The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 858 The Warrior Returns
The Tibetan invasion of Heyuan County was a high-stakes gamble. If it succeeded, Tibet would gain a large amount of high-quality land, alleviate its severe internal conflicts, greatly enhance its living space, and acquire advanced technology and various scarce resources.

But if they lost the gamble, the consequences would be unimaginable. Unfortunately, Tibet lost the gamble. All 30,000 elite troops were annihilated, with only Yu Zebu leading a little over 100 men to escape back to Tibet. The rest of the 30,000 troops were all killed by the Sui army.

When the news arrived, the entire Tibetan kingdom was plunged into mourning. Wives wept for their husbands, parents wept for their sons, 30,000 families were torn apart, and the Tibetan kingdom seemed to have collapsed.

The Tibetan king, Lunzan So, fell ill and died three months later. Considering that his son, Qizong Nongzan, was only four years old and unable to face the dire situation in Tibet, Lunzan So passed the throne to his brother, Lunke'er. His son, Qizong Nongzan, was the historical Songtsen Gampo. He did not become king, and history took a different turn.

A year later, Prince Supi returned to Tibet and restored his kingdom. He joined forces with the old nobles of Supi, raised an army to expel the officials and troops of Qiongbo Bangse, and rebuilt the Supi Kingdom. Nobles in various places followed the example of the Supi Kingdom and established their own kingdoms. The Tubo Kingdom returned to the era of feudal separatism and could no longer compete with the Central Plains dynasty.

As the year drew to a close, a significant piece of news arrived: the expedition fleet that had gone to Yinzhou had returned, arriving at its departure point, Jiangdu, and bringing back a large quantity of agricultural products.

Emperor Xiao Xia was overjoyed and immediately ordered three thousand cavalrymen to go to Jiangdu to welcome the fleet back to Luoyang.

The following day, the Kyoto Morning Post published a front-page headline: "Returning from afar, discovering a whole new continent."

However, somewhat embarrassingly, this news, which should have caused a sensation throughout the world, became nothing more than a topic of conversation on the streets. But thinking about it, it's understandable. Ordinary people in the Sui Dynasty didn't even know about Siberia, Central and Western Asia, Europe, or Africa. What excitement would they have about discovering a new continent?
Even high-ranking officials in the imperial court only hoped that the fleet would bring back gold, silver, and crop seeds.

Ten days later, a convoy of over a thousand carts, escorted by three thousand cavalry, slowly entered Luoyang. Due to the ice in the north, the fleet could not travel by boat, so they could only use the carts to carry over a thousand large boxes of goods into the capital. Only agricultural products could be brought into the capital, and gold and silver had to be temporarily left in Jiangdu.

The government organized the people to sing and dance to welcome the warriors back. This was the emperor's order, and the warriors' hearts could not be disappointed.

Xiao Xia personally led the officials to welcome the delegation at Yingtian Gate. The crew and soldiers stayed in Jiangxia to rest, while He Man and Shen Guang led a dozen or so people into the capital. They all bowed and saluted, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"My two beloved ministers have worked so hard, from the beginning to the end of the year, I have finally been looking forward to your return!"

He Man said excitedly, "We have lived up to the sacred object's promise. We have found all the crops His Majesty was looking forward to, including the cotton that His Majesty longed for the most."

Xiao Xia was overjoyed and immediately ordered Zhang Wei, the Minister of Agriculture, to take over the management of various crop seeds. Two copies were made, one for the Ministry of Agriculture and the other for the Agricultural College. Both the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural College had special seed storage warehouses that were cold, dry, well-ventilated, and well-managed.

It's December now, and in two more months we can start trial planting. Root crops like sweet potatoes and potatoes can be planted in greenhouses now. The agricultural college has a lot of experience; they've successfully grown yams and radishes in greenhouses during winter, bringing back several thousand kilograms, so we can give it a try. We can also try peanuts.

Inside the Hall of State Affairs, He Man and Shen Guang reported to the Emperor and dozens of high-ranking officials about their trip to Yinzhou in the north and south, detailing what they had seen and heard.

"At first, the world was covered in snow, and then to the south, there was an endless forest with towering pine trees that were tens of feet or even twenty feet tall. We saw a pine tree that would take thirty people to encircle, and it was at least several thousand years old."

There were also endless grasslands, with herds of bison and deer, as well as deer as tall as camels, and vast lakes and rivers, but no one saw any trace of anyone.

We didn't find a large tribe of several thousand people until we reached a slightly warmer area to the south. They were semi-agricultural, semi-fishing and hunting, skilled in weaving and pottery making, but not in smelting, and used wooden and bone tools..."

Shen Guang hesitated for a moment, then told the truth, "When we returned, we were warmly received by this tribe again. I left a few soldiers and a carpenter there." "General Shen, you left soldiers and a carpenter in the New World?" Several ministers asked in surprise.

Shen Guang nodded. "I'd like to go again next year. Our biggest difficulty is the language barrier. I hope some of the soldiers can learn their language, and the carpenter will be there to teach them how to build houses."

Xiao Xia said slowly, "The best would be a deserted continent like this, where we don't have to compete with others, we have no enemies, and we have abundant resources, so that we can settle down, recuperate, and reproduce."

"Your Majesty, the voyage will take half a year, which is too far."

Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Do you all understand now? This is why I am so determined to increase the population. You may not know that to the north of the Northern Turks, there is a vast expanse of forest, with an area equivalent to two Sui dynasties. However, it is too cold there, with half the year being winter, making it unsuitable for human habitation. But the newly discovered continent is similar to the Sui dynasty, with a climate suitable for human habitation."

Therefore, there is a lot of land overseas, but not much suitable for human habitation. If we don't act quickly enough, and it falls into the hands of the Western Russians, our descendants will blame us for it.

...........
In the afternoon, Xiao Xia met with the two of them separately again.

Xiao Xia placed the nautical map they provided on the table and compared it with her own map, marking all the places they had visited and anchored, including central Canada, Vancouver or Seattle, and San Francisco.

The South American stops should be southern Mexico and Peru.

Xiao Xia then asked slowly, "Would you two like to go again next year?"

The two exchanged a glance and nodded together. Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Since we will be sailing again next year, it would be best to establish a shipping route and supply station. In the future, we can set off from the seaport in the far north and choose a suitable settlement in Beiyinzhou. However, I suggest that you split up. One of you can go to Beiyinzhou and the other can go to the Southern Continent."

Shen Guang and He Man were both stunned. After a long while, He Man asked, "Your Majesty, is there another continent to the south, similar to Yinzhou?"

Xiao Xia nodded. "It is said that after traveling for half a month through the South Pacific islands, we will see another continent, which is about the same size as the Sui Dynasty. However, the conditions on this continent are quite harsh, extremely hot and dry, and it is likely to have more mineral deposits. I want to recruit Indians to mine iron ore here, but we must find this continent first."

He Man replied without hesitation, "Your Majesty, I am willing to go and search for the Southern Continent. I am quite familiar with the South Sea Islands."

Xiao Xia continued, “Each of you will lead other generals out to sea. General Shen can take Chen Leng to Bei Yinzhou. You don’t need to go to Nan Yinzhou next year. He Man will take Zhu Kuan to explore the Southern Continent. I will give you a proper explanation before you set off.”

The two men stood up together, bowed, and said, "Your humble servants obey your command!"

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(End of this chapter)