Everyone looked at Ouyang Xuan in confusion. Huang Dagen and Zhu Tiaozi were puzzled as to why Ouyang Xuan was suppressing the price of salt, while Lu Dezhi and others were wondering what the terms of the uninvited offer were and whether there was any mystery behind them. Ouyang Xuan

Clearing his throat, under the gaze of everyone,

He expressed his thoughts. The first was to allow himself and his party to live here temporarily. The first and second village gates would serve as a temporary residence on the more than 100 acres of terraces between the two village gates. The second was to plan to do business in partnership with the villagers and use mountain goods.

exchange for daily necessities such as salt; the third is to jointly open a joint venture with Shanzhai

The minerals nearby were mined, and the two parties shared them according to the proportion of input. As for the 40 kilograms of salt, all of it was given to the mountain people. They only needed to provide the food needed by their own party for half a month. As a small trader who has been wandering around in an environment of intrigue for a long time, Zhu Tiaozi, Ouyang Xuangang

After explaining the conditions, he

He was deeply impressed by his cleverness. The iron, grain and mountain goods in this village were all in demand at the foot of the mountain. If he took root here, as long as the trade routes were open, he would not have to worry about money coming in. At that moment, he listened to Huang Dagen and told him about the situation.

After he made it clear, Huang Dagen nodded frequently.

After some discussion, Lu Dezhi and others agreed, because this condition was also beneficial to the village. First, the more than 100 acres of terraced land between the two village gates was not cultivated due to the low terrain and poor lighting.

The open space used by the villagers to guard the village allows dozens of officers and soldiers to temporarily live here, which does not disturb the people but also serves as the first line of defense against bandits. Secondly, Liuliba lacks daily necessities, and the village has no way to do business.

No experience in channels, now doing business in partnership

It not only ensures the supply of goods, but also prevents them from being cheated by profiteers. Thirdly, it is a good thing to develop nearby mines. Due to the poor iron-making technology of the village, the farm tools made are also very clumsy, and the weapons produced are even worse. As for other minerals, the

It was of no use. Lu Dezhi and others felt sorry for Ouyang Xuan and others' suggestion that they only needed half a month's worth of food, so they decided to jointly engage in business and mine development. The officers and soldiers only needed to provide manpower, technology and be responsible for sales, and there was no need to

Money has been paid.

The result of the discussion made both parties happy. At that moment, Lu De left the three of them to eat to celebrate. While waiting for the meal to be served, the two parties got up and chatted in detail. During the conversation, Ouyang Xuan learned that there were nearly 200 people in Liuli Dam.

There are more than 800 people in the remaining households. Because of the vast land,

The reason is that there is no shortage of food, and there are still large areas of wasteland that have not been cultivated. The bandits in Wanjiazhai are bothering the mountain people. The bandits cut off the roads into the mountains and do not allow goods to enter and exit, forcing the people in the mountains to sell mountain goods at low prices.

The necessary necessities such as salt and cloth can only be obtained from the mountains.

The price of buying it from bandits is extremely expensive, and the price of salt is comparable to gold. What is even more disgusting is that Wanjiazhai bandits come to snatch mountain goods and women from time to time in the name of "taxation". If they don't pay, they kill people and set fires.

Another village in Ba20li refused to trade.

The so-called "taxes" were burned down by bandits, and the villagers who were not killed were plundered and made into slaves. Liuliba was never captured, but it was regarded as a thorn in the side, including by the former leader, for refusing to pay the so-called "taxes".

As a result, more than a dozen villagers, including the villagers, were robbed and killed by bandits when they left the village.

"The mountain people have been suffering from the bandits of Wanjiazhai for a long time!" Lu Dezhi sighed after finishing speaking.

"There are quite a lot of people in each village in the mountain. Why don't we deploy brave people to guard the dangerous places? How can the bandits attack?" Huang Dagen asked puzzledly. The people in each village in the mountain are estimated to be no less than a thousand households. Compared with the bandits,

What if the force can be suppressed?

"My lords, you don't know. The leader of the Wanjiaping bandits is named Xiong Ben. He turned out to be a junior colonel in the Chongqing government army. He was beaten by his superiors for killing his subordinates. In anger, he took on the stench of the military and joined him. After occupying Wanjiazhai, they fiercely annexed other bandits in the mountains, and their power became stronger and stronger. Although the number of bandits was only more than 300, they were all fierce and desperate, and they were managed by military law. , the combat power is far superior to that of the people of each village, especially its personal troops. Although there are only more than fifty people in number, they are all strong and powerful people, and I am afraid that the officers and soldiers will not be able to defeat them." Lu Dezhi's face showed. Said fearfully.

"We, the mountain people, are busy farming all day long, neglecting military affairs and have no one who is proficient in warfare. There are still mines in Liuliba where we can smelt iron. Although the weapons we make are crude and unfit for use, they can still fight against bandits. In the second round, some cottages have no mines, insufficient iron for farm tools, and no weapons to fight against bandits." Lu Dezhi sighed again.

"Old sir, you can rest assured. As long as I'm here, you can deal with the bandits and protect the safety of Liuliba." After hearing Lu Dezhi's words, Huang Dagen was filled with indignation and patted his chest. He knew that he, the fifty-odd people, only It can protect Liuliba. As for other cottages, we will wait until they have the strength to do so.

Zhu Tiaozi asked more about grain production, mountain goods, and mine production, and the elders answered one by one. Ouyang Xuan told his own experience, and of course he told the story of his parents, who were from Chongqing Prefecture, and how they lived in Kueduan, Mongolia. He fled to Huangzhou during the massacre of Shu. He became a monk at a young age due to poverty and lack of food. He returned to Shu to become a wandering monk because of his parents' homesickness. He also focused on how he had served the country in recent days due to the brutality of the Mongolian army. Ouyang Xuan joined the army out of hatred for his enemies. Because Yu Zhu was seriously ill, he took charge of the army and reiterated that people should not call him "Sir", but "Brother Xuan". Finally, Ouyang Xuan asked about herbal medicine and Regarding the situation of fire salt and sulfur, Lu Dezhi and others informed the village that fire salt and sulfur were produced in the mountains in the north, but they were not sure whether the herbs sent this morning could cure the disease. Ouyang Xuan immediately asked the elders to search for more artemisia herbaceous herbs in order to cure the disease. When Yu Zhu's illness was cured, everyone was moved by his loyalty and benevolence towards his family and country.

At that moment, the two parties discussed the cooperation in detail. While the conversation was lively, the meal was already prepared and they sat down to eat. Ouyang Xuan saw that the three-foot-square table was filled with thick porcelain bowls filled with vegetables, fruits and wild meat. , he started to look at it, and Lu Dezhi said when he saw this, "Brother Xuan is laughing at this. All the food utensils used in the whole village are so crude. They are made by potters in this village and are not as exquisite as those outside the mountain." Ouyang Xuan asked in detail. , except for a few necessities, most of the daily necessities in the village can be produced by oneself. Although it is crude, it is extremely practical. If it were not for the shortage of clothes and salt and the rampant bandits, it would be a paradise.
Chapter completed!