The nomadic tribes of the grasslands have been a major threat to the central dynasties since the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

Throughout history, the Central Plains dynasties have allocated enormous military expenditures to maintain the defense of the northern frontier in order to resist the invasions of nomadic tribes.

Therefore, in order to eliminate future troubles, Liu Hongcai devised a strategy of economic invasion.

By using economic means to continuously reduce and deplete their war potential, and finally using industrial and technological means to achieve final occupation.

As long as the problems of transportation and urban development on the grasslands are resolved in the future, there will be no problem with the grasslands becoming the territory of the Han Dynasty.

Admittedly, this plan is very effective and will certainly succeed, but all of this depends on one prerequisite.

That is time, a period of time that allows the Han Dynasty to develop steadily and advance its technology.

That's why Liu Hong opened up trade markets, started trade with the barbarians from all directions, and used various means to make them attack each other, thereby depleting their population and strength.

They hoped to use some resources to maintain stability in trade between the four directions, and to buy themselves and the Han Dynasty as much time as possible.

However, after talking with Chu Qian, Liu Hong discovered a major flaw in his plan.

This loophole lies with the herders and the lower classes in all directions.

Previously, Liu Hong naively believed that as long as the barbarians from all directions could exchange supplies from the Han Dynasty to survive, they would not easily invade.

It seems that his plan has indeed achieved some results, depleting a large portion of their population, and the border is now much more stable.

But he has only now realized that he was wrong.

Like the dynasties in the Central Plains, the grasslands produced enough resources to support the herders and common people at the bottom of society, but unrest always occurred, and the overthrow of regimes and dynasties was always unavoidable.

Ultimately, the root cause of all unrest lies in the fact that the upper class has taken too much from the system, squeezing out resources that could have sustained everyone into the pockets of a few.

However, unlike the internal turmoil of the Central Plains dynasties, the grasslands transferred this turmoil to the Central Plains dynasties through continuous invasions and wars.

Therefore, whether it's the slave purchase order or the mutual market and trade, those resources will only become the private property of those nobles and leaders, while the people at the bottom of society will still be on the verge of life and death.

If the nobles and leaders oppress and exploit excessively, and the common people see that they cannot survive, they will likely take up arms and charge at the Han Dynasty without even being incited by the nomadic nobles.

This may be the root cause of the continuous invasions of the Han Dynasty by barbarians over the past thousands of years.

Therefore, to avoid these situations, the root causes of unrest on the grasslands must be eradicated in order to achieve true long-term stability and security.

Finally, Liu Hong looked at Xiang Chuqian beside him and asked in a deep voice:

"In your opinion, Chu Qing, how should we eradicate those root causes?"

Chu Qian thought for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, the greed in people's hearts cannot be changed! It is impossible to expect those nobles and leaders on the grasslands to have a change of heart!"

Therefore, I believe that in addition to possessing a strong military force, we must start from the bottom up and thoroughly resolve their problems to achieve a permanent solution!

"Oh? Does Chu Qing mean to practice the way of education and moral guidance?"

"good!"

Chu Qian nodded, his face resolute, and said:

"It's all about education. Only by changing the mindset of the lower-level herders and using them to overthrow those nobles and leaders! Or by getting them to fight against those nobles and leaders!"

"Oh? Then tell me properly how to educate them. You know, those herdsmen have been ignorant for a long time, and it is very difficult to educate them!"

Seeing Chu Qian's confident expression, Liu Hong looked at Chu Qian with a puzzled expression.

Chu Qian smiled and then said, "Teaching them to read and write may be difficult, but all we need to do is open their eyes and ears!"

"Your Majesty, since I returned to Luoyang, I have heard some things about General Duan Jiong sending troops into Dongqiang!"

I think their approach is quite good. Treating the lower-level herders better and giving them hope for survival can greatly increase their recognition of the Han Dynasty and also incite their hatred towards the noble leaders.

This method can be used against the Qiang, Shi, Southern Xiongnu, Southern Wuhuan, and other vassal states!

Liu Hong nodded. "What Chu Qing said makes sense. Only by making those people at the bottom dissatisfied with their noble leaders and realizing the goodness of our Great Han can our Great Han rule them better in the future!"

Finally, Liu Hong's eyes lit up, and he looked at Chu Qian and asked:

"What about those that aren't included? What should we do then?"

Chu Qian seemed to have been prepared, and then said, "I think we can follow the same approach as this year's spring plowing, paying a certain amount of money and grain to the various tribes in all directions to hire their people to carry out infrastructure construction for our Great Han, and at the same time sending people to train them!"

"Hmm, your idea is quite good! I imagine those noble leaders would be happy to use those people to create more value for them!"

Liu Hong smiled and nodded, indicating his approval of the method.

"Your Majesty is right. I once heard that herdsman say that his greatest wish was to raise his own cow and his own horse before he died!"

At this point, Chu Qian couldn't help but sigh.

"Yes! The people suffer when the country prospers, and they suffer when the country falls! In the end, it is the ordinary people who suffer the most!"

Seeing Chu Qian suddenly express his feelings, Liu Hong couldn't help but think of that famous saying from later generations, and a trace of melancholy appeared on his face!

"Your Majesty's words are truly a wake-up call! Your Majesty is benevolent and loves your people; I deeply respect you!"

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