"You have always opposed His Majesty's Battle of Luchuan because it consumed enormous resources for meager gains. You believed that the annual taxes from that remote southwestern frontier were negligible, and in years of disaster, vast sums of money and grain had to be poured into it. The yearly cost of garrisoning it alone far exceeded the returns. Is that not so?"
Kuang Ye did not know why the discussion of withdrawing had suddenly turned to the Battle of Luchuan, but he still composed himself and said, "Your Grace misunderstands. We never meant to abandon Luchuan. We merely wished to win the people's hearts through culture and education, so that the border people might bask in His Majesty's grace..."
The Duke of England gave a scornful laugh. "Without martial instruction, how would there be any chance for civil instruction?"
"Emperor Taizong's might shook the four directions, and all under heaven submitted. That was because of power. First came power, then submission—it was carved out by his blade and spear!" the Duke of England said. "When Emperor Taizong of This Dynasty was alive, whether in the southwest or the north, even the Japanese pirates at sea did not dare come ashore. That was not because Emperor Taizong possessed civil virtue, but because he campaigned north and south, his might shaking the four directions!"
Kuang Ye frowned. "Ruling the four directions through force cannot last. Only through enlightenment, by allowing even the barbarians to understand loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness, can they submit without battle."
"Lord Kuang is also a capable official in local governance and has accompanied Wang Ji on several campaigns. Do you truly believe civil governance can succeed without force?"
Kuang Ye paused.
The Duke of England said expressionlessly, "Those sitting here today need not distinguish between civil