Rebirth of the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao doesn't want to be a widow anymore

Chapter 266: There Are Still Not Enough Battles
After Ou Bei read all the clauses in the contract, he found that it was just as Qiao Wei said. Except that he could not eat public food openly, there was indeed no difference. In fact, the money and food would be more abundant. In addition to a hundred personal guards, Qiao Wei also assigned fifty people as soldiers to farm.

These fifty soldiers were dispatched from the hard labor camp and would take over the farming work of the Ou family so that the children of the Ou family could focus on forging. This was also to test the military settlement system envisioned by Sun Quan. Nowadays, wars are frequent everywhere, which is costly and laborious. The soldiers are supported by a hundred households, but when there is no war, most of the troops are actually wasted.

This was also the idea proposed by He Qi. The wasteland could be reclaimed and cultivated by soldiers and households in rotation, and the grain obtained could be used to pay for part of the military pay. Sun Quan also agreed with this idea.

The land of Jiangdong is different from that of the Central Plains. A large amount of land is wasted because it is not completely suitable for planting. In addition, due to the enclosure of land by aristocratic families, there are many refugees in Jiangdong who have no land to use.

In fact, Sun Quan had seen the crisis early on, but he had no plan to deal with it.

The military settlement system had gradually begun to develop as early as the reign of Emperor Wu, and Sun Quan was also considering whether military settlements could be combined with civilian settlements, at least to reduce taxes on the people during this period of chaos.

When Qiao Wei transferred people out of the hard labor camp, those hard labor soldiers who were transferred out were grateful. After all, the hard labor camp was really hard. Soldiers in the hard labor camp were basically sentenced to death. Not only did they have to do a lot of miscellaneous work, they could not survive more than two or three years. Moreover, whenever there was something in the barracks that required human lives, such as flag-sacrificing and drug testing, people were also selected from the hard labor camp.

Qiao Wei's selection of them to cultivate the land was actually a way of saving their lives. Those who had escaped death would naturally work particularly hard. After all, they not only had a chance to survive, but also a chance to have enough food to eat.

"Madam, I don't know if Mo Zan has told you that the reason why I chose to surrender to the Sun family in Jiangdong is because Mo Zan told me that the Sun family can agree to send troops to the Ou family and rescue the children of the various branches of the Ou family." Ou Bei did not see this in the written contract, but this is Ou Bei's bottom line, and he must not waver or retreat.

Qiao Wei held up three fingers and said, "I can't do it now. I need three years."

Ou Bei's face suddenly became unhappy, "Then Madam seems to be trying to get something for nothing."

"Mr. Ou, your words are too serious. Since we are here to negotiate today, you have your position and I have mine. Let's talk business, so let's make it clear all at once." Qiao Wei was not angry, and continued to talk to Ou Bei calmly, "The reason why the Ou family split into various branches was not me, so Mr. Ou should not blame me for this matter. In other words, it is your family's request to recall the children of various branches of the Ou family, but it has nothing to do with my cooperation with the Ou family today, so I can refuse it.

Secondly, although the Ou family workshop has made a great effort and let me see its strength, making samples is different from making real products. So even though Mr. Ou took me to inspect the workshop for the past two days, it was not enough to completely convince me.

Third, I have given Jiangdong the best treatment. Maintaining the operation of the Ou Family Workshop will not be a problem. If the Ou Family cannot meet Jiangdong's needs, the cooperation between you and me will end after three years. I like to stick to mutual consent, not coercion or inducement."

Qiao Wei's words were calm, but the sonorous meaning in his tone should not be underestimated. Ou Bei's heart sank little by little. It was still a hot and humid September, but it made people feel like they were trapped in a cold cellar.

"But..." Qiao Wei changed his tone, "I thought Mr. Ou should have thought it through."

"Understand what?"

"Everyone says that people with different ideals cannot work together. But the Sun family and the Ou family clearly share the same ideals, so they should be working together."

Ou Bei didn't understand what Qiao Wei meant.

"Shanyue is a threat to Jiangdong, and Pan Lin is causing chaos everywhere in Kuaiji. As the governor of Kuaiji, you are not allowed to use weapons during the mourning period. This is also a rule of etiquette. But once you are out of mourning, how can you, as the governor of Kuaiji, tolerate someone sleeping soundly beside your bed?"

For the Sun family of Jiangdong, conquering the Shanyue was a must, and those craftsmen who were conscripted by the Shanyue were naturally forcibly recruited into the Jiangdong army.

Qiao Wei said all that. If Ou Bei still couldn't understand the deep meaning, then Ou's workshop would not be her most satisfactory partner. "Three years..." Ou Bei felt that this time was still too long. "Pan Lin is cruel by nature, and his craftsmen often die or get injured. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have to be so anxious."

"Then do you know why Pan Lin killed them?" Qiao Wei asked back.

Ou Bi was stunned. He really didn't know much about it. Since ancient times, skilled craftsmen have always been popular in wars. Even if they killed prisoners, they would not kill the craftsmen.

"For Pan Lin, there will be another batch after killing this batch. What the captured craftsmen know, other craftsmen can do too. For Pan Lin, these craftsmen have no other use except for some skills." Qiao Wei paused, "Of course, if there are not enough people to cultivate the fields, they can be farmers. When there is not enough food, they will be food. Even when there is a mountain suppression, the old and weak craftsmen will also become the 'bait' to be abandoned.

When the news died down, they would go down the mountain and capture a new batch of craftsmen.

I know Master Ou wants to rescue them, but the scenario you imagined of Jiangdong leading troops to wipe out Pan Lin and rescue the Ou family members does not exist. The Ou family has also fought with mountain people. They hide deep in the mountains and forests. If we wipe out the mountains, we can catch them all. I believe that the Ou family would not have been troubled by them for many years and had to find a way to rely on Jiangdong. "

Ou Bei also regained some of his rationality. "If what Madam Hou said is true, then in three years, Jiangdong will be what our Ou family wants?"

Qiao Wei picked up the urn beside him and handed it to Ou Bei, "Look at that end to see if the Ou family's children have done their best."

Ou Bei took over the anger and was silent for a long time. Qiao Wei stood up and said, "Mr. Ou, you can think about it slowly. I will wait here for two days and wait for good news from the Ou family."

Ou Bei stood up to see him off. After Qiao Wei left, he sat with a heavy face, wanting to hear the opinions of the elders.

The elders also have their own ideas, but whether in terms of treatment or the current situation, more people agree than oppose.

Ou Bei held the deed and understood that Qiao Wei would be the best choice for him and the Ou family.

"If I were you, I would never hesitate."

Ou Bei raised his head and looked in the direction of the voice. Mr. Mo San was leaning against the door, looking a bit nonchalant.

"Why?"

Mr. Mo San pointed at the urn in Ou Bei's hand and said, "If you really understand what this thing is used for, you will know what Madam Qiao meant."

Ou Bei picked up the crossbow at hand, still not understanding what Mr. Mo San meant. This crossbow was indeed the most exquisite thing he had ever seen. This was also the first time he saw a crossbow that could be pulled by several people simplified and changed into a crossbow that could be used by one person. Although the range was not as good as that of a bow and arrow, its lethality and combat capability were far superior to ordinary bows and arrows.

But what does this have to do with what the Ou family wants?

Young Master Mo San was delighted to see Ou Bei's puzzled expression, and walked away with a smile, "Alas, it seems that there are not enough mountain people here!"