Chapter 1414: Border Affairs Concluded

After the onset of summer, as various policies were gradually rolled out, from the central government to the localities, the empire's policy of recuperation began to show initial results. Though the profound impact of the post-northern expedition war on the people of the Great Han persisted, it was clearly beginning to recede.

After all, the war had already ended. Soldiers no longer needed to risk their lives; they could train in peace and recover from their wounds. Farmers were freed from the heavy burden of military service and could tend to their fields. Merchants once again devoted themselves with enthusiasm to trade and commerce. Officials, too, no longer bore the immense pressure of supplying the military during wartime—rest and recuperation applied to them as well...

Although the ninth year of Kaibao (971) might not pass as smoothly as one would hope, and the livelihoods of the common people could hardly be as comfortable as in previous years, at least the cessation of external wars would return a stable environment to subjects both within and beyond the court. There was hope—one only needed to endure this painful transitional period.

The most important matter at the court's center was the fiscal reform pushed forward by Chancellors Zhao Pu and Wang Qiwu. Commercial taxes, the salt monopoly, and currency reform—three prongs advancing simultaneously. This was both a gluttonous feast of interest redistribution and a source of various overt and covert struggles. Of course, no matter how much turmoil arose, it could hardly impede the nation's forward march. Zhao Pu and Wang Qiwu were both capable chancellors who coordinated matters above and below so well that Emperor Liu did not even need to lend his personal weight.

A grand assembly of foreign tribes held in the fourth month carried great significance. The Great Han court reached consensus with more than a dozen tribes from within and beyond its borders, jointly upholding peace and benefiting millions of Han and barbarian commoners. That was how it was framed publicly, but in essence, it was an expression of the court's contraction and concession—and not all tribes were willing to accept this goodwill from the court.

From north to south, there were plenty of tribal forces unwilling to live under the Great Han Empire's thumb. Whether driven by personal ambition or other reasons, the court could not naively assume that border conflicts would completely disappear from now on. The border defense policy continued to be earnestly implemented. Compromise was inevitable, but there were bottom lines—whoever dared to stick their head out and defy the court would be dealt with severely.

At the same time, there was a major reshuffling of border garrison commanders, from the northwest to the southwest. Senior generals such as Guo Congyi, Yang Tingzhang, Wang Renshan, and Tian Qinzuo all received transfer orders to other posts.

This was partly Emperor Liu's consideration for these meritorious generals—after all, border duty was no easy task. Among them, even those with the shortest tenures had served at least three years. Generals Guo Congyi and Yang Tingzhang, in particular, had suffered physical breakdowns from the bitter cold and hardship of the northwest.

Likewise, it was also Emperor Liu's deliberate adjustment to further perfect the rotation system and strengthen the court's influence and control over border armies. Generals like Wang Renshan and Tian Qinzuo—who had pacified Annam and destroyed Dali—both boasted illustrious military achievements. After the pacification, they had remained stationed locally for years, wielding tremendous prestige and authority. While they certainly served to suppress and hold the line, they had also become petty local emperors in their own right. Though far from the point of being too big to control, it inevitably made Emperor Liu more cautious.

Moreover, Wang Renshan and Tian Qinzuo had shed too much blood in the southwest over the years. While this indeed cowed those who refused to submit, it also created numerous unnecessary disputes.

Transferring the two away was also a way to reassure the various barbarian tribes of the southwest—a demonstration of the court's sincerity in easing regional conflicts. After all, unrelenting high-pressure rule was not conducive to local tranquility.

By now, forces in Yunnan and Annam that had dared to oppose the court had basically been suppressed. Those tribal forces that made no effort to conceal their malice had also been purged. It was time for the court to adjust—only by alternating tension with relaxation could things endure.

The generals taking over were Gao Qiong and Li Shoujie. Of course, before assuming their posts, both received personal instructions from Emperor Liu: stability was the top priority, but anyone who dared to rebel or resist should be struck down without mercy.

With two new faces in place, the court demonstrated a measure of goodwill, yet the fundamental will to maintain Han dominance in the southwest remained unshakable.

The greatest achievement during this period was that, on the high plateau, the various Tibetan factions formally submitted to the court. Emperor Liu dispatched envoys bearing ceremonial yak-tail banners and golden charters, along with large quantities of gifts, traveling west to the plateau to lavish titles and rewards upon the Tibetan tribes. Three tribal kings alone were enfeoffed.

Of course, the court fully affirmed the ruling position of the Tibetan aristocratic leaders over the plateau and their subordinate peoples, guaranteed their autonomy, and swore oaths with them to permanently cease hostilities—Han and Tibetan jointly maintaining local stability.

For the court, what needed to be done next on the plateau was to construct a relatively balanced and stable situation. Though what was established was only nominal rule, that nominal authority itself represented tremendous progress—after all, even the great Tang at its height had failed to achieve this. Of course, it was also the fragmented state of Tibet that gave the Great Han court this opportunity.

As for the matter of imperial princes serving on the frontiers, it remained for now only a confidential discussion between Emperor Liu and the Crown Prince—Emperor Liu had neither issued an edict nor leaked his intentions.

Clearly, the idea had been settled upon, but there was still hesitation. Another opportunity would need to be found, and the specific arrangements required more thorough and careful consideration from Emperor Liu.

At least in Emperor Liu's current estimation, only three men were qualified and capable of shouldering frontier defense responsibilities: Liu Xu, Liu Xi, and Liu Fang. They were mature enough, and their abilities in all respects were well known.

But the thought of simply dispatching these three imperial princes to the borderlands left Emperor Liu feeling conflicted—tinged with hesitation and reluctance. And so he continued to hold back.

There were still positions for them at court, and Emperor Liu still needed their support. At the same time, three close members of the imperial clan were recommended by Prince Xu, Liu Chengyun, to take up local posts—all in remote corners of the northwest and southwest.

The system of imperial clan members rotating through local posts was drafted jointly by Princes Liu Chengyun and Liu Chenghsun along with Zhao Pu, and after receiving Emperor Liu's approval, was promulgated. From the ninth year of Kaibao onward, imperial clan youths who had completed their studies were to go to the localities for tempering—whether in governance or military command—to stabilize the frontiers and spread the kingly civilizing influence.

Likewise, the sons of meritorious nobles were to be handled the same way. Though no formal system was established, Emperor Liu issued a directive stating that officials with experience in border prefecture military or civil affairs would receive greater preference in promotions and transfers, with heavier weight given to such experience in merit evaluations.

With the northwest and southwest border affairs settled on a basic tone, follow-up consolidation policies would gradually unfold—this chapter could be considered temporarily closed. At the same time, affairs in the Western Regions, after sustained efforts, had also reached a conclusion.

On the Kara-Khanid side, after their defeat at Gaochang, they had completely abandoned any thoughts of eastward expansion, sitting back and watching the Han army pacify Beiting and Luntai, utterly annihilating the Khitan remnants entrenched there.

Thereafter, when faced with the court's proposal for peace negotiations, the Kara-Khanids displayed tremendous enthusiasm—even more proactive than the Great Han itself. The contact between the two sides proceeded very smoothly.

Of course, the specific negotiation details still required further discussion, but a basic consensus and mutual understanding had been reached. Once the Kara-Khanid envoys arrived at the capital, everything could be finalized. It was certain that once the two sides concluded a peace agreement, the Western Regions situation—which had been in continuous turmoil for over a decade—would see fundamental improvement, and the bloodshed and storms of the Western Regions would clear like clouds dispersing after rain.

Perhaps the one thing that displeased Emperor Liu was Khotan. The ruler and ministers of Khotan were very eager to strengthen exchanges and friendly relations with the Great Han—they could accept becoming a vassal, paying tribute, and receiving investiture.

The only problem was that Emperor Liu's whimsical attempt to sow discord between Khotan and the Kara-Khanids had failed. The Kara-Khanid ruler and ministers simply did not take the bait. They were utterly unmoved by the several hundred li of territory around Karasahr and Kucha that Emperor Liu dangled before them. Being able to hold onto their own territory was already more than satisfying to them—they had no ambition for external expansion whatsoever.

Of course, perhaps this was also their wisdom—a deep understanding of how small states survive. The Kara-Khanids could do nothing about Liao or the Han, but they had no trouble manipulating Khotan. Why would they be willing to serve as the Great Han's vanguard? Earlier, when they had agreed to send troops to cooperate with the Han army against the Kara-Khanids, they had only made a show of it—their troops never even crossed their borders before the Great Han had already accomplished the task on its own. And so the two countries' amicable relations began to unfold...

With the other side wanting nothing and desiring nothing, Emperor Liu had no particularly good options.