Chapter 62: Subjugating The Hu People
The chiliarch system was not Xiao Simo’s original creation; it first originated in the early years of the Jin Dynasty.
After the Jingkang Incident, many Song Dynasty generals surrendered to the Jin Dynasty.
To accommodate these surrendered generals without incorporating them into the Jurchen meng’an mouke system, so as not to affect the Jurchens’ own combat strength.
Thus, the Jurchen people imitated the meng’an mouke system and created the chiliarch system.
Essentially the same as the meng’an mouke system, it can be seen as another setup, just a different way of saying it.
Just like the Manchu Qing Dynasty creating the Han Eight Banners.
But the emergence of the chiliarch system did greatly stabilize the Jin Dynasty’s rule and management over the surrendered Song army.
It eliminated the redundant officers originally in the Song army, simplified administrative management, and enhanced the army’s combat strength.
It also became the key to the Jin Dynasty’s million-strong army overpowering the surrounding strong states.
Xiao Simo borrowed the Jin Dynasty’s chiliarch system and prepared to implement a chiliarch system suited to himself in the Northern Frontier.
“But doing it this way, the existing fortress and village structures will definitely be affected,” Zhao Tiezhu said with a slight frown.
He was still considering how this reform would affect him personally.
“If a hundred herdsmen are separately divided into one centurion unit, what about the people in the fortress who exceed a hundred households?” Qin Kaishan said.
Wouldn’t this split off part of their fortress and village’s strength?
“For ten or twenty extra households, the Khitan people probably won’t care much, but if there are more, they will likely be forcibly separated,” Li Xiao said, shaking his head.
Such a change would actually benefit small-scale fortresses and villages more.
Larger fortresses and villages with more people would instead be broken up into pieces.
The fort master’s status and strength would plummet.
Just like Hexi Fort, which originally had over two hundred households, and after absorbing people from Sanhe Fort and Hou Village, now has nearly four hundred households.
Li Xiao planned to hide some household numbers, but at least it would be divided into three centurion units.
If Li Xiao did not become this chiliarch, he would at most become just one centurion, with his power shrinking by a third compared to before.
He definitely wouldn’t be willing in his heart!
“Once household registration begins, Jin Prefecture will probably continue to be in chaos,” the Qianhe Village Master said, shaking his head.
He wasn’t too worried.
Because Qiyun Village was a small village with not even a hundred households, it might even get a few extra households.
But the large villages would certainly not be content.
“This is inevitable; every reform cuts into the interests of the previous vested interests, carving meat from them, which will definitely intensify conflicts.”
“But Xiao Simo’s twenty thousand Eastern Capital Army are in Jin Prefecture; they won’t leave without completing the household registration,” Li Xiao said in a deep voice.
With twenty thousand Eastern Capital Army stationed there, who would dare to cause trouble? They would be crushed to powder in an instant.
This Geluolu rebellion was completely played into Xiao Simo’s hands.
It fully became his stepping stone to further control the Northern Frontier.
“This Xiao Simo is indeed as Da Long said, with deep schemes!” Qin Kaishan said, shaking his head with a sigh.
“In just ten years, Jin Prefecture will be completely controlled by the Khitan people.”
Others saw it as a dispute over a few more or fewer herdsmen households, but Qin Kaishan looked much further ahead.
He said with deep worry: “Before, we village masters managed our own villagers, without meddling from the Khitan people.”
“But once it becomes chiliarchs and centurions, it won’t necessarily be up to whoever we say.”
The simple truth was that previous Han people fort masters and village masters were produced internally, unaffected by the Khitan people.
But once the chiliarch and centurion system was implemented, it would undoubtedly put shackles on Jin Prefecture’s various fortresses, villages, and nomadic tribes.
Initially, the original village masters and leaders might still be appointed as centurions and chiliarchs.
But as time passed, the grassroots herdsmen’s acceptance of this system deepened.
Then the various centurions and chiliarchs would likely gradually be replaced.
Changing from candidates produced internally by the fortresses and villages and confirmed by the governor’s office to direct appointments by the governor’s office.
The two differ fundamentally in the source of power.
“Tusi reform!”
These four words instantly appeared in Li Xiao’s mind.
He had to admit that Xiao Simo had great boldness, and his methods were indeed brilliant.
If there was enough time, he might really be able to take back the grassroots ruling power in the Northern Frontier from the hands of the original fort masters, village masters, and tribal leaders.
“Just don’t know if Xiao Simo has that much time to wait,” Li Xiao thought to himself.
While everyone was discussing the pros and cons of Jin Prefecture’s institutional reform, Er Hu brought two people in.
One of them was Li Xiao’s slave Hutu.
The other was a very burly Zhelan man, the first one to charge into Wuya Village not long ago.
He said in a low, buzzing voice: “This lowly one Bashatu Lu pays respects to the lord.”
The Hutu beside him hurriedly translated this for Li Xiao.
This Zhelan man appeared to be around twenty years old, with a sturdy build, his exposed chest and arms full of muscle.
His head was bald, his face full of scars, looking quite intimidating.
His body had many hastily treated wounds, showing that in the recent battle, he had indeed fought hard.
Most importantly, he was nearly six feet tall, standing in the tent like a tower, full of a sense of oppression.
Li Xiao was slightly stunned upon seeing his height.
But he wasn’t too surprised; in later generations, among post-2000s kids, such heights were not uncommon.
“Bashatu Lu?”
“Good man.”
“Well done.” Li Xiao stepped forward, glanced at the burly man, and nodded in satisfaction.
“During the battle, I was watching from behind; you were very brave, a true warrior.”
“You shouldn’t continue as a slave.” Li Xiao said.
At this moment, he felt a strange state of mind.
Just now in Xiao Simo’s large tent, he had also stood below, being rewarded by Xiao Simo.
Now, he was rewarding others himself.
The class system forged by power was so strict and ruthless.
To rise one step, either rely on connections or risk your life.
Li Xiao at least had his slight connection with Xiao Yanyan, but this burly man before him had completely earned it through desperate fighting.
After Hutu finished translating Li Xiao’s words, this Bashatu Lu burly man opened his mouth, suddenly grinned, and nodded happily.
“Heh heh heh~”
“Good, good~”
This somewhat honest laugh instantly drew the attention of Luo Ping and the others.
They found that this burly man was just grinning foolishly, nodding and that was it?
The Hutu beside him explained helplessly: “Forgive us, master; Bashatu Lu’s head is a bit dim-witted.”
“His mouth is also clumsy; he doesn’t know how to say nice words.”
“The words he said when coming in were also taught to him many times by this slave before he could say them.”
Dim-witted head?
Li Xiao suddenly understood; no wonder he felt this guy was a bit off earlier.
Turns out his head had some issues.
Not to mention now, even in later rural areas a thousand years from now, there were plenty like this.
But from Li Xiao’s observation, this burly man wasn’t really foolish, just a bit unable to express his thoughts.
In simple terms, he was dumb.
Too low-key and honest.
His IQ and EQ were both a bit lower than average.
But simple communication was no problem; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been happy hearing that Li Xiao was freeing him from slavery.
“Heh heh~” Li Xiao chuckled lightly and nodded.
“Rather endearingly dumb.”
Then he sat back in his seat and said in a calm voice: “Some people appear loyal on the surface but are treacherous inside.”
“Some people appear foolish but are more loyal and honest than anyone.”
Undoubtedly, he himself was the first type.
Thinking of what he had said in front of Xiao Simo, Li Xiao felt a bit embarrassed.
But whether this Zhelan slave was truly the second type, Li Xiao remained skeptical and needed time to assess.
“Hutu~”
“This slave is here.”
“Bashatu Lu is so brave; hasn’t the Zhelan chieftain ever thought of taking him as a confidant?” Li Xiao asked curiously.
Hutu smiled helplessly: “Bashatu Lu is actually not a true Zhelan person; he was a slave captured by Zhelan people since childhood.”
“Later, he earned military merit and became part of the Zhelan Tribe.”
“Since this slave hasn’t been in the Zhelan Tribe long, I only heard a bit about it.”
“Bashatu Lu was originally Elder Brother Nie Erdu’s guard; later his elder brother suddenly died of illness, and Nie Erdu became the Zhelan Tribe’s leader.”
“There are rumors that Nie Erdu was involved in his elder brother’s death, so I guess that’s why Nie Erdu doesn’t dare trust Bashatu Lu.”
“I see.” Li Xiao nodded lightly.
Nie Erdu didn’t dare trust Bashatu Lu but appreciated his bravery, so he kept him as an ordinary tribesman to charge into battle for him.
If he really died in battle someday, it wouldn’t matter; it would resolve one of his worries.
“Hutu, go tell Bashatu Lu that in this battle, he fought bravely.”
“This fort master will exempt him from slave status and grant him fifty sheep as a reward.”
“From now on, he is a person of my Hexi Fort.”
As Li Xiao spoke, Hutu translated it to Bashatu Lu.
The burly man’s face gradually lit up with excitement, his smile even brighter.
Grinning, he kept nodding and saying words Li Xiao couldn’t understand.
Hutu said: “Bashatu Lu is expressing thanks to you, master.”
Fifty sheep was no small number; for herdsmen, it was a great wealth.
With this sheep flock, Bashatu Lu would directly become petty bourgeoisie.
“Tell him to work hard from now on; as long as he dares to fight and charge, this fort master will reward him with more cattle, sheep, wealth, even beauties and slaves,” Li Xiao promised.
A thousand gold to buy horse bones.
Li Xiao wanted to use this Zhelan man as an example to give the other Zhelan slaves hope.
In the next battle, the Zhelan people would become even more proactive.
“Also, since he’s now a person of my Hexi Fort, daily communication is an issue; when you have time, teach him Chinese language more.”
After speaking, Li Xiao looked at Bashatu Lu’s not-too-bright appearance, shook his head slightly, and said: “Try to teach him!”
If he really couldn’t learn, there was no way around it.
“Yes, master!” Hutu nodded respectfully.
“Also~” Li Xiao thought of another important matter.
“The name Bashatu Lu is too hard to pronounce; don’t use it from now on.”
“Since he’s a person of my Hexi Fort, he needs to take a Han person’s name.” Li Xiao said, looking at Bashatu Lu.
