Ore is an extremely important military raw material, which directly determines the quality of industrial and agricultural tools and weapons and armor, and is also closely related to taxation and other fields.

Located more than 300 miles north of the cold valley, the "Northern Mining Area" is the largest ore producing area in Doguland, with very rich mineral resources, and it is also a cruel sweatshop.

There is no substitute for the importance of ore, but mining is a painful and potentially dangerous job.

It was impossible for the nobles to do this kind of work themselves, and the commoners were basically reluctant to do it, preferring to help the farmer grow the land, facing the loess with his back to the sky, rather than become a dangerous miner.

So, the work of the miners naturally went down to the slave class at the bottom.

Thanks to the iron laws laid down by the Sun King, the slave population of Dogulander was very large, and these people were no different from cattle, and they were the labor force that they could call upon for a little ration to feed them.

There were more than 40,000 slaves working in the northern mining areas, most of whom were born despicable native slaves, but some of them were later exiled here.

These exiles may have been commoners, nobles, or even vassal ministers of the kingdom, who were exiled for unforgivable crimes, stripped of their former status, branded as slaves on their arms with a soldering iron, and reduced to the lowest of animals.

For those who were once on high above, this degradation of status is sometimes more cruel than outright execution.

And today, work is still going on in the northern mines, and it seems that it is as usual...

...

In order to prevent a possible slave rebellion, a thousand-man team was stationed in the northern mining area, and the commander was roasting charcoal fire on a high sentry station at this time, drinking mellow milk tea.

The deputy glanced at the clock and reminded, "My lord, it's time for lunch." ”

The commander said slowly, "Don't worry, let these animals work for another half hour." Last month our production dropped a bit, and the boss was very unhappy, so we have to make up for it this month. ”

"Yes." The deputy stepped back.

Half an hour later, the commander waved his hand: "Ring the bell." ”

"Bell-bell-bell-" The bell for lunch rang, the fiery working atmosphere relaxed, the slaves rushed to the table, and the flattery of Thanksgiving Dade continued to sound.

At this time, the deputy seemed to see something and whispered, "Look, my lord." ”

The commander looked over, his eyes fell on a man in rags, and said with a sneer: "This guy, the palace has greeted us and told us to take good 'care'. ”

The deputy smiled sinisterly: "Don't worry, my lord, I have prepared a surprise for him." ”

...

When the ragged man heard the bell, he did not rush to receive the meal like the other slaves, but continued to dig with his head bored.

It can be seen that this man is extremely powerful, and other people have to smash the raw ore that can only be smashed in ten minutes, he can do it with two or three pickaxes, and the brand marks on his wrist are also very new, obviously a newcomer.

After the soldier had finished distributing the meal to the other slaves, he secretly brought out another pot, and with a sinister sneer on his face, he immediately called out to the man: "Lugo, come over and eat quickly, and then go to work after eating." ”

Lugo put down his pickaxe, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his clothes, and walked over silently.

Valley thirst

The slaves who were eating all looked at Lugo secretly and whispered one by one.

For a long time, there have been many powerful people who have been exiled to the northern mining areas, but the status is so high that the person in front of him is really unprecedented.

The captain of the security team of the main city of Twilight, the eight-rank official of the provincial level, the deputy general of the Death Legion, and the first-class celebrity next to the Archon of Chino...

It's hard not to be embarrassed that such a famous big man was branded as a slave and thrown into the dark northern mining area.

Because he had been imprisoned for a long time before, and the torture equipment on his body for too long, Lugo's back was already a little rickety, his beard was a little white because of his mental emaciation, and his body and face were stained with sweat stains and dirt mixed with mineral dust, and the whole person looked like he was more than ten years old.

Under the envious gaze of the slaves, the soldier scooped up a large bowl of oatmeal porridge and handed it to Lugo, and said with a flattering smile: "Lord Lugo, you eat more, and only when you are full can you have the strength to work." ”

Lugo didn't say anything, took the bowl, and poured the oatmeal into his mouth.

As soon as he took the first sip, the porridge was still in his throat and he didn't swallow it, and a strong smell came, Lugo's face changed greatly, he spit out all the porridge, and bent over and kept retching.

"Ha !!" The flattery on the soldier's face disappeared, and he looked triumphant, lifting his pants and laughing wildly, "How is it?" Grandpa, my urine tastes good, right? ”

"Bang!" Lugo slammed the bowl to the ground and looked at him coldly.

The fierce gaze made the soldier a little apprehensive, but he quickly gained courage from the commander's gaze, swaggered up, and glared back at Lugo: "Dare to stare at your grandfather?" What, dissatisfied?! ”

"Smack!" The soldier knocked Lugo to the ground with a slap in the face, picked up the pot of oatmeal full of urine smell, and poured it all on him.

Lugo wanted to get up, but the soldier directly raised his foot and stepped on his head, and said sarcastically: "I tell you, no matter what you did before, when you come here, you are branded as a slave, and you are an animal!" Don't talk about beating you, the master is now stabbing you to death, and the top won't ask, peeing and adding ingredients is worthy of you! ”

At this moment, the commander slowly walked over and motioned for the soldier to step away, who nodded and stepped aside.

The commander looked down at Lugo and said lightly: "Lord Lugo, my subordinates are ignorant and have offended you, I will definitely treat him well when I go back." But please understand, this is the northern mining area, no more than Twilight City, the mining area has the rules of the mining area. ”

"People who know the rules, do things steadfastly, I naturally won't be embarrassed, I will give food when I should give it, and I will add clothes when I should add it. But if you don't understand the rules, you can't get along with me, and I won't be polite to this kind of person. ”

"Lugo, you are also a person who has seen strong winds and waves, and this ideal must be understood in your heart." When the commander said this, he changed his words, "Come on, make another pot of porridge, and put some meat in it to make up for him." If anyone makes trouble again, they will be severely punished! ”

On the surface, the soldiers only said "I don't dare", but in fact, they all understood in their hearts that this trick was called a combination of grace and power.

In order to facilitate future management, the new miner had to kill his prestige first, bully him, and humiliate him, so that he knew his current situation.

Ordinary slaves can be taught a lesson, but a high-ranking and powerful man like Lugo may not be able to accept the change of status for a while when he first arrives, and a lesson alone cannot subdue him.

At this time, someone has to pretend to be a bad guy, and someone has to play a good guy.

Bad people trample on his dignity and make him ashamed.

Good people come out to play a round and give him a sense of closeness.

This contrast will make people obedient, and if one time is not enough, they will come a few more times, and they can always be tame.

The northern mining area is like this, when you come here, it is the dragon coiling, the tiger is lying down, and only the manager is the boss!