Chapter 271: |
Chapter 271
The following day, when the imperial envoys announced the imperial decrees, the Great Tang was astonished!
Crown Prince Yongle's plan to educate the diverse barbarian tribes was remarkable!
If successful, it meant that the future of the Northwest would no longer be troubled by the disorder caused by these different barbarian groups!
These vicious people would become full-fledged citizens of the Great Tang!
In the past, some brave generals had pacified the unrest in the northwest, but none had ever attempted to civilize the various barbarian tribes like Crown Prince Yongle.
Subduing a single barbarian tribe was not a difficult task, but what had troubled different dynasties was their remarkable ability to roam the northwest freely.
Even when defeated, they would retreat and return decades later. During this recovery period, the Great Tang had to allocate vast military resources to safeguard the extensive northwest border.
Taking proactive steps was crucial. Trying to locate barbarian tribes in the vast expanse of the northwest would have been a daunting task, similar to inviting trouble.
Especially in the current era of prosperity and development in the Great Tang, Crown Prince Yongle's remarkable tolerance towards the various barbarian tribes left the people in admiration.
"Crown Prince Yongle is truly compassionate, and these barbarian tribes seem to have some wisdom, too. If they dare to oppose Crown Prince Yongle, they'll meet the same fate as the Northwestern armies of the past!"
"You're right! Since Crown Prince Yongle spoke those words, no officer or aristocrat has dared to oppress us common folks in the past few months!"
“Crown Prince Yongle has already been entrusted with the northwest, yet he still cares about us!”
"The barbarians in the northwest are no match for Crown Prince Yongle. It won't be long before they realize how beneficial he is for the people!"
“People often say the northwest is desolate and vast, but as long as Crown Prince Yongle is there, we can look forward to brighter days!”
This was the Crown Prince Yongle they knew. For the common people, wherever Crown Prince Yongle was, they would find better days.
As for the scholars, they were also impressed by the content of the two imperial decrees. The decrees not only promised various advantages and incentives for relocating Han people, including a substantial amount of land, cattle, and sheep.
As they knew, the northwest was sparsely populated, and this was no exaggeration. Apart from the land, the vast number of cattle and sheep offered was overwhelming. Even many common people who saw these incentives and livestock couldn't help but feel enticed by them.
Raising cattle and sheep was undoubtedly much simpler than engaging in agricultural work or other labor-intensive tasks. Although the northwest's climate was undeniably harsh, with Crown Prince Yongle's presence and these incentives, it was an appealing proposition. Even the Great Tang government would assist in this matter.
Anyone wishing to relocate to the northwest could report to their local authorities. The government would organize transportation to ensure that no Han citizens encountered mishaps on their way to the northwest.
This was one of the conditions Su Li had negotiated with Li Er when he agreed to give up profits from the factory. After all, if Su Li were to release his factory's profits, everything had to be meticulously planned.
“These incentives are quite generous.”
"The land is one thing, but all these cattle and sheep? I bet they amount to more than half of what the barbarians in the northwest possess."
“Crown Prince Yongle's benevolence and martial prowess are truly impressive!”
“But with such means, I'm concerned that the leaders of those barbarian tribes might hold some resentment.”
"Don't fret. This time, it's Crown Prince Yongle heading to the northwest. Don't we know what he's capable of? Dealing with these barbarians will be a breeze!"
The scholars were well aware that while it might sound straightforward to civilize the barbarians, it was an entirely different matter in practice.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been taken so long, and the Great Tang had never succeeded in integrating these diverse barbarian tribes before.
Furthermore, the barbarians were inherently uncivilized and wayward, making educating them quite challenging.
There was also a recent history of deep-seated hostility between the two sides, so Crown Prince Yongle's ambitious plans might encounter opposition soon. However, these scholars were unworried.
After all, they were dealing with Crown Prince Yongle himself, and they had faith in his abilities. No matter how challenging the situation, Crown Prince Yongle had consistently emerged victorious.
As the learned had foreseen, now that the various barbarian tribes had submitted, Su Li would naturally assume responsibility for managing their cattle and sheep. This fundamental industry in the northwest was crucial for supporting such a large population.
Su Li had already devised a strategy for handling this matter and had no intention of leaving the barbarians in charge of raising these livestock. Su Li opted to grant the rights to raise cattle and sheep to the assimilated Central Plains immigrants and those barbarians who had successfully embraced the culture and ways of the Han people.
This resource was one of the most valuable assets in the northwest, and Su Li was determined not to let the barbarians continue to oversee it. This move also accelerated the process of cultural assimilation.
As for the barbarians who hadn't completed their assimilation, since they were no longer responsible for tending to cattle and sheep, they would be required to remain near the royal court and undergo labor reform. They would work in woolen textile factories and cultivate crops such as sweet potatoes and potatoes.
This approach was designed to reclaim control of the fundamental industry and encourage these barbarians to abandon their traditional livestock management practices and adapt to the work in factories and crop farming practiced by the Han people.
Su Li recognized that to foster cultural assimilation, it was imperative to eradicate certain deeply ingrained habits and customs of tribal societies. Raising cattle and sheep was deeply embedded in their way of life, and they had grown accustomed to following the herds as pastures changed.
But times had changed. They were now subjects of Su Li, so they needed to reform their habits, undergo a thorough transformation, and fully embrace Han culture.
Furthermore, until they completed their assimilation, they would be ineligible for holding any official positions, regardless of their background. This rule is applied equally to the surrendered barbarian leaders and to other members of the tribes. It was the leaders who required particular scrutiny.
Su Li knew that these leaders might be hesitant and that teaching them would be a formidable challenge. It might be more manageable to start with ordinary members of the tribes.
However, those in prominent positions, such as the barbarian leaders, shamans, and high priests, demanded extra vigilance.
Su Li had already instructed his soldiers to monitor these individuals closely. Any signs of suspicious activities were to be reported promptly.
Apart from the policy’s impact on recruiting talent and assimilating the people, the emergence of the second imperial decree, which focused on talent recruitment, stirred the aspirations of numerous scholars from humble backgrounds.