Defeating these barbarians from Dongping Prefecture is simply a piece of cake for Hebei Yi Cong led by Ran Long.
Such a simple thing, it becomes very easy if you do it often.
But now Ran Long has just received a new order from Liu Yu.
This new mission is no longer just for Ran Long and others to attack those disobedient 'savage' tribes, but to adopt a strategy of dividing and co-opting them.
Cultivate leading parties among these savage tribes to make it easier to capture slaves.
Therefore, the mission of the Hebei Yicong cavalry who dispersed today was not only to collect supplies, but also had an important mission to bring the chiefs of the "savage" tribes named by Ran Long to see him.
On the second day, among the troops returning from Hebei Yicong, there were three "savage" chiefs who came to pay homage to the general who went to court.
These three savage chiefs are all chiefs of the Haoqi tribe near Lelang County.
The Haoqian people are actually very closely related to the Fuyu people and Goguryeo. However, since the Qin and Han Dynasties, due to the different levels of development of each, the gap between them has become wider and wider.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Haoqian people were basically no match for the Goguryeo people. They could only live in the mountains and hills of the peninsula south of the Gaima Mountains, and their own development lagged extremely behind the Goguryeo people.
Even the development level of the Baekje people is higher than that of these Haoqian people.
Moreover, these Haoqian people are not only backward in development, but also have intricate grudges and grudges between various tribes.
Different tribes often fought and robbed each other, and there was no strong tribe to integrate them.
This situation gave Ran Long an opportunity.
"I pay my respects to the General!"
As soon as the three Haoqian chiefs arrived at the military fort and saw Ran Long, they fell to their knees with a plop as soon as they entered the door, pressed their foreheads tightly to the ground, and spoke in accented Chinese.
Ran Long was sitting on the main seat with no intention of getting up to be polite.
For these barbarians, Ran Long has long known that using authority is often more effective than using kindness.
Therefore, this etiquette of meeting is absolutely indispensable.
"The general said, get up and answer the question!"
With Ran Long's expression, the guards around him immediately spoke for him.
The three chiefs stood up carefully at this time, but still did not dare to move randomly. They all lowered their heads and looked at their toes.
"Although the three of you are all from Dongyi, since the arrival of this general, you have been willing to bear the burden and share the worries of Master Wang, which can be regarded as some merit."
Ran Long spoke slowly at this time.
Upon hearing Ran Long's words, the three Haoqian chiefs immediately beamed with joy.
They had been interacting with the Han people in Lelang and Daifang counties for a long time, and they were no longer the unsavory "savages" who were ignorant of the world. They could be said to be half "civilized people".
After hearing Ran Long's praise, they immediately nodded and bowed in humility.
"Being able to be driven by a general is a blessing for a villain. Don't dare to take credit!"
One of the tall and muscular chiefs said.
His name was Fierce Bear, because when he was born, a ferocious black bear was captured by his tribe, so he was named after him.
However, the Yicong of the Han army usually called him A Meng.
"Yes, we are the hunting dogs of the General. The hunting dogs must obey the master's orders. How can we say what the credit is!"
Another chief Haoqian said.
This man was short and fat. Among the poor Haoqian people, fat people like him were a rare breed, which just showed that his life was probably not bad.
This chief Haoqiu was called Buck because the tribe captured a tall stag when he was born. .
After hearing the skilled flattery of the two companions, the fierce bear and the stag, the other chief Hao Qian was about to burst into tears.
The remaining Chief Haoqian is called Rex Rabbit. It seems that when he was born, the harvest in the tribe was not as good as the other two.
'Rex Rabbit' has a rather stupid mouth and is really not good at saying the kind of beautiful words that Han people like to hear.
However, his mind is not stupid at all.
"General, so am I!"
After hearing the flattery of the three Haoqi chiefs, although Ran Long didn't take it too seriously, he felt quite relieved.
The fact that they are willing to find ways to flatter them shows that these three chiefs of the Haoqiu tribe are very worthy of recognition for their active and proactive acceptance of 'education'.
"Yes, Not Bad!"
"This general has already said that the merits of the three of you will be recorded."
Ran Long continued slowly.
"Now the imperial court has issued an order to set up counties and counties to the east of Dongping Prefecture, with officials assigned to them. That's why I have specially called you here today. This is exactly what I am doing!"
Upon hearing Ran Long's words, the expressions of the three people who were originally smiling suddenly darkened, almost revealing horror and fear.
Because what Ran Long said about setting up counties was to bring all their tribes under the jurisdiction of county and county officials. In that case, they tribal chiefs would no longer have the power to control the tribesmen.
Different from the Central Plains' county-based system of household registration, the organizational structure of these Haoqian people is still a barbaric and crude primitive slavery system.
In the tribe, the chiefs and nobles have supreme power, and they have the power to control and dispose of the slaves at will.
Once they lose this power, it means the loss of their greatest wealth.
After all, they are all poor and backward Hao people. After handing over control of the tribe's Dingkou, they chiefs don't even have the capital to become rich.
There aren't even a few fat people in this tribe, so how can they have the capital to become a rich man?
After Ran Long saw their expressions, he immediately understood what the three of them were thinking.
He smiled slightly in his heart, it couldn't be easier to subdue these three poor ghosts.
"However, although the imperial court wants to set up counties and counties, it wants to use the method of native officials and native people. That is to say, it will no longer send out additional officials, but use native officials as officials."
After Ran Long finished speaking, the expressions of the three people immediately changed.
"What do you mean, General?"
The fierce bear immediately couldn't help asking.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, he realized that it was inappropriate.
How could you interrupt when the general of the Celestial Dynasty was talking? It is simply a capital crime!
The fierce bear immediately knelt down to apologize skillfully.
Ran Long didn't care, he waved his hand gently to let the bear get up.
After all, this strong man's skill in kneeling was almost heartbreaking.
"This general prefers you three and has already reported it to the court!"
After the three chiefs heard this, their faces were all red with excitement, but they did not dare to do anything too outrageous.
They couldn't help but be excited, just a word from General Ran Long in front of them, they would be officials of the Han Dynasty from now on!
I just don’t know how big an official it is?
However, regarding this matter, the three of them all thought in their hearts that no matter whether they were high officials or small officials, they all had the same identity.
As long as they have official status, they will no longer be savages and barbarians who are inherently inferior in the eyes of the Han people. They will become Han people.
No, they are not only people, they are also officials of the Han Dynasty.
From then on, they can be as majestic as those "Hebei Yicong" on the territory of Dongping Prefecture.
Just listen to Ran Long continue to speak.
"However, after setting up counties and counties, taxes will be levied. Do you all know that?"
Upon hearing the words 'taxation', the three strong men, the bear, the stag and the rex rabbit, all frowned.
The wisest elders in their tribe could only count knots in a rope.
When something big happens, tie a big knot; when something small happens, tie a small knot.
As for the Han people's tax collection, I'm afraid they don't even understand counting.
"General, we are all rude and stupid people. I'm afraid we can't do this kind of tax collection."
After hearing this, Ran Long was not unhappy at all.
These "good sons" who are about the same age as myself are all savages. How could they have the means to do such sophisticated and advanced work?
"You don't have to worry about this. The general will send someone to handle it for you. They will be in charge of how much tax you pay and how much tax you collect."
When Ran Long said this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little ashamed in their hearts.
This alone made them all feel ashamed of their status as 'savages'.
However, they asked again.
"General, I wonder how much tax our tribe is required to pay? How many bear skins, tiger skins and mink skins?"
The male deer asked.
As early as the Yan State during the Warring States Period, the earlier Haoqian barbarians began to pay tribute to the Yan State. Most of their tributes were the furs of bears, tigers, deer and minks captured in the deep mountains and forests.
After the Han Dynasty, this became a rule.
After all, the mountains in the Northeast don't produce much food at all, and there aren't many valuable things besides furs.
However, Ran Long's words immediately plunged them into doubt.
"No, after the imperial court established counties, it did not require you to donate furs to offset taxes!"
The three of them were stunned.
"Not fur?"
"Is that a medicinal ingredient?"
"Or gold?"
In addition to furs, the most abundant items in the Black Forest are medicinal materials and gold. However, the collection and refining of these items are all technical tasks, and the output has always been a big problem for the Haoqian people.
Ran Long shook his head.
"neither!"
"The imperial court established three more counties to the east of Dongping Prefecture to educate the mountain people."
"However, there are many mountain people and savages who are unruly people who do not accept the king's rule."
"For these unruly savages, we should naturally use thunderous means to destroy their tribes, burn down their villages, and rob them of all their savings."
“Only by eliminating these unruly people can we educate the mountain people!”
After hearing Ran Long's words, the three of them felt their hearts tremble.
They originally thought that after setting up counties and counties, they would use them as lackeys to collect tributes such as furs and other tributes from the other Haoqi, Fuyu, and Woju people.
Now after hearing Ran Long's words, it seems that he is going to start a killing spree in Dongping Prefecture. It is not the kind of gentle education as originally thought, but a very bloody 'big stick education'.
"So, after the imperial court established new counties, it no longer collected furs or grain. Instead, it provided men, women, and children every year. Of course, the old and the weak were not counted."
After Ran Long said this, he felt slightly worried in his heart.
This order was specially conveyed by Liu Yu to him and Zhang Tong, the governor of Dongping Prefecture.
Ran Long knew that although these Haoqian, Fuyu and Woju people were ignorant and backward, they were all brave people.
If the robbery and oppression is so intense, just relying on a few running dogs such as the fierce bear and the stag may not be enough at all.
In the mountains with a radius of thousands of miles, these three tribes may not be able to survive for even a month, and then they will be wiped out by the barbarian tribes.
Sure enough, when the three people heard this, they already understood.
It turned out that these Han people wanted them to plunder the populations of other tribes to serve as 'taxes'.
If this is the case, then they may not be able to accept it.
As for the reason, it is not that they are so close to each other that they are unwilling to harm their brothers of the same race.
It's because the three of them and Ben don't have the strength to do these things.
After all, if the other Haoqian and Fuyu tribes were wiped out, then the entire Gaima Shannan would be their territory.
"General, we all want to serve the imperial court, but if this is the case, the tribe is too weak to attack other tribes!"
"Yes, General, even if we can defeat one or two tribes, it will be difficult to defeat them all."
To the east of Lelang County, there are at least thirty more people like them from the Haoqian and Fuyu tribes.
As for the smaller tribes, I'm afraid there are even more.
"Of course I, the general, know what you are talking about."
Ran Long had a serious expression on his face, and his eyes showed an unquestionable look.
"The imperial court naturally knows that when the time comes, it will not be able to just rely on the three of you. There will also be reinforcements."
"You just need to choose a good guide and know the mountain roads near and far in advance!"
After hearing this, the three people did not dare to question anymore and quickly agreed.
After these three people left, Ran Long couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
With the help of these three "traitors", Ran Long is still confident that he can achieve good results after reinforcements arrive.
However, Ran Long thought that even if this was the case, it might be difficult to achieve the goal Liu Yu had given him.
Liu Yu required at least 10,000 "savage" men and women to pay tribute every year in Dongping Prefecture.
Among them, Zhang Tong, the governor of Dongping Prefecture, was responsible for the Baekje and Sanhan native areas in the south, with an average number of 5,000 people.
As for Ranlong, they are the Yi people from the north, such as Haoqiu, Nanfuyu and Woju.
Ran Long thought.
"If at least five thousand savage men and women are paid as tribute every year, and including the old and weak who are eliminated, that would be almost ten thousand people. This is the number of several large tribes."
"If this is the case, wouldn't it be true that within a few years, all the barbarians in Dongping Prefecture will be massacred and plundered to extinction?!"
