Chapter 466: The Technological Gap

Hearing Zhu Youxiao's proposal, Xiong Tingbi's expression instead turned grave.

The proposal couldn't be called bad, but neither could it be called good in any particular way. Xiong Tingbi still had some concerns.

So Xiong Tingbi said, "Your Majesty, if they grow too powerful, that would be unfortunate."

"Grow powerful?" Zhu Youxiao said with a smile. "That is something I am not worried about."

This was not to comfort Xiong Tingbi; Zhu Youxiao genuinely was not worried. The reason was also simple — the Central Plains could crush the tribes of the steppe precisely because of weapons and equipment, which in plain terms came down to technology.

Before the Tang dynasty, the iron swords and armor used by Central Plains dynasties were things the steppe could not compare with. The steppe lacked the productive strength for it, and lacked the productive capacity as well.

It was only after the Tang dynasty that steppe peoples invaded southward and learned many things, and the result was that this technological gap was leveled out.

By the Song dynasty and after, when the north was occupied by the Liao, steppe technology naturally developed even further, reaching its peak by the time of the Mongols, so that the two sides no longer had a technological gap.

Individual valor became the key on the battlefield. Under such circumstances, the full might of the steppe tribes was brought out, keeping the Central Plains dynasties perpetually suppressed — no longer able, as in the Han and Tang, for one Han to stand against five Hu.

Of course, there were many other reasons as well, such as the self-castration of the School of Principle and so on — Zhu Youxiao had considered all of these.

But in Zhu Youxiao's view, hard power was still very important. So Zhu Youxiao knew very clearly what he needed to do — he needed to widen the technological gap.

Where was this gap?

Naturally, it lay in firearms.

Once his forces were established and sent out to fight, unless they encountered a disparity of pre-World War I levels, there would absolutely be no problem — they would absolutely win.

Even if they banded together, so what? Wouldn't they still be crushed and annihilated by him?

There was simply no other possibility. As long as he wanted to fight, he could beat them until they cried for their fathers and mothers.

The steppe basically could not catch up — the technological content of firearms was too high; it wasn't something they could chase down just by wanting to.

From talent cultivation to capital investment and every other aspect, steppe tribes simply lacked that foundation; reaching the same level was fundamentally impossible.

Perhaps the Jianzhou barbarians could forge cannons, even red-coat cannons, but other areas they certainly could not.

A complete industrial system was not something just anyone could operate. So Zhu Youxiao was not worried about them growing strong — he was instead worried about them not growing strong.

Once they grew strong, he could go and easily destroy them. From military coercion to economic monopoly, such operations were hardly remarkable in later ages.

Zhu Youxiao looked at Xiong Tingbi and said, "They are growing, and we are growing too. Do you lack confidence?"

These words were really just chicken-soup-for-the-soul talk, with no practical meaning at all. But once such words were spoken, as a minister, you naturally could not say you were incapable.

Xiong Tingbi hurriedly bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your minister has confidence!"

"Good, then." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said.

Once he launched the wool plan, things afterward would be even easier to handle. Co-opting, sowing discord, dividing the contradictions between the Red Sect and the Yellow Sect — if he truly wanted to deal with that region, there were far too many methods.

It was just that things could not be thrown into chaos; they had to be brought under control first. Otherwise, Zhu Youxiao would have long used every sort of method to stir up trouble.

As for the wool plan — Mongol sheep could not be used for spinning thread, because their wool was coarse and the fibers thick, making them unusable for spinning. The best sheep for spinning were merino sheep, but there were none here.

However, Zhu Youxiao also knew that on the soil of Cathay there were two kinds of sheep that would work. One was the goat living in Liaodong, in the region of later Heilongjiang and Jilin.

This goat's wool was soft and of excellent quality — even better than merino — and the cashmere combed from it fetched a very, very high price.

On one hand, the raising of Liaodong goats could be promoted; on the other, blended materials could be used, such as wool blended with cotton or blended with hemp. In any case, there would be ways.

The other kind of sheep was the goat living in Qinghai — soft-haired, light in texture, also very, very fine wool. But it could not be used here for now; that could be dealt with later.

Looking at Xiong Tingbi, Zhu Youxiao said with a smile, "Then let's proceed with this matter. Get it done as quickly as possible."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Your minister knows what to do." Xiong Tingbi hurriedly agreed.

"Then go, then." Zhu Youxiao said with a smile.

Although on the surface the Great Ming was giving the Mongols no small number of benefits, in reality what he himself wanted, Zhu Youxiao knew very well in his heart.

There was no need now to fight to the death with these Mongols in the north. The steppe was a quagmire of war — once you sank into it, it would consume enormous national strength while yielding far too little in return; it simply was not worth the cost.

He needed to concentrate his energy on great matters — southward, southward, always southward.

For the next several decades, life on the steppe and in Liaodong would not be easy. The Little Ice Age was coming soon, and they would all crowd toward the Great Wall. So using one method to pacify them and check them — that was enough.

Take Liaodong, destroy the Jianzhou barbarians, and open the passage to Joseon — that was enough.

As for the Mongols on the steppe, appeasement was the main approach; exterminating them was impossible.

Next, Zhu Youxiao's main energy would go to developing the economy, overseas colonization, striking at the gentry at home, establishing a new capitalist nobility, while also developing a sound industrial system, and expanding southward — and so on.

Once this series of measures was carried out, the Great Ming's national strength would rise rapidly, and its overall power would develop at flying speed.

When these things were done, turning back to deal with the Mongols, Zhu Youxiao believed, would yield very good results.

By then it would not just be the Mongols of the southern desert — he could drive all the way north.

Only, there was not enough population; immigration was hardly possible. Occupying an empty grassland was useless. Even building fortresses could not withstand that kind of drain.

For the Great Ming as it was now, it was too weak — its scale was insufficient. Step by step. Rice must be eaten mouthful by mouthful; affairs must be handled one by one.

Once he destroyed Hong Taiji, Zhu Youxiao believed the north would be much quieter, and by then he would also find some trouble for Ligdan Khan.

For you see, this Ligdan Khan had always eyed the Great Ming covetously. Even before Nurhaci rose, Ligdan Khan had been making trouble all along.

And the Khorchin and the Inner Khalkha were the opponents Zhu Youxiao had chosen for Ligdan Khan.

On this matter, Zhu Youxiao had already planned it out: once Liaodong was recovered, he could incite the Khorchin and the Inner Khalkha to fight westward, letting them contend with Ligdan Khan — ideally driving all the way to Qinghai. He estimated this war would likely last many years.

Once Ligdan Khan was eliminated, the Great Ming could also sow discord between the Inner Khalkha and the Khorchin, getting the two to fight each other.

In any case, if the Great Ming wanted it — or rather, if Zhu Youxiao needed it — the steppe would surely be wreathed in endless war without cease.

But Zhu Youxiao felt there was no need to do that. By that time, he could shout out one phrase: "The hungry, the hungry — all are hungry!"

What he was learning from was Qin Shi Huang!

And within the city of Hetu Ala, Hong Taiji's mood was nowhere near as good as Zhu Youxiao's.

His father's death had come far too suddenly. Although Hong Taiji had received his father's succession and could be considered legitimate, the men below were not so convinced — even his several brothers were the same.

Every brother who had reached adulthood eyed the seat beneath Hong Taiji with covetous intent. This made Hong Taiji's mood very bad, and the whole man became extremely agitated.

This also made Hong Taiji urgently need to do something — first, to soothe people's hearts, and second, to display his strength. This matter was of utmost importance to Hong Taiji.

Just at this moment, footsteps sounded from outside.

Hong Taiji looked up and saw that it was his elder brother Daišan.

This brought a trace of relief to Hong Taiji's face.

Since his father's death, not many had supported him, and his elder brother Daišan was one of them. There was some comfort in his heart, after all, not all of his brothers were eyeing his position.

At this moment, seeing Daišan walk in, Hong Taiji quickly smiled and went up to greet him.

Compared to the wariness of later days, right now Hong Taiji needed Daišan more.

In fact, in the original course of history, it was under Daišan's stewardship that Hong Taiji had taken this seat. It was only as time passed, as Daišan grew older and his prestige grew ever higher, that Daišan gradually came under attack and faded from the core of power.

But at this moment, Hong Taiji truly needed Daišan's support, so his attitude was very courteous and his posture very low.

After Daišan walked in, he glanced at Hong Taiji and said with some helplessness: "I pay my respects to the Great Khan."

"Elder Brother, what's the matter?" Hong Taiji supported Daišan by the arm and said with a smile: "I've said it long ago—between us brothers there's no need for such formality. In private, Elder Brother should still call me your younger brother."

"That cannot be done carelessly." Daišan said in a low voice.

He dared not act rashly. A moment of deference brought a moment of pleasure, but what about afterward?

This younger brother might not mind now, but that didn't mean he wouldn't mind later. He could not leave trouble for himself. Daišan was very clever—back in the day, the messy affairs between his father and his uncle were not something he hadn't witnessed.

And how had Cuyeng died?

He absolutely could not act rashly.

Daišan said: "I came here today because there's something I need to tell you. Our people in Zhangjiakou have returned—but they fled back. The situation over there is very bad. There's something you should know."

"Has something happened?" Hong Taiji asked hurriedly.

The supply channel at Zhangjiakou was very important to Hong Taiji—many things had to be provided from over there. Iron ore, for example, grain and salt, even silk and cloth, and tea as well.

How could something suddenly go wrong? Hadn't everything been fine all along?

"The man is outside. Let him tell the Great Khan personally." Daišan looked at Hong Taiji and said directly, his expression very grave.

It was plain to see that Daišan's spirits were very low.