Tubo is a very special country. In this country, the king is not the supreme ruler.
The ruler in the real sense is the legendary reincarnated Living Buddha, who is their Dalai Lama or Panchen Lama.
The teachings of Buddhism were originally meant to save all sentient beings, but after arriving here, they changed. After being integrated with local cultural customs, they turned the place into a purgatory on earth.
In the entire Tubo Kingdom, except for the royal family and some so-called holy monks, all the rest are slaves. These people must do anything for their slave owners unconditionally.
Every year, the Tubo Kingdom holds some sacrificial activities, and the list of gifts required for the sacrificial rituals includes human skins, human skulls, and various other inhumane items.
In other words, every year when sacrificial activities are held, thousands of people die for no reason, and the deaths of these people are regarded by the royal family and holy monks as blessings from God.
Zhao Rui heard these things from Wu Yun Anya, and even these are just superficial.
However, the servility among the Tibetan people is almost to the core. They believe that these things are natural, and many people even think that they are born slaves.
Compared with Khwarezm, Persia and other countries, the Tubo State went too far in centralizing power. It did not treat the people as human beings at all, as if the people below were just a group of social animals they raised at home.
That's all.
Therefore, when Zhao Rui wanted to give these surrendered soldiers new armor, clothes, and even military pay, they would think it was a dream.
Many of them are military households in the Tubo Kingdom, which means they have to fight for their masters for generations.
However, their master will not issue them new armors and weapons at all, and many of them are still wearing the ones left by their grandparents.
"His Royal Highness King Zhao, is everything you said true? Are you lying to us?"
A tall, thick-set man bravely stood up and asked everyone's questions.
Zhao Rui smiled slightly: "You are all my subjects of Dashang now. In Dashang, everyone is a free man, no one's slave. You fight for the court, and the court pays you military pay. This is only natural and right.
matter!"
Everyone present still didn't believe it, and they all looked at each other. After all, what was happening in front of them had already surpassed their understanding.
At this moment, several soldiers from the merchants arrived carrying several large boxes, which turned out to be local coins.
"All those who want to stay will come immediately to collect military pay. Those who want to go home will also come and line up to collect travel expenses and rations."
Now they were completely convinced and hurried over to line up. Every Tubo soldier who had received military pay would run up to Zhao Rui, kowtow three times respectfully, and then give a big salute.
The scene in front of him made Zhao Rui a little embarrassed.
Few of these people choose to go home. They seem to have no home at all. Many of them were born to fight.
Zhao Rui didn't care so much and directly gathered these people and distributed armors and weapons at the same time.
In the next month, Zhao Rui did not take any action, but stayed here to recuperate and recruit surrounding herdsmen.
Everyone within a hundred miles knew King Zhao's reputation and came to join him one after another. Soon, Zhao Rui gathered an army of 50,000 people.