Chapter 448: Dates or Not

Qin Zhaoyue blurted out:

"Nominally, they submitted to Dagan and were incorporated into the territory.

The imperial court would open official trade and set up checkpoints.

People in southern Xinjiang no longer have to be trapped in the mountains for generations. They can live and trade in designated prefectures and counties in the South Suzaku Road.

As for the rest...it all depends on the will of His Majesty in the future, as well as your performance."

“I can tell you that the Fengjing clan of the four great families has been eradicated.

At least four states will be returned to the imperial court, and the confiscated land will most likely be returned to the people.

If the people of southern Xinjiang wish to settle down in the Central Plains and cultivate the land, that is not impossible.”

“In addition, Your Majesty of our dynasty has vigorously promoted the imperial examination system, and both men and women can take the exam and enter the officialdom.

Perhaps we can open official schools in southern Xinjiang to popularize education and allow you to take part in the imperial examinations.

In the future, officials selected by yourselves will govern your homeland in southern Xinjiang."

Ayaduo's heart began to beat violently.

She was no stranger to the prosperity of the Baiyue Protectorate. After she had achieved some success in her cultivation, she had sneaked in many times.

The bustling streets, the dazzling array of food, the ever-bright lights at night, the sound of reading aloud from the school, the elegant eloquence of young people, the world's strange stories brought by traveling merchants, the ups and downs of stories told by storytellers in teahouses...

All of this constitutes the most colorful and precious part of her childhood memories.

She knew very well that the furs of common prey in the mountains of southern Xinjiang could be sold at a high price in the market of the Protectorate, enough to exchange for a large amount of food.

The tribes in southern Xinjiang often have to pay the price of their lives to cultivate a small piece of land and prevent attacks by wild beasts.

Not to mention the precious cloth, salt and iron farm tools.

There are also schools, imperial examinations...that is simply the light of another world.

She slowly exhaled, trying her best to suppress the excitement surging in her chest, and looked at Qin Zhaoyue with burning eyes:

"Just nominal submission?

Sixth Princess, did you make this decision?

You're talking big now, but once the matter with Suzaku South Road is over, how can you guarantee everything you just promised?"

Qin Zhaoyue rolled her eyes upon hearing this, her tone extremely indifferent:

"Why should I promise you?"

Ayaduo was startled, and a huge sense of humiliation rushed to her head in an instant, making her whole body tremble slightly uncontrollably, and her fingertips dug deeply into her palms.

However, this humiliation came and went quickly, and was quickly suppressed by a deeper sense of helplessness and powerlessness.

So-called negotiation requires equal strength and status.

Now... she is just a fish on the chopping board.

Qin Zhaoyue seemed a little impatient, and sighed deeply, with a hint of obvious irritation between his brows:

“Let me sort it out for you.

You cooperated and persuaded the various tribes in southern Xinjiang to withdraw their troops, and incorporated southern Xinjiang into the territory of Dagan without bloodshed.

Everything I just said will most likely be realized step by step.

At least, I can promise now to open up mutual trade and normal commerce.

Dagan and Nanjiang had been fighting for years, and both sides knew that it would be difficult for the imperial army to win if it penetrated deep into the mountains and forests.

Even if you leave the mountains, you will definitely not be a match for the Dagan army."

"If you don't cooperate..." She changed the subject, her tone suddenly cold.

“It’s just a little more work.

After clearing out the people from the aristocratic families, I will lead my troops to slaughter all the tribal soldiers who dare to resist, and even the entire village.

We will kill you until you are terrified and you have no power to resist in southern Xinjiang, and eventually you will be reduced to slavery.

There are many wastelands in Dagan, and there is a shortage of manpower to cultivate them. The workshops and mines in various places would surely be happy to accept a steady stream of slave labor."

“But you must know that Dagan has always been particular about fairness when it comes to implementing the king’s teachings.

Do you know the four border regions? Perhaps you don't know yet, but Helian Chaolu, the daughter of a noble from the northwestern border region, has participated in the provincial examination in Zhongchen Province and has already passed.

This means that she is now eligible to be selected as an official..."

Having said this, Qin Zhaoyue's voice suddenly paused, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Wait... Helian Chaolu enters Fengjing for reference...

It seems that the Queen Mother's original intention was just to add fuel to the fire of the women's imperial examination and suppress the momentum of the Second Princess Shufeng?

There shouldn't be any deeper considerations, right?

hiss……

Given the Queen Mother's habit of thinking ahead and planning long-term, she might not have a backup plan...

Eh~ These people with thoughts as deep as the sea are really scary to think about.

Qin Zhaoyue quickly recovered from his momentary distraction and continued:

“The northwestern border has now become a high-quality horse breeding area.

The original people worked as horse herders for Da Gan and gained the status of civilians and the respect they deserved.

Why can’t southern Xinjiang follow suit?

As far as I know, rare game, fine furs, and all kinds of mountain delicacies from the mountains and forests can all be sold at extremely high prices in the Central Plains."

"That's all I have to say," Qin Zhaoyue took a last look at Ayaduo, whose expression was changing constantly.

"You decide for yourself what to do next."

Jiang Wuya's "domain" was like an invisible water curtain, still tightly covering this bloody bedroom, completely isolating all the sounds and breath inside from the outside world.

Knowing that the Saint of Southern Frontier had an "important matter" to attend to tonight and needed to be alone with the Second Prince, the guards around had already been deliberately dismissed, and there was no prying eye.

At this moment, the room fell into an almost stagnant silence.

Only the occasional crackling sound of the candlelight on the lampstand illuminated the mess on the ground and the different expressions of the people.

Ayaduo lowered her head slightly, and her thick eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, covering up the struggle and hesitation surging in her eyes.

Her fingertips curled up unconsciously, pressing against the slightly cool palm.

Weighing the pros and cons, the survival of the tribe, personal honor and disgrace... countless thoughts collided violently.

Qin Zhaoyue stood there expressionlessly.

Although he seemed calm, he was actually calculating rapidly in his mind.

Her remarks just now about the various conditions after Southern Xinjiang's surrender were almost entirely improvised remarks she made up on the spur of the moment.

On the way here, all she wanted was to kill her second brother and break his "status", and she never thought about incorporating the entire southern Xinjiang into her territory.

From the perspective of actual governance, whether it is included or not may not make much difference. Being able to open up a stable cross-border trade is already a goal achieved.

It involves population migration, labor placement, and policy implementation, which involves countless troubles and conflicts are inevitable.

Anyway, she is not the queen mother. She has been deceived many times in the workplace in her previous life, so now she is very skilled at it.

After all, she is just a princess and she doesn't have to be responsible for what she says.

But she immediately thought of the book of merits that was related to her mother's life.

Regardless of the actual benefits, as long as Southern Xinjiang verbally pledged its allegiance to Dagan, wouldn't it be a great achievement for her to initiate negotiations and avert a conflict without bloodshed? How could merit points not pour in?

Although she didn't know how much it would cost to rescue the queen mother, this didn't stop her from having an idea and taking advantage of the situation to draw this big plan.

Whether there are dates or not, let’s give it a try first.

If we can get it, it will provide another insurance for the Queen Mother's life.

While she was thinking, Qin Jingheng slowly moved towards her, breaking her contemplation.

"Stand there and don't come any closer." She immediately stopped him with a cold tone.

"Why..." Qin Jingheng said with grievance.

"nausea."

Qin Jingheng: “…”

He felt like he was stabbed silently in the heart again.