Qin Zhaoyue blurted out:
"Nominally, they submitted to Dagen and were incorporated into the territory."
The imperial court will open official trade markets and establish checkpoints.
People in southern Xinjiang do not have to be confined to the mountains and forests for generations; they can live and trade in the designated prefectures and counties of the Zhuque Southern Route.
As for the rest... it all depends on His Majesty's future will and your performance.
"What I can tell you is that the main branch of the four great families in Fengjing has been wiped out."
At least four prefectures will be returned to the imperial court, and the confiscated land will most likely be returned to the people.
If people from southern Xinjiang were willing to migrate to the Central Plains to farm and settle down, it wouldn't be impossible.
"In addition, His Majesty of our dynasty vigorously promotes the imperial examination system, which allows both men and women to take the exams and enter officialdom."
Perhaps we could establish official schools in southern Xinjiang to promote education and allow you to participate in the imperial examinations.
In the future, officials selected by your own examinations will govern your homeland in the south.
Aya's heart began to pound violently.
She was no stranger to the prosperity of the Baiyue Protectorate, having secretly sneaked in many times after achieving a minor level of cultivation.
The bustling streets, the dazzling array of food, the glittering lights at night, the clear voices reciting lessons from the schools, the elegant eloquence of young people, the wondrous tales brought by traveling merchants, and the captivating stories told by storytellers in teahouses…
All of this constitutes the most colorful and precious part of her childhood memories.
She knew that the pelts of ordinary game from the mountains and forests of southern Xinjiang could fetch a good price at the market of the Protectorate General's office, enough to buy a large amount of grain.
In the south, tribes often had to pay the ultimate price to cultivate even a small plot of land and protect themselves from wild animals.
Not to mention the precious fabrics, salt, and iron farm tools.
There were also schools, imperial examinations... that was simply the light of another world.
She slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, trying her best to suppress the surging emotions in her chest, and looked intently at Qin Zhaoyue:
"Merely nominal submission?"
Sixth Princess, are you sure you can make this decision?
"You're making all sorts of promises now, but once the affairs of the Vermilion Bird Southern Road are settled, what guarantees will you have for everything you've just promised?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhaoyue simply rolled her eyes, her tone utterly indifferent:
Why should I make any promises to you?
Aya was suddenly stunned. A huge sense of humiliation rushed to her head, causing her whole body to tremble slightly uncontrollably, and her fingertips dug deeply into her palms.
However, this humiliation came quickly and went quickly, soon being suppressed by a deeper sense of helplessness and powerlessness.
Negotiation can only be considered a negotiation if the two parties are of equal strength and equal status.
Now... she's nothing more than fish on a chopping board.
Qin Zhaoyue seemed somewhat impatient, letting out a long sigh, her brows furrowing with obvious annoyance.
Let me sort it out for you.
With your cooperation, persuade the various tribes in southern Xinjiang to withdraw their troops, and bring southern Xinjiang into Dagan's territory without bloodshed.
Everything I just mentioned has a high probability of gradually becoming a reality.
At the very least, I can promise you right now that we can open border markets and conduct normal trade.
The two sides had been fighting for many years and both knew that the imperial army would find it difficult to win by going deep into the mountains and forests.
"And once you leave the mountains, you are no match for a large army."
"If you don't cooperate..." Her tone suddenly turned cold.
"It's just a matter of putting in more effort."
After purging the aristocratic families, I will lead my troops to slaughter any tribal soldiers who dare to resist, and even the entire village.
We will slaughter you until you are terrified, until the southern border has no power to resist, and you will eventually become slaves.
There is a vast amount of barren land, desperately needing manpower to cultivate it. Workshops and mines across the land would likely be happy to receive a steady stream of slave laborers.
"But you should know that Da Gan has always valued a degree of fairness in implementing the king's teachings and guidance."
Are you familiar with the four border regions? Perhaps you are not yet aware that Helian Chaolu, the daughter of a noble family in the northwest border region, participated in the provincial examination of Zhongchen Road and has already passed.
This means she is now eligible to be selected as an official…
At this point, Qin Zhaoyue paused abruptly, her heart skipping a beat.
Wait... Helian Chaolu went to Fengjing for reference...
It seems that the Empress Dowager's original intention was simply to add fuel to the fire of the women's imperial examination and suppress the momentum of Princess Shuofeng.
There shouldn't be any deeper considerations, right?
hiss……
Given the Empress's tendency to plan ten steps ahead and her habit of laying the groundwork for the future, she might very well have a backup plan...
Wow~ These people with such deep and unfathomable minds are truly terrifying to think about.
Qin Zhaoyue quickly regained her composure after that momentary lapse in concentration and continued:
"The northwestern border region has now become a high-quality horse breeding ground."
The original inhabitants, who had been herding horses in Dagan, gained the status of commoners and the respect they deserved.
Why can't Southern Xinjiang follow suit?
As far as I know, rare game, fine furs, and various delicacies from the mountains and forests can fetch extremely high prices in the Central Plains.
"That's all I have to say," Qin Zhaoyue said, giving Ayaduo one last look at her ever-changing expression.
"The decision of where to go is yours."
Jiang Wuyai's "domain" was like an invisible water curtain, still tightly enveloping the blood-soaked bedroom, completely isolating all sounds and smells inside from the outside world.
Knowing that the Holy Maiden of Southern Xinjiang had "important business" to attend to tonight and needed to be alone with the Second Prince, the guards around them had been deliberately dismissed, and there were no spying eyes.
At this moment, the room fell into an almost stagnant silence.
Only the occasional crackling sound of the candle flame on the lampstand reflected the mess on the ground and the various expressions on everyone's faces.
Ayado lowered her head slightly, her thick eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, concealing the intense struggle and hesitation churning within them.
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