Chapter 88 088 A Peaceful World.

The hostage's escape is a provocation to the Great Yong. It would be best to intercept the fleeing person; otherwise, according to usual practice, at most a few mild reprimands would be issued. If the Turks could send the hostage back, everyone would be happy. If they didn't, the matter would just fade away, unless the Turks actively started a border war.

This matter sparked discussion among the court officials, with those advocating for peace gaining the upper hand. Their most radical stance was to imprison Ashina Bilian if the Turks refused to comply. While this proved ineffective, it at least gave them a sense of pride.

Zhao Jialing could understand their feelings; after all, the cost of starting a war was too high. While it might feel good to attack in a state of rage, careful consideration would reveal many problems. The previous victories weren't against the Turkic homeland, and going back further, the crushing defeat served as a lesson. Maintaining a defensive posture was the best course of action for Dayong. A calm and collected approach, minimizing the impact, and remaining cautious were the wisest strategies.

However, while understanding is understandable, Zhao Jialing's sharp edge remained undiminished. Some people, even on the verge of death, might still cling to humiliation and wait for the opportune moment to retaliate, but in their hearts, when is the right time? It simply doesn't exist. The alliance of the Turks and Tibetans is intolerable; the Western Regions cannot fall into enemy hands under any circumstances, so… these traitors must all die.

Zhao Jialing remained silent for a while, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, before announcing a military exercise. The main participants were the artillery battalion in the capital, and officials from all ranks, including low-ranking officials, came to the outskirts of the city to watch. Many had already witnessed the power of gunpowder explosions, but that was merely a show of force to boost morale. What would happen on the ever-changing battlefield? It was impossible to say without seeing it firsthand.

The soldiers of the artillery battalion marched in neat squares, each equipped with a musket, firing in unison. Both the range and accuracy of their shots exceeded the court officials' expectations. After a volley of fire, as they reloaded, the soldiers in the back ranks stepped forward. For the artillery battalion soldiers to go to battle, speed was just as crucial. If they could only fire once every fifteen minutes… it would be even more difficult to keep up with the changing battlefield. But if time could be minimized, the advantages of suppressive fire could be perfectly utilized, inflicting a devastating blow on the cavalry.

This military exercise stirred the emotions of both civil and military officials. In the past, its practicality was emphasized; now, its practicality was on full display. Afterwards, Zhao Jialing slowly said, "I have already ordered the drawing of topographical maps, and we have a thorough understanding of the Turks and Tibetans. The previous defeat at Dafeichuan was due to hasty marching, which was ill-timed. Mingde Academy has already developed suitable medicine." She didn't need to know what the sudden ascent from lowland to high ground would cause; knowing there was medicine was enough.

Now that things have come to this point, all the civil and military officials know that His Majesty has actually been preparing for war for a long time. The Turks and Tibetans are unruly and have repeatedly harassed our borders. Anyone with a sense of righteousness would hate them if they heard about it, but various concerns have made them ignore the sacrifices made on the border.

The Protectorate in the north.

It was actually very difficult for the crooked and deformed Ashina Tumen to escape back to the Turkic Khaganate. His ancestors had all fled back during the chaos in the Central Plains. He hid in a merchant caravan, fearing being discovered. His fear was noticed by the generals of the Dayong side.

The escaped hostage was valuable to the Turkic court. On one hand, they could obtain information about Chang'an from him; on the other hand, when he was no longer needed, he could be sent back to Dayong, thus avoiding the need to send a second hostage. Compared to his other valiant sons, Ashina Tumen was clearly not of interest to the Turkic Khan. However, for various reasons, upon learning of his return, the Khan still sent one of his sons to receive him.

The Protectorate General's forces appeared when the Ashina brothers met. Having obtained the map, the Protectorate General had already familiarized themselves with the various paths and knew where to ambush them. Their appearance threw the Turkic cavalry into chaos. The Turks immediately concluded that Ashina Tumen was colluding with Dayong, deliberately staging this scene to lure him into a trap! Father-son and brotherly conflicts were all too common among the Turks. Tumen, without hesitation, ordered his personal guards to send Ashina Tumen to meet his ancestors. The Protectorate General, meanwhile, simply watched this fratricidal battle with great interest. Of course, the Turkic prisoners still had to be taken in.

After the Protectorate announced that Ashina Tumen, the hostage, had secretly returned and was attempting to attack the Protectorate in alliance with the Turkic tribes, the already tense situation escalated completely. The Turkic Khan made no attempt to conceal his plundering ambitions, and Dayong, in turn, no longer restrained its hostility towards the Turks.

In Tibet, the young Tsangpo stabilized the kingdom and temporarily subdued the nobles. However, political maneuvering was always seen as petty tricks; the Tsangpo needed achievements to win over the nobles, just as his ancestors, the Ge clan, had done when they conquered Qinghai and defeated the Dayong. Tuyuhun had already been incorporated into Tibet, and the western and eastern regions were all Dayong's territory. The pressure from the nobles and the humiliation of being rejected in a previous marriage proposal led the Tsangpo to take the step of cooperating with the Turks.

Chang'an.

Upon receiving the urgent report, Zhao Jialing and Xie Lanzhao had expressions of understanding on their faces.

The uprising by the Turks and Tibetans was expected; their ambitions had been sown long ago, but various factors delayed their eventual eruption.

The Great Yong will not back down from battle, and today it will surely wash away the shame of its ancestors.

The Turks have invaded our borders. In the past, our military campaigns were fruitless, but now, the roles of offense and defense have reversed!

Zhao Jialing appointed Li Qia, the Right Guard General and Duke of Qin, as the Grand Commander of the Army, and the Marquis of Huaihai, the Left Guard General, as the Military Commissioner of Heyuan Army, and led the army to set off. Although the Turks had allied with the Xi and Khitans, the latter two, seeing the overwhelming strength of the Dayong army, began to defect after the first battle with the Governor's Office, and were willing to be the vanguard in the campaign against the Turks.

The battles between the Central Plains and the nomadic tribes were almost constant. The nomadic tribes' advantage lay in their warhorses and their elusive cavalry. They were confident in their unparalleled horsemanship and archery skills. However, when firearms and cannons appeared, they were horrified to discover that they had been far surpassed by the Great Yong Dynasty. Their once-proud skills were now worthless. Even disregarding firearms, the Great Yong Dynasty far surpassed them in weaponry and horsemanship. Only now did they notice that the Great Yong Dynasty's warhorses had horseshoes on all four hooves.

This was actually thanks to that set of books. The warhorses of the Dayong Kingdom were either raised by themselves or bought from the Hu people, but for various reasons, they were never as strong and healthy as the warhorses of the grasslands. The books related to agriculture and medicine mentioned knowledge about pasture and veterinary medicine. After the Taipusi (Imperial Stud) learned about this, they also devoted themselves to studying it, trying to find ways to change the predicament of being dependent on others for warhorses.

The overwhelming victory on all sides brought extremely gratifying results, and the Turkic army suffered a crushing defeat. Li Zhaoci accompanied her father on the expedition, leading her soldiers all the way to the Turkic capital, killing the Turkic Khan and capturing a high-ranking Turkic noble. The scattered remnants of the Turkic forces, having lost their leader, could only flee in disarray, no longer posing a threat.

Meanwhile, the Marquis of Huaihai also achieved a decisive victory against the Tubo. After scattering the Tubo army, he arrived at Dafeichuan, where his predecessors had suffered a crushing defeat. There, he erected a stone to commemorate his achievements and offered sacrifices to the fallen soldiers. Although he had a fiery temper in the court, he was very restrained when marching, advancing steadily and surely, step by step pushing the battle line to Doma.

Good news kept pouring in, and the emperor's might shook the four directions.

Goryeo originally harbored ambitions to annex neighboring countries and unify the country. They initially planned to first unite with Baekje to destroy Silla, the most loyal ally of Dayong, choosing a time when Dayong was embroiled in conflict with the Turks and Tibetans on its western front. However, the Turks suffered a swift and devastating defeat, while Silla struggled to hold on. Would Dayong return to aid them once the conflict ended? The Goryeo king was uncertain. After his envoys gathered concrete information, Goryeo decisively withdrew its troops and sent a letter to Dayong, its tone still remarkably humble.

Upon seeing the official letter, Zhao Jialing merely sneered: "Two-faced." Although they came to pay tribute, the relationship was actually lukewarm. These people were extremely cunning, particularly fond of manipulating words. For example, they claimed to submit to the Great Yong, yet in their official letters, they always feigned an air of wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Great Yong emperor. This time, however, they humbly referred to themselves as their subject.

Xie Lanzhao lowered her eyelashes and said calmly, "Now that the siege of Silla has been lifted, there's no need to worry about it for the time being." War, regardless of victory or defeat, costs money, and being in a state of war indefinitely will strain the treasury. There's no need to rush to take down those unruly vassal states. The Turks have been eliminated, removing a major threat.

Zhao Jialing nodded, snorted, and said, "Remember this grudge for now." He then discussed the aftermath with Xie Lanzhao. The Turkic nobles led their remaining troops to flee, but their civilians could not all escape; they all became prisoners of Dayong. In fact, there were many non-Han people within Dayong's territory, and these innocent civilians had always been included in Dayong's household registration.

“The Protectorate will still be established according to the old system, and the people will be registered and the original tribes will be dispersed. As for the matter of pacification—” Xie Lanzhao’s eyes flickered.

Zhao Jialing immediately understood and nodded, saying, "The Turks still have hostages in Chang'an. Let her and the Sogdians who have long resided in the region take charge." It was unrealistic to expect those people to change their ways all at once; they needed to appoint a Khan as a buffer. Afterward, Zhao Jialing discussed with his court officials the matter of appointing Ashina Bilian as Khan and Prince of Jinhe.

The courtiers were initially surprised, having assumed the selection would be made from among the captured Turkic nobles. They were taken aback when Ashina Bilian was chosen. Unable to adjust their mindset quickly, objections naturally arose.

Zhao Jialing chuckled and calmly said, "If I can be the emperor, and Silla has a queen, then why can't Ashina Bilian be the Khan?" The court officials were speechless. Anyone who raised an objection would be disrespectful to the emperor himself.

As for whether the Turks can accept it—what right do the defeated have? Furthermore, it depends on Ashina Bilian's own charisma. If the remaining Turkic tribes cannot be stabilized, then Dayong will still intervene, and at that time, her precarious position as Khan will be in an awkward situation.

In April of the ninth year of the Yuanfu era, the imperial court officially conferred the title of Ashina Pilian and sent people to escort her to the Protectorate General's Office.

In August, the Tibetan king was captured, and the nobles of the Tibetan dynasty surrendered.

With the major threat in the Northwest resolved, Zhao Jialing naturally designated the Western Regions as experimental land, cultivating not only cotton but also suitable fruits and vegetables, and road construction was also put on the agenda. As for the Northeast, that area was sparsely populated, with few Han Chinese living in the mountains and forests. People from the Central Plains were not very willing to go there; those who were exiled to cultivate the land were mostly criminals or desperate refugees.

Although Zhao Jialing was eager to populate that area, he couldn't rush it. People have always been attached to their homeland; who wouldn't be afraid of leaving their hometown?

Xie Lanzhao said slowly, "First, send envoys to teach people how to plant and cultivate crops." The tribes that live in the mountains and forests haven't yet adopted the customs of the Central Plains; they're still in the slash-and-burn stage. Such people will wander around and might blindly follow others during rebellions. We need to slowly lure them out and settle them on the land. "The situation in Goryeo isn't good."

Zhao Jialing murmured, "The world is at peace, except for this corner." Human desires are indeed insatiable. After the Turks and Tibetans were pacified, she looked at that corner of the map, colored differently, and always felt something was missing. Perhaps she too had become tainted by the pursuit of "universal unification." However, with Xie Lanzhao's advice, she wouldn't let victory cloud her judgment and launch another attack on Goryeo.

At the beginning of the year, the King of Goryeo, who had previously submitted a letter of submission, passed away. He had not designated a crown prince, and both of his sons were restless, with his younger brother even being considered a potential successor. The one who ascended the throne with the support of his subjects was not the king's eldest son. This son sent an envoy with a letter, seeking investiture from the Dayong court to legitimize his rule. The envoy also attempted to bribe the Court of State Ceremonial, but the Court of State Ceremonial dared not accept anything and immediately reported the situation.

Zhao Jialing had already considered that region hers for the taking, so who became king was no longer important. However, she secretly hoped for chaos there, so she kept delaying the envoys' meetings, refusing to grant them any titles. Meanwhile, rebellious forces within Goryeo were also seeking support from Dayong. Neither side could gain the upper hand, and this back-and-forth dragged the people into a quagmire. Chaos erupted, and people fled the country, crossing the border into Dayong territory. The Protectorate silently detained these people, registering them in the household register and allocating land for cultivation. The Goryeo court was naturally aware of this, but needing Dayong's support, they remained silent.

This chaotic struggle for the throne continued until the tenth year of the Yuanfu era, when the newly enthroned king gained the upper hand and exiled his elder brother. He felt more confident in securing his throne, but little did he know that the exiled prince had reached Japan. Japan, too, coveted that land and secretly allied with Baekje, using the pretext of supporting the legitimacy of Goryeo to prepare for the annexation of territory. Silla in the southeast corner was, of course, easily annexed by them.

The news caused an uproar among the court officials in Chang'an.

"Our Emperor stands in the center of the world, pacifies the people of the four seas, and spreads his influence throughout the land. Goryeo and Silla are both my subjects. Now that they are in trouble, please send troops to protect them!" After witnessing the power of firepower, even the civil officials began to become radical, wanting to realize the Confucian and Taoist ideal of "all under heaven as one family".

Of course, these statements were based on the fact that His Majesty possessed nautical charts, compasses, various navigational instruments, and that the warships of Laizhou and Dengzhou had already been built.

Goryeo had fortified fortresses to the north. When enemies came, they would hide inside, surviving on stored provisions, and remain there until the enemy withdrew. This was very effective against external enemies, but less reliable when internal strife arose. The Daeyong army split into two groups: one departed from the Andong Protectorate, and the other landed in Baekje by boat. The devastation of internal strife, combined with the power of artillery, made them invincible, and enemies surrendered without resistance.

At sea, the unwilling Japanese ships put up a stubborn resistance. The admiral leading the navy, a graduate of Mingde Academy, took in the chaotic scene through her telescope. She chuckled softly, raised her hand, and the horn sounded. Following the horn came deafening explosions, followed by a rain of fire that fell like a thousand trees of flames upon the Japanese ships.

Through the telescope, flames appeared on the deck, and the sailors' faces were deathly pale. The rain of fire was incredibly shocking; the men on board scrambled about like headless flies, their weapons limited to samurai swords and bows and arrows. But there was little respite. As some sailors and soldiers jumped overboard, another wave of fire descended, roaring and exploding, engulfing the entire sea in flames. In this catastrophic disaster, no one could survive.

The general lowered his binoculars, gazing at the distant flames. He wanted to express his feelings, but after a long pause, he only managed to utter, "Knowledge is power." Not only the enemy, but even his own men were stunned by the scene, after all... this was the first time those cannons had been used in actual combat.

The Great Yong Dynasty advanced with almost unstoppable force, and the storm of war quickly subsided. Goryeo and Baekje, both vassals of the Great Yong, were pacified and granted new kings, but protectorates were also established. As for the vassal states, their status was merely symbolic; after all, achieving "assimilation" couldn't rely solely on force. As for Japan, although they had paid tribute, the relationship was far from secure, and the Japanese kingdom refused to acknowledge vassalage. These were the defeated enemy states, still uncivilized, yet they dared to interfere in the affairs of the Great Yong's outer vassal states. They had no choice but to pay tribute and territories if they didn't want to die.

The map provided by the system is too comprehensive. It clearly marks all the mineral resources, even the small island of Japan has resources—of course, they all belong to the Great Yong now.

Such an achievement should be reported to the ancestral temple, and the Ministry of Rites would love to celebrate it with gongs and drums, making sure to record this merit firmly.

Advice poured in on building a Mingtang (Hall of Brightness), casting bronze tripods to commemorate achievements, and performing the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. As long as the merits met the standards, the court officials would not object to these large-scale, wasteful undertakings, and would even hope to become one of the followers, so as to bask in some of the glory and be remembered for generations.

Zhao Jialing smiled and declined.

At the Winter Solstice Ceremony in the tenth year of Yuanfu, she promulgated the "Da Yong Ritual" and the "Da Yong Code".

The former, a book of rites re-edited and interpreted by Chen Xiyuan and a group of scholars, removed the superior position of men and fought for equality through rites. The legal code, on the other hand, was combined with the new rites and provided legal protection.

Snowflakes fall softly, candles illuminate the jade terrace.

Thousands of lights, like stars, adorn the scene.

Zhao Jialing, who had drunk a little, leaned on the railing and watched the snow.

Fearing she would catch a cold, Xie Lanzhao draped a cloak over her shoulders. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she carefully fastened the cloak for Zhao Jialing.

Zhao Jialing, restless, reached out and wrapped his arms around Xie Lanzhao's waist, his eyes flushed with the effects of alcohol, exuding a spirited air.

"See? I told you your dream would come true, didn't I? The rites and laws have been promulgated."

"Isn't it a good choice to pick me? Who has more potential than me?"

Xie Lanzhao smiled and said, "Yes." She had heard it so many times that her ears were calloused from repeating it day after day.

Zhao Jialing fell silent, gazing expectantly at Xie Lanzhao, her lips slightly pursed.

Xie Lanzhao leaned down and kissed her, saying before she could speak, "Your Majesty's lips are the most kissable, Your Majesty is the most adorable in the world."

Zhao Jialing curled her lips smugly, reached out and caught a snowflake, then asked, "How many snowfalls have we watched together since we were little?"

Xie Lanzhao: "..." This question was truly difficult. How could she possibly remember how many snowfalls had occurred in Chang'an over the past twenty years? But she had a way of coaxing Zhao Jialing. Meeting her clear eyes, she slowly and deliberately said, "Boundless."

Counting past lives, present lives, and future lives, the number is immeasurable.

Zhao Jialing was overjoyed and hugged Xie Lanzhao tightly.

The sound of fireworks celebrating the year's end could be heard in the distance.

The old calendar slowly turns over, and soon it will be the new year.

A better year.