Chapter 192.

Zhang Anshi straightened his clothes.

Chuson looks smug at this point.

Leading Zhang Anshi to a corner of Qixia far away from the marketplace.

It’s near the barracks’ arsenal.

Still, it was still some distance from the arsenal, and compared to the bustling marketplace and docks, this place seemed cold.

However, at this time …… since this humble workhouse, there is a thick smoke.

This was a workshop built by Zhang Anshi, who had specially asked people to gather some skilled craftsmen.

Daming has relatively strict rules for the forging of iron weapons.

For example, you can’t forge armor, and especially you can’t keep it private.

Other than that, no bows or crossbows could be hidden, and as for swords in general, the management was not strict.

Of course, the model battalion has some weapons needs, especially gunpowder, all need to make their own, this point, the Ministry of War does not care.

At this …… time, you will see a flat furnace standing in the shed.

This flat furnace was a little different than the blast furnace that was used to forge the sherds, and many improvements had been made.

Not only that, but there is also a blower made of leather, with an organ-like structure inside, which takes the form of a press to blow air.

The Capital’s Bureau of Manufacturing, Zhang Anshi had gone to see, their duty is to produce weapons for the Ming army, usually managed by the eunuchs in the palace, but in Zhang Anshi’s opinion, it is actually still considered to be a rule.

After all, Zhu Di hobby military, now Daming these Jingdan’s state ministers are also still in the army, no one dares to neglect their duties in this ordnance, once detected, they will certainly die.

This is completely different from the mid-to-late Ming Dynasty when the military was abolished.

But even so, after all, the forging skills of this era were still limited.

For example, forging steel, the smiths are completely based on past experience to forge, the quality is still uneven, the best process is still used to pour steel method.

That is, pig iron and clinker iron smelted together to obtain a high carbon content, and the texture of the uniform quality steel.

Just this thing manufactured steel is not bad, but the problem is that the need for smiths repeatedly forging, a lot of labor and material resources, not to mention, the output is also incredibly small.

Therefore, this kind of steel, only a small number of military officials to use just, the vast majority of officers and soldiers, the use of iron swords.

What Zhang Anshi was thinking was, what if it was possible to make steel in large quantities?

Annan side, there is a large demand for steel, the northern border towns, the demand is even greater, as well as the fleet of ships going to the West, and even the …… forbidden army.

If in the future the various feudal lords are also driven out of Daming, then what a great need this is!

Steel is strength, and with strength comes the ability to give less blood and get more out of the battle.

Once it can be manufactured cheaply on a large scale and set a cheaper price to sell, it means …… getting rich.

No, make a fortune.

Maybe in later times, steel has long been reduced to a sunset industry, but this era is different ah.

In this day and age, steel is high-tech industry.

If you want to make steel on a large scale, in fact, in this era, it is not without a way, it is just to raise the temperature, so that iron becomes iron.

Of course, the reason why no one uses it is because some people have long since made attempts to finally get out of the steel, but found that because of the phosphorus content of the steel produced in this way is too high, the steel produced is too brittle, and breaks with a single blow.

Thus, the crux of the matter is how to make steel that is dephosphorized.

Zhang Anshi actually does not know much about this, but the general principle, but still know.

So many ways were blindly worked out, and the craftsmen were made to try them over and over again.

And at this point ……

However, it was seen that in the refractory bricks inside this huge flat furnace, it had long been burned red.

A large amount of pig iron has long been in the furnace, and then it is constantly heating up, and several air bladders are constantly blowing air from the bottom of the flat furnace, so that the temperature in this furnace is constantly increasing.

Eventually …… from the flat furnace, glowing golden steel will flow out, through the refractory bricks built flat trough, and finally fall.

Immediately after, there have been craftsmen alive open, steel directly into the water, snorting, smoke, someone to take the tongs will be a section of steel out of the clamps, billets are thus generated.

Zhang Anshi said, “How many pounds can this furnace refine per day?”

“One furnace can refine three hundred pounds.” The smith replied, he looked extraordinarily excited, this efficiency, already compared to the steel infusion method, has dozens of times the efficiency.

Zhang Anshi, however, frowned and said, “Why only 300 pounds? Isn’t that a bit less?”

Yes, he was a little disappointed with the amount.

Artisan: “……”

Zhang Anshi added: “How is the steel refined? Take a few finished products and show them to me.”

On the side, Qusong said, “Go go go, go outside …… to give my big brother a good look.”

With that, Qusong had a steel spear fetched.

The steel spear was shiny and extravagant at first glance.

You know, this thing, in this era, is a luxury. After all,……, the price of steel is frighteningly high, and the production is also low, even if the spear is used on the steel, it is only a spear head, and the rest is used with wooden sticks.

But Qiu Song has no sense of thrift and frugality at all.

At that moment, have a few pairs of armor laid out.

He fixed his mind, the steel spear he was holding weighed ten or twenty pounds, mainly because it was made of steel and was not afraid of breaking, so the body of the spear was relatively slim, roughly about the thickness of a steel bar in later times.

With that, Qusong viciously thrust his spear towards those pairs of armor.

These pairs of armor were pierced through by the sharp spear tips as if they were paper piercing.

Qiu Song collects the spear, which looked at Zhang Anshi, with a few points of excitement: “What is it, the craftsmen said, it is not easy to rust, do not have to use tung oil daily maintenance, maintenance once or twice a month can be, my father wants to know that we have this weapon, hehehe ……”

Zhang Anshi came to be interested: “Not bad, not bad.”

After patting Qiu Song’s head for encouragement, he said, “Then you forge me a dozen knives to come, to be good knives, the best to sharpen iron like mud, in addition to this, the knife should also be overbearing, and let the smiths take the best leather, to make a good sheath to come.”

“Big brother, what do you want this for, you have no hands anyway, such a good knife, keep your hands are useless.”

Zhang Anshi stared wide-eyed, angrily scolded: ”Asshole thing, who said that big brother can not be used? Well, it is true that big brother is not good at fighting and killing, this is to take it as a gift, you see …… this is where your limitations are, you only have fighting and killing in your head, but you don’t know that life is in the world, and the most is human feelings.”

“Also, you instruct the smiths here to teach them to build more furnaces, to increase the workshop’s output, we’re going to be rich.”

Qiu Song felt that Zhang Anshi could not be reasoned with, clearly such a divine weapon, but the big brother was full of thoughts of giving gifts and getting rich.

If everyone lived like Big Brother, life would be really boring.

Zhang Anshi saw his mind, patted his head again and said, “Hey …… big brother why don’t you want to live a simple life ah, but …… outside of Qixia are all bad people, big brother if he is also with you guys in general, how can it be? Big brother daily racked his brains, are in the protection of you!”

“All right, get lost and go on your errand …… Also, take this steel and go build a few cannons and cast a few guns to see how it works.”

…………

“Your Majesty.”

Yiluoha held a long box in his hands and arrived at Zhu Di’s heels with great gusto.

Zhu Di looked at him, his eyes fell on the long box in his hand, and he couldn’t help but say, “What is this?”

Yiluoha hurriedly smiled and said, “This is offered by the Marquis of Annan, saying that His Majesty will definitely like it when he sees it.”

Zhu Di foxed, said, “Put it on the imperial case, I come to take a good look.”

So Yiluoha rested the long box on the royal case.

Zhu Di unveiled the box, a crocodile skin and gilt jade sheath will be displayed in front of Zhu Di.

Zhu Di actually got angry and scolded, “Jing whole some useless, how much does it cost? This thing on the battlefield, there is a bird use.”

Yilostha stood by and couldn’t help but smile awkwardly.

Zhu was angry, but he still pulled his sword out of its sheath.

There was a whimper…a whimper, as Zhu’s movements were so great that it seemed like a sword was ringing.

Zhu crossed the knife in his hand, which was not heavy, as it was narrow and long.

Zhu frowned, “This blade is a bit too slender.”

He likes it heavy.

Of course, it’s not so much a matter of liking it as it has become a habit.

After all …… limited by the quality of the steel, if the blade is too thin, it is very easy to break and roll the edge.

This is the time when the weight advantage of the blade comes into play, and if that’s not possible, it can be used as a burning stick to smash people.

Zhu is calm and relaxed, he has always had a lot of energy, but now that he is holding such a lightweight knife in his hand, he always feels that something is missing, so he casually gestures.

This steel knife even seemed to break through the air, giving Zhu Di a great confidence, so Zhu Di then took the knife and casually chopped.

This beheading is nothing more than the corner of the imperial case.

Who knows …… in a flash, that the corner of the case is actually flush with a piece of cut off.

The cuts are smooth.

Zhu Di froze, obviously this was something he hadn’t expected.

You know, this is the imperial case, not the usual tables and chairs, the tables and chairs of ordinary people’s homes, most of which are made of pine, while the wood used in the imperial case, often strong and tight.

Zhu Di was busy turning back to look at the blade, this look …… but found that the blade was not cracked, and the blade also remained sharp.

Zhu Di then said: “This knife cuts iron like mud, this cuts iron like mud knife, I have seen many, but like this lightweight, but rare. Good knife, good knife ……”

Also lost Ha smiled and said, “This is the An Nan Hou made out, so hurriedly sent a pair to, the steel used, is also the An Nan Hou with what secret formula made, he intends to this billet of steel, called Yongle steel.”

Zhu Di lightly grunted and said: “This idle guy, know the whole of these useless. This knife is good, but also just a divine weapon, I am now the son of God, has not used it, really want to sweep the world, relying on thousands of generals, the need is countless grain and ordnance, to put it bluntly, is silver!”

Zhu Di glanced down at the imperial case and said, “Remove this case and replace it with a new one.”

Although unhappy look, Zhu Di still will this knife back into the sheath, said: “This knife is very good, I both can not use, then give Ning Wang, Ning Wang came to the capital, these days I am busy with political affairs, did not call him to see, cold, he is also a love of knives, the sword to the hero.”

“This ……” also Lostha looked hesitant.

Zhu then said, “Why are you stammering again?”

Also lost ha said: “your majesty, slave girl heard that the anan Hou forged many of these knives, everywhere gifting people, Cheng Guo Gong, Ki Guo Gong …… Oh, there is Wei Guo Gong, Wu Ding Hou …… they all have, slave girl think, more than half of that Ning Wang Wang Wang, his highness. Fear also gave a gift.”

Zhu Di immediately face and tensed up, said: “Zhang Anshi this guy changed, once upon a time only think of earning silver, now have money, full of mind is to spend silver, such a good a knife, at least to hundreds of silver, where there is around to give away the reasoning? Tomorrow called him into the palace, I want to give him a good talk about Empress Cixiao Gao.”

Yiluoha said, “Obey the decree.”

Zhu shook his head and wrung his hands a little in his heart, the young people nowadays ah ……

…………

In the Honglu Temple.

Zhang Anshi was excited to pay his respects.

Ning Wang Zhu Quan was very enthusiastic and personally came out to greet him.

He had some mixed feelings about Zhang Anshi, on the one hand, he didn’t like any of the close ministers around Zhu Di.

But on the other hand, this kid is not like the others.

If it wasn’t for this kid, I’m afraid he wouldn’t have been able to escape this big disaster.

As the two of them walked inside, Zhang Anshi smiled and said to Zhu Quan beside him, “Is Your Highness living well in the capital?”

Zhu Quan said, “It’s not good to have Nanchangfu in your mind and be in a foreign land.”

There are two meanings to this statement. On the one hand, it is to go through Zhang Anshi to tell Zhu Di that he is still aggrieved.

On the other hand, it also shows that he has no attachment to Nanking City and only wishes to hurry back to the Nanchang Province Clan’s mood.

In a way, it also means that he doesn’t have any dissent!

You, Zhu Di, can be this emperor yourself. I just want to go back to Nanchang Province and hang out now.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “I heard many people say, your highness at first swept across the desert, great achievements, at that time your highness should be only seventeen or eighteen years old, in the time of Daning, your highness not only rule the army rigorously, but also the art of the people, but also let a person very much admired, the army and the people up and down, there is no your highness does not praise the.”

Regardless of whether he carried an appreciation for Zhang Anshi or not, upon hearing this, Zhu Quan’s heart was still quite wary up, so he said, “That’s a thing of the past.”

Zhang Anshi was aware of Zhu Quan’s caution and said with an affable face, “It’s a shame that a person with such talent can’t have his talent utilized.”

Zhu Quan finally did not hold back the suspicion in his heart, so he asked, “What is the meaning of these words …… of the Marquis of Annan?”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “It’s just that I’ve been forging swords lately, so I’ve let out some feelings, and it just so happens that I’ve brought a gift for your highness.”

After saying that, he turned around and gave a wink to Zhang San who had followed him.

Zhang San carefully held the box up.

Seeing that Zhu Quan didn’t respond.

Zhang Anshi personally opened the box, took out the knife from the inside, pulled the knife from the sheath, and then danced in the void, at this time just to see the Honglu Temple Road next to a small tree, then a ruthless knife to cut.

The cup-thick tree suddenly snapped in response.

This in the back far trailing Honglu Temple officials, look at the eyes are straight.

Soon, however, the officer who came with him was old-fashioned again.

Zhang Anshi’s beheading has nothing to do with me.

Back to report a loss, re-plant a tree is just, such a tree, report a two hundred taels loss is not too much.

“How is this sword?” Zhang Anshi asked as he looked at Zhu Quan with a smile on his face.

Zhu Quan is the person who knows the goods, at this time also had to say, “Good knife, only this knife is expensive, the gentleman does not take away the good ……”

Zhang Anshi hastily interrupted, “This is not worth …… money I can make more than fifty handles in one boiler, your highness take it to play, don’t be polite, this is not exclusively given to your highness, in fact …… the capital is famous and famous, I have given manpower a copy.”

Zhu Quan: “……”

But soon, Zhu Quan seemed to think of something and couldn’t help but say, “Not worth much? You fetch it for this king to take a look.”

So Zhu Quan took over the knife, carefully measuring up, the side said, “Such a knife, the price should not be below a hundred two, as far as the king knows, even if it is a hundred refined steel, even if it is a thousand layers of tempered steel, this knife is no less than it, just that the manpower and material resources required for that hundred steel refining …… is really amazing! ……”

Zhang Anshi said: ”I have the method of steelmaking, which can be forged on a large scale, one furnace, a dozen smiths a day! One furnace can make hundreds of billets like swords and knives! What’s more, I’m now planning to build dozens of hundreds of such furnaces, as long as your highness is willing to, how many have how many, the price, at least can be controlled within ten taels of silver, if it is then mass production, even if it is three or five taels, it is not impossible,”

Zhu Quan’s jaw dropped directly.

Zhang Anshi was satisfied with Zhu Quan’s reaction and smiled, “Your Highness, how is it, are you interested?”

Zhu Quan was still sensible and immediately shook his head, “I’m an idler, and I’ve long since lost interest in this.”

“If I were Your Highness, I would never put down my favorite things and go to read those bird books all day long! A great man in the world, when to establish the world’s achievements, of course, the main thing is that I Zhang Anshi is not capable, see the blood will be afraid, if not ……”

Plotting so loudly really stunned Zhu Quan.

Then the officials of the Honglu Temple are not far away.

Not to mention, hell knows if there are any Jinyiwei’s yiqi inside or outside this.

But see Zhang Anshi still unscrupulous, “Your Highness do not have to be afraid, in fact …… I think that Your Highness a military and people’s governance is too bad, so …… there is an idea, Your Highness know …… Zhu Gaoxu?”

Zhu Quan nodded with a sullen face.

“He’s in Annan now, for the Governor of Annan, ruling the army on his horse and the people on his horse, he’s very powerful. Has Your Highness ever thought …… about it?”

Zhu Quan raised an eyebrow and said, “Letting this king go to Annan?”

Zhang Anshi shook his head and said, ”What’s the point of going to Annan? The world is so big, where can’t we go? This Annam was fought down by Zhu Gaoxu, this governor should be him, he is now sharpening his sword and is planning to make a move against Siam!”

Zhang Anshi then smiled and said: ”If I were Your Highness, I would ask His Majesty to hand back a part of the guards of the Duo Yanwei, as well as the Ning Wangwei, and then …… find a good place to go, such as Lu Song, even if it is a Japanese country. To the place, first settled down, the future …… how, is the death of the country, or such as Zhu Gaoxu general, open up the territory, all rely on their own. It is better than in that Nanchang Province, looking up to others.”

Zhu Quan’s mind snapped, and his eyes gazed at Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi said: “into the merchant bank, when the additional shares, His Highness the King of Ning will also be able to have a share, not only that, but also can personally lead the troops and horses, to do a side of the vassals! If your highness is not confident, your highness should have heard of the gunpowder produced by Qixia, and this firearm …… which can be supplied.”

“Your Highness, you don’t want to spend the rest of your life reading.”

“How uninteresting life would be if it were like this!”

“Your Highness, this has to be done quickly, if we’re late and let others take the lead, we won’t be able to pick good land.”

“In the future, His Highness’s children and grandchildren will ask about their ancestors, but they will know that His Highness’s whole life was nothing but reading, only ……”

“I have a friend, called Gobulun, this name is weird is weird some, but he is just a white man, but the sea to open up, do some big business, now …… this build up and seal the marquis, but also only in the immediate future.”

“At the time when Emperor Taizu Gao, didn’t he also start out in cloth? Your Highness is the favored son and grandson of Emperor Taizu Gao, and now you are a vassal king, with an escort and the support of the court, this is the time to build up a career, and Your Highness is still such a young ……”

Listening to Zhang Anshi spouting a bunch of words, Zhu Quan was cold and shocked, he kind of suspected that Zhang Anshi was persuading him to plot against him, but it didn’t sound like it.

Thinking carefully, he said, “Are you saying that you want this king to follow Zhu Gaoxu’s example?”

Zhang Anshi said dryly, “Yes.”

At this moment, Zhu Quan was still really moved.

In fact, his heart, in fact, had long been cold.

But now, Zhang Shian took the stove fire and burned a fire in the bottom of his heart.

Once this fire starts, it’s kind of impossible to put out.

Zhang Anshi was justified in choosing King Ning to set an example!

King Ning is young, strong and ambitious.

Zhu Quan hesitantly said, “I’m only afraid that His Majesty won’t.”

Zhang Anshi then said, “If you don’t go and beg His Majesty, how do you know if he is willing?”

Speaking here, he lowered his voice, “Can’t we say that His Majesty is begging for it?”

Zhu Quan, however, raised his eyes and said, “In your opinion, if this king moves his clan, where should he go?”

Zhang Anshi thought for a moment and said, “If it were me, I would choose Luzon, which is fertile, so I can first bring my people ashore, rely on the treasure ship for supplies, and settle down first, and then make other plans next.”

After a pause, Zhang Anshi lowered his voice again and said, “I heard that the King of Zhao is also interested in going to Luzon.”

Zhu Quan instantly raised his eyebrows and said, “Zhao Wang …… also moved such thoughts?”

“That is of course ……” Zhang Anshi said, “He is a person, Your Highness is aware of, he is very deep in mind …… whose heart is difficult to measure ah! ”

Zhu Quan sneered, “A doll that dares to go out, has some guts.”

The implication is that he is worthy? It’s only people like this king who are capable of this.

Zhang Anshi smiled sarcastically, “Haha, I have to enter the palace for an audience tomorrow, Your Highness, so I won’t bother you much.”

“You’re going to enter the palace tomorrow?” Zhu Quan thought for a moment and said, “This king also has the intention to have an audience.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Such a coincidence? Well, I will go with Your Highness then.”

…………

Early the next morning.

Zhang Anshi first went to Honglu Temple and met with Zhu Quan, then entered the palace.

Zhu Di heard that the two people together audience, but also some surprises, and immediately called the two people come in.

As soon as he saw Zhu Quan, Zhu Di smiled and said, “Xian brother …… is used to living in the capital, right?”

“Can’t live with it.”

Zhu Di is still happy: “When we brothers grew up together in this Nanjing city, how come we can’t get used to living here? It must be that the people of Honglu Temple did not take good care of us, I will punish them severely.”

Zhu Quan didn’t say anything.

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Your Majesty, the reason why His Highness King Ning is not accustomed to living here is because …… he heard that the Han King …… No, he heard that Zhu Gaoxu is serving Your Majesty in Annan, opening up the border . . so ……”

Zhu Quan looked nervously at Zhu Di.

Apparently, leading an army outside was enough to cause Zhu Di to have other thoughts.

When Zhu Di heard it, he really frowned: “Xian Di actually wants to lead the army?”

Zhu Quan: “……”

Zhang Anshi said, “King Ning is good at bow and horse, proficient in strategy, and naturally wishes to do something great.”

King Ning was busy saying, “My younger brother will die.”

Zhu Di lamented: “What’s wrong with enjoying good fortune in Nanchang, have to run to the outside! This person to the outside, and to rule the people, and to rule the army, but also to open up the frontier, like me, every day is wrapped up in everything, which is how hard ah! Xian brother, you do not know, since I succeeded the great system, do the son of heaven, can be described as exhaustive, there is no peace of mind, you this is why the pain comes.”

Zhang Anshi also busily said, “Yes, Your Majesty is worried day and night for the sake of the people, for the sake of the foundation of the Great Ming, all these ministers are in the eyes of the people.”

Zhu Quan: “……”

Zhu Di turned to say: “But you both have this heart, willing to share my worries, this matter …… is not unavoidable …… Zhang Anshi, this matter will be handed over to you to take care of it, give him to sign the deed, I and he is a pro brother, but the account is to be calculated clearly. ”

Zhu Quan froze, not expecting Zhu Di to be so nice.

Soon, with a meaningful glance at Zhang Anshi, he came to understand largely that this was probably His Majesty’s idea to begin with.

Thinking so, he mentally backed off a bit.

This Zhu Laoshi, it should not be fraudulent.

Zhang Anshi readily promised, “Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will settle the matter of the merchant bank with His Highness the King of Ning, and then everything will be arranged by the merchant bank.”

Zhu Di nodded, then said, “Yesterday you presented me with a knife, this knife is not bad.”

“Thank you for your Majesty’s compliments.” Zhang Anshi said, “This is what Qixia has worked out, and this one, Your Majesty, is the first blade Qixia has practiced, which can be considered significant, so I sent it to Your Majesty.”

Zhu said, “This sword is not easy to forge, so there is no need to be so extravagant in the future.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Who said extravagant? Your Majesty, this knife is inexpensive, childish …… just such a knife, I a month, at least can make tens of thousands of mouths, and this is still not crowded other ordnance under the circumstances.”

When Zhu Di heard this, he couldn’t help but frown as he gazed at Zhang Anshi and said, “Inexpensive?”

“Yes, the price is low, just …… to manufacture on a large scale, I’m afraid that we still need the court’s approval can not.”

Zhu Di said, “How inexpensive?”

Zhang Anshi said, “I can keep the cost of such a knife at five taels of silver or less, and probably lower.”

At that moment, Zhu could not sit still.

For weapon enthusiasts, if they can build a weapon, of course, they will rejoice endlessly. For example, the sword of the Yue Wang, or the dry general, Mo Qi, or the fish gut sword, which are all famous.

But Zhu Di is the real commander in chief of the army, he for individual sword and knife, may not have great interest, but if such a divine soldier, even can be manufactured on a large scale, then …… it is completely different.

Imagine what tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of Ming troops, all armed with lightweight, sharp weapons, will look like wherever they pass!

Zhu Di’s face froze, and a deathly silence fell over the hall.