In the outer city of Suero, Xiao Chen and Luo Ling finally found Chen Hansheng and his group.
They occupied a cargo yard, and Shi Hao and several of his companions guarded the gate with guns. When they saw Xiao Chen coming, they shouted excitedly.
Immediately, Chen Hansheng and Li Jia rushed out from the cargo yard.
Chen Hansheng hugged Xiao Chen tightly, and Shi Hao and Li Jia also came over to hug him. The relationship between people is particularly close in such a foreign land. Li Jia would never do such a thing on Earth. However, when he saw Xiao Chen again at this time, he felt that if he didn't hug him, he would be sorry for his worry.
"We are so worried." Li Jia looked at Xiao Chen, then at Luo Ling. Seeing that the two were together, he was relieved. He said with a sigh, "We were discussing business, but suddenly there were rumors that there was a riot in the slave market, and not long after, the merchants began to flee. We knew that you went to the slave market early in the morning and must have encountered danger. This scared us a lot. We wanted to go find you, but Lao Chen insisted not to let us go. He took us to occupy a cargo yard in the outer city and prepared fast horses. He said that we should wait for news here. If we run over, it will only cause trouble."
"Oh, you're complaining right now. I've told you long ago that you should trust your partners. Do you see now? It's okay!" Chen Hansheng laughed, "But where are the Kalandars? How come there were three of you who went there, but only two came back?"
"Old Chen, don't worry. She's fine. There are some things outside that need her to keep an eye on." Luo Ling said.
"I told you, Kalanda is a real master, and you, Xiao Chen, are also a decent magician, so you should have no problem escaping. Don't blame me for not sending anyone to pick you up. Shi Hao and the others are just ordinary people, and Li Jia's magic is not yet mature. By the time the time comes, I'm afraid they won't be able to find you and will get trapped instead. I have to be responsible for everyone." Chen Hansheng stopped laughing and said sincerely.
Xiao Chen nodded and said, "You did the right thing, Lao Chen. Fortunately, they didn't come. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous."
"What happened in there? What's the situation now? Do we need to retreat immediately?"
"No need. In fact, not only do we not need to retreat, we need you all to help us receive the personnel. We have done a big business in there."
Five minutes later, everyone was staring at Xiao Chen and Luo Ling in amazement.
"Nearly five thousand people? My goodness, you got them without spending a penny? This is a great deal!" This was Chen Hansheng's admiration.
"It's not easy to settle 5,000 people near our school at once." This is Li Jia's question.
"It's hard to manage so many people. It's like a time bomb. It will explode if we don't manage it properly." This is Shi Hao's perspective on the issue.
"So, I think we have to proceed in several steps." Xiao Chen analyzed, "We have more than 20 people ourselves, and the mercenaries led by Kalanda have more than 40. Roger and his dozen men can also be used."
"And Serinda," Li Jia added, "she has more than a dozen guards traveling with us."
"If you can convince her, you can consider it." Xiao Chen said with a smile, "I have promoted some relatively strong and obedient slaves, nearly two hundred of them. I will separate them from the same slave camp and organize them into battalions, squadrons and teams. I will arrange our people and elite slaves to be captains at various levels. Once the organization is established, it will be easy to manage them."
Chen Hansheng agreed: "On average, three people are responsible for fifty students, which is about the same as a teacher managing a class. It can be done!"
"That seems to be the case. Besides, we have guns and weapons." Shi Hao felt more at ease at this time.
Xiao Chen shook his head and said, "The key to our ability to control these people is not because we have weapons, but because of two reasons: first, the key to their survival now lies in us. Second, their hope for a good life in the future still lies in us. I moved a large amount of supplies from the slave camp, including food and clothing. As long as these things are in our hands, they have to be obedient if they want to have enough food. I also promised that when they arrive at our school, I will give them fields, seeds and tools so that they can have the opportunity to support themselves. Those who don't farm will also get other jobs, either becoming warriors or workers. This is much greater than their hope of escaping and surviving. This is the feudal era. Any lord and freeman can execute fugitives. They can't move a step outside of Suero unless they go to the wilderness. I promised them that if they work for us for five years or gain military merit, they can get rid of their slave status. This is the way we can control them."
"Xiao Chen. What you said hasn't been discussed with the people in the committee yet. Will there be any problem if you just promise all the benefits directly?" Li Jia said worriedly.
"Those who accomplish great things don't pay attention to small details. If we wait until the meeting is over, it will be too late." Chen Hansheng defended Xiao Chen, "Besides, do you think that if five thousand slaves stand at the school gate, any official will say no? Who would dare? Let's not debate now. Let's split up and act quickly. It seems that there are many things to do."
"That's right. I've got some ideas. If you don't mind, I may have a lot of work to ask you to help me do." Seeing that everyone nodded in agreement, Xiao Chen began to assign tasks: "Li Jia, go to the Golden Jasmine Chamber of Commerce to say hello to Baron Goya and his men. We want to purchase all their tents, food, and clothes. We are old friends, so ask them to take out all the goods that have been hidden in the bottom of the box for me."
"Okay, we are all tied to the same rope, they will try their best." Li Jia agreed.
Xiao Chen then said to Shi Hao: "Shi Hao, go see the city lord and ask him to arrange for the tents and supplies of Baron Gregory's army. I know this is a bit difficult..."
Luo Ling smiled slightly, "It won't be difficult. They will understand that if they don't cooperate, the slaves will be cold and hungry, and then they will cause trouble. This city wall may not be able to stop them. You can be tougher."
"I understand." Shi Hao laughed. "I don't think I can do well in negotiations, but I can definitely scare people with my airs. Xiao Chen, pick a few tough guards from the ones you found, put on their equipment, and follow me as a background. They'll be scared to death."
Xiao Chen gave a thumbs up and said to Luo Ling, "Besides me, you are the only one who is familiar with Master Ikasa. We don't need him to do anything. Just explain the situation to him and ask him to keep all parties stable."
"Don't worry. Maybe I can even help you borrow a few magic apprentices to support you."
Xiao Chen was stunned: "Can we still play like this?"
Luo Ling blinked and said, "Just watch me."
"By the way, please notify the dwarf blacksmith Farrell and his family to evacuate with us."
"Don't worry, he has long been a member of the Golden Jasmine Chamber of Commerce."
"Old Chen, there is still a chance for you to make some money. As long as the slaves have not left and are still stranded outside the city, many merchants will be uneasy. Those merchants who come from afar must want to leave this troubled place as soon as possible. Some of them must be willing to sell their goods at a low price. Take a few people from the business team to ask around. We want all the cheap goods. We have a big business now and we are short of everything. There is a lot of money and property shipped out from the slave camp. You can spend it."
"I like this business. I'll make them bleed a lot." Chen Hansheng patted his chest and agreed.
"So what are you going to do?" Li Jia asked Xiao Chen.
"There are nearly five thousand slaves outside. Only when they see me can they feel at ease."
Just as Xiao Chen was about to leave, Li Jia stopped him and whispered to him, "Xiao Chen, Serinda wants to talk to you about slaves."
"She was the one who suggested sending people to help us manage the slaves, right?" Xiao Chen immediately realized that there was something wrong.
"Hehe. The people there are just sitting around doing nothing, so just listen to what she has to say."
"You are a man who values women over friendship. I don't know when you will sell me out."
Li Jia blushed and said nothing, and quickly pulled Xiao Chen to an open space at the corner of the cargo yard. Serinda, wearing light leather armor, was waiting there.
Seeing Xiao Chen, she said straight to the point: "I want some slaves from you."
"want?"
"Yes, I want them, not buy them. In other words, I want you to give me some slaves." Serinda said.
Xiao Chen was quite surprised. He didn't quite understand the current situation. He glanced at Li Jia, who spread his hands.
Xiao Chen asked: "Can you tell me the reason?"
"You destroyed our house and occupied my land. Now you are transporting these people back to Montenegro. The houses they are going to live in and the land they are going to farm are all on my land, right? Originally you didn't have much supplies and had difficulty in turnover, so I didn't force you to pay compensation or buy land. But now that you have made a fortune and have so many slaves, aren't you going to put an end to this matter?" Serinda's tone was calm, but the meaning behind her words was a bit aggressive.
However, Xiao Chen knew that what she said was not wrong. This was also a problem that the school had been considering, that is, how to take over the land around the school without getting into animosity with Count Arias, or create a fait accompli so that the school would have its own development space. This was the most important purpose of the foreign affairs team's meeting with the Count. Now that the Count's only daughter had made this request, it was understandable. But... Xiao Chen thought for a moment and asked, "What do you want slaves for?"
Serinda was stunned when she heard this question, and asked back, "What else can we do? Of course, we should increase the population in the territory. The earldom is actually very large, and there are still large tracts of uncultivated land. Only by sending people to cultivate these lands can we obtain food and wealth."
"Don't you nobles usually purchase slaves? I see those slave traders are doing very well."
When Xiao Chen asked this, Serinda said with a straight face, "Slaves cost money. I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. All the nobles know that this Earl Arias only knows how to spend money... He has never had enough money. How can he have money to buy new slaves! The slaves that the family has added in the past four or five years are not what I thought. Anyway, I just want a small share this time. Give me a thousand ordinary slaves, less than one-fifth, and the market price is about 10,000 gold coins. From now on, the Black Mountain area to Viscount Ruiz will be yours. You are a magician, and we don't need you to regard the Arias family as the lord. It's just a simple land transaction. What do you think?"
In Serinda's opinion, this is a deal that is acceptable to both parties. Xiao Chen's slaves come easily anyway, so why not settle the territory issue legitimately
However, Xiao Chen pondered for a while, shook his head and said, "Sorry, I can't sell it."