After a pause, Xu Xingxia continued: "Don't think that our training is very hard, everyone should see that our opponents are even harder. No matter how hard it is on the training ground, we will never lose our precious lives. Our opponents, if they don't train hard, will definitely collapse at the touch of a button when we engage them. What is it called? This is called sweating more in peacetime and less bloodshed in wartime. I hope that every officer and soldier of the Tianxiang Army will deeply understand this. ”

"Of course, within the limits of what we can, we want to increase the treatment of mountain troops as much as possible. Where there is effort, there is gain. The more sweat you put in, the more you should gain. The Department of Military Affairs is studying how to continue to improve the treatment of mountain troops, and it is believed that the results will be promulgated soon. However, I still say that the fighters who join the mountain troops should be voluntary, and should not come for the treatment of the mountain troops. ”

In his previous order, the treatment of the Tianxiang Army was much better than that of the ordinary cavalry units of the white-clothed army. The food allowance for mountain troops is more than 50 percent higher than that of ordinary troops. The main purpose is to compensate for their high intensity of physical exertion. The soldiers' money and food are also more than 30% more than those of other troops. Because there are no war horses to travel, the soldiers of the Tianxiang Army are indeed very difficult. Priority is also given to the supply of weapons and equipment in all aspects.

However, Xu Xingxia obviously didn't want the Tianxiang Army to degenerate into the kind of army that fought for money. Such an army is incapable of combat. No matter what kind of troops they are, they should have their own ideals, their own souls, and their own pursuits. Only in this way can combat effectiveness be truly formed. Troops that have always had a soul can recover quickly, no matter how serious the casualties are. For example, the Dragoons performed well in the Blue Star Gorge this time, which deserves great praise.

Bai Xuefei said: "We have stepped up our publicity efforts at present, and we hope that more young men will join our team. In addition to the young men of the Qiang ethnic group, some young men of the Dangxiang ethnic group, Xibe ethnic group, and Yugur ethnic group also hope to join the team. The rules we have set are to be considered as long as there has been no bloody conflict with the Han Chinese. ”

Xu Xingxia nodded and said approvingly: "This rule is good. Don't be so narrow-minded. So many of us live on this land, and we should live in peace and build a better homeland together. We welcome ethnic minorities who are willing to make friends with us. The door of the white-clothed army is also open to them. ”

"During the Tang Dynasty, all ethnic groups were integrated. Every ethnic group has equal rights. Our Han people are always broad-minded. Among the non-Han people, there are also many who have become high-ranking officials. It seems that Ge Shuhan, Gao Xianzhi, An Lushan and others are not Han. As long as you have enough ability, the white army is a stage for you to play. ”

With Xu Xingxia's words, Bai Xuefei and others were completely relieved. In the northwest region, the non-Han population is actually quite large, and the pure Han population is very small. If the rules of the white-clothed army only allow the recruitment of soldiers from the Han people, the source of troops of the white-clothed army will be greatly restricted. On the contrary, if this restriction is relaxed, it will be much easier for the Tianxiang Army to recruit troops.

Xu Xingxia turned his head to Gao Yanfei and said, "Gao Yanfei, do you Qiang boys have any special requirements?" It is said that your lads are still very active in training. However, there seem to be a lot of complaints in their private voices. ”

Gao Yanfei was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to answer, so he stopped talking. Many of the situations in Tianxiang Army were naturally reported to Xu Xingxia by others through special channels. Xuan Yingwei has secret spies in many white-clothed army units. They will report some information to the upwards on a regular or irregular basis. This information was collected and sorted out, and finally sent to Xu Xingxia's desk. Therefore, Xu Xingxia had a clear understanding of the training of the Tianxiang Army, and it was not surprising at all.

Indeed, the young men of the Qiang nationality were originally of good quality, and it should be said that they were very good soldiers of the mountain troops. However, because they are usually casual, their mouths are relatively large, and they can't hide secrets. When I was training, if I had any complaints, I would just say them. And the average Han soldier will contain this complaint as much as possible in the depths of his heart. It will not break out until it is a last resort.

Xu Xingxia said with a smile: "It's okay, say it generously." ”

Gao Yanfei said a little embarrassed: "Our young man, I have a lot of wishes, that is, I hope to be able to intermarry with a Han girl. We Qiang girls also hope to marry Han boys. However, at present, the situation in Gansu town is quite sensitive, and some local governors are not very much in favor of intermarriage between the Qiang and Han ethnic groups. ”

Previously, due to some historical reasons, there were few intermarriages between the Han and Qiang peoples. The reasons for this are Han and Qiang. Among them, most of them are from the Han Chinese side. How to say it, the Han ists at that time were relatively pure, affecting all aspects of the Ming Empire. There is an invisible divide between Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese.

The fundamental reason is that the Ming Dynasty took back the world from the hands of the Mongols, and for non-Han people, the vigilance is very high. Those in power were afraid that the Mongol Tatars would come back again. For those who are not of my race, the eight words that their hearts must be different can be said to be quite important. In the concept of ordinary people, they are also more exclusive to non-Han people. To be honest, if Xu Xingxia is not a Han Chinese, but a member of other clans, it is estimated that there are not so many people who follow him.

Xu Xingxia said happily: "Intermarriage? There is no problem with this, and I can ask the Department of Justice and Political Affairs to directly issue a document to encourage Han Chinese and friendly ethnic groups to marry. With the explicit provisions of the Department of Justice and Political Affairs, the officials at all levels below will naturally not make things difficult for you. Well, this requirement is not a requirement, and it is not difficult to solve. If you have any other requirements, go ahead and say it! ”

Gao Yanfei was obviously a little hesitant, not knowing whether to say it or not. The Qiang people do have some demands that they hope to be effectively addressed. However, even if he is a fool, it is impossible for him to pour all the problems on Xu Xingxia's head. Are you really the chairman of the committee as a cadre? Say whatever comes to mind. Xu Xingxia solved the problem of intermarriage cleanly, he was already grateful, how could he still get an inch?

Xu Xingxia said kindly: "What? Am I that scary? ”

Gao Yanfei had no choice but to say: "We have some young men, I hope that after retiring, we can settle in Jiangnan Water Town......"

Xu Xingxia said a little strangely: "Go to Jiangnan to settle down? ”

Gao Yanfei hurriedly explained: "Yes. In the minds of our Qiang people, the water town in the south of the Yangtze River is always so beautiful, so attractive, and so dreamy. Many of our young men hope that they can live in the water towns of Jiangnan in their lifetime...... Chairman of the National People's Congress, as you know, the northwest region, with drought and little rain, is full of wind and sand, and the gentle and charming water towns in the south of the Yangtze River seem to us to be like another world. ”

Xu Xingxia pondered for a moment and said slowly: "There is no problem with settling, as long as it is in the area controlled by the White Army, you can move freely." You can live wherever you want. However, the cost of migration, the cost of settlement, is estimated to be your own expense. I can't help with that. ”

Gao Yanfei hurriedly said, "Of course. ”

Xu Xingxia nodded and said affirmatively: "Go back and tell your young men that as long as they solve the expenses themselves, nothing else is a problem." ”

To be honest, the question raised by Gao Yanfei made Xu Xingxia feel a little surprised. Isn't it just to settle in Jiangnan? How can there be so many taboos? Later, after thinking about it seriously, I found the reason. For a long time, some Han people in the upper class have always been afraid that after the ethnic minorities come to live in the Central Plains, they will bring impure blood to the Han people, thus posing a danger to their rule. Such an idea is simply unfounded.

Xu Xingxia had never heard of the migration of non-Han Chinese to Han Chinese areas, which would make the blood of Han Chinese impure and thus jeopardize Han rule. I have heard a lot of examples of the opposite. In his impression, only non-Han people were made impure by Han people, and there was never an example of the other way around. This was the case during the Yuan Empire. The same was true of the later Qing Empire. These worries are purely superfluous.

In fact, in the melting pot of the Han nationality, where are some ethnic minorities who have the ability to set off a big storm? With their population, how could it be possible to assimilate tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of Han Chinese? Instead, they will simply be assimilated. When a basin of ink is poured into the sea, can you still see the color? It's simply impossible! The Mongols were so powerful at the beginning, but in the end, they were not assimilated by the Han people? This is an irreversible law.

If possible, Xu Xingxia would be willing to move all these ethnic minorities to the Central Plains to live and live, encourage them to intermarry with the Han people, encourage them to accept the cultural etiquette of the Han people, and encourage them to accept the living habits of the Han people. It is estimated that in less than a hundred years, they will be assimilated into a part of the Han people.

Seriously, from the perspective of practical results, it is much better to move ethnic minorities to live in the interior than to move Han Chinese from the interior to live in ethnic minority areas. When the Ming Dynasty was established, a large number of Han military households were relocated to the border areas, hoping to increase the number of local Han people and stabilize the local ruling order. However, it is a pity that until now, those minorities have not been completely assimilated.

(To be continued)