The emperor's pilot project for ethnic policy was to disperse the Manchus or Koreans and settle them in villages with no more than a hundred households in each village.

To elect village heads, villages and towns must have teachers, all of whom are assessed and managed by the county government, breaking the old tradition that imperial power did not extend to the countryside.

The reconstruction of Liaodong was not just about the construction of urban roads. The entire government management system was quite different from that in the inland areas. It could be called an experiment of the emperor.

Although this experiment does not seem to have much impact on the surface, this is also the emperor's intention. On the premise of maintaining stability as much as possible, it should be gradually changed and continuously improved.

For example, these 500 Manchu households will be divided into five villages and settled in the Songyuan area; and 1,000 Han immigrant households and 300 naturalized Korean households will also migrate here next year to maintain the population balance in the area.

There was certainly some discrimination: Han Chinese could apply for firearms, but Manchus and Koreans who had been naturalized did not. The emperor set a time limit for naturalized people, and only after five years could they enjoy this policy.

This time limit is called the probation period, and it does not cause much inconvenience to naturalized people. However, only after the probation period can you be considered a true citizen of the Ming Dynasty.

The upgrade in status and the unification of rights represent recognition and identification in the minds of naturalized people, and they also get rid of the title of naturalized people.

"We still need more people!" Zhang Pan faced the cold wind, looked towards the north, and squinted his eyes.

The emperor's ambitions were not limited to Jilin Prefecture, or even Nurgan Prefecture. North, north, and north again, until he caught a polar bear and brought it to the zoo.

Moreover, what the emperor wanted was not for the army to make a move or erect a monument, but to secure the land and manage the land for cultivation.

This requires population filling, and a large population is needed as the basis for a stable occupation and to provide food and supplies for the next stage of northward advance.

After the Liaodong Rebellion was pacified, the Liao people returned home and immigrated to Liaodong. The imperial court has been continuously sending population to Liaodong.

But even so, the development of Liaodong and the expansion of new territories are still in their early stages, making population the most valuable and popular wealth.

Several riders came galloping from afar, dismounted and saluted as they neared, "Sir. We have captured another group of fugitives and are currently interrogating them."

Zhang Pan nodded and said, "Come on, take me to have a look."

The so-called refugees were not those fleeing from the occupied Liaodong area, but those fleeing back from the north. Among them were Han, Jurchen, and Mongolian people, all of whom surrendered because they found it too difficult to survive in the harsh and cold environment.

Most of the remaining intelligence about the Jiannu in the north was obtained from these escaped people. Zhang Pan never forgot that completely destroying the Jiannu was also one of their tasks.

Judging from the latest intelligence, or from the increasing number of refugees returning south, it can be seen that the lives of the remaining Jiannu are becoming increasingly difficult.

The cold climate has made traditional farming unsuitable for the land of Liaodong. A poor harvest is a good thing; with a short growing season, it's not uncommon to have no harvest at all.

The north, where the Jiannu remnants lived, was even colder, making farming more difficult. They lacked cold-resistant and drought-resistant crops like potatoes, rye, and corn, and relying solely on fishing and hunting, they were little more than savages.

Moreover, without cotton and silkworms, clothing would be a problem. We can't wear animal skins and felt all year round, right?

Zhang Pan had already formed his judgment based on these confessions. There was no need to fight. In three to five years, the remnants of the Jiannu would degenerate into mountain savages, or else disintegrate and self-destruct.

By the same token, the lives of the Mongol tribes would become increasingly difficult. The law of history is that when nomadic peoples encounter disasters, they will most likely move south to plunder; this is also their way of survival.

The emperor was playing a big game, aiming to solve the problem of nomadic peoples that had plagued the country for thousands of years in one fell swoop.

Not only Zhang Pan, but many generals had thought of this. The elite soldiers and generals who had experienced the Battle of Ping Liao were constantly being assigned to the nine important border towns. The number of troops did not decrease but increased. It was clear that the emperor was making preparations.

It didn't take long for Zhang Pan to arrive at the Ming army's temporary camp.

Outside the camp, a group of ragged, sallow-faced people were squatting or sitting, surrounded and guarded by soldiers. From time to time, some were taken out and interrogated inside the camp.

"Soldier, give me some hot water to drink!" a dirty woman pleaded with the soldier, "The child is freezing."

The soldier looked at the little girl in the woman's arms. Her face was pitch black, with only her slightly opened eyes showing a hint of light.

"Build a fire for them and boil some water." Zhang Panle stopped his horse and gave the order in a deep voice.

The court's policy towards fugitives was relatively lenient. For example, if the remnants of the Jiannu wanted to surrender, the emperor would accept it.

But one thing is that the emperor has issued a secret decree that traitors like Fan Wencheng and Luo Jinxiu will never be forgiven and must be brought to Beijing and executed.

Therefore, the selection of fugitives was also quite strict. The Ming army had some former Han soldiers, and even Manchus, who were specifically assigned to help identify traitors to prevent them from escaping.

Zhang Pan rode his horse into the camp, followed by words of gratitude and kneeling and kowtowing.

"General." The interrogating officer saw Zhang Pan striding towards him and hurriedly stood up and saluted.

Zhang Pan nodded and asked, "Can you get any useful confession?"

The officer chuckled and said, "It's the same as before. The Jianlu are having a harder time. In my humble opinion, they are about to resort to cannibalism."

Zhang Pan smiled faintly and said, "Don't let the big fish slip away. There are several traitors that have been named by the emperor. If we let them get away with it, we will be committing a serious crime."

"Don't worry, General," the officer assured, "We have Saharu. He's not blind."

As he was speaking, a sturdy soldier walked in, holding a guy with a wet face.

"Sir, this turns out to be Fan Wencheng's servant," Saharu reported in a gruff voice. "Even though he's so skinny, I can still recognize him."

Zhang Pan's spirits lifted as he said, "Good, well done. Those people outside should carefully identify the fish. If you catch a big one, you will be rewarded handsomely."

"Don't worry, sir." Sahalu laughed loudly, pushed the thing in his hand hard, turned around and went out to pick up another person.

Zhang Pan pointed and instructed the officer, "Interrogate him carefully. Fan Wencheng is a top traitor. We must know whether he is alive or dead, and whereabouts."

The officer agreed with a smile, and when he turned to look at Fan Wencheng's servant, his face was already ferocious and he shouted loudly.

Zhang Pan turned and walked out, looking at the group of fleeing people through the fence.

As soon as the fire started, they rushed over eagerly. If the soldiers hadn't shouted and hit them with their guns, the woman and child would not have been able to get close.

Once upon a time, such scenes were common among the fleeing Liao people. In Jinzhou and Pidao, Zhang Pan had seen them too many times.

Our responsibility as soldiers is to defend our country and protect the people so that they no longer suffer from the pain of war and displacement.

Zhang Pan exhaled a breath of white air and turned his eyes away, but he became more determined in his heart.