Iron Dynasty

Qingzhou East Camp.

This is the barracks where the Qingzhou Army was stationed. Compared to the 3,000 soldiers in the prosperous period, there were only more than 300 soldiers stationed in the Qingzhou camp at this time.

There are many vacant barracks in the camp. In the past, these barracks were covered with cobwebs and dust on the ground, but now these barracks have been cleaned up again, and the recruitment notice has been posted.

In half a month, the new recruits are about to enter the camp. This recruitment will fill up all the barracks in the Qingzhou camp, reaching the peak of the Qingzhou army.

Veterans are especially excited about this, as if returning to the period before the barbarian invasion, especially since the increase in soldiers will mean that they will be promoted.

However, before the new recruits came, a group of people in rags entered the barracks in advance. After inquiring, they realized that these were slaves purchased by King Qi from various places.

For King Qi, the veterans did not have a good impression of him before, but in the past two months, rumors of this King Qi's reformation have spread in the market, which also gradually changed their views on King Qi.

His Royal Highness, these slaves can't live in the camp all the time. The new recruits are about to enter the camp. I don't have any free space here.

When Xiao Ming arrived at the Qingzhou camp the next day, Lu Fei immediately complained to Xiao Ming.

I didn't plan to let them live here forever. Before the recruits enter the camp, I will definitely let them move out. Xiao Ming put his hands into the sleeves. Although the snow had stopped, the weather was getting colder and colder.

Although the sun today was good and golden, Xiao Ming was still shivering from the cold.

This way... that's okay. Lu Fei breathed a sigh of relief, and then he asked: Your Highness, why are you buying so many slaves, the palace can't use so many servants, right?

Xiao Ming frowned, did not answer Lu Fei's question, but asked: Do you think this barbarian will attack Cangzhou this winter?

I'm not sure about this last general. Three years ago, Qingzhou was looted once, and more than 100,000 young and strong men were taken away. They have not recovered yet. It stands to reason that barbarians should understand that there is no oil or water to fish here. Lu Fei said in a deep voice, It's just that the merchants from the grassland said that a lot of cattle and sheep were frozen to death on the grassland this time, especially the Huyantuo tribe living in the north of Cangzhou suffered heavy losses. They were afraid that they would jump over the wall.

Xiao Ming nodded, If this king remembers correctly, this Huyantuo minister said he could organize an army of 30,000 people, right?

Yes, all the barbarians are soldiers, except the old and weak, women and children, everyone can become a soldier.

This time, because the cattle and sheep were frozen to death, they couldn't feed enough cattle and sheep to feed their stomachs in the coming year, so they are ready to loot the reserves again. If so, can we do business with them? After all, Qingzhou can I can’t stand the toss any more, 30,000 people will attack Cangzhou with all their strength, even if we win terribly, it’s not what I want.” Xiao Ming pondered.

Lu Fei was upright, but he was not without brains. The recruits were not trained, and there were thieves in the six states from time to time.

Businessmen in Cangzhou City usually buy barbarian cattle, sheep or fur, and sell coal briquettes and iron ore, but this year, a large number of cattle and sheep have been frozen to death, and this business cannot be done. After all, no one will buy frozen to death. The cattle and sheep. Lu Fei shook his head, admitting that this method would not work.

yes?

Xiao Ming lowered his head and pondered. Soda ash has been prepared a lot for soap, but relatively speaking, the price of oil is not cheap. The Wang family is anxious about this.

Now that a large number of cattle and sheep of the barbarians are frozen to death, isn't it a good opportunity to buy meat oil, and Lu Fei said that the transaction of coal and iron ore requires the participation of the Wang family.

The Great Yu Kingdom has always prohibited the sale of coal and iron ore to barbarians, but smugglers have never been few.

Xiao Ming naturally didn't like the barbarians, because the grassland empire was getting bigger and bigger, which was a huge threat to him and the Great Yu Kingdom, but at this time he had nothing to do.

Now that he can't beat him, he can only suffer the grievances in his heart to maintain a stable development environment. If he wants to resolve the crisis this time, it is estimated that the Wang family will have to come forward, because the Wang family has business dealings with the barbarians, and there will definitely be private connections.

There was a care in his heart, but Xiao Ming didn't tell Lu Fei that the blood feud between the barbarians and the Great Yu Kingdom was disgraceful after all.

This time Xiao Ming came here mainly for the slave business. The 950 slaves said more or less, but it was very important to Xiao Ming, because these people were enough for him to set up several workshops.

The equipment department is just that big, and now it can't accommodate so many craftsmen and equipment. He has long been planning to build a workshop base similar to a modern industrial park.

He has already selected the location, just in the lower reaches of the Tuojiang River in the south of the city. These slaves will be responsible for the construction of workshop buildings and will be assigned to work in each workshop.

At the same time, for safety, Xiao Ming will turn the workshop area into a high-wall compound, and the Qingzhou Army will be responsible for guarding the workshop area to ensure the safety of the workshop.

Lu Fei had gathered all the slaves at this time, Xiao Ming glanced at the slaves standing scattered, most of them were in rags, their hands and feet were shackled, and they were shivering in the cold wind.

As Liang Dahai said, most of these slaves were young men and women, and according to the standards of slaves, they belonged to high-quality slaves.

After confirming the quality of the slaves, Xiao Ming said to Chen Wenlong who followed: These slaves will be handed over to you. I have already given you the structure of the brick kiln. More than 900 people are enough for you. This winter equipment department will be handed over to Chen Wenlong. Qi, your mission is to bring these slaves to burn paper to produce red bricks and cement, and build a workshop in the workshop area. After the spring, the equipment manufactured by the equipment department will be transferred to the workshop, understand?

Yes, Your Highness. Chen Wenlong said.

Xiao Ming nodded and asked Lu Fei to cooperate with Chen Wenlong to escort the slaves to the workshop in the lower reaches of the Tuojiang River. The brick kiln was also in this area.

Xiao Ming did not plan to use the previous earthen walls and wooden structures for the construction of the workshop this time, but to use modern red bricks.

Burning paper red bricks is not a difficult technical task. Xiao Ming briefly taught Chen Longwen the knowledge of the kiln factory. After all, the firing of red bricks is similar to that of pottery.

And he doesn't need to be comparable in quality to modern red bricks, just strong enough.

The second is cement. Chen Qi already knew how to make cement. These two things are crude benzene work, and these slaves are enough.

To these slaves, Xiao Ming did not say anything righteous about freedom, democracy, and human rights, because in this uncivilized age, this is no different from nonsense.

In the hearts of these slaves, they themselves identify with their own destiny and status. Rather than talking about these, it is better to increase their enthusiasm for work by improving the quality of life, and then slowly let them identify with it.