Chapter 25: Capturing Prisoners (Part 2)

  These days, the dozens of Han people who moved into Dong Village were all "instructors" selected by Yang Yingqi. Each person was responsible for teaching five new residents, and the teaching period was one month. The content of the teaching had four points: First, to clarify the laws and regulations, so that they knew what was allowed and what was prohibited in Han Village; second, to inform them of work and rest schedules, helping them get used to the labor and living rules of Han Village; third, to tell them about rewards and punishments. After the village was built, Han Village no longer had all property in common, but instead allowed for private property, and each villager could receive corresponding compensation for their contributions. These systems were all made known to the new villagers; fourth, to select talented people, that is, to pick out the clever and outstanding ones from among the new villagers. In addition, every evening, the instructors would tell the new villagers about their experiences over the past year or so, and ask them about their surnames, telling them about the great achievements of their ancestors - in short, Yang Yingqi had used these methods to educate the old villagers, and now they were using the same methods to indoctrinate this batch of new people. In an era when even material life was extremely lacking, such a degree of spiritual transformation was already quite effective - especially when those who accepted the transformation found that doing so enabled them to live better lives.

  Zhou Sheng was delighted after getting 150 new laborers, as the people he led were either farmers or knew some farming skills and could easily get started. However, Wang Dahui from the glass house and Zhang Laoyu from the ironwork house came to complain that although they had been working day and night for days, they were still short-handed - but these new 100 or so people were either completely ignorant of glassmaking and blacksmithing or only half-understood them.

  Zhang Lao Yu said, "If we have to teach them separately until they learn, I don't know how long it will take! It's not urgent usually, but now with the enemy pressing in front and demanding weapons and bows and arrows, we can't delay. Otherwise, let these dozens of people go first and talk about it after the battle is over."

  Yang Yingqi sneered, "Finished fighting? Who knows when it'll be finished! In the past, our Han department didn't have many blacksmiths either. Later on, weren't they all trained by you? And as for making glass, Dahu, you only had a rough understanding of it before, but later on, wasn't it all figured out through trial and error? Now our glass isn't inferior to the ones transported from Persia!"

  "Train them? Those people I spent half a year's effort on before! Now there's no time for that."

  Yang Yingqi pondered and said, "It's indeed impossible for everyone to be familiar with the entire process of smelting iron or making glass in a short period. How about this: you break down the work into detailed steps, and let these newcomers each get familiar with only one small link, so they can easily get started, and their efforts won't be wasted."

  Zhang Lao Yu and Wang Da Hui exchanged a glance, saying in unison: "Is this okay?"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Okay, just like this..." Then he carefully explained the benefits of the assembly line process to them, and discussed with them how to divide the process.

  Ten days later, Yang Yingqi made some adjustments to some details of Dongcun, and then the entire operation of Dongcun began to normalize. The residents of Dongcun had just escaped from captivity, with very low expectations for life, so they were easily motivated.

  Huining Female True Department and Han Village are very close, and the villagers of Dongcun often have the opportunity to come into contact with Khitan and Xi prisoners. At first, the status of Khitan people and Xi people in the army was generally higher than that of Han people and Bohai people, but now it has been reversed, and the gap between the two sides is not just ordinary. Looking at the life of their former companions like cattle and horses, it has further stirred up the centripetal force of the new villagers towards the Han Department.

  When Zhao Guan and Liu arrived at the Han Department, they were surprised to find that the village was not only not devastated by the war, but had become even more prosperous. At this time, it had been less than half a month since the group of captives arrived in the Han Department, but most people had already adapted to life here. Each room had elected a deputy leader, who would take over as the new leader of the five people in the same room after the original leader left as an instructor half a month later. The village chief of Dong Village, Han Yong, was also newly elected by the crowd. He was only a low-ranking officer in the Liao army, but he had organizational skills and was roughly literate. He was the first to ask Yang Yingqi questions, emboldened at the time.

  The quality and quantity of the glass products produced by Liuli House satisfied both Zhao and Liu. After Yang Yingqi received the goods such as tea, salt, and medicine, Zhao Guandao said: "Chief Yang, now that the war is imminent, it's likely to be difficult to come and go in the future. The next transaction may have to wait until after the war."

  Yang Yingqi's heart skipped a beat as he asked, "Have you guys heard any rumors about the Khitans?"

  Liu Congdao said, "The dynamics of the Liao State court, we can't hear about, but the forbidden army in Zhongjing, and the Khitan army near Shangjing seem to have some unusual movements. Moreover, various routes are also deploying troops, it seems that this time the Great Liao's actions are not small. Yang leader, although the politics of the Great Liao is corrupt, after all, it is one of the top two powerful countries in the world. The Jurchen army may be elite, but their numbers are too few. Therefore..." He saw Yang Yingqi's face was expressionless, and hastily said, "We merchants shouldn't comment on such major military and national affairs."

  Yang Yingqi said lightly: "Nothing. You are also kind." At this time, there were not many people who saw the true situation of the Jurchen tribe - including the Jurchens themselves.

  Zhao Guandao said: "The Liao State's border has already been heavily guarded, and from now on, it's likely that these tea, salt, and other goods will be difficult to transport. Ah, iron is also a prohibited item, but the Han Department doesn't lack it."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Liaoguo has always sealed off the Jurchen, and even familiar Jurchens are not allowed to come and go, let alone Han people and Koreans? But haven't you all been coming over these years?"

  Zhao Guan smiled bitterly and said: "Commander Yang, that was in peacetime. Now the Jurchen people have stirred up such a big commotion, things are indeed much more troublesome."

  Yang Yingqi heard him say "it's a lot of trouble", so he knew they weren't completely unable to come, just haggling over the price. He said: "Alright, during the war, we'll give an 80% discount on all our glass products. Also, we won't take salt, tea and other contraband goods."

  Liu Congdao: "What does Chief Yang want?"

  Yang Yingqi said: "We don't want anything."

  Zhao Guan and Liu Cong were shocked: "What?" They were worried that they had said something wrong earlier to offend Yang Yingqi, so he would no longer do business with them.

  Yang Yingqi smiled slightly and said: "Don't worry, I'm not going to cut off your supply."

  Zhao Guan and Liu Cong both let out a sigh of relief, Zhao Guan said: "So what Yang leader meant was..."

  Yang Yingqi said: "My intention is that you can come and take the goods at any time, but you don't have to exchange them for cash. Just remember the amount owed, and when the situation eases a bit in the future, you can come back and make up for it. Of course, if you can still help us smuggle goods over during wartime, we will be very grateful to you."

  Liu exclaimed in surprise: "Does Commander Yang trust us?"

  "Doing business is all about trust. If I didn't trust you, would I still do business with you?" Yang Yingqi smiled slightly and said: "Moreover, what I trust even more is the future of my department! I believe that anyone with a bit of foresight wouldn't do something stupid to take advantage of my department!"

  Zhao Guan and Liu Cong hurriedly said: "I dare not, I dare not."

  After the two men left, they turned their attention to intelligence from Ningjiang State. This intelligence was obtained by Ouyang Yi, who had infiltrated Liao territory and bought informants to gather information.

  The Liao State had already been commanded by Shi Kui Xiang, with Xiao Chuo not wild as the deputy commander. Three thousand Khitan and Xi soldiers were dispatched, along with two thousand imperial guards and local militia, and more than two thousand brave warriors were selected from various routes. They crossed the Duck River and marched towards the direction of Chuhe Dian.

  The Duck River is an alias for the Mixed Jiang, and the exit store is located west of Huining City, north of the Duck River. Yang Yingqi took out his own rough map, combined with Ouyang Xi's intelligence to speculate on the route of the Liao army's advance. He thought: "Ningjiang Prefecture is in the south, if the Liao army comes from the west, it does not need to pass through Ningjiang Prefecture. It seems that this time the Liao army is not as passive as last time, but is taking the initiative to attack!"

  After some thought, he came to Ningchengzhai to see Aguda. Before entering the city, he saw dust flying at the gate of the city, and thought: "It seems that the Jurchen people's intelligence is not inferior to ours. Aguda has always been ahead of schedule in doing things, and this time he must have gone out to meet him. The only thing I don't know is how my troops are arranged in Ningjiangzhou."

  Seeing the cavalry approaching, the leader was indeed Aguda. He made way for the cavalry to pass through, and Zongyong saw him, stopped and asked: "Ying Qi, is Ahu well?"

  Yang Yingqi said: "Very well! No matter how busy I am every day, I will go to see her. You can rest assured. Is this trip going to fight against the Khitan people?"

  "Not bad."

  Yang Yingqi said: "Will my elder brother and them go?"

  "Go! We will meet halfway. The Khitan army is said to be a hundred thousand strong, we must concentrate our forces to defeat the enemy."

  Yang Yingqi nodded and said: "I wish Ma Dao success in advance! I will assist Sa Ga Daren to stabilize the rear affairs."

  Listening to the hoofbeats heading west, Yang Yingqi thought to himself: "This time if we win the battle, I wonder how many more captives will be sent over, must prepare in advance."

  In the hearts of most people - including Aguda's heart, the Great Liao is still a formidable giant. The Jurchen army that can be mobilized so far has only a few thousand people, while the Great Liao can easily send out a "100,000-strong army" with just one dudu!