The next morning.
Chai Shao took Liu Meng and the Third Battalion.
Yuchi Jingde took Zhang Tian and the Fifth Battalion.
Only Fang Er, Cheng Chumo, the three Yuchi brothers, and Tie Lao Ba's artillery camp were left behind.
Chai Yue, carrying an empty bucket, followed by several soldiers, found Fang Er.
Young Master, Yue'er is going to catch fish!
Fang Er's expression changed instantly.
If this continues, someone will really die.
Otherwise, why did Chai Shao and Yuchi Jingde leave as soon as it got light.
Well, Yue'er, we are about to depart as well.
Chai Yue looked at him in confusion and asked, Young Master, where are we going?
Fang Er pointed in the direction of the inland: Yesterday Liu Meng and the others captured a manor, we're going to take it over and use it as a temporary camp.
Chai Yue said "oh" and looked at the empty bucket in her hand, somewhat disappointed.
In a quarter of an hour, everyone had packed their belongings.
The convoy advanced mightily in the opposite direction of the sea.
Yesterday's confiscation operation also had the artillery camp joining in the excitement, so Tie Lao Ba led the way.
Regarding the seven intruders, Fang Er hadn't decided whether to kill them or not.
He'd tie them up and bring them along.
As they passed through Jishino-cho, their orderly military formation attracted the attention of the local inhabitants.
These people are dressed so well.
These people are so tall.
These people are so strong.
In short, there was all sorts of envy.
And when the seven bound like zongzi passed by them.
These local inhabitants covered their mouths in disbelief.
It was too shocking!
They had even controlled the Jishino family head, which meant the ownership here might change.
Seeing the looks of these unsophisticated locals, the Heavenly Fire Army was quite smug.
Tsk tsk, these fellows are even worse than the beggars in Chang'an City.
After passing Jishino-cho and traveling for a while longer, they reached their destination.
Looking at the courtyard in front of him, Fang Er was speechless.
Although it was large enough, it had to be said that people who used to live well were now living in dire straits.
Compared to the common people of the Great Tang, it was like heaven and earth.
Let's go in and take a look.
Tie Lao Ba stepped forward and pushed open the courtyard gate.
A team of soldiers rushed in first, searched around, and then reported back.
Marquis, there's no one inside.
Fang Er nodded and walked in with Chai Yue, Xiao Qing, and Xing'er.
It might be dilapidated, but it's better than staying by the sea and eating fish every day.
The entire courtyard covered an area of about five mu.
Inside, apart from a two-story wooden building, there were all thatched huts.
It seems that the Jishino family head lived quite well, at least he had a multi-story building to live in.
He asked Tie Lao Ba by his side, How much stuff was confiscated from this place?
Tie Lao Ba was a little embarrassed.
Marquis, there really wasn't much, only thirteen shi of rice was confiscated, and apart from that, there were only some inferior weapons.
No wealth at all!
You can ask the brothers who came yesterday, it really wasn't me or the Third Battalion Commander who took them.
Fang Er...
Damn it, that's it?
Isn't the poorest of the Fang family manor more than just this little bit of property?
Arrange everyone, we'll stay here for now and wait for news from Duke Chai and the others.
Yes, Marquis.
The soldiers found their respective rooms, and Fang Er took Chai Yue to the second floor.
The habits here are not good, maybe it's really poverty?
There wasn't even a single bed, which Fang Er couldn't accept at all.
Just as he was about to make a bed himself, a soldier came to report that old man Mei Chuan Ku Tou had arrived.
And he brought four unfamiliar people.
Let them in.
Fang Er found a small table on the first floor, which was likely where Jishino usually ate.
He sat down directly, feeling it was a bit too low.
A moment later, Mei Chuan Ku Tou entered with four fair-skinned individuals.
Fang Er's eyes lit up.
The height of these people didn't seem like they were from Wa.
This humble one pays his respects to the Marquis.
Mei Chuan Ku Tou bowed first.
After standing up, he pointed to the four people behind him and introduced them to Fang Er.
Marquis, these four gentlemen, like myself, are fellow merchants. They heard that the weapons in the Marquis's hands are excellent and wish to purchase some.
The four people bowed to Fang Er one after another.
Kou ni qi wa!
Tie Lao Ba, who was behind Fang Er, kicked one of them, knocking him down.
Kou ni ma bi!
Not to mention that our Marquis has no heirs, but even if he did, would you dare to curse him?
This fellow's movements were too fast, and Fang Er was speechless.
However, it was also good, as it served as a show of force to these people.
He beckoned to Tie Lao Ba.
Lao Ba, they are just greeting us, come back.
Tie Lao Ba was stunned, how can these short people greet each other in such a peculiar way?
That person felt very wronged, the Marquis's subordinate was too overbearing.
Mei Chuan Ku Tou quickly tried to smooth things over.
The four dared not say anything, after all, they were now asking for something from this young man.
Seeing the four bowing and scraping incessantly, Fang Er pointed to a cushion on the side.
Please.
The four knelt and sat before Fang Er.
Tell me, how many weapons do you want and what price are you willing to pay?
The four merchants spoke to Mei Chuan Ku Tou for a while.
Then, old Mei Chuan Ku Tou said to Fang Er, Marquis, they are willing to exchange two strong slaves or five female servants for a sword.
Ah?
Fang Er shook his head, Tell them, two strong slaves and five female servants for a sword.
You can capture those strong slaves and female servants as you please, my swords are all forged a thousand times!
Mei Chuan Ku Tou didn't feel that Fang Er's words were excessive in any way.
This was also the reality of Wa, with tribes attacking each other, it was quite lively.
After relaying this to the four merchants, he waited for their reply.
After some discussion, the merchants agreed to Fang Er's quote and decided to order one hundred steel swords first.
This made Fang Er a bit speechless.
A bunch of paupers!
When will the hundred thousand young women be gathered?
However, it was also a start. Once those bumpkins tasted the benefits of excellent weapons, hehehe.
After agreeing on the terms, they left, promising to come back the next day to deliver the people and take the swords.
The next morning, only one of the four merchants arrived, with a team of guards, escorting five hundred female servants and two hundred strong slaves to the manor, and exchanged them for one hundred steel swords.
Chai Yue was stunned.
She knew that the price Fang Er sold weapons to Li Shimin was the same as copper coins of the same weight.
Five jin of steel plates cost less than one guan of copper.
Two strong slaves and five female servants could be sold for at least five guan in the Great Tang, right?
Young Master, is this okay?
Fang Er looked at the half-naked female servants in front of him and said to Chai Yue, Although they are treated as goods, they will surely thank us.
Xiao Qing nodded and said, Madam, compared to the lives they lived here, going to the Great Tang, even if they could only be a concubine, would be ten thousand times better.
Fang Er beckoned to Xing'er.
Go pick out twenty clever ones from them and teach them the Tang dialect.
Only Mei Chuan Ku Tou understood the Tang dialect, and this old fellow still wanted to sell weapons to himself, so it was inconvenient to have no translator by his side.