Iron Dynasty Chapter 1028

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

Once electricity spread throughout Qingzhou, various basic electric devices emerged, including the thresher he had just acquired.

Yet, he hadn't footed the bill for it by himself. The village's production team covered the cost, allowing them to employ this motorized thresher for processing rice come the upcoming autumn harvest.

While pondering the labor they would spare during this fall's reaping, an odd rhythm of drums and tunes abruptly echoed from the path in front.

Next, he spotted folks clad in unusual garments hauling big and small crates while proceeding down the primary thoroughfare toward the Imperial City.

As this parade drew near, Li Laosi promptly pulled aside. To him, this display surely signaled 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 attired like a scholar, “From which nation do these diplomats hail?”

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

The Empire grew ever more powerful. They witnessed it firsthand and swelled with pride inside.

Li Laosi felt elated upon hearing this. He exclaimed, “Wonderful, just wonderful! The barbarians are gone, and Tibet has surrendered too. Those foes who once tormented our Chinese Empire have turned into timid souls. What a relief!”

The scholar smiled and nodded. Then, eyeing the thresher atop Li Laosi’s tricycle, he remarked in astonishment, “Uncle, your household must be wealthy. Owning both a tricycle and a thresher—surely you possess a vast farm, don’t you?”

“Kid, all that schooling has muddled your head. If I had that kind of wealth, would I be pedaling this tricycle? These belong to the production team's shared assets.”

The scholar took no offense. He noted, “Well, then your production team must be prosperous. Those items don't come cheap.”

After a moment, he added, “Still, wouldn't you like to own a big farm of your own?”

“Who wouldn't crave their personal farm? But cash is the issue,” Li Laosi sighed. As the Empire expanded, its territories brimmed with rich soil, transforming how its citizens lived.

Folks increasingly disdained their tiny fields, yearning for expansive farms. Moreover, numerous individuals headed to factory jobs, letting fields lie fallow. Over the recent couple of years, land transactions around Qingzhou had boomed.

Scattered parcels consolidated into vast holdings, evolving into grand farms. Farm lords acquired slaves and modern farming tools to till these areas, yielding more crops than production teams ever did.

These days, more villagers in his team harbored similar ambitions. Farming earnings paled against factory wages, after all. Village youth shunned fieldwork, flocking to Qingzhou City instead. For those keen on agriculture, true wealth demanded personal farms.

Observing villagers claim farms of varying scales, Li Laosi grew restless. Had he not squandered his savings on gambling two years back, he could have snapped up a modest five-hundred-mu plot by now, given the Empire's bargain land prices.

Noticing Li Laosi’s look, the scholar suggested, “Lacking funds? Head to Australia. Land there's the most affordable currently. Siberia's cheap too, though it's bitterly frigid.”

“Australia?” Li Laosi clenched his teeth. Lately, he'd wavered on relocating there. Land was practically handed out gratis, ideal for destitute folks seeking their own farms.

Gazing at the tricycle and its thresher, Li Laosi muttered bitterly, “Curse it, one day I, Li Laosi, will own gear like this. I'll make the move—off to Australia I go.”

…

Zhengda Guangming Hall. Xiao Ming awaited the arrival of the Tibetan diplomats.

Reports indicated the Tibetan diplomats had entered the city. To demonstrate their allegiance directly to him, Dawa headed the group personally this time.

After all, the Tibetans declared they would cease selecting a Zanpu, granting him the Tibetan Zanpu title alongside his Emperor one.

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

This year's back-to-back triumphs filled them with overwhelming delight.

After a brief repose with eyes shut, Xiao Ming caught the distinctive Tibetan drumbeats and melodies. Moments later, a eunuch announced the Tibetan diplomats' arrival.

He nodded to Qian Dafu, who promptly proclaimed in a shrill tone, “Tibetan diplomats, you may enter.”

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

Entering the hall, Dawa cast a wary look at Xiao Ming upon the dragon throne, knelt, and declared, “Long live Your Majesty! I, Dawa, Tibetan Prime Minister, greet Your Imperial Majesty. Today, I bring the credentials letter, affirming Tibet's devotion to you, without remorse.”

Thus, Dawa offered the credentials letter reverently with both hands.

Qian Dafu descended, received the letter, and handed it to Xiao Ming.

Having perused it, Xiao Ming displayed a pleased grin. He stated, “With Tibet's true intent shown, henceforth, Tibet and the Chinese Empire shall end hostilities and cease clashes. As your credentials bestow upon me the Zanpu title, will you heed my commands onward?”

“We shall obey Your Majesty fully,” Dawa replied deferentially.

“Excellent.” Xiao Ming announced firmly, “Your coming coincides with the Empire's overhaul of administrative divisions. Therefore, starting today, Tibet becomes the Empire's Tibetan Autonomous Province. You may no longer maintain an army. Tibet's defense falls to the Empire's Southwest Military Region. You must uphold the court's directives as well. Do you accept?”

Though autonomous province puzzled Dawa, he grasped the ensuing terms clearly. This sealed Tibet's full integration into the Empire.

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

“As Your Majesty decrees, we comply,” Dawa affirmed respectfully. Post-exposure to the Empire's fearsome arms, Tibetan nobles abandoned defiance. Some quaked, convinced the Empire wielded magic, underscoring their dread of Luo Xin.

Xiao Ming nodded approvingly. Through years of fierce struggles, he had secured the Empire's full modern domains, plus millions more square kilometers.

Thus, with Tibet's yielding, he resolved to restructure administrative zones for smoother governance.