In the Principality of Lane, almost all nobles need to purchase a large number of slaves to help them manage their estates.

The living conditions of slaves were poor, medical conditions were extremely poor, and the mortality rate remained high.

In order to maintain the income of the manor, the nobles would naturally purchase more slaves in the slave market, which led to the prosperity of the slave market.

The same is naturally true of Yohn City. There are a large number of slave trades every day, and many people have made a lot of gold coins by selling and catching slaves.

Slaves sold in slave markets are generally divided into two types:

The first type of slaves are raised from children. These slaves have been instilled with ideas such as "I want to work hard" and "I want to listen to the master" since they were young, so they are very obedient and will not betray the will of the farmer.

Not even going to defect.

However, because they have been slaves since they were young, all of them are malnourished, dark and thin, and cannot cope with many heavy physical tasks, nor can they work at high intensity for a long time.

Another type of slaves are captured civilians who are sold to all corners of the world at low prices as trophies by the victorious countries.

Compared with slaves raised from children, they are stronger and have more planting experience, so they are very suitable for manor production.

But after all, they were all forced to become slaves, and it was common for these slaves to find ways to escape or be passive in their work.

The prices of the two types of slaves in the Principality of Lane are almost the same, but in Yohn City, because they are further away from the north, northern slaves are more expensive than southern slaves.

...

Sean is now standing in the "Slave House", the largest slave shop in the slave market. The butler Henry and the captain of the guard John are also standing behind Sean.

Windsor, on the other hand, was sent out by Sean to convey his wishes to the mercenary group and the city guard.

Looking at the slaves in the cage with disheveled hair and dirty bodies, and occasionally smelling the stench emanating from the cage, Sean frowned slightly.

"Baron Shuijing (Weir), please tell me the price of these slaves again. I was a little distracted just now and didn't hear clearly." Sean said to the slave merchant Baron Shuijing standing next to him.

Baron Wells' full name is Sebastian Wells, and his family has made a living by selling slaves for generations.

It was not until the past few decades that his family bought a baron title and became an honorary noble with a title but no territory. Only then did they get rid of their identity as just a businessman and enter the upper class society of Yohn City.

Although they are both barons, the status difference between honorary nobles and actual nobles is still quite large, so Baron Shuijing is very respectful to Sean:

"Your Highness Sean, the price of a northern male adult slave is 10 gold coins, a female is 6 gold coins, and a child is 4 gold coins.

They are the spoils of the Anjou Kingdom's attack on the Sunflower Principality in the northwest a few months ago. They were just brought to our principality not long ago. They are all very hard-working and capable;

The price of adult male slaves in the south is 8 gold coins, women 5.5 gold coins, and children 3.5 gold coins. They are shipped from Port Capul and are also slaves of the Anjou Kingdom."

“The price of slaves is actually cheaper than cattle?”

Sean was very surprised that the price of an adult male slave was only half that of a farm ox.

"Of course, Your Highness, you can still eat meat after the cattle die. To a certain extent, cattle are indeed better than slaves."

At this time, Henry, the butler standing behind Sean, also said to Sean: "Your Highness Sean, I used to help my original owner, Viscount Lake, manage the manor and always purchased slaves from here. The price of this family is the most reasonable.

"

"So Henry, what kind of slaves did you mainly buy before?" Sean looked at Henry, the butler.

Butler Henry was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "I have bought both kinds of slaves. Although northern slaves can do some heavier physical work, I prefer to buy southern slaves.

After all, slaves in the South are better managed and will not be passive in their work."

Sean nodded and did not speak again, but carefully observed the slaves in the cage.

Each of these slaves has a sallow complexion and dull eyes, and they have completely lost their longing for life.

Slave traders were also very smart to carve slave tattoos on their faces so that they could only live as slaves no matter where they escaped.

Sean thought about it carefully and said: "But now our territory needs to be rebuilt, and there is a lot of hard work, so we should buy northern slaves.

As for the issue of being passive and slow at work, I just made a plan at my residence. It can't be said to be a plan, but a policy.

Henry, after you buy the northern slaves, you can tell them:

Every year I will select one-tenth of them with the best performance and grant them the status of freedmen and issue them certificates of freedmen, so that their enthusiasm can be guaranteed."

"This can indeed ensure the slaves' enthusiasm, but will the price be too high?" Henry the steward wondered:

"Assuming we want to purchase three hundred slaves, restoring freedom to thirty slaves every year is equivalent to losing more than two hundred gold coins, plus some who die of illness, so the manor basically makes no money."

"It can't be calculated like this, then why don't you count the taxes paid by these slaves after they became freedmen?" Sean glared at Henry.

"This...this..." Butler Henry was speechless. He really hadn't thought about this problem.

"Then it's settled, let's do this first, and we'll discuss it later if there are any problems.

Baron Wells, can the price of slaves be cheaper?" Sean looked at the slave merchant Baron Wells who stood beside him and remained silent.

Baron Wells was also very disdainful of Sean's method of "motivating slaves", but his face did not show it.

After hearing Sean's question, he said: "If you want me to say, to ensure the enthusiasm of slaves, you only need a few strong overseers and a few tough whips.

As for the price issue you mentioned, your highness, our price has been at this price this year and has not changed."

Sean smiled and said: "After all, we purchase in bulk and it is cheaper. If we buy slaves in the future, we will come to you again."

Baron Shuijing thought for a while, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, the price of each slave will be reduced by two silver coins. This is already the best price."

"Okay." Sean turned to look at Henry: "Henry, come and sign the purchase agreement. We need about three hundred slaves.

John and I went to the Magic Guild, if you need anything, come find me there."

After Sean finished giving instructions to Henry, he left the slave market and took a carriage toward the Magic Guild.

...

The carriage was walking on the road to the wealthy area, and Sean sighed slightly while looking at the scenery outside the window.

Originally, Sean didn't want to buy slaves, but the territory was very short of people.

The current Hetan Town cannot attract residents from other towns, and purchasing slaves is the only way to increase the population.

Slavery will definitely be abolished in the future, not because of human rights and freedoms, but because slavery is extremely inefficient.

Just think about it and you will know that the difference in wealth created by a zombie-like slave and a farmer full of hope for the future is more than two or three times.

Moreover, his past life experience told Sean that only a highly educated population can form a demographic dividend, and slavery was certainly good for the individual lord, but it was a demographic burden for the entire territory.

But slavery cannot be abolished immediately. First, the surrounding territories are all slaves, so it cannot be too noticeable;

The second is that Sean understands human nature, and human nature is dissatisfied.

The greatest desire of a slave is to become a free man;

After becoming free people, their greatest wish was to have food and clothing;

After food and clothing are solved, their greatest wish is to have abundant material conditions;

After material conditions are abundant, people will have spiritual needs.
Chapter completed!