Chapter 281 The time to innovate the armament has come, it must be a sharp sword when unsheathed!
In a sense, Liu Bian abolished oral taxes, calculated taxes, and increased land taxes on public land. This series of operations is equivalent to a disguised policy of apportioning the land to the land.
Dividing dings into acres was an important reform of the tax system in the late feudal society. It was a tax system that incorporated the dingyin that had been passed down through the generations into the land tax collection. It marked the complete abolition of the head tax that had been implemented in our country for more than 2,000 years.
.
This important reform greatly stimulated people's enthusiasm for childbirth and led to explosive growth in my country's population. After all, in an era like this, population is synonymous with productivity.
Liu Bian had to admire the control of the military advisor alliance!
Grain production guarantee plan, family planning plan, steel industry plan...
Various plans were mixed together and could be carried out in an orderly manner. They could even cooperate to suppress the development of the Nanyang family's power and make Liu Bian's imperial power more stable.
Awesome!
It’s so awesome!
Even one of these things would be enough to give Liu Bian a headache.
But for the Military Advisor Alliance, whether it is the vertical depth of a single plan, or the horizontal involvement between various plans, it can be grasped so clearly, it is like a giant network, forcibly holding itself up.
"teacher."
Looking at Xun You's leaving figure, Liu Bian had a thought in his mind and couldn't wait to communicate with the military advisor alliance: "Currently, farming has been fully launched. We just need to wait for the autumn harvest and don't need to worry anymore."
"As for the Deng family, the Yin family and other Nanyang aristocratic families, it will take some time for them to focus on internal fighting. It is impossible for us to eliminate them in the short term."
"Then what happens next..."
Liu Bian had become a little excited in his heart: "Should we strengthen our armaments? According to the intelligence sent back by Guo Jia, Dong Zhuo of Chang'an is recruiting troops and wants to restore the strength of the Xiliang Xiaoqi."
"But we haven't had any movement so far. If Dong Zhuo takes this opportunity to make an attack, it will be of no benefit to us. Even if Dong Zhuo doesn't make an attack, he won't be able to make us calm down."
Leaving the broken ship of Chang'an and Hanting to Dong Zhuo certainly has great benefits, but everything has advantages and disadvantages. While getting rid of the baggage, you will naturally have to bear the pressure brought by the baggage.
"Don't worry, Mr. Ben."
"We will prepare to strengthen our armaments next."
The Military Advisor Alliance didn't bother to talk nonsense and went straight to the topic: "Actually, armaments are nothing more than two aspects, one is defense and the other is offense. We have already talked about the defensive equipment in the He family manor, so I won't go into details here."
"As for offense, according to the classification of experts from the Military Advisor Alliance, there are basically two categories, one is large siege equipment, and the other is small and medium-sized equipment."
"Small and medium-sized equipment can be divided into three types according to distance: long-range, medium-range, and short-range. For example, the Huanshou sword and armor are short-range equipment. Bows and arrows are mid-range, and crossbows are long-range.
distance."
"Now, Ji Kai has successfully mastered the steel filling method, and Han Ji is also comprehensively upgrading the hardware equipment of the smelting workshop. In addition, the busiest farming period has passed. The next task of the smelting workshop is to upgrade the equipment."
"Let's not mention the short-range equipment for now. All styles are available. We just need to change to steel ones. But for the mid-range, the experts have prepared an improved repeating lever crossbow for you, and a long-range crossbow."
"Let's go next..."
"etc!"
Before the military-strategist alliance could begin the narrative, Liu Bian had a thought in his mind and interrupted directly: "Teacher, why don't we just use the muskets and cannons? These things are not more powerful than those things?"
The Alliance of Military Advisors said softly: "Experts also want to come, but with your current conditions, it is simply impossible to achieve it. Master Bian, don't think that making a musket is so simple. This is not just a matter of gunpowder."
"ah?"
Liu Bian was stunned: "Didn't you say that there were already muskets in the Ming Dynasty? Could it be that my current technical level is still not up to the level of the Ming Dynasty?"
The Military Advisor Alliance explained: "You have basically mastered the steel filling method now, and the hardware equipment has just been brought up. It is equivalent to just a framework, and the internal details still need to be improved."
"For example, how to control the impurities in the molten iron, how to control the carbon content, and how to cast a cannon body with no cracks, no bubbles, uniform texture and qualified brittleness?"
"..."
"These practical issues still take time to resolve!"
"ah?"
Liu Bian was simply confused.
He really didn't expect that a small musket, just a red cannon, would require such complicated technical conditions, and after several months of hard work, he had not yet reached such conditions.
"Is it so difficult?"
Liu Bian took a long breath and said softly: "Teacher, why don't we wait a little longer and continue to improve our strength? Then when the technical conditions are mature, wouldn't it be better to directly use thermal weapons to crush this era?"
"One bite won't make you fat."
"Master Ben, don't worry."
The Alliance of Military Advisors denied it without hesitation: "Under the current conditions, your smelting and foundry workshop has been out of date. There are not many craftsmen who can keep up with the times. Cutting off the seedlings is not conducive to development."
"Besides, Mr. Bian, you don't have time to wait. According to the recent reports from Guo Jia, Mr. Bian has abolished the oral and suanfu, which has created a siphon effect on the population of Jingzhou and Yuzhou, and is migrating in large numbers towards Nanyang."
"If we wait until the autumn harvest, our grain production can really increase a lot, and this siphon effect will become even more obvious. Yuan Shu and Zhang Miao will not be able to just sit back and watch us become stronger. They will even join forces."
"The purpose of strengthening military equipment now is not to fight Dong Zhuo, but to deal with the scourges like Zhang Miao and Yuan Shu first. To deal with them, these enhanced cold weapons are enough."
"As for hot weapons..."
The Alliance of Military Advisors said unhurriedly: "Experts believe that we should first forge these cold weapons to consolidate the current technical foundation, and then make targeted improvements when the craftsmen can master them proficiently."
"You have to climb up the technology tree step by step. You are now at the level of the late Han Dynasty. The technological gap between the Yuan and Ming Dynasties has to be filled slowly. How can you become a fat man in one bite?"
"Besides!"
The Military Advisor Alliance emphasized: "With the level of smelting technology in the Ming Dynasty, it was impossible to cast qualified artillery. The casting method was passed over from Europe, initially imported from Portugal, and even the gunners who operated the artillery were hired from the Netherlands.
.”
"The technical gap cannot be overcome by just walking fast. We have to fill it up bit by bit and consolidate it, so that the foundation will be stable. Otherwise, we will only end up breaking the bank. Do you understand?"
"Well......"
Liu Bian looked embarrassed: "I understand! Let's use these weapons for a while. Let's start now. If Yuan Shu and Zhang Miao really dare to join forces, we will beat the shit out of them this time."
The voice of the Military Advisor Alliance followed: "Okay! Master Bian, please prepare paper and pen. Although the quality of this paper is average, it is already much higher than the level in the late Han Dynasty."
Liu Bien nodded: "Okay."
Military Advisor Alliance: "Let's talk about the lever-fired crossbow first..."
"..."
*****
Nanyang, Wancheng.
One morning.
The curfew has just been lifted.
There were already overcrowded people outside the temple gate.
"So many people? I thought I came early enough."
"Are you here to buy land or to sell land?"
"Of course..."
"Stop covering up, they are all here to buy land."
"Ah? No way. Could it be that they..."
"Who doesn't know? Yesterday, the Yin family and the Deng family bought more than a thousand acres of land. They had already received the news that the court might abolish the favor order and exempt the land that no one cultivates."
"Yesterday evening, the price of farmland has increased by 20%. It is estimated that it will continue to increase today. In a few days, the price will definitely return to the previous price."
"I thought I knew it early enough, but I didn't expect you all knew it."
"Damn! The prepared money may not be enough."
"..."
The entrance to the festival.
In a jeweled carriage.
The car curtain slowly lowered.
Deng Yundan smiled and said: "Zi Mu, your strategy is really great. Did you see it? It has already risen by a full 20%. It is estimated that it will rise by another 20% today, or even more."
"That......"
With a smile that couldn't be concealed on his face, Deng Tong tried to ask: "Then, are we going to continue to raise prices, or are we going to ship goods? We need to spread out as much farmland as possible."
"No rush!"
Deng Yun took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, pinched a strand of goatee under his chin, and said softly: "In my opinion, although these guys have learned the news, a large part of them are still hesitating."
"Let's do this!"
Deng Yun thought for a long time and made up his mind: "Before noon, we buy a large amount of land. After arousing the interest of these wealthy families, we send others to sell the land together. We will definitely make more money."
"As expected of an old butler."
"admire!"
Deng Tong was impressed from the bottom of his heart. He raised his hand to the old steward and said solemnly: "According to the old steward's method, is it possible to sell all the land today?"
"snort!"
Deng Yun twisted his beard and snorted softly: "Even if we can sell them all, we won't sell them all. We still have to keep some good farmland on hand. After a while, the price of the farmland will be lowered so that we can sell it again."
hiss-!
Deng Tong was surprised, gasped, and suddenly felt uneasy in his heart: "Old housekeeper, are you crazy? This time we secretly fanned the flames and asked the major wealthy families to petition. Although the price of farmland has been boosted, next time
It may not work that well.”
"And you know, this method is extremely risky. Once outsiders know that our Deng family is secretly controlling it, all the good reputation our Deng family has built before will be ruined. So just give it up."
Deng Yun glanced at the other party, straightened up, raised his head and said: "Zi Mu, look at your courage, what great things can you accomplish in the future? You are the future successor of the Deng family."
"What's more!"
Deng Yun was full of truth: "In the business world, there has always been only profit, not morality. In the eyes of those in power, this thing is just a sharp weapon at best. You have to learn to use it instead of being constrained by it."
"this......"
"how?"
Deng Yun looked at Deng Tong with great interest: "The truth is a bit deep, can't you understand it? It's normal. You are only forty years old this year and have not experienced big things. It's normal that you don't understand. You just need to learn more in the future."
"Well......"
Deng Tong was extremely embarrassed.
For the first time, he felt that it was difficult to be a clan leader, especially a clan leader with a conscience.
Deng Yun obviously does not want to buy assets for the Deng family, but wants to suck up the major wealthy families and use all the nutrients to make the Deng family stronger.
"What's your expression?"
Deng Yun noticed that Deng Tong's expression was abnormal, he frowned and said angrily: "Don't worry, even if we continue to take action, I, Deng Yun, will not use the method last time. We will just find another way."
"You-!"
Deng Yun shook his head with disdain: "I really don't know why the head of the family fell in love with you. How can you secure the position of the patriarch of this wealthy family without any courage?"
In fact, Deng Tong didn't know that it was difficult to be the leader of the clan. It was not just about relying on prestige to suppress the major forces within the clan, but also about being able to stabilize the clan internally through kindness and prestige, as well as equal emphasis on means.
otherwise......
Even if you become the leader of the clan, the pressure from within the clan can make you collapse, let alone lead the entire clan to revitalize the clan and carry it forward.
Deng Tong let out a long sigh and responded directly with one sentence: "I have never coveted that position."
Deng Yun had to worry about it again and said loudly: "Okay, I will handle everything later. You should go to your bus station. I heard that more than ninety people have been gathered, and the exam will start immediately.
"
Deng Tongtong cupped his hands and said, "Farewell."
Say it.
He crouched, got out of the carriage, and breathed a long sigh of relief, and then the depression in his brows disappeared.
He went straight to the bus station and took Deng's candidates to take the exam.
After a busy half day, when the candidates left the examination room, Deng Tong did not go to the festival, but left the city directly and went straight to Xinye.
It was already evening when we returned to Xinye.
Deng's old house.
study.
Deng Tong came to report as usual, stepped forward and bowed: "Master of the family."
"You come here first."
Before Deng Tong could speak, Deng Xun waved him forward: "There is something I need you to do."
Deng Tong frowned: "I don't know what the master is talking about?"
Deng Xun picked up the silk book from the bookcase and handed it to Deng Tong: "My dear nephew, this is the latest water conservancy machinery and equipment installed in Xinye by the imperial court a few days ago. It is called a high-tube transfer car."
"this......"
Deng Tong took the silk book, glanced at it, and nodded: "Master, my nephew knows about this. What, is there anything wrong?"
Deng Xun pinched a strand of goatee under his chin: "Then do you know how powerful this thing is?"
Deng Tong frowned slightly: "Master, what do you mean?"
Deng Xun said softly: "This thing keeps rotating every day, which can lead water to farther places, which is enough to increase the imperial court's public fields by more than 100,000 acres of paddy fields. It is conservatively estimated that the yield per mu can be increased by at least 20%."
"ah?"
Deng Tong looked in disbelief: "So powerful?"
Deng Xun nodded: "This is just a conservative estimate. If other farming strategies of the court are added, such as farmyard manure, the output may increase again."
"This...how..."
Deng Tong looked at the silk book in his hand, frowned and asked: "Master, is this high-barrel wheelbarrow really so powerful? Can it actually create so many more paddy fields?"
"kindness."
Deng Xun said with great certainty: "The people in the tribe have confirmed that the Xinye Order has installed high-tube transfer cars at several river nodes in the county, and has also sent troops to station in the field to prevent the secrets from being leaked."
"Then this..."
Deng Tong held the silk book in his hand and couldn't help but be curious.
"This is what the tribesmen paid a fortune to bribe the guards and copied it carefully."
"I asked the craftsman to see it."
Deng Xun took a deep breath and exhaled slowly: "The craftsman said that it is not difficult to make this thing, but the key is that the rotating part inside must be made of iron, otherwise it will be crushed."
"It's easy."
Deng Tong didn't hesitate and said immediately: "It's not like our Deng family doesn't have a casting workshop. We can just find a craftsman to imitate one. What's the difficulty?"
Speaking of this, Deng Tong suddenly noticed that something was wrong with Deng Xun's expression.
He suddenly realized that if the matter was so simple, the head of the family should not have thought of it: "Master, is it possible that our Deng family's smelting and foundry workshop can't imitate it?"
"kindness."
Deng Xun nodded slowly, with an extremely ugly look on his face: "The craftsmen in our workshop said that this iron ring is just for itself. We just need to make the iron form according to the size and then cast it."
"But......"
Deng Xun exhaled a breath: "The beads between the two iron rings need to work together to withstand the force from the turning car. Our smelting workshop may not be able to make them."
"Isn't it possible?"
Deng Tong looked in disbelief: "Master, although the Kong family's casting standards are relatively high, our Deng family's standards are not bad either. Why can they do it but we can't?"
"I don't believe it!"
Deng Tong shook his head.
"It has collapsed."
Deng Xun breathed out and glanced at the other party with disappointment: "We made a replica based on the imperial high-tubed waterwheel. Unfortunately, we just erected the waterwheel and it collapsed in less than half an hour."
"This is a broken rotating part."
After saying that, Deng Xun took the wooden box next to him and presented it to Deng Tong: "See for yourself, not only did the iron beads shatter, but even the iron ring outside also shattered."
"ah?"
Deng Tong stared at the wooden box full of debris, his eyes as wide as bells, in disbelief: "This...how is this possible? Could it be that the craftsmen of our Deng family are not as good as the Kong family?"
"It's just one of those things."
Deng Xun had already analyzed this matter and frowned and said: "According to what the master said, the iron ring we cast is soft and cannot withstand the force of turning the car."
"Moreover, casting the beads inside is very time-consuming and laborious. Only seven or eight qualified beads can be selected from thousands of beads. Moreover, the texture is also soft and cannot withstand such a large force."
Although there were steel products in the late Han Dynasty, most of them were made from steel, which required continuous forging and solid carburization technology to turn them into steel products.
But even so...
Such a product is still surface-tempered, and the interior is still made of iron. With such quality, it is simply impossible to withstand a huge wooden turntable.
What's more, this kind of smooth arc-shaped surface cannot be carburized by forging at all. Therefore, the iron rings and iron beads produced by the Deng family are, in a sense, a kind of flexible wrought iron.
products.
"The old master said..."
Deng Xun raised his eyes to look at Deng Tong and said softly: "The imperial court must have innovated the iron casting process, otherwise it would be impossible to cast such precise parts."
If you think about it carefully, our own smelting and casting workshop can only produce seven or eight qualified iron beads from thousands of iron beads through stack casting technology. And with so many high-quality iron beads transferred by the imperial court in Nanyang, I am afraid it would have to be tens of thousands, or even one hundred thousand.
It takes millions of iron beads to sort them out.
But......
Some time ago, all the smelting and foundry workshops in the imperial court were forging farm tools. How could they have time to produce iron beads?
If we extrapolate from this, it is indeed very possible that the imperial smelting and foundry workshops have been upgraded, and it is the only reasonable explanation for the current situation.
"Master, what do you mean..."
Deng Tong suddenly felt something was wrong and asked tentatively.
"kindness."
Deng Xun nodded without hesitation: "My dear nephew, you should know the meaning of high-tunnel transfer. As long as we have these things, our Deng family will be equivalent to getting more than 100,000 acres of fertile land for nothing."
"In this way, the annual grain harvest can be increased by at least 10%, or even more. So no matter what, our Deng family must master this cast iron technology."
"I want it!"
Deng Xun was too lazy to talk nonsense and told the truth: "I want you to send people to find out the various smelting workshops in the imperial court and where these things are cast."
"Then, whether you steal it or send someone to learn it, you must pass on this iron-casting skill back to our Deng family at all costs. Do you understand?"
Gulu!
Deng Tong's throat rolled, and his expression was long-winded: "Master, why can't we apply to the county government and ask the court to prepare more high-tube waterwheels, and equip two of them for our Deng family. At most, we can give them some money every year. Wouldn't that be enough?"
"snort!"
Deng Xun snorted lightly and said nonchalantly: "My dear nephew, if the imperial court wants to pretend for us, why would it send troops to garrison at the Gaotong transfer area?"
"This is not just a simple matter of ensuring irrigation and increasing the yield per mu. Although His Majesty has not killed us, he will still be wary of us after all."
"The country is based on the people, and food is the first priority for the people!"
Deng Xun took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, feeling more uneasy in his heart: "Our Majesty understands this truth very well. He wants to use this method to get rid of his dependence on the wealthy family."
To be too old to die is to be a thief!
Deng Xun is over seventy years old. He has experienced too many things and seen too many struggles. His keen eyes can always detect the depth that others cannot.
Because of this, he was able to become the patriarch of a century-old wealthy family, leading the Deng family to continue to live tenaciously on this land, so that the glory of the Deng family could be continued.
"Good nephew!"
Deng Xun raised his eyes and looked at the other party, and said with great solemnity: "I know what you are thinking, but this is related to the survival of the Deng family. Please remember to be ruthless, otherwise our Deng family will definitely attract disaster."
"Although our Majesty is young, he has endless tricks. Even if he is old, he will often lead him by the nose. If he is not careful, he will fall into the trap he has set."
Deng Tong took a deep breath and bowed his head with difficulty: "Master, don't worry, I can just leave this matter to my nephew."
Deng Xun nodded: "Remember! This matter is a secret and cannot be disclosed to outsiders, let alone be judged. Do you understand?"