Among them, the war faction believed that not long ago, the various grassland tribes had raided the Northern Plains. Though that had happened under the previous dynasty, the situation at the time had made Northern Yuan's submission to Great New only a matter of time. The grasslands' actions had undoubtedly been looting a burning house. To let them off lightly would be far too weak.
After all, the so-called annual tribute and yearly court visits were merely pleasant words. At heart, because of communication constraints, the imperial court lacked the power to control territories too far away.
The value of that tribute was nowhere near the rewards the court bestowed in return each year. It was practically spending money to buy a reputation.
Thus, the war faction wanted to strike while their military might was at its height, march straight into the grasslands, plow their courts and sweep out their dens, and use this to awe the four quarters. Those who offended Divine Province, no matter how far away, would be executed—thus frightening off all petty villains.
The peace faction, meanwhile, believed that the New Dynasty had only just been established, making this a time to rest and recuperate. As for the grasslands, even if they were to be fought, it should not be now—perhaps ten years later, perhaps twenty.
At Great New's current pace of industrialization, if they truly had ten years, then by that time, with the nation's strength so formidable, the surrounding smaller states would be no more than dust.
The only issue was that ten years without war would inevitably diminish the army's quality by a fair measure. However, that decline could be made up for with more advanced weapons.
For now, once the great army moved, money would burn away. Great New's foundations might be