I, Liu Bian, Sanxing Han Dynasty

Chapter 383 Turning point
However, the chiefs present were not fools. They had heard the news that the court wanted to register all the people as early as when Huan Dian arrived in Yizhou.

Now they only need to pay 40 coins of money per person, which is collected and paid on their behalf by the chiefs. In the future, when the people are registered as equals, they will not only lose the great power as chiefs, but their followers will also bear more corvee and taxes.

They have made this account very clear.

It is unlikely to expect them to take the initiative to participate in military farming.

They don't even want to mention it, or even listen to it.

So they just loudly praised Xun You's behavior in judging the criminals.

Although Xun You was in the middle of the situation, he was well aware of this.

After inviting everyone to change seats, Xun You said, "Recently, I have discussed with you a lot about how to govern the world."

The chiefs present looked at each other, wondering, weren't they all talking about the customs and practices of Berkshire? Did they discuss something so high-end?
"I can't help but admire your talents!"

Yes, yes, yes, they did discuss high-level ways of governing the world.

"I want to recruit you gentlemen to serve as officials and help govern Ba County so that the government can be smooth and the people can benefit. But..."

The chiefs were also discouraged when they heard this. As barbarian chiefs, they had all been enthroned - but it was just an enthronement. Even if they were enthroned as barbarian kings or barbarian generals, they were still barbarians and could not be compared with the Han kings at all.

"In fact, when I came here, I passed by Jingzhao and met a county official named Bumi, who was a Qiang man and was appointed by the current Taiwei... After all, Ba County is different from Jingzhao."

After all, the chiefs were not as well-informed as the scholars, and few of them knew that Liangzhou and Sanfu had lifted the restrictions on Qiang, Di and Xiongnu serving as Han officials.

Even if they know it, few people associate it with themselves.

The chiefs who can come here are not stupid. Who doesn't know that being an official of the Han family is more attractive? Even if they can't be chiefs, they still have sons, nephews and nieces!
They quickly asked Xun You about it.

Xun You began to have some doubts upon seeing this - Huan Dian had once given lectures in Yingchuan, and Xun You had also heard of his fame. It stands to reason that for such a person, one should not ignore the advantages of lifting this restriction.

It should be noted that after Liangzhou and Sanfu successively lifted this restriction, Cao Cao, who was then the General of the Central Army to the Xiongnu, quickly conveyed the Xiongnu's request for equal treatment and obtained the emperor's consent. Huan Dian should not have been unaware of this.

While thinking, Xun You saw that Du Fu did not ask any more questions, but was thinking about something. He suddenly thought and asked, "Does Mr. Du seem to know the reason?"

Du Fu was not flustered when his name was called, and answered truthfully: "My Lord, I have indeed heard from the merchants that many of the Qiang and Hu tribes who participated in the military farming became county officials."

When the chiefs heard the word "military farming", they suddenly lost their enthusiasm.

Although Xun You was somewhat puzzled, he had never thought of solving all the problems once and for all, so he was not discouraged.

Soon Xun You changed the subject by asking about the food and grain available to the local barbarians.

When it got a little dark, Xun You invited all the chiefs to join him for a banquet before seeing them off.

After the chiefs left, Xun You remembered the iron-eating beast that Du Fu had given him. He returned to the previous yard, but found that the iron-eating beast was gone, so he asked the servants around him.

The servant replied, "The chieftain named Du Fu left behind an attendant who said he could instruct us in feeding the iron-eating beasts. He would deliver bamboos for the beasts to eat every five or six days."

Xun You smiled. Du Fu was a smart man. He did not take the opportunity to arrange personnel in the county governor's office, but left a way for private contact.

The next day, before Xun You went to see Du Fu, the latter had already come to visit again under the pretext of "feeding the iron-eating beast". Before they had even talked about the iron-eating beast for a few words, Du Fu praised him, saying, "When I came here today, I saw that the news of the governor's punishment of the criminals yesterday had spread throughout Jiangzhou, and the people were all excited."

Xun You knew that Du Fu must have a purpose for coming here, so he just waited and saw what would happen.

So he replied, "This is the job of the governor, why should I praise it?"

Du Fu sighed and said, "I only regret that I didn't meet you earlier!"

"It's not too late now, is it?"

"Your Excellency is right! It's not too late to do it now!" Du Fu gritted his teeth and asked, "May I ask your Excellency whether you are wondering why the chiefs of various tribes were so secretive about the military farming yesterday?"

In fact, Xun You had already vaguely understood something last night based on what he knew about the living conditions of the barbarians in Ba County.

However, since Du Fu was willing to help him solve his doubts, he was happy to confirm each other.

Then he said to Du Fu: "I am indeed confused, I hope Mr. Du can teach me."

Du Fu said: "Your Excellency does not know, it is because in the minds of all the chiefs, being a Han official is slightly inferior to the position of chief."

The barbarians in Bashu had a hard time surviving, but they benefited from the good natural environment and the long-term coexistence and integration with the Han people. Unless there were too many natural and man-made disasters, the barbarians would always be able to survive. And most importantly, although there were many barbarian tribes in Yizhou, their territory had remained basically stable for so many years, and there was no interference from foreign enemies.

Under such circumstances, the barbarian chiefs of Bashu lived a much more comfortable life than the Qiang and Xiongnu tribal chiefs in Liangzhou and Bingzhou.

Xun You had also thought about this last night. Seeing that Du Fu's words were consistent with his thoughts, he asked again: "So in your mind, which of the two is more important?"

"Your Excellency may not know that I have been reading the books of sages since I was young, but due to my status, I cannot enter the government!"

Du Fu was confident that as a Han official he would achieve greater things than as a chieftain of the Qiang people.

Moreover, he saw clearly that the current choice would be more beneficial to the future of the Qiang people.

"So, are you willing to lead your people to open up wasteland and cultivate land?"

"Of course I am willing." Du Fu blurted out, then looked embarrassed, "But although I have a slight hope, I still need to take my time to convince the tribesmen."

Xun You said: "There is no rush. Winter is approaching, and even if we want to start farming, it will be next year."

“When the seeds, farm tools, grains to eat when the rice is ripe, and experienced farmers who can teach you how to farm… we can start only when everything is ready.”

When Du Fu heard Xun You's promise, it was exactly what he had been longing for.

He immediately assured, "Don't worry, Lord. As long as all these are prepared, I will be able to convince the tribesmen... Not only me, but also the other tribes in Dangqu County. It may be possible to convince them!"

"That's great!" Xun You praised.

After thinking for a while, he promised: "Next year when the military farm begins, I will write a letter to ask for Du Jun to be an official!"

"Thank you, Mr. Fu!"

(End of this chapter)