of numerous difficulties and risks, you must also resolve the issue of the South China Sea thoroughly for the sake of the Qin Dynasty's eternal hegemony. No matter what, the Qin Dynasty must not lose the South China Sea. This is the most sincere prayer of an old minister like me." After he finished speaking, he bent down deeply to show his sincerity.
The attendant Fusu stood up hurriedly, left his seat, straightened his clothes, and solemnly clasped his hands together. "I am deeply grateful for the imperial decree." Fengchang hurriedly saluted and replied.
Outside the palace gate, the sound of the continuous rain was like the piercing sound of fine needles. Li Cheng was ordered to deliver coconuts to many ministers and nobles, as well as other senior officials and concubines in the harem, and invited two eunuchs to split two coconuts outside the palace for them to enjoy together.
“…Well, it tastes pretty good, but a little lighter than in later generations…” Feng Chang licked his lips and asked a question.
"Excuse me, Lord County Commander, do you have any strategic ideas for managing the South China Sea?"
A serious voice sounded, "Your Majesty."
Ren Xiong said solemnly: "It is this topic that touched my heart. In the past, the Chu State controlled the South China Sea for hundreds of years, but failed to fully integrate the people of that ocean... After so many centuries, the South China Sea has now been occupied and developed by various tribes and princes. If this situation continues for another hundred years, the South China Sea will definitely become a huge and lasting internal problem for the Qin State. It is not only a problem of control, let alone restoring the old alliance!"
He said, "During the hundreds of years of Chu's internal politics, there were two important groups of people in the Nanhai region: one group of Yue people who came from all over Fujian and migrated south to the coastal areas. They were called the "Bai Yue group." The second group was the various indigenous tribes that had always lived here. A mountain or a forest was their community.
The Yue people mainly lived in the area near the east coast of Fuzhou, and fewer of them went deep into the South China Sea, Guangxi or Xiangdi (Xiangbi Ridge). They had sharp conflicts and contradictions with local tribes, and often engaged in fierce confrontations.
The people who were born and raised in the South China Sea rely on wood, gathering, slash-and-burn farming for their livelihood, and worship witchcraft rituals of sacrifice, just like they are in an ancient uncivilized state.
In order to follow its long-standing traditional management strategy, the Chu State not only did not set up any governance institutions or send officials to the South China Sea, but also deliberately provoked disputes and hostility between different ethnic groups, laying the foundation for many difficult-to-handle hidden dangers. This practice undoubtedly laid the foundation for future turmoil.
Therefore, in order to achieve truly comprehensive development and control of the South China Sea, I believe the following steps are needed:
"Please tell me in detail." Fusu asked.
Ren Xiong thought for a moment and replied: "First, do not adopt the method of Chu. Second, migrate a large number of people from the Central Plains to the South China Sea and integrate many tribes to consolidate the foundation."
...I agree with the first one; as for the second one...you must not know. In the original history, a group of people went to Yuyang to guard the border in July of the following year, and they learned to cry like foxes! If a large number of people were moved here from the Nanhai counties, which were considered to be full of miasma...haha, I would really become the second Qin Shi Huang!
Fusu looked up at Ren Xiong who was speaking at length, and was extremely alert. The big men who left their reputations in history were not easy to deal with. If you were not careful, they would lead you into a deep alley, and then fill your way with mud and sand with an innocent expression.
"It seems impossible to move the population of the Central Plains to the South China Sea." Fusu said with a smile, "But I have a way that may alleviate the threat from the South China Sea."
He explained: "When Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, he said, 'Foreign peoples were assimilated after entering the Huaxia region.' Therefore, I suggest that we follow the example of Baju and give the Nanyue chiefs positions such as 'Subordinate Lord' and 'Subordinate Lord' in addition to the Nanhai. In this way, Nanyue will be governed by its own people, and Qin will be governed by Qin people."
"Second, set up a school in Chang'an City and invite scholars who are well-versed in Confucian books to serve as lecturers to teach the successors of the Nanyue chiefs about the knowledge of etiquette and law, so as to make them close to the Great Qin State."
"Third, a military supervisor was appointed under the Shangshu, and sent to the Nanhai area to recruit strong and brave Nanyue soldiers to serve as defense officers in Chang'an City. Their families were to immigrate to Guanzhong and be granted the right to cultivate the land."
"These are the rare treasures I bestow upon you ladies." Han Rang gestured with his hand, and several ministers standing outside the door walked in one after another.
"What are these things?" Zhao Ji walked away from the table, nodded carefully at the top hat on her head, and looked at the waiters holding things in their hands.
"This is called persimmon. I think it would be more appropriate to call it coconut. This thing was just sent by Ren Xiong, the prefect of Nanhai Water County." Han Rian replied.
"Will it only be sent to us?" Zhao Ji observed the coconut carefully, as if she remembered something. Her face showed a girlish and charming demeanor, making her look even more elegant and refined. "Where are the gifts from other ladies?"
"I have sent it. Fortunately, the two ladies are not at their respective residences..." Han Rang lowered his eyes and continued without daring to look directly at them.
"How is the situation, Your Majesty?" Tian Ji asked, her tone slightly reserved.
"His Majesty summoned Ren Xiong this morning. Currently, he has summoned the clan leader Gongzi Gun and all the ministers in the royal family who are higher in status than non-official officials." Han Rang added, "His Majesty said that he might discuss things with clan members until late tonight, so he asked me to tell the ladies not to wait for His Majesty to return home."
Zhao Ji saw Tian Ji's expression suddenly depressed, and she felt inexplicably happy. So after letting Han Rang leave, she gracefully returned to the desk and sat down. "What are you laughing at?" Tian Ji raised her eyebrows and asked. "I remembered something that made me happy." Zhao Ji answered with her mouth covered. Oh, wait until I have a son and respect him as the queen, I will let you taste my foot bath, and see what you dare to do! ... Tian Ji thought to herself, and her eyes turned to the coconut involuntarily. "Do you want to taste it together..." Zhao Ji suggested. "Hmm." Tian Ji replied in a lazy voice. ... ...
On the shore of Lanchi Lake.
Fusu sat among the neatly arranged relatives of the clan. As the head of the largest clan in the royal family, he naturally did not need to salute any direct elder of his clan who had a higher bloodline than him.
In front of him, the bronze pot that was once used to cook salt was once again placed on the brazier that was burning hot.
A large pile of sugar cane sent by Ren Xiao before has been processed into juice by him using a stone mill. Although the lack of necessary tools has led to a high loss in extraction, it is unknown whether the sugar cane sent by Ren Xiao is the same plant as the raw material commonly used for sugar making by later generations. Fusu's main purpose this time is just to show the clan members and briefly introduce the process of making sugar cane.
As long as it is sweet grass, it has the potential to be made into sugar.
"Let's do it now." Fusu gave the order.
The two eunuchs who were familiar with frying salt came forward immediately, scooped out the sweet cane juice that had been filtered out of impurities from the wooden barrel and poured it into the copper pot.
After a while, the temperature of the sugarcane liquid rose to boiling point and began to fluctuate violently, and the air was instantly filled with a sweet scent.
"Isn't this just sugarcane juice?" A clan member looked up and said, "Wouldn't it be more flavorful if some crushed ice was added? Why do we have to heat it and stew it?"
"What is Zhezhi?"
"You can't answer that? You need to learn about that. This is the delicious thing that King Jian of Tongwu brought back when he conquered the State of Chu. It has a clear and sweet taste. Do you remember this sentence? Stewed turtle and grilled lamb skewers, with some mulberry juice. It tastes great!"
Another tribesman sitting next to him made a silent gesture.