Iron Dynasty Chapter 1028

Li Laosi pedaled his tricycle down the spotless, broad avenues of Qingzhou City. Loaded on his tricycle was a motorized thresher.

Once electricity spread throughout Qingzhou, basic electric devices started showing up too, including the thresher he just bought.

Yet, he wasn't the one who footed the bill for it by himself. The village's production team covered the cost, aiming to deploy this motorized thresher for rice threshing come the upcoming autumn harvest.

While pondering the labor they'd spare during this autumn's harvest, a peculiar rhythm of drums and tunes abruptly echoed from the street ahead.

Next, he spotted folks in odd attire hauling big and small crates, marching down the primary thoroughfare toward the Imperial City.

As this parade drew near, Li Laosi quickly pulled over. To him, this kind of display had to be diplomats from another nation, considering how Japan had visited Qingzhou last year with a comparable entourage to offer tribute.

Once he shifted to the roadside, Li Laosi queried a fellow clad like a scholar, “From which nation do these diplomats hail?”

“The paper reported two days back that Tibet has yielded, so these ought to be Tibet's diplomats,” the scholar replied, his face beaming with pride.

The Empire grew mightier by the day. They witnessed it firsthand and swelled with inner pride.

Li Laosi beamed with delight upon hearing this. He exclaimed, “Wonderful, just wonderful! The barbarians are gone, and now Tibet has yielded too. All those foes who once tormented our Chinese Empire have turned tail. It eases my heart.”

The scholar nodded, smiling. Then he eyed the thresher atop Li Laosi’s tricycle and remarked in astonishment, “Uncle, your household must be quite prosperous. Owning both a tricycle and a thresher—surely you possess a vast plot of land, don't you?”

“Kid, all that schooling has muddled your head. If I were so wealthy, would I be pedaling this tricycle on my own? These belong to the production team's shared assets.”

The scholar didn't take offense. He noted, “Well, then your production team must be well-off too. Neither of these items comes cheap.”

After a brief hesitation, he added, “Still, wouldn't you prefer your very own expansive landholding?”

“Who wouldn't crave their personal estate? But cash is what I lack,” Li Laosi sighed. As the Empire expanded, its territories turned lush and productive, reshaping how the Empire's citizens lived their lives.

Folks increasingly grew discontent with their modest fields and yearned for personal estates. Plus, with many heading to factory jobs, farmland often lay fallow. Over the last couple of years, land trades around Qingzhou had boomed.

Scattered parcels got consolidated into massive holdings, transformed into grand estates. Estate holders acquired slaves and modern farm tools to work these expanses, yielding far more crops than the production teams managed.

Lately, this aspiration spread through their production team as well. Farming profits paled against factory wages, after all. Village youth shunned fieldwork, flocking instead to Qingzhou City. For those set on agriculture, true wealth meant securing their own estates.

As he observed villagers steadily claiming estates of varying scales, Li Laosi felt his own impatience rising. Had he not squandered the family's funds on gambling two years prior, he could have snapped up a modest five-hundred-mu estate by now, given how affordably land went in the Empire these days.

Noticing Li Laosi’s look, the scholar suggested, “Short on funds? Head to Australia then. That's where land's the bargain now. Siberia's dirt-cheap too, though the freezing cold there is a drawback.”

“Australia?” Li Laosi clenched his jaw. Truth be told, he'd been mulling over relocation to Australia lately. Land there came nearly gratis, ideal for destitute folks dreaming of their own estates.

Gazing at his tricycle and the thresher it bore, Li Laosi muttered bitterly, “Blast it all, one day I, Li Laosi, will claim these for myself. Time to commit—I'm off to Australia this round.”

…

In Zhengda Guangming Hall, Xiao Ming anticipated the arrival of the Tibetan diplomats.

Reports indicated the Tibetan group had already passed through the gates. To demonstrate their allegiance directly to him, Dawa himself headed the mission this time.

For, as the Tibetans declared, they'd cease selecting a Zanpu, and he'd gain the Tibetan Zanpu title alongside his imperial one.

Within the hall, cabinet members and Qingzhou officials gathered in full. Joy lit every face, surpassing even New Year's festivities.

These back-to-back triumphs this year left them jubilant beyond measure.

After a moment of shut-eye repose, Xiao Ming caught the distinct Tibetan drumbeats and melodies. Moments later, a eunuch announced the Tibetan diplomats' approach.

He nodded to Qian Dafu, who promptly proclaimed in a shrill tone, “Tibetan diplomats, you are permitted entry.”

The officials sharpened their attention then. Roughly ten minutes passed before Dawa ushered Dengba into Zhengda Guangming Hall.

Entering the chamber, Dawa stole a wary peek at Xiao Ming upon the dragon seat, knelt, and declared, “Long live Your Majesty! I, Dawa, Tibetan Prime Minister, present myself before Your Imperial Majesty. Today, I bring the formal credentials, affirming Tibet's devotion to you, with no intent to waver.”

Thereupon, Dawa offered the credentials reverently with both hands.

Qian Dafu descended, received the document, and delivered it to Xiao Ming.

Having perused it, Xiao Ming displayed a pleased grin. He stated, “With Tibet's true intent clear, henceforth, Tibet and the Chinese Empire shall set aside old grudges and cease hostilities. As your credentials bestow upon me the Zanpu title, will you heed my commands going forward?”

“Your Majesty, we shall dutifully comply,” Dawa affirmed deferentially.

“Excellent.” Xiao Ming announced firmly, “Your arrival coincides with the Empire's overhaul of its administrative divisions. Thus, effective immediately, Tibet becomes the Empire's Tibetan Autonomous Province. You may no longer maintain a private force; the Empire's Southwest Military Region will safeguard Tibet's peace. Moreover, you must uphold the court's edicts. Do you consent?”

Though the notion of an autonomous province eluded Dawa, the subsequent stipulations rang clear. Tibet would fully integrate into the Empire from this point.

Yet he anticipated as much. The nobles had weighed their options in Duokang. Aligning with the Empire promised greater gains than opposing it.

“Your Esteemed Majesty, we shall adhere to your will,” Dawa replied with respect. Once the Tibetan nobility beheld the Empire's fearsome armaments, thoughts of defiance evaporated. Certain nobles even whispered in dread of the Empire wielding witchcraft, underscoring their utter dread of Luo Xin.

Xiao Ming nodded, content. Through years of relentless strife, he'd secured the Empire's full modern expanse, plus several million extra square kilometers.

Building on this, with Tibet's allegiance secured, he resolved to restructure the administrative zones for smoother governance.