Zhang Junlin gestured with the sickle in his right hand with his left hand, and gestured with the captives who were busy leading carts and horses, and said with a very sincere expression: "The mortgage is my palace, more than 50,000 captives of Western Chu, and everyone in Jinling.

"

Even Dong You couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth when he heard these remarks.

Your Highness might as well grab it directly.

"Zhang Junlin! You really want to rob me openly!"

Jin Er blurted out.

Crack!

Zhang Junlin waved the scythe in his hand and plunged the tip of the knife into Jin Er's neck.

A wisp of blood slid down the artery in the neck.

Jin Er felt the hot blood flowing down his face, his face turned gray, and he didn't dare to breathe.

He was afraid that if the tip of the knife penetrated any deeper, he would die.

He no longer had the majestic and domineering attitude he had when he kept shouting.

"Grand Master, someone calls the prince by his first name and is disrespectful to the royal family. What should I do?"

Zhang Junlin showed mercy.

After all, this is not a battlefield. The opponent is just a slave who obeys orders and is not an enemy. He has not yet reached the level of disregarding human life.

"A capital crime is to break a car."

"Do you hear me clearly? If you dare to speak to me again, I will shut you up forever."

The moment Zhang Junlin took back the sickle, Jin Er was sweating like rain.

After coming back to his senses, he quickly fell at Zhang Junlin's feet and shouted "Forgive me."

The remaining slaves suddenly realized the status gap between them and Zhang Junlin.

The Zhang Junlin in front of him was no longer the incompetent prince who could even trample on the servants of powerful families like them.

But the master who defeated Xiang Hong.

The Prince of South Vietnam!

People who can kill and take away from them!

"Kowtow to His Highness the Crown Prince!"

Before Zhang Junlin could swing his scythe in front of them, their knees weakened and they all fell to their knees.

Facing this group of watchdogs who bullied others and feared others, Zhang Junlin sneered silently and did not let them get up.

If you want to kneel, just kneel.

"According to the quantity on the IOU, count the grain trucks and take them to the military camp."

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."

Jin Er was speechless and complained about his sufferings, so he could only wipe his tears and pretend to be pitiful.

"His Royal Highness, this is going to kill the slaves."

"Your lives are worthless here. It's useless to come here. The mortgage I mentioned is not human life, but artificial labor."

As soon as these words came out.

Everyone in South Vietnam, including Dong You, was extremely surprised.

On the other hand, the Xichu prisoners who were working hard to carry carts and carry food seemed to have some enlightenment when they thought about the grass they had spent all day mowing, and their faces turned bitter.

No way?

Could it be that Zhang Junlin wanted them to mow the farmland belonging to South Vietnamese dignitaries?

The damn prince of South Vietnam, besides fighting wars and grabbing food, doesn't care about national affairs and just wants to grow up in the fields, right?

"Your Highness, what is the meaning of artificial mortgage?"

Although Dong You didn't understand, he was secretly relieved.

Now that he and the prince are on the same rope, he naturally doesn't want the prince to offend 80% of the powerful families in Jinling.

"It's true that I borrowed the food, but I can't borrow it in vain. I'm not that kind of scoundrel."

Zhang Junlin has a very pious attitude.

However, no one present supported him, so he could only continue talking to himself.

"The Chen family, the Xia family, the Jin family, and other creditor families who own a large amount of farmland all have tens of thousands of acres of farmland. However, these families abandoned the farmland and fled. It was the time of April when the green fields were being planted, and they did not weed.

If you water it, not only will this season’s harvest be wasted, but the next season’s harvest may also be wasted.”

At this point, the servants of each house showed regrets on their faces, but they were helpless.

"It's better that I borrow your old grain and cultivate the farmland for you. When the situation in Jinling calms down and each family returns, they can get the same amount of new grain. You don't need to settle this account with you. You should be clear about this.

The palace really wants to borrow food and is not trying to steal it."

The amount of silk borrowed from Zhang Junlin was based on the tax-free acres of harvest reported by each family.

The borrowed grain is only slightly less than the harvest.

"This...this...His Royal Highness should make it clear from the beginning, so as to prevent the slaves from being frightened and scared out of their wits."

Jin Er rolled his eyes.

Then I realized it was a good deal.

The old grain was exchanged for new grain, and Zhang Junlin was given a free favor to gain a good reputation in front of His Majesty.

The master will definitely agree!

"So, will you cooperate with me or continue to cause trouble?"

Zhang Junlin turned the scythe in his hand.

He didn't need to explain anything to a slave.

Because what the Crown Prince said is equivalent to an imperial edict!

Under the cold moonlight, the scythe blade shone with a cold edge.

The slaves of each family looked at me, and I looked at you, and finally accepted their fate.

Anyway, if you don't cooperate, you will be robbed, and maybe even beheaded.

It's better to take the IOU and explain the situation to the owner, there is still a chance of survival.

"Slaves cooperate!"

After receiving a satisfactory answer, Zhang Junlin raised a sarcastic smile on his lips.

Dong You was so close that when he saw His Highness the Crown Prince's smile, he always felt as if there was something evil in His Highness's stomach.

But this business of borrowing and repaying food cannot be denied in an open and fair manner...

"Grand Master, please remember to write a letter of divorce to Your Majesty and tell him that the remaining cultivated land of the wealthy households and farmers who have taken away all the grain will be temporarily taken over by me. How to distribute the grain output will be decided upon His Majesty's return.

.”

Zhang Junlin finally exposed his true intentions.

Not only do we need food, we also need land.

While he wanted nothing from a powerful family, he also wanted to take the opportunity to acquire some farmland.

Among the wealthy households and farmers who went north, many moved their families and could not afford to go back.

Normally, the cultivated land of these rich households and farmers would be merged with the cultivated land of the nearby powerful and aristocratic families.

And now it is about to become the cultivated land of the royal family, and His Majesty is naturally happy to see it happen!

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will go after counting the amount of borrowed food."

"Well... you are busy with your work. You can leave after borrowing the food. Remember to say hello to your family head on behalf of me."

Zhang Junlin didn't tell Dong You.

He never considered letting the Dog Emperor return to Jinling at all.

Therefore, he has the final say on who will plant the farmland he takes over and how he will plant it.

"In this era when slaves still exist, distributing it directly to farmers for planting is too big a step, which is unrealistic and not conducive to the results of my farming methods."

Some things have to be done slowly and as the Romans do.

First rent it out together with the fields belonging to the powerful families.

There are 500,000 to 600,000 acres of fertile farmland near Jinling. Once everyone finishes cutting the grass and watering the land, he might be able to break through to the seventh level.

If we can negotiate with Xi Chu and return the captives at that time, we will have more confidence.

"The power to supervise the country is really useful. The good news should have reached the ears of the Dog Emperor by now. He will definitely send someone to find out the truth."
To be continued...