Prisoners were the main source of servants in the early Qing Dynasty. Previous conquerors always took possession of people while seizing land and property. The Manchu nobles did the same. Before going through the Shanhaiguan Pass and come to dominate the central china, the rulers of the Eight Banners obtained a considerable number of prisoners in the wars in the Northeast region and against the Ming Dynasty, and distributed them to officers and soldiers at all levels as servants.