"Preface the speech to observe the matter, persuade and give food, the words are long-lasting, and the gifts are even. These ten men are generals. They cut things off carefully, look down solemnly, and do not need to admonish. They execute the punishments several times, and the punishments will definitely see blood. If you don't
If he avoids relatives, he is a general of a hundred people; if he is eager to argue his case, if he is jealous of thieves and thieves, he criticizes and punishes others, and if he wants to unite the whole group, he is a general of a thousand people. Third brother, tell me, how many people do I have to be a general?"
After saying this, Pang Yu rubbed his eyes and closed the book in his hand. The four words "Martial Arts General Essentials" were written on the cover.
The cabin shook slightly, and Pang Yu turned his eyes to the outside of the cabin. Green poplars were like smoke and weeping willows were hanging on the water. Farmers wearing bamboo hats were busy in the fields. The countryside was dotted with patches of bamboo forest. The melodious sound of flutes came from nowhere, and it was bustling.
Suzhou is disappearing.
He had already received the flag and was on his way back. He was traveling downstream, and the speed from Dajiang was faster. On the way back, Mr. Ma suggested that he change a route, from Taihu Lake to Shijiu Lake via Guxu River, and then from Shijiu River to Rouge Hebei.
By going up, you can enter the Qinhuai River and go directly to Nanjing. This waterway was dredged in the early Ming Dynasty, making full use of the lakes and natural waterways between Suzhou and Nanjing, avoiding the upstream section of the river, and becoming the main shipping route from Suzhou to Nanjing.
Pang Yu rented a small boat, which looked like a large awning boat. There were only the couple on the boat, and it also had a small sail. It usually only transported along the Taihu Lake, and only took the Nanjing route if the price was high.
.
The water conditions along the way were smooth and the scenery was beautiful. Pang Yu was happy to relax for two days. This trip took more than half a month and traveled thousands of miles to and from several places. Because he went out to do errands with a goal, he lacked the relaxation of traveling. Fortunately, he finally got to work
It's done, I feel much more relaxed than when I came here.
At this time, the boat had not entered Taihu Lake, and drizzle started falling from the sky, and the vision was blurry.
"Second brother must be a general capable of tens of thousands of people." He Xianya's voice came, and he said flatteringly, "When I was guarding Tongcheng that day, second brother didn't read these military books, but he arranged the thousands of strong soldiers in Tongcheng in an orderly manner, isn't it?
It was a good fight, even the eight thieves fled."
Pang Yu laughed and said, "The eight thieves did not flee, they just retreated without fighting. We can just talk nonsense to outsiders. We must understand what is going on, and we must not deceive ourselves into it."
I know how to weigh a lot myself, and I should learn from others with an open mind. I also benefited a lot from reading military books. Just now, "Martial Arts General Essentials" said that a general with a hundred people will not avoid relatives when he is punished. The last time I arrested
After several deserters came back, my family begged for mercy, and I relented, and finally used the sentry stick to spare their lives. So when we were guarding the Zilai Bridge that day, a small team from the Zhuang squad had no resistance, and they really fled.
According to this, I am not even as good as a general of a hundred people."
He Xianya lowered his head and thought about it before admonishing, "Second brother is responsible for this garrison. There are 500 sailors. Zhang Duye has added 500 land soldiers. It happens to be a general of a thousand people, but it is not a general of a hundred people."
"I'm not talking about the number of troops, but my ability."
"With my second brother's talent, he will definitely be a general of ten thousand people, no, a general of hundreds of thousands and millions of people in the future. The Anqing garrison is just a place for my second brother to get promoted."
Pang Yu knew he was flattering, so he didn't scold He Xianya, "Then let's prepare these thousands of generals first. We'll stop in Nanjing for a few days on the way, and wait until the governor's office first relieves Pan Keda of his guard. Then he can go back to Jiangnan."
, let’s take office again, control the troops he leads, and let him take them all away, I don’t want any of them.”
"There will still be some book offices left in the yamen."
"The garrison office is a general yamen, not a county government yamen. There is not much official document exchange. Only those who can be used by the clerk's office are left. I don't want useless people in the yamen. I would rather use more craftsmen."
"Will that craftsman Bo Yu come to Anqing?"
Pang Yu said confidently, "It will come."
"Often, if you agree to something for a while, you will forget it later, or if the business is good, you will forget it on purpose."
"That's why I didn't give him the money from the bronze cannon. Compared with the promise, the money is more reliable." Pang Yu stretched out his arms, stood up and walked to the front deck. The lake was blurred by mist and rain. Although there was wind and rain blowing on his face, it had a different artistic conception.
He Xianya quickly followed behind, and Guo Fengyou also wanted to follow. The deck of the ship was not wide, and He Xianya blocked the way. Guo Fengyou did not say anything, squeezed past him, and stood in the corner of the deck. He Xianya did not look back, nor did he
Show dissatisfaction.
"The governor's office gave him one hundred and fifty taels. I have told Mr. Zhang about this. Since the cannons are made for Anqing, I will settle the remaining silver. Bo Yu used one hundred and fifty taels to make the iron mold, and the copper
One kilogram of material is worth seven or eight cents of silver, and his cannon weighs more than a thousand kilograms. Even though tin is added to the bronze, the copper material costs at least seven or eight hundred kilograms, which is more than sixty taels. In addition, the labor used, the cannon and the ironwork
, gunpowder, woodwork, etc., the total sum is at least fifty taels. If he doesn't come, he will lose more than sixty taels. And I promised to give him another 200 taels to transport the bronze cannon and iron molds.
The CIF price of Shengtang Ferry, if you improve the frame, add another hundred taels, and the telescope is extra, do you think he will come?"
"Then I'm afraid he will come after finishing the backlog of business. We have inquired in the past two days and the price of Kuiji is falling. Although he is a skilled craftsman, he can't do much by himself. It is not easy to make hundreds of taels." (
Note 1)
Pang Yu rubbed his neck, "He has to do all the work personally, and the quality can be guaranteed, but he can't make much money. It's hard for him to refuse the price I gave him."
"If this person comes, will he just modify the bronze cannon and telescope?"
"He can make guns, artillery and weapons. The current cannon costs more than three hundred and two, including the price of his labor and raw materials. The value of his knowledge is not taken into account. This kind of person can make weapons and can also make weapons."
Shuli said, you won't lose money if you keep it." Pang Yu tilted his head towards the shore and happened to see a lively place.
There is a red sedan chair on the official road on the shore. A man in red rides in front, followed by a group of bridegrooms in red. The most eye-catching one is a man with a plate on his head, who is following the procession.
Finally, I don’t know what to top.
Pang Yu has also watched some wedding receptions in Suzhou recently. It is not as noisy as he remembered, but it is still quite lively. In Pang Yu's opinion, there is no such annoying suona sound, which makes people more comfortable.
At this time, we were approaching the entrance of Taihu Lake. A red boat was rowing diagonally ahead to the shore. There were two cabins on the deck of the red boat. Half of the upper floor was a terrace. There were exquisite appliquéd lanterns hanging around the boat. It looked like a
It was a beautiful boat. There was no sail on the boat, but instead there was a big sign with five words written on it.
"A concubine from the prime minister's house." Pang Yu squinted her eyes and suddenly laughed, "You really know how to advertise. What prostitute is so bold?"
He Xianya also looked over there and saw two figures on the front deck, staring at the reception on the shore.
The boatman behind said loudly, "Tell Mr. Xiang that this clever trick is unique to the family. It is a sister who came from Guijiayuan in Shengze Town. I heard that she was kicked out by a certain pavilion. She used to visit the lake a lot, but later she went to another place.
I'm afraid I haven't seen this clever girl for a year or two, and I don't know when she came back. I heard that when I returned home, I only saw this girl once for at least a hundred taels of silver."
"Where is Shengze Town? Why is it so expensive?" Pang Yu said with great interest, "It's much more expensive than the sister in Mochou Lake in Nanjing. A hundred taels of silver in Mochou Lake is enough to hold a rally. Shengze Town only has
I can see you."
The boatman said diligently, "Shengze Town is originally a gold-selling cave, and many prefectural cities may not be able to compare with it. There are many people there who can afford a hundred taels of silver, and even if they have silver, they may not be able to see it. It is said that a silk merchant went to
I paid three hundred taels and didn’t see anyone.”
Pang Yu said in surprise, "If you even know this story, you know that this girl is very good at exaggerating her own worth. Since she is so valuable, she is not afraid of being robbed and sold by the water bandits running around on the lake like this.
Lose."
Both the boatman and his wife laughed, and the boatman's woman laughed and said, "What the distinguished guest said is interesting, but the area near Taihu Lake is the safest. There are night sailing boats everywhere in the south of Taihu Lake. I have never heard of them being robbed and sold by water bandits. Further north
It won’t work. Not many people dare to sail at night. There are many boat ladies in the lake, but this sister’s boat is safe.”
Pang Yu touched her chin, "I see, it takes three hundred taels and a bronze cannon to meet her. Is this woman really transformed from a fairy?"
He Xianya lowered his voice and said, "Two... Sir, do you want to see that concubine? It doesn't cost three hundred taels, but at most ten taels of silver."
Pang Yu felt a little funny after hearing He Xianya's blunt change of words, but kept a calm face, "Do you have any ideas?"
He Xianya smiled sinisterly and turned his eyes to the boatman behind him.
…
With a loud "bang", the large awning boat hit the red boat heavily from the side, and Xu Lengzi's snoring in the warehouse stopped abruptly.
The red boat shook for a while, and there were screams from above, and then seven or eight heads poked out from various places on the boat to check.
"Second brother, look quickly...which one is the one with three hundred taels?" He Xianya's eyes were darting around. There were men and women in those heads. They looked like they were either boatmen or maids.
The large awning boat had lost speed and was leaning against the boat. The hull of the boat was shaking much more violently than the big boat. Pang Yu could only stand firm by holding on to the edge of the awning. He couldn't tell who was Sanbailiang.
Even Guo Fengyou, who rarely looked around, couldn't help but look at it carefully. He felt that he had made three hundred taels of money just by looking at it.
A woman in a long white dress with narrow sleeves cursed at the bow of the boat, "How can you be a boatman? You don't walk on such a huge lake, but you hit the girl's boat instead."
He Xianya looked around and replied casually, "It's obvious that you used the boat to make a big mess and hit our boat. Please pay back the money quickly."
The woman put her hands on her hips and said in a sharp voice, "You dare to accuse me first? Our ship is slowly approaching the shore, but you can tell us how we hit the bow of your ship with the side plank."
"It was just a collision with the side panel. I haven't asked you how it happened."
The woman's almond-shaped eyes widened, "Where did the prodigal come from? Yang gang leader tied up their boat!"
Guo Fengyou immediately turned to look at the woman and held the handle of the waist knife in his hand.
The woman pointed at Guo Fengyou, "You hit someone else's boat, how dare you use a knife? Suzhou is not a place for you to act wild!"
"Hong'er, don't argue with others." A soft female voice came from behind the deck, "Let them go if the hull of the ship is not damaged."
Pang Yu and others felt at the same time that this voice was the three hundred taels.
A figure wearing an emerald green dress slowly came to the side of the ship. She wore a delicate and small bamboo hat on her head. A thin white veil hung from the edge of the bamboo hat, just covering her face.