Chapter 1695: The King of Anxi

"Regarding Liu Min's request, how exactly should we provide support—does the Hall of State Affairs have any plan in mind?" Emperor Liu looked at Liu Yang and asked directly.

Liu Yang pondered for a moment, then calmly reported: "Seeds, farm tools, and the dispatch of officials are all not difficult matters. The former can be allocated and transported by the Ministry of Revenue, while the latter can be handled according to the existing regulations for appointing and promoting officials in border regions. The Great Han currently does not lack talented officials."

"However, the situation in the Western Regions is complex, and with newly occupied vast territories, to consolidate and properly develop them, we still need to dispatch more officials familiar with border-region barbarian affairs—preferably selected from the nearby northwestern prefectures and circuits."

"During the recent months of reorganization in the northwest, there remains a batch of officials with lighter crimes who have not yet been dealt with. Your son believes they could all be exiled to the Western Regions to populate the area, while also giving them a chance to atone for their crimes through merit."

"Additionally, among the court's observing Academicians, a number have been left idle without assigned posts—they too could be sent out to Anxi for practical experience!"

Hearing Liu Yang's well-structured measures, Emperor Liu was clearly very satisfied. He nodded and said: "Governing a state begins with governing its officials. Once you thoroughly master the art of employing people, there is no problem that cannot be solved!"

"Father is right!" Liu Yang echoed, then said: "The only real difficulty remains population. In this regard, the court currently has no effective solution to offer."

"The Western Regions are after all too remote, and the area is still unstable—the Great Han likely has few people willing to relocate there. In earlier years, we could still recruit from among the impoverished commoners, but in recent years, even that method has yielded diminishing results."

"Even those willing to venture out and seek their fortunes are unwilling to go to such a remote place—or would rather go overseas instead."

"These are indeed problems, but we must still come up with some measures!" Emperor Liu said calmly.

Liu Yang glanced at Emperor Liu, clasped his hands, and said: "Chancellor Zhao has put forward a suggestion—the root of the Yulin rebellion lies with the Tangut people. If the Tangut could be relocated to the Western Regions, it would both resolve the Yulin unrest and provide aid to Anxi. Chancellor Song raised objections, believing this would only intensify Tangut turmoil, and Chancellor Wang and Chancellor Lü also have their doubts, so the proposal has been shelved for now!"

At this, Emperor Liu did not ask Liu Yang for his opinion as he usually would, but instead rebuked directly: "This Zhao Pu—has he gone senile in his old age? What a thing to come up with!"

"The Tangut are hard to tame. Yulin sits right under Guanzhong's nose, and they are still stubborn and disobedient, causing such turmoil. If we move them to Anxi, what would happen then? This policy is no different from releasing a tiger to create disaster—by then, the emperor would be far away and the heavens high above, so how could the court control them?"

"The situation in the Western Regions is already complicated and hard to consolidate. If we then allow the Tangut to collude with the Kara-Khanids, what kind of calamity would that brew? Can Zhao Pu not see this?"

Facing Emperor Liu's tirade against Zhao Pu's suggestion, which tore the man apart completely, Liu Yang was surprised and inwardly alarmed. Though it was not a face-to-face attack, it truly showed no regard for Zhao Pu's dignity.

After hesitating a moment—perhaps due to his temperament, or perhaps because his relationship with Zhao Pu had always been good—Liu Yang still spoke up on Zhao Pu's behalf: "The Yulin disturbance has now lasted nearly a year. Chancellor Zhao must be weary from worry and strain; his thinking may have been slightly remiss!"

Hearing this, Emperor Liu was taken aback for a moment. Noticing Liu Yang's calm demeanor, he smiled, stepping out of his fierce, teeth-baring state, and said softly: "Tell me what feasible measures there are!"

On this matter, Liu Yang had clearly given it some thought. Upon being asked, he continued: "After discussions with your son and the ministers, we can only adopt a policy of luring with benefits. Your ministers believe we can follow the precedent of Andong—formulate a migration policy, with the court allocating funds specifically to recruit commoners from the interior."

"The Sixth Brother mentioned in his memorial that although the Western Regions are remote and full of windblown sand, they are not lacking in arable land, pasture, or water sources. In some places, the fertile soil rivals—or even surpasses—the rich fields of the Central Plains."

"Moreover, the Western Regions sit at the vital junction of the Silk Road, with east-west merchants driving activity. It already possesses the foundation for prosperity and development—the growth of the Hexi Corridor in recent years has proven this point."

"With Andong's bitter cold, we still managed to migrate several hundred thousand people—how much more so for the Western Regions?"

After Liu Yang finished, Emperor Liu nodded slightly. However, he glanced at him and said with pointed meaning: "I recall that when Liu Xu implemented this policy back then, the court was full of gossip and endless carping. How is it that this time, attitudes have changed?"

Hearing Emperor Liu say this, Liu Yang fell silent for a moment. What Emperor Liu referred to—those who had pointed fingers and made snide remarks about the Andong policy back then—many of them were supporters of him, the Crown Prince.

Meeting Emperor Liu's gaze, Liu Yang lowered his head slightly and replied: "The Elder Brother's governance in Andong has been remarkably effective. The northeastern lands have gradually grown secure, and the population has steadily increased—all his achievements. Speaking impartially, the policies therein that deserve praise should naturally be emulated!"

Pausing briefly, Liu Yang added: "If the Sixth Brother can emulate the Elder Brother's governance, and Anxi can succeed like Andong, then the Great Han's ten-thousand-li eastern and western frontiers will all be secured!"

Whether Liu Yang's words came from the heart or not, Emperor Liu found them deeply gratifying to hear at this moment. Having sat for perhaps too long, he shifted his weight and instructed: "The court may issue a public proclamation, calling upon officials, merchants, and commoners throughout the realm to journey far to the Western Regions and develop Anxi. Additionally, customs and market taxes along the Silk Road may be reduced as an incentive to merchants and travelers, thereby stimulating activity and population flow!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang's eyes brightened, and he immediately said: "Back then, when Father issued the edict, several hundred thousand nobles, officials, and commoners rushed to Andong. I imagine once this proclamation goes out, those heading west to Anxi will surely be even more numerous!"

"Though the Western Regions are distant, they are truly a treasure land—otherwise the prosperity of the Western Regions' kingdoms would not have been celebrated for a thousand years. Though long lost to foreign peoples, they are nevertheless the Great Han's inherent territory. Now that we have taken them back, we must naturally make good use of and develop them, so that they remain forever secured to China!" Emperor Liu spoke these high-sounding words—though there was indeed some sincerity in them.

At his stage in life, compared to the past, he had shed much of his hypocrisy. His words and actions followed his heart, and he had cast off many disguises. Yet the more so, the more his ministers feared him, feeling him all the more unfathomable.

"Also, besides organizing the farmers and herders of Anxi to resume production, the Sixth Brother has also arranged for the western expedition army to open up wasteland and settle in place. The large tracts of farmland already reclaimed will yield harvests this autumn to supplement military supplies. Your son sees that the Sixth Brother intends to settle the western expedition army on site." Liu Yang raised another matter.

"Oh?" Hearing this, a flicker of doubt passed through Emperor Liu's eyes. He asked: "What do you think?"

"If this can be done, and the families of the western expedition soldiers are also relocated westward and settled, we could gain several hundred thousand people at once—the Western Regions could be secured!" Liu Yang seemed not to consider anything else, speaking matter-of-factly.

"That may be so, but can the morale of the army be maintained?" Emperor Liu thought for a moment, then said: "Tens of thousands of soldiers leaving their homes and families, journeying far to the Western Regions to fight for the state and win merit—that they can endure. But if they are to be settled there permanently, how could they be willing?"

Though he could see the benefits, Emperor Liu maintained a cautious attitude on this matter. Regardless of anything else, the army must not be thrown into chaos, and military morale must not be destabilized. Even the garrison troops in Andong were rotated on a regular schedule, precisely to soothe the soldiers and prevent resentment from building up during prolonged frontier duty.

Nevertheless, after consideration, Emperor Liu still instructed: "This approach is feasible! But it must follow the soldiers' own wishes—no coercion! The Western Regions have plenty of fertile land and pasture, don't they? Distribute it to the soldiers. With land and property, the likelihood of them willingly staying will be greater."

"Be absolutely certain—no compulsion. Too many policies from the central government become distorted once they reach the localities. Some things can be tolerated, but if this matter goes wrong, heads will roll!"

"Yes!" Liu Yang's expression turned serious: "Your son will pass down the orders and also strengthen oversight!"

"Mm!" Emperor Liu acknowledged.

Having discussed for so long, Emperor Liu seemed somewhat weary. He waved his hand and said: "Handle the Western Regions affairs according to what we have discussed! Additionally, convert the Anxi Circuit into the Anxi Protectorate-General, with all institutions and regulations modeled after Andong, and appoint Liu Min as the Protector-General of Anxi!"

When Emperor Liu issued this instruction, Liu Yang's face showed little surprise—clearly, he had anticipated it. However, he could well imagine that once this decree was announced, another wave of turmoil would rise in the court. Having one "King of Andong," now another "King of Anxi" was to be added?