“Yes, Your Majesty.”
In the camp, the generals shouted loudly, each with a serious expression. For them, the current task was arduous and the road to completely solving the barbarian problem was still long.
However, this victory gave them full confidence. In their view, the capture of Jinzhou was only a matter of time.
After assigning the task of attacking Jinzhou, the generals had their plans in mind, clearly knowing what to do next.
At this point, Lu Fei suddenly said, “Your Majesty, I have one more matter to report.”
“Speak.”
“This time, capturing Pingzhou resulted in many barbarians and barbarian slaves being taken. What should be done with these people?” Lu Fei asked. “If they are kept in Pingzhou City, they will not only consume grain but also be a hidden danger.”
Xiao Ming’s purpose for coming to Pingzhou also included this matter. He had already made a decision in Shanhai Pass. So he said, “Mines and railways are in urgent need of manpower, and what the Great Yu Empire currently lacks are precisely slaves. Therefore, I believe all these barbarians should be demoted to slaves and escorted back to the Great Yu Empire, to atone for the crimes they committed against the Great Yu Empire with lifelong labor. What do you beloved ministers think?”
Niu Ben said, “Barbarian soldiers all come from the barbarian people. When the barbarians invaded the Great Yu Empire, these barbarians were also extremely supportive. So, in my opinion, since these barbarians supported the war, it is only right that they accept punishment after defeat.”
“Leaving these barbarians on this land might lead to another barbarian rising a hundred years later. Throughout history, every time grassland tribes were defeated, there was always a method of internal relocation. However, this method still harbors many hidden dangers. It would be better to directly demote them to slaves, once and for all.”
Lei Ming frowned. He said, “Your Majesty, if that’s the case, wouldn’t this vast land become uninhabited? What if other foreign tribes arrive?”
Xiao Ming had already made up his mind. He said, “Among the barbarian slaves, there are quite a few who possess Great Yu Empire bloodlines. I plan to revoke their slave status and bestow upon them the identity of ‘Guandong people’ of the Great Yu Empire. This way, they will surely be grateful and willingly guard the Guandong region for the Great Yu Empire.”
Everyone, hearing this, immediately showed expressions of admiration. Their Emperor always thought more profoundly than them.
Lu Fei said, “If that’s the case, I will immediately gather these slaves and at the same time escort the barbarians to Shanhai Pass.”
Xiao Ming nodded gently.
At this, everyone exited the camp. Lu Fei ordered his soldiers to drive all the slave soldiers to an open ground outside Pingzhou City.
To prevent these slaves from escaping, Lu Fei had them all tied with ropes. Now that they were to be given the identity of Guandong people, he immediately untied them all.
Freed from their restraints, the barbarian slaves each showed uneasy expressions, like startled birds.
Under the barbarians’ brutal rule, their lives were very miserable; their lives were often worth less than a sheep. Now, captured by the Great Yu Empire, they basically thought they had no chance of survival.
While the slaves were in a state of unease, Xiao Ming and a group of generals ascended the city wall.
Xiao Ming signaled Qian Dafu. At this, Qian Dafu’s shrill and loud voice echoed in the distance.
“By order of the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire, all slaves below the city who possess Great Yu Empire bloodlines shall be exempted from slave status. After registering in Pingzhou City, they may obtain freedom and receive appropriate farmland according to the Great Yu Empire’s laws. Non-Great Yu Empire slaves shall be spared from death, inducted into the Great Yu Empire to perform labor, and those who perform exceptionally may also be exempted from slave status.”
Qian Dafu’s voice fell. In front of the city, silence reigned. The barbarian slaves seemed to not have reacted yet, looking at each other.
For them, they had grown accustomed to a life of slavery. Suddenly becoming normal people made them uncomfortable.
And out of fear, no one dared to step forward.
Xiao Ming was not surprised by the slaves’ reaction. Anyone who had been subjected to cruel oppression for a long time would find it hard to believe if they were suddenly told they were free.
“The one before you is the current Emperor of the Great Yu Empire. His word is law. What are you still standing there for?”
Lu Fei roared loudly, seeing the slaves standing dumbfounded.
Startled by Lu Fei’s roar, the slaves all recoiled. This god of slaughter had terrified them during the siege.
However, there were also some bolder ones among the slaves. A young, strong slave hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to register at the city gate, leaving behind information such as his ancestral home.
With the first came the second. For them, the worst outcome was death; it was worth a try.
One after another, many slaves with Great Yu Empire bloodlines registered at the city gate.
To stabilize the newly conquered land as quickly as possible, Xiao Ming had the registering general directly write out a household registration for these slaves on the spot.
However, unlike the Great Yu Empire’s general household registration, these household registrations temporarily fixed the slaves in Pingzhou, not allowing them to wander.
Receiving their household registrations, the slaves finally gradually believed the truth. In the excitement of regaining their freedom, they knelt before Xiao Ming, repeatedly kowtowing.
Seeing this, Xiao Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Conquering barbarian land was easy; defending it was the real challenge. It was precisely for this reason that he made this decision.
Once these Guandong people had their own land and settled down to live and multiply, they would risk their lives to resist foreign enemies.
After dealing with the slaves in Pingzhou City, Xiao Ming sent someone to deliver this order to Ye Qingyun. While attacking Jinzhou was important, stabilizing the two conquered cities was also crucial.
Three days later, the news arrived in Liaozhou.
At this time, Ye Qingyun was on the city wall, observing the barbarian cavalry outside Liaozhou City through his telescope.
Seemingly unable to find a way to deal with the Great Yu Empire army defending the city, these cavalry eventually chose to leave after hovering for an hour.
This scene made Ye Qingyun sneer scornfully. Immediately after occupying Liaozhou City, he had repaired the city gate. Now, the barbarians had no way to deal with him.
His only concern now was the barbarians inside the city.
However, after thinking for a few days, he quickly found a way to stabilize Liaozhou City.
Among the Golden Tent Khanate’s population, barbarians only accounted for thirty percent, while the remaining seventy percent were slaves.
The situation was similar in Liaozhou City. However, barbarians generally had slaves cultivate their own land, so there were not many slaves remaining in the city.
But even so, after counting the number of people in the city, he found one hundred and sixty thousand barbarian slaves.
These slaves had long suffered barbarian bullying, and were as wretched as disaster victims. For Ye Qingyun, he could exploit this to control the barbarians.
In fact, after he invaded Liaozhou City, some slaves had already revolted, killed their masters, and surrendered to him.
“Leaving the barbarians inside Liaozhou City will always be a hidden danger. Once Liang Dahai arrives, we will escort them back to the Great Yu Empire in batches.”
Ye Qingyun mused to Zou Cheng. After the military reform, he had promoted this capable general to division commander.
Zou Cheng said, “Liang Dahai must be happy now.”
As the two were speaking, hunter cavalry arrived with Xiao Ming’s order on the city wall. Receiving Xiao Ming’s message, Ye Qingyun laughed heartily, “His Majesty’s order arrived just in time! Now Liaozhou City is stable.”