Early in the morning,
Cong Wuyang climbed out of bed. He really couldn't fall asleep because of the headache. It should be caused by the inferior wine last night. After all, in this era, there was no modern filtration process, so there were a lot of impurities. It was not difficult to understand why it made him feel so dizzy.
When Elsa saw him get up, she quickly got up to serve him. They simply washed up.
The two of them also got a bowl of porridge from the inn and had a little. Vigoro and the other six people were still sleeping, snoring so loudly that it could be heard in the dining hall downstairs.
He upgraded them respectively through the system. Vigoro became a recruit of the Imperial Guard because Vigoro was stronger in physique than the others. The remaining six people all became Imperial Recruits, and the equipment also reasonably appeared at the head of their beds. The great power of the system would make them not suspect anything when they woke up.
When playing Mount & Blade II on Blue Star, only nobles could become recruits of the Imperial Guard, and farmers could only become Imperial Recruits. But after the system time-traveled with him, for the initial conscription, Cong Wuyang could choose the advanced direction according to the physique.
An Imperial Recruit only had a set of linen clothes. Besides a one-handed sword, there was no shield, and there was not even a piece of iron armor on the body. There was only a linen headscarf on the head.
However, a recruit of the Imperial Guard was much more luxuriously equipped. Besides having the same iron sword, there was also an iron helmet with a nose guard, a leather-covered padded cotton armor, and most importantly, a small wooden shield!
...
As time passed
Vigoro and the others also got up one after another. Then they sat at the adjacent table and ate, wearing the corresponding equipment, and didn't ask any more questions.
After Vigoro and the others finished eating, about half an hour passed.
Several chubby middle-aged men walked in from outside the door. The one in the front was wearing a white robe, a small brown round hat on his head, and a belt inlaid with silver ornaments around his waist. There was a string of keys and a small bag hanging on the belt, and he was wearing a copper ring on his hand, inlaid with a blue gemstone the size of a grape.
The others were not much different in their attire, and several people who looked like servants followed behind them.
Vigoro greeted them and introduced, "Everyone, this is my lord, named Cong Wuyang, a noble from the Manya Kingdom. He wants to buy some supplies from you and transport them back for resale."
From Vigoro's introduction, they learned that the grain merchant was named "Herbert", the livestock merchant was named "Ivan", the spice merchant was named "Jin", and the tool merchant was named "Ethan". They were all merchants with a good reputation in Dehar City.
As for why he wanted to transport supplies from Dehar back to the Manya Kingdom, no one asked. After all, most of the land in the Manya Kingdom was a gobi desert, and food, tools, and timber were scarce. It was very normal to buy these from the resource-rich Yavier Duchy. Every year, a large number of merchants engaged in reselling.
"Hello, I'm Cong Wuyang, a noble from the Manya Kingdom. I want to buy some supplies from you. I'm sure you all want to finish the negotiation quickly and continue making money, so let's get straight to the point," Cong Wuyang said, making up a story after Vigoro's introduction.
"I need 200 horses. They should be strong adult horses with good teeth. Both male and female are okay, but don't try to fool me with old or inferior horses. Also, bring me 30 pigs, 50 cows, and 200 sheep. And a total of 500 chickens, ducks, and geese."
"I also need 5000 pounds of grain, 5000 pounds of corn, and 100 bags of flour."
"For tools, I need 500 pieces each of iron tools such as hoes, shovels, picks, and hammers."
"Bring me 100 pounds each of pepper, chili peppers, cumin, etc., and 1000 pounds of salt. If the price is right, I'll buy them." After that, he listed his demands for this time.
With money, one could be willful. Such a large purchase would be enough for his development for a long time.
He wasn't afraid of being overcharged either. Based on the food prices of the past two days and the price information he inquired about yesterday, he basically had a rough idea. Moreover, there was Vigoro beside him, who occasionally came to the city to sell goods.
The livestock merchant was the first to respond, "My lord, there may not be so many horses in our small town. Most of them have been conscripted by the viscount to transport goods northward."
"I can only gather 80 horses for you at most, but they are definitely good horses. I'll charge you 620 dinars per horse, 280 dinars per pig, 450 dinars per cow, 120 dinars per sheep, and 20 dinars per chicken, duck, or goose. In total, it's [total amount of dinars], and I'll charge you 110,000 dinars even. What do you think?"
The grain merchant then said, "My lord, due to the war, the purchase price of grain has increased. I'll charge you 8 dinars per pound for grain, 6 dinars for corn, and 100 dinars per bag for flour, which is 20 pounds per bag. In total, it's [total amount of dinars], and I'll charge you [charged amount of dinars]. What do you think?"
"My lord, the other spices are 15 dinars per pound, and salt is 12 dinars per pound. In total, it's [total amount of dinars]. I'll round it down for you, and you only need to pay [charged amount of dinars]," the spice merchant replied.
"The hoe is 45 dinars each, the shovel is 40 dinars, the pick is 55 dinars, and the hammer is 20 dinars each. Similarly, it's [total amount of dinars], and I'll also charge you [charged amount of dinars], my lord," the tool merchant quoted the price.
Cong Wuyang calculated in his heart that it would cost a total of 284,500 dinars, and the price was about the same as what he had learned. He turned to look at Vigoro and saw him nod, so he replied with confidence, "I think your quotes are acceptable, but you have to help me deliver the supplies to a place 30 li southeast of the city."
The several merchants all nodded in agreement. Cong Wuyang then turned back to the room, pretending to get the dinars. He took out the dinars from the system space, put them in a cloth bag, and went downstairs.
He walked downstairs under the gaze of everyone, signed contracts with each merchant respectively, and paid the money.
The merchants immediately ordered their servants to prepare the supplies first. Then they turned around and invited Cong Wuyang to have lunch with them with a smile, and intentionally or unintentionally revealed that if he made such a large purchase next time, they could offer a greater discount.
Cong Wuyang politely declined the merchants' invitation to lunch with a smile, and the merchants then took their leave.
"Vigoro, take these dinars and go with Ergou and the others to buy some jars to hold clean water. Load them onto our carriage and wait 30 li outside the city to receive the supplies. I'll take Elsa to the slave market to pick up the slaves, and we'll meet there," he said, handing over 500 dinars and giving the instructions.
"Don't worry, my lord. I will definitely get it done!" Vigoro said and then led Ergou and the others outside.
He himself led Elsa to the slave market.
Just as they were about to enter the market, a child ran out from the side of the road and handed him a letter in front of them.
He opened the envelope and saw that it said, "I lost some dinars in the city. I can smell them on you. I guess you want to return them to their rightful owner. Hand over the dinars, and you can leave this place safely." There was also a drawing of a bloody dagger on it, and the signature was "Fire Rat" Linos.
Huh?! It seemed that he had been targeted! He didn't know whether it was because of the slave purchase yesterday or the news of the supply purchase this morning that had spread, and someone wanted to extort him.
How dare any random person threaten me? Linos, right? Cong Wuyang thought without showing any emotion.
He casually tore up the envelope and walked into the slave market.
"Welcome back, my lord. May the morning sun bring you health and a good mood."
This person was none other than the slave merchant who had helped Cong Wuyang gather the slaves yesterday and was also the first one he asked yesterday. "How welcome are you? I was just in a bad mood because of some strange people," Cong Wuyang said, looking at the slave merchant.
"My lord, you're really humorous. Who is so blind that they dare to ruin your good mood?"
"Someone named 'Fire Rat Linos' even sent a extortion letter to me through a child!"
The slave merchant's expression changed slightly and he said, "My lord, it seems that you have spent too many dinars in the city these two days, and he has taken a fancy to you."
"Oh? Tell me, who on earth is this Linos?" Cong Wuyang asked.
"My lord, you're too kind to him. He's no big shot. He's just the leader of a local gang in Dehar called the Fire Rat Gang, known as 'Fire Rat' Linos. There are several such gangs in the city."
The slave merchant pondered for a moment and then said, "These gangs are made up of idle hooligans and ruffians. They mainly engage in extortion, petty theft, and also take on some jobs like robberies and kidnappings. They occupy several streets in the slum area and collect protection fees. If you need it, my lord, I can help you teach him a lesson."
Cong Wuyang gave the slave merchant a strange look. He thought that it made sense. A slave merchant who could do business in a border town must have his own background. Moreover, if the slave merchants armed their slaves, it would also be a considerable force. How could a gang made up of hooligans and ruffians be a match for the slave merchants?
"Thank you, but no need. Such a small rat in the gutter, I'll deal with him when I have time."
"Let's go. Take me to see the slaves I bought," Cong Wuyang replied.
"That's right. With your strength, my lord, dealing with him is as easy as crushing a bug. I was overthinking it," the slave merchant replied, and then led Cong Wuyang and Elsa towards the back of the store.
After passing through several corridors and a tunnel, they came to a huge dungeon. They were standing at the top of the dungeon. There was a big hole in the ceiling, and sunlight shone in. Looking down from above, there were three floors in total, arranged in a circular shape. There was a small square in the middle, and torches illuminated the surroundings.
There were only a few male and female slaves scattered on the second and third floors. The bottom floor was filled with people. The slave merchant pointed down and said, "My lord, all the 300 slaves you bought yesterday are locked up on the bottom floor. They were fed food and water last night and this morning, so they are in good condition."
Cong Wuyang: "Okay! Thank you. Help me release them all and gather them in the small square. I have something to say."
The slave merchant nodded and shouted at the managers on the bottom floor. They released all the slaves.
Then they saw the managers on the bottom floor opening the prison doors with keys and knocking on the prison doors with the sticks in their hands. While knocking, they shouted, "Get out of here, you lowly slaves! My lord wants to see you. Hurry up, or I'll kill you!"
They threatened and drove the slaves with their words, but they didn't dare to use violence easily. After all, the lord who bought these slaves and the boss were still watching from above. What if they accidentally killed or injured a slave and had to deduct money from their salaries?
After more than ten minutes of lining up and arranging, all the slaves stood in the small square, a large dark mass, with people of different skin colors, black, yellow, and white.
After staring at them for a while, Cong Wuyang said to the crowd of slaves,
"I bought you. I want you to work for me. I can take you out, let you live in the sunlight, ensure that you can have enough to eat, have clothes to wear, and I can also pay you dinars every month. You don't have to suffer in this cold and dark dungeon anymore. Are you willing to follow me?"
When speaking, he also set a bit of a linguistic trap. After all, the system required them to follow in order to give them a mark. So he directly asked if they were willing to follow him.
The slaves discussed noisily for a while and then quieted down.
A hesitant voice came out from among them, asking, "My lord, are you really willing to give us enough to eat? And give us clothes and money?"
After all, the life of a slave was really miserable. It was even worse than the "piglets" in the northern park area of a certain southern country on Blue Star. They were given a bowl of swill every two days, just to ensure they could stay alive. The slave merchants didn't dare to let them eat too much. What if they rebelled or escaped after being full?
Moreover, beatings, insults, and torture were all common occurrences, which were the only ways to make them obedient.
"Of course. I will keep my word. If I don't give you enough to eat, clothes to wear, or dinars, you can leave at any time. Anyway, I haven't branded you as slaves yet," Cong Wuyang replied.
In his heart, he thought that after they agreed to follow him, they wouldn't want to leave even if he tried to drive them away.
"Then I'm willing to follow you, my lord."
"I'm also willing."
"XX is willing to follow you, my lord."
"We are all willing to follow you, my lord."
After Cong Wuyang finished speaking, the slaves below immediately replied in a ragged chorus.
He was delighted in his heart and immediately used the system to mark all the slaves with loyalty marks. Then he shouted, "Everyone, line up and follow me!"
He bid farewell to the slave merchant, took Elsa with him, and led a long line of slaves towards the outside of the city, attracting the attention of the people on both sides of the road in the slum area. Linos might have received the news. Seeing that he had so many slaves, he didn't come to seek death.
However, when they were leaving the city, they were stopped by the city guards. After showing the contract for buying the slaves and offering 100 dinars, they were allowed to pass.
He led the slaves out of the city gate and kept walking in the southeast direction. At a place where the castle couldn't be seen, he recruited all the slaves as soldiers.
Among them, the 150 people from the Jiede Empire were directly upgraded to Skilled Imperial Infantry. After all, they were regular troops of the Jiede Empire. They were equipped with an iron helmet, padded cotton armor, a leather shoulder armor, an iron one-handed sword, and a wooden shield when they were captured.
The slaves from the Farilan Kingdom and the Manya Kingdom were all upgraded to Imperial Recruits, equipped with linen clothes and an iron sword.
Because of the blessing of the system's great power, they wouldn't doubt the equipment that suddenly appeared on their bodies. As for Elsa, he had quietly marked her with the system mark last night, so there wouldn't be any problems either.
In this era, where the peasant soldiers conscripted by the lords went to the battlefield as cannon fodder with pitchforks, and having dozens or hundreds of soldiers not engaged in farming with iron armor could make one dominate a region, his forces were already quite strong.
Thus, Cong Wuyang, since he came to this world, spent two days and finally had a certain amount of power!
Everything was developing in a good direction!