Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't forget that everyone has ambitions. Carving out their own territories and declaring independence would be hard to avoid. In truth, Great Kang is already torn apart. If they want to join another country, so be it. At least they could keep the people in their territories fed and clothed through this bitter winter. That would give the common people a way to survive. Princess, don't forget one thing: what Great Kang lacks is grain, not gold and silver. Our problem now is that even with money, we can't buy food."
Qiqi's delicate brows furrowed slightly. She fully understood what Hu Xiaotian meant. Great Kang had vast lands and a large population; allocations from the Imperial Court alone could no longer solve the problem of feeding so many mouths. Hu Xiaotian wanted to divide Great Kang into small states and leave each to find its own solution. Qiqi also understood that once the lands were parceled out, the newly enfeoffed kings would follow Li Tianheng's example. None would obey Great Kang anymore. On the other hand, however, this would spread the burden of Great Kang's crisis. Though neighboring countries refused to trade with Great Kang, they might be willing to trade with these newly formed states.
Hu Xiaotian's original intention in making this proposal was to introduce a federal system in Great Kang, but he also understood that in an age when imperial authority reigned supreme, federalism simply would not work. It might well end with him resembling the Son of Heaven of Zhou, enfeoffing feudal lords only to become a ruler utterly alone. Still, Great Kang had already reached this point. Better to shed its excess flesh and enter the fray unburdened; perhaps that could give its people a thread of hope for survival. If his