The Great Philanthropist Yang

Chapter 120 The Great Philanthropist Yang
They might think that "living separately" is no big deal.

In the past, when they were nomadic on the grasslands, their tribes were scattered, and even more scattered.

However, when it comes to fighting against external forces, they can still quickly and effectively summon all the warriors of their tribe.

But what they failed to see was that this "division" was completely different from the past.

This "separation" involves a complete change in production and lifestyle.

Those who remained on the grasslands continued their nomadic lifestyle, while those who switched to farming would have to stay on the land and learn to grow crops.

Their pace of life and the resources they rely on have all changed.

Over time, the divide between the two or three groups of people will gradually deepen, and the original cohesion of the tribe will gradually dissipate.

But how could the chieftain and elders of such a small or medium-sized tribe have such a long-term vision?
At this moment, they were filled with relief at being "settled down," completely unaware that a silent transformation had already begun with this "thoughtful" arrangement.

Yang Can had never studied the professional theories of tribal resettlement, but as a modern person who had traveled from another era, his comprehensive qualities and vision had long surpassed the constraints of this time.

He didn't need to think about it deliberately; he instinctively grasped the key point:
To eliminate the potential threat of subjugation to nomadic tribes, it is necessary to break up the population and undermine their cohesion.

What's even more ingenious is that he wrapped this move in the sugar-coating of "putting himself in the tribe's shoes," which not only solved the immediate predicament of the Bali tribe but also quietly achieved his own goal.

With such thoughtfulness, how could the elders not be grateful to him?
His gaze slowly swept over everyone in the hall. Seeing their eyes filled with gratitude and their complete lack of objection to his arrangements, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

Yang Can continued, "Of course, most of the clansmen who chose to reclaim wasteland and settle down have never been exposed to farming, and I had already considered this point."

Don't worry, I will select experienced farmers from Feng'an Village to serve as your household heads, tenant leaders, and irrigation canal leaders.

Under the leadership of Lord Bali and the elders, they will help everyone build houses, teach farming, and ensure that everyone can settle down as soon as possible.

"Under the leadership of Lord Bali and all the elders," these words were like a reassuring pill, instantly putting the elders, who had previously harbored a trace of doubt in their hearts, at ease.

They thought to themselves: After all, people are under our control. Besides, we really don't know how to build houses or farm. How can we do it without guidance?

What they couldn't see was that behind this seemingly reasonable arrangement, power was quietly shifting.

Those grassroots farm managers would gradually erode their direct control over their people by taking advantage of opportunities such as household registration, tax collection, dispute mediation, and production guidance.

Over time, the core power of the tribe will be gradually eroded. Even if Balimo still holds the title of "chieftain," his so-called military power and supreme leadership will eventually become nothing more than empty shells.

Yang Can's arrangements for the Bali tribe can be summarized in only two points:

Clarify the direction of resettlement, explain the reasons for resettlement, and provide support for agricultural transformation.

The division and control hidden beneath the surface are imperceptible to anyone at this moment.

By the time they realized something was wrong, it was too late to turn the tide.

In fact, the fastest and most effective way is to completely break up the entire tribe and disperse them according to the number of families or male members.

However, Yang Can, based on reality, knew that Yu Fa simply did not have such conditions at the moment.

That would require a vast empire with a dense population and well-developed urban and rural areas, and the Yu Clan clearly had not yet reached that scale.

Furthermore, the Yu clan lacked the deterrent power of a strong empire to force the Bali tribe to accept complete dismantling without resistance.

More importantly, excessive fragmentation would hinder his subsequent subjugation and recruitment of the Bali tribe.

However, the current arrangement is sufficient: separating the core leadership and dividing the tribal chiefs, nobles and ordinary people.
The tribe was divided into three parts, and then lower-level managers were sent to infiltrate them.
In the future, young and strong men will be selected from the three divisions and trained into regular soldiers...

With these groundwork laid, the foundation for differentiation and control has been firmly established.

Once the plan is set, it must be implemented as quickly as possible.

Although it is still the height of summer, building houses and clearing land takes a long time, so we must hurry.

Therefore, Yang Can only hosted a lavish banquet for everyone that evening.

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Ba Limo led the elders back to the temporary camp. They were to divide the tribe into three groups according to the established plan: "nomadic", "agricultural group A", and "agricultural group B".

Yang Can also went to their campsite.

In the distance, herds of cattle and sheep grazed on the grasslands around the camp, and rows of dilapidated tents, like mushrooms after the rain, were densely packed on the hillside.

Because many tents and supplies were left on the grassland, many herders had to squeeze two or three households into one tent and share a set of cooking utensils, making the camp extremely crowded and chaotic.

Yang Can stood on the hillside, watching as the herdsmen, following the instructions conveyed by the elders, gradually divided into three groups based on their choices: "continue nomadic life" or "switch to farming."

But just then, his gaze was drawn to one of the groups of people.

Those were people left alone in the same place, with no one willing to take them in.

Most of them were elderly people, women with children, and pregnant women.

"Elder Chiliyan, what's going on with these old people and women?" Yang Can asked, pointing at the group of people.

Their faces were filled with confusion and fear as they watched other families happily walk towards their respective groups, while they could only stand there blankly, like abandoned souls, exuding indescribable helplessness.

Chiliyan followed his gaze, a hint of reluctance on his face, and sighed softly.

"Deacon Yang, all the able-bodied men in their family died in the attack by the Bald Hair Tribe."

Our tribe suffered heavy losses this time, especially the deaths of many able-bodied men.

He added with a wry smile, "Whether it's grazing or reclaiming land, food and supplies will be scarce."

They are either too old or too young, so they can't contribute any strength at all, therefore...

Nobody wants them; they're all a burden.

"What about them?" Yang Can frowned.

Chiliyan replied matter-of-factly, “Now that the tribe is divided into three parts, if none of them want them, they can only leave it to fate and find their own food.”

If we can survive, we will; if we can't... well, we'll just have to accept it.

At this point, Chi Liyan's voice became somewhat hoarse, and he also expressed his helplessness.

But such is the law of survival on the harsh grasslands, and he is powerless to change it.

Kindness often arises after one has no worries about food and clothing and is self-satisfied. Under such cruel survival pressure, compassion is a luxury.

The elderly, women, and children had clearly already understood this principle.

So even though they were terrified and helpless, they did not beg anyone for help.

They merely watched with envy the families with able-bodied men, seeing them chatting and laughing as they packed up their tents and headed towards a hopeful future. Yang Can was not a soft-hearted person.

When faced with a crisis, he decisively ordered Leopard Head to lead a group to infiltrate the Bali Grassland, eliminate several herdsmen, and use their corpses to stage a "double-cross" scene.

But the scene before him made it impossible for him to remain indifferent.

Now, with the resources of Feng'an Village in his hands, he has the ability to show compassion.

"Chili Yanchang, the elder!"

Yang Can said in a deep voice, "Gather these unwanted elderly, weak, women and children together. I will take care of their resettlement."

"Wh...what?" Chiliyan looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock and ecstasy.

His previous indifference was nothing more than a helpless response after recognizing reality.

These people were, after all, his own people, and he knew many of them.

Seeing them abandoned and left to struggle in despair, how could he not feel pain in his heart?

Now that Yang Can was willing to shoulder this burden, Chi Liyan was so excited that his lips trembled, and he called out in a trembling voice, "Deacon Yang... Lord Yang!"

Before he finished speaking, Chi Liyan suddenly knelt down with a "plop" and kowtowed three times to Yang Can, his eyes already filled with tears.

"Get up quickly."

Yang Can reached out and helped him up: "Go quickly and gather them together. When I return, I will take them back to Feng'an Fort."

Chiliyan quickly replied "Yes," and without bothering to brush the dirt off his knees, he turned and ran towards the center of the camp, shouting loudly in Xianbei language.

Although the tribe borders the Han people, and many herdsmen know some basic Chinese, there are others who cannot understand it at all, or cannot comprehend more complex sentences. Therefore, he has to use the language that his tribe is most familiar with to transmit messages.

As Chiliyan shouted, those who had been standing there blankly were first stunned, and then their eyes flashed with disbelief.

They stumbled and ran towards Yang Can, their previous feigned strength crumbling instantly.

Their feigned strength stemmed from the knowledge that no matter how much they pleaded, they couldn't change their fate of being abandoned.

But now, someone is willing to give them a way out.

They ran up to Yang Can and knelt down without saying a word, kowtowing repeatedly while crying and laughing.

Some children didn't understand what was happening and stood there blankly, but their mothers or grandfathers immediately pulled them down and made them kowtow.

"Alright, everyone, there's no need for this."

Yang Can quickly tried to comfort them, but no matter what he said, the people continued to kowtow, and their cries grew louder and louder.

It wasn't until Chiliyan gathered all the abandoned elderly, women, and children together and brought them back to stand beside Yang Can that the crowd gradually quieted down.

Yang Can looked at the people in front of him: an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles, a woman holding a child, a woman with a pregnant belly, and several children hiding timidly behind the adults.

Yang Can thought for a moment and then said, "Just now, I heard Elder Chili Yanchang talk about your situation. Now I have a few arrangements that I would like to make clear to everyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell completely silent.

There were women holding young children, who, fearing that the children's crying would disturb them, quickly held the children tightly in their arms, gently covered their mouths, and even softened their breathing.

Yang Can said, word by word: "First of all, the elderly men and women will be taken care of by Feng'an Village. We will arrange some work within your capabilities to ensure that everyone has food to eat and a place to stay."
Secondly, for all you women with children, I will arrange for you to meet with the bachelors of Feng'an Village and the other five villages and three ranches. If you are willing, you may become husband and wife.

Of course, if you have children with you, the other party must also accept your children.

As for orphans, they may be children from families with too many children to raise, or children who are unable to marry.
You can also leave your children with me, and I will arrange for people to raise and educate them. When they grow up, they will work for me.

Finally, pregnant women will be provided for by Feng'an Manor initially. After you give birth, they will be placed in appropriate care according to the above method.

For every sentence Yang Can spoke, Chiliyan would loudly translate it into Xianbei language.

Hearing the translator's words, the elderly, women, and children present could no longer hold back their tears, which rolled down their cheeks.

They rolled up their sleeves to wipe their tears, but the more they wiped, the more tears flowed.

"My benefactor!"

"Yang the Great Philanthropist, a living Bodhisattva!"

A chorus of gratitude enveloped Yang Can like a tidal wave.

Those who had once despaired now had a renewed hope for survival in their eyes, and their gazes toward Yang Can were filled with burning gratitude and dependence.

……

Yang Can, who was praised as a great philanthropist, was completely unaware that a disaster was quietly approaching him.

Previously, he was extremely wary of Dugu Jingyao, fearing that this woman of unknown identity was a spy who would bring trouble upon him.

Despite his best efforts to guard against her, Dugu Jingyao never caused any trouble and even did him a great favor.

Now that he has sent this "little witch" away, she has brought misfortune to his doorstep.

In a dark and damp dungeon, the stench of blood and sweat mingled together, making one want to vomit.

Qian Yuan was tightly bound to a cold pillar with thick hemp rope. His clothes had been whipped to shreds, and his body was covered with deep whip marks that revealed the bone. His flesh was so bloody that his original skin color was almost unrecognizable.

Each time the salt-water-soaked whip fell, it tore up a patch of festering flesh, leaving a red welt oozing blood.

"Don't tell me!"

A handsome young man dressed in black, holding a leather whip, roared with a fierce expression, "I refuse to believe I can't pry your mouth open!"
Are all the women you've sold of exceptional beauty and elegance, like snow from the Tianshan Mountains or jade from Kunlun? How could you possibly forget such outstanding women?

The whip lashed out again, whistling through the air as it struck Qian Yuan. Qian Yuan convulsed violently in pain, letting out a piercing scream.

His once clear voice had become hoarse and broken: "I'll talk! I'll talk! I...I sold her...to a landowner a few months ago!"

In fact, Qian Yuan still doesn't understand which woman these mysterious people are looking for, but the pain from the torture has long exceeded his limit.

Rather than continue being tortured, it's better to make a random accusation and get through this ordeal first. Even if it turns out to be false later, at least you'll suffer less in the short term, and maybe you'll even find a chance to escape.

Upon hearing the words "Master of the Manor," the whip-wielding youth abruptly stopped, and asked in a deep voice, "Master of the Manor? What Master of the Manor? What is your name? Where are you located?"

Qian Yuan's forehead was already covered in blood, and thick blood flowed down his brow bone, blurring his vision so that he couldn't even see the face of the person in front of him.

His whole body trembled uncontrollably, and the chattering of his voice was exceptionally clear in the silent dungeon: "Feng... Feng'an Manor's... Master, his name is... Yang Can!"

(End of this chapter)