During the rest of the day, the bandits never launched an attack again. On the other side, Luo Yuanbin also tested all the other cannons. One hundred and thirty-three bird cannons were passed, and only forty-seven were qualified. The pass rate was actually less than 40%. Another fifty-five cannons could be transformed into qualified products, and the remaining thirty-one cannons were basically useless.
But for Shang Yi, even scrap wood is needed, because although a bird gun only weighs six or seven kilograms, it costs nearly forty kilograms of pig iron, but it is made of refined iron. After reheating it, It can still be used to make other weapons. As for the other three-eyed fire blunderbuss, Shang Yi had no intention of using them at all, so he did not ask Luo Yuanbin to test them. Waste utilization.
Although the current qualified firearms include 21 Rumi guns and 47 bird guns. However, Luo Yuanbin also told Shang Yi that although these firearms are considered qualified products, the lifespan of a tube gun is still limited. Generally speaking, , no matter how good a tube gun is, the total number of firings cannot exceed eighty times. Once this number is exceeded, the tube may also burst, so the tube gun must be replaced. The number of consecutive firings of another tube gun The number of times cannot exceed thirty times. Once the number reaches thirty times, the gun must be completely cooled before it can be used again.
Shang Yi knew that what Luo Yuanbin said was true. This was related to the iron smelting technology of this era. It was basically an insurmountable technical obstacle. He could only wait until he went back to check the computer to see if there was any way to improve the iron smelting technology. This method can extend the service life of the fire gun.
Before that, it could only be like this. However, by improving the use of firecrackers and adhering to good maintenance habits, the life of the pipe system can also be extended, such as reducing the number of consecutive launches. After finishing, clean the gun in time, insist on smoothing every day, etc., you can at least extend the life of a gun by 20 to 30%. Of course, the overall effect will have to be tested slowly in the future, and now we can only first According to the current requirements.
Luo Yuanbin had thirty-two brothers in total. Shang Yi selected thirty-six more from Muling's army, and gathered together sixty-eight people to learn how to fire muskets and artillery with Luo Yuanbin. Anyway, there are still more Gunpowder. At the same time, Shang Yi simply incorporated all thirty-two people, Luo Yuanbin, into the Muling Army. In name, it was more unified command and dispatch, but in fact, he wanted to put this together when he left Yanzhou Prefecture. The team finished the whole pot at once.
In the evening, Shang Yi came to Zeng Hualong's hotel again, wanting to know the result of their going to King Lu to ask for money and food. But as soon as he saw Zeng Hualong's expression, Shang Yi knew that things must be screwed up. Sure enough, when Shang Yi asked, the result was really like this.
It turned out that in the afternoon, Zeng Hualong and Wang Yingtai went to see King Lu Zhu Yipai together. Before meeting King Lu, Zeng Hualong also understood Qing Chu very well. Although King Lu did not have as much wealth as King Fu of Luoyang, he was almost the same. When we get there, the land belonging to the palace is only 70,000 to 80,000 acres, at least 70,000 to 80,000 acres. However, the palace has no less than 100,000 shi of grain and 300,000 taels of silver. Therefore, we ask King Lu to support several thousand shi of grain and tens of thousands of taels of silver. Two pieces of silver should not be a difficult thing for King Lu. What's more, this is also a matter related to Zhu Yipa's own life.
But it turned out that Zeng Hualong's idea was still too naive. After asking about the two governors' consultation, Zhu Yipai immediately changed his face and said that in this world, the harvest is poor every year, and there is no harvest in the palace. We have a surplus of food, so we can't come up with money or food.
Naturally, Zeng Hualong and Wang Yingtai were not willing to give up easily. They honestly stated their interests and harms to Zhu Yipai, explained them with reason, and moved them with emotion. They persuaded them repeatedly, but their mouths were dry and they only hoped that Zhu Yipai could do it. He changed his mind. But Zhu Yipai remained unmoved at all and insisted that he had no food or money.
Zeng Hualong was a little anxious, and his words were a little rude. He said bluntly on the spot that once the city was captured by the rogue bandits, all the people in the city would be destroyed. Not only the Palace of Prince Lu would not be spared, but even Prince Lu himself would not be able to survive. And the Palace of Prince Lu would not be spared. All the money and food will also belong to the rogue bandits, so I ask King Lu to think twice.
When Zhu Yipai heard this, he got angry. He pointed at Zeng Hualong's nose and told Zeng Hualong not to forget that local officials have the responsibility to protect Fanfeng. If anything happens to Prince Lu's palace, you two He couldn't save his head. After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and retreated into the inner room. The two of them were frustrated and had to come back from Prince Lu's Mansion.
Ordinarily, there was no need for Zeng Hualong to tell Shang Yi the whole story in detail, but now Zeng Hualong valued Shang Yi very much and regarded him as his confidant, and he had been holding back his anger in Prince Lu's Mansion. I wanted to find someone to talk to, so I told Shang Yi without hiding anything.
After listening to King Lu's explanation, Shang Yi found that he understood the thoughts of these vassal kings, because once the feudal status was lost, local officials would be responsible for dereliction of duty, so they had no fear, thinking that no matter what, the officials They would try their best to defend the city. However, they did not expect that even though the officials wanted to do their best to defend the city, ordinary soldiers were still fighting. They didn't care so much. Once they were short of food and pay, who would fight hard? There were even some Many soldiers, because of lack of food and pay, turned against the bandits and surrendered to the city. Many state cities were captured in this way.
But after he finished speaking, Zeng Hualong also felt that something was wrong, and asked again: "Shang Yi, once word spreads about King Lu's refusal to support money and food, I am afraid it will shake the morale of the army, so you must not leak it. "
After hearing this, Shang Yi not only smiled bitterly, but also said: "Sir, my subordinates will naturally not talk nonsense, but I am afraid that Prince Lu's palace cannot keep this secret! Therefore, please solve the problem of food and salary as soon as possible, so that we can Stabilize the morale of the military."
Zeng Hualong also smiled bitterly and shook his head. Why didn't he know this truth? But now he has nothing to do. He could only say: "Okay, tomorrow we will find a few merchants in Yanzhou to see if we can get their support." Some money and food."
While the two were talking, someone suddenly came to report that Governor Wang was visiting. Wang Yingtai looked happy and almost ran into the living room. As he walked, he was out of breath and shouted: "Zeng...Zeng" Governor, we can be saved... we... we can be saved."
Zeng Hualong was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up from his chair and said, "Governor Wang, what can be saved?"
Wang Yingtai said: "Governor Zeng, there is... money and food. We... we have money and food."
Zeng Hualong was stunned for a moment and said in disbelief: "You have money and food? How come you have money and food?" But seeing him like this, he added: "Don't be anxious, come, sit down and talk slowly."
Wang Yingtai then sat down, grabbed a tea cup on the table, drank it all in one gulp, took a few breaths, and then said: "Just now a businessman came to me and said that he was willing to donate his family wealth to provide money and food for the government.
Support the army to defend the city."
Zeng Hualong was not only overjoyed when he heard this, but this was a timely help, and he hurriedly said: "Where is he?"
Wang Yingtai said: "I brought him here with the scriptures, and he is waiting outside the post office?"
Zeng Hualong hurriedly said: "Please come in quickly. Please come in quickly."
After a while, a middle-aged man walked in. He was about forty years old, with a medium build, a dark complexion, and three black beards. When he saw Zeng Hualong, he immediately paid homage and said: "Caominlin.
Over the ocean, see your lord."
Zeng Hualong said: "No courtesy."
After Lin Zhiyang stood up, Zeng Hualong said again: "Lin Zhiyang, I heard that you are willing to contribute money to support the army to defend the city, but how do you know that the army lacks money and food?"
Lin Zhiyang gave another salute and said: "To tell you the truth, sir, I have heard from the grassroots that the two gentlemen went to rescue King Lu during the day and distributed money and food to support the army in preparation for defending the city. It can be seen that the officers and soldiers must be short of money and food.
It doesn’t take two adults to come up with this strategy. However, Prince Lu’s palace is in a tight situation and cannot come up with money and grain. Although Cao Min is a businessman, he also knows that there is no way to finish the eggs when the nest is overturned. Therefore, he is willing to use his family wealth to support
Assist the officers and soldiers in defending the city."
Zeng Hualong looked at Shang Yi and couldn't help but smile bitterly. The news had indeed spread from Prince Lu's palace. I'm afraid all the officers and soldiers would know about it tomorrow. It's a pity that a businessman knows better than the king of a country.
That's right. He said that Prince Lu's palace was in a tight situation and could not provide any money, but he was just trying to save face for Prince Lu. He then asked, "Lin Zhiyang, I wonder how much food you can support the army?"
Lin Zhiyang said: "Although the common people are not as good as the princes and uncles, they have been doing business for many years, and their families have a little surplus. Therefore, they can support the officers and soldiers with three thousand dan of food and twenty thousand taels of silver to defend the city.
It's all ready now. If you need it urgently, you can go to Cao Min's shop to get it overnight."
Zeng Hualong and Wang Yingtai looked at each other and couldn't help but beam with joy. With these three thousand stones of food, they can last at least twenty days. If you save one province, it will be enough for one month. This way, there is room for maneuver.
That's a lot. And 20,000 taels of silver can be used to reward soldiers, boost morale, and buy food when necessary. This is really a timely rain.
Zeng Hualong was a scholar and instinctively despised businessmen, but at this time he couldn't help but be very grateful to Lin Zhiyang. He nodded and said: "Okay, Lin Zhiyang, don't worry, we will wait until the bandits are defeated.
After guarding the Yanzhou Mansion, I will report your achievements to the imperial court, ask for your merits and awards, and give you the title of Supervisor."
Jiansheng is the abbreviation for the students of the Imperial College. The Imperial College was the highest government-run institution of higher learning in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Only students recommended by local governments or disciples with meritorious deeds by ministers can study in the Imperial College. Therefore, although the Jiansheng are scribes with meritorious titles,
But the status is not low either. However, the qualifications for supervising students can also be obtained by donating money.
Because the merchants of the Ming Dynasty were at the bottom of the Four Ministries, their status was very low. Although they were not rich and noble, they were not even qualified to wear silk clothes. Therefore, when some merchants got rich, they would spend money to donate to the qualifications of a supervisor to improve themselves.
In order to achieve political status, it is not necessary to study in the Imperial College. This is similar to the fact that some company bosses in later generations spent money to obtain diplomas from prestigious universities. Therefore, Zeng Hualong believed that giving Lin Zhiyang the title of Imperial College Student was considered a
What a great reward.
However, although the donated supervising qualifications can improve one's political status, it is still looked down upon by others.
After hearing this, Lin Zhiyang's expression didn't change much. He couldn't tell that Gao was unhappy. He just asked Zeng Hualong and Wang Yingtai to send someone to go with him to get money and food.
Zeng Hualong glanced around and happened to see Shang Yi on the side, and immediately said: "Shang Yi, just go through the hard work."