I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1121 Colonization of the Japanese Islands
night, deep.

The candlelight in the Yamatai royal palace bedchamber went out without anyone noticing, but the three men's conversation did not fall silent in the darkness.

Under the soft moonlight, Su Yao's words unfolded like a grand scroll before Wan Nian and Shafiya, depicting a future they had never imagined.

Sulfur, gold, silver, copper ore… these words seemed to possess a magical power, instantly dispelling the “barbaric” impression in their eyes. Especially Wan Nian, who had grown up in the inner palace, though aware of the vastness of the world, had never imagined that this remote overseas island could harbor such immense wealth potential. She recalled the black rocks and yellow crystals she had seen during the day, which she had initially considered ordinary, but now, after Su Yao's explanation, she suddenly understood.

“My husband is so farsighted, and I… have truly been short-sighted.” Wan Qing sighed, a glint of wonder in her eyes. “If, as my husband says, this place is indeed rich in minerals and has convenient sea routes, then it is certainly worth investing in. However…” She frowned slightly, “Developing this place requires a large investment of manpower and resources, and the resettlement of immigrants to the border will not be accomplished overnight. The imperial court is currently still on its western expedition, and although the Central Plains have been pacified, everything is in need of rebuilding. I am afraid it will be difficult to allocate too many resources here.”

Safia also calmed down. Although she was attracted by Su Yao's description of the "treasure," as a princess from Parthia, she was more concerned about the impact of Su Yao's prolonged stay in the area.
“My lord, mining requires technology, a stable environment, and, most importantly, time. We have been away from Parthia for nearly three months. Although we have capable ministers guarding the region, there is no guarantee that unforeseen events will not occur in our newly annexed territory. If we devote too much energy to this, will it affect our western expedition? And what about Father?”

Upon hearing this, Su Yao smiled confidently, walked between the two women, and put his arms around their shoulders: "How could I not know your concerns? But that's precisely why we need to establish a foothold here as soon as possible."

“Developing the Japanese islands does not require immediately exhausting the nation’s resources. In the initial stage, we only need to use Jiang Qin’s three thousand soldiers as a base, supplemented by the support of Haidong Prefecture (the Korean Peninsula), and recruit refugees and skilled craftsmen from the Central Plains to gradually advance in the form of military and commercial settlements. Sulfur, gold and silver are both hard currencies, and the initial output can be used to support investment, forming a virtuous cycle.”

"As for the western expedition..." Su Yao's gaze turned westward, as if piercing through layers of walls to see the distant Parthian Plateau. "Parthian is indeed crucial. If that false king learns that I am not here, he will probably launch a desperate counterattack. But Parthian has generals like Wen Yuan, Yun Chang, and Zi Long, and your father Bahram is also a hero of our time. I believe they will not disappoint me."

"Now that these Japanese have taken the initiative to come forward, if I don't seize this opportunity to solidify my foundation in Haidong, it will only take more effort to deal with them later." Su Yao tapped his fingers lightly on the windowsill, the moonlight casting interplay of light and shadow on his face, his tone carrying an undeniable determination. "Think about it, you two. After the Central Plains are unified, if the barbarians from all directions see that our Great Han is indifferent to those who 'offend the majesty of Heaven,' they will only become more arrogant. This time, the Dog Slave Kingdom ambushed and killed the Han envoy, which is the perfect opportunity to make an example of them—it will not only deter the tribes of the Three Hans from harboring any further disloyalty, but also make the Japanese islands fully understand that 'the majesty of Han cannot be violated.' Furthermore, we can use the merit of pacification to rightfully establish a prefecture and garrison troops here, paving the way for future development."

Wan Nian pondered Su Yao's words, and a look of understanding gradually appeared in his eyes: "Does my husband intend to use 'punishing the rebels' as a pretext to achieve 'long-term stability'? In this way, we can avoid the stigma of 'unjustified conquest' and bring the Japanese islands under our jurisdiction in a reasonable manner. It is indeed brilliant."

"Yes."

Su Yao stroked Wan Nian's hair: "We must strike while the iron is hot regarding the Japanese islands. Now that we have used swift and decisive measures to destroy the Japanese, we have established our authority over the various vassal states. Yamatai's Himiko is terrified, and the leaders of the Three Hans are trembling with fear. This is the best window to establish order."

"However, we don't need to waste too much time. What we need to do is leave the seeds, set the rules, and then let time and the advanced civilization of the Han Dynasty naturally assimilate and absorb this land."

"As for us, we'll be back in Luoyang in three to five days at the latest after settling things here. The 'Grand Ceremony' over there should have a conclusion by then." Hearing this, Wan Nian and Shafiya finally understood Su Yao's overall strategy. He wasn't going to immediately pour everything in, but rather to lay a crucial piece, establishing an Eastern base capable of self-development and supporting the central government. This was not only for immediate resources, but also for long-term strategic planning and to eliminate future troubles.

"I understand," Wan Nian nestled against Su Yao's shoulder and whispered, "My husband always sees further ahead. In that case, I will give my full support. After returning to Luoyang, I will issue an edict to encourage coastal residents to migrate to Haidong and Yingzhou, and I will also transfer a group of craftsmen and agricultural officials here."

Safia nodded. She knew there was no use in being anxious now. The East and Parthia were separated by more than ten thousand miles. All she could do was trust the judgment of the man in front of her and pray for her father and the others.

As Su Yao had predicted, after confirming Su Yao's return to Parthia through various inquiries, the newly enthroned King VI quickly launched an attack after the start of spring.

However, the Parthian War was not the focus at the moment. After confirming the battle lines of both sides through the strategic map of the system, Su Yao quickly turned his attention back to the Japanese islands.

The next morning, he, along with Wannian and Safia, summoned Himiko and the Yamatai court to announce the upcoming arrangements.

First, they reaffirmed Yamatai's status. To reward the Queen's loyalty, Su Yao stated that the Han Dynasty would send some learned scholars to teach the Yamatai nobles Han classics and etiquette, assist the Queen in handling government affairs, and spread advanced production technologies.

Of course, all of this was not given away for free. The Yamatai Kingdom would also help the Han Dynasty establish its rule over Kyushu Island by sending laborers and slaves to participate in the construction of the city and the mining of minerals in the future.

Of course, the Han Dynasty didn't take advantage of them for free. The conscripted laborers would receive some material compensation from the Haidong Prefecture.

For example, the Han Dynasty would first present the Queen and the high-ranking nobles of Japan with disposable ironware, porcelain, tea, silk and lacquerware, among other daily necessities and luxury items, to give them a taste.

Then these priceless items would be clearly priced, with a small amount of supplies exchanged for every 500 laborers working for one month.

As a result, the Japanese nobles, who had enjoyed those extremely luxurious experiences, could no longer tolerate their previous rough lives. They rushed to send their tribes' laborers and even slaves to Hakata Bay, just to exchange for those "divine gifts" that could bring about earth-shattering changes to their lives.

(End of this chapter)