Western Qiang occupied all of Qing and Tibet, plus parts of Sichuan and other areas—a vast expanse of land, more than half of it plateau region.
Zhao Hanzhang never thought she could reclaim the territory in one go. When Wang Mang reformed the system, he moved the Qiang people to Xihai Jun. They had reproduced here for several hundred years and long ago formed their own living habits.
The Qiang people were an ancient Chinese ethnic group. They weren’t as fierce as the Xiongnu, like a scorching sun burning people; nor were they like the Jie people, who after being suppressed to the bottom rebounded dramatically, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. This ethnic group was like water, always flowing gently, quiet and inclusive.
So toward them, Zhao Hanzhang’s thought wasn’t to subjugate and recover through force, but rather to let them naturally submit. For example, now—Zhao Erlang had broken through Western Qiang and continued westward to the Western Regions. She dispatched Ji Ping and Li Tianhe to lead a large army inside to pacify the tribes that had been devastated along the route. She also had Zhao Shen take Wei Ran to persuade Yao Yizhong and others who were fighting enthusiastically along the Jinsha River.
“Stop fighting. If you keep fighting, your rear will be lost.”
The Southern Qiang Yao clan and the Dengzhi Qiang clan had no choice but to pause. King Cheng Li Xiong, who had been silent all along, couldn’t help but emerge to mediate. He was of Di ethnicity, but Qiang and Di were one family. The relationship between the two ethnic groups had always been close, and he didn’t want the Qiang people to continue their internal strife.
He not only persuaded them to stop fighting, but also urged them to submit to the court.
“In the past, it was because the court couldn’t stabilize the four directions that we had no choice but to establish our own households. Now the Emperor has Heaven-given virtue and the ability to bring peace to the people. Why shouldn’t we submit?”
Yao Yizhong was thoughtful. Zhang Han of Dengzhi was very displeased upon hearing this and directly retorted, “King Cheng speaks lightly. You received great benefits from Zhao Hanzhang and established the State of Cheng. In name it’s a tributary state, but in reality, you’re self-governing. Can we Western Qiang do the same?”
Li Xiong choked.
If Western Qiang had a unified leader, they could naturally learn from Li Xiong. But they didn’t.
Yao Yizhong wanted to submit. He was very clever and knew that warfare only consumed wealth and manpower. Only peace could let the people rest and recuperate, herd sheep and farm, and develop the population.
But the other Qiang tribes might not be willing. Their consciousness wasn’t unified—wasn’t this the very reason they were fighting?
Yao Yizhong’s eyes flickered, scanning everyone present. If consciousness wasn’t unified, then he would subjugate them through force, unify Western Qiang, and then negotiate with the court.
Then Zhao Hanzhang quickly showed him through action that such trouble was unnecessary. Zhao Shen reported the reactions of various Qiang tribes to Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang immediately selected Yao Yizhong as the Western Qiang leader, ordering Ji Ping and Li Tianhe to assist Yao Yizhong. She also had Ningzhou Administrator Wei Ran and King Cheng Li Xiong serve as mediators, traveling everywhere to persuade Western Qiang tribes to support Yao Yizhong, as if imitating the State of Cheng to establish another tributary state.
Western Qiang tribes immediately fell into chaos. Some pledged to the court and supported Yao Yizhong, while others, like the Dengzhi Qiang Zhang family, suspected the court harbored ill intentions and were unwilling to submit.
Everyone argued chaotically from autumn through winter, then from winter into spring. Zhao Erlang fought all the way to Shanshan, while Zhang Mao also advanced north and east, nibbling away at Xiongnu and Northern Qiang territory.
Beigong Chun wasn’t idle either. With Zhao Hanzhang’s permission, he pressed toward the Northern Qiang who had retreated to the Ordos region. Tuoba Liuxiu, who followed Zhao Hanzhang’s lead, also deployed troops northward toward the Northern Qiang. Shi Lei, who had obtained cotton seeds, also obediently dispatched a large army.
This battle didn’t need to be fought. The three armies merely crossed the border and stopped at several major tribes. The Northern Qiang major tribes then pledged allegiance to Zhao Hanzhang.
Northern Qiang was different from Western Qiang. Western Qiang had natural defenses, located on the plateau where outsiders had difficulty entering. Northern Qiang occupied the Ordos plains—they had geographical advantage. Herding sheep and planting wheat, their days were somewhat better, but their hearts weren’t at ease.
Previously, they’d been surrounded by four powerful enemies and couldn’t move at all. Especially the Northern and Southern Xiongnu—the Northern Xiongnu raided southward every year, while Liu Yuan in the southeast directly demanded protection fees from them, euphemistically calling it “tribute.”
There was also Xiliang—friction between the two sides was constant. Even to the south, Jin Kingdom administrators would occasionally jump out saying, “I want to recover our territory,” and then deploy troops against them.
At first, Northern Qiang could still fight a bit with Xiliang and the Xiongnu. Occasionally, they’d take advantage of Jin Kingdom’s internal chaos to push southward, or occasionally pressure Jin Kingdom to let them know Northern Qiang wasn’t to be trifled with.
But this situation gradually disappeared after Zhao Hanzhang took power.
Since Zhao Hanzhang ascended the throne, Northern Qiang had become much quieter. After the father-son succession in Tuoba Xianbei, Northern Qiang shrank back even more, not daring to make a sound.
Internally, they’d long had voices of submission, just waiting for Zhao Hanzhang to make a move.
So when three armies pressed at the border, they immediately submitted a memorial of surrender.
This made the military officers traveling with the armies curse under their breath—the military achievements at hand had just vanished.
No one dared ignore Northern Qiang’s surrender and forcibly provoke war. The army had people from the Investigation Department—such matters couldn’t be concealed at all.
Everyone could only wait for the Emperor’s orders.
Zhao Hanzhang was very pleased and immediately established Xiazhou in the Ordos region. She selected a clever, prestigious, and far-sighted Qiang tribal leader from among the Northern Qiang to serve as Xiazhou Administrator, then divided Xiazhou’s cities into administrative districts, adopting a strategy of Qiang-Han joint governance.
Zhao Hanzhang carefully selected officials to serve in Xiazhou. Before they departed, she gave them individual instructions, “Although Xiazhou is a provincial administration, the Qiang people in its territory far outnumber the Han and other ethnicities. Therefore, let the Qiang govern themselves. Respect the customs of all ethnic groups. You’re going there to assist them.”
“The Ordos plains have abundant water and grass, suitable not only for herding sheep but also for planting wheat and rice. I want you to go help them plant wheat and rice, and also help them raise fatter, healthier sheep.”
“Your Majesty is too generous with them. I fear it may breed ambition, and then…”
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, “How could that be? As long as we let them know that following us means better lives than living alone, I think they’ll definitely choose us. Didn’t their submission prove exactly that?”
Weren’t they submitting because Your Majesty’s great army pressed at the border?
Zhao Hanzhang continued, “You must get along well with Northern Qiang. Western Qiang is watching. I think if the court can satisfy Northern Qiang, then Western Qiang will surely submit because of the court’s virtuous reputation.”
The instructed officials lowered their eyes in thought. They’d heard that the Qin Prince had returned to his garrison but left a portion behind in Shanshan. Some Western Qiang tribes wanted to migrate north but were stopped.
Your Majesty, this isn’t virtuous reputation—it’s clearly the same military threat as with Northern Qiang.
Zhao Hanzhang refused to admit it. Her great army only went in to mediate the internal strife among the tribes—they hadn’t participated in warfare at all.
She hoped everyone could get along peacefully and not fight.
The new Xiazhou Administrator was named Dong Qisheng, a Qiang tribal leader. After meeting Zhao Hanzhang in the capital, he couldn’t help but write letters to several Western Qiang tribal leaders he was friendly with. The general meaning was: This Emperor is worth dealing with—come quickly.
Some listened to the advice and immediately contacted Yao Yizhong to express their allegiance. Others didn’t listen, threw away the letter, and continued hiding, planning to wait until the fighting was over before deciding which side to support.
Just like this, in the chaotic noise, when spring flowers bloomed, Zhao Erlang brought back a string of merchant caravans, including Zhao Hu’s caravan.