Iron Dynasty Novel Chapter 789

Jinzhou.

Qi Guangyi led his cavalry, driving a group of barbarian soldiers towards the camp.

These barbarian soldiers ford long lines, with those in front and behind connected by ropes to ensure they would not escape.

Besides these slave soldiers, so cavalry also herded cattle and sheep, which were all plundered from barbarian villages.

After landing in Jinzhou, they followed the plan to cause chaos near Jinzhou, while simultaneously plundering everything they could.

This approach was extrely effective. The hunter cavalry soon discovered that cavalry reinforcents were continuously arriving.

However, Qi Guangyi was not nervous at all. Because, according to the tiline, Ye Qingyun should have already captured Liaozhou City by now, which ant they had driven a nail into the heartland of the barbarians.

Moreover, even if Liaozhou City could not be held, they could always retreat to Bisa Castle and Haigucheng, and then evacuate by warship.

Of course, this was the worst-case scenario, but now everything was going unexpectedly smoothly. Perhaps Lu Fei had attracted most of the barbarian cavalry, and the number of barbarian cavalry coming to reinforce Jinzhou City was small.

The barbarian soldiers they captured were precisely the small cavalry units that ca to reinforce.

Before the sun set, Qi Guangyi and his group returned to the camp. After they returned, a group of rchants imdiately sward over, their eyes gleaming like wolves.

Qi Guangyi’s expression remained unmoved. He had grown accustod to these rchants’ greedy appearances. In fact, for the past few days, the rchants had been waiting in the camp to trade with them.

With the army mobilized, the supply lines were paramount. The most difficult aspect of leading thirty thousand cavalry to Jinzhou this ti was logistics.

To fight a decisive battle with the barbarians in Pingzhou City, most of the slaves were transporting grain, fodder, and ammunition for Lu Fei and the others.

And to solve their supply problem, the Emperor had given him an unprecedented idea.

Before setting off on the expedition, the Chamber of Comrce gathered the Great Yu Empire’s rchants and told them that all the goods plundered by the cavalry in Jinzhou this ti could be sold to them.

Of course, the precondition was that they exchanged it for warhorse fodder, grain, and silver. Thus, the scene in the camp now.

“Army Commander Qi, these barbarian soldiers are excellent. Each one is very strong. I am willing to pay ten taels of silver per man.”

Ding Wu said loudly to Qi Guangyi.

Now, for the rchants of the Great Yu Empire, slaves were the most valuable commodity. So, upon learning that the captured barbarians could all beco slaves, they risked coming here.

“Twelve taels.” Qi Guangyi’s tone was unwavering. “My soldiers expended considerable effort to capture these slave soldiers alive. They deserve so compensation.”

Ding Wu’s eyes darted around. Even so, these strong slaves could be sold for around seventeen taels of silver upon return to Qingzhou Province. He said, “Alright, twelve taels.”

Qi Guangyi nodded in satisfaction. Besides trading with rchants, the Grand Council also implented a bounty system this ti.

Thirty percent of the silver obtained from this northern expedition’s trade would be equally distributed among the soldiers. This was also the reason why the soldiers’ morale had not decreased but increased over the past few days.

As Ding Wu’s words fell, other rchants also gathered around. After confirming the price, they quickly distributed the three thousand captured slave soldiers cleanly.

In exchange, they sent slaves to transport fodder, grain, at, potatoes, and other items from the ships to the main camp.

Then, boxes of silver were moved down.

Having received the silver, the division commanders from each division imdiately ca to collect it, then distributed it layer by layer to the soldiers.

Plundering during the day and receiving silver at night. The soldiers were all in high spirits. Loyalty to the nation was a soldier’s sentint, but with the added motivation of profit, they maintained a high level of enthusiasm for war.

Seeing the soldiers happy, Qi Guangyi showed a faint smile.

The Great Yu Empire soldiers of the past greatly disliked war, because it not only delayed their farming but often also subjected them to exploitation by generals.

But now it was different. Clearly, being a soldier could earn more substantial profits than farming.

During the last northern war, many outstanding soldiers received large bounties. Using these bounties, they beca a wealthy class in their local areas, completely changing the image of Great Yu Empire soldiers as being poor and lowly.

It was also for this reason that conscription last year was very lively, with many young n scrambling to join the army.

Shaking his head with a smile, Qi Guangyi returned to his camp. Tomorrow would be another day of blood and turmoil.

…

Shanhai Pass.

Xiao Ming was burning the midnight oil, writing the Great Yu Empire’s “Slavery Act.” This law would be implented in the Great Yu Empire, aiming to clarify the status, ownership, and punishnt system of slaves.

Coming from modern tis, Xiao Ming knew very well that slavery would eventually be abolished. However, being in this era, he could not use modern ideas to solve the problems of this era.

Because an era itself had its limitations, and this limitation was reflected in the educational level of the general populace.

For example, his trying to persuade Europeans to stop colonization now would be as ridiculous as him trying to persuade a cannibal tribe not to eat people.

Having understood these points, Xiao Ming felt there was no need to be special in a world where slavery was rampant. Hence, the current “Slavery Act.” Because the influx of barbarian slaves would inevitably bring various problems to the Great Yu Empire.

This act was precisely to address this problem.

“Your Majesty, General Niu has arrived.”

While he was concentrating on his writing, Qian Dafu walked in.

“Let him in.” Xiao Ming put down his pen. He had called Niu Ben over. Every day, he needed to understand the current war situation.

Qian Dafu left, and soon Niu Ben walked in. As it was customary, Niu Ben bowed and then directly said, “Your Majesty, today Lu Fei’s soldiers basically charged to the city gate, but they were repelled by barbarian soldiers. However, the barbarian slave soldiers have been largely depleted, and the remaining barbarian soldiers probably won’t last much longer. Now, the barbarians are very impatient. Today, the barbarian Great Prince Wuzhugu led his cavalry to continuously assault the chariot formations along the route, and the casualties among the soldiers in the encampnts are heavy.”

“The more frantic the barbarian cavalry, the more it shows they can’t hold out. This ti, with three forces attacking simultaneously, flourishing in the heartland of the barbarians, they are finally making the barbarians experience what we felt when they ran rampant in the Great Yu Empire,” Xiao Ming said coldly.

Niu Ben said, “Your Majesty is absolutely right. If everything goes smoothly, Ye Qingyun should have established a foothold in Liaozhou City by now. When we then take Pingzhou, Jinzhou will be an isolated city, and taking it will be very simple.”

Xiao Ming nodded upon hearing this. He said, “You must now relentlessly attack Pingzhou City at all costs. As long as this city is breached, Wuzhugu’s cavalry will be like rootless duckweed, and they will only be able to retreat to the grasslands.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Niu Ben responded. “Give your old servant three more days, and your old servant will surely capture Pingzhou City!”