Volume 1: Little Yuanba Chapter 24: Carrying Twenty Stones
"Sanlang, just tell me what you want to do."
"I want to recruit teams. I will raise as much as I can. If there is not enough, I will make up for it from the people who sign up. This will make it practical."
Li Dan finally expressed his idea. Both of them fell silent for a moment. "What, is it difficult?" Li Dan looked at them.
"Sanlang, if this county is in trouble, we can raise our arms and recruit five or sixty people. It will definitely be no problem.
However, we are going to Shangrao. It is a long way and we have to bring our own food and bedding. This... I'm afraid it won't be that easy." Gu scratched his head in embarrassment.
"Yes, even if it only lasts ten thousand years." Liu Hongsheng also said: "And it's not just transporting food. This time it's about quelling chaos, and we need to see weapons."
"The officers and soldiers are in front and we are behind, what are we afraid of?" Li Dan looked at the two of them:
"In this way, after recruiting the team, let's first ask Yang Jianjie if there is any way to train them in self-protection skills, and then prepare some simple weapons for everyone, so that when encountering gangsters, they can at least fight back and defend themselves, and will not lose their lives, right?"
"Hey, yes, why did you forget him? Don't we have a hundred households here? Even though we are governors, we have seen big battles before." When they heard this, they were happy and started dancing again.
"That's it, you go contact the person quickly. If you are willing to go, he doesn't need to bring his own dry food and bedding. We will prepare them for him. I will leave the dry food to Hong Sheng, and Su Siniang will be responsible for the bedding and clothes.
Those who go will have three meals a day, and one meat dish every day. If they return safely, each person will be rewarded with five coins for their hard work.
If you encounter a bandit, you will get one tael of silver for each level of beheading and one tael for each prisoner. Those who are injured will be given three to five taels according to their severity, and those who are killed will be given fifteen taels to their families. What do you think of this?"
"That's great. If that's the case, I'd be more confident!" Gu Da said, "If you can earn some money, who wouldn't be willing to go?"
"Let's not talk about the rewards for now, just mention the hard-earned money, so as not to find people who are jealous of money and will leave at the sight of blood."
Li Dan pointed at them: "You two, plus Yang Yi, are both very capable, and each of you will recruit troops, at least ten and at most twenty.
Tomorrow at noon we will meet at the old temple platform behind the City God's Temple. Gu Da, there is a lot of grass there. Remember to buy some sickles and rake them to clear away the grass before you can practice."
"Okay!"
"I have something to say first. Including you, those who are too short and have no strength will not want it! Those who don't want to leave home and can't bear to leave the bed will not want it!
You don’t want to steal, rape or kill unruly people! You don’t want to be tired or afraid of pain, but you don’t want to be lazy and cunning! Remember?”
"Remember!"
"Do you remember tomorrow's noon time? Do you remember the military laws we practice and how you will be punished after the time has passed?"
"Then...what should I do, Brother B?" Liu Hongsheng asked.
"Don't worry, I'll help him find his people first. Gu Da, if you have any brothers you can trust, send them to meet Xiao Yi. Let him know about this as soon as possible."
Gu grinned: "The most suitable one is Li Biao, and he has animals and can walk fast!"
"That makes sense!" Li Dan clapped his thigh and said, "We forgot to count him out. You can find Lao Qi and ask him to act as a messenger for me first."
“What is ‘traffic’?”
"They are just messengers. I need two of them. Let him find a reliable one to bring to see me tomorrow!"
"good!"
After the discussion, everyone got up and prepared to go their own way. At this time, Liu Hongsheng suddenly asked a question: "Sanlang, I never figured it out just now, why are prisoners worth more than heads?"
Li Dan chuckled: "You have forgotten, Xiao Yi is going to acquire the one hundred and twenty acres of land, and someone will have to take care of it in the future!"
"oh!"
Seeing that he understood, Li Dan added: "We can still do business with the officers and soldiers for what we can't use. They use it to ask for merit. If you can buy it with some money, you don't have to work hard, right?"
Liu Hongsheng rolled his eyes: "No wonder you invested money in my restaurant. Have you already thought about how to make money?"
Li Dan laughed loudly: "Just do what others don't have. This is called differentiation. It's difficult even if you don't make money!
By the way, go back and tell your brother that I will go over and discuss with him later to send people to set up a supply station in Wannian. If the heavenly people gather for training these days, he will also need his help with food and dry food!
However, I have to go to Sai Kuixing's inn to meet Yang Lianjie first, as I need his advice on many things."
But when Li Dan rushed to the Renli Inn, he saw no one. Su Siniang had not returned from the nunnery, but Yang Dayi went to the woodwork recommended to him by Siniang to find a master to repair his shackles.
Han An also went out and did not return. It was not until Li Dan finished drinking a pot of tea that he saw Han An waddling along the street, followed by a timid little girl, who was not Yueying!
Li Dan immediately put down his tea cup and ran out to greet him. "Thank you, Master Han, for your hard work!" He said and glanced behind him.
Only when Yueying saw him did she truly believe that she had been saved. Her eyes immediately turned red and she lowered her head with her sleeves to wipe her tears.
"Have you been waiting for a long time?" Han An said, turning around and waving to Yue Ying: "Let's go in and talk. It's not convenient to stand on the street."
The three of them came in, went up to the second floor and sat in the private room. Han An then smiled and said:
"Fortunately, I brought Miss Yueying back, and the body deed is here." He said, taking out the body deed and pushing it over.
Li Dan opened it, took a quick look at it, and said, "It's not convenient for me to live there, so let her live with you first. After Zhuangzi has sorted it out, let her go there to settle down."
Han An nodded; "That's fine. If Zhuo Jing finds the Song family, they can catch a couple and take care of each other."
"There is one more thing that I need sir to help me with."
Li Dan first asked Yue Ying to wait outside, then took out the transfer letter from the county government, explained the incident and his arrangements, and planned to talk to Han An in general.
"Huh? Sanlang wants to take this opportunity to train a soldier?" Han An was surprised and asked in a low voice.
"I want to keep myself and my aunt safe, so guarding the manor is a good excuse." Li Dan replied:
"There is a lot of chaos outside the city right now. My eldest brother was almost robbed on his way back from the provincial examination, and Yang Dayi also encountered bandits. So it's not difficult to find excuses, but you have to be careful not to violate the court's laws.
After the house was repaired, Yang Lianjie was asked to lead the team to garrison Zhuangzi and protect his aunt at the same time.
They actually settled the property, separated the family, and sent me out of the city without saying a word. They are really capable! So, I am worried that someone will harm her."
"Aren't you worried that others will harm you?" Han An said suddenly.
"I'm worried, so I want to replace the people in this team and use people I trust. Hmm, maybe they have set a lot of traps for me along the way.
As long as I have a group of my own people around me, there's nothing they can do!" Li Dan replied. Apparently he had already thought of a countermeasure and was prepared to face the danger.
Han An nodded lightly, suddenly feeling that this child was older, a little strange, and not as experienced as a boy of his age.
Yes, he is only fifteen years old, but he has to bravely charge into the battlefield with dozens of men.
Li Dan joked in front of his companions that he would not charge into battle to transport food and fodder, but in fact he knew in his heart that in this era there was no concept of fixed positions or battle lines.
Attacking baggage stores is often an important means of victory, just like Guandu, like Pingxingguan...
But he can't tell these stories to inexperienced civilians. He is the leader of this team of civilians and has to bring them back alive!
It’s the same thing again: If you rely on other people’s favors, rewards, and mercy, you will have to be a dog, and you will still be a vegetable dog who may get into the soup pot at any time!
In order to bring these farmers and gangsters back, Li Dan had to find a way to think of things that the county government would not think of for him, and even things that others could not think of in this era.
Either be passive and suffer punishment, or take the initiative to go your own way and survive!
"Master Han, are there any carriage and horse craftsmen you are familiar with? I want to build a few carriages." Li Dan said.
"Yes. Chen Gang and his son from West City East are very good at building carriages. They have been doing this for four generations. But..., isn't it better to buy ready-made ones?"
Li Dan shook his head: "There is no such thing ready-made. Please borrow a pen and paper, and I will draw the graphics for you to see."
Han An went out and asked Yue Ying to follow him to the study. After a while, he brought pens, inks, paper, inkstones and other stationery.
Yueying studied the ink, Li Dan closed his eyes and thought for a while, then licked the pen and started drawing on the paper.
He has studied with Han An for five years and fully understands the painting techniques and brushwork of this era. In addition, he had a grandfather who was the vice president of the painting academy in his previous life.
This time Li Dan did not intend to use the method of painting landscapes, flowers and birds, but to use Chinese brushwork and dazzling colors, as well as a combination of Western perspective and proportion.
He painted a realistic, three-dimensional work, which was a four-wheeled heavy-duty carriage with steering and braking devices.
The front compartment is hung slightly higher on the frame, and two drivers can ride on it, carrying a rear cargo box with side opening doors;
The front wheel is slightly smaller and wider, with a fender on it. The horizontal axis suspension is connected to the semicircular steering mechanism, and is connected to the front frame with a longitudinal axis, so that the front wheel can rotate at an angle of fifteen degrees.
The rear axle of the vehicle is carried by the rear frame, and there is a steering shaft between the front and rear wheels to ensure that they turn at roughly the same angle at the same time.
The front and rear frames support the three keels of the carriage, forming a steerable heavy-duty truck.
Li Dan first drew the overall view of the carriage, then the side view, top view, and rear view, and then drew the front and rear frames, steering gear, steering shaft, gear working group, brake handbrake and brake pads. It took more than an hour.
Finally, I even drew how the steering gear was connected to the shaft. When I straightened up, I found that Su Siniang had come back at some point and was quietly standing beside her husband. The three people (and Yue Ying) were all stunned.
Also, after the painting is completed, it will be like the later pen paintings in the West. People who have never seen it will be surprised and confused.
"My brother, you, how can you make it look like the real thing?" Su Siniang turned her face and looked at Han An: "Did you teach me this?"
"How is that possible!" Han An stamped his feet: "It's not like you haven't seen me painting before?"
"I learned this from Yang Baihu's two books on Western techniques. It's quite interesting to try it out at home, so I'll use it today.
Western painting emphasizes on restoring its true nature, which is very different from our Chinese freehand brushwork and lyricism. It is not as good as ours in terms of cultivating one's temperament, but it is still very useful when used in portraiture."
Li Dan commented. Then he pointed and told Han An that this car actually uses two two-wheeled bicycle frames and adds a steering shaft in the middle.
Such a vehicle not only doubles its transportation capacity, but also has flexible and convenient steering.
Han An woke up like a dream: "Sanlang is going to make two of these cars?"
"First of all, I plan to use these two pictures to invest in the Chen family's horse and carriage business;
Secondly, let them build a few cars as quickly as possible and I will take them away for trial use. If they work well, I can build them in large quantities and sell them. What do you think, Master Han? Do you want to add one share?" Li Dan asked with a smile.
Han An and his wife looked at each other and nodded vigorously: "Okay, I do!"
"Master Han, don't worry. These carts can be big or small. Let's make the first one that can carry ten shi. Let's try it out first. If it feels good, we can make another one that can carry 15 or 20 shi."
"Can this carriage carry twenty stones?" Han An was surprised again, because at that time, a two-wheeled carriage carrying five stones would already reach the sky!
"If it can carry so much, how many merchants from all over the world will come to buy cars from us?" Su Siniang covered her mouth and opened her eyes wide, looking like she couldn't believe it.
"You don't need Tianxia, people will learn this thing very quickly. But even if we only do business in Fujian and Jiangxi, it will be enough.
To cross the Wuyi Mountains back and forth, how many merchants do you think will need good carriages?"
Li Dan raised his eyebrows, which immediately made the couple feel excited and their eyes were shining with silver light.