Chapter 1450 - 1358: Submission (Part 1)

Every radio station is equipped with a telegrapher, temporarily assigned there for a term of five years; after five years, they can choose to return to their country.

The countries fortunate enough to receive a gifted radio telegrapher cherish this talent, not only providing him with a house and servants but also sending money and goods. Some countries even promise him high positions, as long as he is willing to stay permanently and teach their people how to use the radio.

Zhao Hanzhang is indifferent to their temptations; since she sends the radios and the people away, she is naturally not afraid of them using or owning them.

She hopes for this world to get better as a whole, rather than having the East be the sole outstanding region, which can easily be toppled by a storm.

If the outside world improves, it can certainly feed back internally. She has the patience to await the unification of Huaxia and to wait for technology to radiate outward and then return.

She says to the officials: "What countries and people lie west of Dayuan? Is there land at the end of the sea? The places visible to us are too limited, the vastness of heaven and earth unmeasurable by our human capabilities. How can we know there isn’t another world beyond ours, or people beyond our people?"

"Therefore, we should not stop progressing. The current radio and telegraphs have already evolved to the third generation; it is time to have more intimate exchanges with neighboring countries. Who knows, they might have even more wonderful ideas." Zhao Hanzhang said, "The world is at great peace, the world is truly good when it is genuinely good."

The officials agreed, as they too wanted to know which countries lie west of Dayuan, if there is land east of the sea, and where the northernmost reaches of the Xiongnu are, and what is there.

The radio can transmit information that manpower cannot.

Perhaps due to sensing the might of Hua Country or perhaps feeling the familiar grand ambition reminiscent of the Han Dynasty emperors in Zhao Hanzhang, the countries in the Western Regions submitted their national books formally to show allegiance on the first day of the ninth year of Yuanzhen.

The twelve envoys brought back by Zhao Xin knelt in the grand hall, submitting their national books, requesting the emperor to accept their countries as vassal states.

Although this was no secret, as submitting national books required prior notification and some ministers participated, it was already known.

The rest of the ministers had also heard rumors.

Yet the actual submission of national books by twelve envoys still shocked them immensely.

Especially the Princely Heir Li Ban of Cheng Country and various leaders of the Western Qiang clans who came to witness the ceremony.

Last year, the Western Qiang had pledged allegiance; Zhao Hanzhang divided the Western Qiang into two parts, establishing Wusipan Prefecture and Duogan Prefecture. Yao Yizhong was appointed as the commander of Duogan Prefecture, and Ji Ping as the commander of Wusipan Prefecture.

This meant the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was allied. Currently, east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, only Cheng Country remained as a vassal state.

Because of this, Li Xiong was anxious, coupled with Cheng Country’s autonomy, its regulations and systems did not align, his subordinates often claimed official positions for themselves, arrogant and unrestrained, frequently causing trouble without punishment.

Li Xiong has already felt his inability to control such a vast territory. The most critical issue is, he finds it hard to say no to his subordinates who are meritorious, combined with his sons being dissatisifed with his establishment of Li Ban as the Princely Heir, domestic strife is intensifying.

Two years ago, the aged Prime Minister Fan Changsheng passed away, before his death, he said to Li Xiong: "Great King, the root of disorder in Cheng Country is already planted, your capability cannot eliminate it, and Cheng Country lacks exceptional talent to do so; you can only seek aid from the Emperor."

Li Xiong was half-believing and skeptical at the time and comforted him: "Although my dozen children are not talented, they are still filial; as long as I’m here, they won’t offend the Princely Heir, once I’m gone, the Princely Heir will have assumed power."

For this reason, Li Xiong deliberately handed part of the governance for Li Ban to handle, letting him nurture his own power.

Fan Changsheng shook his head: "The Princely Heir is too pure and good, can’t hold Cheng Country."

The old ministers and meritorious officials of Cheng Country, even Li Xiong couldn’t control them, they frequently caused problems. Li Ban was very firm, insisting on ruling by law, if any crossed him, he punished them according to law.

Therefore, although Cheng Country praised Li Ban endlessly, privately, the old ministers harbored great resentment toward him but dared not voice it.

There wasn’t a problem with this, but Li Ban was too good to Li Xiong’s dozen sons, too forbearing, always treating them with the most generous imagination. Fan Changsheng could already foresee that once Li Xiong passed, Li Ban would be devoured by his dozen cousins.

By that time, the old ministers and meritorious officials would be uncontrollable, and the Shu region would plunge into chaos anew.

Cheng Country is a vassal state of Great Hua, and Great Hua would send troops to quell the rebellion, then reaffiliated it, returning everything to the beginning, but Li Xiong’s family might vanish from history from then on, who knows how many might survive.

Fan Changsheng, in good accord with Li Xiong as monarch and retainer, finally spoke his heart before dying, "Back then, I persuaded the Great King to pledge allegiance because I calculated Emperor Zhao was the lifeline for the Great King and the Princely Heir, now is the time for that lifeline to materialize."

He said, "Great King, if after my death, Western Qiang pledges allegiance to Great Hua, Great Hua establishes its foundation without concerns, you should request to cede your vassalage and let the court govern Cheng Country."

Li Xiong’s face changed greatly, before he had time to agree, Fan Changsheng had passed away.

It was the sixth year of Yuanzhen at the time, the following year, September of Yuanzhen’s seventh year, Zhao Renjia, aged five, was bestowed the title of Crown Princess; that same year, Yao Yizhong finally persuaded various Western Qiang clans, leading the Qiang Clan to pledge allegiance, and the people living in the Western Qiang mountains began to engage with the outside world, recognizing Zhao Hanzhang as their emperor.

In May of the eighth year of Yuanzhen, the Second Prince was born. Zhao Hanzhang divided the territories once occupied by Western Qiang into two, establishing prefectures and letting the court appoint officials to govern.

Cheng Country became the only vassal state surrounded within.

Despite Zhao Hanzhang treating him courteously, frequently bestowing him gifts, and demanding few tributes each year.

Yet he still felt the overwhelming pressure, as did his sons.

Their actions became increasingly absurd, several times even clashing with the imperial troops, Li Yue even incited the sixth prince to lead people to plunder merchant and engineering caravans from the Central Plains.

Li Xiong could feel Zhao Hanzhang’s patience, and the court’s patience; they are waiting for him to make a decision.

But... facing his own sons, Li Xiong couldn’t bring himself to act.

A feeling of impending doom loomed in his heart; Li Xiong trusted his intuition, and thus began consulting confidants about ceding his vassalage.

After half a year of consideration and observation, Li Xiong finally resolved to have Li Ban submit the national book requesting to relinquish his vassal status during New Year celebrations.

But Li Ban didn’t anticipate that the twelve countries of the Western Regions would choose this moment to submit their national books, nor did Li Xiong.

So after the court meeting, Li Xiong received Li Ban’s telegram, worriedly asked Li Xiang to inquire, "Quickly, ask him if the national book requesting vassalage relinquishment has been submitted?"

Li Xiang said, "It has been submitted, Your Majesty didn’t immediately accept it; the Princely Heir says, Your Majesty wishes to converse with you personally."

Li Xiong’s eyes flickered, yearning, "Could Your Majesty be inviting me to Luoyang?"

Truthfully, Li Xiong did want to go, but he was a bit afraid.

Li Xiang was even more fearful, hurriedly stopping him, "Great King, if you go to Luoyang, Cheng Country will surely descend into chaos; you cannot leave."

Because Li Xiong persisted in ceding his vassalage, the young princes and old ministers have been restless lately; had it not been for Li Xiong’s restraint, they would have already rebelled.

If Li Xiong dared to go to Luoyang, his departure would immediately lead to the fracturing and chaos in the Shu region.

Li Xiong sighed, "It seems I can only discuss through the radio station."