After a while, under the leadership of the guards, a large number of people flocked to the meeting hall.

These people respectfully bowed, one of them was quite fat. He said, "Mr. City Lord, I am from Meng County, and several of them are from Shouyang County and Pingding County."

The people who were traveling with him all bowed to Qing Cang.

"What are you doing in my Huaxia City? As far as I know, your counties are county towns under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Han Dynasty. But my Huaxia City is autonomous."

These counties are located in the north of Leping County and are relatively close to Huaxia City.

"Mr. City Lord, our county magistrate originally asked us to come and borrow grain. Because the crops in Huaxia City have been harvested now, I don't want you to belong to the Eastern Han Dynasty court. Therefore, our county magistrate turned to us to come and buy grain again."

This borrowing and buying are very different. Only friends or the same camp have the concept of borrowing; buying is different. Even if it is a hostile camp, as long as the two sides agree, the transaction can be completed. It is obvious that at first they were jealous of the harvest of Huaxia City and thought that it also belonged to the Eastern Han Dynasty, but they did not expect that it would not have happened after they arrived. So they went back to the letter and turned to buy it, which is trade. At present, the grain is in Qingcang's hands, so they had to buy grain, and only through him. Therefore, they waited outside the main city for a request for a visit.

It can be seen that the reputation of Huaxia City has been completely spread. There are benefits and disadvantages to the spread of reputation. The advantage is that more people will come to you, and the disadvantage is that they will be remembered. For example, Luoyang. Huaxia City gradually transforms from a second-rate city to a prosperous first-rate city, and this governance method will inevitably be coveted.

At this time, Guo Jia said softly: "Commander, maybe we can make these counties our vassals, and the transactions will continue as usual, and we will have to pay some money as vassals every year."

When Guo Jia came from the people from these county towns, he probably had figured out how to attack them. Speaking of vassals, he would collect protection fees from his younger brothers, so that these three counties would become the younger brothers of Huaxia City.

Qing Cang didn't expect at first that after he said this, he said it was feasible. If you don't have to worry about the division of these counties, you have money to take it, so why not?

"I think it's OK!"

Unlike Wu Zhi, these people seemed more polite. The news of the occupation of Leping City had been spread, and all counties within a radius of hundreds of miles knew about this. Perhaps it had already reached Luoyang City, but the direction of Luoyang had not had time to react, or he was unable to care about it.

They were so humble that they could predict that these people probably already knew Qing Cang's cruelty and would occupy your city if they had a disagreement. That's why Guo Jia made such a suggestion. And they were able to come to ask for food, which means that they were mostly desperate. Food was particularly important in troubled times. Young laborers went out to fight, and some of the elderly, weak, sick and disabled were left, and the labor was obviously insufficient. Now the court is busy clearing out the Yellow Turbans, and the Ten General Staff made trouble again. It is basically impossible to ask for food.

Qing Cang also thought about a way to vassal.

"I can buy food, I have a condition."

The fat man was obviously the leader of these people. He said: "Please tell me, the city lord, our county magistrate has given us permissions. As long as it is not too much, we can agree."

"It's very simple. All three of you counties have to be vassals for me. You have to hand over one thousand taels of gold every year, and recruit three thousand new recruits and hundreds of literati."

One thousand taels of gold converted into today's soft sister coins, which is about 13 million. But the actual value is more than that, because the smelting environment at that time was not optimistic. But then again, the three counties still have less than one thousand taels of gold a year? Or can you exchange it for other things?

Qing Cang's voice was not loud, but everyone present heard it very clearly and expressed shock.

"What! Lord City is this..."

"What's the difference between this and grabbing?"

"This is clearly a robbery!"

"The conditions are too harsh, and we can't agree to it in Pingding County."

"Shouyang County is a county of the Han Dynasty. How could it be a vassal of Huaxia City?"

"Sir, how about other methods?"

Qing Cang could already predict that these people would not agree.

He was not afraid that they would not agree. He said, "You may not agree, but you can go back and tell your county magistrate that I can move south at any time to clean up the entire county government, and take up your land by the way, and become my territory. At that time, the position of the county magistrate would be unsecured. In other words, if I don't attack you, some of you should have died of famine, right?"

Qing Cang's words were very reasonable. Several people were obviously moved, but because everyone did not express their position, they did not speak.

Qing Cang was very satisfied with their reaction. This shows that his negotiations played a role. Oh no, this is not negotiations, it is the demands of the strong for the weak.

"Go back to contact your county magistrate. If you are okay, I will sell you grain to you so that you can spend this summer safely. Otherwise, I will wait for me to destroy it. By the way, the Yellow Turban has been stationed in Guangzong for two months and may be fought at any time. At that time, it is impossible to resist them with your troops."

He listed several benefits and what is about to happen, which made all the messengers present think deeply. Everyone is about to die. What's the use of asking for money? Money is something that cannot be brought by life or death. Today, everyone is in danger, and living one more day is profitable.

He pursued the victory.

"I will give you three days to consider, and then I will make up the gold and add 3,000 new recruits in one month. I can ensure that you are safe and sound for a year. Otherwise, you will die!"

The fat man gritted his teeth and said, "We in Meng County promised that the power given to me by the county magistrate, as long as there is food, everything is easy to say."

He expressed his attitude. Anyway, the county town doesn't need to change its flag, and it's enough to get along with everyone. How could Qing Cang not know what they are thinking, but he doesn't expose their ideas, because he has gained benefits. Whether it is protected or not depends on his mood.

At the same time, the envoys from Shouyang County and Pingding County were discussing the handling method in a low voice. Finally, everyone shook their heads and sighed. Obviously, the results of the discussion made them helpless.

"Our Shouyang County and Pingding County also agreed to the request of the city lord. We will go back today to prepare the gold and ask the city lord not to block us on the price."

"You are all vassals in my Great China, how can you block your price? The price of grain is based on the market price, and it is safe and sound."

One thousand taels of gold plus three thousand new recruits is already a profit, and it doesn’t matter if you give them some food, because Wu Chao has calculated that the amount of 100,000 soldiers in ten years is a huge amount of grain reserve.

The fat man was in a hurry to leave, and he bowed, "So, we will leave first!"

After Qingcang made an appointment, everyone left.

"Staff Officer Guo is indeed a master, this method is really good."

"The commander has been awarded, I just made some use of it."
Chapter completed!