Because that land was simply too vast and sparsely populated. To control that region, the imperial court needed to station a large number of troops permanently. However, this long-term garrison meant substantial expenses. The conquered lands, in effect, became a burden on the imperial court.
On this day, Li Bi came to visit.
“If we withdraw our troops, the Tibetans and Uyghurs will occupy that area. They will then have more angles of attack. The court’s defense of the Western Regions will become even more difficult. But if we don’t withdraw our troops, the burden on the court there is simply too heavy. The court has been arguing about this for several days, but has yet to reach a conclusion.”
"Has no one suggested establishing a new Protectorate?" Lu Xuan asked, somewhat puzzled, based on his limited historical knowledge. In his memory, the Tang Dynasty had always established Protectorates to govern the territories it conquered in the Western Regions.
"Of course there are. But it's just too far away. Even if a protectorate is established, the court's control still cannot be guaranteed."
"Then let's immigrate."
"Han people find it hard to leave their homeland. Moreover, the land there is barren and difficult to cultivate. Immigration is not that simple."
"If each person gets 100 mu of land, is there anyone willing to go?"
"Pfft, Li Bi spat out a mouthful of tea."
"How can land be so arbitrarily granted?" The ancient people's obsession with land is truly unimaginable. The reason why land annexation has been a problem for thousands of years is precisely because of this deeply rooted concept of land settlement.
"The imperial court provides travel expenses, food, seeds, and even lodging. However, they need to cultivate the land themselves. They are exempt from taxes for the first ten years, and then pay half of the Tang Dynasty's tax rate for the next ten years. After twenty years, they begin to pay taxes normally. The local natives can also enjoy the same treatment."
However, there is a prerequisite. From this moment forward, in all territories occupied by the Tang Dynasty, everyone must speak Han language, wear Han clothing, and use Tang currency. All native inhabitants must be forced to learn Han language. Whoever learns it first will be granted land. Locals who marry Tang people for more than five years will also obtain Tang citizenship and enjoy the aforementioned benefits…”
Lu Xuan spoke at length, mostly about various immigration and Sinicization strategies he'd learned from his time-travel experiences. While much of it was fantastical, he only needed a starting point. A large group of Tang Dynasty elites would naturally organize the useful information and then promote it.
It's the same old saying: privilege of those in power. When you say something, someone will naturally grasp three layers of meaning. They might even discover a non-existent fourth layer.
Wool sweaters had already become popular in the Tang Dynasty. Especially the pure white, shiny wool sweaters, which became a completely new fashion trend, sought after by noble ladies in Chang'an. Meanwhile, the common people were won over by the lightness, comfort, and affordability of multicolored wool sweaters. Owning a wool sweater had become a basic symbol of a person in the Tang Dynasty.
Of course, this fervent popularity and craze stemmed largely from the hype created by the upper classes. Yes, hype. Lu Xuan had only briefly mentioned the concept. Merchants and nobles, however, grasped it instinctively. After all, making money always attracts people. As a result, in less than a year, wool products became fashionable throughout the Tang Dynasty. This also meant that this national policy of the Tang Dynasty had entered the formal implementation phase.
The popularity of wool products meant a huge demand for wool. Crucially, the best wool came from the Western Regions. Wool from the inland areas was always considered a low-end product and was looked down upon. This forced the people of the Tang Dynasty to simply farm. Meanwhile, the surrounding nomadic tribes began raising sheep extensively.
With more sheep, there's a need for pasture. But there's only so much pasture, and that's where the conflict arises.
------------
Chapter 103 Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire
Both Tibet and the Uyghurs were not without intelligent people.
They had clearly sensed that their various tribes were losing interest in raiding the Tang Dynasty's borders. Now, they could simply sell wool to obtain enough food. The choice between selling wool and risking their lives was obvious to anyone who knew.
Those in power immediately began to try to control the situation. Although they couldn't see the horrific consequences of the situation, they knew they couldn't allow the Tang Dynasty to gain the upper hand. Once their subjects lost their ability to fight on horseback, they lost their deterrent power over the Tang Dynasty.
But interests cannot be suppressed by force. The food is right in front of us; why should we be forced to risk our lives if we can't eat it?
Courage often stems from the surrounding environment. When everyone is well-fed and clothed and living a comfortable life, courage is useless. But when someone wants to take away this comfortable life, courage comes in handy.
Before the Tang Dynasty could even act, internal strife had already broken out in Tibet and the Uyghur Khaganate. Both countries began to forcibly restrict wool trade between the border tribes and the Tang Dynasty, leading to significant resistance from many tribes. The internal conflicts between the two nations were like a powder keg in a volcano, ready to explode at the slightest spark.
Throughout history, Western barbarians have always had one tactic for dealing with such situations: diverting attention from the conflict. They realized that they had to shift public attention before the conflict fully erupted. War became the best option.
Lu Xuan was ultimately not a member of a national strategic think tank. He hadn't anticipated this situation. But regardless, it had happened. All intelligence indicated that Tibet and the Uyghurs were in contact. They might be forming an alliance, with the Tang Dynasty as their target.
The Tibetans have even amassed troops directly on the border, and war is imminent.
The peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty was instantly replaced by a sharper atmosphere of war.
The Tang Dynasty also quickly dispatched envoys in an attempt to ease the situation through diplomatic means. However, it was clear to everyone that the chances were slim.
But even with little hope, it must be done. Every day that can be delayed is a day's work. The Tang Dynasty needs time to prepare for war.
The Tang Dynasty was different from the surrounding nomadic tribes. They would simply shout a battle cry, and a group of people would mount their horses and begin fighting, plundering wherever they went. But the Tang Dynasty's nationwide mobilization was far more complex. The gathering of various troops, the preparation of provisions, and countless other tasks required a great deal of time to prepare.
Ultimately, no one expected that war would break out at this time.
"What does the General think of this battle?" Li Bi found Lu Xuan at his private training ground.
"You want to hear the truth?"
"That's the truth, of course."
"The Central Army is in a state of utter disarray and has no fighting capacity whatsoever. If it goes into battle, it will only suffer defeat."
Military reform is something even Lu Xuan wouldn't dare touch lightly. After all, it involves controlling armed forces, which is a completely different concept from civilian projects.
He began slowly and cautiously preparing a new army, based on his own imperial guards and Zhang Xiaojing's. However, time was limited, and neither the number nor the quality of the troops was sufficient to influence a nationwide war. The Tang Dynasty's truly powerful army still depended on the border troops under the command of the various military governors.
Another factor is Wang Zhongsi, who defeated the Turks and was stationed in the Northwest. He commanded the Tang Dynasty's strongest northwestern army. However, allowing him to withdraw his troops would be tantamount to abandoning the Western Regions territory he had just conquered.
"If we lose the land but the people, we lose both; if we lose the people but the land, we gain both. The territory of the Western Regions is not important; what is important is the army, and what is important is the Tang Dynasty. As long as the Tang Dynasty still exists, we will eventually be able to fight back. But if the Tang Dynasty loses this battle, we will lose the Central Plains. What use are the Western Regions then?"
Lu Xuan finally convinced Li Heng on this point. He immediately issued an edict instructing Wang Zhongsi to act according to circumstances, and specifically stated that in critical moments, any land acquired could be relinquished.
"The Emperor has ordered An Lushan to contact the Khitans and form an alliance with them. This will at least stabilize the situation in the north."
Li Bi's thinking was somewhat simplistic. However, Lu Xuan knew that forming an alliance with the Khitans was a good option. But sending An Lushan would definitely not succeed. This was because half of An Lushan's military achievements came from the Khitans, and mostly from his own offensive actions.
In other words, to the Khitans at that time, An Lushan was an invader. It would be strange if they could easily form an alliance with him.
"Is the General worried about An Lushan?" Li Bi could see the worry in Lu Xuan's heart.
"How could I be at ease?" Lu Xuan thought to himself. But considering the timeline, there were still ten years until the historical An Lushan Rebellion. At that point, even if An Lushan harbored rebellious intentions, they probably wouldn't be so obvious.
"Tibet is to the west, and the Uyghurs are to the north. In any case, fighting on two fronts is quite difficult for the Tang Dynasty. If it were me, we would need to concentrate our forces on one front. But that would require someone to hold off the other front."