Within a hundred miles, although the army marched along both sides of the river against the current, it was almost like taking a stroll, and they soon arrived at Guangyuan Prefecture.

  As for the mountain people, they no longer used Western troops and guards in the back, and the Anfu Mansion randomly recruited thousands of soldiers to start a carpet-style search of the mountains.

  I reckon there aren't many young and strong people left in these mountains either.

  It is said that the first time Nong Zhigao recruited 5,000 tribesmen and in the battle of Gui Ren Pu, more than 3,000 were killed or captured. During this period, it was probably the case that the Nong people were the majority, while Zhao Zhen's mention of Annan's support was probably referring to their ability to escape being stronger than that of the Nong people.

  At this time, the stone city wall of Guangyuan Prefecture was densely packed with Nong soldiers, who were almost all the living forces of the entire Nong tribe.

  Isn't there anyone with a clear eye among these people? Are they all resigned to letting Nong Zhi Gao torment them like this?

  It's obvious that this is not an opponent of the same level, even Nong Zhigao understood it, otherwise he wouldn't have set fire to Yongzhou and escaped to Guangyuan.

  Can't you see other people's Tusi?

  "Scholar, can you govern others as you would govern yourself?"

  The camp has been set up, and there is little flat land in this area. The king's camp almost flattened a gentle slope of the mountain.

  Everyone gathered in the commander's tent, discussing how to attack the city... actually just listening to Di Qing speak.

  Anyway, they are a city, and it's made of stone. All the necessary siege engines are here, brought over on bamboo rafts.

  Dai Qing finished speaking, and Zhao Xi didn't mention attacking the city, but instead asked this one sentence.

  "Your Highness, our country's politics has always been ruled by people of humble origins."

  "Hmm... Scholar, Xi Fei did not mean that. What I said was referring to assimilating one or more Nong ethnic minority chieftains and making them enjoy the treatment of national officials."

  "For example, let them reside in the capital, wear official uniforms of the imperial court, and their sons and nephews enjoy the treatment of imperial subjects, can attend school, participate in imperial examinations, etc. This is not just giving them a title, but providing them with substantial benefits as officials of the imperial court."

  "While its responsibility is only to govern nong people, it is only governance rather than leadership, and even can delegate power to them, making them have the responsibility and power to enslave nong people."

  "For example, manganese mining labor can be divided into teams of ten people, with one person in charge of each team. Ten teams are then managed by a higher-level manager, and so on, forming a hierarchical structure among the laborers. In addition to managing the various levels of managers, officials from Guangnan also need to be close to the people and show kindness to the laborers."

  "In this way, the contradictions will be concentrated among the Nung people, while the Guangnan officials are on the sidelines, only participating in mediation. As time goes on, the Nung people will no longer have hatred towards the national dynasty, but instead internal contradictions within the Nung people will continue to arise, and it will no longer be possible for a single call from Nung Trí Cao to rally hundreds of responses."

  Fortresses are always destroyed from within. Even now, with public sentiment stirred up and vowing to fight a decisive battle against the imperial army, there will be no exception.

  There is a saying in later generations: there is no such thing as loyalty, only that the chips for betrayal are not enough.

  It is said that your intelligence surpasses that of the imperial court, and you have intentions to rely on Annan. To put it bluntly, you want to use the power of your entire clan to demand an official position, or at least a nominal one.

  Nowadays, the blank certificates of the Guangnan Anfu Mansion are discarded, and it is still acceptable to live in Yongzhou, a big city, where children can be equal to the children of the imperial court.

  Zhao Xi thinks that there are hardly any fools who would continue to accompany Nong Zhi Gao in seeking death.

  In this era, the surrounding countries still envy being a Great Song person, but the court officials also take themselves too seriously and look down on these barbarians and mountain people.

  "Your Highness, what is your occupation?"

  Yu Jing's question represents the entire national consciousness.

  Zhao Xi found it hard to understand that as human beings and in the name of one country, there were so many differences, even colleagues were not ashamed of it.

  "Bachelors, humans have the characteristic of living in groups. As long as they live in groups, leaders and followers will naturally emerge. Along the way, you all saw the manganese mining area."

  "After the bandits were pacified, most of the royal troops returned to the northwest. Once the manganese mine was launched, it would inevitably form a settlement around it, and eventually a city, with many of its inhabitants being the Yu people."

  "Even if it's a laborious task, over time, natural leaders will emerge. If they are allowed to grow on their own and oppose each other, why not let the state appoint them? Grant them official positions, confer upon them authority, give them benefits, and hold them responsible for governance."

  "Even if it's a bit harsh to say, livestock that work hard also need to be fed properly, don't they?"

  It's been said clearly, if you still can't understand, Zhao Xi won't waste his breath anymore.

  Concepts need to change, purely changing is too difficult, under the drive of interests, as long as it's human, should inevitably try to accept.

  Yu Jing is not a rigid person, and everyone also likes money... On the surface, it's not like that, but there are people with bad reputations.

  Others may not say it, but Di Qing heard this and already felt that this battle was unnecessary.

  The Crown Prince's move will surely stir up the entire Nong tribe and make it impossible for Guangyuan Prefecture to survive for long, even if they don't fight.

  "Di Shuai, the war must be fought! Not only fight, but also fight to that extent of being step by step compelling."

  "It is only in the desperate state of mind that one road appears bright. The siege, pressure and step-by-step oppression put the entire Guangyuan City on the brink of death at all times."

  "When that time comes, the royal teacher will again extend his hand to show kindness to different people... Only in such circumstances can the naturalized person be made to serve the country with all their heart and soul."

  Zhao Xi said so casually, just like chatting.

  But these words fell on different people's ears, and the reactions were vastly different.

  Yu Jing knew that the Crown Prince was not a good person from the way he killed those who abandoned the city and escaped, and he had many evil intentions.

  These days with the Crown Prince, he almost forgot... The Crown Prince's handling of affairs is also considered open and honest, treating those who abandoned the city and escaped as unavoidable.

  Now it seems... everything is clear and aboveboard, all the procedures have been made public, what makes Yu Jing fearful is that with the crown prince's methods, it seems no one can refuse.

  With a single stroke of the brush, he brought human nature to life in a way that was both divine and mesmerizing! This bodes well for the imperial court... but I, Yu Jing, deeply worry about those people in the palace... Accompanying such an emperor is a blessing!

  Actually, this is not something new. Strictly speaking, from ancient times to the present, emperors and generals have used it many times. It's just that the scholars of the imperial court took identity issues too seriously, and their deeply ingrained barbarian mentality hindered the extension of their thinking.

  Everyone does things within their own scope of responsibility, and for His Highness's words to be implemented, a lot more work still needs to be done.

  For example, the Anfu Si government office needs to find people familiar with the Nong ethnic minority chieftain, from captives to merchants, one by one contact.

  For example, Di Qing needs to make the attack on Guangyuan City a step-by-step tightening situation.

  Zhao Xi also arrived at the forefront of the siege, he needed to test the bamboo-made hand grenades made during this period.

  This thing needs to determine the ignition time of the fuse line, so as to decide when to throw it out and its relationship with distance.

  The forced battle of attacking Guangyuan City is the most suitable time for a trial.