btmnovel Chapter 2604 One Country, Two Systems: Establishment of the Liao Prince's Palace
Chapter 2604 One Country, Two Systems: Establishment of the Liao Prince's Palace
Chapter 2604 One Country, Two Systems, Establishment of the Liao Prince's Palace
Wang Yu's harem has many talented individuals, but those who can reach the level of a god in politics are currently unique.
Although Yelü Abaoji established the Khitan state, its national strength during his time was not particularly strong. In the early period, the Khitan suffered repeated defeats in its battles against various regimes during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in the Central Plains.
The true peak of the Liao Dynasty's national power was during the reign of Empress Dowager Xiao. Under her series of reforms, the Liao Dynasty embarked on the path of feudalism and reached its zenith.
During Empress Dowager Xiao's reign, the Liao Dynasty's territory also reached its peak, extending northeast to the banks of the Hunhe River and south to the Baigou River. Its military strength was more than three times that of the early years of Emperor Jingzong of Liao.
Hearing Wang Yu's approval, Xiao Yanyan was temporarily relieved.
The Central Plains and the Eastern Yi were different. The Central Plains had always had the saying that the empress dowager should not interfere in politics.
Her abrupt interruption today, coupled with her shared Dongyi origins, actually carries a certain risk.
However, she had to take this risk.
After all, someone like Xiao Yanyan would naturally not be content to be just one of the countless ordinary concubines in the Han Dynasty's harem.
Especially since she was only a beauty, a mediocre rank.
Xiao Yanyan never even considered using her beauty to rise through the ranks in the imperial harem.
Although she considered herself to be quite beautiful, she was relatively ordinary in the Han Dynasty's harem. Not to mention compared to others, she was even slightly inferior to Xiao Guanyin, who was from the same clan.
If she wanted to rely on her beauty to fight her way out of the harem, she would have virtually no chance of winning.
Furthermore, while beauty can be used to please, it is also true that beauty fades and love diminishes. A qualified female politician may not mind using her beauty as a weapon, but she will never rely solely on it.
They knew better than anyone else that relying solely on their beauty was not a sustainable strategy.
If she wanted to rise above the vast harem of the Han Dynasty, she would have to make the emperor see her value and her abilities.
Today is both an opportunity and a risk she has to take for her.
Fortunately, the emperor did not seem to take her rashly discussing politics too seriously.
Xiao Yanyan carefully considered her words before slowly speaking: "The Han people and the various tribes of the Eastern Yi have vastly different customs and laws."
“If we were to govern it entirely with the Han officials and the Han laws, it would be like trying to restrain a wild horse with fine clothes. The horse would not be at ease and would always kick up its heels.”
"Under intense pressure, they outwardly comply but inwardly harbor resentment, which then manifests as these sporadic sparks."
Xiao Yanyan paused, and seeing that Wang Yu was listening attentively, she continued, "Why doesn't Your Majesty govern the Han and the non-Han peoples separately?"
"For example, in the Han region, officials were still dispatched by the imperial court to govern according to the Han law, collect taxes, and promote education. This is called Han people governing Han."
"As for the mountainous and grassland areas where the various tribes of the Eastern Yi live together, we may, according to their old customs, select officials who are respected and loyal to the court and grant them official titles."
"Let them manage their own tribes, households, criminal law, tribute, and other matters according to their own customs and laws. The court should only take charge of the general direction, set the tribute quota, and send officials to supervise. This could be called 'barbarians governing barbarians.'" Wang Yu initially just listened, but the more he listened, the brighter his eyes became.
Although Xiao Yanyan did not specify the exact official system in her words, her core ideas of governing according to local customs and dividing and ruling were no different from the governance policies she adopted for the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun in history.
Throughout the Song Dynasty, the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were never recovered. This was not solely due to military and national strength; after all, when the Song Dynasty's military strength began to decline, the Liao Dynasty's military strength also began to decline.
To a large extent, this was also due to the fact that under the rule of the Liao Dynasty, the local Han people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were actually resisting the Northern Song Dynasty. At that time, the Liao Dynasty had completely won the hearts of the people of Yan and Yun.
"What a fine example of Han people ruling Han people and barbarians ruling barbarians!" Wang Yu clapped his hands and chuckled, the gloom between his brows vanishing. He reached out and took Xiao Yanyan's hand.
"Yan Yan, you are truly my confidante and my wise advisor. This strategy is brilliant, perfectly in line with the principle of adapting to local conditions. With careful refinement, it will become an excellent remedy for stabilizing the Eastern Barbarians and even for handling similar border situations in the future!"
Wang Yu became increasingly excited as he spoke, and immediately ordered someone to take notes, preparing to summon relevant ministers to discuss in detail and devise a practical and feasible plan.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Wang Yu looked at Xiao Yanyan, who was smiling sweetly and possessed considerable political wisdom, and his affection and admiration for her deepened.
"Yan Yan's suggestion to secure the border is a great achievement," Wang Yu said after a moment's thought.
"By imperial decree, the beautiful Lady Xiao is intelligent and quick-witted, and has benefited the affairs of the state. She is hereby promoted to the rank of Consort to show our appreciation!"
Consort Chongrong was one of the Nine Concubines, whose status was only below that of the Four Consorts and the Six Imperial Concubines. This promotion was undoubtedly very generous.
Xiao Yanyan was taken aback at first, then a smile and a hint of being flattered appeared in her eyes.
She quickly got off the bed and bowed properly: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness. I was just speaking casually and presumptuously. If it can be of any benefit to Your Majesty, it is my blessing. How dare I accept such a generous reward?"
"You deserve it." Wang Yu smiled and helped her up. "Your casual remark might save the court tens of thousands of troops and bring peace to the people. You deserve a reward!"
Xiao Guanyin smiled and offered her congratulations. The Jingwu Pavilion was filled with warmth, and the gloomy atmosphere brought about by the report from the Eastern Barbarians disappeared.
The situation in the Eastern Yi region is complex. Strong suppression is too costly, while complete laissez-faire may lead to uncontrollable consequences. This "one country, two systems" approach to governance indeed provides Wang Yu with a highly operational framework.
In this way, they first win over the hearts and minds of the Eastern Yi people. After several decades, the Hu and Yi peoples will be completely integrated, and there will be no longer any distinction between the Han and the Yi people.
At that time, this "one country, two systems" approach can be gradually abolished, and the country can be completely unified under Han law. This direction of governance is indeed very promising.
After having the idea, Wang Yu immediately summoned five cabinet ministers—Guan Zhong, Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liang, Zhang Bin, and Yao Guangxiao—to discuss it on the same day.
After several days of discussion, a plan was finally put in place, and it was decided to establish the Liao King's Palace in Zhongping, Dongping, and Nanping.
Wang Yu appointed his one-year-old eleventh son, Wang Xiao, as the King of Liao, and appointed Wang Zhi, Li Xuanyi, and Wang Meng, the former governors of the three circuits, as officials in the King of Liao's palace, thus promoting the policy of governing the barbarians with barbarians.
The eleventh prince, Wang Xiao, was born to Consort Yelü Qingya and possesses pure Dongyi royal blood. It would be more acceptable to the local Dongyi forces to appoint him as the head of the Liao Prince's Mansion.