Chapter 182: Slave Management

Mire appeared with the one hundred thousand slaves he had promised Liu Zheng.

Zheng Yue Ru had intended to receive them directly at Yintan City, but was stopped by Liu Zheng.

"Absolutely not!"

Liu Zheng was startled and instructed Zheng Yue Ru to tell Mire to gather all those slaves at the first stop of the Silk Road at this time: Yinzhou Station!

This was the first Post House that Yinzhou had built on the Gobi Desert over the past two months.

Although the Post House was not large, it could accommodate several tens of thousands of people; the rest could still live in tents or similar shelters. Then, Liu Zheng took Zheng Yue Ru, Du Biao, and Pei Qianyun, galloping on horseback all the way, taking the opportunity to look at the Cement Road he had paved in this desert...

"Brother Liu, why is this?"

Zheng Yue Ru did not quite understand; weren't these slaves what Liu Zheng had been longing for? Now that they had arrived, Liu Zheng told them to stay at Yinzhou Station for half a month before entering Yintan City.

Du Biao did not understand either.

Liu Zheng replied: "Because of disease!"

Zheng Yue Ru's expression changed: "Brother Liu, are you talking about a plague?"

Du Biao asked curiously: "Young Master, Mire wouldn't try to harm us like this, would he?"

Liu Zheng smiled and explained: "This has nothing to do with whether he is trying to harm us or not. It is that people who have migrated over long distances always carry viruses and bacteria from other places..."

"Well, you can understand it as pathogens. Perhaps they were fine in Africa or the Arab regions, but after coming to Longyan, they will cause illness due to changes in the climate and environment. Do you understand?"

Liu Zheng was not a doctor, nor did he understand medicine.

But he felt that doing this was safe. The concept of viruses from later generations made him understand that viruses on Earth actually coexist with humans all the time.

It is just that some viruses, after humans develop antibodies, no longer pose any harm to humans.

However...

Once the living environment changes drastically, these viruses easily jump out.

In fact, what is called "not being acclimatized" is, from a scientific perspective, the reason for this. Because of the influence of climate, environment, and food, some viruses are more likely to mutate and poison humans.

Since ancient times, there have actually been many plagues caused by long-distance migration.

Regarding this, Liu Zheng dared not take any risks. Therefore, it was better to go through the trouble himself first.

Along the way, the Cement Road appeared so abrupt in the desert, yet it added much vitality to this place that humans had never conquered. According to Liu Zheng's requirements, the desert was not only to be paved with roads but also to be managed! Thus, they also began to attempt to plant some vegetation along the sides of this Cement Road.

The Cement Road in the desert not only facilitates transportation but, more importantly, can consolidate sand and moisture, which is of great help to environmental improvement.

The Cement Road was for those camel caravans and horse teams.

As for traveling alone on horseback, it was still more comfortable to gallop on the sandy ground.

"Has it already been this far?"

The further Liu Zheng went, the more his sense of accomplishment overflowed.

In just two or three months, more than one hundred li of the Cement Road had been paved! If this continued, in a few years, the entire Silk Road would become a focus of the world's attention.

"It's right ahead!"

Zheng Yue Ru pointed.

Sure enough, after running over a small hill, one could see an earth-and-stone building standing in the desert not far away, which made people feel fascinated.

"Brother Mire!"

"Young Master Liu!"

"Third Leader Du?"

The few of them were exceptionally enthusiastic upon meeting.

When Mire heard that Du Biao had also started following Liu Zheng, he was first shocked and then became happy. The three of them had known each other and had their own dealings; if they could work together, it would be much more convenient.

"Young Master, among the one hundred thousand slaves, there were thousands of losses along the way!"

Mire looked apologetic.

Liu Zheng recalled his first time traveling through Lop Nur, where there were dangers everywhere, and he still felt lingering fear. He smiled and said: "Brother Mire, no need to take it to heart. Come, let's go inside and talk."

Mire looked at the Cement Road with burning eyes: "Is this the Silk Road rumored in the outside world? Young Master is truly a man of great talent and bold vision!"

It was conceivable that when this Cement Road led to Loulan, relying on the powerful strength of Longyan, they could raid the Western Regions in a few days, which made Mire feel somewhat uneasy.

Liu Zheng seemed to know what Mire was thinking and smiled without saying a word.

After the few of them exchanged pleasantries, Liu Zheng saw the one hundred thousand slaves gathered at Yinzhou Station at this time. People of various skin colors were circled in one place by Mire's Arabian Army with ropes. It seemed Liu Zheng had overthought it... he had wanted to arrange living quarters for these slaves, but looking at the situation, it was already not easy for them to be alive.

Some even had no clothes to wear.

There were tall ones, short ones, fat ones, thin ones, and women too...

All kinds.

Mire smiled: "Young Master, rest assured, these slaves are very obedient. I have already trained them well for you."

Liu Zheng pondered: "Let them stay here for seven days first. Those who are in good health will be arranged to work in Yintan City! For these few days, let them eat and drink well."

Liu Zheng was not as optimistic as Mire.

Although slaves in this era indeed possessed a strong slave mentality, humans are born with a longing for freedom, and slaves are no exception. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Regarding the management of slaves, Liu Zheng felt he still needed to put in some effort.

Do not hope to reform them, but at the very least, one should not persecute them.

For the management of these slaves, Liu Zheng still planned to hand it over to Jiang Xuan.

This kid had made the Special Agent Squad quite impressive, so he should also be allowed to play with a big scene.

When Jiang Xuan arrived at Yinzhou Station, Liu Zheng instructed: "Jiang Xuan, these one hundred thousand people are handed over to you, and then you go to coordinate with Counselor Wei. But remember one thing: although I don't expect any great talents among these one hundred thousand people, if there are those with outstanding abilities, there must be rewards and punishments. Never treat them like pigs or dogs!"

"Yes!"

Jiang Xuan was also very excited.

Seven days later, according to Liu Zheng's arrangement, among these one hundred thousand slaves, those who were seriously ill due to not being acclimatized were all left behind here.

Fortunately, there were only about three hundred people.

The others marched into Yintan City in a mighty force.

Wei Tiezhu and the other heads of the various departments in Yintan City had long been waiting in eager anticipation.

The labor force in Yintan City was truly far too scarce!

Even with more and more local laborers joining, it still could not support the production speed of Yintan City. With one hundred thousand laborers pouring in all at once, who wouldn't want them?

"Our Brewery needs at least ten thousand!"

"Go to hell, then our Fine Iron Workshop must have twenty thousand!"

"What about our Weaponry Workshop?"

The heads of every department were arguing in a chaotic mess.

Jiang Xuan's head throbbed with pain: "Wait, everyone wait! Don't just ask for people; I ask you, if these people are sent over, can you understand what they are saying?"

The few of them were instantly stunned.

These slaves did not know how to speak the Longyan Language.

Then how were they to communicate?

Jiang Xuan laughed triumphantly: "So, don't be in such a rush. The Viscount said, let me conduct a few days of pre-job training first, and then I can distribute them to you!"

The few of them all curled their lips.

Very quickly, the one hundred thousand people were arranged to settle down in Yintan City—ten people to a room, one hundred to a team, one thousand to a battalion, and ten thousand to a regiment. The brothers arranged by Jiang Xuan taught them simple Longyan Language and basic literacy.

Based on the performance of these people, leaders were selected from among the slaves for every team, every battalion, and every regiment; this not only gave these slaves something to strive for, but also facilitated management.

Additionally.

Jiang Xuan also announced a policy.

Any slave working in Yintan City could be released from slave status after twenty years and become a free citizen!

Marriage and childbearing between slaves were encouraged, and any children born would all be free citizens!

However, intermarriage between slaves and locals was strictly prohibited, and Yinzhou Prefecture would punish such acts without leniency!

This caused a huge uproar among the one hundred thousand slaves.

The dull eyes of these people brightened a little.

People are just like that; once there is hope in their lives, they will work even harder.

Qingyang Shuo looked at Liu Zheng beside him with a chuckle: "General Jiang already possesses the demeanor of a great general."

Liu Zheng also nodded with satisfaction.

With things this way, he could rest easy.

At night, Jiang Xuan rushed excitedly into Liu Zheng's room without even knocking, saying with excitement: "Viscount, I have truly discovered a great talent!"

"Oh?"

Liu Zheng could not help but have his eyes light up.