The girl washed her face hastily in the basin, and then sat at the table, drinking porridge and eating steamed buns. The pickles were chewed crisply. She tilted her head and asked: "Brother Jing, a few more people have come to the school. Are they from Xincun?"
The wild child.”
"Do they dare to act wild in school?" Guo Dajing thought of Han Shantong, a half-year-old boy. He couldn't help but slightly pursed his lips and said with a smile: "Can you, sir, take care of them?"
"Yes." Rong'er nodded her little head vigorously, a look of gloating appeared on her face, and she grinned widely, "Sir, hit their palms with a ruler, and it made a loud cracking sound!"
This kid isn't setting off firecrackers during the New Year, so why is he smiling like this?
Guo Dajing was a little funny. After finishing the last mouthful of porridge, he put down the bowl and chopsticks, reached out and patted Ronger's shoulder, and said with a smile: "You must study hard, it will be embarrassing to let Mr. slap the hand!"
"The teacher said that I am very smart and can learn how to teach. He likes me the most." Ronger said with a smile: "I am the only one in the class who has never received a thumb from the teacher."
"Rong'er is the smartest, and she is the one teaching me how to read now!" Sister Li Xiu gave Ronger the grilled fish, and praised with a smile: "In the future, maybe I will be a female teacher!"
"Mr. Female -" Guo Dajing nodded vigorously and said, "That must be no problem."
Rong'er giggled, lowered her head, and ate the grilled fish buns deliciously.
Guo Dajing went back to his room and put on his military uniform. Sister Li Xiu was waiting beside him, helping him adjust his clothes and sleeves, with unconcealable tenderness in his eyes.
"Go out for a walk more. Just doing work at home will make you feel bored." Guo Dajing stepped out and said, "The weather is good and the sea view is also good."
Sister Li Xiu nodded with a smile and sent Guo Dajing out. She watched his back disappear at the entrance of the village before turning back.
For Sister Li Xiu, having a man by her side, having food to drink and not being hungry, is the greatest happiness. As for higher goals, Sister Li Xiu really doesn’t have one.
Let's talk about Guo Dajing. When he arrived at the military camp, he saw soldiers running around the camp.
This is a fixed subject every day. It seems simple and ordinary, but without enough food and supplementary food nutrition, it is difficult to stick to it for a long time.
The army is the foundation and the guarantee, and the food standard is naturally higher than that of the common people. At least they must be fed.
Guo Dajing also tried his best to improve the original standards. Most of the fish caught on the island were given to the army. Not only did he see meat and fish every day, but he also tasted oil and water in two or three days.
When he came to his room, Guo Dajing first ran through the work he had to do today, and then wrote in more detail. After the soldiers had finished breakfast, he would implement them one by one.
Two hundred cavalry were gathered together, but there were still many horses left, which could only be used as mules and horses for pulling carts and loads.
War horses need to be fed regularly. Don't worry about eggs and so on. Beans are the best feed for war horses in ancient times. Even so, according to the resources of Guanglu Island, they cannot feed too many.
The garrisons on each island have more or less cavalry, mainly used as exploration horses. In order to solve the forage problem, a lot of alfalfa is planted, and Guanglu Island is no exception.
Guo Dajing thought the planting area was too small, so he had already written to Li Weiluan, asking him to plant some in Lushun. The iron masks were not given for free, Guo Dajing often gave them here and there, and Li Weiluan agreed quite happily.
With the established cavalry, Liu Qishi finally got his wish and was appointed as the commander of this cavalry. He began training according to the methods formulated by Guo Dajing.
Liu Xingzuo was also good at cavalry and archery. After watching the training of the cavalry, he became enlightened and very happy. Most of the work was left to Guo Dajing, who mingled with the cavalry all day long.
After all, he still wanted to fight on the battlefield and make achievements. Guo Dajing understood this, so he had to promote a few more capable officers to share the work.
After breakfast, as usual, Liu Xingzuo and his officers came to report and receive their mission.
"Today we have to train the variable-speed formation. As the flag leader, I cannot be absent." Liu Xingzuo came up and removed himself, meaning don't assign work to me.
You did this on purpose, because you liked cavalry warfare and abandoned your boring work!
Guo Dajing rolled his eyes. He didn't have any arrangements for him in the first place, but by saying that, aren't you a little disrespectful to the leader?
Liu Qishi bowed and said: "General, when will the cavalry team's equipment be complete?"
The half-breastplate is modified from the original armor in order to reduce the load without affecting the horse's speed; the new saber is an imitation of the Russian Chasik saber, Guo Dajing has played with it, and it is very easy to use, and he probably has an impression of the shape; the helmet and the iron surface are off-the-shelf
Yes, and equipped with a hand crossbow...
Guo Dajing rolled his eyes again and said: "I just bought the fine iron a few days ago, and the workshop is working hard to build it. I guess I have to wait for seventy or eighty days!"
"That's good." Liu Qishi chuckled, bowed and stepped back.
Guo Dajing looked at Liu Xingzhi and asked casually: "Are you going to continue training on disguise and ambush in the mountains today?"
Liu Xingzhi bowed and said: "Yes, General."
After a pause, he continued: "In terms of equipment, there are still some shortcomings. The general has already made a list."
Guo Dajing nodded and said, "I saw it and will complete it as soon as possible."
These guys just know what they want. It doesn’t matter whether I have money or where I make it from.
Seeing that these guys couldn't sit still, Guo Dajing waved his hand helplessly, "If you have training tasks, just go down and make arrangements first!"
"General, I obey." Liu Xingzuo stood up neatly, saluted and turned around to leave. Liu Qishi and other officers also saluted and left.
As soon as they came out of the house, the guys became happy again and left together talking and laughing.
From a distance, Guo Dajing heard Liu Xingzuo and Liu Qishi complaining that the training ground was too small, and discussing how to land in a few days and find a spacious place to train.
You have to practice until you are almost ready before going out! When people and horses move, a lot of food and supplies will be consumed.
Guo Dajing shook his head slightly. He had actually made arrangements to bring the cavalry team to Lushun for training.
Li Weiluan is also training the cavalry according to Guo Dajing's method. A letter has just arrived, cordially inviting the cavalry team from Guanglu Island to come and have exchanges.
After sending away a few guys who were eager to train troops, Guo Dajing arranged work for the remaining people.
Speaking of which, military training is important, but the operation and management of Guanglu Island is even more fundamental. Without money and food, nothing can be done.
Compared with Liu Xingzuo's step-by-step approach, Guo Dajing's business methods are more creative, organized, scientific and effective.
Guo Dajing listened to reports one by one on planting and breeding, drying salt, fishing and cultivating seafood, detailed planning and division of labor in workshops, making saltpetre, including subcontracting shoes, socks and gloves to households, etc., and made adjustments and arrangements.
Improvements and changes are certain. The longer the time, the more significant the effects will be. Of course, Guo Dajing also spends less and less money.
If the light can't come in, how can it be a long-term solution? When all is exhausted, it's better to keep things as they are and not improve the treatment!
It is beneficial, and naturally everyone praises it, just like a salary increase. But if you lower the salary, you will definitely be filled with complaints and an uproar.
Therefore, making money is Guo Dajing's key task, ensuring that the army's equipment, food, and training can be normal, and ensuring that the people's lives are at least free from the suffering of hunger.
When it comes to leading troops in battles, there are many generals and officers who are qualified. But when it comes to making money and making big money, there probably is no one more powerful than Guo Dajing in this era.
It is not the kind that is backed by abundant capital, but innovation and invention, using the smallest cost to obtain the largest huge profits.
Relying on your own space to steal calculations is one way, but it is not Guo Dajing's first choice.
After arranging all the work, Guo Dajing went to the workshop for another round, and then came to a remote place. There was a house in front of the courtyard, the courtyard wall was made of adobe, there was only one gate, and there were soldiers standing guard to protect it.
.
"I have met you, sir." The soldier bowed and saluted, and in response was Guo Dajing's smile.
"Jiang Xiaogui, you are on duty again!" Guo Dajing said with a smile: "Is your mother's illness better?"
Jiang Xiaogui showed gratitude and bowed: "Sir, Dr. Yao's medicine is good. Plus the weather is getting warmer, my mother's asthma has been much better."
Old Mr. Yao has become a doctor on the island based on his specialties. Serious diseases cannot be cured, but minor ones can be dealt with, that's the extent of it.
However, the level of medical treatment in ancient times did not allow doctors to have high medical skills, and the people were also very tolerant. Curing the patient was the credit of the doctor, and failing to cure the patient was life. There is no medical trouble.
"That's good." Guo Dajing didn't say much, patted Jiang Xiaogui's arm, and walked into the gate with two soldiers.
The house is very spacious. It is just a workshop, not for people to live in. The several rooms in the corner of the yard are the residences of the craftsmen.
It was extremely hot in the workshop, and as soon as Guo Dajing came in, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Several craftsmen are busy at work, and the molten material in the clay crucible has softened, glowing red, and emitting scorching heat.
Guo Dajing moved lightly and did not affect the work of the craftsmen. He sat not far away and watched quietly.
In 1317, the fourth year of Yanyou in the Yuan Dynasty, Venetian glass craftsmen produced transparent glass;
In 1507, the second year of Emperor Wuzong's reign in the Ming Dynasty, smart Venetian craftsmen used the mercury-tin combination method to create the first exquisite and complex mirror.
Its appearance caused a sensation in Europe and became the new favorite of the princes and nobles. When the French Queen got married, the King of Venice gave her a small glass mirror as a congratulatory gift.
This was considered a very precious gift at the time, and its value at the time was 150,000 francs.
It is now the seventh year of the Apocalypse, and more than a hundred years have passed. The Ming Dynasty still has no glass mirrors, and cannot even make transparent glass.
Just a dozen years ago, Dutch spectacles made the first telescope in human history; subsequently, Galileo invented the 40-power double-mirror telescope, which became the first practical telescope put into scientific applications.
Although Guo Dajing needs more telescopes, from the perspective of making money, glass mirrors are the first choice.
The raw materials are not complicated, and they are basically sufficient for Guanglu Island. Just replace the soda ash with plant ash, and theoretically you have the conditions for firing glass.
These are all things Guo Dajing learned while reading novels in his previous life. Otherwise, as the saying goes, "The book has its own golden house," the things he learned may be useful at some point.
Of course, a theory is a theory. If you want to be truly successful, you still need to continue to explore and experiment. As long as the direction is correct, you can get twice the result with half the effort.
These craftsmen all had experience in making pottery and porcelain. They were paid by Guo Dajing privately and given generous treatment. In this place, which Guo Dajing called the "research institute," they were conducting continuous firing experiments.
As long as transparent glass can be fired, the plan to make a fortune is basically completed. As for how to press it into flat glass and how to use the mercury-tin amalgam method to make mirrors, it will be much simpler.
The head craftsman's name was Lu Shiying. When he saw Guo Dajing coming in, he just nodded briefly and continued to work with full concentration.
A ball of molten gelatin was lifted up by an iron pipe, put into a polished and spotless shallow iron plate trough, and cut off from the root, and a roller was repeatedly pressed hard on it.
This is one of the oldest methods of making flat glass, the rolling method. You can also use the blowing method, where the blown cylindrical glass tube is cut in the middle, flattened and allowed to cool naturally.
Glassblowing requires skills and a lot of time to practice. Guo Dajing wanted to see the effect as soon as possible, so he did not teach the craftsmen this skill that he did not know.
Guo Dajing doesn't need too much glass. A small palm-sized mirror is cheaper and easier to sell.
Buying crowds are also easy to find. Young ladies in romantic places. Especially courtesans and the like. Some patrons are willing to spend huge sums of money.
After the rolling was completed, Lu Shiying let out a long breath and asked the craftsmen to take a break and wait for the glass to cool down naturally before looking at the effect.
"I have seen General Guo." Lu Shiying came over to see him, and took the glass made yesterday for Guo Dajing to look at.
It was still a bit green and not very transparent. But Guo Dajing was very satisfied. He and Lu Shiying came to the courtyard, sat down and cooled off, and came up with ways to improve it.
"It seems that it is not enough to use magnets to purify the raw materials." Guo Dajing took out a bag of earth saltpeter and handed it to Lu Shiying, saying: "Add some earth saltpeter when firing, which should be able to remove some of the variegated colors. The dosage is up to you.
Experiment to determine.”
The Venetians used manganese dioxide as a decolorizing agent for glass, but Guo Dajing couldn't find it, so he had to use earth salt instead, which should also be effective.
"The villain has taken note of it." Lu Shiying took it with both hands and put it aside, then poured tea for Guo Dajing.
As an old craftsman who was good at making ceramics, Lu Shiying didn't know what General Guo wanted to make transparent glass for.
But as a military householder, he could do whatever he was told, and the pay was generous. As long as he tried his best to complete the task, he would still get a reward.
"Every firing must be recorded in detail as a basis for mass production in the future." Guo Dajing motioned for Lu Shiying to sit down as well, and said slowly: "If someone says you are not impatient, you are lying, but you can't lose your seriousness.
."
"Young man understands." Lu Shiying bowed and said, "What you want is the long term, not just one or two chances of success."
Guo Dajing nodded in appreciation and said: "That's exactly it. Well, now that you understand it, let's go to work. I'll wait here for a while and see the results of the experiment."
"Yes, I will take my leave." Lu Shiying saluted and then entered the workshop again.