A Princess Can Be a Secretary

After subduing the bandits, there was still much work to do. The first task was to break them up and disperse them, but that could wait. Jiang Hao had another matter to attend to first: meeting the slaves.

Jiang Hao had Su Mu bring over the Han people slaves. Before long, fifty or sixty people were led before him. Looking at these weathered faces, some with graying temples and others filled with misery, Jiang Hao saw the fear in their eyes when they faced him.

"You are all Han people?" Jiang Hao asked.

An old man who looked to be over fifty said, "Yes. We used to be caravan hands traveling this Silk Road through the desert."

"Why were you left here as slaves?" Jiang Hao asked.

A middle-aged man spoke with indignation. "The bandits robbed us and held us for ransom, but the merchant families were only willing to pay to redeem their own people. They abandoned hired hands like us."

"Alas, the bandits demanded too much. Hiring new people was far cheaper than ransoming captives," someone beside him said. "Merchants value profit above all else, so naturally they refused to spend that money."

Jiang Hao looked over them and said, "We are the Han Army. Now that we have taken the bandit stronghold, you are all free. If anyone wishes to return home, I can give you each a horse and some travel rations."

Some immediately became excited, some even shed tears, and others dropped to their knees. "Thank you, Commander, for saving us."

Jiang Hao raised a hand, signaling for them to stand. "Of course, if anyone is willing to stay, I can recruit you into the ranks of the Han Army. You may serve as soldiers or join logistics. Consider it, then speak with Su Mu."