After Yan Yingyuan inspected the city of Colombo, he told Li Dingguo: "Bring them all with you!"
Li Dingguo already knew everything about the situation in the dungeon when he went to ask for a translator.
Li Dingguo took the order and went to the dungeon.
Yesterday, meals were delivered to the dungeon. The indigenous prisoners below did not cause any commotion. When they saw the soldiers of the Ming army, they all behaved in a well-behaved manner, either to have a bite of food or because they were afraid of the Ming army. Anyway, it’s still the same as before, just do whatever you want.
This time, Li Dingguo went to the dungeon again. This movement made the indigenous prisoners in the dungeon become silent. They all looked at the entrance of the dungeon expectantly, wondering if they would have something to eat again.
But in the end, of course, there was nothing to eat. Seeing this, they couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. However, Li Dingguo stood at the entrance and said: "Now we, the Ming Dynasty, have taken over everything here. By the order of the Governor, I ordered you to go up. Everyone must not neglect and go up in order. If you are injured and it is inconvenient to walk, your companions will take care of you. If there is anyone who can’t hide it, die!”
After the translator translated the words, Li Dingguo did not stay, opened the door of the cell, and went back to the ground with his guards.
The indigenous prisoners in the dungeon knew that the time had come to decide their fate, and each of them became panicked. Even though it seemed that the Ming army was treating them better than the Portuguese, the words of the Ming army officials always meant death.
What will happen to my own destiny?
At this time, there were no Ming troops in the prison. The crowd was commotion, but no one took the first step because they were all scared.
At this moment, I heard La Blaka suddenly say loudly: "What are you doing standing still? Go up. Is it worse than staying here?"
After saying that, he was the first to walk out of the cell. Not only that, he also supported a companion who had injured legs and feet.
When other people saw what he was doing, they felt it made sense and followed suit.
Labrak was the first to exit the dungeon. When he saw the long-lost sunshine, he closed his eyes involuntarily. After adapting to the light, he was shocked to find that everything on the square and on the city walls were new arrivals. And the feeling it gave him was very different.
When the original Portuguese were there, he could see the freedom and looseness, and even felt that these people were no different from bandits; but at this time, these newcomers all had three steps and one post, and five steps and one sentry. Everyone is holding their heads high and proud. Those who shouldn't be moving around should be motionless, while those who should be patrolling should be lining up in an orderly manner and moving. And the military uniforms they wore were all neat and uniform.
Seeing this, a thought flashed through Labraka's mind: This is the real army!
The natives behind all crowded up, and they were also shocked when they saw the situation on the ground at the door.
But Labraka came to his senses and continued walking forward. He didn't need anyone to tell him, because what he saw in front of him was enough for him to know that he was going straight along this road to the square in front.
On the top of the city, the Ming army official who had been underground before was there, but it seemed that he was not the eldest, and he was surrounded by another person. So, Labraka silently supported his companions and went to stand at the top of the city. This should be the closest place.
On the top of the city, Yan Yingyuan saw that the first native to come out was supporting his companion, and he couldn't help but praise in his heart. But on the surface, he didn't say anything and just kept observing these natives.
To be honest, most of these natives have nothing on them except a fig leaf. Their skin color, you can tell at a glance, is darkened by the sun. If you just look at the appearance, you can tell whether they are from Ming Dynasty or not.
Of course, in today's Ming army, there are some Dongwu soldiers whose skin color is somewhat similar to theirs, which is caused by being exposed to the sun for many years. No matter what, from the appearance point of view, there is still a big gap between them and Western Yi, and they will be more like Easterners.
After an unknown amount of time, no one came up from the dungeon. Then some soldiers from the Ming Army went down to check, and then came up to report that all the people had come up.
After Yan Yingyuan heard this, he glanced at the approximately 2,000 natives below. Only a few of them were intact, and most of them had whip marks on their bodies. It can be seen that those allies were really great teammates, providing support for Ming to stand firm here. necessary conditions.
After scanning it once, he said loudly: "I am the governor of Daming Dongwu, who is also in charge of Ceylon. From now on, this place belongs to me in Daming, and it is all under my jurisdiction. I want to ask you a question, from now on it will be Don’t you want to live a good life?”
When several translators heard this, they shouted at the top of their lungs. Fortunately, there were three translators in total. Otherwise, with only one translator, it would be impossible to reach everyone's ears even if you shout at the top of your lungs.
Today, they have one translator beside Yan Yingyuan and the other two on the other side of the square, far enough apart so that each of them can cover a large area.
After the natives in the square heard this, everyone's reaction was almost the same: they didn't care at all where this high official was from. But Yan Yingyuan's last words were what they were very concerned about. However, because it was their first time dealing with him, although they were concerned, for a while, they just looked at Yan Yingyuan curiously or whispered to each other.
Yan Yingyuan didn't take it seriously, but after waiting for a while, he said loudly: "Do you want to be able to live and work in peace and contentment from now on? Everyone has a house, the sick have a doctor! Those who work hard have their careers! Those who work hard have their careers. There is a reward! There is a school for the young! There is fun in childhood! There is a school for readers! There is help for the weak! There is support for the old! There is a position for those who drive! There is a salary for workers! There is land for farmers! There is land for businessmen. Is it beneficial to be a true Ming Dynasty person?"
These words he said were the slogans put forward by Emperor Chongzhen to make the people of Ming Dynasty live a better life in the future. When you say it now, the meaning becomes very clear. If you are willing to be a true Ming Dynasty person, you can have these happy days. Are you willing to change your master?
That's right, Emperor Chongzhen's original strategy for Ceylon given to Yan Yingyuan and others was to turn this place into a real territory of the Ming Dynasty. The best way to do this is to overthrow the original rulers of Ceylon and use their fields to unite the poor and lower-middle peasants. Only by tearing down everything in Ceylon and rebuilding order, rather than relying on convincing the original rulers to occupy Ceylon.
Because if that were done, the Ming Dynasty's jurisdiction over Ceylon would actually be separated from the original rulers. In this way, the control over Ceylon actually still depends on the cooperation of the original rulers. And this is actually the reason why the Portuguese were unable to establish a firm foothold in Ceylon at all.
Even if Emperor Chongzhen did not come to Ceylon, he could deduce from the hundreds of years of war between Portugal and the Ceylon natives that the local rulers would never treat ordinary people well. And this gave Daming an opportunity. In other words, according to the standards of the people of the Ming Dynasty, they have the absolute strength to attract the poor and lower-middle peasants of Ceylon and let them strive to become true Ming people.
At this time, when they heard the interpreter's message, all the natives were stunned. Imagine living that kind of life, what kind of fairy life would it be!
In their current life, not to mention being plundered, plundered and killed by the Portuguese, they themselves had to pay the property they earned from their daily work to the tribal leaders and then to the Kingdom of Kandy.
Anyway, I am busy until late every day, but I still don’t have enough to eat, don’t have enough clothes to wear, and have nothing to rely on in my life. Moreover, because of the war, the King of Kandy collected heavy taxes from them, and even after the military order was issued, he had to go to war. In short, they are the people living at the bottom, and no one cares about them.
Now, these new people have to give them a new life, a new happy life that they can't even dream of. To be honest, it's unbelievable!
The same was true for Labulaca. With a face full of shock, he glanced at the Ming army soldiers around him and felt the elite aura emanating from the Ming army soldiers. He had to admit that the Ming army was better than what he had ever seen. Either side must be strong. They are strong enough to protect them!
After being stunned for a long time, someone finally came to his senses. But in the end, as long as the current situation can be improved a little, is there any need to choose?
As a result, some people began to kneel down and kowtow, and babbled to express their submission. Among them, Labraka, who was at the front, spoke the loudest.
Yan Yingyuan looked down and roughly guessed what he was expressing. However, he finally pointed at the more eye-catching Labraka and asked: "What is he talking about?"
Upon hearing this, the translator asked about the situation, and then reported back to Yan Yingyuan: "What did he say he needed them to do? He thought they must have to pay something?"
Yan Yingyuan smiled slightly after hearing this and said: "As a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, you naturally have to pay taxes to the court. However, this is a newly occupied territory of the Ming Dynasty, so the emperor has decreed that you will be exempted from paying taxes for three years. As for how much land you can get, you have to Let’s see how much contribution you can make during the army’s capture of the entire Ceylon!”
When Labulaka and others heard that they wanted to change their master, and this master was more powerful and might be better to them, so why did they hesitate? They responded one after another, saying that they must serve the Ming Dynasty and become a real Ming Dynasty citizen!
Another point is that Li Dingguo expelled the insulted Portuguese in the dungeon, gave them food, and told them to respect the old and love the young. This gave them a subconscious impression that these new Ming troops would treat them good!
