Chapter 299: Invincible in the World

On this side of the Eastern Palace, Crown Princess Zhang called Zhang Anshi.

Learning that she was pregnant with her second child, Zhang was overjoyed, and naturally, she could not help but complain to Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi also know that the loss, although these days are busy with serious business, but after all, their wives and children do care less.

Facing Zhang, he just kept nodding his part.

“A sister, the next, I will certainly honestly stay home for a few days, but …… our Zhang family’s new mansion is going to be built, Qixia side, but also need to walk around more.”

“I heard that you were in the Taiping Mansion and did quite a few things.” Seeing that her brother had a good attitude in admitting his mistake, Zhang also continued to chase after the scolding, but was concerned about her brother.

Zhang Anshi said, “He also offended many people.”

Zhang’s faintly said: “Offended also offended it! In the past, you are confused all day long, so my sister is afraid of you outside trouble, but you have both good results, really want to do something, can still stop you? The sky collapsed, there is your brother-in-law top it.”

Zhu Zhanji, who had been sitting on his knees in the corner, watching his mother chastise his uncle with relish, finally opened his mouth at this time, “Mother consort, there’s me, there’s me ……”

Zhang didn’t look at him.

But then said: “Our Zhang family, when it is not what big rich and noble family origin, our father, when it is just the Beiping Province of the ordinary military officer, although his father in the time, did not teach us to eat bitter, but the ordinary people’s days, you were still young, may not have much impression, Sister is the body tasted. To be a parent official, other nonsense no harm, but do not want to brutalize the people. Before you act, you have to look ahead and think carefully about what the consequences will be. Sometimes ah, we beat our brains out to think of things, order down, may want to kill the people and the people of the army and I do not know how many it! So, don’t always take things for granted, everything must be grasped, do more, see more.”

Sister’s words could be described as well-intentioned, so how could Zhang Anshi not understand? So he answered again and again, “Yes, yes.”

Zhang continued: “I complained that you usually do not home, because you always confused, but now both in charge of a party, became a feudal official, this body heavy burden, the family’s affairs, A sister will naturally help you to take care of more, Jingyi is also a sensible person, will not blame, you do not mess up that is good.”

“Sister …… really …… I ……” Zhang Anshi is going to wipe his tears.

Who knew the tears didn’t squeeze out.

Zhu Zhanji but bawled, sobbing: “mother consort …… to A uncle good, good for me, mother consort …… great kindness …… ”

Zhang Anshi: “……”

Zhang pursed her lips and smiled, “It’s said that nephews are like uncles, I see the truth in that, you’ve been busy these days, and Zhanqi always misses you.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but get curious and said, “Chanting about me for what?”

Zhang pursed her lips, paused, but said, “At the end of the year, His Majesty is going to go to the roundup, Zhanji is learning to ride and shoot, and then …… I am afraid that he will also have to perform in front of his ah master.”

Seeing Zhang skimming off the topic, Zhang Anshi knew that this Zhu Zhanji must not have a high opinion of this uncle of his, and his back teeth grooves couldn’t help but gnaw, “He’s such a young age, learning to ride and shoot, and he’s not afraid of accidents.”

“This can’t be done, his ah master likes ……” Zhang said, “but let him practice a good, my great Ming son of heaven, more practice riding and shooting, I would like His Highness the Crown Prince also go to learn a little, but he is busy with official business, and now, in order to rule the government. But he is busy with his official duties, and now in order to govern, he really neglects sleep and food, which makes people worry. He also explained that if I see you, I must remind you not to let the people down.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes.”

Unhappy, he came out from Zhang’s place, and immediately Zhang taught someone to prepare some nourishing things, and taught someone to accompany Zhang Anshi home.

Xu Jingyi is now familiar with childbirth, and is not as cautious as she was when she first gave birth to the Zhang family’s eldest son, so when she saw Zhang Anshi return, she poured tea and handed him water.

Although the husband and wife had not seen each other for many days, they were not a bit rusty, and when they raised their eyes to each other, it was as natural as an old married couple.

Xu Jingyi’s face was as gentle as it could be, and with a beaming smile, she said, “Did you know about His Majesty’s intention to hunt in a roundup?”

Zhang Anshi returned home, and also unconsciously felt his entire body relax, smiling and saying, “I just heard from Sister.”

Xu Jingyi said, “His Majesty is skillful with his bow and horse, but this time, he severely reprimanded the sons and daughters of his honored ministers.”

Zhang Anshi bet a mouthful of tea and sighed comfortably, not knowing if it was an illusion, he always felt that the tea at home smelled better.

A mouthful of lukewarm tea went down before he added, “My brothers, who don’t have much of a brain on weekdays and always take risks, it’s strange that they don’t get reprimanded.”

Xu Jingyi looked at him with a smile on her face for half a second before following up with, “Not really, it seems you didn’t look at the decree!”

Zhang Anshi was surprised and said, “There is also a decree? It seems that the matter is quite serious, have my brothers been implicated?”

Xu Jingyi said, “I taught someone to transcribe a copy, this decree was given to the Minister of War Jin Zhong and Duke Ding Guo, that is, my cousin Xu Jingchang, Jingchang got the decree, it was transcribed a few copies, one to my father, one sent here, is to give us a reminder.”

Zhang Anshi then hurriedly said, “Let me take a look.”

Xu Jingyi ordered it down, and in a moment, a female servant delivered a note.

Zhang Anshi opened a look, then see written on the top: “Oracle military minister Jin Zhong, Ding Guo Gong Xu Jingchang: the past ministers of honor, all rise up to the military, the body of the battlefield, the accumulation of hard work, to have a title. And careful and respectful of the law, the court, so long to keep the rich and powerful. Their children and grandchildren, addicted to comfort, luxury and alcoholism, forgetting the hardship of their grandfathers, play greedy years, do not practice riding and archery. A parade of test, hand and foot, the opposite of using private bribery to get away with it; a conscription, a hundred plans to camp, can not be exempted, to the front against the enemy, timid and cowardly, fell off the horse and abandoned the gun, the soul of the fear of losing. These are all the faults of arrogance and uneducation. From now on, the world to the title of the person, need to drill day and night riding and shooting, if still not a weapon, order his brother to inherit the title, so that they garrison.”

Zhang Anshi looked at it and couldn’t help but sweat.

Apparently, even though it’s only the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, some of the meritorious sons and daughters are already slacking off.

This kind of thing, in fact, any dynasty is inevitable. The first generation of the founding military ministers, all of them are outstanding people, to the second generation, but also okay, and continue thereafter, is more than a few foppish people.

Zhu Di obviously couldn’t stand to watch, which is why he issued such a harsh decree.

Zhang Anshi laughed and said, “Your Majesty is bluffing!”

Xu Jingyi said with a smile, “Even though it’s a scare, His Majesty is as anxious as a fire. I’m only afraid that this will be a hunt to find reasons to ruthlessly clean up some people.”

“Oh.” Xu Jingyi thought of something again and continued, “His Majesty also said, this roundup …… all the sons and daughters of the honored ministers have to participate, and if they don’t win in the riding and archery, they all have to be punished. But if they can win the top spot in the school parade, they will also be heavily rewarded.”

“Husband, you are usually the least good at riding and archery, at that time, I’m afraid that you will have to make an appearance as well, even though Husband is the talent of wisdom and planning, I’m afraid that when Husband makes his appearance, it won’t be very pretty.”

Zhang Anshi frowned and muttered, “No way, I’m going to make an appearance too?”

For a moment, it is actually weak, I think Zhu will not punish him because of this, after all, …… he went another way, and Zhu said that the playboy is not the same.

But then again, not being punished, and being embarrassed in full view of the public were two different things, and then only countless people would laugh, and that would be truly disgraceful.

Zhang Anshi thought for a moment and said, “Whoever shoots more prey will be heavily rewarded, for what?”

Xu Jingyi said, “It’s hard to say, but with His Majesty placing such a high value on this roundup and issuing such a stern decree, the reward will definitely not be light. Only with a heavy reward will the other sons and daughters be willing to practice riding and shooting diligently in the future.”

Zhang Anshi laughed and said, “Haha …… I have an idea! You wait and see, then wait to hear your brother Xu Jingchang, and Xu Qin that boy in front of you to brag about how powerful this brother-in-law of mine, I want to skill over the crowd, no, skill over the crowd!”

Xu Jingyi said, “I had reminded husband that even if I were to make a temporary effort these days, I would first practice my bow and horse, I am pregnant now, so although I can’t teach hand-to-hand, I can still give pointers from the sidelines.”

Zhang Anshi, however, said in a lively manner, “I am not bragging, this bow and horse, I certainly can not learn. But …… in this world …… hunting this thing, rely on not only the bow and horse, rely on the brain. This thing, you feel free to rest assured, later let you know, husband is how the world invincible.”

He let out a bold statement, and at that moment, the couple rested for the night.

Early the next morning, Zhang Anshi, as usual, still went to the governor’s office, and again had a small meeting with Gao Xiang.

This meeting, however, was about the export of goods.

Wanting the commercial prosperity of Taiping Province, although the establishment of trade routes in the provinces is the top priority, but now exporting goods and obtaining greater profits, therefore, it involves dredging the river. And then set up several piers along the Yangtze River, and then from the Yangtze River pier, downstream, to the Songjiang port Yang sail to the sea.

“The speed of the establishment of the wharf should be accelerated, don’t spare people silver, in addition to this, the sea ships and the river cargo ships, to encourage people to build, Jiangnan is good in that, everywhere is a waterway, the transportation of the ship, is the cheapest, to organize more labor, before the end of the year, it should be completed.”

After Zhang Anshi gave a rough account, he ignored everything.

After all, now the Taiping House up and down the chicken blood, things accounted for, everyone is desperate to rush to do.

In fact, not only the officials are such an atmosphere, even the ordinary people under the rule of Taipingfu, by and large, also began to be active.

In the past, there were too few outlets for ordinary people, and the vast majority of them, who could only go to work as tenants, had little savings, and it was difficult to support a family.

But now, with the Qixia and some of the three counties of the mines of the recruitment, plus some of the gentry began to sell bad fields and mountains, especially the mountains, which contains many mines, but the Taiping government office is directly on the barren mountains and forests to take the countermeasure of heavy taxes.

In this way, the squire can not get a lot of cash silver to mine minerals, can continue to hold, not only the annual tax is heavy, but also no return, so, had to make the price of the purchase.

The general price of the purchase, are the government office to buy, and then with a long lease, leased to the merchants, so that they set up forests and mines, the government side of the annual rent to get a large sum of money, the merchants profitable, flocked to the.

This is almost like a swarm of people tearing the flesh and blood of the squires, but the squires can only stare, they can now hold in their hands, only some fertile land, still rely on these good land, employ some tenants, make some profit.

And the great thing for the unusual person is that people are hired everywhere on the market, and if they are willing to sell their physical labor, they can often get a more favorable salary!

Coupled with the market boom, many folk supplies began to appear scarce, there are many people, partnership to do some small business, which is unusual for the small people, but it is a rare opportunity to turn around.

Of course …… for the bottom of the poor and downtrodden readers, their way out of the obvious began to increase, on the one hand, the government offices everywhere in the countryside to recruit people to teach people to read, there is a great demand for readers, and many of the merchants, as well as workshops, are in urgent need of some people who can write and calculate, to do the accounts and management, the value of the readers have also begun to rise in value. The value of readers has also begun to rise, and even a few nearby provinces, there are quite a number of hopeless, the family’s decline of the readers, have rushed to.

Every three years in the Ming Dynasty, the number of successful jinshi is only a few hundred, and the number of lifts is only a thousand, such a low acceptance rate, which means that the vast majority of readers, in fact, do useless work.

But the sad thing is, if not the family has assets, unusual people reading if not the golden list, almost no way out, which is why many people, do not dare to send their children to study the reason.

The cost is high, the people in this land, even if they do not eat or drink, but also willing to pay for their own children to study, but read no way out, but people are not stupid, of course, do not dare to mislead their own children.

But nowadays, in this Taipingfu, it looks as if it has the least respect for the readers and the gentry, but it is very hungry for knowledge!

This hunger is priced in money, because many positions require readers, someone who can read and write, someone who can write and count, and people are happy to offer high prices to hire readers to keep their business houses, workshops, and mines running.

With the hinterland of Taipingfu, the business atmosphere of Suxia, became more intense, overcrowded, and filled with those unusual hopes and opportunities.

What the world is really willing to be fervent about may not actually be getting a full meal or a whip, but hope.

When there is hope and someone realizes that he or she can be something else, then even if he or she is just a street vendor, he or she will begin to work tirelessly and get up early.

Of course, this is all just the beginning, and those who are in the middle of it won’t realize that they are making history, inching their way into a whole new era.

More people …… are just focusing on their own immediate livelihood, but from the previous pool of stagnant water, suddenly saw a goal within their reach, inner ambition, began to slowly grow up, that’s all.

Zhang Anshi then, went to the workshop of the Model Battalion.

This workshop area was different from the other workshop areas because it was mainly near the arsenal and the Model Battalion camp area.

On weekdays, this area is under military control. All the craftsmen, are specially recruited, almost all are skilled craftsmen. Zhang Anshi many ideas, are first realized here, and then …… may be popularized to the military, and even …… some into the civil field.

And since this workshop, but there are some high walls surrounded by tightly guarded places.

When Zhang Anshi appeared, the division craftsmen hurriedly came out to greet them, Zhang Anshi didn’t nag them and directly said, “The works of the A Ding, how is it progressing now?”

Here, there are many programs that are constantly grouped together, and the general numbering that starts with A tends to indicate that this item of research is a top priority, and more manpower will be assigned, and enough silver will be given to support them in their research.

Si smith smiled and said, “There are already eyebrows, out of seven or eight finished …… products are still being improved.”

Zhang Anshi’s eyes visibly lit up, so he said, “Is that so? Take me to take a look.”

The master craftsman nodded his head, he didn’t dare to be slow and hurriedly led Zhang Anshi into the craftsman’s room.

Here, dozens or hundreds of craftsmen in different groups are working intensely on the task at hand.

Under the division smith, something resembling a small cannon, which was being set on a wheel, was being carefully pushed out.

This thing resembles a cannon, but it is not as heavy as a cannon, and …… the unusual cannon has only a hollow muzzle.

But this thing, which seemed like a honeycomb coal, actually had seven or eight holes as big as eyeballs.

Zhang Anshi said, “How …… is this ……”

It wasn’t what Zhang Anshi had imagined.

“Weren’t you given the drawings in the first place?”

“We tried it with your drawings, Your Excellency, but found …… too many problems to be practical, so …… took this approach.”

Zhang Anshi looked around the “small cannon” and then said, “How many bullets have been manufactured?”

“More than 20,000 pieces.” Si smith laughed bitterly: “These bullets, need and the cannon mouth silk seam, are the smiths one by one to build out, slightly unqualified, can not be used, and the cost is also high. And the other day, we follow the method of the Gong Master, with diatomaceous earth adsorption of refined oil, the result …… was an explosion, killed and injured seven or eight craftsmen ……”

Hearing this, Zhang Anshi’s face was solemn, then he said, “Has compensation been made?”

“According to the rules, each person is 500 taels, and the children are recommended to study in the government school academy.”

Zhang Anshi nodded and couldn’t help but give some more instructions to be more careful in the future, then lamented, “I didn’t expect that the manufacturing was so slow, if only it could be mass-produced.”

This division craftsman obviously already knew the concept of mass production, and Zhang Anshi would write down almost any idea he had and send it to this one workshop for study.

Division smith shook his head and said, “The manufacturing process of bullets is too difficult, mass production is only afraid of impossibility, very often, a bullet, at least seven or eight bullets of waste, and that yellow gunpowder …… refining is also not easy, it is very dangerous, but His Excellency rest assured that the students are trying to find a way to organize the craftsmen to find ways to improve it.”

Zhang Anshi then pointed his finger at the “small cannon” and said, “Come on, shoot me.”

The Sithsmith nodded, and then had the small cannons pulled to a schoolyard within the high walls.

In the schoolyard, a part of the men began to load the ammunition, which was strung on canvas, and then loaded into a large box of the small artillery company, and after each bullet was loaded, a deafening sound of the cannon was heard.

Ta-da-da-da ……

The sound is crisp.

This small cannon has eight or nine cannons and shoots out a single firework.

Zhang Anshi watched with great vigor, and within moments, hundreds of rounds of ammunition were poured out in no time.

Zhang Anshi was happy and said, “Is there any danger in shooting?”

“Shooting is not ……,” said the master craftsman hesitantly, “it’s just ……”

“It’s good that there’s no danger.” Zhang Anshi said with a smile, “It’s just that the cost of construction is too high, and it takes too much labor and material resources, isn’t it?”

“Aye. On top of that, the process of manufacturing, especially that yellow gunpowder manufacturing process, is no less dangerous ……”

When Zhang Anshi heard this, his smile was a few points less, so he said, “Improve it slowly, one day, will come up with a way to make it safer, and can reduce the cost. This thing, you improve it again these days, to make it more convenient and easy to use, it’s best if the bullets can be loaded more, when the time comes, my lord is going to use it, if it’s used well, my lord will heavily reward it, and all the craftsmen who are involved in this project, will have benefits.”

This division craftsman was surprised and said, “What does the male master …… intend to do with this? Do you want the students to get some skilled hands to help?”

Zhang Anshi said very directly, “Roundup!”

Division Maker: “……”

Zhang Anshi then said, “Help is not necessary, I can do it alone, so it must be simple and easy to use, bulky is as bulky as it gets, anyway, with the wheels fitted to it, I can drag it there even if I drag it.”

Si smith couldn’t help but ask again, “Is the roundup a fierce beast? Of course, the student is just asking about the use, perhaps …… can think about whether there is a better improvement program for the public master.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Unsurprisingly, it may be to hunt rabbits ……”

Division Maker: “……”

After accounting for the division makers.

Zhang Anshi tried again on his own, and to be honest, the ease of use of this thing was very poor, especially when operated by one person, and the accuracy was very poor, apart from the fierce firepower, it was almost useless.

If you add to that the fact that it can only be rubbed out by artificial hands for the time being, and the incomparably high cost of construction, in this world, I’m afraid that only he, Zhang Anshi, would dare to manufacture it at such a reckless cost.

But …… this firepower is really fierce, very powerful.

This time …… there is hope, Zhang Anshi eyes light, then whistled, explained and then think of ways to improve, and then went away with gusto.

And at this time …… the work of the roundup is already being prepared, the feather forest guards first to the forbidden garden Zijinshan Mountain area, because his majesty has issued several decrees, all expressing the importance of the sons and daughters of the riding and shooting, so many of the sons and daughters of the nobility have regarded this as the top priority.

Some heart worry, can be described as days like years, know that now the temporary clasp is also too late, there are some, usually willing to work hard, but now it is looking forward to, just hate to be in this hunting ground, shine.

Zhu Di personally asked Jin Zhong about the work of the roundup.

And Jin Zhong is not dare to be negligent, almost hunting ground in the big things and small things, all dutifully report.