Iron Dynasty

His Royal Highness didn't say that you abducted and trafficked people. You are so eager to get rid of it, there must be some. Luluo was serving Xiao Ming, and suddenly said at this time.

Xiao Ming glanced at this girl. It was rare for her to use her brain. She may have experienced such things when she was a child. After all, she is also a servant now.

Hmph, you can't even deceive one of this king's maidservants, and you still lied to this king, why should you be blamed! Xiao Ming slapped the table and said angrily.

Liang Dahai was so frightened that he lay on the ground, kowtowing like garlic, Your Highness, spare your life, Caomin, damn it, I was indeed greedy for cheap yesterday and bought a slave of unknown origin, but Caomin really didn't abduct and sell a good person.

Although the slave trade was legal in the Great Yu Kingdom, the normal people, collectively known as the “beloved”, were also protected. Anyone who abducted and sold the “beloved” should be executed. This is an iron law.

Xiao Ming was just trying to frighten Liang Dahai, but he didn't expect to ask one of them by mistake. He said, If that's the case, then don't let them go.

Yes, Your Highness, Caomin will go back and release him. Liang Dahai said, he got up immediately and was about to run out.

Wait! Xiao Ming stopped Liang Dahai, his purpose was not to investigate the case, he said: This account book king is here for you, you can go back and release him later, and today the king is looking for you to find another one. One thing.

Liang Dahai was stunned for a long time, and stared blankly at Xiao Ming waiting for the next paragraph.

Xiao Ming said: I came to you this time because of the slave trade. This king wants to cooperate with you and run the slave business together.

What! Liang Dahai couldn't believe his ears.

You heard right, this king came to you to discuss this matter. If you do a good job, it might not be a bad idea to be promoted to an official position in the future. Xiao Ming said.

Now Liang Dahai is shocked and then overjoyed. The merchants of the Yu Kingdom have the lowest status, and the slave traders have the lowest status among the merchants. They have always been looked down upon by others. Now King Qi not only wants to cooperate with him, but also promises to add officials in the future. Sir.

This Liang Dahai is like a dream.

Your Highness, this is true. Liang Dahai asked again.

This king didn't come to you for small talk. Xiao Ming said: This matter is very simple, you can know what I know. In secret, this king will give you support and money. You need to give this king. Provide slaves.

Liang Dahai nodded, Your Highness, this is simple, as long as Your Highness needs it, I still have this slave.

What I want is not only ordinary slaves, but I will give a higher price for craftsmen, carpenters, blacksmiths, etc. Xiao Ming said.

Such people belong to the lowly households, and there are quite a few slaves, so it's not difficult. Liang Dahai analyzed.

Well, since you are proficient in the slave trade, there are naturally many ways to obtain slaves, but in cooperation with this king, one of the laws that must not be abducted and sold should not be violated, otherwise this king said that he would not be able to draw a sword to kill, and from today onwards I will strongly support you, you have to do everything possible to obtain slaves from all over the country and transport them to Qingzhou. Xiao Ming said.

Liang Dahai said, Your Highness, do you want Kunlun slaves?

Xiao Ming's expression moved slightly. The Kunlun slaves in Liang Haikou were those South Asian natives with dark skin and small height. However, in the past two years, there have been some black slaves from Africa in some Chang'an cities. However, most of these black slaves came through Those who came from the Western Regions were favored by the nobles of Chang'an and regarded as a symbol of status.

Now Liang Dahai took the initiative to propose Kunlun slaves, it seems that he has come into contact with the overseas slave trade.

Of course, as long as you can get it. Xiao Ming said.

Liang Dahai said: His Royal Highness, Caomin understands.

He talked to Liang Dahai about specific matters for a while. Xiao Ming bought 20 slaves from Liang Dahai to serve as servants in the palace. These were high-quality slaves in his hands. An average of 10 taels of silver was half the price of cattle. .

When Liang Dahai left, Luluo was unhappy. It seemed that the dirty deal between Xiao Ming and Liang Dahai stung the little girl's memory.

Luluo has always been a person who will not hide, Xiao Ming said: Don't you think that this king and slave traders are mixed together, and they lose their identity and lack benevolence?

Slave, slave... Luluo wanted to deny it, but there was a sense of anger in her heart that seemed to want to burst out again.

Xiao Ming laughed and said: This king knows what you are thinking, although the law slaves of the Great Yu Kingdom are legal, it is disgraceful after all, but have you ever thought about it, the population of this king's fief is only one million households. , If we only rely on such a small population, in what year and month can we realize the resurgence of the fief?

But... Luluo suddenly didn't know what to say.

And these slaves will fall into the hands of others if I don't buy them. How can you be sure that these slaves will not live easier with this king, or even get free? Xiao Ming continued: This king needs labor, not their slave status.

Luluo grabbed the corner of her clothes and nodded lightly, The servant is wrong, the servant thought that His Highness wanted to sell slaves to earn silver taels.

When he mentioned silver taels, Xiao Ming's head suddenly became big. He originally thought that four or five thousand taels of silver a day was a lot, but he was buying cattle and slaves, plus various materials to build workshops. .

Hey, my heart is on the bright moon, but the bright moon illuminates the ditch. Xiao Ming sighed and shook his head, as if feeling sad for Luluo's incomprehension.

Luluo said anxiously, Your Highness, it was Luluo who misunderstood Your Highness.

Forget it, this king forgives you. Xiao Ming picked up Luluo's little hand and rubbed it seriously, Don't mention this, your hands are frozen, come on, this king will rub it for you.

Luluo suddenly blushed.

At this moment, a chubby figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the main hall, Xiao Ming was startled, and immediately stopped.

Ahem, Your Highness! Qian Dafu coughed twice, In addition to the graphite, some of the limestone you explained has also been shipped back. Would you like to go and have a look?

A few days after Li San went to Chang'an, Qian Dafu came back with graphite, and the first batch of crucibles had been put into use in the equipment department.

It can be said that a small-batch steelmaking production line has been formed.

The output of steel has increased, and the steel required by the Machine Tool Division to produce lathes has basically been met. At present, the Machine Tool Division has produced two sets of lathes.

The lathes were all set to be installed in the under-construction hydraulic lathe workshop, when a problem arose.

In order to use these lathes, Xiao Ming needs to train a group of skilled lathe workers, and the current craftsmen of the equipment department are not enough, and it is impossible to recruit more people.

So Xiao Ming remembered the slave trade. In order to monopolize technology, it is imperative to cultivate a group of high-tech slaves.