Steel Dynasty - Chapter 43

[Chapter 43 Cooperation]

“His Royal Highness did not say that you were a human trafficker. If you are so eager to clear it up, then there must be something.” Luluo, who was serving Xiao Ming, suddenly said at this time.

Xiao Ming glanced at this girl. It was rare for her to use her brain. She might have experienced something like this when she was a child. After all, she was also a slave now.

“Hmph, you can’t even deceive one of my maids, so you come to deceive me. What crime should you do!” 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, Your Highness, spare your life, the common people deserve to die. I did take advantage of it yesterday and bought a slave of unknown origin, but the ordinary people really did not kidnap or traffic in good people.”

Although the slave trade is legal in Dayu, ordinary people, collectively referred to as good people, are also protected. Anyone who abducts or sells good people will be executed. This is an iron rule.

Xiao Ming was just trying to scare Liang Dahai, but he didn’t expect that he actually asked someone by mistake. He said, “In that case, let’s let him go.”

“Yes, your highness, the common people will go back and let him go right away. “Liang Dahai said and immediately got up and ran out.

“Wait!” Xiao Ming stopped Liang Dahai. His purpose was not to investigate the case. He said: “The king will give you this ledger right here. You can just go back and release him later. Today the king is looking for you to come to another place.” There is something. “

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

Xiao Ming said: “I came to you this time because of the slave trade. I want to cooperate with you to run the slave business together.”

“What!” Liang Dahai couldn’t believe his ears.

“You heard me right, I came to you just to discuss this matter. If you do well, it might be possible to be promoted to a higher position in the future,” Xiao Ming said.

Now Liang Dahai was shocked and then overjoyed. The merchants of the Chongqing Kingdom had the lowest status, and the slave traders had the lowest status among the merchants. They had always been looked down upon. But now the King of Qi not only wanted to cooperate with him, but also promised to be promoted to an official position in the future. Lord.

This Liang Dahai is like a dream.

“Your Highness, are you serious about this?” Liang Dahai asked again.

“This king didn’t come to you just to chat.” Xiao Ming said: “This matter is very simple. Just know it and I will know it. Secretly, I will support you and give you money. You need to give me money.” Just provide a slave.”

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

“I want more than just an ordinary slave. I will give the craftsman a higher price.” Some, carpenters, blacksmiths and so on.” Xiao Ming said.

“This type of people all belong to 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. However, when you cooperate with me, you must not violate the law of not kidnapping or selling loved ones, otherwise I will not be able to draw a sword to kill, and from today onwards, I will not be able to kill anyone.” I will strongly support you, and you must do everything possible to get slaves from everywhere and transport them to Qingzhou,” Xiao Ming said.

Liang Dahai said: “Your Highness, do you want the Kunlun slaves?”

Xiao Ming’s expression changed slightly. The Kunlun slaves in Liang Dahai’s mouth were those South Asian natives with dark skin and short height. However, in the past two years, there have been more in some Chang’an cities. There are some black slaves from Africa, but most of these black slaves came through the Western Regions. They are quite favored by the Chang’an nobles and are regarded as a symbol of status.

Now that Liang Dahai has taken the initiative to offer Kunlun slaves, it seems that he has been exposed to the overseas slave trade.

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

Liang Dahai said: “Your Highness, the common people understand.”

After talking to Liang Dahai about the specific matters for a while, Xiao Ming bought twenty slaves from Liang Dahai to serve as servants in the palace. These are high-quality slaves in his hands. An average of ten taels of silver is only half the price of a farm ox.

Liang Dahai left, Lu Luo was unhappy. It seemed that the dirty deal between Xiao Ming and Liang Dahai hurt the little girl’s memory.

Lu Luo has always been a person who doesn’t hide things. Xiao Ming said, “Don’t you think that I am unworthy of my status and lack of benevolence by mixing with slave traders?”

“Slave, slave…” Lu Luo wanted to deny it, but she felt something in her heart. The breath seemed to want to burst out again.

Xiao Ming laughed and said: “I know what you are thinking. Although slaves are legal in the Chongqing Kingdom, it is not honorable after all. But have you ever thought about it? The population of my fiefdom is only one million households. , If we only rely on such a small population, in what year and month can the fiefdom be revitalized? “

“But…” Luluo suddenly didn’t know what to say.

“Moreover, if I don’t buy these slaves, they will fall into the hands of others. How can you be sure that these slaves will not have an easier life with me, or even be free?” Xiao Ming continued: “I need “It’s about labor force, not their status as slaves.”

Luluo held the corners of her clothes and nodded lightly, “I’m wrong, I thought His Highness wanted to sell slaves to earn silver coins.”

When the silver coins were mentioned, Xiao Ming suddenly felt a headache. He thought that four to five thousand taels of silver per day was quite a lot, but with the purchase of cattle and slaves, as well as various materials and construction of workshops, the money was simply stretched.

“Hey, I originally set my heart on the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch.” Xiao Ming sighed bitterly and shook his head, as if feeling sad for Luluo’s incomprehension.

Lu Luo said anxiously: “Your Highness, Lu Luo misunderstood

Your Highness.” “That’s all, I forgive you.” Xiao Ming picked up Lu Luo’s little hand and started to rub it seriously, “Don’t mention it anymore, your hands are cold, come on, I will rub it for you.”

Lu Luo suddenly blushed.

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

“Ahem, Your Highness!” Qian Dafu coughed twice, “In addition to graphite, some of the limestone you told me about has also been shipped back. Do you want to go and take a look?”

A few days after Li San went to Chang’an, Qian Dafu came back with graphite. 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 was formed.

Steel production has increased, and the steel materials needed by the Equipment Company to produce lathes have basically been met. At present, the Equipment Company has produced two sets of lathes.

These lathes were ready to be installed in the hydraulic lathe workshop under construction, but at this time a problem also arose.

In order to use these lathes, Xiao Ming needs to train a group of skilled lathe workers, and the current craftsmen in the Equipment Department are not enough, so it is impossible to spare more manpower.

That’s why Xiao Ming remembered the slave trade. In order to monopolize technology, it was imperative to cultivate a group of high-tech slaves.

(End of chapter)