Chapter 1491: Rapid Domestication of Slaves

Zhang returned to the Western Development Group with the slaves and livestock; it was a familiar place with a warm feeling, and the people of the Western Development Group had noticed them early on and came over to welcome them.

Only, they had not expected that this time he would bring back so many livestock, especially Ce, who looked at the countless flocks of sheep and sighed: "Oh my, this war really is the fastest way to acquire wealth. My Western Development Group has been developing for two years, and with the strong support of Huaxia, we still don't have this many cattle and sheep. You fought one battle and obtained so many cattle and sheep."

Zhang only took this as the young man joking and did not think much of it: "This is different from your situation. War is a one-time plunder, and there is no next time. You are here, and you can have output every year; you will never become poor. The wealth gained from war is only temporary. I have plundered them clean this time, but where will I go to plunder next time?"

Zhang patted Ce on the shoulder: "Regimental Commander Ce, these cattle and sheep will be left to you to manage and arrange for now. Don't let them go hungry; I still have to rush back to Huaxia."

Ce was a bit tempted: "Division Commander Zhang, can't you leave a little for us here? We really need cattle and sheep here too; that way we wouldn't need to ask for support from Huaxia City again. And you have the authority to do this, right? I'll write a report to the King."

"That suits your wishes. It just so happens we were thinking that it would be a difficult task to take all these cattle and sheep back. Let's leave a portion for you to manage. In any case, you are all herdsmen here and are very professional and knowledgeable about how to graze; leaving them to you is just right."

"Also, regarding these slaves, we will leave some more for you, especially these women. They are obedient and know how to graze, so they can help you sooner. As for these men, it is best if we take them back; otherwise, if you keep too many wild men here, it is still a bit dangerous. If they were to riot, it would be troublesome."

Ce thanked him hurriedly: "Thank you, Division Commander Zhang, for considering us. Your decisions are a huge help to our Western Development Group!"

The group exchanged pleasantries and went to rest, while the other Soldiers hurried to classify and manage the livestock and slaves.

For the cattle and sheep, those of the right age, just reaching the breeding period, were left in the majority for the Western Development Group here, because it would be a pity to kill them for meat; using them to continue breeding is just right.

Those that looked older and had poor physical condition were taken back to Huaxia to be killed early for meat, contributing to Huaxia's food supply. A portion of lambs and cattle and sheep that had just matured were also left for Lema City to use for breeding.

There were over ten thousand women and children, a huge number. On the road, Zhang felt irritable and wanted to just kill a portion of them, but these were labor forces and very precious, so he could only endure it.

Now, the Western Development Group here can only accept a few hundred women; the rest can only be taken back to Huaxia City. The reception capacity of the Western Development Group here is limited, and the number of slaves they have now is already too high; any more would be hard to manage.

Those previous wild men are now very obedient. After stripping them all naked and washing them clean, they are also willing to listen and work. Their daily work now is to go cut Grass, then bundle it up and bring it back.

The tool given to them is a Wooden Sickle, extremely crude, but after being sharpened, it can be used and is relatively sharp. Every day, they are sent out with tools to different directions, to locations where they cannot communicate with each other, to cut Grass and return.

Every day, every slave has a quota. If they complete it, they can eat a full meal. If they fail the task, they will be beaten and go hungry; they will only be given a tiny bit of food, just enough not to starve to death.

Conversely, slaves who exceed their quota will have rewards, such as more food, or thicker porridge, or more salt—in short, eating well. After some time, the slaves seem to have given up on escaping because the work Huaxia gives them is simple and allows them to eat.

If they are fast enough to complete their quota, they can do a bit more to eat more food. Moreover, they discovered that Huaxia means what they say and does not lie to them, so one by one they work very fast and have already started to compete with each other.

Furthermore, they also know that Huaxia raises many cattle and sheep, which is purely their area of expertise. For the sake of the Grass the cattle and sheep eat, they have no psychological resistance when working; instead, they even like this place with lush water and grass, it is just a pity that they are not the masters.

The cave dwellings for them to live in have already been dug. After they became obedient enough, the people of Huaxia did not even watch them at night, only blocking the outside of their cave dwellings with a wooden door and blocking it with stones. Not many people live in one cave dwelling, and with their own strength, they cannot push it open. But if they really wanted to run, secretly hiding a stone, digging a tunnel, or cutting the wooden door, they could certainly get out in one night.

However, with nothing, not even clothes, and being so tired, these wild men basically have no such thoughts. Huaxia did not expect that the speed of their domestication could be so fast.

This time their tribe was wiped out, which was a huge disaster for them, but it could also be considered a good thing, because they completely cut off the thought of returning to the tribe. Their own tribe is gone, so where would they return to?

Another benefit is that there are women. These women of the Wulenge Tribe will definitely be given to the Wulenge Tribe in the end. Unless the people of Huaxia have a heavier or more unique taste, they would not think of playing with these Wulenge Tribe women. But for now, there should be none; these women still belong to these male wild men. With women, their hearts can be more stable.

Their Tribal Chief has been kept in solitary confinement and does not even need to work. This time when Zhang returned, he even summoned the wild man Tribal Chief to show him his spoils of war and announce the complete destruction of their tribe. This wild man Tribal Chief could be said to have wailed loudly, and then he asked whether the other few Tribal Chiefs were dead or alive.

Originally, except for him, they were all small Tribal Chiefs of hundred-man tribes, and Huaxia did not care. The two who followed this wild man Tribal Chief were killed as ordinary wild men in that war.

And this time, it was those Tribal Chiefs who were at the very front and resisted the most fiercely; naturally, not one remained. The one who fought Zhang in a duel was later learned to be one of the small Tribal Chiefs. In any case, they all died in the end, leaving only him.

As for his fate, it is to be taken back to Huaxia for trial to see if he will be sentenced to death. Huaxia does not have such a precedent and will not kill prisoners, but this time the actions of the Wulenge Tribe were too heinous, so Zhang cannot be sure of his final outcome, whether he will live or die.