Chapter 1058: Expanding the Realm

Kuang Ye gazed southward with a sorrowful expression, as his Assistant Regional Commander led soldiers running up cheerfully to ask: "General, shall we press north further?"

Kuang Ye swept them with a glance and asked: "Have the eastern and western routes halted?"

"They've halted. They say the New Year is near, and they need to wait for grain supplies—pressing forward further risks running out of provisions."

Kuang Ye's face remained expressionless: "So they've finally remembered the grain?"

The Assistant Regional Commander chuckled and pressed on: "General, we've already requisitioned some grain locally—shall we press forward?"

"No!" Kuang Ye pointed to the vast southern grasslands: "What purpose is there in going further north? Managing this expanse of grassland is already a problem."

The Assistant Regional Commander frowned: "Why not establish prefectures and counties? Treat it the same way we govern the Central Plains."

"No," Kuang Ye said. "This land differs from the Central Plains. The nomads here have their own ways of life and their own systems of governance. Imposing Central Plains customs upon them suddenly would be unbearable torment—and torment breeds rebellion. Without a foolproof plan, hastily claiming this land as territory will leave endless future troubles."

The Assistant Regional Commander stared wide-eyed: "Are we wrong to expand our borders?"

Kuang Ye glanced at him: "Only useful territory is beneficial. Until the imperial court has decided how to govern this region, it's nothing but a barrel of gunpowder."

The Assistant Regional Commander, a military officer, did not understand Kuang Ye's concerns—he believed that once territory was seized, it merely needed troops to garrison it.

"Build garrisons, open military farmlands—let our Great Ming soldiers spread across the grasslands. What can't be governed?"

"How much of this vast grassland is even suitable for cultivation?" Kuang Ye said. "These people have lived as herders for generations. When they lack money, they raid south for grain. When they're defiant, how can we establish garrisons? Once our army withdraws, the soldiers left behind become their targets."

Kuang Ye spoke gravely: "Expanding territory is not worthy of praise. True glory lies in holding it—and making it truly part of Great Ming."

The Assistant Regional Commander fell silent.

In Jingcheng, the imperial court was also discussing this matter.

Yu Qian traced a winding line across the map, encompassing most of the Oirat territory.

He said: "Your Majesty, order the army to halt. Notify the Oirats that peace talks may begin."

Zhu Qiyu was deeply satisfied—he felt that even if he died now, he could face his ancestors in the netherworld without shame.

Cao Nai glanced at the Emperor, as if reading his thoughts, and said: "Your Majesty, only territory that can be held is true territory."

So how should this newly conquered land be handled?

The entire court deliberated for an hour, offering many suggestions. The Emperor waited until their brainstorming ended, gathered enough proposals, then dismissed the grand assembly and summoned the Grand Secretariat and several key civil and military officials to a small court meeting.

It was, in truth, a meeting of fewer than twenty people, to discuss and finalize the proposals collected that day.

Great Ming's policy toward ethnic minorities had always been autonomy with imperial assistance.

In places like Guangxi and Yunnan, tribes and native chieftains governed themselves, and the court applied the same policy to these tributary prefectures. The grasslands resembled Guangxi and Yunnan, yet differed slightly—vast, sparsely populated, governed by nomadic logic, and far harder to control.

Yet to abandon this conquered territory was unthinkable—not just to the Emperor, but even to civil officials like Cao Nai and Chen Xun, who foresaw the difficulty of governance.

Yu Qian insisted on designating this land as a tributary prefecture and re-erecting boundary markers along all frontiers.

He said: "Yexian was cruel and unjust—he betrayed both Great Ming and the grassland nomads. To fight the court, he purged the grasslands and slaughtered many herders. His death was not by our hand, but by the herders' denunciations."

The Emperor stirred: "What do you mean, Minister Yu?"

"This calamity was Yexian's fault. Your Majesty may issue an edict to soothe the grassland tribes: past offenses forgiven. The Oirats were always our tributary. Now we merely establish tributary prefectures here to prevent another rebellion like Yexian's. The court will send officials to govern, station troops, cultivate farmland, dispatch veterinary officers to aid herders with cattle and sheep, and set up itinerant community schools to teach them Han characters and Mongolian script—to enlighten them, instill propriety, and forever end warfare between grassland and Central Plains."

Everyone stared at Yu Qian, stunned. The Emperor, recovering, said: "Minister's proposal is excellent—but…"

He hesitated: "But this conquered territory is too vast, too sparsely populated. What if, once our army withdraws, the Oirat tribes rebel?"

Cao Nai: "Your Majesty, since the Oirats wish to surrender, demand they bring Yexian's head. Summon the leaders of all major tribes to the capital to surrender in person. Grant them official ranks according to their submissions. The new tributary prefecture's administration may have two tiers: tribal leaders govern their own tribes, while court officials govern the tribal leaders."

Everyone agreed this method was feasible, nodding and refining minor details.

Xue Shao, who had remained silent, spoke: "But this is still insufficient."

All turned to him.

Xue Shao said: "Merely restraining the new tributary prefectures through politics and military force will not last. Yexian was still Oirat, and once Grand Preceptor—he was only rejected because he wasn't of the Golden Clan. Even with Great Ming's famed prestige and Your Majesty's awe-inspiring authority, how many years can you truly suppress them?"

Minister of Rites Hu Ying said: "Winning the people's hearts lies in education—hence, the itinerant community schools are most vital."

Chen Xun: "But education takes years. The grassland nomads follow water and pasture, migrating annually. How many years will it take to educate them? In my view, better to open markets—establish border trade posts across the grasslands, allowing exchange of their cattle, sheep, horses, furs, herbs, and gems for our grain, cloth, tea, and porcelain. If the grassland economy becomes dependent on the Central Plains, we can control it."

"No!" Yu Qian said sternly. "Trade posts may open, but markets must not be fully opened. Otherwise, aren't we nourishing the grasslands with Central Plains goods? Once the Oirat tribes grow strong, this 'economic control' becomes a joke. With their minds, they won't weigh costs and benefits—they'll simply mount horses, whip them, and drag back every visible treasure to their dens."

Chen Xun: "Plunder yields only temporary gains. Only cooperation creates lasting wealth—and they won't be so foolish…"

Yu Qian sneered: "Won't they? If they weren't foolish, why would they raid our borders? Minister Chen, if all people were wise, there would be no conflict in the world."

Hu Ying: "That is mistaken. Conflict does not arise from foolishness, but from greed. Did Yexian not know the odds were against him when he raided? He merely sought to shift the grassland tribes' internal pressures onto Great Ming—driven by greed. So Minister Yu is wrong in his reasoning, but his idea is sound: trade with the Oirat tributary prefecture, but do not fully open it. Do not nourish them—remain vigilant."

Xue Shao said: "If what they gain from trade is less than what they plunder in raids, how long can they endure?"

Yu Qian greatly admired Xue Shao's talent and character, so he asked humbly: "What do you propose?"