Mercenary 029

  The Qing army was defeated, the 100,000-strong army was destroyed, and the Imperial Guard fought to the death. The 3,000 cavalrymen were killed in the joint attack of the iron-clad war chariots and the Ming army's cavalry. More than 20,000 Han soldiers of the Qing dynasty were captured, countless military equipment and armor were seized, eight Huihui cannons were completely destroyed, and a large amount of fodder was burned to ashes.

  The Qing army was severely damaged, although there were still tens of thousands of soldiers and horses, but the camp tents, grain and fodder, siege engines and other equipment were all gone, so they had to retreat to Jining.

  The Ming army was transported to the front line through canals and railways, and 130,000 troops gathered in Xuzhou. Taking advantage of the Qing army's recent defeat, they crossed Xucheng and advanced all the way to Qufu, recovering the hometown of Confucius. The capital Nanjing was in an uproar. The Qing army had no strength to march south again, and the Ming army encountered strong resistance in the Tai'an area and did not dare to advance northward rashly. Both sides began negotiations, and the war temporarily came to a halt.

  Liu Ziguang handed over the deerskin boots, if it were a pair he would have been interested in trying them on. The smelly boot was being played with by the high-ranking officials of the imperial court, this is the best spoils of war, absolutely better than that pile of bloody long-haired heads to win the favor of the emperor and the nine-thousand-year-old. The Qing Emperor even had his boots confiscated by our army, it can be seen how desperate he was in his escape, how brave our army was.

  Yu Chonghuan personally wrote a lengthy memorial, praising the heroic deeds of the officers and soldiers of the Suzhou-Nanjing Regional Command who bravely fought against the enemy, repelled the Qing army for hundreds of miles, and also gave credit to the Li Guo Iron Factory. They independently resisted the enemy's army of 100,000 for a whole day, buying time for the arrival of reinforcements and paving the way for ultimate victory.

  The boots of the Qing emperor were placed in a brocade box, along with the memorial, and sent to Nanjing by express steamship on the Grand Canal. The thousands of intact human heads were put in lime boxes and sent out together with several eight-banner generals and lieutenants. As for the 20,000 prisoners of war, according to the old rules, they were sold at a price of 25 taels of silver per person. The iron factory selected 5,000 strong and sturdy ones first, and the rest were taken by the Forbidden Army to Xuzhou Prefecture for sale.

  Xuzhou Prefecture also submitted a memorial, naturally boasting about his own foresight, sending troops to reinforce Tiechang early on, assisting in the defense of Tiechang, and how Dragon Guard Huang Zhen was so brave, reading aloud the imperial edict and the nine thousand-year-old decree, while single-handedly riding alone and defeating the linked horses, dispelling the Qing army's morale.

  As for the Huilong Steel Factory rebellion, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning it. Since it was unsuccessful, let's just pretend it never happened. The troops sent by Xuzhou Prefecture were to assist in defending the city. The previous rumors about the iron factory colluding with the Qing dynasty to rebel were purely fabricated. Xuzhou Prefecture will definitely thoroughly investigate those who spread the rumors.

  Gao Shoubei was a bit of a nuisance, and some relatives of the Imperial Guards saw that he had hung a head on his horse's neck that looked very much like Niu Canjiang's. When this news reached Niu Yong's ears, he naturally understood what was going on, and secretly spread the word that he would definitely kill Gao Tai to avenge his brother, which scared Gao Shoubei so much that he didn't dare approach the Imperial Guards' camp within three miles.

  At this time, Liu Ziguang's 500-strong slave army had been stationed outside the north gate of Tiechang, living in the captured Qing army cowhide tents. They were worried about being settled after autumn and did not dare to enter the city. In the north, tens of millions of troops from both sides gathered, and it was clearly a madman's idea for hundreds of people to go and join in the excitement. Someone suggested going to Weishan Lake to be a pirate, but among these 500 people, only a few had been sailors before, and they were not familiar with combat on freshwater lakes.

  Master Peng attaches great importance to the armed forces of these 500 people and wants to recruit them as Iron Guards. This is not surprising, as the original Iron Guards of the iron factory have suffered heavy losses, and the newly replenished slaves need to repair the city walls and dig mines, all of which require guarding power. These 500 people were originally slaves, and now they can be trained as guards without any additional training.

  Liu Ziguang expressed his firm opposition, being an iron guard is possible, but it must ensure the unity of command, sign a contract and receive commission, and resolutely not do slave team guarding.

  Mr. Peng was surprised, and Liu Ziguang's conditions were unusual: the 500 slave soldiers could not accept outside officers, had to maintain their independence, receive wages during peacetime, and collect commissions according to difficulty when there were tasks, resolutely refused to do slave camp guards, compensated them for spiritual and physical health losses during their time as slaves, and also included compensation for lost work.

  It sounds like a lot, but Liu Ziguang didn't think so at all, and even felt a bit cheated, because the spiritual losses caused by his two years of slavery could not be measured in silver. He dictated, and Ding Libin wrote out detailed compensation terms, bringing his accountant's skills to the extreme.

  Specific compensation conditions are as follows: Originally, 5,123 slaves, in the unrest triggered by the iron factory's unilateral action, had to take coercive measures to restore their freedom for the sake of protecting their lives. The 4,607 deaths caused should be compensated at a standard of 10 taels of silver per person. Since these people have already died, the 46,070 taels of silver should be handed over to the survivors as a fund.

  The remaining 516 people, according to the length of time they were enslaved. In units of months, compensation for spiritual damage is 10 taels per month and compensation for lost labor is also 10 taels per month. For periods less than a month, it will be calculated at 300 copper coins per day.

  Those who have been beaten and have scars from whips on their bodies can be compensated according to the standard of 1 tael of silver per scar. Those who have suffered other bodily injuries shall be compensated according to the degree of disability, with a maximum of 1000 taels of silver, such as blindness or amputation of limbs. Even minor disabilities like losing a toe will be compensated with 50 taels of silver.

  In addition, since the slaves have made great contributions to the construction of the iron factory by doing heavy labor in the iron factory, the iron factory should pay wages according to the standard of 20 taels of silver per month.

  Even labor reform prisoners should have a salary, Liu Ziguang argued eloquently.

  Furthermore, the slaves fought a bloody battle with the Qing army to protect the two young ladies and the iron factory, paying a price in blood. This should be rewarded with 50 taels of silver per person, or called a commission.

  Liu Ziguo himself had outstanding military achievements, and the Iron Factory gained fame. He should be given a personal reward of 500 taels of silver. Liu Ziguo recommended that five outstanding leaders also be rewarded with 300 taels of silver each.

  So, calculating this way, the slaves mostly worked for two years, with a compensation fee of 20 taels per month and a wage of 20 taels. Multiplied by 24 months in two years, it's an average of 960 taels per person. For 516 people, that's a total of 495,360 taels of silver. Who doesn't have several scars on their body? Each lash mark is worth 1 tael, so each person can get another dozen or so taels. Temporarily calculating at an average of 15 taels per person, that's 7,740 taels. Adding the war allowance of 50 taels per person, the total for each ordinary slave becomes: 960 + 15 + 50 = 1,025 taels.

  Fortunately, among these 516 people, most of them were elite survivors with few physical disabilities. The total compensation for the disabled was 8,450 taels.

  Liu Ziguo and others' outstanding individual war rewards were 2,000 taels.

  The total cost of iron factory paid out to slaves is 579,270 taels of silver.

  Looking at Ding Libin's specially capitalized numbers, Peng Changzhu, although calm and reserved, couldn't help but secretly gasp in shock.

  Fifty-seven million nine hundred and twenty-seven thousand two hundred and twenty taels of silver.

  It's killing me.

  The ironworks suffered from internal strife and external enemy invasions, with houses and city walls severely damaged, and many weapons consumed. A large amount of funds was needed to purchase coal, repair houses and cities, although the newly purchased slaves did not need to be paid wages, but the 125,000 taels of silver already paid were not blown in by the wind.

  There is also a payment of 100,000 taels to the Imperial Guards. The iron factory's own casualties and compensation also cost tens of thousands of taels, these large expenditures are enough to empty the iron factory's old bottom.

  Ku Yin Yuan had 1 million taels, after paying the slave ransom and labor military expenses, there were still 775,000 taels left. Among them, 300,000 taels were loans from Ri Sheng Chang Piao Hao. Liu Zi Guang's opening mouth was close to 600,000 taels, which was impossible to satisfy no matter what.

  Both sides held talks on the north gate wall in a friendly and consultative manner. The slave army was not formally dressed in iron armor, so they still wore various colors of clothing, but they still showed extremely strong military qualities. Five hundred people were divided into five hundred teams, elected team leaders, formulated simple military rules, and set up camps with one thread not sloppy.

  Liu Ziguang was still wearing the helmet and armor of the Qing Dynasty's Imperial Guard, saying that this attire was warm, sitting on one side of the negotiating table, displaying a majestic general demeanor. Antony brought twenty people as guards, Ding Libin was now the accountant and secretary of the slave army, with a small but spirited appearance, sitting beside him holding a brush and abacus, ready to help General Liu calculate the amount of silver at any time.

  Mr. Peng sat on the other side of the negotiating table, covered with a green felt cloth, staring at the compensation bill presented by Liu Ziguang for half a day. Liu Ziguang was very relaxed, tapping his middle finger joint on the table from time to time, occasionally picking up the hot tea and blowing a mouthful of hot air. He also knew that the price he had quoted was too high, asking for the sky and paying back to the ground. There was still a bottom line, which was 500 taels of silver per person. He didn't dare to be too overbearing either, after all, 500 people were still weak, and the Iron Guard had at least several thousand soldiers, and there were many government troops nearby. Striving for a win-win situation where everyone was happy was the best.

  Boss Peng is still considering, behind him stands Hu Xianjue. Captain Hu led his team to pursue Liu Ziguang into the Qing dynasty's sphere of influence that day and was ambushed by the Imperial Guards, losing nearly half of his men. Later, they were surrounded by the Qing army's scouts and chased everywhere until nightfall before disguising themselves and sneaking into the Qing army camp. The fire on the city wall discovered by Liu Ziguang was lit by him. He managed to escape unscathed thanks to his exceptional martial arts skills.

  Mr. Peng slammed his hand on the table, startling the surrounding guards who all put their hands on the handles of their knives, but then heard the master say slowly: "I agree to the entire amount on this bill."

  Before Liu Ziguang could even get excited, the old man continued: "However, the factory currently doesn't have that much silver on hand. Even if we did, we would need to purchase bricks, tiles, coal, and grain first. Let's just round it off to 580,000 taels of silver, and consider it a debt I owe you all. Each person will receive an advance of 40 taels of silver, along with a full set of iron armor. What do you think, Little Liu?"

  "Alright, Master Factory is indeed straightforward, but when will you give us the remaining silver?" Liu Ziguang asked.

  "It's up to you then." Peng Changzhu said with a mysterious smile. "Come on, let's investigate the identity of the 500 Iron Guards..."

  After friendly and sincere consultations between the two parties, the 500-strong slave army was employed by Tiechang Ironworks, not incorporated, but employed. They became a military organization loyal to Liu Ziguo personally and responsible to their employer. Tiechang provided them with armor, war horses, and weapons. They were in charge of reconnaissance outside the North Gate and part of the city's defense. Each person received a monthly salary of 10 taels of silver, and there was additional compensation for battles. The wounded could be prioritized for miscellaneous work within Tiechang Ironworks.

  The contract is signed for three years, and the contract can be renewed after expiration. To ensure the fulfillment of the contract, the iron factory temporarily withholds a guarantee deposit of two hundred taels of silver per person from the compensation mentioned earlier.

  The contract was a roll of white silk, filled with terms and conditions, sealed at the end with the bright red seal of the iron factory, and the master also signed his name "Peng Jianguo" with a wolf hair brush.

  This name has a very modern flavor, Liu Ziguo thought to himself as he pressed his own seal, one side of which was the official seal of the slave army and the other side was Liu Ziguo's private seal. Now this branch of the army had its own name. "Dedicated Death Camp" was majestic and imposing, with a strong killing aura.

  516 slaves excitedly pressed their handprints on the white silk one by one, each getting 1,025 taels of silver, a sum they would never earn in this lifetime. Following General Liu is good, there's meat to eat and money to be made.

  Brand new armor was worn on the bodies of the soldiers of the elite guard, a newly embroidered large flag fluttered in the wind, three hundred infantrymen, one hundred cavalrymen, one hundred charioteers, five centurions, five standard-bearers, and one commander-in-chief were reviewed by the high-ranking officials of the iron factory on the open ground outside the north gate.

  At the inspection, Hu Xian said discontentedly: "Master, is it worth spending so much silver on these 500 people? Even if we recruit 10,000 Iron Guards, it wouldn't cost that much money."

  Boss Peng smiled slightly: "Do you think I care about these 500 people? In today's Great Ming Dynasty, what is most important? Talent!"