Selling arms is selling death. This kind of thing is very unpopular. But Wan Lei knows: Human beings, no matter when and where, have never lacked war. When there is war, there is a strong demand for weapons. As for those who buy
Will the arms man commit massacre? Wan Lei will not ask. He will only say: I am just providing customers with necessary security tools.
In fact, since the Age of Discovery began, the arms trade has become extremely popular in later generations, and even once ranked among the largest international trades. Whether they are powerful countries or smugglers, they have all made a lot of money from the arms trade. As for myself
Will he become a "merchant of death" that will be reviled by future generations? Wan Lei just smiled and ignored it.
Of course, arms are not sold just as you say. The first rule of selling arms is: you cannot let your products hurt yourself. Therefore, Wan Lei only sells artillery, not ammunition. And if these artillery are not loaded with special
With smokeless gunpowder, the range will be reduced by 28%. If you want to bombard the Peking Army, you will definitely be beaten passively. Only in this way can you ensure that you will not be hurt by the counterattack.
As expected by Wan Lei, Tie Xuan was horrified when he heard about the private sale of artillery. However, Wan Lei had just agreed to keep his niece by his side as an apprentice, and it was hard to refute his soft-spoken words.
, but said with some worry: "My dear nephew, if this matter is reported to the imperial court, I am afraid that our Shuntian Mansion will be suppressed by the imperial army."
"We smuggle secretly and no one else knows about it. Even if the court finds out and we fight to the death, what can they do to me? The court is surrounded by enemies on all sides and is still unable to send troops to deal with us for the time being." Wan Lei said.
"Good nephew, Mrs. Liu's group is neither good nor evil. We should not interact with them too much to avoid tarnishing our reputation. The only solution now is to get rid of them as soon as possible." Tie Xuan said, although he
I was on the same boat as Wan Lei, but I still felt loyal to the Ming Dynasty in my heart, but it was hard to explain it clearly.
"I have my own sense of responsibility for this. We don't have many friends on the surface now. It would be good to win over more people secretly. If this kind of thing is exposed, let's fight to the death."
"If you sell the artillery to them, it will be difficult to deny it," Tie Xuan said again.
"Don't worry, these artillery pieces are just transitional products and will soon be eliminated. In addition, even if they got the artillery, they did not have special gunpowder, and their range and accuracy were much worse. Even if the court found out, we
It can also be said that the technology for making iron cannons has been leaked, and their cannons are just imitations of ours."
Seeing that Wan Lei had not only prepared a backup plan, but also prepared a set of rhetoric afterwards, Tie Xuan said no more, just sighed in a low voice: "Nowadays, in troubled times, there are many powerful enemies around, and the situation is ever-changing, I always have a good intention."
I'm powerless, and I have to rely on my nephew to make decisions on big things."
Wan Lei heard some resentment in the other party's words. He must have blamed himself for not consulting with him before handling the matter and not explaining to him the secret collusion with Mrs. Liu, so he apologized: "Some things are of great importance, I know
The fewer people there are, the better, lest it gets leaked and it’s detrimental to everyone.”
"This old man understands, it's just other people..." Tie Xuan hesitated, the other people he meant were those on the Standing Committee and the Military Commission. As the leaders of Shuntian Prefecture, these people should also know about it.
"I will write a report on this matter and list it as a high-level secret within the party. Only the Standing Committee and senior members of the party committee can apply for access. Discussion and leakage are strictly prohibited."
"That's fine, as long as everyone has a good idea."
After talking about reselling artillery, Wan Lei discussed with Tie Xuan some matters about setting up a steelmaking plant. Due to lack of manpower and lack of funds, it is not yet possible to overhaul the factory, but some necessary equipment is also being designed and built.
After the autumn harvest, construction of a small steel mill began.
Since steel is a high-grade raw material for making guns and cannons, the confidentiality of steel-making technology is several levels higher than that of iron-making technology. All design information and drawings are in the hands of Wan Lei alone. Even the person who built the equipment according to the drawings,
They are also selected from the most loyal craftsmen, and these people are strictly prohibited from going out. Even after the manufacturing is completed, they are strictly prohibited from taking the design data with them.
Of course, in addition to these regular confidentiality measures, Wan Lei also asked Chixinchicheng and others to build some core components. Therefore, even if outsiders poach some craftsmen, they will not be able to replicate the steelmaking plant due to the lack of key technologies.
, in order to maintain technological monopoly advantages.
"My dear nephew, is this steel really that good? Can it be made into a good gun?" Tie Xuan doesn't care about technical matters. He only cares about the quality of the product. After all, this steelmaking plant is also a big money-burning hole.
At least hundreds of thousands of taels of silver must be thrown into it.
"The quality of steel is of course higher than that of pig iron, especially the special steel made by adding some special elements, which is of better quality. Artillery cast from special steel can be very thin and light, and can be made into portable artillery for defending and siegeing cities in field battles.
They are all easy to use. They can also be made into small muskets, and each soldier can have one in their hands, which can generally increase the combat effectiveness of our army."
"That's very good. With my nephew's guarantee, I can rest assured."
Tie Xuan felt confident and no longer worried about anything else. The two discussed some details, and Wan Lei resigned, but Tie Xuan insisted on keeping him here for dinner, saying it was for his niece.
It was the apprenticeship banquet. Wan Lei couldn't refuse, so he had to ask Zhao Xueer to go home and bring his wife to the banquet, so that her little mind would not have to think about it again.
Wan Zhai is not far from Tie Mansion. Zhao Xue'er invited Fu Wei over just for a cup of tea. However, Fu Wei's face looked a little gloomy. It seemed that Zhao Xue'er did not explain the situation to her and her mind was elsewhere.
Wan Lei didn't want his wife to think wrong again, so he stepped forward and took her hand, asking her to sit next to him.
"Miss Li said that she wants to become her master. From now on, you will be her master's wife, so don't bully her." Wan Lei whispered in his wife's ear.
"Oh..." Fu Wei nodded mechanically, but then he felt happy and said hurriedly: "No, no, I will treat her well."
The reason why Fu Wei is so happy is because she knows that human relations are the most important thing in the world. It is said that once you are a master, you will always be a father. The seniority is fixed and there is no way to change it. As long as Miss Li becomes a master, she will not try to compete with her for her husband in the future.
This is equivalent to eliminating a love rival.
At this moment, Mrs. Tie and Li Yuan also came out, and they bowed and sat down. Li Yuan was not a fool. She saw that Wan Lei showed concern for his wife, and she knew at a glance that Wan Lei was an infatuated person and a weakling.
The master who takes only one gourd out of three thousand water.
Since it is something that is definitely unavailable, there is no need to force it. Li Yuan can actually pick it up and put it down. She picked up two cups of tea and offered them to her in a polite manner. She was about to kneel down to salute, but Wan Lei stopped her.
After holding on, Wan Lei said: "I don't like the kneeling etiquette here. From now on, I just need to learn from it with my heart."
"Apprentice understands that I will live up to my master's teachings in the future." Li Yuan said sternly. In fact, her real purpose of becoming a disciple was to steal his apprenticeship and get on Wan Lei's train in order to gain greater benefits for the family.
Wan Lei didn't know that Li Yuan had other agendas, but this person was recommended by Tie Xuan. In order to stabilize and unite, even though he knew it was a personal plan, he had to give him face. Besides, it doesn't matter if you have selfish motives, the most important thing is
What is true is that she is capable. This little woman is also considered a smart person, and she is also very scheming and capable. She will definitely be of great use in the future.
Fu Wei didn't have as much power as her husband. When she saw that Li Yuan had become a disciple, she regarded him as her own sister. She took out a small mirror from her sleeve as a congratulatory gift, and even held Li Yuan's hand and called her sister.
Sister Dao, our relationship is pretty harmonious.
In fact, Li Yuan was born into a family of officials, but her fate was not good. More than ten years ago, her father was implicated in the Guo Huan case and his house was confiscated and executed. She was spared death at a young age and lived with her aunt. She was living under someone else's roof.
She matured earlier than her peers, and knew that if she wanted to get ahead, she had to rely on her own efforts, so whenever she got an opportunity, she would seize it.
In order to get on Wan Lei's train, she tried her best. On the one hand, she studied hard, took the exam and was admitted to the Women's Normal College, and caught up with Mrs. Wan. On the other hand, she was willing to beg her aunt and uncle to help intercede.
.Of course, she wants to catch Wan Lei's train. In addition to getting ahead, the more important purpose is to take revenge and avenge her family.
After all, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, was not only merciless in killing heroes and generals, but also ruthless in combating corruption, but he went too far. During the Hongwu period, major cases occurred repeatedly, such as the Kongyin case, the Guo Huan case, and the Hu Weiyong case.
Major cases such as the Blue Jade Case and the Blue Jade Case can easily cause tens of thousands of people to lose their heads, and most middle-class families have been ruined.
As the saying goes, fight today and fight tomorrow, the fight will become the hatred of thousands of people. Those officials who were unjustly killed must have posthumous children or something. It is impossible to make these people have a good impression of the Ming government. But there is more irony.
Yes, Fang Keqin, the father of Fang Xiaoru, the imperial master at that time, was implicated in the empty seal case and lost his head.
His grandfather killed his father and still re-employed him. He doesn't know how the current emperor's brain is. But no matter what, Ming Ting is Wan Lei's enemy, and the enemy of his enemy is his friend. Anyone who is dissatisfied with the imperial court
Wan Lei always tries to win over people if he can, and if he can't win over, he tries to coexist peacefully with them.
After drinking the apprenticeship wine, Li Yuan hastily packed up her belongings and followed Wan Lei to live in Wan's house. Mrs. Tie took pity on this miserable niece and cried when she said goodbye as if she was sending a daughter off to get married. However, Li Yuan understood the general idea and kowtowed in thanks.
My uncle and aunt showed their kindness in raising me and said that they would come back to visit me often in the future, so I reluctantly got up and left.
Seeing that Li Yuan attached great importance to love and justice, Wan Lei was also secretly satisfied. Although this little woman had many scheming intentions, she still had important issues and she would definitely not become an ungrateful villain in the future.
+++000+++
After the heavy rain, the sky cleared up. After many days of continuous scorching sun exposure, the city of Peiping was "baked" dry again. July is the hottest time of the year. Due to the unbearable heat, it is time for schools to have summer vacation.
Lei was sitting on the rocking chair in the yard, taking a nap leisurely.
The moon was bright and there were few stars in the sky, and the endless chirping of cicadas came from the jujube trees in the yard. Intertwined with it were Li Yuan and Miao Yi talking in low voices and Chi Xin Chi Cheng playing with various utensils.
The sound of knocking. As for the witty words and other girls, they are at their desks drawing pictures and calculating. In short, everyone is very busy. The most idle one is Zhao Xueer, playing with her skateboard in the yard, and from time to time she casts a look of contempt at the new sister Li.
Eyes.
Although Li Yuan was from Tie Xuan's side, Wan Lei did not pay special attention to her. He just arranged for Miao Yi to be her counselor and fill in some of the missing theoretical knowledge first. Because she is older than Miao Yi and others.
In the National People's Congress, some prejudices are very deep, and many wonderful ideas of physical and chemical knowledge have been taught many times, but she still can't understand them. No wonder Zhao Xueer looks at her differently.
For this reason, Miaoyi often complained to Wan Lei in private, and Wan Lei had no choice but to deal with her by saying that he was educated but not classified. In fact, Miaoyi was just complaining. She also knew that a group of fellow disciples would come north soon.
"Learning from the past", teaching Sister Li now is also to accumulate experience for the future. After all, her Mr. Wan is very busy and will not do enlightenment anymore.
At this time, Fu Wei came out of the kitchen and brought out a bowl of mung bean soup. Zhao Xueer saw it and immediately ran over to grab a drink. However, Fu Wei pushed him away and scolded him: "Go, you are not doing your job well."
Come on, if you don’t study hard, you won’t get a share here.”
"Ah, bias, sister Wei'er, you are too biased. We are good sisters who live and die together. How could you forget about sisterhood when you get married?" Seeing this bowl of mung bean soup being delivered to Wan Lei,
On her hand, Zhao Xueer complained again.
"If you want to drink it, just make it yourself. There are plenty in the kitchen." Fu Wei rolled his eyes at Zhao Xueer, making it clear that he valued sex over friends.
"Look at you, you're covered in soot and sweat." Wan Lei picked up the soup bowl and took a sip. It felt cool for a while. He could guess without thinking that it had been chilled. And the ice
It is newly made by melting potassium nitrate into water, which will absorb a lot of heat and even make water freeze. As early as the Tang Dynasty, people began to use this method to make artificial ice.
Potassium nitrate is an important raw material for making black powder, but now the army is equipped with more powerful and safer smokeless gunpowder. It is not a waste to use this potassium nitrate as an ice-making agent. Besides, it can evaporate after use.
Crystallize it and reuse it, so nothing is wasted.
Being able to drink such cold soup in the hot summer, Wan Lei couldn't help but miss those comfortable days of sitting in an air-conditioned room and drinking ice soda. However, he missed it, and he didn't want to go back to that era, because in that era, he lived
You have to be like a dog, living purely for the sake of living. Life is a bit hard now, but I live vigorously and my whole body is full of positive energy.
Just as Wan Lei was secretly sighing, a messenger quickly walked into the yard and brought him a secret report. When he opened it, the lazy aura on his body suddenly disappeared. He stood up and walked back and forth, returning as he walked.
Asked: "When did this happen?"
ps: There is a power outage at noon. Now I will update one chapter together, and there will be three updates tomorrow.