Chapter 215

Several days later, in Luoyang, within the gleaming Qianyuan Hall of the Great Zhou.

“Hmph, as expected, they agreed.” Wu Zhao’s tone was calm, almost bored, as she spoke without lifting her eyelids. A faint, chilly smile flickered in her black-and-white eyes. “Did they truly think our Great Zhou would be so easy to bully?”

The gathered ministers nodded ever so slightly. Not long ago, those three powerful nations had banded together in an attempt to strike at the Great Zhou.

Now that their gambit had failed, they were expected to pay the price. Levying taxes on them was not only justified—it was overdue.

Wu Zhao swept her gaze across the hall, her voice clear. “We’ll set that matter aside for now. Let us return to what was mentioned earlier…”

Her voice deepened slightly. “The Turks have now fallen into our hands. After more than half a year of firm suppression, the tribes who refused to submit have fled westward, farther into the steppes.

“The majority have already submitted and even begun adopting our Great Zhou’s culture…” Her words paused briefly, and her tone turned sharp. “But the Turkic grasslands have suffered severe devastation.

“What remains is little more than barren land stripped down to its roots—no resources, nothing to use. We can’t even make use of the population for now. Are we supposed to keep them herding sheep?”

She gave a slight scoff. “If we force them to continue herding, we’d only drive the Turks to their deaths. Most of the grazing lands have been consumed down to the soil and bark. Even if they wanted to raise livestock, there’s nothing left to graze.”

The air in the hall thickened with tension.

“Now that the Turkic lands are part of our territory, how we plan to manage them is a matter of great importance,” she said. “Speak freely, my lords.”

The ministers looked at one another in quiet confusion. Without a word, their eyes turned to Yang Yi, the man known behind closed doors as the Living Yama.

It had been his idea, after all, to cripple the Turks by destroying their pasturelands. Now that the territory had been secured, the Empress was asking them to come up with a solution for the barren wilderness he’d left behind?

Silence fell. Xu Jingzong, Wei Yuanzhong, and several others frowned in contemplation. But Wu Zhao remained serene. She knew this was not a problem that could be solved quickly or easily.

Her eyes slowly lowered. Reclining slightly against the back of the dragon throne, she let her gaze drift over her officials.

A moment passed.

Her attention landed on Yang Yi, seated at her lower left. His eyes were closed, his posture relaxed—almost as if he were napping.

Wu Zhao arched an eyebrow, bemused. This man is getting bolder by the day, she thought. Sleeping in court now?

She pursed her lips and looked away. “Does anyone have an idea?”

Still, no answer.

They could handle ordinary governance, sure. But to solve the problem of ecological collapse in the Turkic plains? That was beyond them. Unless someone could go out and plow every blade of grass back into the dirt, the land would remain lifeless for years.

Wu Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. Her gaze shifted toward Xu Jingzong.

“Xu Jingzong,” she said, her voice edged with command, “what are your thoughts?”

Xu Jingzong’s eyelid twitched. He gave a pained smile and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I believe the Turks differ greatly from the Central Plains. They have their own geographical advantages.”

“In that case,” he continued, “since the Turkic lands are now under Great Zhou’s rule, we should put their natural strengths to good use. They can raise livestock—horses, cattle, sheep.

“Their animal husbandry is well-developed. The cattle and sheep could supply us with meat and furs, while the horses could strengthen our cavalry by providing us with elite warhorses.”

Many officials nodded in agreement. It was, after all, what most of them had already been thinking. Farming would be difficult in those lands—setting aside the question of how to cultivate suitable crops, the Turks themselves lacked the skills for agriculture.

The truth was simple: the best use of the Turkic region was to restore it as pastureland.

It suited the environment. It suited the people. Let them raise herds, provide the Great Zhou with meat and pelts, and breed steeds that would swell the ranks of its mounted warriors.

This, surely, was the most efficient path.

Of course, this wasn’t some groundbreaking idea. Anyone with half a brain could come to the same conclusion. The real issue—the one no one wanted to speak aloud—was the land.

Because although some sections of grassland had survived, the majority had been devastated.

And damaged pastures didn’t recover overnight.

Wu Zhao, sharp as ever, asked what they all feared.

“And what of the grasslands?” she asked. “How should they be dealt with?”

Xu Jingzong hesitated. He stood still for several breaths before admitting with a bitter smile,

“That… I do not know, Your Majesty. Ideally, the Turkic lands should become Great Zhou’s pastures. But if they cannot be used for grazing, then… then we must seek alternative strategies.”

Wu Zhao’s expression tightened. “Isn’t that the same as saying nothing?”

Xu Jingzong flushed with embarrassment and quickly bowed. “Your Majesty, this old minister is dull-witted…”

A few beads of sweat formed on other officials’ foreheads. None of them wanted to be called on next.

Wu Zhao let her gaze drift across the hall. One by one, the ministers lowered their heads.

They were capable men, but not for this. Not for turning dead grass into living green again.

Her elegantly arched eyebrows rose as she contemplated the room. Then her gaze once again fell upon Yang Yi.

“Lord Yang,” she said evenly, “do you have any thoughts on how to handle the Turks?”

A collective sigh of relief passed through the hall. At last, all eyes turned to the man called the Living Yama.

Yang Yi took a half-step forward, clearing his throat softly.

“I believe Xu Zhongshu’s words make sense,” he began, his tone steady and thoughtful. “The Turks’ most developed industry is animal husbandry. Asking them to abruptly abandon it for something else is impossible. Their entire way of life is tied to it. We should follow the natural course, make use of their strengths, and avoid their weaknesses.”

From the throne above, Wu Zhao’s eyelids twitched. Her voice was cool, yet edged with concern.

“Then what do you propose? You’ve heard the reports. The grasslands are failing—entire pastures turning to dust. It will take at least ten years for them to recover.”

Yang Yi smiled, calm and composed, as though he had expected the question. A murmur passed through the chamber. Officials glanced at one another, startled.

Solve the grassland problem? Since when did Prime Minister Yang know anything about agriculture?

Wu Zhao’s brows knitted tightly. Her sharp, black-and-white gaze fixed on him without blinking.

“I have a plan that can solve the problem of the grasslands.” Yang Yi repeated, still smiling.

The hall fell into a stunned silence as all eyes locked on him. No one spoke, but their expressions said everything—was this man truly serious?

Even Wu Zhao leaned forward slightly. “What is your brilliant plan?”