Rubbing her temples, Li Ming, wearing sleepwear sighs rather tiredly, before placing away the reconnaissance report onto the mahogany table.

The report had come from the cavalry units she had recruited from the nomad minority of the Northern territories, called the Nuzhi people (first time I ever called them something else from nomadic barbarians), who had constantly launched raids into the Central Plains.

After their subjugation under the second Sui emperor, they had become a minority in their own land after the emperor had migrated countless Zui people from the Central Plains in order to truly subdue the unruly Northern Regions.

Regardless, as the years passed, their lifestyles remained largely unchanged, occasionally recruited as light cavalry forces by the empire for their expeditions. However, their lifestyle remained nomadic, primarily of those of animal husbandry as they bring their livestock around the Northern Regions to graze, never staying at one place.

After Li Ming had occupied the Northern Regions, she had actively used these natural riders, with the promise of equal status as the Zui ethnic group, particularly with their own autonomous government under the watchful eyes of the Central government.

Particularly in areas concentrated with those of minority groups, they are allowed to elect a local representative to govern their county province, while those living in scattered group will be abled to elect an advisor elective with the ability to veto any decision made by the primary representative of the county.

Furthermore, as literacy grew in the urban areas, Li Ming had sent volunteers to teach those living in more isolated locations, while most went to villages consisting of primarily Zui, some had also gone to communities of minorities. There, they would cooperate with the local culture to educate the script of the minorities along with the language used by the Zui people. During many of their ventures, it was found that the traditional language was too difficult to be taught to a wide audience, resulting in primary government to invite leaders of those groups to reform the writing system.

During this time, Li Ming had written an edict to be brought forth to all county government to inform that all discrimination would be strictly forbidden, and punishable by a hefty fine along with cases of jail time if the crime is deemed heavy.

While the Nuzhi people are largely nomadic, further East, located at the Tianshan mountains which separate the Great Sui Dynasty from the Far East, the Poi people still retail a serf-based society, where they retain no autonomy of their lives and could be sold or gifted freely.

While the majority of them remain under the province of Xuchang, the areas under the control of Li Ming had their entire serf-based system abolished, the system dictated by the religious authorities, who also had the power of the feudal lord, had been replaced with a democratic system, the power of ruling class was diminished, and the majority of the Poi people became the master of their own fate under the new revolution.

While the Zui ethnicity had been primarily irreligious, the Nuzhi are Shamanist, while the Poi people follow a religion that had come from the South. The Nuzhi Shamanist are allowed to freely follow their worship, however, the institution created by the Poi ruling class, which were greatly dissatisfied with the removal of their privilege, naturally would not comply with the demands made from Li Ming. Therefore, Li Ming had assigned new religious authorities that will protect the revolution and the new independence of the Poi people, while also sending aid in the construction of temples used for worship.

Newspaper, posters and other public broadcasting institutions too, are diversified into several languages, while traditional books in the language of ethnic minorities are to be printed to be preserved or distributed in schools.

Important organs of the state are permitted to govern using their traditional ethnic language, and autonomous regions of self-governance are established in concentrated areas, such as those of the Poi people and the banners of the Nuzhi nomads. In areas where ethnic groups are in concentration but are lacking the numbers compared to the Zui ethnicity, ethnic townships are established for them to be the master of their fate. Li Ming had implemented this policy primarily to unite the numerous ethnicities to face off against the Great Sui Dynasty, and foreign threats, along with the long history of the interaction of the numerous minorities with the Zui people.

New autonomous regions are established in areas of concentration of one, or more ethnic minorities, allowing them to stand on equal footing with the Zui majority, and for them to satisfy their desires and for the interest of the revolution as a whole.

To ensure their interest are satisfied, autonomous regions are permitted to alter, or temporarily halt edicts sent by the higher organ of the state, along with the ability to control their economic development and in the future, the development of their own education programs alongside the one developed by Li Ming and the court consisting of various representatives.

As government bureaucratic go further into the Tianshan mountains, communities could be seen to increase in their primitive manners, some not even be using iron tools, and primarily using the slash and burn agriculture practice, causing their economy growth to either stagnate or develop at a slow rate.

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In order to alleviate this, Li Ming had spent no expenses in the construction of roads, and the introduction of advanced agricultural and production method, along with primitive industrial development, based off models developed during the Great Sui Dynasty in their interaction with foreigners.

The relatively isolated communities of minorities had resulted in the majority of them living in barely survivable conditions. As a response, Li Ming had allocated government funds and grains to be used to increase living conditions, specifically allocating a certain amount of expenditures to their development.

At any rates, these thoughts barely flashed through Li Ming’s head, yet Xu Xiaomeng had managed to notice the change, slightly curious, she asked in a curious manner.

“Sir, they spend so much effort to dedicate toward the minorities?” her silver bell-like voice rang out, slightly startling Li Ming.

“Lady, the land controlled by the Great Sui Dynasty is made up of countless ethnic minorities, through history, even since the founding of the Zui Dynasty, had been one consisting of countless ethnicities, especially in the Southern regions of the empire, which had been established as a collection of numerous tribes, collectively known as Yaonan, had always been integral to the empire, ever since it’s creation since the Zui Dynasty,” dealing with her administrative work, Li Ming had not noticed a strand of her silver hair fell into the ink, before turning dark.

“Later on, as the Zui Dynasty expanded, more ethnic groups were integrated into the empire, and through countless exchanges between the Zui people and the minorities, the empire had prospered,” finally finishing her administrative work, Li Ming rolled up the bamboo strip.

“Therefore, the empire could always be considered a multicultural one, despite the occasional division experienced, unity had always allowed for the lands for prosper, from these thousands of years of exchange, the countless ethnicities had formed close links, and therefore share the same destiny, even after the emperor is overthrown,” Li Ming continued to state as she organised the remanents of the stationaries on the mahogany table.

“To use an example from my previous life, during the Sino-Japanese wars, guerilla forces were established in Inner Mongolia, which contributed greatly to the victory against the invading forces, or the unity of indigenous tribes with Mestizo in resistance against the Spanish Empire,” Li Ming narrated while standing up from her desk.

“Regardless, the unity of numerous ethnicities is vital for the future prosperity of a nation,” spreading her hands around to form a large circle, Li Ming continued,” The creation of a big family of ethnic groups on the basis of equal rights dedicated for the mutual cooperation dedicated to building a strong, prosperous, democratic and civilized nation is the nation I envision,” Li Ming realising her actions were slightly nonsensical, finally decided to place her hands behind her back.

“Ultimately, to be a bit cynical, it means that promoting equal status among all ethnicities will give us an upper hand against the Sui Dynasty,” Li Ming said as she massaged her shoulders, a habit she had developed in her previous life, before giving off a bitter chuckle and prematurely stopping.

“Regardless, currently our nomadic reconnaissance reports the sightly of a massive army being transported down Hejiang river,” Li Ming said with her typical smile.

“It appears that the imperial court has finally considered us a large threat,” Xu Xiaomeng replied with a serious tone.

“Naturally, therefore we will simply not engage them instead, we shall fighting them indirectly through ambushes,” Li Ming replied.

If Xu Xiaomeng had a physical body, she would certainly express an expression of confusion.

“Lady, the Great Sui Dynasty cannot defeat an enemy they cannot fight, they hope to destroy the movement in one swoop, placing importance on capturing Dongan,” Li Ming explained, afterwards, proceeding to the kitchen.

“However, as said earlier, our primarily powerbase is in the countryside, which can never be fully controlled by a military force,” Li Ming continued as she began to rinse her mouth with a pot of tea that had stayed overnight.

“Regardless, even if they capture Dongan, the revolution would never be over, we shall continue our operations, eventually, the Sui Dynasty would not be able to afford such expenditures,” Li Ming spat out the tea water, before placing a hot towel over her face.

“Ultimately, the soldiers would grow inpatient, the imperial treasuries dry, and their casualties would grow,” feeling awaken from the towel, Li Ming proceeded back toward the master bedroom.

“During this time, our professional soldiers would remain on the Eastern side of Hejiang or disguised as civilians harassing them. That is until we manage to recruit enough to properly defeat them in an open field battle, either that or until the empire decides it is far too costly to maintain their operations,” Li Ming said, before choosing a light red robe, taking off her sleepwear, soon her silver hair contrasted against the red robe, appearing similar to a dragon among a sea of fire.

“Regardless, it appears the empire is collapsing anyway, recently a group of officials had come from the imperial court, bring news that the Emperor is on his deathbed,” Li Ming tying her silver hair into a bun on the top of her hair, continued.

“Considering the Crown Prince is not the son of Concubine Hu, it could be safely assumed that he will either dedicate the majority of his attention toward stripping her of her power, exiling her away from the capital or that he will be deposed by Concubine Hu, at that point, who will control the Empire,” Li Ming, placing a jade bead bracelet with the figure of a dragon, which had supposedly been a gift from Concubine Hu to the old governor of Bingjiang on, admiring its craftmanship, a light sigh came from her cherry-like mouth.

“Either way, the land under heaven would be driven into strife, and countless people would die,” Li Ming stated.

“Undoubtedly, the governor of Yaonan would declare his independence, while your father would certainly oppose Concubine Hu if she succeeds in defeating the Crown prince, or much of the Central Plains would revolt against the Crown Prince if he exile Concubine Hu,” Li Ming walked outside of her residence, before walking toward a carriage.

“During this time, the conflict may even be interfered by the foreigners unlike the other civil wars, the Northern Empire would certainly get involved, they undoubtedly desire the Northern Regions, the Far East may desire ports to expand their trade to the empire and the Southern kingdoms that had maintained their status as tributaries would likely take some of the Southern parts of the empire,” Li Ming continued, placing more emphasis on her benevolent smile.

“But not if sir interfere,” Xu Xiaomeng continued/

“But not if I interfere,” Li Ming repeated, with her smile expanded even wider, eventually, adorable dimples would even be seen, blossoming like flowers.

Finally, Li Ming arrived at the carriage, upon seeing a young eunuch, still wearing his merchant clothes, she clasped her hands in a bow.

Yet Hong Wang did not reply, instead, he and the other members of the Imperial court were shocked, and their mouths wide open, enough to fit eggs.

Ultimately, a gulping sound could be heard, before Hong Wang unwittingly said.

“This lady is even prettier than Concubine Hu,” Hong Wang let his thoughts slipped.

Li Ming’s smile bloomed even wider, making it appear as if Spring had arrived.