Zhu Di: My fourth son is a great emperor of all time?

Chapter 39: Solving the Problem of the Grassland Tribes that Have Been Plaguing Us for a Thousand Years
Zhu Gaoshuo's words made Yu Qian fall into deep thought.

Although not explicitly stated, Yu Qian could sense that Zhu Gaoshuo did not seem to agree, and that he wanted the emperor to curb his warlike tendencies.

He had never been to the north and did not know the suffering there, but he had indeed witnessed firsthand the torment suffered by the people in the south.

Benevolence and benevolent governance were the consensus of Confucian scholars throughout the land, and Yu Qian did not think he was wrong.

Confucianism still dominates the world today.

Since both war and non-war will harm the people.

Then there must be a better path to take.

Therefore, Yu Qian was very curious about what Zhu Gaoshuo was thinking, and what methods this wise ruler of later generations would have to solve the current predicament of the chaos in the northern border.

"I also think the emperor is right; the war must be fought!"

"how do I say this?"

Even though Zhu Gaoshuo refuted Yu Qian's point of view, this Yu Shaobao, who loves to criticize people, still patiently teaches Zhu Gaoshuo.

It's like a student asking a teacher for guidance.

"Jinling City was once incredibly prosperous, but it has fallen into ruin not long after leaving the city. The people's harvests depended entirely on the will of heaven, and now, even with a bumper harvest, they still have to pay all sorts of taxes. The hardship of farming and the suffering of the people are immense!"

Upon hearing Zhu Gaoshuo's words, Yu Qian looked at him with eyes full of pride.

It's as if he's done right by risking his life to advise the emperor to make Prince Qi the crown prince.

"Good good!"

"Your Highness, to have such insights at such a young age, truly is a great emperor for all time!"

Yu Qian had no idea that Zhu Gaoshuo had never even left Nanjing, so how could he know about the hardships of the common people?

Therefore, there are some things that Zhu Gaoshuo only dares to say now.

"We must fight the Mongols. Only when they are terrified will they submit to us!"

Didn't Emperor Wu of Han terrify the steppe people in the past?

Yu Qian questioned, "These are all superficial appearances. Although our Ming army can win on the grasslands and drive away the nomadic tribes, the grasslands are simply too vast to govern. Even if we are defeated now, they will still come back to investigate."

"This is an age-old problem that is impossible to avoid. Even Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, who was powerful, could not solve it. After the decline of the Tang Dynasty, it was subjected to a century of frantic invasions by various northern tribes."

"As Tianmu said, our Great Ming Dynasty will continue to rule the surrounding countries through tribute and trade, but it will only be temporary. Nomadic peoples lack resources, but their ambitions are endless."

Zhu Gaoshuo was shocked. Yu Qian, at such a young age, had already come up with a strategy to pacify the barbarians?

What a talent!
Tribute trade was a special form of trade that was based on political submission and in essence on economic exchange. In fact, it was about establishing a border trade system.

By accepting tribute, the Ming Dynasty demonstrated its status as a superior nation and established the Sino-barbarian order.

Let the various tribes of the grasslands cease their turmoil!

This system had its rudiments as early as the Tang Dynasty.

The tributary trade could indeed temporarily stabilize the situation.

But this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause.

It might even trigger an even bigger backlash.

The tributes from tributary states were mostly things that the Ming Dynasty did not lack, just like the horses from the various tribes of the grasslands, which the Ming Dynasty did not need at all.

However, the goods returned in return are exactly what these countries and tribes need most, and will only breed trouble instead.

More importantly, it would allow the Ming Dynasty's core ironware and gunpowder technologies to be leaked out through tribute.

The benefits of tributary trade were enormous, and no official could resist such a temptation.

They will seek to profit from it.

Human desires are like a boulder rolling down a mountain; once they start, they can't be stopped.

Yu Qian sighed helplessly, "But the tribute trade is indeed the only solution I can think of right now. Otherwise, if we continue fighting like this, the people will suffer terribly!"

Zhu Gaoshuo nodded.

In fact, he already had a solution for dealing with the nomadic peoples who had threatened the Central Plains for thousands of years.

It just goes to show that nomadic peoples truly understand nomadic peoples.

"The best way to deal with the Mongols is to let them kill each other. The first step is to implement the prefecture-county system, divide the vast Mongolian grasslands into hundreds of tribes, delineate nomadic boundaries, and kill anyone who crosses them!" "Treat the Mongol tribes that are willing to submit well, and kill all those who are not. After killing a few tribes, they will naturally become fearsome!"

Zhu Gaoshuo's words made Yu Qian's eyes light up.

This is an attempt to break up the traditional tribal alliance of Mongolia and restrict communication between the various Mongolian tribes.

Although the method was cruel, it was indeed a good one.

Moreover, this method can also be used to restrict intermarriage.

But Yu Qian still felt that something was missing.

This alone is not enough to control the grasslands.

"In addition, we must spread Buddhism and tell the Khans of the various tribes on the grasslands that if a tribe believes in Buddhism, the Ming Dynasty will give them more tribute."

Zhu Gaoshuo said calmly.

Yu Qian immediately understood the meaning.

Believing in Buddhism means preventing these grassland people from marrying and having children.

The most terrifying thing is trying to change a group of people with ideas.

Both methods are actually aimed at reducing the Mongolian population.

Decades later, fewer and fewer people will be born in Mongolia, leaving mostly the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.

How can we then mount our horses and fight the enemy!
"Prince Qi is truly talented! In this way, the problem of Mongolia will be easily solved!"

Yu Qian murmured, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, "This strategy can be used to dismantle not only Mongolia, but all the countries near the Ming Dynasty."

"In less than a hundred years, there will be no more wolves or ferocious beasts around the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Gaoshuo's words enlightened Yu Qian and resolved the current predicament of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Gaoshuo was quite confident in these two strategies towards Mongolia.

After all, it has stood the test of time, so it is absolutely feasible.

Of course, there is a third method, which is also the most useful one, but Zhu Gaoshuo does not intend to tell Yu Qian.

Both of the above methods can be implemented immediately, and both Zhu Di and the civil and military officials will agree with them, and the people of the world will not complain.

The third method is intermarriage.

People from the grasslands were not allowed to marry each other; they could only intermarry with ordinary people from the Ming Dynasty.

Intermarriage could quickly dismantle the vast Mongol Empire.

They will all be citizens of the Ming Dynasty at that time.

However, this method did not quite align with the current public opinion in the Ming Dynasty, so Zhu Gaoshuo did not voice it.

What Yu Qian meant when he said that once the Ming Dynasty solved the Mongol problem, it could rest easy and be free from external threats?

That's even more impossible.

When your neighboring country has no enemies, it will lower its guard and become complacent.

At that time, even more powerful enemies will emerge overseas.

"Alright, Yu Qian, you can rest here. I'm leaving now!"

Zhu Gaoshuo also felt that he had said too much today, so he did not linger any longer and left the main hall.

Yu Qian watched Zhu Gaoshuo's departing figure and couldn't help but bow with his hands clasped.

He is destined to be remembered in history, and for good reason.

But Yu Qian was not satisfied at all.

Born into poverty, he wanted to change this unjust world.

His ambitions were so great that he knew he couldn't achieve them.

But things are different now. He is determined to assist Prince Qi, Zhu Gaoshuo, in creating an unprecedented golden age.

(End of this chapter)