Reclaiming Wasteland: Carefree Mountain Farmer

Chapter 109 Naturalization 1
Beijiwu returned to the vicinity of Mashi, which was still outside the city and the area where the Borjigin army had previously stayed.

Spoils of war, including prisoners of war, are being driven in continuously.

Beijiwu stopped on a hill and shouted down, "Go and bring the prisoners over, and call a few merchants from the city to act as translators."

"Yes, sir!" The soldier quickly went to carry out the task.

Beijiwu dismounted and stood, contemplating how to make himself more comfortable.

My territory is already quite large; there's no need to expand further, or I'll be exhausted. Historically, many people have died on the road while fighting in the north and south.

"My body isn't made of iron either. If I keep pushing myself like this, I'll definitely die young."

[A village chief's sphere of influence of over 500 li is already quite large. It was already quite good when it only consisted of Beiyuan County. Even being a village chief at the beginning was quite good. I could attack whomever I wanted, and I could supervise any family in the village if anything happened.]

Arctic Martial Arts University hates the current situation; their territory is too big to manage.

Especially since he was always running around like a firefighter, he only thought about living a comfortable life and never thought about rebelling, nor did he think about working himself to death and devoting himself to the cause.

In the past, when I worked in the fields, I would only be tired for a few days. Most of the time, as long as I didn't think about making money, I wouldn't feel so tired.

Wang Xiang, Xue Chonghu, and the others stood quietly to one side. This time, the Mongols were still as difficult to fight as ever. If it weren't for the Arctic Martial Arts team breaking the enemy's morale, the others wouldn't have been able to penetrate deep into the enemy lines so easily.

A dozen minutes later, Yelü Baocai, Yelü Poluo, and other merchants, including Qiao Guozhong, arrived as ordered.

The soldier said respectfully, "Chief, the merchant has arrived."

Beijiwu glanced around, lingered on Yelü Boluo's face for a couple more seconds, and then quickly looked into the distance.

The leader is being held captive by the soldiers.

Can you understand me?

Borjigin was forced to kneel on the ground, facing the man who had stormed into his tent and captured him.

"Yes, what do you plan to do with me and my men?"

Borjigin, whose skills were inferior to others, admitted his defeat and wanted to know the fate of himself and his companions.

Beijiwu said directly, "I've been busy farming lately and don't have time to guard you. Fortunately, the horse market is still open. Some of the prisoners can be given to my men to work, some can be sold to these businessmen, and some can be kept locked up for now. We'll talk about them again in two months when I have more time."

Borjigin could sense that what Arctic Warrior said was true; this casual handling didn't seem like a lie at all, and the man in front of him had no reason to lie.

“I beg for the ransom of my men. If you are willing to believe me, I am willing to go back to the tribe with cattle, sheep, camels, and the remaining horses in exchange for the men of the tribe.”

Arctic Warrior asked, "How many people are in your tribe?"

Borjigin knelt down and said, “I am Batuda, the leader of the Tumed tribe, from the Borjigin family. My tribe has 150,000 people. If you release me, the Tumed tribe is willing to submit to you and become an vassal of the Mountain Farmers, and fight for you to conquer the world.”

Arctic Martial frowned. "I can't be bothered with you people, and I don't need any warriors. If you're willing to bring your men here to do some work for me, like leveling the land, I can provide you with food for a few days."

“I will send someone to inform the emperor that he should be interested in you people and will spend money to buy you.”

“If he doesn’t need you, I won’t kill you. You can contact your families to come and redeem yourselves. Two sheep will do for one person, or cattle, horses, and camels will also work. Alternatively, you can migrate to a place a hundred miles away and become my slaves, herding horses and sheep for me.”

Borjigin immediately said, "We are willing to become your mountain farmers' slaves. I hope to become a commander of ten thousand and maintain my original position like those slaves who surrendered to you."

News of the Shan Nong tribe has spread to places like Yunzhong and Dingxiang. Now, Shan Nong County occupies most of the area of ​​Dai County and Dingxiang County, and has forcibly seized a piece of uncontrolled territory.

Typically, several controlled cities would be established in such strategic locations, but the Arctic Warriors didn't need that; it was practically like granting fiefdoms to local lords. It wasn't just the Arctic Warriors who wanted to be local tyrants; the Borjigin before them also aspired to be a comfortable local tyrant.

If you can't beat them, join them. The Mongols, who were always fighting each other, were much more adaptable than the Han Chinese.

Whether they were Xianbei, Turks, Mongols, or Khitans, they were all people who wore braids.

But not having a braid is no big deal; Borjigin was willing to cut his hair and become a mountain farmer.

The Northern Army had no shortage of non-Han people under its command, as the region was a mixed-race area with a fusion of multiple ethnic groups.

"If you lose a battle, you should have the awareness of a loser. Send a few people back and have your families drive cattle and sheep to ransom them. Gold, silver, jewelry, girls and young girls are all acceptable. One girl can be exchanged for two men, one adult woman for three, or grain equivalent to the weight of three men is also acceptable."

“I will allow your family members to come in and trade as normal merchants, but those who cause trouble will be executed.”

"As for you, you can't just eat and not work. You all need to be obedient and do some farm work. After working for six months, you can redeem yourselves and go home."

“I will not separate you now, nor will I sell you out, but if you still cause trouble, I will not be so polite.”

Borjigin wanted to become a slave and surrender, but the Northern Army did not want to take him in.

The grasslands are a hundred times larger than Shannong County, so Beijiwu really has no interest in attacking the grasslands.

Expanding territory a hundredfold would only cause trouble for Arctic militants, offering no benefits whatsoever.

Farming is the highest requirement that Arctic Army demands of its subordinates; everyone should develop steadily and peacefully, instead of causing trouble all the time.

Borjigin shouted, "I have heard that the mountain farmers do not kill prisoners!"

Beijiwu laughed and said, "Where is there a place that doesn't kill prisoners? Han people and Hu people are all killed, and the mountain farmers are probably the same. But as long as they don't cause trouble and work honestly, the mountain farmers will provide them with food and lodging."

This reassured many people, as it meant that prisoners would not be killed indiscriminately, nor would they be buried alive or eaten.

The moral standards of the mountain farmers are absolutely advanced for this era.

Beijiwu wanted to go back to rest, so he stood up and said casually, "I've wasted too much time. I still have things to take care of. Those of you who know how to farm, go farm. Those of you who don't speak Chinese, go herd sheep and horses. In short, don't harm my people, and don't interfere with the work and business of others."

"You will be in charge of these matters. I grant you permission to lead a thousand men, armed with weapons and a thousand warhorses, to transport food and drink to the rest of the people. In short, since you are the leader, find a barren hillside in the county to graze your horses. If there is any trouble, I will rest in the city for a while. I will advise you to commit suicide so that I won't take my anger out on your families after I kill you."

Arctic Martial Arts School told them to mind their own business, and to kill anyone who caused trouble.

As for whether they might kill some civilians before they die, that's not a matter for Arctic military control.

Beijiwu wasn't that responsible; he went back to the General's Mansion, found a place to lie down and catch up on sleep.

He killed his subordinates who rebelled, and there were hardly any rebellions in the past six months.

Instead, spending time and brain cells to devise a system that wouldn't lead to rebellion would be far too difficult for someone as not very bright as Arctic Wu.

There is no system that prevents rebellion and corruption.

Life will be very simple if you don't think about making a good living for your children and grandchildren.

The Arctic warriors lead a simple life; they don't want to fight or expand.

(End of this chapter)