Chapter 1017: The Difference Between Military Power and Culture

The strategies of Kushan and Parthia weren't inherently wrong, but though they walked the same path, the outcomes they achieved were vastly different.

The Western Regions’ Thirty-Six Kingdoms served as a buffer between Parthia and the Han Dynasty. Parthia didn’t dare to act rashly. After all, the Xiongnu were once part of the top-tier imperial powers, and yet they were crushed by the Han. If even the powerful Xiongnu were devastated like that, Parthia naturally wouldn’t risk provoking the Han. However, if they had tried their luck back then, they might have gained something.

At the end of Emperor Wu's reign, the Han Dynasty was already in a weakened state, but the wars between the Han and the Xiongnu were brutal, bloody battles, with no space for scheming or diplomacy. The blood of these wars had stained the vast grasslands red.

This kind of insanity scared Parthia. When Han envoys were greeted by over twenty thousand Parthian cavalry, it was because Parthia had been thoroughly intimidated by the bloody clashes between the Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty. They were terrified that the Han, after dealing with the Xiongnu, might turn their gaze westward to Parthia.

Anyone witnessing two fierce warriors dueling to the death in the center of the battlefield, slashing at each other with every strike drawing blood, would feel dread, even if they themselves were a tough fighter.

The silk that flowed along the Silk Road was of immense value to the regions west of the Han Dynasty. In Parthia’s eyes, the Han Dynasty was a wealthy and powerful superpower. While it was indeed a superpower, the "wealthy" part was questionable, especially considering Emperor Wu’s policies, which could be considered extreme militarism.

This event led to one of the most remarkable diplomatic receptions recorded in history — sending twenty thousand cavalry to greet foreign envoys.

Even Emperor Wu of Han was stunned by this grand display. Moreover, the Han Dynasty's financial resources were already stretched thin at that point. Thus, both sides, wary of each other, simply maintained a fragile peace by exchanging a few envoys.

A hundred years later, both sides experienced misfortune. Though Parthia knew the Han was weakened, even a dying camel is larger than a horse, and the Han hadn’t collapsed entirely yet.

So Parthia turned westward, conquering numerous small nations and significantly boosting its national strength. Once the habit of annihilating other nations set in, the empire couldn't stop. After all, the profits from destroying nations were so great that every social class within the empire reaped immense benefits.

In this situation, Parthia discovered that no other method brought wealth as quickly as warfare. Conquering smaller nations provided them with land, slaves, and all the resources they needed to prosper, until eventually, they ran into a brick wall.

In short, walking too many dark paths will eventually lead to trouble. As Parthia expanded westward, driven by insatiable greed, it finally collided with Rome.

Along the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, also known as Mesopotamia, Rome and Parthia clashed for control of that fertile region for over a century. Ultimately, Rome's superior national strength wore Parthia down.

However, Parthia was still an empire, and dragging it down weakened Rome, pushing it past its peak and into decline.

As for Kushan, they followed a similar path as Parthia but had the advantage of sharper minds. Descendants of the Yuezhi, driven west by the Xiongnu and the Han, they knew they couldn’t act rashly. Thus, they conducted thorough investigations before launching any attacks.

With such caution, Kushan successfully annexed vast fertile lands, and their population rapidly exceeded ten million. Their military might rivaled that of Rome.

But while Kushan avoided the pitfalls of military might, they fell into the trap of cultural influence. The Yuezhi never had a particularly strong cultural tradition, and as a refugee nation, they lacked the foundational stability. First, they encountered Nepal, the birthplace of Buddhism, and then they plunged headlong into the Hindu caste system in India.

This is where the difference between military power and cultural resilience becomes apparent. Kushan, which might have risen to greater heights, was ultimately undone by its lack of cultural strength. Successive rulers became devout followers or zealots of Buddhism, and the entire nation was toyed with by both Buddhism and the Indian caste system.

Thus, although there were said to be four great empires during this time, only the Han and Roman empires truly thrived based on military strength. The other two were mired in internal troubles.

Of course, the Han and Roman empires also had their own internal issues, but they at least retained enough military might to deter external threats. Even surrounded by hungry wolves, they maintained their dignity.

"Pillage, huh," Guo Jia mused, agreeing with the concept. "It’s indeed a viable way to shift internal conflict outward, and it suits us. But there’s no point in looting small nations. Let's set our sights on Parthia. If we can conquer an empire, it would be an unprecedented achievement for Zhongyuan."

"I was thinking the same. How can we let others sleep peacefully beside our bed?" Lu Su responded, now more resolute, especially with the buffer of ten years' time. With that, there was no room for fear.

Given the current situation, Lu Su estimated that within ten years, they could unify Zhongyuan and elevate it to a level far surpassing any previous era. In such a scenario, Lu Su was confident that among the world's empires, they would stand at the very top, just like the most elite of the noble families within Zhongyuan.

"So we still have time. What we need to do now is prepare for the next great war while completing the unification of Zhongyuan. The wars in Zhongyuan are just minor skirmishes to us. Let’s not embarrass ourselves in such small matters," Chen Xi said with a smile, causing Jia Xu and the others to feel the pressure.

"Victory is certain, and it will be a perfect one. A situation like the Battle of Yuan Shao will never happen again. Every notable individual is invaluable to us. From now on, I need more resources invested in our intelligence system," Jia Xu said, making his guarantee.

"You plan to investigate Parthia? That will be difficult. However, I just acquired a map of the southern Silk Road. I can give it to you. As for resources, if it’s money, you’ll have to wait, but for other things, Zijing [Lu Su] can approve them directly," Chen Xi replied, knowing what Jia Xu intended and not opposing the idea.

"We’ll handle the money ourselves," Li You said with a wave, indicating he still had plenty of the ten billion coins left unspent.

"Oh, then it’s up to you, Wenru. Wenhe, test if your intelligence network can infiltrate our enemies’ inner circles. I don't expect them to send any crucial information, just ensure they can protect key individuals when necessary. As you said, they’re valuable assets," Chen Xi added, further increasing Jia Xu's workload.

"I’ll take care of it. Everyone, keep working hard. Our opponents are no longer Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, but the true overlords of the world," Jia Xu said with a solemn expression, his tone even more serious.

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