Li Yan stayed in Kaifeng for four days before Master Fan and his friends bought all the things they needed. He himself went to Master Niu's bronze shop again, hoping to invite Master Niu to Qi County again.

"Master Niu," Li Yan bowed and said, "I'm here to ask you to come out again."

Master Niu invited Li Yan to sit down, poured tea, and said with a smile: "Young Master has found the wrong person. The old man is not Zhuge Kongming, and this place is not Wolonggang."

Li Yan smiled and said, "Your craftsmanship is much higher than Zhuge Liang."

"Young Master, don't joke," Master Niu took a sip of tea and said, "We are still alive here, and each royal palace still needs gold, silver and bronze. Our wages are half the food and half the money. The royal palace also needs to save money to buy land, silk, and jewelry and jade. So, we don't need to follow the young master to do a business that will lose our heads."

Li Yan explained: "I am a village soldier now, a member of the court, not a rebel."

Master Niu waved his hand and said, "No matter who it is, it is not as safe as our current business. Besides, do you know why cannons are called 'general cannons' and 'general cannons'? It is because the cannons are powerful and can withstand the role of a good general. Only the court can grant generals and generals a title. Unless you are in the court, otherwise you will make cannons privately, which is a death sentence!"

Li Yan said helplessly: "Then can't you help me take over two apprentices?"

Master Niu shook his head and refused, "No, no. The world is already chaotic enough. I heard that Zhang Xianzhong rebelled again, and I don't know how many people will die! You don't know the power of the cannon. If you hit it for two or three miles, the middle one will die immediately. If you use the group of people, you will be blocked from all the deaths within one mile. Create karma! Such things should not be created at all."

Li Yan was speechless, but he didn't expect that Master Niu was still a pacifist. He thought for a while and asked, "Can you draw a picture for me? Give me the proportion of the cannon material, the thickness of the cannon, the position of the center of gravity, the thickness of the cannon, the thickness of the cannon, the thickness of the cannon, the thickness of the cannon, the thickness of the cannon, how thick the cannon mouth, and how long the cannon barrel are. I will go back and do what you want, even if I say, I will try my best to satisfy you."

"Young Master knows how to shoot?" Master Niu stared at Li Yan in surprise and asked.

Li Yan shook his head and said, "I read it in the book, but I don't know how much time it takes if I try it slowly, so I'll ask you for help."

Master Niu still refused: "Young Master already knows the essence of artillery production. As long as you understand what you said just now, you are the master. I believe that with your master's talent, it won't take much time. Old man, I don't plan to create such things anymore, so you still don't need to persuade me."

Li Yan had no choice but to give up.

Afterwards, Master Niu saw that Li Yan did not talk about artillery again, and seemed to come to talk about the fun. Most of them were about Wu Niang. Wu Niang's mother passed away and died a little strange. Wu Niang didn't come out at some time. There was also a list of the royal palace's list of titles, names, and marriages (these were all decided by the emperor, and many royal families were called Xiaominger throughout their lives). It seemed that Wu Niang did not have Wu Niang, and even the fifteen-year-old Seven Princess was going to marry.

Li Yan politely said goodbye after listening to Master Niu's nagging. He was still disappointed and had no concern about why Master Niu mentioned Wu Niu. He was still wondering if he should go to other places to ask. Cannons are more useful than muskets. But he didn't dare to ask casually. Master Niu did not report to the official position, which does not mean that everyone else is kind.

Li Yan returned to Qi County with the seeds of winter wheat and the materials bought by Master Fan. The road was quite peaceful, mainly because there were many yamen runners collecting taxes, and the village soldiers also increased their inspection efforts in order to deal with possible thieves.

After returning to the county town, he went to find the county magistrate Su Jing, hoping to select strong people from the refugees in the county town, expand the village soldiers, and cultivate deserted fields and raise food and wages by themselves.

Su Jing was naturally very happy. He just needed to get all the refugees away, so he didn't have to worry about it. So he agreed immediately and told Li Yan to choose as much as he wanted.

After Li Yan got permission, he took Li Zhong to the City God Temple to pick out some people in good condition. But when he arrived, he saw that the refugees there were almost all women, old and weak, but very few were strong. After asking, he found out that a few days ago, the spiritual refugees among the refugees were pulled away by Yang Shoujianqiang, and he didn't know what to do.

Li Yan and the others had to choose some pretty strong ones from it and take their family away. After picking for a long time, they only picked out more than twenty.

"Young master, what are you doing when you are looking for us?" asked a thin young man timidly.

Li Zhong explained: "Don't be afraid, you are letting you be a village soldier, and your family is going to farm. You have the food you have, and we only collect 30% of the rent and taxes for the land you grow with your family, and the rest are yours. You don't have to worry about other taxes from the court, you just need to farm with peace of mind."

"Is this true?" Another old man asked in confusion: "The court's taxes and corvee labor are not required? Is there such a good thing?"

Li Zhong smiled and said, "There are many other people in our place. You will know after you go and ask. If you are not satisfied, you can come back here."

Those who were picked had nothing to say, but those who were not picked were rushing forward, all wanting to follow Li Yan and the others.

"Young Master, take us with you. We can also farm."

"Yes, young master, even if we can't be Ding Zhuang, we can do other things."

...

Li Yan kept his hands tightly. After the refugees calmed down, he said loudly: "You can go, but no one from the family members entered the village. We have to give us 50% of the harvest in the fields. Are you still willing to go?"

The refugees hesitated for a moment and paid 50% of the harvest, which was indeed a bit too much. However, other taxes, especially corvee labor, were better treatment. So they immediately started to clamor again, shouting to serve Li Yan.

Li Yan and the others chose some more, and also some families who are still able to work. The reason why they chose families who are still able to work is to ensure that these people can continue to provide them with food, and the food left to them must be able to support their whole family, so they cannot escape due to hunger.

Li Zhong looked at the old, young, and many women who were left behind, and he felt a little confused. So he reminded: "As long as you can find your men, go to Qili Village in the west of the city with them. Remember, before August, if it is too late, you can only wait until next year."
Chapter completed!