Water Margin: The opening scene involves assassinating Emperor Huizong of Song and forcibly taking L

"May you be blessed with good fortune, sister-in-law!"

Chapter 329 The Situation in the South

Zhang quickly returned the greeting.

At the same time, they took out gifts.

The group strolled through the garden, enjoying the scenery.

Zhao Yuan asked, "How is Hunan?"

"Can the remnants of Manichaeism still maintain order?"

Bai Hong said, "Hunan was ravaged by war."

"The people all yearn for stability and are busy restoring production and making a living."

"Even if there are some remnants of Manichaeism,"

"Unwilling to accept defeat and wanting to cause trouble,"

"It won't cause any trouble."

“That makes perfect sense,” Zhao Yuan nodded.

Bai Hong added, "I also went to appease the leaders of the Wuxi barbarians and the Miao, Yao, and Dong ethnic groups."

"It was then discussed and finalized with the Hunan Provincial Administration Commission."

"Regardless of whether they are Han or Man,"

"Those living outside the mountains and in the valleys must pay land taxes,"

"No land tax is paid on the barren land in the mountains."

"Based on the current population of each department,"

“The amount of tribute they pay each year,”

"Even if the population increases in the future, we will not pay more taxes."

“All ethnic groups submit to it and are willing to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty.”

"Well done,"

Zhao Yuan asked again,

"Is there any way to let the leaders of the various tribes..."

"Sending your children to study in Han areas?"

Bai Hong replied, "It has already been delivered."

"To enable children to read and write,"

"The leaders of all ethnic groups were also extremely happy."

Zhao Yuan said, "Once the livelihood of people in Hunan recovers somewhat,"

"We need to train several thousand more soldiers."

"Firstly, to guard against rebellions by various ethnic groups,"

"Secondly, it is to prepare for future campaigns against the various barbarian tribes in the southwest."

"These newly trained troops,"

"We can recruit warriors from all ethnic groups into our army,"

"Train them for three to five years before sending them back to their respective tribes,"

"Then recruit a new batch of barbarian soldiers."

"Do the barbarian soldiers change every three to five years?"

Bai Hong didn't understand for a moment.

Zhao Yuan said, "Let the children of the leaders of each ethnic group receive an education."

"Being a proton is actually not very useful,"

"The real intention was to promote education."

"The same applies to recruiting barbarian soldiers,"

"Served as a soldier in Han areas for several years,"

"You will definitely be able to learn to speak Chinese."

"We don't need to recruit too many each time,"

"A tribe can send a dozen or so people to join the army."

“If this continues, barbarian soldiers who can speak Chinese will keep returning home,”

"In a few decades, many barbarian tribes will be able to speak Chinese."

Bai Hong said, "I understand."

"We must constantly remind the Han soldiers,"

"Don't bully those barbarian soldiers,"

“Once we become soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, we are all brothers,” Zhao Yuan added.

"Kid, remember this."

Bai Hong listened carefully.

Zhao Yuan continued, "We should also encourage intermarriage among different ethnic groups, especially in the border areas between the Han and non-Han peoples."

"Local officials can offer some rewards to intermarried families."

"As long as it doesn't violate national laws, the customs of all ethnic groups should be respected."

"Even if it violates morals and ethics, don't interfere."

“I will send official documents to the Hunan provincial and local governments regarding these matters,”

"You should also remember this."

"Yes!"

Bai Hong stood up straight.

Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Don't be shy, we're just chatting casually."

"Has the Tian family of Sizhou made any unusual moves?"

Bai Hong said, "It seems there's some progress; the trade route to Yuanzhou has been opened."

"The trade route from Sizhou to Qianzhou is also open,"

Zhao Yuan was like a parent disciplining a disobedient child.

"This Tian Yougong has always been asking for exorbitant prices."

"I will have Zhao Yu, the Minister of War,"

“Write him a letter in person,”

"If you don't submit to the imperial court soon, we'll have to send troops!"

The Tian family's ancestral home was Jingzhao.

Merchants from the Tang Dynasty settled in the south.

They quickly gained a foothold among the barbarians.

Chapter 330 Offering Land and Submitting to the Throne

During the Daguan era of Emperor Huizong of Song,

Tian Yougong surrendered territory to the imperial court and became a vassal.

It was only then that Sizhou was officially established during the Northern Song Dynasty.

Tian Yougong showed great loyalty.

They actively dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion.

Even because of his repeated military exploits...

He was promoted to Military Commander of Chengdu Prefecture.

Also in charge of patrolling Chengdufu Road and Lizhou Road,

He was ordered to lead troops to garrison in Lizhou.

This fellow is afraid of being away from his territory for too long.

Sizhou will be infiltrated and annexed by the imperial court.

So he resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown under the pretext of taking care of his elderly mother.

If Tian Yougong does not resign,

When Zhao Yuan marched south from Hanzhong to Sichuan,

The Song army commander you encounter will be this person!

The Tian family of Sizhou, by assisting the Song Dynasty in its wars,

His official rank rose steadily.

Their territory continued to expand.

They had already occupied the places that would later become known as Youyang, Xiushan, Wuchuan, Dejiang, Tongren, Zhenyuan, Sansui, and Cengong.

After Li Bao seized Kuizhou,

They then sent people to persuade the Tian family to surrender.

No reply was received.

They eliminated Zhong Xiang last year.

Tian Yougong finally relented.

They began to allow merchants from the Ming Dynasty to enter their territory.

At the same time, they sent people to contact the Ming Dynasty officials in Qianzhou.

However, this person was extremely arrogant.

He wanted to regain his official position in the Northern Song Dynasty—Wugong Dafu (武功大夫).

Prefect of Rongzhou, Military Commissioner of Zhongzhou

Guizhou Defense Commissioner, Border Inspector of Sizhou.

Among these positions,

Only the border patrol inspector of Sizhou held a substantive position.

All the others are merely nominal titles used to demonstrate status.

The Ming Dynasty court could give it.

But you can't ask for it!

Zhao Yu, Minister of War

There are also seed-loving friends from the seed family.

They were all Tian Yougong's former superiors.

They wrote letters together this year.

Proclaiming the Ming army's great victories in Hebei and Shanxi,

I urge Tian Yougong to immediately come to Kaifeng to surrender territory and become a vassal.

Without going to Beijing in person,