As a stockade chief, he was different from Tian Guiyun. Tian Guiyun had come from the remote borderlands, after all, and so carried a wild streak.
"Please, Chief Mo." Tang Wen greeted him.
"My lord!" Mo Dachang cupped his fist, swept up his long gown, and sat down with an air of composure and dignity that surprised Tang Wen.
He had thought the man would be an easily fooled country bumpkin. Unexpectedly, he seemed quite cultivated. Winning over someone like this would not be easy.
"Lord Yang has explained the details to you, hasn't he?" Tang Wen asked.
"He has." Mo Dachang nodded.
"What do you intend to do?" Tang Wen asked.
"Selling ourselves is out of the question. You can give us a tract of land, and we'll pay you in grain," Mo Dachang said bluntly.
"Our fields haven't been reclaimed yet," Luo Yiwu said, shaking his head.
"That's fine. We can reclaim them ourselves. But you'll have to waive the rent for the first three years as payment for our work," Mo Dachang said.
"This island has only Tang servants, no tenant farmers," Luo Yiwu said, shaking his head.
"Yes, I was once a stockade chief myself, and I had the same plan when I first arrived. But now I admire the master and have joined Tang," Tian Guiyun said.
"Selling yourself to Tang may not sound pleasant, but the master treats people kindly. You'll see that in time. Joining Tang is the best choice you could make," Li Liao said.
"That's what you think. It won't do for me," Mo Dachang said stiffly.
"Heh, I once rose to Garrison Commander of Yuling, yet even now, I'm only a servant of Tang.
"If your martial skills are strong, you can still get a good position.
"Take me, Li