Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 150 Persia
The terrain of the continent of Sindhu is blocked by high mountains in the north and surrounded by the sea on three sides. Two large rivers run through it, thus eroding two large plains.

In fact, the two plains are not connected, and there is a desert in between.

therefore,

Someone in the New Xia Kingdom suggested that there was no need to cross the desert to conquer the barbarians there.

If you want to expand later, you can go through Xingshan Pass to the outside and seize the land there.

This is very different from the idea of Prime Minister Zhao Gui.

When Zhao Gui proposed to repair Yangguan, he actually wanted to attack the Julou Kingdom and the Panzhulou Kingdom in the Ganges Plain.

Because compared to the Xindu River,

The land on both sides of the Ganges is more fertile and can support a larger population.

Therefore, most of the people from Sindhu are also concentrated there.

According to Zhao Gui's idea,
Thousands of years later, their descendants will continue to reproduce and will need that land to provide for them.

The land outside Xingshan can be used for grazing, but it is a bit difficult to grow crops.

Across the desert,

This is bound to be difficult.

But the same principle -

There were some hardships that their ancestors had to endure, so that their descendants could have an easier time.

It's just that in the eyes of others,

Seize land, expand territory,
This should be something that should be done gradually.

The most critical issue facing Xinxia right now is,
It's population stratification.

Even if there is a stable connection with the Western Regions,

The Qin State, one of the Xia states, also exiled many people to the Western Regions every year because of its strict laws, and then sent them to the New Xia through Jiaonan Jun.

But there were still not enough seeds.

But the native weeds are everywhere here.

So, in terms of the country,

There is a natural desert to the east, so there is no need to worry about the attack from barbarians.

It is enough to build Yangguan in the northwest and have a certain level of defense.

Barbarian Powers Outside Xingshan
Their parents have felt it.

It can't be called a serious problem.
It's just not worth mentioning.

It would be better to invest the extra energy into business with Lord Jiaonan and bring in more gentlemen from various parts of China to educate the barbarians.

Even if we want to expand, we must expand along the trade routes and extend to the northwest.

Just in this way,
The area inside and outside Yangguan is all the territory of Xinxia, so there is no need to build any passes or beacon towers.

Maybe,

This is probably why the countries on this side of the Xindu River did not build city walls at the mountain pass in the past.

A weak country cannot afford it.

A strong country does not need repairs.

At this time, Xinxia had been established for forty-seven years and occupied the fertile plains of the Xindu River, so it was naturally considered powerful.

Therefore, at present, the two factions of "going east" and "going west" are arguing more and more fiercely as the cost of building the Yangguan Mountain Road is increasing and the slaves in the country are almost insufficient.

"How could I not know the truth you are talking about?"

Xia Jun stroked his knees and said, "It's just that there are some things that we can't let down our guard just because we can't see them with our own eyes."

"If Xinxia expands to the northwest and its territory penetrates Xingshan, and therefore gives up building fortresses such as Yangguan, then if they are defeated by the barbarians outside and want to retreat to the interior, what can we do to stop them?"

Yangguan and its supporting fortress,
It is the gateway to the new summer.

Xinxia can come and go as she pleases.

When the bad guests arrive, you can close the door to stop the enemy.

The wisdom of their ancestors taught them:
When considering things, don't just stop at the present.

When a country is strong, it must be prepared for decline so as to stay away from troubles.

But the other side said, "How can the barbarians outside Xingshan have the strength to attack Xinxia?"

Perhaps because they had been taught by their parents since childhood, and had witnessed the differences between the barbarians and Xinxia after taking charge, the gentlemen of Xinxia did not think highly of the Sindhu countries, not to mention the barbarians outside the mountains who had not established their own countries. The King of Xia said, "Have you forgotten that before your parents left, they mentioned the country that once came to the Xindu River and demanded wealth and tribute?"

"My virtue is shallow. The reason why I was able to inherit the throne of Xinxia by the abdication of the previous emperor is only because I work seriously and carefully."

"So, since there is a place that our ancestors are concerned about, how can I ignore the possible dangers there?"

"Last year, I sent people out of Yangguan and headed west to inquire about the news over there. You were on a diplomatic mission to the Su Luosu Kingdom at the time, so you didn't know about this."

"Recently, that team returned and did bring back some news."

"According to what they have seen and heard, there is a country called Persia in a place even farther away than Xinxia. Its territory is vast, just like the Zhou emperor of the Xia Dynasty. It once required the barbarians on this side of the Xindu River to pay tribute to it."

"It's just that in the past few decades, Persia has been weakening and its territory has shrunk, so our ancestors didn't encounter it."

"As for the past two years, Persia has declined even more severely. The monarch of this country has been at war with the country to the west and has been badly defeated. His wife has even been captured."

“I am therefore concerned—

If Persia falls, will the splashes affect Xinxia?"

"This is why I want to build a fortress on the mountain road in Xingshan!"

The minister was a little surprised, "How come I don't know about this?"

Xia Jun said, "You are mainly responsible for diplomatic missions to the Sindhu countries. You are in the east all year round. How can you understand what is happening in the west?"

Even if you leave Xingshan,
The merchant envoys of Xinxia mostly went to the Western Regions in the northeast to seek more seeds, rather than to attract more barbarians.

If a caravan had not lost its way and taken the wrong road last year, it would not have headed west and met several Persian nobles.

The caravan traded with the Persians in exchange for some exquisite glass products. At the same time, they also heard that last year, their monarch was defeated by another country and his entire family suffered.

Fortunately, in the core territory of Persia,
That is, it is similar to the Zhou Dynasty's royal capital, which is further west. Therefore, the humiliating defeat did not have a great impact on the nobles of the Eastern Persian Kingdom.

If he can win the battle later, he will continue to be a Persian noble.

If you can't win later, just change your appearance and replace the monarch!

Anyway, whoever comes to such a large land can only exercise nominal rule, and the actual power is still in the hands of these feudal nobles who were born and raised here.

The Xinxia caravan was surprised, and then returned to inform Xia Jun of the incident.

Therefore, Xia Jun said to Zhao Gui, "This is something we should be vigilant about!"

"I can't let Xinxia's foundation perish in the second generation, so we must be alert to all possible dangers!"

then,

He sent an armed delegation of one hundred people to the West to find out more detailed information.

An order was also issued to build a beacon tower on the Yangguan Mountain Road.

After hearing what Xia Jun said, the minister fell silent for a while.

At last,
He raised the jade tablet in his hand and said to the king, "If that's the case, then repairing the pass is indeed necessary."

"Is the country's money enough to support such consumption?"

Xia Jun said, "Food supply can still be guaranteed."

The Sindhu River basin has abundant water and heat. Although according to the memories of our parents, the amount of rainfall here each year is not as much as that of other Xia states, fortunately, after defeating Gandhara, the five river areas in the upper reaches of the Sindhu River were completely owned by New Xia.

With the help of river irrigation and the farming talent of the Xia people, a lot of grain can be harvested every year.

"As for copper and iron objects, many have already been cast."

After annexing Gandhara,
Xinxia moved its capital to the more fertile upstream plains and renovated the old capital of Gandhara.

The new capital, Xiacheng, was located between the first and second rivers of the Wuhe River, and there were iron mines along these two rivers.

With food and weapons,

Get ready for battle.

Everyone feels at ease.

So the minister stopped talking and started reporting other matters to the king.

at the same time,

far west,
The second group of armed envoys released by Xia Jun were listening to the hired Persian translator explaining the latest news to them.

　The current timeline is 330 BC. Regarding Alexander, I will follow the current official information (〒_〒Please don't quarrel over this)
　　In 333 BC, Darius III lost his wife and children in the Battle of Issus, and then fled to the eastern provinces.

　　In 331 BC, the Battle of Gaugamela broke out, and Darius lost all his money and ran away, all the way to the vicinity of the Caspian Sea.

　　If someone hadn't stabbed him in the back, his level of running away could have rivaled that of the Gaoliang River God of War.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)