Qingzhou Dongdaying.

This is the military camp stationed by the Qingzhou Army. Compared with the 3,000 soldiers in its heyday, 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 spider webs and dust on the ground, but now these barracks have been cleaned up and the recruitment notice has been posted. There are endless people coming to join the army during this period.

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

The veterans were particularly excited about this, as if they had returned to the period before the barbarian invasion, especially the increase in soldiers, which would mean that they would be promoted.

However, before the recruits arrived, a group of people in rags entered the military camp in advance. After inquiring, they realized that these were slaves purchased by the King of Qi from all over the country.

Veterans had no good feelings for the King of Qi before, but in the past two months, rumors of the King of Qi's change of heart have been spread among the public, which has gradually changed their views on the King of Qi.

"Your Highness, these slaves cannot live in the camp all the time. The new soldiers are about to enter the camp. I have no free place here."

As soon as 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 all the time. Before the recruits entered the camp, I would definitely let them move out of here." Xiao Ming put his hands into his sleeves. Although the snow stopped, the weather became colder and colder.

Although the sun was good today and it was golden, Xiao Ming was still trembling with coldness.

"This is...this is OK." Lu Fei breathed a light sigh, and then he asked: "Your Highness, why are you buying so many slaves for? The royal family can't use so many servants."

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

"This last general is not sure. Qingzhou was looted once three years ago, and more than 100,000 young men were plundered. They have not recovered yet. In theory, the barbarians should also understand that there is no oil or water to catch here." Lu Fei said in a deep voice, "It's just that the merchants from the grassland said that there were a lot of cattle and sheep that were frozen to death on the grassland this time, especially the Huyantuo tribe living in the north of Cangzhou, which suffered heavy losses, because they were afraid that they would jump over the wall."

Xiao Ming nodded, "If I remember correctly, the Huyantuo tribe can organize an army of 30,000 people, right?"

"That's right, the entire barbarian tribe is full of soldiers. Apart from the elderly, weak, women and children, everyone can become soldiers."

"This time, they were frozen to death because the cattle and sheep were unable to shepherd enough cattle and sheep to fill their stomachs next year, so they were ready to rob and reserve food again. If so, can we do a business with them? After all, Qingzhou can no longer stand the tossing and thirty thousand people attack Cangzhou with all their might. Even if we win miserably, it is not what I wish." Xiao Ming pondered.

Lu Fei was straightforward, but he was not without brains. The recruits were not trained, and thieves were in chaos from time to time in the six states. At this time, he fought bloody battles with the barbarians, which was even worse.

"The merchants in Cangzhou City usually buy barbarian cattle, sheep or fur, and sell coal cakes and iron ore. However, this year, the cattle, sheep were frozen to death by a large number of them, and this business could not be done. After all, no one would buy frozen cattle, sheep." Lu Fei shook his head, thinking that this method would not work.

"Yeah?"

Xiao Ming lowered his head and pondered that there has been a lot of soda ash for soda, but relatively speaking, the price of oil is not cheap. Wang Jiazheng is anxious about this.

Now that a large number of cattle and sheep of barbarians are frozen to death, isn’t it a good opportunity to buy meat oil? Moreover, Lu Fei said that the transaction of coal and iron ore is indispensable for the Wang family’s participation.

The Great Yu Kingdom has always banned the sale of coal and iron ore to the barbarians, but there are never fewer smuggling merchants.

Xiao Ming naturally had no good impression of the barbarians, because the grassland empire is becoming increasingly large, which is a huge threat to him and the Great Yu Kingdom, but at this time he has no choice but to do anything about it.

Now he will definitely not be able to fight. He can only suffer some grievances in his heart to maintain a stable development environment. If he wants to resolve the crisis this time, he will probably have to let the Wang family come forward, because the Wang family has business dealings with the barbarians, so there will definitely be contacts in private.

He had a conspiracy in his heart, but Xiao Ming did not tell Lu Fei that the barbarians and the Great Yu Kingdom had been blood feud for generations, and this matter was not glorious after all.

This time, Xiao Ming came here mainly for the slaves. The nine hundred and fifty slaves said that there were not many more and fewer, but it was crucial for Xiao Ming because these people were enough for him to build several workshops.

The equipment department is just so big, and now it is no longer enough to accommodate so many craftsmen and equipment. He has long been planning to build a factory base similar to a modern industrial park.

He has selected the location, just below the Tuojiang River in the south of the city, and this group of slaves will be responsible for building workshops and will be assigned to work in various workshops.

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

Lu Fei had already gathered all the slaves at this time. Xiao Ming glanced at the slaves standing in a mess. Most of them were ragged, with shackles in their hands and feet, and were trembling in the cold wind.

As Liang Dahai said, most of these slaves were young and strong men and women. According to slave standards, they were high-quality slaves.

After confirming the quality of the slaves, Xiao Ming said to Chen Wenlong who followed, "These slaves are handed over to you. I have given you the structure of the brick kiln. More than 900 people are enough for you. This winter Equipment Department has handed it to Chen Qi. Your task is to bring these slaves to burn paper and produce red bricks and cement, and build the factory in the workshop area. After the spring, the equipment manufactured by the Equipment Department will be transferred to the workshop. Do you 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, and the brick kiln was also in this area.

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

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

Moreover, he doesn't need to be comparable to the quality of modern red bricks, as long as it is strong enough.

The second is cement. Chen Qi has long understood how to cook cement. Both of these are the work of crude benzene, and these slaves are enough for these slaves.

For these slaves, Xiao Ming did not speak loudly about freedom, democracy, and human rights, because in this era when civilization was uncivilized, there was no difference between this and nonsense.
Chapter completed!