Chapter 6 Grain Procurement and Population

  In this era, Li Zhong's tea soup is completely unaccustomed to drinking.

  The whole thing is a bowl of soup with various seasonings added, completely unlike its later forms.

  He pretended to be busy, Li Jing calmed down and waited quietly.

  Just as a wisp of incense was lit, the familiar footsteps were heard from afar and drew near. Li Zheng looked up to see Zhou Fei walking in just at that moment.

  "Mr. Li." Zhou Fei clasped his hands together and apologized, "The clan elders have important matters to discuss and cannot personally receive you, please forgive us. However, the clan elder has instructed that Mr. Li's request for grain purchases will be fully accepted by the Fu family."

  Li Zhēng heard this and smiled, stood up to return the courtesy, then waved his hand and said: "The Fu family is large and prosperous, with many things to attend to every day. Besides, buying grain is just a small matter, there's no need for the elder to take action."

  Seeing Li Zhēng's sincerity, Zhōu Féi laughed and said: "Then I'll ask Li Xiǎo Gē to wait a moment, I'll go prepare now."

  Li Ding nodded and said, "Manager Zhou has taken great pains... The amount of 30,000 stones is not small. I also don't have any spare hands to use, so I'll have to trouble the Fu family to send someone to escort it. Of course, the payment will be made in full."

  "It is indeed what should be." Zhou Fei nodded his head in agreement.

  Li Zhēng stood up and said, "In that case, I'll leave the fort first and go to Língzhōu City to see if Zhang Shan's matter has been settled. I'll come back at dusk."

  "When it gets dark? Hmm...it's better this way, the target of 30,000 stones is too big, traveling at night can avoid attracting attention." Zhou Fei suddenly understood.

  Although this Lingzhou is the foundation of the Fu family, if the benefits are too great, it's inevitable that someone will be moved. If you don't cover your ears and eyes, you'll be followed by others, and after the person sent by the Fu family leaves, Li Zhēn's pasture has no defensive capabilities at present.

  Having said this, Zhou Fei led Li Zhong out of the side hall and headed towards the outside of the fort.

  "By the way," Li Zhēng asked, "I heard that the southern counties are still fighting, what's the situation like? Don't know if it will affect us here?"

  Zhou Fei heard this, the smile on his chubby face faded away, and he let out a slight sigh, saying: "In the short term, it won't affect Lingzhou, but now that Han Sui's power is so great, the imperial court has no strength to collect taxes, and the southern counties are in a state of turmoil."

  Li Zheng showed a worried look and said: "I heard that the master of the Fu family, Nan Rong Gong, is the Taishou of Hanyang, I don't know..."

  Zhou Fei shook his head and said in a low voice, "The master was transferred to Han Yang at the beginning of the year and has been holding out against Han Sui... The elders of the clan have long wanted to summon the master back, but considering the master's temperament... Hehe, it's not good for us as subordinates to discuss these matters."

  Li Zheng's face showed understanding, and seeing the gate of the Wu Fortress in front of him, he cupped his hands and said: "Trouble Zhou Guan for me, the main gate has arrived, please stay."

  Zhou Fei stood there, watching Li Zhuang's gradually disappearing back, and only after a long time did he shake his head and turn to prepare food.

  Arrived at Lingzhou City, Li Zhong found Zhang Shan in a corner of the inn.

  Zhang Shan was haggling with someone at this time.

  There are two main ways to buy people. One is to buy slaves from shops that specialize in selling people. The slaves in these shops are of good quality, either strong and healthy or beautiful women. This method is mainly prevalent in border areas like Liangzhou.

  The source of slaves, mostly from the Hu people's tribes attacking each other and producing prisoners of war. Generally speaking, such prisoners of war are not sold, but rather supplement the population of their own tribe and increase their strength. However, there are exceptions. Some tribes suffered heavy losses in war and needed materials and money to make up for the loss, so they selectively chose some slaves to transport to the market to sell to human traffickers.

  Another way is for refugees to sell themselves. Many self-cultivating farmers who went bankrupt due to various reasons such as war and could no longer make a living, voluntarily sold themselves, even dragging their families along with them. Buying this kind of slave does not require money, just a promise to guarantee food and drink, many people are willing to follow you.

  Of course, the quality of this type of person varies greatly, with old and young people, and only a few are in their prime.

  They crouched in groups on one side of the street, with a straw inserted behind their necks, which is called "inserting a flag to sell their heads".

  Zhang Shan saw Li Zhuang arrive and immediately stopped his conversation with the shopkeeper, turning to greet him.

  "How was it?"

  Li Zhong smiled and asked.

  "Boss." Zhang Shan scratched his head and said, "This shop's prices are too expensive, we're still haggling."

  "How much?" Li Zhēng's gaze swept around, asking as he did so.

  "They want one hundred coins per person, which is enough to buy a stone of fine grain." Zhang Shan complained for a moment, then said: "However, the slaves in this shop are all strong warriors..."

  Li Zheng nodded slightly and thought for a moment before saying: "How many people?"

  "One hundred and fifty people." Zhang Shan replied honestly.

  "Hmm... for 150 people, we need 15,000 yuan... " Li Zhuo thought for a moment and said: "Tell the person in charge, offer 13,000 yuan to buy it all, if not, then forget it."

  After finishing speaking, Li Zheng turned around and walked towards the corner of the wall at the edge of the street.

  "Hey little master, buy me!"

  As soon as Li Zhēn noticed this side, the prostitutes who were huddled together in the corner of the wall all looked over with eager eyes. The quick-witted ones immediately shouted loudly, hoping to catch Li Zhēn's attention.

  When someone takes the lead, others follow suit and shout along.

  In an instant, this place became noisy, some children didn't know what was going on, crying and shouting, chaotic.

  Looking at these faces full of eager anticipation, looking at their hunched bodies, waxen faces and dry lips, Li Zhēng's heart was fiercely stabbed.

  "My heart is still soft..." Just silently watching, Li Zhēn suddenly felt that he was getting closer and closer to this world, the sense of isolation gradually disappearing.

  Taking a deep breath, Li Zhēng clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve tightly, remained silent for a moment, before saying loudly: "My pasture needs manpower, but there are conditions."

  The vendor looked at Li Zhēng and gradually calmed down.

  "Those with skills are preferred." After a pause, Li Zhēng continued: "All kinds of artisans are acceptable, no matter if they have families to support."

  "I can forge iron!"

  "Does herding count?"

  "Are you farming?"

  "I have the strength, I can handle any job!"

  After listening to Li Zhong's words, many people became excited.

  Li Zheng stretched out his hands and pressed them down, waiting for the noise to subside before saying: "Those who think they meet the conditions, stand on the left side and get ready."

  Just then, Zhang Shan had also finished his business.

  After settling the bill, Zhang Shan led the 150 people out of the shop.

  In this era, especially for the Hu people, being a prisoner of war and a slave, being sold or given away was a very normal thing, so this batch of slaves looked very honest. From now on, their lives were in the hands of their new masters. Their livelihoods, food and clothing from then on would all depend on their new masters.

  Of course, what they really think in their hearts is something only heaven knows.

  "My lord."

  Zhang Shan looked at that group of shabbily dressed people who were difficult to cover their bodies, and wondered: "These people..."

  Li Zhong smiled: "The grassland is short of people, the more the better."

  While talking, all the vendors had already prepared and gathered together with their families or friends as a bond.

  The total number of people has exceeded two hundred, but Li Zhēng looked at it and didn't say anything. Firstly, the number of people selling themselves here is not too many, in fact, there are only so many people in total. Li Zhēng's previous mention of so many conditions was just to show an attitude.

  Secondly, population is a resource and the most important one. As long as there are people, everything will be available. The grasslands are currently short of manpower, aren't they?

  Again, Li Zhēng's heart softened. Or rather, regardless of whether they were men or women, old or young, everyone was useful.

  Let Zhang Shan organize these more than 200 men, women and children who are on the verge of life and death, and then take a total of more than 370 people to march out of the city in an orderly manner.

  Of course, so many people gathered together, still attracted the attention of Lingzhou officials. Fortunately, Fu's new manager in Chui Guan also knew Li Zhong and helped to say a word, which easily left the city of Lingzhou.

  These people, whether they were young and strong slaves bought from shops or those who voluntarily sold themselves with their families, were actually all starving and struggling to move.

  Li Zhong knew they were physically weak, and it was still early in the day, so he walked very slowly.

  When the troops arrived at Fushikou Fortress, the sky finally darkened.

  At this time, Zhou Fei had already prepared food.

  "Li Xiao Ge!"

  Zhou Fei stepped forward, glancing at the disheveled troops behind Li Zheng, and smiled: "The 30,000 dan of grain is ready, but only 100 horse-drawn carriages can be spared from the fort to transport them."

  Li Zhēng listened and calculated for a moment, furrowing his brow: "This way, at most we can transport 1,000 dan per trip, it'll take thirty trips to finish..."

  "There's no way." Zhou Fei helplessly spread his hands: "The carts used for transportation in the fort are already scarce, and the fort itself needs to use them, so..."

  Li Zhēng nodded: "I understand. It seems it will take several days to transport everything."

  Li Zhēng said, "Manager Zhou, I have a small favor to ask... The newly purchased batch of slaves are all starving and their physical strength can't keep up. So, I was thinking of asking Manager Zhou to lend me some cooking utensils to make some porridge for them to fill their bellies, making it easier for us to hurry along the way."

  It's over fifty miles to the pasture, and if these weak servants don't eat something and then travel at night, there will inevitably be losses.

  Zhou Fei heard this and smiled: "This is a small matter."

  Having spoken, he ordered his attendants to go into the village.

  As soon as all the tools were ready, Li Zhuang had someone immediately bury the cauldron and start cooking on the side of the gate of the fort.

  The slaves following looked at the long line of horse-drawn carriages, listened to Li Zhēn and Zhou Féi's conversation, and suddenly their minds were greatly settled. Each one's gaze towards Li Zhēn was no longer timid, and a thread of hope emerged - so much grain, that is a reassurance!

  Also seeing this young master still cooking and eating, all were delighted and excited, unable to contain themselves. Then they all bowed deeply, extremely grateful.

  Li Zhong waved his hand and smiled, letting them get up. His expression was not very concerned. However, in his heart, he clearly knew that at least for the time being, he had won their hearts and gained their initial loyalty.