The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 498: What era is this? Do you still want to be the next Japanese country?
Although the city of Pegu was captured, the story of Pegu was not over yet.

For Lower Burma, which can also be considered a mandala system, in addition to Wu Wen himself, there are still many small and medium-sized local nobles who followed him in rebellion, and these people are also targets to be suppressed.

It is neither too big nor too small, just right for setting an example. It is really appropriate.

At the end of June, after consulting with the retired emperor of Ha Tien, Mo Tianci, Chen Lian ordered the execution of the entire family of Pegu Hou Wu Wen outside the city of Pegu.

Executed along with them were more than seventy minor noble families of Pegu, totaling more than a thousand men. The beheading alone took two days.

In the entire city of Pegu, almost everyone became the spoils of the Indian expeditionary force.

The officers were under the supervision of the Jinyiwei Southern Pacification Division Captain, the Five Military Commandery Military Law Assistant, the Military Law Pacification and other supervisory officials.

These spoils were sold to managers of all sizes who came from all over Southeast Asia on sailboats.

The event went very smoothly, and the more than 30,000 people were sold out in less than five days. There were even some people who got the news too late and came without buying anything, and kept sighing with regret.

Now in the whole of China, most companies are not engaged in coal mining or iron mining, nor in textiles, porcelain, lacquerware, etc., but in human trafficking.

Because it is low-cost, you can buy a boat and bring along 20 to 30 people from your clan and fellow villagers to set up a trading company.

Under the name of a certain ocean-going trading company, they were actually recruiting people to go to Southeast Asia.

Who says there is a shortage of people in Nanyang now?

This shortage of people is not entirely due to a lack of people to occupy territory. In fact, China has already occupied a lot of territory in Southeast Asia.

So the lack of people is about turning these randomly acquired lands into valuable lands.

Take Qin Da as an example. He had no shortage of land. Just after he retired from Pegu, he received military merits from the retired emperor Mo Tianci on behalf of the emperor.

In total, he was granted a farm, 60 mu of cultivated land, 700 mu of virgin land, and a large amount of flat land that could be developed into paddy fields.

The land area required for full development must be no less than two to three thousand acres, and there is also a small lake for fishing.

Faced with such a vast territory, he now only has two women and a Siamese slave family that he expected his brothers to rob for him to farm.

It was obvious that these few people would never be able to develop the land in their lifetime, so Qin Da urgently needed a few farmers with good agricultural skills to help him develop the land.

This requires the use of managers who are operating under the guise of foreign trade companies but are actually black intermediaries.

They would transport slaves from Burma to Java, slaves from Java to Siam, and slaves from Siam to Burma.

The original tribes of these slaves were broken up, and they were made to submit by various means, and finally trained into skilled serfs.

But this is only the lowest level of means, because these serfs are not easy to use.

The nobles of Siam and Burma have been doing this for thousands of years. If it was really useful, they would have risen long ago.

Facts have proven that using slaves for farming is really inefficient, costly, and always carries a risk factor.

Therefore, the farmers who are really useful are those from the mainland.

Although these people do not have the courage to go through the trials of blood and fire to grab land, they have absolutely no problem doing the work. As long as you negotiate a good price and good treatment, their efficiency in farming and reclaiming wasteland will be well-known.

However, the two provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and eastern Zhejiang, which currently have the largest number of people going to Southeast Asia, have a population of only more than 20 million, including a large number of military heroes of the Xin Dynasty and those who start businesses.

Excluding them, the number of people who actually go to Southeast Asia to farm has now decreased to only tens of thousands per year.

Even if you come down, there are still clans that will accept you. Who would let an outsider like you open up wasteland?

So at this time, it is the turn of these trading companies to become popular.

Because they had connections, they did not go to Fujian, Guangdong and eastern Zhejiang, but went to Huguang, Jiangxi, Anhui and even Shandong, tricking the local people into coming to Southeast Asia to reclaim wasteland.

They deceived the local people, making them owe a sum of money for the ship fare, and then gathered them together to be raised for a month or so in Southeast Asia. Three cents of food was not worth two cents in Southeast Asia, and they sold it at the same price as on the mainland.

At this time, they would also classify the people they had deceived into farming. The honest ones would be sold to retired soldiers and small vassals like Qin Da to farm, while the rebellious ones would be introduced to medium and large vassals to serve as samurai.

If there are still some people who don’t know how to farm, they can go to Jiaxi Prefecture and other places to dig for gold.

In this way, after screening, when the people adapted to the climate of Southeast Asia, they would owe them at least a dozen silver dollars, and at most twenty or thirty silver dollars, and then they would basically just double the price and sell them.

Of course, Dayu’s policy was that Han people should not be enslaved, so what was sold was not a body contract, but a work contract.

There really are loopholes in everything.

At first, Mo Zibu wanted to stop this situation, but later he found that he could not stop it. Even the emperor could not cut off such a huge source of wealth with his will alone.

The most important thing is that the interests of these black intermediaries are, to a certain extent, consistent with those of him, the emperor, and even the entire empire.

The imperial court did not have so many officials to complete the task of bringing people from provinces that had no tradition of going to Southeast Asia.

Even if there were, due to traditional distrust of the government, the people would never actively participate in any immigration activities organized by the government.

On the contrary, these guys who collude with local gangs, black clans, and black gentry are more likely to gain the approval of the people with their coaxing and deceptive words.

This can be regarded as a kind of helplessness of the times, so Mo Zibu finally turned a blind eye.

The only bottom line is that the natives obtained through war in Southeast Asia are slaves.

The farmers who were brought to Southeast Asia by the trading companies were called "zhuanghu". They were semi-free people who signed farming contracts. They could choose to renew or not when the contract expired. You had to pay them even a penny as wages and they were not allowed to deduct any wages.

Anyone who breaks this rule will definitely be in big trouble.

Hu Quan, who was crossing the mountain, was chatting with a Hakka black intermediary at this time, because if Qin Da wanted to reclaim all the land, he would need at least five Han farmers.

"It is because we are all Hakkas that I am telling you the truth, Brother Hu. We Chinese farmers really don't need to buy it.

Sixty or seventy silver dollars only transfer a five-year work contract, and you still have to pay him silver on this basis every year. The current market price is basically three silver dollars a year.

"Did you recruit this tenant, or are you his tenant?" This question stunned Hu Quan and Qin Da and Qin San who were listening.

Yes, in my hometown, not only do tenants have to pay rent every year, but they also have to look at the landlord’s mood.

How come in Southeast Asia, the master has to provide food and shelter but also pay money to the tenants? Is this fair?
"That's not the worst part. Some farm owners are completely unable to work and rely entirely on their farmers to take care of the farm. When the five-year period is up, they have to marry wives and concubines for the farmers to keep them. Some even have to sacrifice their daughters. That's the worst."

Damn it, Qin Daxin felt even more depressed. If that were the case, what would be the point of being a landlord?

However, Hu Quan was much smarter than them. He knew that these black agents rarely spoke the truth. He immediately narrowed his narrow eyes and said to his fellow black agent:
"You know we're going to Bangladesh, aren't you planning to take advantage of us?"

The black broker was startled and waved his hands rapidly, "Don't dare, don't dare, whoever dares to bring Indians here as farmers, if more than five people are reported, they will lose their heads!
The Jinyiwei Southern Pacification Division is keeping an eye on this matter day and night, so we dare not act recklessly."

Although this is what he said, everyone was a little confused about the emperor's stubbornness. Why did Emperor Guangzhong not allow the capture of Indians to farm in Southeast Asia?

According to them, India is slightly closer to Southeast Asia than the mainland, and is more adapted to the climate of Southeast Asia than many Chinese. At this time, India also has a large population, so they can easily capture millions.

I heard that these black Indians are hardworking and docile, so it would be great to introduce them to various parts of Southeast Asia, let them farm below, and let the Chinese enjoy themselves above.

Just a few years ago, the British starved millions of people to death in Bengal. What a waste!
However, since it was a strict order from the Emperor, they could only look at each other and swallow their saliva. Then the black intermediary changed the subject and explained:
"You all know Ye Gongxian, the lord of Kecheng, right?" After several people nodded, the black intermediary continued:
"This is a great hero of our Hakka people, holding two viscountships. His son, Ye Mingyue, recently formed a merchant shipping alliance in Ningbo Prefecture and recruited fifteen large ships that can carry more than a dozen sixteen-pound cannons."

The black intermediary said, gesturing with his arms, "There are also many other small boats, with two to three thousand people who can fight and kill. They say they are going to recapture Ryukyu and then go on to fight against the Japanese and Korea."

"Fuck!" Hu Quan suddenly yelled, leaving the brothers Qin Da and Qin San bewildered.

"This is really a way. Farmers from Korea and Japan can be brought here to farm, and women can serve as substitutes for Han women. Once a ship goes there and lands, it's no different from robbing gold and silver.

If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have come to Southeast Asia. I would have gone to Ningbo to join the Prince of Kecheng. This is a very profitable business!"

At this time, the Qin brothers finally understood why Hu Quan was cursing. It turned out that Indians were not allowed to rob, but people from Korea and Japan were allowed to rob!
The black intermediary chuckled and said, "Everyone, now you know, you are all heroes on the sea. After going to India and defeating the British, don't continue to work here. Let's get a boat together and join the prince of Kecheng.

As for this brother, I will try to find two honest Han farmers for you, and you can start planting the reclaimed land.

If you really want to develop all the land here, wait for us to bring you good goods from Korea and Japan. Only then, you can easily become a master!"

. . . .

The people below were discussing the future, and Chen Lian was also discussing the future.

In Wu Wen's original "palace", the Burmese King Meng Yun and a group of Konbaung Dynasty ministers were kneeling on the wooden floor.

Chen Lian sat in the main seat with his horse and sword, which made Meng Yun, who was sitting to his lower left, look like Chen Lian's subordinate.

"My purpose in coming here is very simple. Wu Wen has been executed, but the Siamese traitor Chu Zhi of Toungoo and the King of Arakan have not been punished.

King of Burma, as long as you help me to wipe out Chu Zhi and make the King of Arakan give up their pro-British stance, I will report your contribution directly to His Majesty the Emperor.

I think, without any surprises, you can successfully retake Toungoo City and obtain a considerable portion of the Arakan Kingdom's land as compensation for giving up Pegu and other places."

Hearing what Chen Lian said, Meng Yun and his group of Burmese ministers couldn't help but show joy on their faces.

After a brief discussion, Meng Yun's confidant, the Minister of State Duan Ting Dewen, came out and prostrated himself before Chen Lian, shouting, "Thank you, Lord."

"In addition, we will provide the food, fodder, auxiliary troops, and civilian labor to punish the traitor Chu Zhi and attack the Arakan Kingdom. Please do not refuse, Your Excellency. This is the best opportunity for us Burmese to show our loyalty to His Majesty the Great Emperor."

Meng Yun also adjusted the direction of his kneeling position at the side, then looked at Chen Lian and said, "My Lord, His Majesty once said that the Burmese originated from the Bailang Qiang, a branch of the Han people. I have always kept this in mind.

In the future, I will teach the people of Lower Myanmar well, so that they will understand the principle that Han and Burmese are one family."

Chen Lian laughed heartily, and his attitude finally softened. He stopped sitting on the awkward chair and knelt down like everyone else.

He smiled and said to the Burmese King Meng Yun: "It's good that the king thinks so. As long as Han and Burmese are one family, we can manage not only Southeast Asia, but also Bengal and the whole of India."

Immediately, both the host and the guests were in great joy. They finalized the plan to attack Chuzhi in Toungoo City while enjoying delicious food and wine.

However, when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, General Suki, who was about to take over as Marquis of Pegu, came to Chen Lian's study under the guidance of a dim light.

"My Lord, what do you think?" Chen Lian asked calmly.

General Su Ji raised his head and looked at Chen Lian's face. This Duke of Yi'an, the Army General, was not only the emperor's confidant, but also a third-generation Chinese born in Southeast Asia.

Therefore, he can be regarded as a Nanyang person like himself, and he is very familiar with the politics and customs here.

"Meng Yun hasn't given up yet, because he hasn't even mentioned going to Yingtian Prefecture to personally pay homage to the Emperor. This man will definitely be a problem in the future, and the Duke shouldn't be giving him so many benefits."

Ever since his youngest daughter Su gave birth to the third prince Ayu, and the whole family was given the surname Su, General Su Ji has completely stood on the side of China.

Oh no!
It should not be said that he stood on the side of China. General Suki considered himself Chinese and a subject of the Chinese Empire, so he expressed his thoughts very directly.

Chen Lian nodded in agreement. "That's right. If Meng Yun really wanted to submit, he should have taken the opportunity to ask to go to Yingtian Prefecture for an audience. Right now, he's just waiting and watching."

As he spoke, Chen Lian also sighed, "Three million people!

Among these large tribes of more than three million people in Southeast Asia, Annan was able to return to China, and Siam also implemented the unification of Tang and Siam.

The natives of Andai were divided into four groups and were defeated one by one by the imperial court. The natives of Nanji were also on the verge of extinction under the attack of the young men of Bagui.

Only the Burmese have not surrendered in their hearts.

This Burmese King Meng Yun is a talented person. I guess his ideal is not to be a minister of a great emperor like you and me, but to be the king of a great country like Korea or even Japan, which is close yet distant. "

"That's it!" Su Ji clapped his hands. "I've been thinking about it for a long time, but I just can't find a suitable description. Now I know, Meng Yun just wants to be the King of Japan."

Then, Su Ji was shocked and looked at Chen Lian in surprise, "So the Duke of the County gave such a huge benefit, just to see what the Burmese King Meng Yun would choose in the end?"

"That's right!" Chen Lian said in a deep voice, "Give him a lot of territory. If he wants to be the King of Japan, his ambition will be exposed sooner or later, which will give the court an excuse to attack him.

If he wanted to be a king like the Joseon Dynasty, he might still have a chance. Now it depends on his choice."

(End of this chapter)