The Strongest Lu Bu's Sweeping Thousands of Armies

Chapter 384
Chen Gong sent people to invite all the scholars and merchants in Pengcheng to the government except Zhang Shiping, and he and Sun Ce walked into the front hall to talk.

Not long after the visitors chatted, scholars and merchants came.

Although it is the front hall of the government, scholars and merchants from all over Pengcheng come here, so it still looks crowded.

The front hall was already full of people, but there were still people coming in a steady stream.

Chen Gong instructed the guards: "Put tables and chairs in the front yard of the government mansion, and I will talk with everyone in the open air."

The guards took orders, and it didn't take long to make arrangements in the front yard of the government.

Chen Gong said to the scholars and merchants who were already in the front hall: "Too many guests have been invited today. I'm afraid there won't be enough room here. We might as well sit in the front yard. How about I invite everyone to the banquet after we finish talking about the business?" ?”

Since Lu Bu occupied Pengcheng, the government rarely invited scholars and merchants to dinner.

Having followed Lu Bu the longest, Chen Gong's status in Pengcheng can be imagined.

He wanted to invite everyone to the banquet, and there was no one who would not agree.

Although they felt that the banquet was not a good one, everyone still readily agreed.

Especially many merchants, they traveled to many places, and they also knew that the government entertained them mostly for money.

As long as things can be solved with money, they are not considered serious things for merchants.

In their view, being able to get involved with the government is the most important thing.

Can't you see that Zhang Shiping was just a horse dealer at the beginning, although he made a good living, he was still not in the hall of elegance.

Especially in the early years, when Zhang Shiping helped Liu Bei, he lost a lot, and his family fortune was once facing a decline.

Now following Lu Bu, not only has he turned over completely, but he has also become the richest man in Xuzhou and Yangzhou.

The merchants didn't expect to be like Zhang Shiping, they only hoped to get involved with the government. From now on, if Zhang Shiping ate meat, they could at least have a few sips of soup.

Chen Gong left a word to the crowd, and accompanied by Sun Ce, he went to the front yard of the government.

The guests invited by him followed behind him, and some of them whispered to each other about how they were suddenly invited here.

They didn't know the inside story, how could they guess what Chen Gong invited them to do here, although they exchanged opinions with each other, they still couldn't figure it out.

When he came to the front yard where the tables and chairs were placed, Chen Gong said to everyone: "Everyone, please sit down. The guests are not here yet. Let's talk about business first, and the banquet will start later."

Chen Gong invited everyone to the banquet, which was already giving Mo a great deal of face, how could anyone dislike the banquet being held too late.

Everyone thanked their seats one after another, and each sat down at the round table placed in the courtyard.

There are quite a few round tables placed in the courtyard, and there are twelve people sitting at each table.

After everyone was seated, more than a dozen tables were already full.

It was relatively late to get the news, and those who came late also sat down in the empty seats under the guidance of the guards.

The round table was the one that Lü Bu taught craftsmen to make. Since the rise of this kind of table, the low tables used by people in the past have been eliminated. Except for a few people, there are still a few to show the mood, and most people have lost that kind of table.

When the guests were about to arrive, Chen Gong, Sun Ce and the officials at the same table stood up.

He said loudly to everyone: "You must have heard about the armor a few days ago."

Without Chen Gong pointing it out, everyone knew that he was talking about inferior armor.

That incident caused a lot of uproar in the city, how can everyone sitting here have not heard of it.

Chen Gong mentioned the matter about the armor, and someone among the crowd immediately said: "Those profiteers should be killed, Chuhou did this beautifully, it really pleases people's hearts!"

"Although it is very satisfying, it has brought a lot of trouble to Chuhou." Chen Gong said: "There is not enough armor, and the soldiers in the army can only wait for the new armor to be delivered to the army. The arsenal, but because there are too few craftsmen, has not been able to catch up with the progress of manufacturing."

"General Chen, if there is anything we can use, just ask." Immediately, someone patted his chest and said: "If you want money or people, as long as Chuhou asks, we will agree."

Someone expressed his opinion on the spot, Chen Gong said with a smile: "If I can get this sentence, my banquet today will not be in vain."

He then ordered the guards next to him: "Let the kitchen bring the banquet, and I will talk with you while drinking."

Chen Gong ordered the banquet to be served, and after a while, servants brought the food and wine.

When the wine and dishes were served, Chen Gong held up the wine glass and said to the crowd: "The Marquis of Chu will soon attack Cao Cao. For the first cup of wine, I will join you all in congratulating the Marquis of Chu on the victory of the banner. How about it?"

"Congratulations to Marquis Chu's flag victory!" Everyone raised their glasses and drank the wine together with Chen Gong.

"I'm going to respect you for the second cup." The guard filled the cup with wine, and Chen Gong held it up and said, "The Marquis of Chu has encountered some embarrassing things recently. If it wasn't for your help, this hurdle would be difficult to pass. Just now Some people have expressed their opinions, and after this glass of wine is drunk, I still have something to say to you.”

When Chen Gong picked up the glass of wine, everyone felt somewhat uneasy.

After all, I don't know what he wants to ask for. If Chen Gong wants them to go bankrupt and support Lu Bu, it will really make them wonder what to do.

Many people were puzzled, but Chen Gong had already raised the wine glass, so they didn't dare to misbehave.

His eyes scanned the faces of the people, and he saw that many people were worried, but Chen Gong didn't understand what he said, so he tilted his neck and drank down the wine.

He drank, and everyone had to drink with him.

"The Marquis of Chu has established an arsenal, which needs a lot of labor." Chen Gong said to the crowd: "The Marquis of Chu also said that if you recruit strong labor from the people, in today's world where there are not many men, it may be difficult to recruit them all, so it is better to recruit them." some women."

When Chen Gong said that, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Recruiting labor is nothing more than asking each of them to have a few servants in their families.

Seeing that everyone relaxed a lot, Chen Gong said: "I also know that each of you has a lot of servants and servants in your family. Of course I want servants, and I also need a lot of servants. I plan to ask you to provide two servants for ten per household. Famous servant woman, I don’t know what you think?”

When Chen Gong proposed a dignitary, most of the scholars and merchants present thought that it would be enough to provide only one or two servants or servants, but who would have thought that he would open his mouth like a lion and beg for two servants and ten servants from each household.

Many people looked at each other in astonishment, and one of them asked Chen Gong: "May I ask General Chen, how many people are needed in the arsenal? We can figure out how to ask for servants, but let us supply servants..."

"As I said just now, there are too few men in the troubled times." Chen Gong said, "If you are willing to replace all 12 of you with servants, I will certainly be happy. If there are not enough servants, provide me with healthy servants. I can do business too."

Chen Gong asked for a lot, but fortunately, he didn't want these people to lose their fortunes, someone immediately expressed his willingness to send them over later.

There were also many people who were embarrassed when they mentioned that they had to send so many servants and servant girls over.

"The banquet has already been set up, and you all drank with me." Seeing the embarrassment on the faces of those people, Chen Gong asked: "Could it be that you all want to make my face fall?"

Of course, none of the people present dared to offend Chen Gong, and those with embarrassing faces immediately expressed their willingness to send them here.

"The Marquis of Chu is in a hurry to hire someone, so he can't wait." Chen Gong said, "The banquet has already started, and I can't allow you to leave halfway. Why don't you send the people around you back, and give the servants and servants to me?" Send it over. Whoever delivers it will be able to leave the government. Will anyone think it’s wrong for me to deal with it like this?”

In fact, many people were distressed and didn't want to provide manpower to Chen Gong, but when he asked if he felt something was wrong, no one dared to say no.

When Chen Gong was talking to everyone, Sun Ce was watching from the side.

He admires Chen Gong very much, he can make fun of these people who have been hanging out in the market all year round.

If this matter was handed over to him, he believed that he would not be able to handle it better than Chen Gong.

In particular, Chen Gong left all the people in the government, and asked them to send their own people back to bring the servants and servants who donated, and they were not allowed to leave if they didn't send them, which made Sun Ce admired very much.

With such a strong wrist, Sun Ce thinks he can do it.

However, while begging people for help, and at the same time keeping people in this way, Sun Ce thought he couldn't save face.

Chen Gong's words were tactful, and everyone knew that if they didn't send the person here, they might not be able to leave the government today, so they immediately ordered the followers who followed to bring them back.

Someone ordered the entourage to leave, and more people followed suit.

When everyone present sent their entourages to bring them back, Chen Gong held up the wine glass with a smile on his face, and said to everyone: "I have witnessed the love you have for the Marquis of Chu with my own eyes. This glass of wine, I represent the Marquis of Chu." All of you."

Chen Gong picked up the wine glass again, and everyone who was already in the trap had no choice but to pick up the glass.

People, that's the way it is a lot of the time.

Persuade them with kind words and ask them to show some benefits, and they will feel all kinds of unhappy.

Once you don't say anything good to them, just force them to send benefits, most people will accept it honestly.

Chen Gong just saw through the thoughts of everyone present, so he didn't plan to have a good discussion with them, and let them send the person here directly.

The entourage sent back by the crowd brought a sufficient number of servants and servants to the government one after another.

There were 200 people participating in the banquet, and each person represented a household. There were nearly [-] servants and servants who were sent to the government.

Chen Gong did not stop all the merchants and scholars who sent people here, and let them stay freely.

Although the banquet was good, how could the participants have the will to wait until the banquet was over when faced with such a great coercion?
As more and more people came, many people left.

When the last merchant's entourage delivered the man Chen Gong wanted, and the man got up to leave, Sun Ce said to Chen Gong: "Chen Gong has such a method, if he uses it early, even if the arsenal does not issue the notice, it can be done." Find enough women to send to work as artisans."

"It is true that we can find enough people, but what should Chuhou do if he employs people in the future?" Chen Gong asked Sun Ce.

"What will Marquis Guan Chu employ in the future?" Sun Ce replied incomprehensibly, "As long as all the people are sent away, Marquis Chu will be satisfied if he gets enough people."

"General Bo Fu didn't understand Chuhou's mind." Chen Gong said: "Chuhou's employment is not just in the arsenal. With Chuhou's ability, how could he fail to see that the merchants and scholars in Pengcheng should be recruited?" Invite them all, let them send some servants and servants to each household, and the manpower is enough. The reason why he didn't do this is because he wants the people to accept letting women go out to work. This kind of thing has to be changed slowly, so that The people gradually accept it. If the people don’t accept it, where will the Marquis of Chu use more women in the future to find enough men? You must know that there are also a number of servants and servants in the homes of merchants and scholars.”

"I probably understand what Mr. Chen means." Sun Ce said: "Since the people are all gathered, I will take them to the arsenal. Presumably Chu Hou is there at this time."

"It's easy for General Bofu to leave, so I'll see you off soon." Chen Gong bowed his hands to Sun Ce.

Sun Ce returned the gift and took his leave, greeted the guards he had brought, and led the group of servants and servants who had been sent to the government by the master's house to the arsenal.

When he came to the arsenal, Lu Bu was still here as expected.

Seeing that Sun Ce brought so many people, Lu Bu asked, "It's still early in the evening, how did Chen Gongtai manage to gather so many people?"

Looking at the people brought by Sun Ce, Lu Bu was a little puzzled. In addition to the woman he wanted, there were actually a group of young and middle-aged men accompanying him.

Sun Ce replied: "Reporting to the Marquis of Chu, Chen Gongtai did not recruit from the people. He just summoned the scholars and merchants from Pengcheng to the government, and ordered each family to send two servants and ten servants. Those who went to the government There are at least one or two hundred merchants and scholars, and it is not surprising that there are one or two thousand servants and servants they send."

Lu Bu nodded, and said to Sun Ce, "Take everyone to the open space of the arsenal. Zhang Shiping has something to say to them."

After agreeing, Sun Ce ordered the guards to send everyone to the open space in the factory.

When Sun Ce and Lu Bu were talking, Zhang Shiping was by the side.

Hearing that the women he brought were all servants of scholars and merchants, Zhang Shiping asked: "Dare to ask Marquis Chu, do these women in the arsenal also behave like the announcement..."

"When they come to the arsenal, they have nothing to do with their former masters." Knowing what he wanted to ask, Lu Bu said, "They are all from the arsenal, so of course they cannot be harassed at will."

"I understand what Marquis Chu means." Zhang Shiping asked: "Speak later, do you want to greet all the craftsmen who were here?"

"What do you think?" Lu Bu smiled at him and asked him a question.

Zhang Shiping was taken aback for a moment, and then replied in embarrassment: "There are a lot of things to talk about. Of course, we should call all the craftsmen who were here before, otherwise we may not cause any trouble in the future."

(End of this chapter)