Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 381: Feelings are feelings, and farming is farming

A few days later, Liu Bei personally escorted the nobles and gentry in Guanzhong to leave Chang'an. Among them were many smart clan leaders who patted their chests and promised the King of Han that when they returned to their hometowns and clans, the first thing they would do was to measure the land and taxes, and count the slaves and servants to see if there was anyone who was forced to sell his wife or daughter due to poverty.

If there are any, they will be sent back home. After the Guanzhong areas are completely stabilized, the clan and tribe lists will be handed over to the military government, and then the walls will be demolished, and some of the land that was accidentally occupied will be returned to the government so that it can be redistributed evenly to the people.

When Liu Bei heard the assurances from these clan leaders, he just smiled and did not respond.

Whether it is true or false cannot be determined by words alone. Moreover, it is not uncommon in Kanto to falsify accounts in order to prevent him from measuring the land.

This method has almost been played out by the powerful families in Kanto, and it can only be used as a defense for a while.

To release the enslaved people, have the taxes paid, and return the occupied farmland did not depend on the nobles and powerful families suddenly having a change of heart, but depended on whether his laws could be strictly enforced regardless of personal feelings and under pressure.

It also depends on whether the soldiers and auxiliary soldiers under his command can continue to be as capable of fighting as before, and whether the connection between the Han family and the people is not severed by officials and powerful families.

If we had not used various methods to curb the powerful and the clans in counties and prefectures across the country and allowed them to grow wildly and recklessly, how could we be bowing and polite to the Han family today?

Liu Bei thought in his heart and clapped his hands and smiled, his eyes fell on the backs of the departing leaders of the powerful families. He said nice words one thing and measured the land another.

This is a long-term plan of the Han Dynasty. We cannot abolish it in the counties of Guanzhong just because the powerful families have temporarily agreed and become humble.

Not only will it be difficult for him to do so, but the prefectures and counties in Kanto that have already completed their farmland surveys will not agree to it.

……

The next day, Zhao Yun, who had captured most of Youfufeng, rushed to Chang'an from Wugong County. After exchanging greetings with Liu Bei, he bowed and told Liu Bei that the Qiang and Hu tribes in Yong and Liang were making unusual movements. Moreover, Ma Teng and Han Sui, who were not far from Guanzhong, had been slow to come to Chang'an, so he was afraid that they might have ill intentions and should be prevented as soon as possible.

"Zilong, you don't know that Ma Shoucheng and Han Wenyue have a previous grudge. Now he has sent someone to Chang'an to deliver a document, saying that Han Sui wants to unite with the Qiang people to rebel. He is willing to send his eldest son Ma Mengqi to the capital as a hostage to show that he has no intention of rebelling against the Han Dynasty."

When Liu Bei heard Zhao Yun's worried words, he patted his shoulder gently and said soothingly with a smile.

When he learned that Ma Teng wanted to send Ma Chao's family to the capital as hostages, he couldn't help but be surprised for a moment. He almost suspected that Ma Teng had seen that his eldest son Ma Chao not only had the courage of Xin and Bu, but also had the heart of Qiang and Hu.

Except for his tough cousin Ma Dai, everyone else could not escape his involvement.

Sending Ma Chao to him now may save the lives of more than 200 people in the sect by accident...

If he ascended the throne as the Son of Heaven, Ma Mengqi would dare to join hands with the Qiang people to rebel against the Han Dynasty. Even if he showed mercy and did not punish Ma Teng and his entire clan with a serious crime, he would still be exiled to Jiaozhi County, deep into the barren land of malaria. By then, at least half of the Ma family would have died of illness.

Unexpectedly, Ma Teng easily brought out the biggest hidden threat, Youfufeng Ma.

As long as no one dares to openly oppose the Han family in the future, Ma Teng’s family line will not be destroyed and his descendants will not be extinct.

While talking with Zhao Yun, Liu Bei was deeply moved.

What Liu Bei didn't know was that Ma Teng actually had a simple idea in mind. Besides the fact that Ma Chao was his most respected eldest son, Ma Chao was getting too close to the Qiang and Hu people. Ma Teng was afraid that his eldest son Ma Chao would learn the habits of the Qiang and Hu people and disregard the etiquette of the Han Dynasty.

Seeing that the world was about to be unified, if Ma Chao developed bad habits, he would inevitably be despised by the scholars in Guandong. When would the Ma family be able to restore the status of their ancestor, General Ma Yuan?

You have to know that at that time, the Ma family was a relative of the Han family. Not only did they have power, they also had more than a thousand slaves and servants, and huge wealth, enough to buy many fertile fields in the capital.

Life is short like a flash of lightning. If I can help to prosper my family, I will be willing to die.

Ma Teng dreamed of letting Ma family return to the status of General Fu Bo. This was his greatest pursuit in life. He absolutely could not let Ma family be despised by the noble families in Guandong again.

However, outsiders could not know this, so Zhao Yun always had some doubts about Ma Teng's surrender, fearing that he surrendered in name only but was actually secretly allying with Han Sui. After all, he only sent Ma Chao's family and did not send the rest of his sons as hostages. If he did it on purpose, it would be difficult to tell the truth from the false.

Zhao Yun thought for a moment, then bowed and said seriously, "Your Majesty, I heard that Ma Shoucheng is the son of a Qiang woman. He once wanted to lead his army to attack Chang'an, but I'm afraid he has the habits of the Hu people. We need to be careful to prevent him. Only in this way can we be safe."

After hearing this, Liu Bei nodded and chuckled, "Zilong is becoming more and more like a calm and steady general. He came at the perfect time."

"Regardless of whether Han Sui, Ma Teng and the Qiang intend to rebel against the Han Dynasty, I will also wipe out the princes entrenched here and kill some lawless tyrants and some Hu tribes with malicious intentions."

"At this time, we need to rely more on the thousands of Tiger Cavalry. Zilong has governed the people of this area and served as a governor for many years. Do you dare to lead the cavalry to capture flags and kill generals, shake the battlefield, open up another thousand miles for the Han family, sweep across Yong and Liang states, and wash away the stench of Qiang and Hu that has been causing trouble for the people on the border for many years?"

Liu Bei smiled, raised his hand and pointed to the north and asked.

This made Zhao Yun's eyes light up immediately. He immediately raised his hands and asked for the order, saying excitedly: "Yun is willing to lead the Tiger Cavalry to gallop on the battlefield for the king, to break through the enemy lines, to hang the flag thousands of miles away, to spread the prestige of the Han Dynasty, even if the sleeves are covered with blood, what is there to fear."

"Okay, in that case, Zilong will immediately enter the military camp, familiarize himself with military affairs, and practice with the rebels and bandits in various places. When I receive the news, he will immediately organize the troops to attack." Liu Bei made the arrangements with a smile.

"Yes!" Zhao Yun accepted the order happily, bowed and left.

Only Liu Bei was left with a smile on his face, still thinking about the Qiang and Hu.

In this place where the Han and the Hu people live together, there are many horses. If one wants to completely pacify this place, one must mainly rely on the cavalry to attack and kill the Hu people with lightning speed and without giving them a chance to breathe.

First let them gather together, and then find someone familiar with the Qiang and Hu tribes as a guide. The Han cavalry will then make long-distance raids and long-distance pursuits to annihilate the enemy.

First, concentrate all your efforts on attacking the main hostile Hu tribe. Even if the enemy is broken up into small pieces, there will always be tribal leaders, chieftains, and other people. As long as you find where these people are, you can just rush in and attack them.

Only by eliminating the disgruntled Qiang and Hu tribal nobles can we better govern the ordinary herdsmen.

How many herdsmen were invaded and robbed by officials because of their different customs and language barriers, which made the Qiang people even more united and hate the Han people.

To eliminate the grudges between the Hu and Han peoples is a long and arduous task.

(End of this chapter)