Seeing Wu Feng nodding thoughtfully, all the cabinet members felt the same way. Su Qin also went out and said: "Your Majesty, what Xiang Xiao said is very reasonable. At present, the ethnic composition in the vast area of Central Continent is complex. Other ethnic groups other than the Tang people account for the vast majority, especially in the Indian region. Although the Indians are divided into several tribes, their total number is not very different from the Tang people in our empire. In China They have an absolute advantage in the mainland. Except for some relatively prosperous and developed cities in these areas, the vast countryside and towns are quite backward and poor. But in fact, these lands are extremely fertile and the produce is quite rich. The main reason for their poverty and backwardness is Because of its low productivity, low crop yields, backward mine surveying methods, extensive mining methods, and poor industries, it is these reasons that have led to the poverty of the majority of people in this area, and wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very small number of nobles and wealthy gentry. , which is one of the main reasons why they were repeatedly conquered by other ethnic groups."
"Now that the empire has taken over such a vast land and such a large population, if the people in these areas cannot feel that their lives have improved significantly under the empire's rule, they will still be the same as those under the rule of their own nobles. Resistance and opposition will slowly grow deep in their hearts. Even if they are unable to fight against the empire's rule within ten or twenty years, over time, if this emotion accumulates for a long time, it will inevitably have a considerable negative impact on the empire's rule. "
After a pause, Su Qin seemed to be considering his words. Even when other cabinet members were pondering Su Qin's words, they found that Su Qin seemed to have something to say, but seeing that he himself looked a little hesitant, the ministers also guessed what the Vice Minister would say next. Refreshing.
"Actually, I don't think much of areas with large populations like the Indian Region. Based on my deepest thoughts, places like the Indian Region can completely allow them to maintain a state of autonomy. The empire should adopt economic measures. Infiltrate controlled areas to influence these areas. In this way, the empire can not only continuously obtain a large amount of benefits from economic control means, which is equivalent to a blood transfusion for the economic development of the empire's local economy, but on the other hand, it does not need to directly face the dissatisfaction of the middle and lower classes. The power saved by the empire can be invested in the vast and sparsely populated New Continent. Not only is that continent rich in products and vast land, but most importantly, most of the areas there have no real civilization or historical heritage. In the consciousness of the indigenous residents, There is no concept of nation and country at all. Instead of expending huge energy in these areas of the Central Continent, the empire should strengthen its power development and penetration in the New Continent. At the same time, it can transfer a large number of landless farmers from the empire to the mainland. In this way, it can consolidate the empire's power in this region. Rule. At the same time, it can also alleviate many conflicts caused by land annexation in the empire."
Su Qin's words caused an uproar among the officials. Give up India? This idea was something no one had ever thought of. Wang Liao proposed that the pace of the empire's outward expansion should be moderately curtailed, and he advocated focusing on economic control to conquer and control non-important areas by cultivating local agents of the empire to rule indirectly. Su Qin took a bigger step. The idea of giving up a fertile area like India, which the empire had spent countless efforts to obtain, would not surprise and disbelief everyone.
"Xiang Su, I'm afraid we still can't give up on this Indian region, right? The Indian nation has actually been split into several tribes, and the relationship between the tribes is not harmonious. Moreover, the soil in the Indian region is fertile. It is rich in products, and this region The folk customs are weak, and they have always had the custom of accepting foreign rule and cultural assimilation. With such good conditions, as long as the empire can make up its mind to subtly assimilate and evolve these areas through various channels, I believe that in a hundred years, these areas and people will be Completely integrated into the empire, this region will surely become the hinterland of the empire.”
Not everyone agrees with Su Qin and Wang Liao, at least Ling Tianfang is like this. As a mainlander, he has a deep understanding of the cowardice and obedience of the Indian nation. Such a nation will rise regardless of the rise of other nations around it. Everything must step on the shoulders of this nation, and now the empire can just step on the shoulders of the Indian nation. Take the first step forward, and most other weak and small nations can serve as stepping stones for the rejuvenation and rise of large nations.
"Yes, although I agree with Prime Minister Su's idea of increasing efforts to expand in the New World, the Indian region must not be discarded. Let's not talk about how much it cost us to acquire the Indian region. The more important point is Yes, the empire finally achieved an important breakthrough in the Baltic Sea and the Aegean Sea. Without India, the Nameli region became a sourceless water and a tree without roots, and the empire's rule there could only end. What's more, the Baltic Sea and the Aegean Sea are also crucial to the empire. The future era will definitely be the ocean age. The ocean is indispensable to a country. It brings not only convenient transportation and fishery resources, but also The important thing is that it can move a nation and a country towards a greater civilization, so the Indian region cannot be given up from any angle." Supporting Ling Tianfang's view was Jiangnan Governor Wang Zong who returned to Beijing to report on his work. Xi, although he is a local official, Jiangnan's position is so important, and the position of Governor of Jiangnan is actually no less than a minister of the Imperial Administration Council, or even more.
"There is indeed some truth to what Mr. Wang said. Since India has been taken into the hands of the empire, it is impossible to give up. What I want to express is just one intention, that is, the land and population of the empire have now reached a very large level. I privately think that It is no longer necessary for the empire to expand its territory by conquering other ethnic groups, except of course if it threatens the security of the empire. The empire's current central work should be shifted to economic development, especially the priority development of industry and commerce. According to the Intelligence General Administration The intelligence information returned shows that whether it is the Leeds Kingdom or the Famini Empire, the reason why they are able to reach the forefront of the powers in the Western Continent is because they are in an absolute leading position in industry and commerce, especially in industrial development, such as the industry and commerce in the southern region of the Western Continent. Although it is also developed, it mainly relies on commercial trade to maintain prosperity. This is certainly an important aspect, but without industry as a basis, this prosperity will be a temporary illusion, and it will be very difficult to maintain it in the long term."
"Industrial development requires sufficient raw materials, a vast market, abundant labor force, and necessary funds and technology. The empire is now vast and vast, exceeding that of any previous era, especially the inclusion of markets in India, the northern grasslands, and the southwestern region. The empire's domestic market capacity is extremely large, and the empire's shipping industry has also entered a stage of spatial development. It can be said that the market conditions are already in place. Not to mention the labor force, whether it is the interior of the empire or the Indian region, sufficient labor force has always been the supply. The square market can fully meet the needs of industrial development. Funding problems are not a problem for the empire's industry and commerce. The empire's modern financial system is basically complete, and both the banking system and the stock trading system can provide sufficient capital supply for the industry and commerce. In terms of technology, The Imperial Industry has also been preparing for a long time, accumulated considerable technology and experience, and has made breakthrough progress in some aspects. In addition to the issue of raw materials, we also need to increase expansion in the New World and exploration and discovery in the southern ocean area in order to In addition to ensuring the supply of raw materials, it can be said that all conditions have been met, and all the requirements for entering a period of rapid development are fully met, and the glorious era of the empire is about to come!"
Su Qin was rarely so excited. His beaming expression and inflammatory words made other ministers unable to help but gradually become excited as he expressed it. The empire would usher in a glorious era, especially now that there are no more people around the empire. A force that can threaten the survival of the empire, whether it is Kamansisluo or the Japanese, has been reduced to the lowest level. It is only a matter of time to deal with them sooner or later, and it will not affect the economic development process of the empire at all. This time will only last ten or twenty years. The empire will surely stand in the east of the mainland with a new attitude.
"Yes, Prime Minister Su is right. To ensure that the empire has a stable and sufficient raw material base, the New World is undoubtedly the best base. Now the empire's survey departments at all levels have discovered gold, silver, copper, iron, etc. in the New World. The rich products including various minerals, especially the agricultural products on this land are extremely rich. Many agricultural products are unheard of in our continent. After entering the imperial market, it has caused a strong shock, such as potatoes and corn. High-yield dryland crops can completely rewrite the agricultural development process of the empire. If these high-yield crops can be widely promoted in the barren areas of the empire, then famine will definitely be farther and farther away from the empire." It was Yang Zhengbin who interrupted, talking about He has the most say on these issues. The benefits brought to the empire by the expansion of the empire's power in the New World have gradually emerged. A large number of immigrants have begun to enter the empire-controlled areas of the New World through various channels. The Tang people first promoted it through official channels. , but the Indians entered spontaneously. Now, stimulated by the Indians, the Tang people have also begun to enter the New World on a large scale, which has also triggered a new round of upsurge to explore the hinterland of the New World.