novelAbuy Chapter 195 Integration of Han and Hu peoples
Chapter 195 Integration of Han and Hu peoples
The flourishing of culture and education not only swept through the county schools and villages of the north, but also quietly melted the ethnic barriers that had once been considered insurmountable obstacles between the Great Wall and the surrounding areas. Chen Xing's national policy of "unity of Han and non-Han peoples, and joint adherence to the king's rule" began to bear fruit beyond many people's expectations, thanks to the various concrete measures implemented in the first year of Wuxing.
Pang De's "Hu Yi Cong" has become an indispensable force in the Xing Kingdom's northern frontier military power. These warriors, from different grassland tribes—some surrendered after defeat, others sought refuge—have gradually shed their initial disorganization and suspicion under Pang De's fair, strict, and knowledgeable leadership. They train alongside the Xing army's main cavalry, learning unified flag and drum commands and tactical coordination, enjoying rations and benefits roughly equivalent to Han soldiers. While discipline is strict, rewards and punishments are clearly defined. In several operations against small groups of bandits and Snow Wolf tribe cavalry harassing the northern frontier, the Hu Yi Cong's bravery, endurance, and familiarity with the grassland terrain have earned them numerous victories and the respect of their Xing army comrades.
What impressed many Han generals even more was that Pang De did not merely treat the Hu soldiers as expendable troops for battle. Based on their military merits and abilities, he successively promoted several brave and loyal Hu centurions, and even Ashina Guli, a chiliarch who was extremely valiant in combat and had a basic understanding of Chinese, into the ranks of mid-level officers. These Hu officers participated in military councils alongside Han officers. Although occasional friction arose due to language and cultural differences, with Pang De's mediation and Chen Xing's explicit support, a new military order based on merit and ability was taking shape. Seeing their own people gaining official positions and power, the Hu soldiers' sense of belonging and cohesion naturally increased significantly.
In rural areas, the boundaries between the Han and non-Han peoples were blurring at a visible pace. With the implementation of the Equal-Field System, some of the non-Han tribes who chose to settle or semi-settle were also included in the land allocation system. Although their "fields" might have been mostly pasture suitable for grazing, the government recognized their right to use them and registered them, which gave them an unprecedented sense of security. In several pilot counties near the border, the government even encouraged intermarriage between the Han and non-Han peoples.
Initially, there was considerable resistance. The Han people viewed the Hu people as "raw and uncultured," while the Hu people worried that their daughters would be mistreated after marriage, or that their sons would be "Sinicized" and forget their ancestors. To address this, Chen Xing specifically ordered that all those who intermarried with Hu people would receive a "settlement allowance" and additional livestock and cloth as gifts, along with tax reductions. More importantly, through Hu generals like Pang De, he conveyed a clear message to the Hu tribal leaders: intermarriage was a crucial way to strengthen ties and ensure the long-term interests of the tribes; the royal family welcomed it and would give priority to intermarried tribes in border trade and disaster relief.
With both profit-driven incentives and policy guidance working in tandem, the effects are gradually becoming apparent. At border markets, one can now see men from non-Han ethnic groups haggling with Han merchants in broken Mandarin, and Han women dressed in modified non-Han clothing selecting goods alongside non-Han women. Some bold young people, meeting through shared labor or trade, marry with the unspoken encouragement of their families and the tacit support of the government. Although such families are still a minority, and inevitably face strange looks from neighbors and criticism from within their own ethnic groups, their influence is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that are spreading outwards.
The bilingual classes and border affairs departments established in the Imperial Academy of the capital and the official schools of border counties became another important platform for the integration of Han and non-Han cultures. Some enlightened non-Han leaders sent their sons and even daughters to study there. These non-Han children often found the strict classroom discipline and Chinese characters daunting at first, but they soon discovered that learning Chinese not only allowed them to communicate with more Han people, but also enabled them to understand official documents, participate in border market accounting, and even have the opportunity to work in the government, achieving a status far exceeding that of their fathers. Meanwhile, Han students, in the process of learning the non-Han language and understanding the customs of the grasslands, gradually broke down their stereotypes about "non-Han peoples," and some even developed a strong interest in the nomadic culture of the grasslands, forging friendships with their non-Han classmates.
The subtle influence of culture can sometimes be more profound than policies and laws. A young Hu (non-Han) captain under Pang De, named Yuwen Mogui, was selected for a short-term advanced study in border affairs at the Imperial Academy in the capital city due to his bravery in battle and diligence in learning Chinese. Upon graduation, he not only spoke fluent Chinese but could also write simple reports in it. Furthermore, in a strategic discussion on the defense of the northern frontier, he proposed a highly insightful plan combining Hu cavalry tactics with Han city defense concepts, combining scout reconnaissance with fortified chains, which was highly praised by his instructors. This news, when it reached the northern frontier, caused quite a stir among the Hu Yicong and other Hu tribes. It turned out that learning Han culture could indeed make one more "useful," gaining higher status and respect!
Of course, the road to integration is by no means smooth. Conflicts of interest, differences in customs, historical grievances, and even deviations or discrimination by individual officials in implementing policies can all trigger new conflicts. In border areas, Han people and non-Han people occasionally engage in armed clashes over disputes over water and pasture or trade; within some non-Han tribes, conservative forces have never ceased their concerns and accusations of the "Sinicization" of the younger generation; and within the Han population, there are always some scholars or commoners who hold deep-rooted feelings of superiority or wariness towards non-Han people.
Chen Xing and Jia Wen remained clear-headed about this. Integration is a long and complex process; it cannot be achieved overnight, much less forced. The key lies in establishing and maintaining a relatively fair set of rules, providing channels for upward mobility, and gradually changing mindsets through continuous propaganda and education. For specific conflicts, local officials are required to handle them impartially and in accordance with the law, without favoring either side, and major incidents must be reported promptly. The Supervisory Office also strengthened its oversight of border officials, strictly preventing them from exploiting ethnic conflicts for personal gain or from neglecting their duties.
It was late autumn, and Chen Xing, accompanied by Pang De, inspected the northern frontier. They ascended a newly built border fort. Outside the fort stretched an endless grassland, now tinged with gold and withered brown, the autumn wind rippling through it. Inside the fort, soldiers were drilling, including both Han soldiers and non-Han troops, their commands ringing out in perfect unison. Below the fort walls, in newly cultivated fields, millet had been harvested, a supplement to the garrison's own rations. Further away, the felt tents of the non-Han people and herds of cattle and sheep could be faintly seen, peacefully scattered under the autumn sun.
"General Pang, look," Chen Xing said, pointing to the seamless integration of the fortress's interior and exterior, "A few years ago, this place was still engulfed in war, with the Han and Hu people regarding each other as enemies. Now, while we can't say we're as close as family, at least we can live in peace under this sky, and even fight side by side against the enemy."
Pang De bowed and said, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's wisdom and appropriate policies. The Hu people are also human beings, and all they ask for is a peaceful life and the prosperity of their livestock. Your Majesty has given them a way to live, granted them land and pastures, and promised them fame and fortune, so they are naturally willing to submit. However... integration is not something that can be accomplished in a day, and old grudges cannot be easily forgotten."
"Yes," Chen Xing nodded, "so we must be patient, and even more so, resolute. Laws must be upheld fairly, opportunities must be given justly, and the rest can be left to time. Let our descendants live freely on a wider land, without distinction between Han and non-Han, recognizing only as 'citizens of Xing Kingdom'."