The Six Arts of the Gentleman in the Bright Moon of Qin Dynasty

Chapter 1215 Peace and Prosperity [Please Subscribe*Please Vote for Monthly Tickets]

Bingzhou was ultimately different from the heartland of China; there was very little land suitable for farming and survival.

Therefore, although Bingzhou was vast, it had very few cities and more military fortresses and military settlements.

"Who would have thought that such a beautiful flower would bloom in the Gobi Desert!" An Qisheng said with no small amount of pride.

What an honor it is to build the second largest city in the world from a barren grassland and desert.

As long as the Northern Palace of the King still exists, people will always remember these pioneers.

Time may change, and the world may change, but as long as the Northern Palace City exists, people will always remember them.

"The Qin state is also building the Epang Palace, aiming to create an imperial capital that surpasses Linzi, and Li Si is in charge of it!" Yan Yan suddenly said.

It's somewhat embarrassing if word gets out that the capitals of the two remaining empires aren't even the largest cities in the world.

Therefore, both Bingzhou and Qin were secretly competing to build a city that could surpass Linzi as the best city of their time.

"We can't surpass Linzi anymore, so we'll have to look to Xianyang!" An Qisheng said with a smile.

Bingzhou ultimately has too small a population, and it has now reached its limit. Perhaps in the future, when its population grows, it can surpass Linzi, but that is impossible now.

Qin did indeed have the conditions; after all, it was the political center of China, and its rate of population absorption was unmatched by Bingzhou.

Once the Epang Palace was completed, the Qin state would expand Xianyang to Chang'an, Wannian and other royal domains, directly creating a super megacity with a population of over two million.

It will also be the largest city in the world, far surpassing the gradually declining Linzi.

Of course, this is on the premise that the Qin state is well-governed, peaceful, and free from war.

“There are always things to be done in this world. His Majesty said that we can replace three generations with one generation to eliminate external threats. Now we have achieved that. Let’s leave the rest to future generations. The soldiers and the people are too tired!” An Qisheng said earnestly to Yan Yan.

Their generation conquered the vast Bingzhou, and many of them passed away before they could enjoy the peace and prosperity brought by this golden age. It is unfair to burden them with the hardships of developing domestic affairs.

“The development of the Hetao region and the area north of the Daling River has been completed. There’s no need for further large-scale construction. Let the people stop and enjoy the benefits!” An Qisheng continued to persuade.

What he feared most was that after the completion of the two super projects, Yan Yan would suddenly have a brilliant idea and create another super project that would benefit future generations. Although this would be a good thing for future generations, it would be too cruel to the comrades who had fought alongside them through thick and thin.

“Peace is established by heroes, but we cannot see heroes enjoying peace. We cannot allow such a thing to happen in Bingzhou!” Yan Yan nodded heavily.

Although he still has many ideas, it is really too cruel to those like-minded people who have been with them all the way.

"Disarm!" Yan Yan took a deep breath and issued the disarmament order.

The number of soldiers in Bingzhou was too large, accounting for one-fifth of the total population of Bingzhou. In any era, this proportion would be criticized as a waste of resources and aggression.

Yan Yan had no doubt that after his death, the historians would give him the posthumous title of "Wu" (武).

“Yes!” An Qisheng and Li Ren exchanged a glance.

The disarmament in Bingzhou was something they had anticipated, and it was something they should have done long ago.

However, there were still some small tribes within the territory that had not been conquered, and the Qin state was still a major enemy outside, so the disbandment had been delayed.

Now that Bingzhou is stable internally, and there were only one or two rebellions last year, it is time to start reducing the number of troops.

As for the Qin state, as long as it doesn't want the hard-won peace to be disrupted again, it won't consider going to war with Bingzhou.

It could even be said that as long as Yan Yan was alive, no one would dare to covet Bingzhou. As long as Yan Yan lived, the initiative in the war would always remain in Bingzhou's hands.

With the demobilization order issued, the entire Bingzhou was mobilized. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers took off their armor and uniforms, left their camps, and returned to farming and nomadic life.

The entire Bingzhou region was reduced to only four towns and thirteen guards, with a standing force of 250,000.

"Whoosh~" The disarmament in Bingzhou had the greatest impact on the Qin state and the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions.

If Bingzhou had not reduced its military, Qin would have had to maintain a large army of hundreds of thousands stationed in Beidi and Shangjun for defense. In addition, with the large armies in various parts of southern Qin, their combined military strength would far exceed that of Bingzhou.

Now that Bingzhou has taken the lead in reducing its military, they can also reduce the number of troops in the north accordingly.

As for the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, what they feared most was that Bingzhou would suddenly decide to incorporate them completely into its territory, cancel their status as vassal states, and turn them into a prefecture or county of Bingzhou.

"The world has finally entered a period of true peace!" Gai Nie looked at Ying Zheng and bowed with his sword in hand.

Their initial ambition has finally been achieved.

“I originally thought that there would be a war between Qin and the other side, leaving only one country, and the war might even continue for two or three generations…” Gai Nie said, looking to the north.

The principle of "not allowing others to sleep soundly under one's bed" remains unchanged.

In particular, Yan Yan and Ying Zheng are emperors of unprecedented proportions. Everyone would think that they would not tolerate each other, but unexpectedly, Bingzhou took the lead in reducing its troops, sending a signal of cessation of hostilities.

"Actually, you're more worried about me, aren't you?" Ying Zheng smiled as he looked at Gai Nie.

Gai Nie did not answer, expressing his attitude through silence.

"How could I not want to establish a Chinese empire with only the Great Qin? What can you do if you can't defeat me!" Ying Zheng said with a smile, spreading his hands.

Sometimes, whether or not to fight is not a decision he can make.

If Bingzhou is not powerful enough to threaten Qin, the noble families of Qin will surely encourage it to start a war.

However, Bingzhou was not one of the six states that had been destroyed by Qin. It had just been established, with numerous famous generals and capable ministers, no less than Qin. It also had a renowned emperor. If we were to cause trouble at this time, their newly completed unification might be reduced to ashes again.

So it's not that Ying Zheng doesn't want to fight, but that the noble families of Qin are holding him back and preventing him from fighting.

"Is the master leaving?" Ying Zheng asked Gai Nie.

When he invited Gai Nie, he did so by making grand promises—promising that the world would be at peace and that peace would last forever—and thus lured Gai Nie to his side.

Now that Bingzhou has reduced its military, it shows that this vast world has officially entered an era of peace. So the pie has been eaten up, and whether Gai Nie stays or goes is beyond Ying Zheng's control.

"With war ceased, there is no longer any place for me to roam freely..." Gai Nie sighed.

Without the struggle for supremacy among feudal lords, the art of diplomacy lost the soil upon which it depended for survival.

"Perhaps it's time for me to pursue my own path of the sword!" Gai Nie bowed and bid farewell to Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng did not stop him. He clapped his hands, and a eunuch carrying a sword box walked up to him.

"Sir, you do not wish to accept any official rank or title from my Great Qin, so I can only offer you this sword!" Ying Zheng took the sword box and handed it to Gai Nie.

(End of this chapter)