Chapter 487: Chapter 34: An Era of Change, Upheaval Beginnings

The four corners of the world are in turmoil, facing the mighty Great Tang and the Gu Clan.

The various countries of the Western Regions are fundamentally powerless to resist and insufficient to influence the current trend.

——The situation has completely changed.

Although Gu Quan is not prone to wanton killing, he cannot afford to leave any trace of danger.

At present, he is too terrifying.

Even Gu Yi has come to this conclusion, though he is not yet on par with the former Gu Chen, in terms of commanding troops, managing risks, and judging character, he has already evoked the sense of the former Gu Xi.

The Luoshu Harmonizing Device has fully unleashed Gu Quan’s talents.

In this context, the unrest in the Western Regions was quickly quelled, but the turbulence has not ceased at all.

The prestige of the Gu Clan has completely emerged.

And Gu Quan, taking advantage of his mountainous reputation, abolished almost all the monarchs of the small countries in the Western Regions, starting to cultivate monarchs loyal to the Great Tang.

It is precisely because of this.

The unrest in the entire Western Regions has not ceased with the decline of rebellious forces but has instead become more turbulent.

Everyone can feel it.

The current Great Tang is fundamentally different from the former Great Han, especially regarding foreign dependencies!

....

This is actually also an inevitable outcome.

In the original history, Great Tang’s overall attitude towards the Western Regions was far superior to that of previous dynasties, involving many factors.

This includes more in-depth proactive expansion, intervention in political and cultural integration, and other aspects.

This is progress that belongs to the era.

The same is true today.

Compared to other foreign dependencies, the Western Regions are actually considered backward now, and this backwardness does not refer to cultural and institutional aspects but is a comprehensive evaluation.

The appearance of the Gu Clan ultimately changed everything.

The Northern Border’s foreign races began integrating with Kyushu since the Yan Han period, although this was interrupted with the decline of the Yan Han, it actually played a significant role.

This includes Lingnan as well.

These two regions have undergone reforms by the Gu Clan, and due to their geographical conditions, they have leapfrogged in their integration with Kyushu.

In contrast, the Western Regions are entirely different. Although it seems deeply integrated with the Central Plains compared to other places,

in reality, the systems in the Western Regions have never changed.

This, is the truly fatal issue.

Unlike the original history, it was the appearance of the Gu Clan that allowed Li Shimin to see the possibility of integrating foreign races.

The land of the Western Regions can bring so much to Kyushu.

If it were some other mediocre emperor, perhaps he would be too afraid to attempt it.

But this is Li Shimin!

Whether it is his courage or his boldness, he is not likely to easily choose to give up.

This is an opportunity.

He knows this very well, if no change is made this time, who knows when this matter will be pushed again.....

...

In Chang’an, within Taiji Hall.

The atmosphere was incredibly heavy.

Li Shimin was discussing with numerous ministers on how to handle the matter of the Western Regions. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

In fact, there were only two paths before everyone now.

The first one:

——It is like the former Han, maintaining the previous dynasty’s system, and not interfering while cultivating sovereigns that are friendly to Great Tang.

The advantage of this arrangement is naturally the saving of much effort.

The Western Regions would also quickly stabilize.

The downside, however, is that if Great Tang weakens in the future, or if another giant emerges on the borders, the Western Regions will inevitably spiral out of control like before.

History will repeat itself in reverse.

The second path:

——Is to be relentless and more specifically control the Western Regions.

This is Li Shimin’s stance.

The ministers are very aware of this.

But this matter also involves many issues, the most crucial being how to manage it.

The countries in the Western Regions and the tribes of the grasslands are very different.

Their beliefs are more chaotic and steadfast.

With Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Shamanism primarily among them, each sect has different sub-sects, and their chaotic beliefs are far from comparable to those of the tribes on the grasslands.

This situation will result in many problems, making Great Tang’s forthcoming control increasingly difficult.

Li Shimin is now making the ministers think about strategies.

"The Western Regions are vast, while Great Tang is becoming increasingly powerful, if all the countries of the Western Regions are forced to oppose Great Tang, even with Great Tang’s national power, it may not be sustainable."

"Your Majesty must consider it carefully."

Fang Xuanling said with utmost seriousness.

He is one of the ministers who does not support Li Shimin’s aggressive approach and has always wanted Li Shimin to be steady and slow in his approach.

But for Li Shimin, he ultimately cannot heed Fang Xuanling’s advice.

Even if he knows that doing so won’t go wrong.

But he also cannot waste time.

Even the former Gu Chen could not accomplish everything in his lifetime, which makes him very vigilant.

Seeing Li Shimin expressionless, many ministers who share the same thoughts as Fang Xuanling are unwilling to agree because, despite the increasingly flourishing atmosphere of remonstrance in Great Tang, there is no need for useless words.

At this moment, Zhangsun Wuji frowned and said, "Your Majesty, I believe it is by no means easy to completely control the Western Regions in the short term."

"This matter can only be done gradually."

"I suggest, Your Majesty could emulate the actions of the former Marquis Zhao Lie."

Saying this, he directly looked at Gu Zi beside him.

This is the highest-ranking member of the Gu Clan currently in the court, and he is also one of the sons who came to Great Tang when Li Yuan ascended the throne, now serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Tutor to the Crown Prince.