Han Khan

Chapter 32, Hundred Household System
The Jinhan tribe, which belonged to the clan’s public property, was controlled by Zhang Sheng, the largest slave owner.

Now he distributes resources such as warriors, officers and priests to people of his choice in a top-down manner, thus gradually forming a new class with private wealth.

In fact, these people were once nothing more than Zhang Sheng's slaves. To put it more nicely, they could be called subordinates or subjects. However, the reason why Zhang Sheng rewarded them now was entirely because of their contributions in battle and other areas.

The spoils were distributed, so that everyone in the tent was no longer Zhang Sheng's slaves.

Especially in the current context of a sharp increase in the number of Hu people, the dependence between people has become increasingly prominent, and it can even be said that the phenomenon of enslavement is becoming increasingly serious.

The feudal system, which was originally dominated by pastoral farming, has declined to the stage of slavery.

Those vested interest groups, including soldiers, officers, priests, etc., who have received rewards and distributions for their military achievements, will certainly do their utmost to defend Zhang Sheng's position.

After all, as the most powerful slave owner in the Jinhan tribe, Zhang Sheng's control over the tribe is crucial.

Only by ensuring that the tribe continues to grow and gain strength can they obtain more wealth and enhance their status in Jinhan.

………………

The tribesmen learned about the great victory of their leader's southern expedition to Ganquanshui. On the day the army returned, all kinds of rumors were circulating in every part of the Jinhan tribe.

For example, the leader led a thousand cavalrymen of the Jin and Han dynasties to the upper reaches of the Ganquan River and beheaded tens of thousands of Uighurs. Another example is that the leader captured hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep and horses. Another example is that the leader took three concubines, all of whom were stunningly beautiful.

The story was told vividly, with detailed information on time and place, and it was so serious that it was difficult to tell the truth from the false.

However, there is one thing that is consistent, that is, this expedition to Qiuci Uighur was a great victory! The warriors who participated in the expedition received many rewards of cattle, sheep and horses, and could also choose beautiful and fertile Hu women as their wives.

Shit! This battle was such a good deal. They didn't even have to pay for the betrothal gifts. They actually got a wife and children right away (if a widow had children, they would have to raise them together. They would also be part of the family's labor force!). In this way, wouldn't their lives be stable? How could they be so lucky?
If I also had a horse and a spear, wouldn't I have also made a fortune from the robbery this time? Damn it!

No, next time the leader gathers troops, even if there is only one spear, I will sign up! I must not miss this opportunity again!

"Your Highness is mighty!"

"Victory! ..."

"Your Highness, please take me with you on your next expedition. I can also shoot arrows and ride a horse!"

"They have been given so many cattle and sheep that they will have enough meat for the next few years. They also have wives and horses. Your Highness, take me with you next time. I also want to rob the Hu people."

The braver ones, who had been herding for Zhang Sheng earlier, saw Zhang Sheng leaving the tent and started shouting from a distance, fearing that Zhang Sheng could not hear them.

"Yes, I will take you with me next time. While you are grazing, you must also work hard to improve yourselves!" Zhang Sheng also nodded and waved to show his friendliness.

A few days ago, we left Dunhuang. Many people who stayed in Dunhuang ridiculed and insulted us. They are worse than pigs and dogs!

I really want to return to Dunhuang, so that they can see how we live now, which is also good. And those who migrate with Your Highness still have the opportunity to marry in the Jinhan tribe.

Shazhou and Guazhou are also in chaos, with the Hu people attacking and killing people every day. Although the Jinhan tribe is poor now, there is hope.

People from various tribes gathered in the tribe. When they saw the people coming out of the big tent and the warriors guarding on the side, they could not help but straighten their chests and hold their heads high.

Zhang Sheng also smiled after hearing this. It can be seen from this that the people in the tribe have regained their confidence.

That night, Zhang Sheng discussed matters with Zhang Zhongxian, Zhang Anzuo and several centurions in the tent.

"This time, we attacked the Uighurs and brought back more than 7 Uighurs, more than 2 Tibetans, more than 2 Sai people, and more than 1 Qiang people. Together with the people we brought out from Dunhuang, there are now more than 2 people in the tribe." After a day of hurried statistics, the financial officer Zhang Anzuo was reporting to Zhang Sheng.

"If we calculate by household, how many households are there that can be reorganized and have family members?" Zhang Sheng asked.

"I have taken an inventory. In addition to the 800 slaves assigned to us, there are about 1000 households with families in the tribe. Together with the warriors who are about to get married, there are almost 3000 households. But there are still nearly 1500 households left, with the rest being scattered men, women and children." Zhang Anzuo replied immediately after hearing this.

"Well...let's get the remaining men and women married.

As for the children, if they are orphans with no one to take care of them, then gather them together and hand the girls over to the tribesmen who are willing to adopt them.

"The boys will be kept, and we will educate them and convert them to the Holy Religion. We will also teach them martial arts and the art of war, and use them as my personal guards. If they are really stupid, let them herd for me!" Zhang Sheng was also in a dilemma, and finally said so.

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Anzuo replied. "Well, then, except for the 18 centurions and the top 4 guards and their relatives, they will be reorganized into my guards.

In addition to them, the people from different tribes and clans should be broken up on the basis of households, and they should be mixed and reorganized in the form of ten or one hundred households.

Each household was allocated 50 sheep, 5 cows and 1 horse as their family assets.

This distribution includes those soldiers, squad leaders, captains and centurions who have just obtained the spoils. They also need to be redistributed!
In this case, we need about 16 sheep, 1 cattle and 6 horses. Is that enough?" Zhang Sheng asked Zhang Anzuo puzzledly after he finished speaking.

"If we divide it this way, there will be enough supplies, but many centurions will be short of people, because the members of the Centurions and the Royal Guards are your Highness's personal guards, so if all the people are evenly distributed, some centurions will have vacancies!"

"It's okay, just distribute it. The shortage of population is easy to deal with, we can just incorporate the captured people in later.

As long as everyone in the reorganized tribe has a stable property, then everyone in the Jinhan tribe can have perseverance. With so many livestock, it is impossible for us to graze them, and the tribe members cannot survive without food and water. This will also stabilize people's hearts and increase the tribe members' belonging to the Jinhan tribe.

Of course, they have to pay taxes on cattle and sheep and perform military service, because these wealth are allocated to them by me, and paying taxes and performing military service are their obligations, otherwise how can you and I survive!" Zhang Sheng laughed.

Then he said, "This is the only time we can distribute it this way. Otherwise, how can we migrate to Mobei? If we don't distribute it, what if these people escape?

There will no longer be such unprovoked distribution of livestock. In the future, livestock belonging to a family can only be directly obtained by performing meritorious service in the army, capturing spoils, or making other meritorious deeds.

“Okay, I’ll continue to add to what I just said about the reorganization of the people.

During the reorganization, no one cares about the tribesmen, no matter where they came from, which tribe or clan they belonged to. They were all reorganized into ten households of 10, with a ten-household chief in charge.

Then, 10 ten-households will be organized into a hundred-household group, and a centurion will be appointed to lead the hundred households. Of course, the centurion will be appointed by me.

The household registration of these ten-household and hundred-household units that were about to be reorganized was registered and handed over to the head of the hundred-household unit for management.

On weekdays, they must strictly follow the 100-household areas I have specified for grazing and working, and any arbitrary migration or changes are not allowed.

Once war breaks out, all males between the ages of fifteen and seventy in each centurion are obliged to perform military service. Each person must prepare his own horses, weapons, food, and other supplies, and then be led by the centurion leader to go to war; they must always be on standby.

All men, whether they are mounting or dismounting, must be prepared for war. They fight when they are mounted and gather to graze when they dismount. They are not only herdsmen but also warriors.

In addition, each centurion had the power to appoint ten heads of the ten households under his jurisdiction.

One or two hundred years later, the Meng'an Mouke system of the Jurchens, the Qianhu system of the Yeken Mongols, and Nurhaci seven or eight hundred years later all adopted similar methods to reorganize their tribes and establish grassroots organizations.

These initiatives not only help with management and governance, but more importantly, they become the cornerstone for building a sense of community identity.

If Jinhan wants to develop and grow, and if it wants to achieve unity and development, it must have a force that can unite people's hearts. In addition to the holy religion of Haotian God's belief, it must also have a unified grassroots organizational system.

Everyone is aiming to integrate farming and warfare. Such a basic organizational unit is not only a military organization, administrative organization, but also a household registration and production organization.

"There are various ethnic groups mixed together, and there will definitely be Hu people or even Tang people causing chaos. It will be difficult to accomplish anything in a short period of time." After hesitating for a while, Zhang Anzuo and several other centurions expressed their concerns.

"The rebels, no matter they are Tang people or Hu people, should be beheaded in public as a warning to others." Zhang Anzuo's strengths are in charge of people, finance, and warehouses. He has a meticulous mind and is the best candidate for financial officer.

"As you command, Your Highness!"

"One month." Zhang Sheng held up a finger and said in a deep voice, "You have temporary command of ten hundred-man teams. You must make a decision immediately."

"Yes, sir!" With Zhang Sheng's support, Zhang Anzuo felt more confident.

"You are the financial officer. In a while, I will assign you a team of 100 people to obey your orders. In addition to preaching and leading the people in prayer, you will also be responsible for collecting taxes and registering household registration." Zhang Sheng said to Zhang Anzuo.

"I obey your order!" Zhang Anzuo replied.

The establishment of the hundred households was a solution Zhang Sheng came up with after several days of careful consideration.

"Your Highness, the appointment of the centurion?"

(End of this chapter)