Chapter 642: Crossing the River by Feeling for Stones
“Just imitate the old practice of Yuexi.”
Feng Yong spoke without hesitation.
In fact, the Longyou Qianghu are easier to deal with than the Yuexi Nanman.
Because the barbarian tribes of Yuexun were rebels at the beginning and needed to be surrendered by force first.
And there are many tribes living in the mountains and forests, so you have to find a way to move them to the plains.
Finally, they can be taught to farm or build forage towers to adapt to settled life.
Hence, a considerable part of the barbarians started from scratch and transitioned to settled farming.
But the Qiang and Hu in Longyou are different.
They kept moving to Longyou and Guanzhong just to have a full meal, so they had to learn farming both subjectively and objectively.
In fact, the further east you go in Liangzhou, Longyou, and Guanzhong, the more accustomed the Qiang and Hu are to farming.
Not to mention Guanzhong, most of the Qiang and Hu in Longyou and Liangzhou are in a semi-nomadic and semi-cultivating state, and a small number are even in a state of being transformed into a complete farming nation.
The Qiang and Hu continued to move inland and merged with the Han people.
So although the Qiang and Hu rebellions are a headache, the foundation of Sinicization is indeed much better than that of the Yi people in Nanzhong.
The key is that the Han Dynasty was an era when Han chauvinism was popular, so the social status of the Qiang and Hu was not high.
In addition to having to hand over a considerable portion of the grain they grew, local officials would also confiscate the remaining grain at any time.
In the eyes of local officials and powerful men, they were regarded as slaves and were often enslaved at will.
“Those who belong to them may be in the right hand of a proud man, or they may suffer from the diligence of a servant.” This is their true status.
The most tragic thing is that as the Qiang rebellion in Liangzhou becomes more and more frequent, the Qiang and Hu are often borrowed by border generals to claim military merit.
They have a very urgent need to improve their social status—if you don’t give it, I will rebel and take it myself.
It would have been basically impossible for the Han Dynasty in the past, or for Cao Wei and Soochow to have the imperial court take the initiative to improve the status of the Qiang and Hu.
But Ji Han was different.
The basic national policy "Longzhong Dui" first put forward the suggestion of pacifying the Southern Yi in the south, which was affirmed by the founding emperor Liu Bei.
As a pragmatic prime minister of the Han Dynasty, Zhuge Laoyao captured Meng Huo seven times during the southern expedition against the southern barbarians, swore an alliance with the southern barbarians, and promised that the Han and barbarians would be one and the same.
Although these actions had specific political purposes and were also intended to gather as much manpower and material resources as possible for the Northern Expedition, it is undeniable that these actions objectively improved the status of the barbarians.
At the same time, it also promoted ethnic integration and accelerated the development of Nanzhong.
Compared to Feng Yong’s infamous title of “Ghost King” which stinks like shit, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty is now respected as “Grandpa Zhuge” by many southern Chinese barbarians.
Compared to the days when people were living in precarious conditions, without enough clothes to cover their bodies, and not enough to eat, at least they had a place to sleep in the Nanzhong plantation, they were not afraid of wild beasts, they had clothes to wear, and they had food to eat.
Even when you are sick, there are medical workers to treat you - students from Nanxiang Medical College are practicing their skills.
This kind of life may be a hard life in the eyes of the people in Shuzhong, but in the eyes of the Yi people in Nanzhong, it means that the quality of life has improved drastically.
So it is inevitable that the name of Grandpa Zhuge spreads to Nanzhong.
This made Feng Tibi feel deeply jealous.
His reputation in Nanzhong is irreversible, but the situation is different in Yinping Wudu and Longyou counties.
Feng Langjun's reputation is not generally good.
Since the Han people now have political needs and practical needs to improve the status of the Hu people, the Qiang and Hu people also have this urgent need, and the two hit it off.
So Feng Yong felt that he could take advantage of this east wind to properly save his increasingly corrupt reputation.
The Qiang and Hu people living in dire straits need my rescue!
If the operation is good, it is impossible to say that a thousand years later, the Qiang and Hu people will also have the reputation of "Feng Grandpa"!
The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, who was walking in front, naturally didn't know that Feng Yongcai had changed so many thoughts in an instant. He carefully recalled Feng Yong's actions in Yuexi.
Suddenly I became suspicious, could this guy have planned this long ago?
Yue Xun’s approach to the Yi and Hu people grazing in the mountains and forests does not require much change. It can be directly adopted and applied.
Thinking of this, Zhuge Liang turned his head suspiciously, just in time to see Feng Yongzheng with a stupid look on his face.
The Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty frowned, "Have you planned this for a long time?"
Feng Tibi is immersed in a fantasy world and cannot extricate himself.
“I’m talking to you!”
Zhuge Liang raised his voice.
If it were anyone else who dared to be so rude in front of him, the Han Prime Minister would have blacklisted him long ago.
Just touching the telescope worth 500,000 yuan in his arms, the Han Prime Minister felt that he could give him one more chance.
A low drink woke Feng Yong up. He wiped the corners of his mouth subconsciously. Well, luckily there was no saliva.
"Huh? Prime Minister, I was just thinking about how to govern the barbarians in Longyou, and I was distracted for a moment. What were you talking about just now?"
Feng Yong came back to his senses, took two steps quickly, and asked.
“Did you have a plan for what you did in Yuexun?”
"No ah."
Feng Yong denied it.
Zhuge Liang naturally didn’t believe it.
Just whether Feng Yong had planned it in advance or not, it would have little impact on the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty.
What he is concerned about is whether Feng Yong has the experience to deal with the next thing at his age.
He stopped, waved his hand, and asked the people below to disperse, so that no one could hear the conversation between the two, and then continued, "Now the drought in Longyou is a foregone conclusion. As soon as the Han Dynasty regained Longyou, It’s just too much of a coincidence to encounter something like this.”
"If you want to appease the Qiang and Hu, the first thing you need is food. Without enough food, the Qiang and Hu will probably commit robberies. And the Han Dynasty has just returned to Longyou, and in order to establish the authority of the government, it is necessary to march and suppress it."
"Otherwise the people and wealthy families in Longyou will feel that the Han Dynasty is still like the Later Han Dynasty, with lax laws and lax punishments. Once the people have no respect for the law, evil thoughts will arise."
“However, now that the Northern Expedition has consumed most of the grain stored in the Hanzhong treasury, it is a good thing that the remaining food can barely appease the people of Longyou. If you take charge of the Qiang and Hu affairs, what should you do?”
When Feng Yong heard these words, he was startled on the spot: "What the Prime Minister means is that the court has no extra food to help the Qiang and Hu, so I have to find a way on my own?"
There is so much spicy food in Longyou Qiang, where can I find so much food? For such a position, why don’t you raise the price to the sky? You open such a big door without considering whether I can afford it?
Feng Yong slandered, glanced at the Han Dynasty Prime Minister, and thought to himself: You are forcing me to write a "Ji Han's Name", Prime Minister!
"I originally wanted to set up the post of Colonel Protecting the Qiang, to lead the protection of the Western Qiang with integrity, and to take charge of the affairs of the Western Qiang. If I can pacify the Qiang and Hu, I will pacify them, and if there is a Qiang and Hu rebellion, I will defeat them."
Zhuge Liang turned around and said seriously, "This position has very important powers. Although it is only in charge of the Longyou Qiang and Hu at present, in the future, if Liangzhou and even Guanzhong are recovered, the Qiang and Hu in these two places will also be under his jurisdiction."
“Protect the Qiang and Hu captains, not only to mediate the disputes between Qiang and Hu tribes, but more importantly, to prevent the Qiang and Hu from being connected with Cao Wei, and even to restrain the Qiang and Hu in Cao Wei from being used by the Han Dynasty.”
"Then who in the government and the public will say that you are not suitable for this important position? I will just take care of Xiqiang to you, so what's the harm?"
Feng Langjun, who was thinking about how to write "Ji Han's Name", was immediately excited when he heard this: All the Qiang and Hu in Longyou, Liangzhou, and Guanzhong are under my control?
From a Qiang and Hu perspective alone, this has much more power than the several governors of the Han Dynasty!
Coupled with the low social status of the Qiang and Hu, if he really wanted to become a captain to protect the Qiang, wouldn't he be the overlord of the Qiang and Hu?
At that time, which tribe dares not to listen to Lao Tzu's words?
Ah, no, I am leading the king's army to punish the unruly ministers, and by the way, I am bringing back a few cattle and sheep to have their teeth sacrificed...
Thinking of this, Feng Yong felt extremely hot all over his body and blurted out, "Prime Minister, are you serious about this?"
“How could I joke with you about a major national event?”
When Zhuge Liang saw Feng Yong's appearance, an unpredictable meaning flashed in his eyes, but there was a slight smile on his face.
Feng Yong rolled his eyes and asked, "As long as I can appease the Qiang Hu?"
“This year we need to pacify the Qiang and Hu people in Longyou.” Zhuge Liang said with emphasis, “This year the chaos in Longyou is about to begin, so the main responsibility of the Qiang guard captain is to appease the Qiang and Hu people.”
At this point, how could Zhuge Liang not understand Feng Yong's little thought, "Don't try to take advantage of any loopholes! You also said that if you want to follow the old rules of Yuexi, then from next year, Longyou Qianghu will be included in the household registration ."
“In the year to come, the quota of cattle, sheep, horses, wool, and grain must be handed over to the imperial court every year according to the number of household registrations, in order to pass the test. After Liangzhou and Guanzhong are restored, the quota will be increased according to the situation.”
Feng Yong asked, "Are the quotas also based on Yuexun's rules?"
“For the time being, we will stick to Yuexun’s old rules.” Zhuge Liang seemed to have considered this issue a long time ago. “We will make adjustments based on the actual situation in the future. After all, this is the first year that Yuexun will fully implement taxation, right?”
Feng Yong nodded, "Yes."
Although Yuexi was able to collect part of the tax last year, it could only be regarded as a trial.
Coupled with the Northern Expedition, a major event that affected the life and death of the Han Dynasty, Yuexun implemented a wartime policy last year.
Only when this year is over and the Yuexun statistical team headed by Amei has compiled all the data can targeted adjustments to Yuexun's policies be made.
"That's right. Yuexun's rules have been finalized, and no one knows if there are any inappropriate things. This year, we will see if there are any deficiencies that need to be corrected in Yuexun. After confirming that they are correct, Longyou will follow the rules."
"no problem!"
Feng Yong nodded repeatedly.
There will be a whole year's gap next year, which is enough for me to get back all the money I spent in advance!
“The court will receive 30% of the wool harvested next year. From the year after next, the court will receive 50%.”
Zhuge Liang added another sentence.
Feng Yong's face froze, and then he quickly made some calculations in his mind: Based on this calculation, the price of wool for the five workshops of the Shuzhong family can only increase by another fifteen percent.
"OK!"
Seeing Feng Yong agreeing happily, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty suddenly felt regretful: If he had known, he would have received 50% from the beginning.
“There is a long history of protecting the Qiang School Lieutenant. There are two Sima and others who are engaged in a number of positions. Please draw up a list of these positions and submit it to me for review.”
"Also, the guard Qiang captain can lead an army of ten thousand people. When the time comes, I will first provide you with three thousand soldiers. You need to recruit the rest from the Qiang and Hu tribes. After Liangzhou and Guanzhong are recaptured, we can expand the army separately."
"After paying the full amount of taxes to the court every year, the remaining money and food will be allocated by the Colonel Protecting Qiang himself. However, the Colonel Protecting Qiang belongs to the army, and the court will no longer ration weapons, armor, food, etc. You have to think of it yourself. Method."
When Feng Yong heard that the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty had given him the right to protect the Qiang Colonel, Feng Yong's first reaction was not happiness, but surprise, and even a little chill: I didn't commit anything big, right? Is this a plan to kill me?
The power of the Colonel Protecting the Qiang is so great. In a few years, no one will say anything wrong, "The Colonel Protecting the Qiang has the power to withdraw troops, collect money and food, and also purchase his own soldiers and armor."
“Moreover, the Qiang and Hu regarded Feng Yong as a god, beyond the control of the imperial court, and the source of trouble..."
Bala, bala, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
I guess Zhang Xingcai didn’t want to marry her sister to me, but wanted to burn paper money for me.
Feng Yongzheng was thinking about how to evade it, but he heard the Han Prime Minister say again, "For five years, this method will be tried for five years. After five years, after the Hu people have completely settled down, the court will set up another county and appoint officials. How about it?"
Isn’t this just the Five-Year Plan plus one country, two systems?
Managing the Qiang and Hu people is definitely different from managing the Han people, so Zhuge Lao Yao asked himself to cross the river by feeling the stones first, and only wait for the time to mature before reaching out to pick peaches.
Feng Yong had to accept it.
First of all, it is a white wolf with nothing, and it takes five years of cattle, sheep, horses, wool and grain for nothing, without taking any risks.
Then wait for yourself to work hard and finish the work, and then reach out to pick peaches easily.
This is a clear conspiracy and an aboveboard political method.
But will Feng Yong refuse?
Definitely not.
Unless he wants nothing, no one can resist this temptation.
Five years is enough time to make a big belly.
Besides, it’s not that there will be nothing left after five years, it’s just that the Qiang and Hu who have completely settled down will be divided.
As the Han Dynasty marches into Liangzhou from the west and Guanzhong from the east, more and more Qiang and Hu will need to be managed.
Even the Western Regions. How many years has it been?
More importantly, as long as you can become the Colonel Protecting Qiang, how many ways can you find for the people below?
There is no need to worry about arrangements for disabled Nanxiang soldiers. Even students coming out of the academy will be in short supply within five years, so enrollment must be expanded immediately.
Even if the court appoints officials five years later, will they know how to deal with the new type of production relations between Longyou Qiang and Hu?
At that time, won’t we still have to rely on the grassroots personnel of the Xinghanhui system?
Thinking of this, Feng Yong rubbed his hands, leaned forward and said with a smile, "How dare I disobey the Prime Minister's order? Prime Minister, please rest assured that the money and grain needed to appease the Qiang and Hu this year will not be allowed to come out of the imperial court. Just leave it to me.”
Zhuge Liang smiled with satisfaction, "This is what you said. If you can't solve it properly, don't blame me for appointing someone else."
"no problem."
Feng Yong responded by patting his chest.
At the same time, he gritted his teeth secretly. Logically speaking, after cutting a wave of leeks, he should pour some water on the leeks to let them take a breath.
Originally, the drought in Longyou this year happened to bring back the blood of those who had their leeks cut at the Nanxiang Exchange. This is the right thing to do, so as not to dig out the leeks' roots.
But as of now...
It is impossible to say that we have to harvest again!
No matter what, for the sake of the stability of Longyou, everyone should take a longer-term view, and regard it as making a contribution to the court.
Speaking of the long term, Feng Yong subconsciously touched his arms again.
Huh?
Where is my telescope?
Feng Tibi raised his head and realized that the prime minister had disappeared.
(End of this chapter)