Chapter 53: Free Blacks

Do you long for freedom?" Ma Shao asked the black slaves.

The slaves were suddenly agitated, and this question made some people's eyes light up. But some people were still confused and did not really understand the concept of freedom.

"Tell me, do you yearn for freedom?" Ma Shao raised his voice and asked again.

"Desire!" The slaves finally gave a clear answer.

Ma Shao nodded and continued, "In that case, you are now free - Clark Town has abolished slavery! Here, owning slaves will be punished, and so will capturing slaves. You will have the same rights, obligations, and freedoms as your former masters."

In this era, there was a special profession called slave hunter, who specialized in capturing escaped black slaves. Of course, sometimes they would "capture innocent people for credit" and capture free blacks as well.

Ma Shao specifically emphasized the punishment of slave hunting, and his purpose was naturally to tell these black people that it would be safe to stay in Clark Town.

If these blacks just ran away after being freed, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

In fact, he didn't need to emphasize that these blacks would stay. The blacks also knew that it was very dangerous outside. Not only were there slave hunters, but wild beast bandits were also rampant. This was still a village after all, and there was no slavery. Only a fool would go out and run around.

"free!"

"We are free!"

"I don't have to be a slave anymore - Wuhu!" The sudden freedom made the black people cheer and scream.

The white townspeople nearby were naturally unhappy, but they didn't dare to say anything. After all, fists were the first truth.

There are many kinds of legitimacy, but the only legitimacy of legitimacy is violence.

"Of course, you only have personal freedom now, not financial freedom." Ma Shao let the blacks cheer for a while, and then said, "You still need to work, otherwise you will not be whipped by your master, but you will be whipped by hunger and cold."

"You now have two choices. The first choice is to become the town's police, responsible for the town's security and defense... Of course, there are about eighty of you, and the town doesn't need so many policemen."

"So the second option is to engage in agriculture or handicrafts in the town like the white people. We will provide you with some initial help, and the rest is up to you."

"Raise your hands if you want to be a police officer."

Almost all black men raised their hands, and even a few black women.

"It seems we need to screen them." Ma Shao smiled, "Okay, put them down first. Now, those who can read, raise your hands."

Three black people raised their hands, two men and one woman.

One of the two men was in his thirties or forties and slightly plump, and the other was in his early twenties and strong; there was also a woman in her twenties.

"What are your two names?" Ma Shao walked over and asked the two men.

"Floyd," said the young, strong black man.

His upper body was naked, and the biting cold wind made his strong body tremble slightly.

There were many bruises on his exposed skin, and it was obvious that he was often beaten, but his tone was still a bit aggressive, even though the person standing in front of him was Ma Shao, a guy who was two times stronger than him.

Of course, in fact, Ma Shao was only one circle stronger than him, but he was not wearing a shirt, while Ma Shao was wearing a cowhide coat, and he had thick long hair and eagle feathers on his head, so he added another circle.

Facing the person who rescued him, Floyd realized that his tone and expression were a bit impolite, and he lowered his head.

"My name is Tom." said the slightly plump middle-aged black man. He was wearing overalls and a sweat-stained coarse linen shirt. He had a kind and slightly weathered face and looked like a simple farmer.

Ma Shao asked: "If you were the police, how would you treat these white people?"

"Just like they treated me." Floyd's tone was filled with suppressed anger.

Tom said: "The police are responsible for maintaining public order. Of course, they punish criminals and protect law-abiding people."

Ma Shao nodded and said, "Tom, you will be the sheriff of this town from now on, and Floyd will be your assistant."

"Thank you." Tom bowed slightly.

Ma Shao looked at Floyd again and said: "You have a strong personality, but I am a peace-loving person. I hope you will not do anything excessive after becoming deputy sheriff."

Floyd said nothing.

"What about you? What's your name?" This time Ma Shao asked the literate black woman.

"My name is Mary," said Mary. She looked quite pretty, with thin lips, which seemed extremely rare among black people.

"You seem to have white ancestry?" Ma Shao guessed.

Mary nodded and said in a calm and even slightly teasing tone: "Yes, my father was a slave owner in the Alabama Territory. One day he suddenly became interested in one of his female slaves, and then I was born. Unfortunately, he sold my mother when she was pregnant, so he lost a lot of money - last month someone wanted to buy me for five thousand dollars."

She was right. Among all the black slaves, the most valuable ones were these beautiful mixed-race female slaves. Often, they would even be auctioned off like works of art.

"Why didn't your previous owner sell it?" Ma Shao asked curiously. Five thousand dollars was indeed not a small amount of money.

"Because he is an unsatisfied guy, and only a musket can satisfy him!" Mary looked at a corpse on the ground with anger in her eyes.

Ma Shao nodded: "I believe you will live a good life in the future... I will arrange a job for you in a few days."

"What job?"

"I'm not sure yet."

Mary said, "All right. You saved me, and I will do whatever job you give me."

"Do you have a surname?" Ma Shao asked the black people.

"We take our master's name," the blacks answered.

Ma Shao then announced: "In this case, from now on, all black people in this town will have the last name Freeman. Of course, if you particularly like your former master and insist on taking his last name, I won't stop you."

Freeman means freeman. It is a common surname for free black people. The same is true in later generations, such as Morgan Freeman and Cathy Freeman.

"Tom Freeman, Sheriff of Clark Town, select eighteen black people as police officers and give me the list before tomorrow night," said Ma Shao.

"Yes," Tom replied.

Twenty policemen are indeed too many for a small town, not to mention that a group of troops need to be stationed here. But in order to control the town, Ma Shao feels that this is necessary.

The expenses for police and garrison are not a big problem. With the civilized foundation of this small town, he will be able to implement many ways to make money.

Indeed, there are a lot. As a veteran Internet user in China in the 21st century, he has seen countless stories and discussions about time travel.

Of course, it is foreseeable that most of these methods will encounter various difficulties in actual operation, and some may not even be feasible at all.

But there is also a way to make money that can be achieved almost immediately, has no technical content or resource restrictions, and is very suitable for the West.