The next afternoon, a group of Qiang chieftains who hurried from Luomen to Shanggui, under the deliberate guidance of Lu Xun, passed through the central cavalry camp west of Shanggui.
Lu Xun led fifty elite cavalrymen and sandwiched these chiefs in the middle of the cavalry, looking at them one by one.
Walls, trenches, chevaux de frise, tents, watchtowers, fences...
There were also elite infantry and cavalry with neat military appearances, practicing battle formations, which made these Qiang bumpkins from Liangzhou open their eyes wide.
Although they were all jaw-dropping, different chiefs had different psychological reactions.
For dull people like Qiu Ling and Shumuhe, what they could naturally feel was the strength and power of the Wei army.
The Qiang people were poor, and many of their knights didn't even have leather armor. How could they fight against these elite cavalrymen in iron armor? Since they couldn't win anyway, they just had to obey their orders!
But there are still some Qiang people who understand the situation.
Zhi Wudai, 35 years old and a chieftain of the Dangjian Qiang tribe, is a rare sensible person among the Qiang people.
When Jian Qiang lived in Anyi County and Zhi Wudai was over 20 years old and had just taken over the tribe, he invited a Han Confucian scholar from Anyi County to enlighten him.
Like ordinary Qiang people, Zhi Wudai's absolute IQ was not particularly high, and he could never understand much of the knowledge the teacher taught him.
The more Zhi Wudai didn't understand, the more he admired the master's knowledge from the bottom of his heart, and he became more and more in awe of the Han people and the imperial court.
When Lu Xun came all the way from Liangzhou to aid Longyou, Zhi Wudai was almost the first wave to respond, as he had just set out from Xiping County in Liangzhou.
The Dangjian Qiang tribe has a history of hundreds of years and is considered to be quite famous among the Qiang people in Liangzhou. With Zhi Wudai taking the lead and being the first tribe to join the group, Lu Xun's work was able to proceed so smoothly.
Now that he had seen the Wei army at such close range, Zhi Wudai could no longer resist the desire to serve the Wei army.
If I could serve the Great Wei, wouldn't it be a hundred times better than being a chieftain in a remote place like Xiping County?
In fact, this is how the assimilation of civilizations works. The culture and power of the central dynasty are two sides of the same coin. How can these uncultured people in the border areas not remain in awe of the court after they have initially learned the knowledge of the Han people?
Not to mention the emperor!
After Lu Xun took this group of Qiang chieftains to appreciate the military appearance, he commanded them to come into the city to kowtow and greet the emperor.
It was indeed a kneeling salute.
These Qiang chieftains only glanced at the Emperor of Wei after entering the door. Under Lu Xun's repeated instructions, no one dared to look up and make eye contact with the emperor.
Didn’t you see Captain Lu was kneeling in front of you?
Today, Cao Rui came to accept the worship of the Qiang chieftain, and did not do any extra drama such as personally greeting them or asking about folk customs.
Instead, he dressed the emperor's robes and crown in a proper manner and accepted the Qiang people's worship. He simply raised his hand. Sima Yi asked all the questions and awarded rewards throughout the whole process, and he sat high like a statue in the temple.
In just half an incense stick of time, these Qiang people were led out by Lu Xun.
At this moment, the Qiang people who were walking towards the military camp outside the city were all whispering.
"Did you see the emperor clearly just now?" asked Qiu Ling, the oldest one. "I didn't see him clearly just now, but I felt that he was extremely majestic, like a god!"
Shumuhe replied: "Isn't the emperor the Son of Heaven, and isn't the Son of Heaven a god? I have never seen a real god, but today I have seen a real Son of Heaven!"
While the Qiang people were discussing, Zhi Wudai followed silently behind them.
The emperor, this is the emperor! The emperor mentioned in the book, I finally saw him today! My heart was pounding in my chest, and my face flushed.
As the commander of the Qiang Guard, Lu Xun did not arrange for these Qiang chieftains to live in the city. Instead, he asked for several spacious tents in Wen Qin's camp to temporarily house these people.
After entering the tent, Qiu Ling was pushed to the front by everyone, looked at Lu Xun and said:
"Captain Lu," Qiu Ling asked with a forced smile, "Thank you Captain Lu for bringing us to pay homage to His Majesty and receiving His Majesty's reward! I never dreamed of such a thing."
"Captain Lu originally said he would lead us to attack Wudu and Yinping, but now we have been in Luomentun for several days. How should we fight next?"
Lu Xun waved his hand to signal everyone to sit down, then stood in the tent with his hands on his waist and said in a deep voice: "We must fight Wudu and Yinping."
"You have already paid homage to His Majesty today. His Majesty is mindful of the difficulty of the Qiang people living in the remote area of Liangzhou. With the grace of His Majesty, He is willing to treat you Qiang people as equals to the Han people and accept you as citizens of the Great Wei."
Everyone was silent for a few moments, and then they started to discuss loudly. After a while, they chose Qiu Ling, the oldest person, to come out and ask questions.
"Report to Captain Lu," Qiu Ling knew that he was now in the Great Wei military camp, and did not dare to express his opposition directly, but tentatively and politely asked: "If Your Majesty accepts the Qiang people as equals to the Han people, then what does the court have to say about us, the lords of the tribe?"
"Yes, Captain Lu, do you have any explanation?"
"What did your majesty say?"
"Are you going to take all of us away?"
People kept asking questions in the chaos, and Lu Xun patiently explained: "Do you know what the position of a Sima is? The elite Wei soldiers you just saw, a Sima can lead a thousand soldiers!"
"Do you know what title Tinghou is?"
After Lu Xun said this, all the Qiang chieftains nodded.
The Qiang people were just a little poorer and more remote, but they were under the rule of the Wei Dynasty, and these chieftains knew a lot about official positions and titles. Not to mention Han Sui and Han Wenyue, who once dominated Yongliang, were never given a title of marquis by the court! The opposite Captain Lu, the governor of Wuwei, Xiahou, did not have the title of Tinghou!
Xiahou Yuan, who was once a powerful figure in Guanyou, was nothing more than a Marquis of Bochangting!
Qiu Ling swallowed his saliva and said, "The rank of Qianshi Sima is higher than that of a county magistrate, and the Marquis of Ting is a great figure that we have never seen before. I wonder what Captain Lu means?"
"Please speak frankly, Captain Lu!"
The Qiang chieftains in the tent also urged him on.
Lu Xun paused for a few moments, then slowly stated the previously discussed policy towards the Qiang people, and the last sentence he said: "If you are willing to supervise the people of the tribe to cultivate the land, you can be appointed as a Sima of 1,000 stones. If you do not want to serve in Longyou, you can be granted the title of Tinghou and go to Luoyang to serve as an official at the feet of the emperor, and enjoy wealth and honor in Luoyang!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the breathing of the Qiang people present began to quicken.
The Qiang people are different from the Xiongnu and Xianbei people to the north of Youzhou and Bingzhou.
The Xiongnu Chanyu and the Xianbei leaders were used to bullying their own people. If you give them a proper official position or title, they would most likely still be willing to eat sand on the northern grasslands.
But the Qiang tribe is not as centralized as the Xiongnu and Xianbei. After all, almost all of these people in their tribe can't enjoy any wealth!
After decades of chaos, even the Central Plains was short of supplies, let alone Yongliang. So how could the Qiang people living in the mountain valleys of Yongliang catch up with the Han people in Yongliang?
With the title of Marquis of Ting, I can "buy" their tribe. This deal is a sure win!
Zhi Wudai was the first to jump out: "Captain Lu, I am willing to be an official and a Sima of Thousand Stones! I hope Captain Lu will allow me to serve the Great Wei!"
Lu Xun nodded solemnly: "Zhi Wudai, you are so knowledgeable. I will report your name to His Majesty."
Zhi Wudai showed a delighted look on his face and repeatedly bowed: "Thank you Captain Lu, thank you Captain Lu! I would like to follow Captain Lu and serve as an official together!"
Lu Xun sneered in his heart, and continued to ask without changing his expression: "What about the rest of you? What do you think?"
"Today, there are more than 20 of you. I have limited places, so I will only take 10 today. Zhi Wudai has already said that there are still 9 people left."
"If you wish to naturalize as a member of the Wei clan, please stand on my left hand side now."
"I would like to remind you again that the imperial court intends to relocate the naturalized Qiang people to Ji County and Shanggui area."
Ji County? Shanggui?
Although both are in Yongliang, Longyou is much better than the land along the Huangshui River!
These Qiang chieftains all came from Luomen to the east, passing through Jixian, Xinyang, and Shanggui. The Qiang people were not allowed to farm in the Huangshui Valley before, but now they can come to the Weishui Valley to farm?
One after another, the Qiang chieftains stood up and stood beside Lu Xun. When there were nine people standing beside him, Lu Xun stretched out his hand to stop the people behind him.
Among these nine people, only three younger chieftains were willing to be Sima Qianshi. The remaining six older ones all wanted to enjoy themselves in Luoyang and retire with the title of Tinghou granted by the court!
Liangzhou was remote and cold, and these chieftains followed Han Sui and Ma Chao in the rebellion. When could they be granted the title of marquis? Han Sui himself was not granted the title of marquis!
Now that Your Majesty is so benevolent, why don't you seize the opportunity?
What do you mean it's hard to leave your hometown? Whoever wants to farm in Liangzhou can continue to do so!
"Qiu Ling, why do you want a title instead of an official position?" Lu Xun looked at Qiu Ling and asked directly.
Qiu Ling was not shy, his eyes were full of desire for titles and wealth, and he answered very straightforwardly: "Captain Lu, I want to go to Luoyang! I want to be a marquis!"
"Please allow me to bring my family to Luoyang with me, Captain Lu."
Lu Xun laughed: "That's natural."
All the Qiang chieftains who were elected were satisfied, but those who were not elected started to make trouble in their tents.
"Captain Lu, why did you only take ten people? We are willing to serve the Wei Dynasty! Why don't you let us naturalize as well?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Yes, Captain Lu, and us!"
Lu Xun looked at these enthusiastic Qiang people and recalled the scene when he was struggling to attack the Shanyue in Yangzhou. The difference was so great that he actually felt a little emotional.
Lu Xun quickly signaled everyone to be quiet: "Those who are not selected this time can also join the Wei army to fight together!"
"In addition to Jixian and Shanggui, there are also Qishan and Lucheng that we can choose in the future! There are hundreds of miles of river valleys along the West Han River, all of which can be cultivated into fertile fields!"
After some persuasion, the Qiang people were finally pacified.
But after Lu Xun left, the Qiang people in the tent were divided into two distinct groups. One group was jealous of the other.
The selected Qiang people called each other Sima or Houye, which was quite lively for a while. (End of this chapter)
