Why did China establish the "Protectorate General to Pa

>>3210506
>Rule over a desert and a bunch of city states that are far away from each other.
The Chinks were only after securing the silk road around there.

That's how China works.
Even in their own lands Local Autonomy was historically very high

>>3210506
>want trade with west
>trade depends on weak cities that get constantly bullied by nomads and fight each other
>this is bad for trade
>put the whole area under chink rule
>problem solved

>>3210506
To make things easier for Paradox

>>3210535
Uh, didn't read your question well, but my awnser still applies. "Direct rule" is not what you want in such a situation. Too bothersome, it defies the whole purpose of intervening in the area for economic reasons.

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>>3210506
Because it takes time to build efficient infrastructure and develop land to turn conquered land from Territory/Protectorate to a Prefecture, especially desert with city states long away from each other.
They were successful in the most important areas, look at Hexi region.
"The total area of lad seized in Hexi alone was 426,700 square kilometers. In developing this region the Han spent 100 billion in cash per year, compared to the regular annual government revenue of 12 billion. In the process the Han government moved from the interior over 1 million people to populate and develop the Hexi river. Thus the Han conquest of the land west of the Yellow River was the greatest expansion in Chinese history."

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>>3211203
>Thus the Han conquest of the land west of the Yellow River was the greatest expansion in Chinese history
What drug are you smoking my man? The expansion of Chinese states during the Eastern Zhou, the conquest of the Yue kingdoms during the Han, or the early Qing expeditions were far greater.

>>3210506
Direct rule over numerous city states with their own cultures and individuality would be near impossible.