A Study On The Population Of Captured And Predatory Personnel In The Song Dynasties

In the wars and conflicts between Song Dynasty and Liao,Xia,Jin,Meng(Yuan)and Southwest Minority Regimes,a large number of Song Dynasty were captured or captured by the enemy.The prisoners in the Song Dynasty were mainly classified into officials,soldiers,civilians and Royal clans.The situation of the captured people in the enemy is different.They will generally assume the post of puppet officer,be incorporated into the enemy's army,be resold(sent),be killed,be forced into slavery and so on,depending on their status and the situation at that time.Emperors and courtiers of the Song Dynasty generally hold an understanding and tolerant attitude towards the captured people,and the captured people also cherish the memory and reluctance of their homeland.The way for the captured people to return to the Song Dynasty includes the initiative of the Song Dynasty to take measures to rescue them,such as sending troops to pursue,political negotiation,secretly recruiting,redeeming people by land,exchanging captives,money redemption and so on,as well as the initiative of the captured people to escape and the initiative of the enemy to return.For the captured people,the Song Dynasty took favorable treatment in tax policy,imperial examination policy,official appointment and removal policy,land policy,etc.It relieved the captured people,guaranteed their lives to a certain extent,and fully embodied the Song Dynasty's concept of "benevolence and righteousness" in governing the country.The Song Dynasty's policy towards the captured people also had a great influence on the national defense and finance of the Song Dynasty.