stubborn thief

Chapter 234 Disrupting the Market
At the northern foot of Riyue Mountain in the south of Ju'er Bay, there are many Fanmin people.

Among them is a leader named Gonpo Dorji, who is the most respected leader within a radius of [-] miles above this mountain range.

He didn't have many troops and soldiers, but he was just one of the many Namafans who donated forty good horses to the imperial court every year.

Being able to become the lord of the people of this mountain range depends on one's qualifications.

Gonpo Dorje was born in the ninth year of Wanli, and he is 49 years old this year. He is a rare long-lived person in this land, so some people call him Cerang Dorje.

But on this mountain, there are not only people like him who have lived to such an old age.

Gonpo Dorje's fame mainly stems from his joining the war with his father for the emperor when he was 14 years old.

That year the imperial court sent troops to crusade against the pirate Huo Luochi, and the 22 Fanmin in Xichuan issued [-] fine riders and [-] horse steps to help the government and army invade Mongolia.

At that time, the people of Gonpo Dorji still lived at the southern foot of Riyue Mountain, and there was a large gathering place of Fan people.

Hearing the order from the imperial court, his father gathered four hundred troops and rushed to Henan, and together with the Fanmin army, they attacked Xichuan from all sides, until they hit Baishiya, and they were so angry that they cried for their father and mother.

Apart from him, there is no one who participated in that battle on Riyue Mountain now.

His village also moved from the southern foot, where there are more fields and plenty of sunshine, to the northern foot, where resources are scarce. The tribe died in the sporadic conflicts after the war, and there were only more than [-] people left.

Among them are several Han Chinese who escaped from Xining to escape the summer tax and autumn grain.

These years have not been easy for them.

Since Gonpo Dorji can remember, they have had a hard time, and these years have been suffering extraordinarily.

As the acquaintances at the end of the emperor's power, they had to pay good horses to the court every year; and in a place closer to them, they also had to hand over one-tenth of the harvest to the Mongolian leader Xiao Lazun who had made a comeback every year.

It's...overwhelming.

People were helpless against this situation, and the seven official villages gathered all the people who could fight, and they could only gather a team of more than a thousand people.

Among the more than 1000 people, only about [-] people can be called soldiers.

But just a few days ago, the leaders in the mountains rushed to visit his official village, telling what they had seen and heard at the bottom of the mountain—it seemed that overnight, a tent that could not be seen grew in the valley, like weeds on the plateau, towards the end of the sight. spread.

It doesn't matter that there are officers and soldiers encamped in the valley, what matters is that they are not officers and soldiers.

A man named Daozi climbed the mountain into the village, asked them about the situation of Dingkou, Nama, Timba and the surrounding Fanbu, and left a sentence.

The land here belongs to his leader from today - a man named Liu Chengzong.

No one knew who Liu Chengzong was. People tried to find the Banner Army of Baihusuo in Juerwan. In the past, they used to bribe the Banner Army to buy the tea that was delivered to Xiao Lazun.

But those bannermen were transferred away.

All that remains are these strong soldiers and the nests that grow in the valley day after day.

But the leaders have a way to deal with Liu Chengzong who has never met.

At least they think they have a way.

Gonpo Dorji stood on the promenade of the three-story blockhouse in the Guanzhai, leaning on the wooden railing tied with colored ribbons, looking melancholy at the mountain.

His official village is a large village built on the slopes of the pass, surrounded by several wooden castles and dozens of residential buildings surrounded by tall blockhouses.

The gongs, drums and bells on the mountain in the distance sounded, and the lamas led the wizards to wear ancestral colored satin robes, carrying command flags, wearing masks and helmets made of skulls, brandishing various weapons, and surrounded several criminals who were about to be executed jump up.

More than a dozen Fanbing soldiers in thick robes held high their blunderbusses and fired them into the sky, and the huge gunpowder quickly dissipated with the mountain wind.

Those bird guns are all about the same age as Gonpo Dorji.

They have the best precision-forged gun barrels made in the Wanli period, and the strangely shaped gun beds carved by the Northwest mountain people with bare hands.

Some gun barrels were directly attached to the crossbow body, and a few were degenerated from arquebus guns to fire door guns during the transformation.

That is the weapon brought back for the imperial court.

They were praying for the gods to send down hail to repel the soldiers who camped in the valley.

The captain of the red-haired horse team who was immersed in patrolling the territory did not know how many wizards tried their best to hit him with ice cubes in the high mountains and dense forests of Thirty Lidi.

Sitting on the horseback, Liu Chengzong touched the red tassels on the red flag vest, looking from the blue sky to the snow-capped mountains, feeling the beautiful scenery here.

Everything was great except it was colder.

In particular, there is the military field of Xiningwei here, and those military households can't grow it. He has asked some good barley seeds to be sent to his elder brother, sowing the seeds before winter, and there will be a harvest in June next year.

Now he's going to his ordnance bureau.

The so-called Weapons Bureau is just a piece of land that has been set aside, and even the nest has not been completed, but Cao Yao is eager to make weapons.

I had already run to Shi Cheng with the half-drawn blueprint of the wind gun. Shi Cheng and I couldn't stand his harassment, so I sent someone to call Liu Shizi, and we went to make an important decision on the military equipment system.

Soon, he will be able to see the den of the supply camp.

The so-called diwozi is to dig a square deep pit under the ground, build bricks or mud on all sides as walls, only build a roof on it, and make earth steps in front of the door, as a simple living room that saves wood.

As winter was approaching, there was not enough time for them to build a barracks for the whole army, so they had to make a bad decision, but they paid enough attention when building it to ensure that the big kangs in the ground nest were all heated kangs with chimneys.

For Liu Chengzong, the monopoly of the chieftain's business in Xining also has the advantage of monopoly. At least let the carrier talk to the chieftains, and he can get bulk goods.

This matter was easy in Liu Chengzong's mind, and he thought he could get a fairly affordable price, but before he entered the supply camp, he happened to see the direction of Xining, and the carrier came back with four guards on horseback.

"How about it, what price can they give for the grain and coal we want?"

Chengyun didn't wear armor, but he wore the helmet of the Guan Ning army, relying on the fur lining on the inside of his neck to keep out the cold. Seeing Liu Chengzong waiting for him, he got off his horse and shook his head, saying, "They can't give it."

"Why, can't the price be negotiated?"

"It's not about the price. There are none in the city, nor are there any around the neck of the knife holder."

Chengyun rubbed his hands in distress and jumped on the ground, and walked to the camp with Liu Chengzong, and then explained the cause of the incident: "I met Li Tianyu, the grain in Xining has been pushed forward for more than ten years, and the rice grain sold by the market every year All above and below Wanshi."

"In places far away from the city, the people are self-sufficient. If they get [-] shi of grain sold in the market, they can only eat [-] shi of grain when they buy it."

"Over time, each family's land is planted with part of the grain, and other fruits and vegetables, or brassica and pockmarks, and the oil extracted can be transported to farther places for sale."

Chengyun said: "There is only so much grain in the city. We have bought all that can be bought. Now there is no grain in the grain market. Merchants are discussing with Li Tianyu to buy grain in Lanzhou."

Liu Chengzong really didn't think of this question before, but it was easy to understand, so he nodded: "Then next year, we will discuss with the chieftains and encourage the people to grow more food. We buy... coal?"

Cheng Yun also nodded with a wry smile: "Like Yan'an, there is some shallow coal in the mountains and forests, near the coal nests where the villagers dig for self-sufficiency, and the coal pits that have been mined seriously. The site is not far away."

"There are more than [-] coal mining companies over there, and the annual coal mining is about [-] million catties? Basically, the people in Xining who specialize in buying coal can use that much."

Chengyun said and then calculated logically: "If we regulate six thousand land nests, with three people in each nest, and the daily coal burning is 300 to 500 catties, if it is less than 600 days, it will cost [-] million to [-] million catties. , At least [-] million catties of coal must be prepared in one winter.”

"But coal is better than grain."

The carrier said very skillfully: "This piece of business is based on the official price of 5000 taels to 8000 taels per year. I tried it, and I am willing to do it for 7000 taels. Add 500 taels of silver, and 500 taels. They will try their best to get it for us. arrive."

Liu Chengzong nodded slowly, and then said with a smile: "Money is not a problem. It is a good thing to have a place to spend money. As long as we can spend the money, we will be able to get it back sooner or later."

"Haha, brother, then you will soon have something to spend."

Hearing this, Chengyun laughed and said, "Iron and sulphur, are they all useful? On the east bank of the Beichuan River, the site of Chieftain Chen goes further east. It used to be the Beishan Iron Works in Xining. It was built in the 24th year of Wanli, and it smelts [-] jin of iron every year." , you can also refine sulfur over there."

Annual output of [-] catties?
Liu Chengzong shook his head, this is not much.

"Can there be more?" he asked.

"I probably asked, yes yes, but it's more difficult. There are a lot of iron here, but it's just miscellaneous, so not many people are willing to do this. Let's find it again, and gather sand to form a tower."

Liu Chengzong pouted and nodded with dissatisfaction.

In his vision, the troops of the Lion Camp will gradually transition from mainly using cold weapons to mainly using firearms.

After all, they are all in the Northwest, and there will be no shortage of gunpowder in this life. The power of the firearms is appropriate and easy to operate. Relatively speaking, it is more suitable for the Lion Army after the expansion of the army.

However, the total output of Xining Iron Smelter is only so large, and there are still daily needs for the people such as farm tools in the local area, so the estimate that can be given to him is only [-]%.

It can arm a headquarters in a year.

Before arriving in Xining, he was always worried about whether his team of craftsmen would be short-handed, and he also wanted to let them train new skilled craftsmen.

I have been thinking too much for a long time, and their production capacity is already excess.

For such a large-scale iron refinery, he had to build at least two more of his own to meet the iron needs of the troops.

The two were talking, Cao Yao had already come out, and shouted: "Marshal, Chengyun, you two are here, what are you talking about outside the station, you are so cold, come quickly!"

Liu Shizi responded, and then led Chengyun towards Shi Cheng, my Qianzong nest.

Now the supply battalion has two members of Qianzong, one is Shi Cheng, who is in charge of military weapons, and the other is Lin Wei, who helps to transport and manage the supplies.

Lin Wei used to prop up Wangzhuang by himself. He has rich experience in managing people and farms, and he is not a big problem in managing supplies. He is an all-rounder.

Mr. Qian’s nest is slightly larger than ordinary nests, but at this time Shicheng and I have gathered He Xin, the chief gunsmith, and others, and when Liu Shizi and Chengyun go in again, it seems a bit crowded.

Several people were sitting on the ground around the wooden table, arguing over the pictures on the table, seeing Liu Chengzong standing up and saluting.

"Sit down, you guys are having a lively chat, what are you talking about?"

While talking, Liu Chengzong sat in the middle, glanced at the drawings on the table and was happy.

In terms of length, it is obvious that there is a word written by the secretary next to Cao Yao.

The wind-chasing gun that Cao Yao never forgot is indeed a lifting gun!

Shi Cheng said to me: "Commander, the wind gun in Liao Town is similar to the Yunxi Yi big bird gun that Mr. Mihara Kuishin mentioned, but it doesn't use a matchlock, it only uses a fire door, and the production is clumsy. I think it is better to make it bigger directly. Bird gun."

Cao Yao frowned, and cupped his hands at Liu Chengzong, "That's not what you said, Commander. It looks stupid, but it's easy to fire. Anyone can fire it. It has a lot of charge, a long barrel, a long range, and a big bullet. , I smothered a horse at 250 paces with this."

"We went into the West Sea to fight the pirates. We dismounted and formed an array, and they also dismounted and formed an array. They hadn't drawn their bows for nearly a hundred steps, and they shot through three or five people with one gun. It is impossible to have a hundred cannons in a short time, but a hundred With this, it will be available in the spring of next year, and you can use it when you get started."

Cao Yao admired it very much, looked at Liu Chengzong and said: "Just fire one blunderbuss, let three to five hundred people die before starting the battle, retreat to the formation to pack loose pieces, and if you have the opportunity, you can go up and spray it closer, the enemy army If the general is in front of the battle, let alone a hundred guns, he will die no matter what."

To be honest, Liu Chengzong didn't think there was anything wrong with Cao Yao's idea.

Putting aside the weakness of carrying guns against skirmishers in the nineteenth century in memory, in this era, this kind of thing is indeed a kind of supplementary firepower sandwiched between guns and cannons, solid bullets and shotguns.

If applied properly, it is possible to play a role on the battlefield.

Moreover, the Mongols don't just run around on horseback, they also fight on foot.

Seeing him looking down at the drawing and thinking, Cao Yao persuaded with a sly smile on his face: "Commander, this tactic is feasible. This is what I thought of after seeing the infantry camp."

"Infantry battalion and cavalry battalion?" Liu Chengzong looked up in surprise and said, "The newly formed third battalion is to practice the professional skills of the three arms of infantry, cavalry and artillery. Why did you go to see the second battalion?"

"Tsk!"

Cao Yao curled his lips and said, "Training camps train training skills. Artillery skills are all about that. The key lies in tactics. Learning how to fire and fire is easy, and learning when to fire and fire is a matter of learning!"

"Who am I targeting in the artillery battalion? Pirates and tartars don't have artillery. Isn't that just hitting the infantry battalion and the horse battalion? This is what I call going deep into the enemy camp to spy on the military situation, Commander."

Cao Yao stretched out his hand to gesture on the table in a very serious manner: "Wang Wenxiu's side has summed up the experience of many infantry counter-charges. Most of the enemy troops will start to walk fast from 150 to [-] paces. They maintain their strength beyond this distance. Walk very slowly."

"Ma Ying is similar, but faster."

After that, he raised his hand and patted on the drawing: "This one, just kill them all when they are walking slowly."

Liu Chengzong raised his hand to Cao Yao, with a smile on his face but he didn't know what to say, so he turned his head to Shi Cheng and said to me: "Then make a few shots first, Mr. Shi knows the rules of artillery, and the gun has to try out a rule." , the same projectile charge, the effect of the barrel length on the shooting range; the same barrel length, the effect of the charge on the shooting range."

"We have a cannon, so its projectile doesn't have to be too big, just make sure it can kill people. If it's too long, it's too heavy. We can try out the suitable specifications for the new bird gun and the new big bird gun."

After all, Liu Chengzong turned his head to look at Cao Yao: "General Cao, I see you, hurry up and train me a suitable general of the artillery battalion, and come to the Chinese military camp quickly, you should do it by training officers thing."

　good morning!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)