"Sir, please see, this is the first choice for setting up a new workshop. The first reason is that the water here is sufficient. After the water is diverted, it can be used to make weapons and armor pieces with water hammers."
Pang Yu looked in the direction of Bo Yu's finger. This place was at Shimendu, about 20 miles northwest of Anqing City. Fishing boats were dotted on Shimen Lake in front of him, and ospreys raised by fishermen appeared on the water, making ripples.
Because it is close to the water flow, there are some villages scattered near the river bank. There are ripe fields along the river. The crops are growing at a good pace. It is a peaceful scene. It seems that the troubled times outside have nothing to do with this place.
"If there is a flood like last year, wouldn't the workshops on the shore be flooded?"
The weather was hot, and Bo Yu couldn't help wiping the sweat from his forehead, "To tell you what, even if there is a flood, this place is more favorable than the Wanshui River and the big rivers. The Wanshui River and the big rivers are all the confluence of rivers. Once there is a heavy rain, it will be like thousands of horses rushing.
Any hydraulic equipment along the coast that cannot be relocated will be destroyed by the water. Although Shimen Lake has a river leading to Wankou, the flood damage is also light, and the equipment may still be usable after the water recedes."
Pang Yu's face twitched slightly. What Bo Yu meant was that there was no telling whether it would be usable after being flooded. These hydraulic machines were expensive and time-consuming to manufacture, and special canals for water diversion had to be built. Once there was a flood, the canals had to be dredged.
, the risk is relatively high.
Bo Yu felt Pang Yu's hesitation and said again, "When it comes to the place to run the workshop, I'm afraid Matang Lake and Xizi Lake are more suitable, but they are both isolated. The only place close to Anqing is the most suitable.
.,"
Pang Yu nodded. The place Bo Yu chose was close to Shimendu. Like most Jindu bridges, it naturally formed a port and market, which could provide houses, materials and daily necessities for the workshop. It also had the convenience of water transportation, and production
The weapons exported can be transported directly from Shimen Lake by ship and into the river via Wankou to Anqing and Songyang.
After obtaining the number of troops this time, Pang Yu plans to expand the land camp to 2,500 people, and temporarily organize the navy and marines into a division. Although most of them use cold weapons, under the current training intensity of the garrison camp, the losses are also very high.
It needs a more efficient military industry system.
In the past, Bo Yu only made artillery and telescopes, and cold weapons and armor were mainly outsourced to blacksmith shops in Anqing and Tongcheng. This decentralized production method was difficult to guarantee speed and quality. The next step is to manufacture light armor and firearms, and maybe even more.
It is imperative to build ships and set up your own workshop.
The best location in Pang Yu's heart is in Songyang, where water transportation is developed and land transportation is extremely inconvenient. A small army can defend it and will not be harassed by rogue bandits. It is just a little far away from Anqing. At present, garrison camps have been spread all over Anqing. According to Shi Kefa
According to the request, at least one division should be stationed in Tongcheng. Pang Yu himself would station the cavalry division and an infantry division in Shipai, and the water camp would be stationed in Wangjiang, Anqing, and Songyang. This is already five camps, as well as a set of troops from Nanjing.
, Pang Yu already feels it is difficult to manage. He does not want the workshop in the initial stage to be far away from Anqing. There is no suitable venue in Anqing city, especially in the future when there will be a lot of testing of artillery and firearms, so currently only Shimen Lake is the most suitable.
"Mr. Bo, you see, it's already May. If we start construction at this time, we'll just have some ideas in June and July, and we'll have to encounter the rainy season, and we still won't be able to use it by then. My suggestion is to build the equipment first and wait until autumn.
Later, we will build water conservancy. As long as the canals are dug, the equipment can be installed and used. Before that, move the blacksmith shop and artillery workshop here, and put up notices in Anqing City to recruit more workers, blacksmiths, carpenters and the like.
"
"I'm afraid I won't be able to recruit that many for a while. This time I went back to Suzhou to recruit. Although I was given a generous monthly salary, only 30 craftsmen came to Anqing. Now when recruiting in Anqing, most blacksmiths have their own livelihoods. Only each family
Many of the apprentices in the iron shop have sold their bodies. The iron shop used to do our business, but now they refuse to give them business and want to recruit apprentices. I'm afraid the blacksmiths won't allow it..."
"Sir, there is no need to worry. There are other people to handle the recruitment. The establishment of the workshop is cumbersome. It is really difficult for Mr. Bo to take charge of it alone. I will send additional supervisors to assist."
Bo Yu didn't think too much. Although Pang Yu gave him a share, he didn't have strong control over the workshop. In the past, he mainly made cannons and mirrors, which he led his apprentices to do, and the management work was not done.
The division of functions also made him feel quite cumbersome. He was relieved to hear that he didn't have to worry about these things.
"I am about to report to you about opening a firearms shop. Most of the craftsmen I recruited in Suzhou this time are gunsmiths and mirror makers. Only three of them have made muskets. After arriving in Anqing, each made three guns. According to your Excellency,
The request is that the weight ranges from five to six kilograms, the bullet weighs four qian and the medicine needs 4 qian. Tomorrow I will send the three doors to the government office and ask your Excellency to take a look."
Pang Yu thought about it and said, "Tomorrow the Japanese officials will go to Leigang, so let's not look at it for now. Let them make fifty trials first. The bird muskets must also be tested like artillery, including the spear rod, ammunition bag, medicine pot, and musket case.
, medicine tubes, match ropes, and tin turtles are all ready, so that the soldiers can actually use them for marching exercises. I will show it to the officer then. The firearms shop is newly equipped, and the firecrackers are naturally important, but the most important thing is the artillery. Three bronze cannons have been made previously.
However, it is not suitable for land camps. According to the feedback from this rescue in Jiangnan, the small artillery that Mr. Jiang tried out years ago still needs to be improved. At present, various ministries are recruiting new soldiers. I have set up a separate artillery bureau. The soldiers are all smart and well-educated.
The artillery pack horses have also been incorporated. Mr. Bo must produce six small artillery pieces in July, otherwise the whole battalion will not be able to train together, and many people will die on the battlefield. The safety of the people of Anqing depends on the garrison camp. Whether the garrison camp can
Victory depends on Mr. Bo. I wonder if Mr. Bo can allow me to use new guns in July?"
Bo Yu nodded repeatedly, his face a little red. This young guerrilla was not old, he was very generous with his actions, and he sounded polite when he spoke, but every time he had to insinuate and exert pressure, he always sang in a high-pitched tone.
Pang Yu's requirements are always changing. Originally, there were two trial-produced small cannons, weighing about 600 to 700 kilograms, which were being tested in Anqing. Pang Yu's new artillery bureau was using these two cannons for training. But after returning from Jiangnan,
Pang Yu's requirements changed again. The new cannon should not weigh more than 500 kilograms. It should be pulled by four horses and could march on the official road for ten consecutive days. It could travel an average of sixty miles a day. The ammunition should weigh between two kilograms and four kilograms. The range requirements were reversed.
Not too high, just three hundred steps, and the barrel should be able to fire more than six hundred times.
Bo Yu's previous knowledge of cannon-making came from those Jesuit priests. When he started to do it, he completely followed his own ideas. He never thought that he could make such a request. Making cannons according to the requirements must be tested, and Pang Yu surprised him again.
There was even a plan for testing. Originally, the structure of the artillery was not complicated, but the number of problems that arose during the testing far exceeded his expectations, and the material of the wheel alone was changed no less than five times.
Seeing Bo Yu's hesitation, Pang Yu smiled and said, "Mr. Bo, do you think it will be difficult to complete?"
"To tell you the truth, after I arrived in Anqing, I asked you to carry a cannon with the army. I thought it was superfluous. Later, I conducted marching exercises and rescue operations in Tongcheng, and bombarded the bandits at Beixiaguan. Only then did I realize that the artillery production was done behind closed doors.
Just talking about the artillery test, in Suzhou they just doubled the charge to test the strength of the gun body. Sir, there are dozens of items here. Just talking about the firing tables of different artillery formations, there are city walls down, slopes up, slopes down.
Mountain tops, valleys, etc. were previously thought to be useless, as long as a cannon telescope was used to measure them. However, when we saw the rogue bandits on the Beixiaguan city wall, we realized that even if we came down to fire cannons, we could not be sure in a hurry.
Not to mention the artillery battalion soldiers. All these are indeed needed by the army. However, it is very time-consuming to test the cannon and then improve it, and then try the cannon and improve it again. In addition, there will be no shortage of scraps and defective products. About six cannons will be delivered in July.
…”
Bo Yu stopped here when he said it. There were two craftsmen behind him who kept peeking at Pang Yu. Six cannons were to be provided in July. This time was very tight for the workshop. Pang Yu said it many times at this time,
The plan was personally reviewed by the guerrilla. It was broken down in detail to the point where people would be sent to check the progress every ten days. This made them feel quite stressed and they wondered if Pang Guerrilla would give them some grace.
"What Mr. Bo said is true. The time limit is quite tight. However, artillery improvement is not done at once. We make improvements as we produce them. These six cannons do not have to be all tested, and the shapes do not have to be exactly the same. As long as they can be used, they will be used."
, the artillery will receive one as soon as it is produced, and the workshop sends several gunsmiths to follow the artillery bureau to practice and test them. The current war is fierce and dangerous, and the bandits may come next year, or they may come tomorrow, and they can easily pay 100,000 yuan.
It is planned that Anqing will not be able to withstand another military disaster. For the sake of the people, I believe that the gentlemen in the workshop can complete it."
The people in several workshops looked at each other in confusion, with the high hat of Pangda Man thrown at them, and there was no mercy.
"Here, I'll try my best..." Bo Yu's voice was a little low. He raised his head and glanced at Pang Yu. Seeing the expectation on his face, he gritted his teeth and changed his words, "As long as we have enough money and manpower, I will personally deliver the small cannon to you in the next July."
In the camp.”
"Mr. Bo has always made huge promises, so I have made an agreement with you to provide enough money and manpower to deliver the goods on the first day of July." Pang Yu added with a smile.
Bo Yu was speechless. The time limit became the first day of July again, and he seemed to be even more nervous.
Pang Yu didn't give him time to continue grinding, and walked directly to Shimendu, followed by all his followers.
Pang Ding caught up from behind and whispered in Pang Yu's ear, "Sir, just now Tang Ma from the Yamen Office came over. There is a letter from Nanjing saying that it is an important matter."
"We'll see when we get back to the office."
"Well, Zhou Yueru brought it back."
…
"My family has seen Panda." In front of the Baishun Hall, Jiang Shuqiong's fat face had a charming smile, and her nose and eyes were almost squeezed into a ball.
Pang Yu nodded, and slowly walked into Baishun Hall with Guo Fengyou waiting. The lobby on the first floor was noisy, and there was a burst of noise at a gaming table from time to time. So far, Anqing Baishun Hall is still Pang Yu's favorite place.
A profitable business is also a stable and continuous income. Although it has been mortgaged as an asset, Pang Yu still controls the operating income.
With the lifting of the ban on the river, the Shengtang Ferry in Anqing has regained its vitality. With the exchange of goods and the flow of people, Baishuntang has become more and more famous on the river. There are even gamblers from Jiangxi, Chizhou and other places who specially cross the river.
Come.
Since returning from Nanjing, Pang Yu has been busy with business. Today is the first time he came to Baishun Hall. After checking around the hall for a while, he went back. Jiang Shuqiong led the way diligently, "Let's talk about the business in this hall."
Ah, it has never been as good as it is today. The slave family also felt strange in their hearts. When they met the master, they realized that it was the master who brought the wealth."
She covered her mouth and laughed exaggeratedly as she spoke. Pang Yu didn't speak, and kept a gentle smile. He followed Jiang Shuqiong and walked back. The pavilions and pavilions at the back were very elegant, but they were different from other people's houses. Except for the south door where they entered.
Outside the door, there is another door in the northeast. To the north is the brothel that leads to Baishun Hall's own business, and to the east is the place where the servants live.
When I opened the door to the east, the elegance was gone. There was a faint smell of sweat in the air. There were water stains everywhere in the courtyard. There was a rope for drying clothes under the corridor, but there was no clothes on it.
Pang Yu looked around casually. The sun was shining brightly today. It was impossible that no one was drying clothes. Knowing that they were checking in the hall just now, Jiang Shuqiong asked someone to collect them quickly.
"Master, look at this place. Although it is a little rough, the slaves are in charge of the servants and they are all kept clean. Even the girls from the Zhou family are here to stay for a few days..."
Just when he said this, there was a sound of water nearby. Everyone turned around and saw a woman holding a wooden basin standing blankly under the corridor. Jiang Shuqiong was stunned for a moment, and suddenly screamed, dragging her huge body quickly.
He rushed over and grabbed the woman's braid. The woman did not dare to resist. Jiang Shuqiong was thrown to the ground with a strong force.
"Things that don't open your eyes, what did I tell you on weekdays? The water is pouring into the ditch. Where is our Baishun Hall? It's a place where rich people come. The boss said that everything must be clean. You
These ears are just for decoration."
Jiang Shuqiong screamed and cursed, and kept pinching the woman's arms and thighs with her other hand until she screamed.
"I told you to scream, you are shameless." Jiang Shuqiong scolded while observing Pang Yu's reaction from the corner of her eyes, but Pang Yu never expressed anything. Jiang Shuqiong raised her chubby palm high, pretending to hit the woman in the face.
"Chief Jiang, the punishment is according to the rules of the hall, let her go."
When Jiang Shuqiong heard Pang Yu speak, she quickly put down her hand and agreed, then kicked the woman on the ground again, "My boss, I'll spare you this once, but if you don't go back, you won't be able to eat dinner."
The woman poured water and was beaten up, and fled back to the house in panic. Jiang Shuqiong quickly returned to Pang Yu and said awkwardly, "This servant is not sensible. This is because the slave family did not take care of it. You tell me,
The girl from the Zhou family said she was going back to Tongcheng to sweep the tomb, and the Nu family asked her to stay at my house, but she didn't want to, saying she was just passing through Anqing and it was more convenient here. Look at this..."
Pang Yu waved her hands and said, "Since she chose it herself, Manager Jiang doesn't have to worry about these little things. I looked at last month's accounts and found that the income increased by 10%, and the monthly expenses for domestic helpers dropped by 40% from the end of last year. It can be seen that Manager Jiang is
Those who work hard.”
"They are all taught by my boss. I usually pay attention to where I can save some money for the hall. Although the thieves are all killers, when they come, Anqing is full of refugees. They are from Luzhou Prefecture, Henan
There are people from everywhere in Huguang. These people, as long as you give them a mouthful of food, they can do whatever they want, beat and scold them at will, and the slave family will let them be apprentices without giving them a monthly salary. Boss, you
Listen to what I said, these people are here. I fired 30% of the original helpers at once, and the remaining ones became more and more obedient. They didn’t dare to mention this or that to me when I did something. You call these people cheap...
"
Jiang Shuqiong's plump face was flushed. She couldn't suppress her excitement when she talked about recruitment, and she called herself mother in front of Pang Yu. Pang Yu listened with interest, and Guo Fengyou and others behind him stared at Jiang Shuqiong.
Jiang Shuqiong unconsciously spit on Pang Yu's face.
"Sister Jiang, is General Pang here?"
Zhou Yueru's familiar voice came from upstairs. Jiang Shuqiong was startled and quickly covered her mouth.
Pang Yu smiled at Jiang Shuqiong and said, "There are many affairs in the hall, so I won't delay Chief Jiang. I can just go up and do it myself, and you can go and do yours."
Jiang Shuqiong swallowed a mouthful of saliva, quickly saluted and escaped.