Iron Dynasty

“Yamada Nobunaga didn’t know until he died that his meticulous plan was ultimately used by the Empire, and Japan is destined to not escape my grasp.”

Xiao Ming said while looking at the map of Japan.

Wang Xuan said, “As long as the Emperor gives the order, Japan can be incorporated into the Empire’s territory at any time.”

Shaking his head, Xiao Ming said, “This matter cannot be rushed. Yao Yongchang’s success as a daimyo was in response to the public sentiment of the Japanese rebellion. If he suddenly surrenders, it will inevitably cause chaos, which is not good for the Empire.”

After a pause, he continued, “Now you must continue to help Yao Yongchang eliminate the Japanese generals around him who hold a grudge against the Empire, and slowly replace all the people around him with those who have a good impression of the Empire. When Yao Yongchang’s power is stable, order him to choose the right time to surrender to the Empire.”

“The Emperor’s foresight is profound. When I go to Japan this time, I will tell Yao Yongchang the Emperor’s order,” Wang Xuan said.

Xiao Ming nodded. As the saying goes, ‘how can others sleep soundly next to a bed?’. Since Goryeo was incorporated into the Empire’s territory, the people of Goryeo now speak the Empire’s language, use the Empire’s script, study the Empire’s history, and their household registrations are marked with “Chinese Empire.” Their lives are basically no different from the people of the Empire. Although the elders of Goryeo still remember that Goryeo was once a country, the new generation of Goryeo does not know its history. All they know is the history compiled by the Empire, which clearly states that Goryeo has been the Empire’s territory since ancient times.

The success of this policy greatly increased Xiao Ming’s confidence. His gaze turned to Japan, and he was ready to use the same method to culturally assimilate the Japanese people three generations from now. In addition, Xiao Ming also set his sights on the Southeast Asian countries. Especially in these countries, many people are descendants of the Empire’s ancestors and are deeply influenced by the Empire’s culture.

Now that the Empire had occupied these areas, it was natural to take this opportunity to let the Empire’s culture shine on these areas. In his opinion, military occupation could only be maintained for a while, while total cultural assimilation could truly expand the Empire’s territory and save the Empire the trouble of having to move people to occupy these areas.

After sending Wang Xuan back, Xiao Ming made a phone call to Pang Yukun and asked him to come over. Currently, the Empire’s colonial area around the world is vast, but so far, these are all colonies.

If they are not managed well, these colonies will break away from the Empire in the future. To avoid this, the method he thought of was assimilation. That is to say, while the Empire was achieving technological victory, it also had to achieve cultural victory.

After a while, Pang Yukun arrived at the Imperial Study, and Xiao Ming told him his thoughts. At the same time, he also revealed some of the intelligence about Japan to him.

“This is an unprecedented and grand plan.” Pang Yukun said excitedly, “With the example of Goryeo, this is not impossible, but the Empire really cannot spare so many talented people to go to these places.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ming frowned. This was a reality. The Empire’s population was currently a limitation. It was easy to militarily occupy some areas, but it was difficult to truly rule them. The real reliance was on the puppet regimes that were propped up.

“This matter is actually not difficult. Let countries like Annan and other Southeast Asian countries send exchange students to the Empire to study the Empire’s culture and history and experience the Empire’s prosperity and advancement. These exchange students will definitely want to stay in the Empire. At that time, if they want to get an Imperial household registration, they will have to go back and teach the Empire’s culture and language.”

After thinking for a bit, he continued, “This method also applies to the princes and nobles of those puppet dynasties. To achieve this goal, the Empire must first prepare ‘sugar-coated bullets’.” Pang Yukun nodded and said, “So, the Empire is going to start accepting exchange students?”

Xiao Ming said yes. It is human nature to pursue a high-quality life, and he believed that these exchange students would do their best to work for him in order to stay in the Empire. And if those Southeast Asian princes and nobles were unwilling, he would kill them until they agreed.

“We must be decisive while the Empire’s technological advantage is unparalleled. The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it will be for us,” Xiao Ming reminded him.

“In that case, I will go back and discuss the matter of exchange students,” Pang Yukun said.

“Remember, these exchange students can only study culture and language, and are not allowed to learn any scientific and technological knowledge,” Xiao Ming emphasized.

Pang Yukun responded and turned to leave. At this moment, Xiao Yi immediately came to the Imperial Study.

“Father, I am ready to go to Australia at any time,” Xiao Yi said directly.

In the blink of an eye, Xiao Yi had graduated from Qingzhou University. According to his plan, he was going to send Xiao Yi to Australia to serve as Governor-General and take charge of everything there. His purpose in doing this was to allow Xiao Yi to gain experience. As a father, who doesn’t hope that their son will be better than them?

Moreover, with the progress of the Empire’s culture, the people of the Empire will be more and more unable to tolerate an incompetent person ruling the country in the future. So, if these princes want to have a place in the Empire in the future, they must be better than the others.

“When you go to Australia, you must put down your status as Crown Prince and truly govern Australia with the responsibility of a Governor-General. This is a vast land, and various interests are intertwined and very complex. Being able to develop Australia will prove your ability. Don’t let others make a joke of you,” Xiao Ming admonished in a father’s tone.

In these years, he was busy fighting in the east and west and lacked concern for his children, but that did not mean he did not love them. No matter how many shortcomings his children had, they were incomparable to other people’s children.

“Father, don’t worry. I have been influenced by you since I was a child and will definitely not fail to live up to your trust. I will build Australia into the most prosperous colony of the Empire,” Xiao Yi said excitedly. He was a little eager to try.

Unlike the reluctance in Xiao Ming’s heart, the current Xiao Yi was like a young bird that had just learned to fly and was eager to soar alone in the sky. Most importantly, his father, who had established an everlasting foundation, was an invisible pressure on him. How to surpass his father? This was a desperate question.

His gaze swept over Xiao Yi’s face, and he said, “In that case, I will wait to see your results. Also, in the future, your second and third brothers will also go to their respective colonies. You, as the elder brother, must set an example.”

Xiao Yi felt a little pressure when he heard this. He had been with Xiao Ming since he was a child, and he knew that his father treated the three of them equally. Although he inherited the position of Crown Prince according to the order of birth, the knowledge he had learned made him feel that this title might not bring him any extra benefits in the future.

After all, the imperial power was gradually losing its mystery in the eyes of the Empire’s people and only existed as a group that governed the country.