Chapter 288 The Kingdoms of the Xia and Their Kings
Panyu.
This is the capital of the Lingnan Kingdom.
As soon as Luo Xin got off the carriage, he saw a handsome man dressed in the clothes of a prince. He knew that this was Zhao Tuo. The position of prime minister was above that of princes, but Zhao Tuo was a foreign prince. In theory, he could ignore Luo Xin, but that would be too stupid.
When Zhao Tuo saw Luo Xin getting off the carriage, he stepped forward and said with a smile, "Prime Minister, how are you? I can't express how much I've been looking forward to your coming."
Zhao Tuo was uneasy, and Luo Xin smiled and said, "It is a new honor for the king to come to greet you. Lingnan is far away, and I wish you good health."
After the two exchanged greetings, Zhao Tuo and Luo Xin walked into the city. Luo Xin asked, "My king, where did the name of this city come from?"
Zhao Tuo groaned for a moment and said, "It is composed of the names of two local mountains."
Luo Xin smiled and said, "Your Majesty is originally from the Central Plains. When you look up at the moon, have you ever missed your hometown?"
Zhao Tuo's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Of course I miss you, but I am in Lingnan, and I still need to worry about the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Lord Zhao asked me to work hard in Lingnan, and I dare not forget it for a moment."
Luo Xin thought about it and knew what Zhao Tuo was worried about, so he laughed and said sincerely: "Yes, a thousand years ago, the ancestors of the new dynasty left their hometown, left the ancestral land of the Zhou clan, and went to Luodi to establish a country.
Countless Ji clan members and meritorious officials left their homeland of Fenghao, which eventually led to the prosperity of the Xia state today. I am really pleased that the king thinks this way.
You have pioneered the Chinese nation in the wild land, just like holding up a torch in the darkness. How could anyone ignore you?"
Done!
Zhao Tuo felt relieved. It seemed that although this son of the Luo family had a close relationship with the regent queen dowager of the Han Dynasty, he was still a son of the Luo family in essence, and he cared most about the survival of the Xia Dynasty.
In fact, anyone who has read some history books knows clearly how much the Luo family valued the continuation of the Xia Dynasty. This is how the Chu and Qin states escaped the fate of being destroyed when they were weak.
The State of Chu, in particular, because of its arduous achievements, not only escaped the stranglehold of Duke Wen of Luo, but even almost joined the Ji-Jiang alliance.
Although they ultimately failed, they welcomed the direct descendants of the Luo family into Chu, and they were completely recognized by the princes of the Central Plains and were no longer despised as barbarians.
After realizing this, Zhao Tuo's smile immediately became sincere. "Prime Minister, I have organized a grand banquet for you and all of you. Please come and enjoy it."
Looking at Zhao Tuo, whose attitude had changed 180 degrees, Luo Xin couldn't help but sigh in his heart that the Luo family's persistent credibility and prestige for thousands of years was indeed an invincible weapon.
Many things that are difficult for others are easy for Luo, such as winning trust.
But the disadvantage is that if Luo Shi tries to feign surrender by using the self-torture tactic, no one will believe him.
In addition, as the bureaucratic system is gradually implemented, the administration of officials will inevitably deteriorate. Those officials who are indifferent to human lives and have committed many evil deeds will naturally be hostile to the Luo family.
If it were other high-ranking officials or nobles, they might want to offer benefits and drag the Luo family into this mess, which would be a direct confrontation because it would be impossible to bring them over.
The Luo family came from the era of Bang Zhou aristocrats and had not witnessed the horror of the bureaucracy, which was even more terrifying than the aristocracy.
Because the nobles can be killed, but the bureaucrats cannot be killed or beheaded.
Zhao Tuo's banquet was really sincere. Basically, all the most precious things of the Lingnan Kingdom were served, including things flying in the sky, running in the mountains, and swimming in the water. Among them were some precious things that even the nobles in Chang'an City had never seen before.
As the host, Zhao Tuo persuaded Luo Xin to drink, and heard Luo Xin say with a smile: "Your Majesty, Xin came to Lingnan on the orders of the Regent Queen Mother, and you are also a vassal of the emperor. Today, you and Xin can gather here because of the grace of the Regent Queen Mother and the emperor. Shouldn't this first cup of wine be used to pay tribute to the Regent Queen Mother and the emperor in Chang'an?"
Then everyone in the hall toasted Chang'an. The historian who came with Luo Xin recorded this scene. Zhao Tuo felt a chill in his heart.
This is indeed the style of the Luo family. The historians record wherever they go. The history books of the Luo family are more than those of several major countries combined.
Moreover, Luo would summarize historical books and select some things from them as ideas to interpret. "Luo Gong Chun Qiu" is the best among them. For hundreds of years, countless Confucian disciples have spent their whole lives studying this book, trying to research the thoughts of the two sages Luo and Confucius. In this process, many ideas were enriched into Confucian classics.
As the banquet ended, Zhao Tuo finally had the opportunity to ask Luo Xin about his real purpose. Since he didn't come to abolish his throne, he needed to do something.
In the quiet room of the side hall.
Zhao Tuo bowed and said, "Prime Minister, what is your intention? Please give me your instructions. I will definitely agree to anything that I can do."
Luo Xin smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, my king. I came here to give you a good name, so that you can have a chance to go down in Chinese history."
Zhao Tuo did not dare to take it lightly and said, "Thank you very much, Prime Minister. Please go ahead."
Luo Xin then became serious and said in a loud voice: "My king, since the chaotic times at the end of the Qin Dynasty, you have occupied Lingnan for more than ten years. Most of the people in the southern expedition army at that time may have married and had children there.
You are now the king of Lingnan. It is far from Chang'an, and the Queen Mother Regent and the Emperor cannot control you. Although it is very remote, it has millions of people. For a noble like you, you can live a life of wealth and glory. Is this what you want?"
Zhao Tuo really wanted to say directly that this was what he wanted, but he knew that he couldn't say that, as that would be simply seeking death. Luo Xin traveled thousands of miles, not just to listen to such nonsense from him.
So he immediately said righteously: "Of course I don't want to spend the rest of my life like this. If people only know how to enjoy themselves in this world, wouldn't they be like beasts?"
Luo Xin said in a deep voice: "My king, the reason why I came here is because you are the first ruler of the Xia Kingdom to be canonized by the Han Dynasty. I have high expectations for you."
Zhao Tuo asked in confusion: "The rulers of the Xia Kingdom? Please, Prime Minister, explain this to me."
Luo Xin replied: "As the name implies, the Lord of Zhuxia is the master of Zhuxia Country. As for Zhuxia Country, three conditions must be met at the same time.
The first is the ruler of the country, that is, you, the king, must be an orthodox Chinese. Your beliefs, language, writing, etiquette, etc. must be roughly the same as those of the Central Plains. There may be slight changes due to differences in geographical environment, but they must be distinguishable at a glance.
The second is that the entire ruling class of the country, the people of the Xia Dynasty, must occupy the upper hand, and there must be no situation where barbarians can manipulate national policies.
The third is that the number of people from all over the country must be balanced, and basic and comprehensive coverage must be achieved in terms of beliefs, language, writing, etiquette, etc. "
The first point is easy to understand. The Xia monarch and the Yi people are naturally not comparable to the Yi monarch and the Xia people. The second point is a reinforcement of the first point. Without the support of a ruling group, the only outcome for the Xia monarch is to be assimilated to the Yi people.
The third item is both a requirement and an assessment of Xia Jun’s performance. If he fails to meet it, he will not be considered the ruler of the Xia Kingdom.
Zhao Tuo was surprised when he heard this and said, "Prime Minister, the first and second ones are simple, as it is the case in Lingnan now, but the third one is really difficult.
We are all foreigners, there are only a few hundred thousand of us in Lingnan, how can we be compared with those barbarians who are endless and seemingly endless?"
Luo Xinyan smiled and said, "It's very simple. You just need to create a new register and record the people from the Central Plains and their wives. These are your Lingnan people.
The imperial court only recognizes these people. If you want to go to the Central Plains to do something, it is enough to bring only these people. As for the other barbarians, what do they have to do with your Lingnan Kingdom?"
Is this ok?
Zhao Tuo was almost dumbfounded. He had never thought that there would be such an operation. He quickly asked, "What do you think of the remaining people?"
You can't just shoot them down directly. Since Zhao Tuo has been able to stay safely in Lingnan for so many years, he must have connections in the local area. No matter what the reason is, he would never use such violent means.
Luo Xin did not answer directly, but laughed softly: "Zhongyuan thinks Lingnan is a wild place, but you are here, can't you feel the preciousness of this place?
Everything in the world is given by God for human survival, especially the sun, which brings light and harvest to the world. The only thing that can be compared with the sun is water, which is the source of life for all things.
Lingnan has abundant water and bright sunshine. Isn’t this a gift from God?
Along the way, there are evergreen trees everywhere on the roadside, wild fruits all over the mountains, and weeds growing on the hills. This is a fertile land.
This was how the Chu State blazed a trail on the Jianghan Plain. When the towering trees in Lingnan are cut down, when large tracts of forests are burned, when snakes, insects, rats and ants die in the violent fires, the ashes of the trees and the corpses of countless animals will turn into the best nutrients, nourishing this fertile land.
The ubiquitous miasma will disappear with the disappearance of the forest, and this place will become a paradise. Who do you think this land should belong to?"
Zhao Tuo frowned and said, "King Su said that all the land under the sun that is suitable for survival is given to the Xia people by God, so this place naturally belongs to the Xia people."
Luo Xin said with emotion: "Do you know what to do to make this land belong to Zhu Xia?"
Zhao Tuo asked tentatively: "Like our ancestors did?"
Luo Xin shook his head and said, "Of course not. In a country of etiquette, there will be barbarians who will take the initiative to surrender. As for those who don't take the initiative, we can persuade them to take the initiative.
Seeing the prosperity of the Xia Dynasty, would there be any barbarians who would not be willing to submit to it?
After returning to the Han Dynasty, you will increase technical support for Lingnan, and a large amount of ironware will be sent here. This place will develop quickly. You just need to let the men in the country marry more and have more children.
You can use all means except massacre to destroy their dilapidated cities, sever their absurd history, exterminate their ridiculous language, erase their common memory, mix their blood, and kill those who resist most fiercely.
Fifty years later, after two generations have passed away, the only ancestors that these people who studied the Central Plains culture could find would be the ancestors from the Central Plains. At that time, the Lingnan Kingdom could incorporate them into the country.
The Central Plains continued to exile criminals here generation after generation. After five hundred years, wouldn't this be the inherent territory of the Chinese?"
It was obviously a very gentle method. Faced with the advanced technology of the Central Plains, many barbarians would even take the initiative to leave their old lands, but Zhao Tuo shuddered when he heard it.
It’s so scary!
————
In the archives released and declassified by the Luo family, the author found a large amount of information promoting the kingly way. It can be clearly seen that the attitude of the barbarians changed from unwillingness to accept the kingly way in the early stage, to gradual agreement in the middle stage, and finally to the active submission of the Han Dynasty. The attraction of the Chinese to the surrounding barbarians increased with the improvement of civilization and productivity. This is the victory of advancement over backwardness, civilization over barbarism, this is the victory of civilization, and the victory of a country of etiquette. ——"The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty"
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