After saying that, Zhang Mingwei stopped talking nonsense and immediately made arrangements to pay them travel expenses and let them go home.
Regarding the chieftain’s territory, this is actually just the first step. There are still many things that need to be done.
These things are easy to say but not easy to do.
It’s not just empty talk, it’s a question of talent.
Zhang Mingwei thought about this for a long time and felt a little helpless.
The situation here in Shu is very different from that in Kaifeng and Wuchang.
There are many pacification departments, recruitment departments, this department, and that department here. These places were originally governed by chieftains and were outside the jurisdiction of the imperial court. The people here have developed the habit over many generations of recognizing the chieftain instead of the imperial court.
This is true in Shu, and even more so in Yunnan and Guizhou.
This situation is common in the southwest of Ming Dynasty. To solve the situation in Shu, we have to take overall consideration of the situation in the entire southwest of the Ming Dynasty.
If it was just about defeating the rebels and bandits, to be honest, Zhang Mingwei could have raised his troops to fight them long ago.
However, his ambition is to create peace, let the people of the Ming Dynasty live and work in peace and contentment, and there will be no more civil strife, so that the Ming Dynasty can open its eyes to the world and participate in the Age of Discovery.
If not, such a good time travel opportunity would have been wasted.
If the captured chieftain territories were to be managed by the imperial court, Zhang Mingwei believed that many places might be in trouble again after a period of time.
I think back then, in the years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty conquered Annan and directly sent officials to govern it. As a result, trouble broke out? Although we were able to send troops to quell it later.
But once the Ming Dynasty lived up to its founding heyday, Annan eventually split.
But at this time, the local dignitaries in Annan were fighting for power. As a result, one of them dedicated Annan to the Ming Dynasty and placed it under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty. It was nominally the territory of the Ming Dynasty.
Is there still chaos over there? The imperial court only rules it in name only. One of Zhang Mingwei's future goals is to lead troops there.
At this point, the words are a bit far-fetched.
In response to the situation in Shu, Zhang Mingwei thought of a trick. After all, it would be unrealistic to expect the imperial court to send the ability to govern each chieftain territory? And to govern them well?
Therefore, before, he had already asked Zhu Yurao to select literati at the level of scholar and above. No matter what they were originally doing, the main thing was that they could read and write.
On Wufu's side? It should be the same. From guerrillas and below in each army, to thousands of households and above? No matter what their origins are, they will also be reviewed and selected by Zhu Aona.
Zhang Mingwei only has one request? Don't drink too much, just be patient.
………………
Isn't this just thirty-one literati selected by the entire Chengdu Prefecture who meet the requirements? Most of them are scholars, and some are even young students. There is no way, I really can’t find anyone.
As for Wu Fu, unfortunately, he was not required to be literate. Otherwise, it would be difficult to gather the number of people in one palm. Today, there are thirty-two of them.
They didn't know what was going on, but they only knew that they were selected by Princess Kunxing, so there must be something good about them.
However, when they were gathered to the county school in Chengdu Fuzhong, the literati saw Wu Fu, and the Wu Fu saw the literati, they became confused.
"What does this mean? When we come to the county school, is it possible that Her Highness the Princess wants us to take a written test?"
"What your Highness Princess did must have been ordered by the Duke of the Kingdom. If you come to the county to study, it must be related to martial arts!"
"Come on, come on, then you can explain, what does it mean for these military leaders to come here? Is it also related to Wenzhi?"
"It looks like they were brought by Her Highness the Princess's people. They were probably selected by Her Highness the same as us. What's going on?"
"..."
They couldn't figure it out, and Wu Fu couldn't figure it out either.
"My mother, what are you doing here? I'm most afraid of this kind of place! My head hurts!"
"Did you see those people? They all look like literati. Maybe Your Highness the Princess asked them to teach us how to read? Oh my, my head hurts too!"
"It must be that the Duke asked us to do something. How could he ask us to study and become literate? This thief has not been eliminated yet!"
"Help, I don't want..."
"..."
Just when the county school square was noisy and noisy, like a vegetable market, suddenly there was a shout from the door: "Her Royal Highness is here!"
Upon hearing this shout, the people in the square, whether they were excited or complaining, immediately fell silent. The civil and military groups were divided into two distinct groups, and they all respectfully welcomed the arrival of Princess Kunxing.
Wearing armor, Zhu Yuluo, escorted by Zhou Liu, quickly appeared in front of them with a group of female soldiers.
Someone took a peek and found that many of the female soldiers were holding something. I was a little curious, but I didn't dare to be presumptuous, so I wondered in my mind, what on earth was it? Could it have something to do with them being selected?
After the ceremony, Zhu Yulao stood in front of them and said to them calmly and generously: "Sir, I said that whether Shu will be able to stabilize, and even have long-term peace and stability, will depend on your performance. If you are not willing to govern the former chieftain's territory, You can walk out of this door now!”
Upon hearing this, these people were both expected and very surprised.
It was expected because this was what Duke Xingguo meant. Everyone could guess this.
What was unexpected was that they never expected that they were going to govern the former chieftain's territory, which meant that they would be local officials in the future, and they were local officials with high hopes!
If you are a Jinshi, no one would want to be an official in these remote places. But these people are just scholars, but they can become local officials. After their term of office expires, can't they be transferred to other places to become officials?
The most important thing is that if your reputation is just that of a scholar, you will not be qualified to be an official at all. It is only possible to recruit talents, and you have to go to the official department to queue up to wait for a vacancy.
Therefore, upon hearing this, all these literati were overjoyed. Even if some of them felt an urgent need to urinate and wanted to go relieve themselves, they would hold back forcefully to avoid being misunderstood by Her Highness the Princess as not wanting to do it.
And those generals were naturally happy. This is tantamount to letting them take charge of themselves. The credit given to the local government is the credit of one’s own family. If you are in the military and are only at the Qianhu level, then you are qualified to take charge alone!
In their joy, they all ignored the most critical point in Princess Kunxing's words. Whether Shu will be able to settle down, and even have long-term peace and stability, will depend on your performance.
But it doesn't matter, Zhu Yu'ao reminded them in the next sentence: "However, how to manage these former chieftain territories is different from ordinary places. If something goes wrong, the consequences will go without saying; but if it is managed well, your promotion will be It will be quick too.”
After hearing this, they realized this, and many people suddenly became worried again. The people in the chieftain's territory all refused to obey the king. It would be an exaggeration to say that they were unruly. To stabilize the place and even achieve long-term peace and stability. They suddenly felt a lot of pressure.
Seeing their expressions turning from joy to worry, Zhu Yuyao smiled slightly and said: "But don't worry, Mr. has compiled a booklet, divided into two parts, civil and military. The contents have similarities and differences. You can take a look first. Sir will come over later to answer your questions!"
After she finished speaking, she waved her hand, and the female soldiers who had been prepared distributed the things in their hands.
At this time, these literati and military generals discovered that this was a thin book.
When the literati heard that the Duke had prepared it for them, they immediately started reading it.
From now on, if you go out and say shamelessly that you are a student of the Duke, no one will dare to refute you, right?
And those generals were immediately dumbfounded: most of them were illiterate!
So, one of them boldly said to Zhu Yuyao with a bit of stutter: "Your Highness, I...I am illiterate, this..."
When Zhu Yuyao heard this, she smiled and replied: "Isn't there someone around you who you can ask for advice?"
When these generals heard this, they were a little dumbfounded. Did Her Highness the Princess ask them to consult these literati? Will they care if they are too busy watching?
However, no matter what you think, if you don't ask for advice, you won't know what the Duke wrote, and you will be sad when the Duke comes.
Therefore, some brave generals boldly went over to ask for advice, regardless of the fact that these people were reading their own content.
To be honest, at first reaction, these scholars frowned and wanted to refuse. However, when they looked up, they found Princess Kunxing staring at them, so she immediately swallowed her rejection and read it to the general reluctantly.
Fortunately, what Xingguo Gong wrote is all in plain language, and there is no need to break up sentences or make any mistakes. Otherwise, you will have a headache!
With the first pair's demonstration, the following generals imitated their example and rushed to grab others for advice.
Just like that, a pair of quasi-civilian and military officials appeared in the square of the county school to help students study.
Seeing this scene, Zhu Yuyao couldn't help but raise her eyebrows and smile all over her face. As for the last general who didn't find a scholar for advice, she simply ignored him because he was not proactive.
According to Mr. Wang, this is the first step to bridge the rift between civil and military forces. In short, it’s better to do it than never do it!
The governance of the former chieftain's territory required close cooperation between civil and military forces.
While she was thinking, she was suddenly startled. I saw the military commander who was alone at the end walked up to a beautiful female soldier and asked shyly if she could help him read it!
The female soldier was also a little dumbfounded. She had not thought of this situation beforehand!
So should we help him or not?
