Chương 733: Anxi Protectorate

Zhang Fei blinked, pondered for a while, then slapped his thigh: "Oh! I get it! It's about stirring up trouble! Let them fight each other, they won't have time to bother with us!"

"The words may be rough, but the principle is sound." Liu Ce nodded.

The civil officials in the hall all laughed. Guo Jia waved his feather fan, looking completely at ease... His Majesty had mastered this tactic.

"It's simpler economically," Liu Ce continued.

"Our tea, silk, coarse cotton cloth... are being shipped over boatload by boat. The machine-woven cloth is half the price of their hand-woven cloth, and it's also more durable, with more patterns. In a few years, all the local weaving workshops will have to go out of business, and they will have to rely on us for clothing."

We also operate mines and spice gardens, providing capital and technology in partnership with local tribal leaders. We take the lion's share, and they take a smaller share.

Think about it, before, they had to mine the minerals themselves and find their own sales channels, living in fear and earning very little. Now, by following us, they can get dividends without lifting a finger, living a life of luxury. Why would they rebel?

"Rebel, and you'll lose your money and your life; obey, and you'll make money and get a title. Only a fool would rebel."

Shen Wansan's abacus moved with incredible speed, his eyes growing brighter with each calculation, and the flesh on his face trembled with the effort.

"Your Majesty's move was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

The garrison only needs to guard the core cities and trade routes, and 10, 000 to 20, 000 troops will be enough; there is no need to send many officials either, a few hundred temporary officials in the core area will be enough.

Every year, just from commercial taxes, spice taxes, and mining dividends, we can earn back tens of millions of dollars, and we can recoup our military expenses in just a few years!

Pure profit!

"Look at your pathetic self," Liu Ce said with a laugh, then added the most crucial point:

"Let's open another 'foreign school' and send the sons of tribal chiefs and princes of local states to study in Luoyang, to learn Chinese, Chinese etiquette, arithmetic and engineering."

Those who excelled in their studies could take the imperial examinations and become officials in the Protectorate General's office upon returning home, bringing honor to their ancestors.

Think about it, the heirs of these small tribes are all being held hostage by us, and they have been educated by us since childhood, speaking Han language, wearing Han clothing, and recognizing the goodness of the Han people.

Even if his father wanted to rebel, his son couldn't agree; if he did, his future would be ruined.

This is called cultural infiltration, or long-term planning.

Everyone nodded in agreement, convinced in their hearts.

With this combination of measures—military suppression, economic entanglement, internal division, and cultural infiltration—four layers of protection, how could the Kushan region possibly turn upside down?

Liu Ce moved his vermilion brush to the Parthian territory in Mesopotamia and tapped on the location of Ctesiphon.

"This Parthian fellow is different from the Kushans."

Liu Ce sketched the Persian Plateau with his pen, then pointed to the Mesopotamian region:

"The Parthian nobles had soldiers and land, and had been middlemen on the Silk Road for many years. They were the best at doing business, but also the most afraid of death and loved money."

There are plenty of tough guys, but their weakness is also obvious... they only care about money. As long as there's money to be made, they'll do anything.

The people below laughed... It's good that you love money, because loving money is a weakness.

"Therefore, dealing with them can't rely solely on force; we need a combination of persuasion and pressure, employing both kindness and deterrence." Liu Ce drew two circles.

"Occupy the core area directly, and cultivate agents in the periphery."

Babylon and Ctesiphon in Mesopotamia, as well as the ports of the Persian Gulf, were granaries, treasuries, and vital trade routes. The land was fertile and commerce was thriving, so the Parthian Protectorate was established there.

We'll station heavy troops to guard this place, appoint officials to govern it, and give us complete control over water conservancy, taxation, and commerce. This place is a crucial link between the east and west; we must control it tightly.

As for the nobles and tribal leaders on the Persian Plateau, those who obey will retain their fiefdoms and titles, and can even do business with us and share the profits; those who dare to disobey or cause trouble will have their homes and clans exterminated, and all their property and land will be confiscated.

"Give them a beating and then a sweet treat, and they'll behave."

"Don't they like to be middlemen and make a profit?" Liu Ce chuckled, his tone slightly teasing.

"In the past, when our silk was transported to Rome, it had to go through three layers of skinning by them, and the price would increase several times over. They made all the money."

Now we don't need to... We control the trade routes ourselves, we own the ports, and we don't need them to resell them.

But we can grant them franchises so they can help us sell goods to the west and collect taxes inland, earning them money from running errands and commissions.

Think about it, in the past they were making a living by risking their lives, and they also had to guard against the Romans attacking, living in constant fear.

Now, by following us, you can steadily receive dividends without having to fight or take any risks, and you'll earn just as much as before.

Who would be willing to risk their life to rebel?

"Why would someone choose to risk their life for a peaceful existence? Isn't that foolish?"

Shen Wansan quickly chimed in, his abacus clicking away rapidly, his eyes gleaming:

"Your Majesty is wise! The irrigation works in Mesopotamia have been completed, and the grain production will be sufficient to support the troops stationed in the west."

In addition, with the ports in the Persian Gulf, sea and land routes will converge here in the future, and commercial taxes will at least triple!

The commercial taxes collected from just one city in Taixi are equivalent to those of an entire inland province!

"And in military matters, don't rely solely on our troops," Liu Ce said, looking at Li Jing of the Ministry of War.

"Aren't the Parthian cavalry quite capable? They're excellent at both horse archers and heavy cavalry."

They were recruited as servants and soldiers, with their pay coming from local taxes. They were sent to guard the borders, fight barbarians, and suppress troublesome tribes.

"Use Parthians to manage Parthians, use Parthians to fight outsiders. We only need to send a few officers to keep an eye on them. It saves manpower and money, and it can also wear down their military strength."

Li Jing pondered for a moment and nodded: "This is a good idea! It will save our troops from suffering from acclimatization issues during their long journey, and it will also make the local forces weaken each other."

Our main force only needs to guard the key routes and ports, and reap the benefits.

"Remember this last thing." Liu Ce's tone turned serious as he tapped on the locations of several major families on the Persian Plateau.

"Break apart those Parthian nobles, some move to the east to guard the Pamir Mountains, and some send them to the west to govern Syria. They are not allowed to cluster together, nor are they allowed to intermarry or collude."

Then support the merchants and lower-level priests in the city, give them policies and benefits, and let them oppose the nobles and seize their interests.

The Protectorate General will act as the referee, suppressing whoever stands out, never allowing any one entity to become dominant, and always ensuring that they check and balance each other.

With us at the helm, the situation will be as stable as Mount Tai.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

This approach is similar to that of the Kushan Empire, but it has been adjusted to suit the characteristics of Bengal.

To put it bluntly: give candy to those who obey, beat those who disobey to death, then divide them into factions and beat them up, so that they can never unite as one.

It's worry-free, effortless, and you can even make money.

The vermilion brush finally landed on the Roman map encircling the Mediterranean Sea, and the tent fell silent instantly.

Everyone knows that this is the toughest piece of the pie... It has the largest territory, the most mature system, the most city-states, the highest level of culture, and the strongest will to resist.

After all, it was an empire that had dominated the Mediterranean for hundreds of years. Accustomed to pride, how could it easily submit?

Xun Yu stepped forward, frowning as he bowed with his hands clasped.

"Your Majesty, Rome has dozens of provinces and hundreds of city-states, with several languages, a deeply entrenched aristocratic power, and also the Senate and the knightly class."

"To truly manage it is... an incredibly complex and intractable task, practically impossible."

"Who gave you permission to manage everything?" Liu Ce laughed, turning back to point at the map.

"This is such a big piece of bread, can you eat it in one bite? Aren't you afraid of stuffing yourself to death?"

Of course, you should break it down into smaller pieces and eat it one bite at a time. Digest it slowly; you can't rush it.