Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 520: Liaodong Jurchen Assimilation Policy
In a few decades, the Jianzhou Jurchens in Liaodong would develop rapidly, which was something the entire Ming court had not expected.

The Ming Dynasty had been on guard against the Mongols for its entire life, but it never occurred to them that in the end it was not the Mongols who would overthrow the Ming Dynasty, but the Jurchens, whom none of them had expected.

These ethnic minorities are difficult to govern because they live together in groups, have their own culture, and have their own thoughts and behavioral habits.

It is not difficult to make them obediently tame under the rule of the Han people.

As long as they are assimilated culturally, educated with the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, and the concept of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism are instilled in their hearts, after decades of influence, they will be as docile as sheep, just like the people of the Ming Dynasty.

The Chinese nation was originally warlike. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, countries were constantly at war, and the collision of various cultures made it difficult to manage and tame the people.

Therefore, after Confucianism became the only official doctrine, the people of China became easier and easier to manage.

Learning from history, we can now use these methods on the Jurchens.

Fu Yuan saw through the essence of governing the people, so after staying in Liaodong for a period of time, he realized how powerful Chen Ce was.

His policy on governing the southwestern ethnic groups was simply textbook-level. All he had to do was copy Chen Ce's policies and apply them to the Jurchens in Liaodong.

That is why Fu Yuan proposed that the imperial court assimilate the Jurchens, provide them with conveniences, and allow them the qualifications to migrate to the inland of Ming Dynasty and settle down.

The living environment of the Jurchens in Liaodong was relatively poor. Of course, compared with the Mongols, their living conditions were already good.

But in any case, the living conditions in Liaodong are naturally not as good as those in the inland of the Ming Dynasty.

Before this, they were not qualified to enter the inland of the Ming Dynasty. After Shanhaiguan was closed, the horse market trade was only open for a few days each year to meet the Jurchens' demand for Ming Dynasty products.

Now that the Ming Dynasty has proposed that the Liaodong people could settle inland, many Jurchens would surely flock to it.

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Chen Ce, pondered for a moment, and asked, "How can we get the Jurchens to migrate inland?"

Zhu Houzhao had told Emperor Hongzhi about this matter before, and Emperor Hongzhi had been thinking about it. Since Chen Ce took the initiative to bring it up today, he simply asked for clarification.

We can't allow the Jurchens to migrate to the inland of Ming Dynasty at will without setting any conditions, right?
Chen Ce said: "Work, no criminal record, money."

"Ok?"

Chen Ce said: "Officials in various places must set conditions, such as having worked for two years, not having committed any crime, or having enough money to buy a house in various places, etc., which can be used as conditions for them to settle in the inland."

"At the same time, we give the Jurchens convenience in the scientific examinations, such as extra points, but we can't give them too many points."

"In short, everything is done to make the Jurchens willingly settle in the inland and live in harmony with the inland of Ming."

Emperor Hongzhi asked suspiciously, "What about the land of Liaodong?"

Chen Ce smiled and said, "If they migrate in, we can let the people of the Ming Dynasty migrate over... There is no rush, let's wait until they migrate in first."

The Ming Dynasty now has vast territory and abundant resources. After the princes moved to the Japanese islands, the Ming Dynasty has more and more inland land. With the economic development, the demand for manpower has also increased.

It can fully meet the conditions for the Jurchens to settle in the inland of Ming Dynasty.

“Why assimilate them?”

Emperor Hongzhi asked, what is the point of working so hard?
Chen Ce smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the Song Dynasty has been defending against the Liao people for a lifetime, but in the end the Northern Song Dynasty fell to the Jin people, and the Southern Song Dynasty fell to the Mongols."

"Put yourself in their shoes. Who would have thought that the Mongols would be the ones to reap the spoils in the end?" "Learning from history, let's consider whether it is possible that this kind of thing will happen to the Ming Dynasty as well?"

"Isn't the Ming Dynasty always on guard against the Mongols?"

"As long as there is a hint, why don't we extinguish this possibility?"

He now had no way of telling Emperor Hongzhi that the Ming Dynasty was finally destroyed by the Jurchens.

Emperor Hongzhi seemed to be thinking about something, and it seemed to be true. The chieftains in the southwest had now been assimilated into the Four Books and Five Classics, reading, taking imperial examinations, and working every day, and no longer had time to cause chaos in the southwest.

At the beginning, Chen Ce transferred Wang Shouren and others to govern the southwest. In addition, the country adjusted its southwest policy, which made these southwestern chieftains all naturalized, and there were rarely any major wars or conflicts.

Especially since the imperial court has given them the opportunity to take special examinations, these people in the southwest are now busy studying the Four Books and Five Classics, or working in workshops in various places. Who would have the time to think about rebellion?

Similarly, if the country adjusts its policies towards Liaodong, it will be able to assimilate the Jurchens of Liaodong soon.

It took China two thousand years to figure out these ethnic assimilation policies, but Chen Ce came up with them. Emperor Hongzhi had to admire Chen Ce's broad-minded and overall vision!
Emperor Hongzhi nodded and said, "Well, I will discuss this matter with the six ministries and cabinet after I return to the palace, and will implement it as soon as possible."

Chen Ce smiled and said, "Okay."

……

By May, the imperial court once again issued a policy regarding the conditions for the Liaodong Jurchens to settle inland.

When this incident happened, the entire Liaodong Jurchen people were in an uproar!

Liaodong.

Fu Yuan sat in his mansion, looking at the policy issued by the court with satisfaction.

This was also the policy he and Chen Ce suggested. If it were implemented now, the Jurchens in Liaodong would soon be in chaos.

The wild Jurchens will continue to migrate inland, and perhaps the Jianzhou Jurchens and the Bohai Jurchens can still rely on the cohesion of the tribe to unite their people.

But as the wild Jurchens develop better and better inland, it won’t be long before the Bohai Jurchens and Jianzhou Jurchens hear the rumors, and sooner or later they will leave the Jurchen tribe and go inland to seek better development!
Some are happy and some are sad.

Jianzhou Jurchens, Aisin-Gioro tribe.

Dong Yuanbao, the eldest son of Tuo Luo, the governor of the Left Guard of Jianzhou, and Dong Yanyan, the eldest daughter, found Tuo Luo together.

Dong Yanyan looked extremely solemn, and said to Tuo Luo: "Father! Stop drinking!"

Tuo Luo didn't realize the danger was approaching at all, and asked with a smile: "What's wrong?"

Dong Yanyan said: "The Ming Dynasty court has released the conditions for the Jurchens to migrate and settle inland. Did you know?"

As the governor of Jianzhou Zuowei, although Tuo Luo was still a minister of the Ming Dynasty in name, he implemented the policy of Jurchen autonomy. He hummed nonchalantly and said, "At most, we will just let those wild Jurchens migrate inland, and we can expand our own territory. Isn't this a good thing for us?"

Hearing this, Dong Yanyan was shocked. Her eyes widened and she said in disbelief: "Father! You, you actually think so?"

"Have you really never considered the viciousness of the Ming Dynasty's policy?!"

(End of this chapter)