In Youqing's estate, Kangxi had just finished eating. The two went to the study, one looking at the account books and the other at the memorials. The room was quiet under the flickering candlelight.
The pen scratched softly for a while before Kangxi stood up and walked to Youqing: "Are there many account books to see today?"
Youqing didn't stop writing and answered her directly: "Indeed, quite a lot."
"Do you need my help?"
Youqing looked up at him: "Never mind, have you finished reading your report?"
Kangxi shook his head: "These are all sycophantic memorials; they're boring to read."
Youqing couldn't help but laugh: "You don't even like flattery anymore."
"That's right, I want to hear something practical now."
"If you want to hear the actual reports but can't find them, you might as well send someone to investigate yourself."
"Yes, you're right."
At this point, Kangxi added, "By the way, in a few days I plan to watch the musket troops' drills, a real-life combat exercise between the two armies. Do you want to come along with the method you suggested?"
Youqing nodded: "Okay! It's good to go and take a look. I forgot to ask, how many people are there in the musketeer army now?"
"Two thousand one hundred people."
Youqing nodded: "That's quite a lot. Let's start slowly."
"If this exercise goes well, and if the Dzungars send troops to attack us, I am confident that I can crush them in one fell swoop and never let them get up again."
Historically, Emperor Kangxi personally led three military campaigns against the Dzungar Khanate. The Dzungar Khanate was a tribe whose strength and influence were extraordinary, capable of inspiring Emperor Kangxi to personally lead three campaigns against them.
Seeing Kangxi's confident demeanor, Youqing began to believe him.
Even though the musketeer corps only numbered a little over two thousand, the quality was excellent!
Somewhat similar to later special forces, their mission is to strike unexpectedly, penetrate deep into enemy territory, and dismantle the enemy's forces from within.
"Then I would like to congratulate His Majesty on his triumphant return in advance."
The two men hadn't even started fighting yet, and they were already talking about their triumphant return.
"By the way, the Dzungars are acting unruly. How are the Mongol tribes behaving?"
"Some of them are timid and honest, while others are not so conscientious."
When the Qing army entered the pass and the Manchus came to power, the Mongols could only live on the vast grasslands outside the pass. Their food, clothing and daily necessities were naturally not as luxurious as those in the interior. At first, they could accept it, but gradually, who wouldn't want a better life? The Dzungars dared to do it, and other tribes dared to do it too, just not as openly as the Dzungars.
What are your plans?
Kangxi's thinking was more direct: "If they don't behave, we'll just attack them directly. Once they behave, they'll really behave."
Youqing glanced at him: "You really think you can beat him into submission?"
Some people are just naturally forgetful of what they've learned.
"Would they dare to be dishonest?"
"You are young and vigorous now, full of energy, so naturally you have nothing to fear, but what about in the future! Can those scheming Mongols really be honest for a lifetime, or even for one generation?"
"So what do you think we should do?"
"Trade," Youqing gave her answer.
"Business?"
"That's right, it's about trade. The reason why the Mongol people are willing to join in the commotion is because they feel that they are being treated unfairly. They entered the pass together, but now the world belongs to the Manchus, while the Mongols can only live in a corner and suffer from the hardship of freezing to death in winter. Naturally, they are dissatisfied, which is why the Dzungars can be called upon by many. If the status quo of Mongolia is changed, even if some people are unwilling, it depends on whether the people are willing to cooperate with him."
Whether people are from the north or the south, their lifestyles may differ, but they all share one thing in common: the desire to live a good and stable life.
After listening, Kangxi pondered for a moment and said, "What you say makes sense, but where do you think we should intervene in this matter?"
At this point, Kangxi already had some ideas in mind, but he still wanted to hear what Youqing had to say.
"Trade, in essence, is the exchange of goods, the establishment of sound markets, the dispatch of court officials and soldiers to guard and manage them, maintaining market prices and order, so that Mongols can afford fine goods from the interior, and at the same time, develop Mongolian-made goods for trade, such as a range of products brought by wool yarn..."
Youqing spoke at length, and Kangxi listened attentively; it was indeed a good method.
“You’re right, but there’s still one problem: Mongolia won’t allow the court to send troops or officials.”
Youqing smiled slightly: "They haven't seen the power of the muskets and the mother-and-child cannons yet. If they had, they naturally wouldn't refuse something that's good for them."
"You are right, it is my oversight that I did not consider things thoroughly enough."
By using both enticement and threats, one can achieve their goal.
"The market for trade with Mongolia is controlled by the imperial court. It may not be very important at first, but this market will gradually permeate the people's lives, including their clothing, food, housing, and transportation. When intermarriage occurs, many skills from the inland areas will be passed on to Mongolia. At that time, Mongolia will be able to be self-sufficient, and it will no longer be up to the Mongolian princes to decide."
"Well said," Kangxi laughed heartily.
The way to govern Mongolia was never by making a few Mongolian princes obedient and exchanging goods, which would naturally bring Mongolia under the control of the imperial court.
Mongolia is located in the north, and its winters are even colder than those in Beijing. Beijing is a bustling city, and if anything happens near the capital, like the snow disaster at the beginning of this year, we can provide disaster relief and assistance as soon as possible.
But in Mongolia, where the Mongol princes govern themselves, every winter people and livestock freeze to death. Livestock are property, but people are lives. If both freeze to death, how can the Mongol people possibly have a good life?
Every year, the Mongol princes would find various reasons to ask the court for things, which they would then use for their own enjoyment. As for the common people, the princes didn't really care about many of them.
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