There is murderous atmosphere in Chishui City.
Especially some lower-class people who had been oppressed by the nobles, after seeing that reporting was really useful, spread the word from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Almost every day, the Sujing Department of the Minister's Office received several waves of herdsmen who came to report and denounce.
There was a panic at the time, and even the surviving nobles, wealthy businessmen and ranchers were arrested one after another.
…
In the study of the snow-white dome palace, Lu Ming was looking at the latest battle report.
In the six regions of the Northern Territory occupied by Ma Quanyou, the war was going relatively smoothly. However, there were signs that most of Ma Quanyou's troops were being mobilized to the northwest. It was unknown whether they were heading back to the prairie.
But if they come to capture Chishui City, they will inevitably be dragged to death here. This is the right time to annihilate their main force.
The central grassland is actually in a state of chaos nowadays, and we only control Chishui City and several major trading points.
The rest of the vast grassland areas can be regarded as the world of Ma Quanyou's old subordinates.
There were probably hundreds of nomadic settlements of varying sizes, and our side had adopted the method of completely destroying their superstructures, so there was no way to persuade these nomadic tribes to surrender.
Because the grassland lords of these tribes regard themselves as the real big enemy. If they surrender, they will die, and if they don't surrender, they will also die. So why surrender
The lower-class herdsmen were completely controlled ideologically by them, and since the villages did not have a fixed location, it was impossible to publicize and encourage them to rebel against the slave owners.
Moreover, how can we encourage them to rebel against their own masters simply by promoting slogans of freedom and equality when the ideas that have been deeply rooted for thousands of years cannot be instigated
Even in the city of Chishui, those who are keen on reporting the powerful and even the old masters in the city are usually not law-abiding people. They are not influenced by the ideas of freedom and equality. Some of them simply want to see the noble masters turned into mud under their feet.
Those honest and hardworking herdsmen, who are the backbone of the prairie economy, are mostly loyal to their masters. They think that any punishment from their masters is justified and that being beaten to death is what they deserve.
It's sad and pitiful, but there's nothing we can do about it.
While Lu Ming was pondering, Ma Chi Nuer's voice came from outside: "Master, Ma Quanchang is here!"
Lu Ming responded.
The study door was pushed open, and the guard led in an energetic old man named Ma Quanchang, who was a very prestigious elder in Chishui City.
In terms of seniority, he is Ma Quanyou's cousin, but in terms of blood relationship, they are very distant, and they are only a family since their great-great-grandfather's generation.
Because Ma Quanchang was very prestigious in the clan and was originally a competitor for the position of clan leader, Ma Quanyou suppressed Ma Quanchang's branch severely after he came to power. Ma Quanchang's eldest son was even executed by Ma Quanyou ten years ago for violating clan rules.
In this way, Ma Quanchang managed to escape the catastrophe of the fall of Chishui City that day, but he was still arrested the next day.
He has now been brought out of prison.
The old man stood in front of Lu Ming with neither humility nor arrogance.
Lu Ming smiled slightly: "Mr. Ma, please sit down!" With a gesture, the guard brought a chair to Ma Quanchang.
The chairs in the palace study are inlaid with gems and are colorful.
Ma Quanyou's extravagant lifestyle and his plunder of the grassland are evident from his life experience.
Ma Quanchang threw away his robe and slowly sat down.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "It's like this, Mr. Ma. I have drawn up a list of amnesty. The people on the list don't even need to go to court. You are the first on the list. It has been found that you have a good reputation over the years and are known for being honest, so you don't need to stand trial. However, your property came from the brutal plunder of herdsmen, so it will be confiscated. Most of it will be distributed to the herdsmen of your clan, and a small part will be collected and put into the treasury. Of course, Mr. Ma, please rest assured that you will also be given back enough to support your family to live a decent life."
Ma Quanchang was stunned. His nonchalant expression disappeared and he opened his eyes wide. "Are you telling the truth?"
Originally, I thought that I could not escape death, and I wanted to die with dignity, but I didn't expect that I would be pardoned and regain my freedom
As for the confiscation of property and so on, the mansion had already been sealed off and the entire family had been locked up. Judging from the way the Black Mountain people behaved when they entered the city, I'm afraid they would all be shot
Now that I have escaped death, what does property matter
Ma Quanchang felt great joy in his heart, but he didn't dare to believe it.
Lu Ming continued, "The General Administration Office is also planning to hire you as a pacification envoy to help the Principality pacify and recruit the various settlements to surrender."
Ma Quanchang smiled bitterly, so that's it.
Lu Ming added, "However, let me be frank. I will not trick them into surrendering and then settle accounts with them later. Their past evil deeds can be forgiven, but their blood debts are another matter. In addition, the heads of each settlement must donate all their property. Well, you can keep enough property to sustain a decent life like you did, and the rest of the property, including the livestock, will be distributed to the herdsmen of the settlement."
Ma Quanchang listened and shook his head disapprovingly.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Mr. Ma, do you have a different opinion?"
Ma Quanchang sighed, "I understand that His Royal Highness wants to completely destroy the old order here, so he nominally took over everything on the prairie and confiscated all the property of the old nobles. However, His Royal Highness can send people to take care of each settlement. What if the horses, cattle and sheep are also distributed to each herdsman in the settlement?" Ma Quanchang shook his head, "Have you ever thought about giving each herdsman a few cattle and sheep? This will completely eliminate the efficiency of nomadic life? Originally, a few people could manage a large number of livestock, but now, each family manages so few heads. How can they be nomadic? Even breeding in the future will be a hassle!"
Lu Ming smiled: "It's good not to be a nomad!"
Ma Quanchang was stunned, and then a chill rose from his heels. Perhaps the Heishan people originally intended to change the living habits of their own ethnic group and cut off the roots of their own ethnic group.
Lu Ming smiled and said, "In short, the life of grassland herders may be busier than before, and they may not have as much time to practice martial arts and archery, but their lives will definitely get better and better. Times have changed, and each generation has its own way of life. Mr. Ma, what do you think? Embracing the future and embracing civilization is the long-term way for a group to survive."
Ma Quanchang was silent.
Lu Ming said, "In short, Mr. Ma, whether the settlements can be united peacefully or whether there will be bloodshed and we need to send out armed teams to destroy them one by one depends on you!" He glanced at him, "Mr. Ma, do you need some time to think about it?"
Ma Quanchang made up his mind almost instantly, "My Lord, you don't despise my old age, and you have given my clan a chance to survive. I will do my best and will not slack off!"
Lu Ming smiled, "That's good! Well then, Commissioner Ma! Let's have a happy cooperation in the future!" He stood up and stretched out his hand.
Ma Quanchang also stood up quickly and stretched out his hands to shake hands with Lu Ming.
Lu Ming asked again: "Does Commissioner Ma want to meet Queen Tuoba Khan?"
Ma Quanchang was stunned: "Is it possible?" Then he understood, "If Tuoba Khan is willing to write a letter, the Tuoba tribe will be able to surrender."
Tuoba Khan became Ma Quanyou's legal wife.
According to the customs of the prairie, the Khan has one queen and four concubines, all five of whom are his legal wives, but the queen has a higher status.
The Tuoba tribe is the fourth tribe in the prairie after the three major tribes. Its nomadic pastures are in the southeastern area of the central grassland belt. There are dozens of settlements and a population of 50,000 to 60,000.
When Ma Quanyou became more and more powerful, in order to become the true overlord of the grassland, he married the Tuoba tribe and married Tuoba Lan, the beloved daughter of the Tuoba tribe leader.
Ma Quanyou was called Khan. After Tuoba Lan was honored as Khan, his first wife became one of the four concubines.
However, Ma Quanyou respected and feared Tuoba Khan, and was annoyed with his elderly wife.
In short, I probably wouldn't feel that comfortable in front of the two of them.
Therefore, Ma Quanyou brought his two most beloved young concubines with him on this southern expedition. Tuoba Khan's wife, Ma Khan's concubine, and another older Khan's concubine were left in Chishui City.
Now, they are all prisoners, but they are treated very well and are under house arrest in this palace.
In fact, many noble women who were shot or imprisoned were also imprisoned in the palace. A total of more than 200 old women were under house arrest here.
They are all waiting for the court's decision, either to perform forced labor or to regain their freedom.
When Ma Quanchang heard that he could meet Tuoba Khan, his face showed a little excitement.
In the past, the two families had an old grudge, and could even be said to be enemies, but in the current chaotic situation, discussing this matter with Tuoba Khan, who has always been wise and has a very high status, may help resolve the confusion.
At first, the ministers who stayed behind wanted to execute the "insiders" and intelligence personnel of the Principality of Montenegro, but Tuoba Khan firmly opposed it. Unfortunately, the ministers who stayed behind thought that with the support of the Westerners, the Montenegrins would never dare to march west again. The ministers who stayed behind voted unanimously. According to the customs of the grassland, they rejected the advice of Tuoba Khan and tortured and executed all the "insiders" and intelligence personnel of the Principality of Montenegro. This caused the disaster today. They also paid a heavy price. Almost all of the seven noble families with "stayed behind" were killed.
As for the future changes of the various tribes on the grassland, we still need to hear the opinions of Queen Tuoba Khan.
While Ma Quanchang was thinking, there was a knock on the door and Ma Chi Nuer's voice said, "Master, there is an urgent telegram."