Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4716 Tang People's Household Registration
The Western Arab Empire expanded wildly during this period, and foreign wars continued year after year. Its powerful navy and army advanced in tandem, treating everyone as an enemy, slaughtering and plundering crazily. Its tens of thousands of troops went on expeditions to the east and west without the need for logistics and supplies. They fought to support the war wherever they went, destroying everything that came within their reach.

It was like a wild animal swooping down from the top of a mountain and tearing everything to pieces.

However, the Tang Dynasty was different.

"A country of etiquette" sounds like a mockery, but this civilization, which has been based on agriculture for thousands of years, has always retained its simple and kind nature. If something is lacking, the first thing people think of is to create it with their own hands rather than stealing it from their neighbors. "Compassion for the world" is a tradition ingrained in their bones.

Even though the Tang Dynasty navy now roams the oceans with great force and the barbarians of foreign countries are as vulnerable as animals under its swords, the Tang Dynasty has never done such beastly things as massacring their people or occupying their countries. Even Japan, which suffered the most, only provoked a confrontation between the two major ethnic groups on its homeland and profited from it.

Thousands of years of being a "country of etiquette" made the Tang people know what "propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame" are, and understand that this is the essence that distinguishes humans from animals. It would be difficult for them to rely on force to plunder and slaughter wantonly. Everyone would feel resistance and think that it is the behavior of beasts.

After all, the Tang people understood what "right" and "wrong" meant. Even if they had to do something, at least they knew it was wrong, and they would repent and change for the better in the future.

Instead of taking plunder, massacre and bullying of the weak for granted.

The Tang army had no intention of forcibly occupying the land of Luzon, nor would it massacre the natives of Luzon for no reason. The reason they used excuses such as "purchase" and "lease" was just to be on the safe side, to make a note for the unknown situation in a few years, and to leave a "legitimate" pretext, that's all.

The Tang Dynasty has a vast territory, and is called Xia because of its great etiquette, and is called Hua because of its beautiful clothes. Who would be interested in the land of these barbarians?
What is needed are only products, which can be obtained through commercial means rather than brutal killing and plundering.

……

Soon, the chief of the "Ilo people" arrived panting. The middle of the night was the coolest time in Luzon, but the chief was sweating profusely. After entering the central army tent, he trembled, bowed carefully, and greeted in broken Chinese: "How are you, generals? I wonder why I summoned you here?"

As soon as he saw Lekum, a guy who was supposed to be sleeping peacefully in the city, appear here, he subconsciously felt that it would not be a good thing. He felt worried and frightened.

Xi Junmai smiled and said, "It was Chief Lekum who thought of a way to have the best of both worlds, so he invited you here to discuss it together to see if it is feasible. Don't worry, the Tang people have always valued mutual consent and honesty. The chief only needs to make a decision and there is no need to worry about the Tang people's revenge afterwards. There is no need for that at all."

He waved his hand and asked Lekum to personally tell the "strategy" he had proposed to the chief of the "Ilo people".

Lekum had no choice but to bite the bullet and elaborate on his strategy of offering himself to the Tang people...

The chief of the "Ilo people" was glaring with anger. If the Tang people had not been present, he would have wanted to bite Lekum into pieces and swallow him!
How can there be such a despicable and vicious person in the world? !

The "Ilo people" have been growing rice for their living for generations, and have gained great benefits in trade with the Tang people. They are showing a tendency to surpass the "Tagalogs", but now they have been framed by Lekum's vicious scheme and are in agony.

How will the Yiluo people survive after losing this piece of land suitable for growing rice?
As one gains, the other loses, and in a few years, the "Ilo people" will become slaves of the "Tagalogs"...

Xi Junmai and Yang Zhou watched the two men with interest, and feeling the angry gaze of the "Iluo" chief, they both laughed.

Even though the Tang army was invincible, it would take a long time to sail across the ocean to reach an island like Luzon. The climate, terrain, water and soil would restrict the combat effectiveness of the Tang army. If things went wrong, it would end up being a protracted guerrilla war, which would not be worth the cost.

Only when the local ethnic groups are hostile to each other can the Tang Dynasty get along with both sides and do business, farming and mining here peacefully, instead of consuming huge manpower and resources to fight these indigenous people.

The chief of the "Ilo people" was obviously not an impulsive and reckless person. Although he hated them to death in his heart, he knew that the first priority was how to respond to the Tang people, rather than settling accounts with the "Tagalogs".

The natives were not all stupid. The chief thought for a while and suddenly made an unexpected move. He prostrated himself at Xi Junmai's feet and said earnestly: "The Yiluo people have been farming for generations and yearn for Chinese civilization the most. We are willing to serve the Tang people with our entire clan. All the food we get from farming, except for enough food, will be donated to the Tang people free of charge. The Yiluo people have only one condition. We hope that the Tang Dynasty can give the loyal Yiluo people a chance to become Tang people."

The whole place was shocked.

Yang Zhou looked at the "Ilu" chief crawling on the ground in surprise. How dare a mere native of Luzon dream of becoming a Tang person?
However, if the "Yiluo people" can really grow rice for the Tang Dynasty in Luzon, it is not impossible to register them as Tang Dynasty residents...

Xi Junmai stroked the stubble on his chin, pondering in silence, apparently wondering whether it was feasible.

After being shocked and stunned, Lekum immediately came to his senses and shouted, "Asshole! The Great Tang Dynasty is the center of the world, a splendid country, how can we, the barbaric barbarians, covet it?"

He was really scared. If the Tang people really accepted that the "Ilu people" could become Tang people, then they would be one family. When the time came, when they joined hands, how would the "Tagalogs", the "outsider", have any chance to survive?
People say that the Yiluo people are hardworking and honest, but they are simply blind. Look at how cunning this guy is.

Xi Junmai hesitated for a moment, and slowly shook his head under the expectant eyes of the "Yiluo" chieftain: "This matter is of great importance, how can a general like me decide it? Even if I agree to you now, I am just deceiving you."

The eyes of the "Ilo" chief quickly dimmed. Are the entire tribe really going to be enslaved?

Lekum breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that the Tang people would agree, and then the "Tagalogs" would be in danger.

However, before he could be completely relieved, he heard Xi Junmai continue, "... This is related to the household registration of the Tang Dynasty, and a decision must be made in the court. I will write this matter into the documents, report it truthfully, and wait for the decision of the central government. But in my opinion, it is definitely not possible for the 'Yiluo people' to join the household registration of the Tang Dynasty. It is well known that it is difficult to join the household registration of the Tang Dynasty. Which of the tens of thousands of Hu people in Chang'an City does not dream of becoming a Tang citizen? But if we treat those Hu people who have made special contributions to the Tang Dynasty, perhaps we can be lenient."

In fact, the central government has already discussed this issue. The Tang Dynasty is at its peak and its power is conquering the world. The Hu people all over the world are full of yearning for the Tang Dynasty and are trying their best to find all ways to become a real Tang person and enjoy the treatment of Tang people. This has already become a social phenomenon that the central government cannot ignore.

But the debate was heated.

On the one hand, they believed that the Tang Dynasty was supreme and that Tang household registration should not be granted to Hu people, so as to avoid chaos and someone profiting from it. On the other hand, they believed that the Tang Dynasty was now the center of the world and if they could attract those with outstanding talents or who had made outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynasty to join the Tang Dynasty and obtain Tang household registration, it would greatly promote the absorption of talents from all over the world.

If we absorb all the good talents, other countries will have one less talent. As a result, the Tang Dynasty will naturally prosper. What can other countries use to compete with the Tang Dynasty?

Moreover, there are precedents of Hu people becoming Tang people. For example, Ashina Simo, Ashina Zhong, Zhishisili and so on are all Hu people. Now they are all given titles and appointed as generals, and their status is high.

The chief of the Yiluo people was saved from a desperate situation. He was so happy that tears flowed down his cheeks. His eyes were red. "Please rest assured, General. From now on, every Yiluo person will regard himself as a Tang person and strive to make outstanding contributions to the Tang Dynasty. We also hope that the Tang people can regard the Yiluo people as family members, love each other and never betray each other!"

What if there is no land?

So what if the rice we grow is donated to the Tang Dynasty for free?

As long as they can get close to the Tang Dynasty as an ally, the descendants of the Ilo people will have the most solid backing. Whether it is the Tagalogs or the Bicols, who would dare to abuse the Ilo people at will?
One can even imagine that one day, the "Ilo people" will unify Luzon with the help of the Tang people, trample the "Tagalogs", "Bicols" and even "Malayu people" under their feet, and make them slaves for generations...

Lekum's face turned pale, he realized that something was wrong. He originally came to nip the "Iluo people" in the bud and drive them into an abyss of no return, but how come in the blink of an eye, the "Iluo people" climbed onto the high branch of the Tang people, and the situation became extremely unfavorable to him?

This is not possible!

He thought of a solution in a hurry and asked: "Since the 'Ilo people' can become Tang people, I wonder if the 'Tagalog people' can also become Tang people?"

Xi Junmai said: "Naturally, we treat everyone equally."

Lekum was overjoyed at first, but then he became worried. The "Ilo people" could grow rice, which was something that the Tang Dynasty urgently needed. However, the "Tagalogs" had been lazy and gluttonous for generations. They occupied a land of abundance like Manila Bay but did not produce anything. They could not do anything and had no special skills!
After thinking for a while, he patted his chest and assured: "Whether the Tang Dynasty is logging or mining in Luzon, the Tagalogs are willing to serve you!"

Mining is an extremely laborious job that requires human lives. The Tang people are precious, so how can they send laborers from their homeland across the ocean to die in vain? Although the population of the "Tagalogs" is not large, if those lowly slaves can use their lives to please the Tang Dynasty and obtain Tang household registration, it can be considered a worthy death!
……

The new agreement was quickly signed. The "Iluo people" were hired by the Tang Dynasty to grow rice, and the "Tagalog people" provided manpower and resources to help the Tang Dynasty cut down huge trees and mine minerals. The Tang Dynasty would reward those who had outstanding performance and made great contributions in the two tribes with "Tang Dynasty household registration."

All three parties got what they needed and were happy.

However, they subconsciously excluded another ethnic group on Luzon Island, the "Bicol people". It can be imagined that what awaits the "Bicol people" is exclusion and oppression. Because for the Tang Dynasty, it is already the best strategy to strike a balance between the "Tagalogs" and the "Ilos". Adding one more "Bicol people" will make the situation too chaotic and difficult to control.

Since they are redundant, the fate of the “Bicol people” is already determined…