Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 90, Section 89: The Land of Baiyue
The king was too sharp-tongued, so the Grand Historian had no choice but to keep quiet.

However, launching a direct attack on Baiyue would be truly unwise!
He stared longingly at Ji Heng, but the other man didn't even glance at him. So he turned to look at Qin Shi.

Qin Shi: ...

To be honest, attacking the Baiyue people now is really not an option.

From the Zhejiang region around Dong'ou (also known as Dongyue), through Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi, to Luoyue in northern Vietnam in later generations, the entire battle line was more than 2000 kilometers long in a straight line.

This is just the straight-line distance; the actual marching route is winding and circuitous, probably exceeding 6000 kilometers.

Fighting on such a long front simultaneously will drag the country down.

In fact, what she knew was that the First Emperor's southern expedition against the Baiyue people consisted of three campaigns, totaling 600,000 troops and lasting nine years.

As we all know, war is the most expensive thing to wage.

Nowadays, the war relies entirely on Qin's agricultural and military policy. There is no money to conscript soldiers and laborers; it is mandatory to serve in the military, and they even need to provide their own weapons and food.

The only thing worth promoting was that poor slaves could exchange military merits for rewards.

Examples include tax exemption, land redistribution, and changes in the status of slaves.

But the 600,000-strong army, which lasted for nine years, consumed enough food to cripple the domestic economy.

This is simply taking lives to pay for it, which is why it's being condemned as tyranny.

Despite the heavy burden of the 600,000-strong army, there was also the watchful eye of the Xiongnu in the north, and a large number of troops were also stationed in the north for defense.

Despite Ji Heng's generous rewards to Qin Shi, in reality, those were all items from the King of Qin's private treasury, while the national treasury was already empty.

She was curious, so she asked, "Your Majesty, the Zhuzhe mentioned earlier was a tribute from Xiangjun and Nanhaijun. Isn't that also part of the Baiyue region?"

Qin Shi inquired carefully and gradually sorted out the facts—historically, Qin Shi Huang first dispatched an army of 500,000 to conquer Dongyue, Minyue, and Nanyue, and then successfully subdued them.

However, the Xi'ou (Guangxi) and Luoyue (Vietnam) tribes, whose soldiers were the most valiant and fearless in battle, and who could even hide in the jungles, managed to cut off the Qin army's food and supplies for several years.

So much so that Qin Shi Huang, in a fit of anger, ordered the excavation of the Ling Canal to improve transportation and supply, which was the only way he managed to barely conquer the area.

Now...

She didn't know much about the war at the time, so she asked again.

Since she was allowed to participate in politics, Ji Heng was quite patient.

The tense atmosphere between him and the Grand Historian was broken at this moment, so he glanced at her again, his expression flat:

"The Eastern Yue, Min Yue and Southern Yue were only pacified because I sent 300,000 troops to conquer them last time, but only a portion of them were subdued."

At that time, they were still dividing their forces to attack the Chu region, resulting in insufficient troops and the current predicament. Because they failed to achieve victory in one fell swoop, various regions are still restless and eager to rebel...

Next time, we must strike hard and defeat them in one fell swoop!
Therefore, although places like Xiangjun and Nanhaijun submitted and paid tribute, there were still unrest in the surrounding areas, and the region was not unified.

Qin Shi understood.

We tried to reason with them last time, but we didn't get to the bottom of it. Now some are obedient and some are not, so we need to work on them again.

As for Guangxi and Vietnam, those places are mostly jungles and mountains, and the local climate and water conditions are unsuitable, and the soldiers are fierce and brave... If we were to march south now, it would be a very tough battle.

Even a thousand years from now, that place will still be difficult to conquer.

Although Baiyue is a good place, as the Grand Historian said, it is a real pity to take away precious lives that are meant to strengthen the country, to fill the gaps in the war, and to waste time!

She asked so many questions, yet the Grand Historian still stared at her expectantly, while Ji Heng snorted coldly:
"What? Does Qin Qing also think I am unwise?"

Your Majesty's words are truly sharp!
Everyone asked, "Don't you agree with me?" He replied, "Don't you also think my decision is irrational?"

How is one supposed to respond when a matter of stance turns into a personal attack?

She simply stopped answering: "I don't know anything about military matters, but the climate in the Baiyue region is suitable, rice and wheat can be harvested two or three times a year, mineral resources are also exceptionally abundant, and it can even be used for overseas trade..."

"Such a treasure land, it is perfectly normal for Your Majesty to want to conquer it."

Ji Heng clenched his fist instantly.

Because of the barriers of mountains and forests and the accumulation of miasma, the Qin state did not know much about the Baiyue people.

The reason he attacked before the six kingdoms were even pacified was simply because a long, narrow strip of land between the border and the vast sea belonged to another country, which kept him awake at night.

Since Qin Shi said so, then he was even more determined to take it down!
The Grand Astrologer was completely bewildered—judging from Qin Qing's casual and natural way of describing the Baiyue, could the image of the Qian hexagram, "ambition and progress," be manifesting in the Queen?

It seems to her that taking over Baiyue is more natural than the king's right!
But Qin Shi then said, "However, Your Majesty, now that the six kingdoms have just been pacified, everything is in need of rebuilding. I believe that the most urgent task is to allow the people to recuperate and rebuild..."

The Grand Astrologer breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Looking at Zhou Ju, who was standing silently beside Ji Heng, the two of them somehow felt a sense of mutual appreciation when their eyes met.

Ji Heng certainly understood what Qin Shi was saying.

But if we conquer Baiyue, we can use the land that yields two or three harvests a year to support Qin, wouldn't that be twice as effective?
His expression remained unchanged, but Qin Shi could vaguely sense the other party's eagerness, so he decisively changed the subject—

"Only when our Qin army is strong and well-equipped with indestructible weapons can we take it down in one fell swoop and demonstrate our national power."

"Let the remnants of the six states, who are hiding in various places and engaging in petty crimes, see that the unification of our Great Qin is already unstoppable."

Qin Shi hadn't forgotten that she had come today to report her thoughts on her trip to the Ironworks to Ji Heng.

Moreover, nowadays, the Qin state needs to conscript laborers to build the Great Wall, the underground palace at Mount Li, and many other infrastructure projects in Xianyang.

We also have to fight on all fronts, defending against the Xiongnu and Qianghu.

Be wary of rebellions by the remnants of the six former states.

There's also the Baiyue region; both those that were conquered before and those that weren't, they all need to be kept under surveillance.

So, does the Qin state really have 25 million people now? And how many more sacrifices can it withstand?

Without a population, no matter how capable she is, how difficult it is to achieve development!
Although Ji Heng valued human resources, his consistent educational philosophy meant that he never took the common people and slaves seriously.

If conscripting another 500,000 laborers could conquer the Baiyue region, he certainly would.

Will.

Qin Shi then changed the subject and brought up the matter he hadn't had time to report before:
"As for indestructible bladed weapons..."

"If Your Majesty trusts me, could you please allocate a very small ironworks in Xianyang City to me?"

"There are also some skilled craftsmen available. I may present some precious treasures to you in the New Year."

Qin Shi silently calculated the time. There were still two months until the New Year in October. He wondered if that would be enough time to change the current iron smelting methods.
She was filled with countless thoughts, but the Grand Astrologer Yuan Xin was overjoyed:

Great! We've pushed the "attack on Baiyue" issue all the way to after the New Year!
As expected of the Kun hexagram, which uses softness to overcome hardness, the time it takes to extend is even longer than his 49 days of burning incense and praying!

Historically, Zhao Tuo, a general of the Qin Dynasty, steadfastly defended the Baiyue region. When the Second Emperor ascended the throne and rebellions broke out everywhere, Zhao Tuo relentlessly suppressed the various tribes, cutting off passes and strictly guarding the borders. After the fall of Qin, in the first year of Emperor Gaozu of Han's reign, he declared himself king, calling himself King Wu of Nanyue. He then submitted to the Han Dynasty, rebelled again, and submitted again… until he was finally defeated by Emperor Wu of Han.

Coming!