Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 530 Prince Jian of Sui
As the snow falling in the Central Plains gradually melts,
In this land of new summer, which has never had a distinct winter, one can still feel the chill of winter under the bright sunshine.

The Qi Kingdom, established by the Xiongnu people who migrated from the east, has grown into a vast country stretching from Hezhong in the north to Xindu in the south over time.

The state of Qi, which was weak during the Zhou Dynasty and was destroyed during the Spring and Autumn Period, and which mostly appeared only in the writings of various philosophers, experienced a mysterious revival thousands of years later. Following the Xia Dynasty in the Central Plains, it created a new glory belonging to the descendants of Yu the Great.

This made the people of Qi extremely proud, believing that following Emperor Taizu Wang Zhi to the West decades ago was truly a bright choice.

However, the Sui state opposed this.

The people of Xinxia, ​​who had enjoyed peace for too long, felt heavy pressure because of the affairs of the Qi Kingdom.

After the Sui Dynasty signed a treaty with Qi, agreeing to pay annual tribute, some insightful individuals in the Sui Dynasty voiced their opinions:
"Even if one possesses all the land in the world, how long can one cede territory and cities?"

"Even if one possesses all the wealth in the world, how long can one compensate with money or goods?"

"The Qi Kingdom is pressing us step by step. If our Sui Kingdom continues to act with the same composure as before, I fear the calamity that befell the Yuezhi people will be repeated in the new Xia!"

Regarding such remarks...
Soon another voice emerged to refute this:
"What do you mean by the Yuezhi's calamity repeating itself?"

"How can you insult the State of Qi like this!"

The Yuezhi were uncultured barbarians, ignorant of etiquette and utter scoundrels.

However, the people of Qi were of the Xia dynasty and were the nephews of the Han emperor.

The Yuezhi people, who lived on land outside Yangguan Pass, only knew how to herd cattle and horses. When they came to Xinxia at the end of the previous dynasty, they only knew how to plunder wealth and people.

But the State of Qi is not like that!
The Qi people cultivated the fertile lands of Dayuan and reclaimed farmland on the left bank of the Xindu River. They governed the people with the laws and rituals of the Xia people, which made their roots firmly planted in the land. Compared with the Yuezhi people, who were like duckweed and would gather and disperse with the wind and water, they were more worthy of vigilance and fear!
The convergence of these two voices caused great concern among the scholars and warriors of the Sui Dynasty.

They longed for the nation to recover from its stagnation, restore its former glory, and avoid the danger of national subjugation.

Scholars were speaking loudly beneath the notice boards in rural villages, where government decrees were announced and opinions on state affairs were discussed:
"Regardless of the past or present, we are all seeds brought from the Central Plains and sown in the new Xia by our ancestor Zhao Dynasty."

"The farmland here was cultivated by us and our ancestors; the cattle, sheep and horses here were also domesticated and bred by us and our ancestors."

"Our skin, tanned by the sun during the water conservancy project, hasn't even regained its former whiteness yet. How can we just watch our hard-earned achievements be stolen by those guys from the grasslands!"

Even though the State of Qi was still vying with them for "who is the true 'Xia'",
Even if the State of Qi could indeed be considered part of the Chinese civilization,

However, seeds grown in the Central Plains and the grasslands cannot be confused!

But regarding these claims and assertions...

The emperor and his ministers in the court did not respond.

The emperor remained in seclusion within the palace.

After a brief period of fear and struggle, the ministers returned to their previous state of "rest".

In any case, there is a desert and Gobi between the Sindhu River and the Ganges River, so it is not an easy task for the Qi State's army to cross it to attack the Sui State.

and,

Even if they lost territory and cities in the north,
Their Sui Dynasty could also demand money from the Sindhu people in the south to make up for their losses.

We'll make up for what we lost in the north by going to the south!
just,

The State of Qi will not be forever hindered by the desert.

Even among thousands of people, the people of Sindhu, who have been oppressed by the gentry of the Central Plains for hundreds of years, can produce a hero.

Is there any way to enjoy a good life while lying around doing nothing?

Those who need to take action still need to take action.
Those who must resist must still resist.

A virtuous person should be magnanimous and capable, and should also strive for continuous self-improvement!
……

"But how can a nation, after a hundred years of founding, face a powerful enemy without firing a single arrow or drawing a single sword?"

In the magnificent palaces of the Sui Dynasty,

The young prince posed this question to his teacher.

"Some ministers often told me that we should prioritize peace between the two countries and avoid disputes and conflicts."

"But with two countries standing side by side and their national strength locked in a stalemate, war is inevitable... just as two tigers cannot share a mountain, and two suns cannot share the sky!"

For this,

His teacher could only sigh.

The heat, water, and topography of this land in Xinxia are destined to cultivate a certain laziness and indolence in the creatures that live on it.

At the beginning of the dynasty, there was still a heroic spirit of resistance and indomitable will, which enabled the government to re-establish the system of rites and laws and restrain people's hearts.

However, times change and the world changes.
Generations later, under the scorching sun, the heroic spirit dissipates, leaving behind mostly dregs after being tossed and turned in the furnace.

Just like the current emperor's rule.

Early stage,

The "wise man's time" triggered by excessive infighting among the high-ranking officials and bureaucrats allowed them to remain inactive and achieve relatively good results.

Even when the State of Qi invaded and the emperor personally led the expedition, it stirred up the bloodlust of some people in the country.

But when the contract was signed...
Having accepted the annual tribute, the State of Qi ceased its attacks and invasions. With external troubles temporarily relieved, the Sui state became complacent.

The former "sage" regained his energy and, over the past decade or so, has once again developed an appetite for fish.

In such a situation,

How can we stop meat-eaters from grinding their teeth and sucking blood just to fight off foreign enemies?
War may kill people, but it can also break the existing rules, cause social unrest, and change people's hearts.

This is not something that meat-eaters would like to hear.

then,

The inherent laziness of the human nature, and the appeasement of those in power.
This constituted the true attitude of the Sui Dynasty towards foreign countries—

The calls for "war" are very loud.

Scholars from the Sui Dynasty also frequently criticized the Qi state, saying it "had not lost its barbaric nature and still retained the characteristics of the Xiongnu."
However, the army has remained stationary on the border between the two countries, in what was once their territory. Even the drawing of bows and the firing of arrows have been forbidden by those in power, in order to prevent "lightly provoking border conflicts."

Some people defended them, finding reasons such as, "Money can deter conflict between two countries and bring about peace, which shows its importance."

"We can solve all our problems as long as we accumulate enough money!"

War is a matter of great importance to the state.

If something like this can be swayed by money, how can it not arouse the greed of those above and below?
If you have money, you don't need to fight wars.

When you're at war, you can't make money!
Even if the rise of the Qi Kingdom blocked the traditional trade routes from Xinxia to the Central Plains and the Western Sea, how could Xinxia have such a route to connect with the outside world?
To reach the Central Plains, they could also travel through the Central and Southern regions, passing through Ailao and Kunming, and eventually reaching Sichuan.

To get to the Western Sea or Rome, you can take a boat from the port, which takes less time than traveling by land.

Given the intense fighting and turmoil in the Western Sea, even though land routes remained open, Sui Dynasty merchants preferred to travel by sea to avoid the plundering bandits and warlords.

"But can the future of such a large country be determined by money?"

Crown Prince Sui Jian said angrily, "I have read the historical records of kings and nobles, and I have also read the miscellaneous stories of the common people... When a great building collapses, wealth and honor cannot save one's life!"

He lamented, "If we cannot pull ourselves together, what difference will there be between my Sui Dynasty and the previous dynasty that perished in debauchery?"

"I must go to see my father and persuade him to implement reform policies to sweep away the filth of the country!"

After all,

After bidding farewell to his teacher, Sui Jian took a carriage to the palace and arrived before his father.

After hearing his son's words, the monarch, who ruled with nothing to do, remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
"I am a person without virtue or ability. The reason I was able to become the ruler of a country is only by chance."

“After the State of Qi seized the land of my ancestors, I felt angry and indignant, but I was powerless to do anything about it and dared not act rashly.”

Governing a country has never been an easy task.

Although the emperor lacked virtue, he was self-aware.

He knew he was an amateur who was only good at Taoist meditation, and if he forcibly intervened, he didn't know what kind of turmoil it would cause.

Therefore, for several decades, he only did miscellaneous tasks that he could do and was capable of doing. For example, he worked with officials in charge of finance to calculate the country's revenue and expenditure.

For example, promoting or dismissing officials based on their experience...

Compared to the "Emperor",
He's more like a clueless, bureaucratic office worker.

of course,

More often than not,
The imperial court would not allow such trivial matters to bother the emperor.

This saint would usually only put on his crown and robes and gather with his ministers at the end of the year to complete the above tasks.

"But doing just this little bit is not enough to match the responsibility of a 'monarch'!"

"Can a Taoist practitioner engage in detached conversation and remain indifferent to worldly affairs? Can an emperor also engage in detached conversation and remain indifferent to worldly affairs?"

The young and impetuous crown prince did not agree with his father's attitude and actions.

He said some things that, if these words reached the ears of Confucian scholars, would lead them to accuse him of being "unfilial."

Fortunately, the emperor was not angry.

Because that's how he sees himself too.

Even after seeing the heir's intense reaction, the emperor was somewhat pleased.

He said to his son:
“My actions can be described as ‘occupying a position without doing any work’... I suppose that’s why I have difficulty having children.”

Even emperors who practiced Taoism and purified their minds had several children.

Before the war broke out between Qi and Sui
He has already appointed a crown prince and selected renowned officials and scholars from both the court and the countryside to tutor him.

After the war,

The emperor gained a deeper understanding of his own powerlessness, so he generously delegated power to the teenage crown prince, hoping to help him grow up quickly and take over the responsibilities of the country.

Unfortunately, fate intervened and thwarted it.

The carefully groomed crown prince soon died of illness, and several older princes subsequently passed away for various reasons.

This caused the emperor great grief, and the court officials dared not easily discuss the matter of the new crown prince, fearing that he would die as soon as he was chosen, just like his brothers.

It wasn't until the prince before them came of age and displayed vigorous vitality and abundant energy that the Sui Dynasty had a new crown prince.

"Since you are determined to cheer up, I cannot stop you."

The emperor said, “The country will eventually pass to you, and you will become a better monarch than I.”

"Before all this is achieved, you should do some practical things and prepare to lead a country."

The emperor was pleased with his son's ambition, but he also worried, as if he were worried about himself, that his young son, lacking experience, would become an amateur who gave unsolicited advice to experts.

Therefore,
He wanted the crown prince to govern a region and use a large number of affairs to prove his son's talent and ability.

As for the inevitable opposition that will arise in the imperial court?
The emperor was a reclusive and introverted person who would not take action because of loud noises from the outside world.

The crown prince had not expected this either.
He had come to persuade his father to revitalize his spirits and use talented people to reform corrupt practices, but instead he was given this task.

But the crown prince did not refuse.

This appointment suited his wishes better than the original plan.

then,

Sui Crown Prince Sui Jian immediately took up his post and went to a county near the capital, Dening, to oversee affairs.

He asked the teacher who had come with him what should be done to govern a county.

The teacher told him, "You should first understand the local customs and conditions before making any specific decisions."

Sui Jian then wanted to give orders to have people gather information for him.

But his teacher said, "That's not good."

"This is a county in Zhili Province. Although it is not as prosperous and wealthy as the capital, there are still local tyrants running rampant here."

"Going there with great fanfare might not yield the desired result."

After listening to his words, Sui Jian calmed down. Once the storm outside had subsided and the attention on him had eased, he changed into civilian clothes, went out through a side door, and went to conduct a private investigation into civil matters.

He told his worried teacher, "I have seen many famous ministers in history books take similar actions when they take office."

"Moreover, the people of a county are so numerous. If I cannot hear their voices with my own ears, how can I know their expectations of the court and resolve the accumulated conflicts?"

"As for my safety, I have practiced martial arts since childhood to strengthen my body, so there is no need to mention it again!"

He took a few strong men and led a fine horse, and went to the outskirts of the city to observe the local situation.

Sui Jian did not act arrogantly or recklessly because of his youth. He simply recorded what he saw and heard, and then pondered ways to solve related problems during his rest time.

The new Xia kingfisher, who had been observing him all along, said to Emperor Taizu of Sui, "This kid looks a bit like you."

Back then, Sui Ping also liked to observe things secretly and then ponder them.

However, compared to his ancestors who started their businesses from humble beginnings, this crown prince was bolder and more energetic in his words and actions.

Ok,
Even his appearance is much more handsome than our ancestor!

Sui Ping was also very happy that he had such a descendant.

With the successive deaths of his sons, the previous emperor believed that the Sui dynasty was not blessed by God and that its reign would be the shortest since the three previous dynasties.

So all of this was preparation for today's person!
His cold pork will likely never run out.

However, "everything has a beginning, but few things have an end."

Sui Ping couldn't help but worry that his son might become complacent and lax in the future, just like the country he had built.

"Right now, it would be good to get the guy who's lying down up."

Why are you stirring things up again?

The ghost of Xinxia patted the old ghost on the shoulder and said to him, "Let's take it one step at a time."

"Otherwise, a few decades later, the new Xia dynasty will establish a dynasty called 'Qi'."

After the rapid expansion came to a halt,
The rulers and ministers of the State of Qi turned their attention to their own systems.

They hoped to leverage their country's advantageous location to become a vital intermediary on the Silk Road, which stretched across the eastern and western sides of the Chinese continent, thereby increasing the nation's wealth and spreading its reputation.

To achieve this, it is essential to establish a sound and comprehensive system.

Sui Ping had previously prayed to the gods to allow him to go to the banks of the Xindu River and attend the court assembly of the Qi Kingdom. After returning, he often fell silent, believing that once the Qi Kingdom fully evolved, the stagnant Sui Kingdom would also be destined for destruction.

Fortunately,

The incompetent emperor of the Sui Dynasty finally produced a talented successor and chose to support his offspring in realizing his dreams.

"...Hopefully the Xiongnu can put in more effort to hold back the Qi Kingdom and give this child time to grow up."

After glancing at his descendants, whose features exuded a heroic air, Sui Ping then turned his gaze beyond Xingshan, across the territory of the Qi Kingdom, and towards a place further north.

over there,
Having seized more pastures and enslaved a large number of Saka people, the Xiongnu were ushering in their most prosperous era since their westward migration.

And when it becomes powerful
It's time to retaliate for the humiliation we suffered at the hands of the State of Qi.

snort!
The wealthy folks in the south, seeing that I had also moved to the vicinity, always felt that I was there to freeload.

Furthermore, because the other party changed their identity, found a glorious ancestor for themselves across thousands of years, and claimed to have connections with more prominent relatives, they regarded their own brother as a "stain on the nation"...

How pitiful God is,

How much injustice did Punu Chanyu suffer back then!

Now, after more than ten years of dedicated work...
It's time to look up and meet it!
(End of this chapter)