Late Tang Dynasty Floating Life

Chapter 1558
The Spring Festival of the 15th year of Jianji (915) is approaching quietly.

After the Lantern Festival, Zhu San summoned all his apprentices to work again.

The stove was lit, the bellows was pulled up, and the hammer was swung up. In the blacksmith's shop that had been quiet for more than half a month, there was a clanging sound again.

A four-wheeled carriage stopped at the door, and two people jumped out of the carriage.

"Zhu San, I'm here to pick up the goods." Tuesday rushed into the yard and shouted.

Zhu San came out from the back room, holding a horizontal knife in his hand, and was examining it carefully.

After reading it, he scolded the apprentice who was following him, and said, "It took me two times to fix it, you're so stupid, why don't you just go to the Western Regions."

The apprentice shrank his head and did not speak.

Hearing it on Tuesday, his eyes lit up, and he said, "It's good to go to the Western Regions, it's good to go to the Western Regions, that's the deal."

Zhu San frowned, and said: "The Western Regions are so chaotic, will you die if you go there?"

On Tuesday, Zhang Mazha sat down and said, "There is always room for chaos."

"If it's as good as you said, why don't you send one of your four sons?" Zhu San asked.

"Do you know?" Tuesday cast a sidelong glance at him, and said, "My family, Shiro, is going to go after the Spring Festival."

Zhu San was taken aback for a moment, but he didn't expect to really go.

"Your Shiro is a student of arithmetic, right? What are you doing?" Zhu San frowned.

"Stay in Fangshi for a few years first, and then become an official, or at least become a petty official. That's better than me as a father." said Tuesday.

"It's better to find a commercial company as an accountant." Zhu San said disdainfully: "Heyang has become better and better these years, and business travel is prosperous. Although the accountant can't be rich and powerful, it can support the whole family. Isn't it better than leaving home?"

"I said Zhu San, you are not from Heyang, why do you love your family so much? If this is the case, it is better to close the blacksmith shop and go back to Fuzhou now." Tuesday teased: "My son just wants to be famous. It is clear. He failed the exam, but the account is clear. When Zhao Wang employs people, there are many opportunities."

"It's still useful to study." Zhu San laughed at himself, and said: "If you go to the frontier, even if you don't have any fame, you still have a chance to become an official. It's not like us blacksmiths, who work hard all their lives."

"Blacksmiths are also popular." Tuesday glanced at the apprentice behind Zhu San, and said with a smile, "Do you still remember what the saint did in Suizhou and Xiazhou?"

"You mean..." Zhu San had some guesses.

"That's right." Tuesday nodded emphatically, and said, "Whether it's a blacksmith recruited by the imperial court or recruited by the King of Zhao, they can get a loan, donate land, and don't charge interest. Just pay back the principal within ten years."

"The land in the Western Regions is not worth much." Zhu San sneered, and then fell silent.

In fact, this policy was really good back then, and it attracted many Guanzhong blacksmiths and apprentices to open shops in Guanbei.Subsequently, because of the long war, the business of these blacksmith shops has been booming.

The apprentice became a master master, and continued to recruit a large number of apprentices, and then opened many shops, and then handed over some of them to the apprentices.Because these apprentices have jobs and have developed their skills at the same time, they also start to lead apprentices. This is how the entire military production capacity climbs up.

It is not known when this policy was repealed.Anyway, after Zhu San moved to Heyang, he never cared about this matter again.

His business has declined visibly in the past two years because there have not been so many battles.Even if the imperial court needs equipment, the output of the government's self-operated shops is enough, and there is no need to buy additional equipment from them.

This time I was able to receive a batch of orders for horizontal knives, lance blades, and gun heads, thanks to old relationships.

He's getting old, and that's what he's been doing all his life.After another ten years of hard work, he won't be able to do it anymore. It is estimated that there will be no ordnance list at his house.

But what about the disciples?
It is true that masters and apprentices can beat, scold, oppress, and exploit, but you also have to consider their future lives.

The apprentice has left his teacher, and you have to help him open a shop.

The apprentice has no business, so you have to help him find a job.

The apprentice is in trouble, you have to help him find a solution.

In particular, most of these apprentices are relatives of the same family, and they have to plan for their future, and they cannot smash their own signs.

But now it is really difficult.

The weapons could not be fought, and everyone started to pick up less profitable farm tools in a swarm.But as more people do it, farm tools are becoming less and less profitable.What are you going to do next?
Zhu San didn't know the word "overcapacity", but it didn't prevent him from understanding this phenomenon - as far as he could see, there was thick smoke billowing in Xiuwu, one blacksmith shop after another, the fire used to stay on all night, a This weapon was forged and flowed into the army, becoming a sharp weapon for the Great Xia warriors to fight in all directions.

But times change.

The war dividend period is over, and rapid expansion is a thing of the past. The overall production capacity is over-capacity, and the generation of his disciples is facing serious livelihood problems.

And iron smelting and iron making are industries with strong regional characteristics. Because their products are too heavy and long-distance transportation is more troublesome, it is better to make them nearby.

In Heyang and Luoyang, there is nothing to do.If you want to have a way out, you can only go outside.Go to places that have not been fully developed, go to those places where the technical level is backward, and go to those places that are hungry for talents.

In Liaodong, many people have passed by over the years.

Someone wrote a letter back, which probably meant "people are stupid, money is rich, come quickly".

In fact, it is understandable that the local area has been in a state of population inflow, the demand for various iron products is huge, and the relevant talents are relatively scarce.The local Bohai blacksmiths are so rich that they are too busy to keep busy. The Han blacksmiths have gone, and they have language advantages, so it is naturally more nourishing.

Some people went to Yunnan, but there were mixed reviews.

Someone in Kunzhou said that the local climate is pleasant and the business is easy to do.

Some fell ill or even died, never to be heard from again.

This situation is very confusing and discourages many people.

Coupled with the fear of the legendary miasma, there was another wave of people who went there invisible—they would rather encounter visible and tangible enemies than face unknown risks.

The Western Regions seemed to be a new destination.

It's not the miasma that everyone talks about, eating sand at most, but it's bearable.The only concern is that the security environment is too poor, making people hesitant and unable to make a final decision.

"Think about it carefully." Seeing Zhu San pondering, he got up on Tuesday and said, "Bring me the weapon, and if it is qualified, it will be delivered."

******
"Desperate in the mountains and swamps, armed with hidden weapons, and surviving in vain, how much have you given up on yourself!"

"Xu Er Chen Shou, you can avoid the death penalty. If you don't turn your head for three days, you will be rehabilitated!"

Among the grassy mountains in the south of the Yangtze River, the soldiers of the Shenwu Army shouted loudly.

Opposite them is a cottage, built in a dangerous place, gathered hundreds of warriors.At this time, when they heard the shouts from the foot of the mountain, there was a lot of noise in the village, accompanied by fierce quarrels.

Chai Zaiyong, who was riding on the horse, suddenly sighed.

In name, he is a general of the new dynasty, and the opposite is a thief, but who is more noble than whom?They are all poor people.

The ending of the Dragon and Tiger Army has spread to Huainan, and there are different opinions.

Some people were upset, thinking that the court was killing donkeys and didn't want to raise them anymore.

Some people lamented that it was a pity that such an old army was gone after such a toss.

Some people sighed, thinking that the last 7000 people can go to Liaodong to serve as soldiers, which is actually very good.They continued to receive military rewards for the first five years, and within five years, they should be allocated land and divisions. From now on, they will be small landlords, exempt from taxes and corvees, practice martial arts, hunt, and occasionally go out to war. Life is still very happy. Cool.

Chai Zaiyong was an envoy of the Shenwu Army, and he had to think about the future of his subordinates—the army originally had 8000 infantry and cavalry. More than sixty thousand.

Among the 6000 people, most of them are Huainan children. The former Wu king relied on the capital to fight against Zhu Quanzhong and Shao Shude, although most of the time they were fighting with Qian Liu.

Chai Zaiyong should be responsible to these people, and should not let them die without knowing why.

Just, what can he do?
"Commander Chai!"

"General Chai!"

"Emissary!"

The gate of the cottage suddenly opened, and a large group of soldiers in shabby armor poured out.

The soldiers of the Shenwu Army became nervous, and they all bent their bows and set up arrows, aiming ahead.

Chai stopped them with a drink and walked forward slowly.

The "bandits" looked excited and knelt at his feet, some were sobbing and crying.

"Have you had enough trouble?" Chai Zaiyao caressed their heads and sighed, "If you have had enough trouble, come with me."

"General, where are you going?" someone asked.

"Capital crimes can be forgiven, but living crimes cannot be forgiven." Chai Zayong said.

"I knew it, I knew it! Bandit Shao wouldn't just let us go, are you stupid now? Pooh!"

"What living crime? Could it be that you went to Shengzhou to repair Miyagi? Then you might as well fight!"

"Forget it, I don't want to hide anymore. I haven't seen my baby for more than two years, and I don't know if she's still alive."

"Let's surrender. King Wu has passed away, and Yang Wo doesn't feel sorry for his family's foundation. Why should I fight?"

"I heard that the mountain is peaceful? No one remembers us?"

"It's Chinese New Year, no one really remembers us. We're just a bunch of lonely ghosts."

Chai Zaiyong was silent for a while, and said: "The imperial court has regulations, and the states are notified. If there are soldiers who have fled and have not returned, they will be allowed to surrender, and their crimes will be reduced. Those who have it should verify their integrity and match them with Liuyi, Xi, Ting, and Yanqi. Zhufu prefectures. Family members who are willing to accompany them can distribute money and food, and they will dictate the land after arriving in the prefecture."

This is exile...

Everyone understood in their hearts, and the crowd was in a commotion for a while.

The soldiers of the Shenwu Army looked at the former robe, and couldn't bear to do it.But those who eat martial arts should be killed.

Fortunately, the commotion subsided shortly after.

Perhaps the two years of fleeing had smoothed their morale, and most of them slowly accepted the reality after a fierce ideological struggle.

If you take one wrong step, your life will be on a different fork.If the people in the world are uneasy, they dare to make a scene.But in today's world, everywhere is peaceful, it is impossible to give them another chance.

"Have you figured it out?" Chai Zayong asked, "Let's go when you figure it out."

After speaking, he turned and got on the horse.

Hundreds of "bandits" followed silently, dragging out long figures in the afterglow of the setting sun.

(End of this chapter)