Daming kill

Chapter 117 Knife and Horse
The deal that Malan will lead the team is to exchange weapons for horses, food, and large animals, and the target of the deal is a subordinate of Guoan, the general army.

This subordinate of Fang Guoan can also be regarded as an acquaintance of Li Ping.

This man was Huang Chengdong, the general manager who Li Ping met when he first came to Xiangyang to rescue people, who used the name of arresting spies to block the streets, vandalize and loot. Li Ping had met him once, and had a brief exchange with him.

This guy is very courageous and dares to do anything wrong, but it is estimated that the backstage is not very strong, otherwise Fang Guoan would not have used it as a chess piece to test him back then.

But the experience of being a chess piece has obviously made him, and Huang Chengdong is also very good.

Later, Hu Zhongshan exchanged things with Huang Chengdong's subordinates a few times. Although there were very few things, they had formed a "friendship", at least they had a little more trust in each other.

Of course, Fang Guoan probably didn't know about these things, and he didn't bother to take care of such trivial matters.

The weapons Malan used to exchange were not all, but only lancets, and the number was not large, only 120.Add to this some kosher salt.

The reason why I chose the Lancet is because this weapon has a large circulation and is used a lot, especially the high-quality products imported from Japan are expensive and fast.

And Li Ping has an excellent lancet because he has an open hearth furnace that can produce real steel.

The Lancet knife appeared in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. It is the standard type of Qu Dao, and it is also a waist knife widely equipped by the army in the late Ming Dynasty.

It is usually about 1 meter long, with a straight handle and a length of about 20 centimeters. The blade bends from the root, resembling a willow leaf, with a large arc and a wide tip.

The gentle curve along the blade makes the lancet reduce the reverse ability and effectively increase the cutting force at the same time.However, compared to the Japanese sword with similar curvature, the blade width of the lancet is much wider.

However, the curvature of the lancet is moderate, even if the stabbing accuracy is slightly lower, the overall impact is not great.

Because of these characteristics, the lancet quickly defeated the long sword and the straight back knife after its appearance, and was widely loved by the cavalry and infantry of the Ming Dynasty.

The gradual fading out of the Yanling Sword should also be related to this.Because in intense melee combat, slashing is a more instinctive action than stabbing.Especially in China at this time, when the rate of heavy armor worn by all parties in China is generally low, slashing and killing injuries are often fatal, and the superior effect of assassination is not obvious.

According to statistics made by the British author George Farmer in his book "Light Dragoons" in 1844, the French who are accustomed to stabbing with a relatively straight knife are more likely than the British who are accustomed to chopping with a larger curved knife. In fact, the proportion of serious injuries is not much different.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the lancet, which is more conducive to cutting, became more and more popular in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, due to the fall of the Song Dynasty, China's weapon casting production technology experienced a major regression and some technologies were lost and disappeared. The level of weapon production in the Ming Dynasty has not been high, so the quality of most lancets is not flattering.

At this time, Japanese knives, which retained a relatively comprehensive sword-making process, also entered China in large quantities, and were highly praised for their superior quality.

The main reason for selling knives in Japan is profit, which is five times the domestic profit.

"Guangdong Maritime Silk Road History" said: "A Japanese sword is only worth [-] to [-] Wen in Japan, while the price in the Ming Dynasty was as high as [-] Wen. Therefore, Japan imported a large number of knives into Guangdong and even in the name of tribute. All over China, earn huge profits."

After 1432, the Japanese brought in as many as 20 tribute knives through only eleven regular tribute trades, and of course smuggling was indispensable.However, during the war at the end of the Ming Dynasty, smuggling became even more serious due to the huge increase in demand, and of course profits also declined.

In order to keep pace with the times, many of the Japanese swords smuggled into China in the late Ming Dynasty were lancets, not samurai swords as many people usually think.

Moreover, in order to expand production capacity, many lancets produced in Japan are also instant products, and the quality is even more uneven. After all, a good knife requires time and a good craftsman, and the quantity of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands is not enough. law to ensure quality.

Li Ping also sells knives for profit, for huge profits, just like refined salt.

The Japanese have a huge advantage in sword casting technology, while Li Ping has a huge advantage in materials.And good steel makes good knives, Li Ping can naturally produce knives with much better quality and generate huge profits.

The main reason for choosing The Lancet for production and trading is that it is easier to confuse people and talk nonsense.For Li Ping's current status, the risk of exposing the production capacity of steel is really too great.

The only thing that is difficult to explain is that the number of good knives is a little bit large, but fortunately, in the midst of war, don't ask where you came from, as long as you have good goods, it is the last word.

However, merchants cannot be the first choice for selling knives. It is easier to make a profit selling to the army and the army that is preparing to fight.

The place where Ma Lan and Huang Bazong traded was not in the wilderness, but directly in a residential house in the south of Xiangyang City.

Here is next to Xiangyang City, it is very convenient for both sides to support, and there will be a lot of scruples, so there is no need to worry too much about blackmailing each other.

In the wilderness, it is easy to say unclear and accidents.

In a yard, Malan asked his subordinates to put 12 bundles of lancets (10 in each bundle) on the ground in the yard, while he himself sat cross-legged on the stone millstone in the middle of the yard and watched Huang Chengdong put a bunch of lancets there. A test knife.

Malan's own knife was by his leg, still in its sheath, so he wasn't too worried.

Most of the people on both sides were outside the courtyard and in a larger courtyard next door. In that large courtyard, there were large animals and grain brought by Huang Chengdong, as well as coarse salt brought by Malan.Zhao Dongdong, Malan's subordinate, was leading people to check and count there.

Relying on the city, scattered personnel, no one can surround anyone, and no one has an absolute advantage in numbers. It is simply a fantasy to kill the opponent without attracting attention. Only a psychopath will have other thoughts .

Moreover, there were not many people in the yard at all. After careful observation several times, Ma Lan didn't notice anyone who could pose a threat to him, so he relaxed even more.

Huang Chengdong obviously didn't want more of his own people to see this batch of knives.

"They are really good knives. Although they are not top-grade, they are rare! I heard that your lord has received a lot of rewards, but I am really willing to part with them." Huang Chengdong, who had carefully looked at all the knives, touched them lightly. While holding the blade of a new knife, he clicked his tongue and praised Qi, and while talking, he glanced at Ma Lan casually with his eyes.

"It's good that Mr. Huang knows the goods. I hope your things are not bad." Ma Lan didn't answer Huang Chengdong's words at all, but looked at him sullenly and said.

Ma Lan didn't have much interest in Huang Chengdong, and he looked down on this colorfully dressed guy who looked like a tuberculosis ghost, so he was very rude, no matter how big or small.

Ma Lan's indifference caused Huang Chengdong's face to change slightly, but he quickly smiled and said, "Brother Ma, you're joking, I, Huang, have always been trustworthy. Otherwise, I wouldn't have met your general back then! My goods, you should rest assured."

Huang Chengdong originally wanted to point out this unruly black man, but he suppressed the anger in his heart seeing this guy's unconcerned look.

That old man Hu is easy to talk and knows the rules, but this big business has come to such a guy as the master.It shows that this person should be Guerrilla Li Ping's real confidant and the most trustworthy person.

And this guy doesn't look easy to mess with, and he doesn't seem like a person who is afraid of trouble.

"Brother Huang, your horses are a little short!" He stretched out his hand without hitting the smiling face. After all, Huang Chengdong's military rank was higher than his. Ma Lan also softened his tone, but he still didn't want to talk to this guy.

What to exchange for, and how much to exchange, have already been discussed.

But Huang Chengdong, who immediately figured it out, saw the black killer, and he didn't mind explaining with a smile: "Brother Ma, it's not easy to get 12 horses together. Everything else is easy to say, It’s hard to get a horse. Of course, I also know that 7 knives are a horse. I took advantage of it. Your lord gave me enough face. But I don’t have less horses and big animals, and I have enough food. .”

明代买马的价格一般是在银10-15两之间浮动，到明末最高峰时也曾达到50两一匹，但多数高价也就在30-40两之间。

In the late Ming Dynasty, the exchange ratio between 1 tael of silver and copper coins was mostly between 800-1200 Wen, while the price of a good-quality knife imported from Japan in the late Ming Dynasty was at least 5000 Wen, that is, at least 5 taels of silver. To the mainland, the price is higher, even sometimes doubled.

At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the value of silver was not as high as expected, mainly because the trade surplus between the Ming Dynasty and Europe led to a large inflow of silver, and the price of silver could not go up.At the end of the Qing Dynasty, due to war reparations and other factors, a large amount of silver flowed out, which made the exchange of 1 tael of silver and copper coins rise to 5000-7000 Wen.

Because many people take it for granted that Li Ping's knives came from Japan, the price Li Ping gave for 7 knives per horse is actually giving Huang Chengdong a lot of profit. Earn money.

This is also to make Huang Chengdong keep his mouth shut with his heart and initiative.

"The price of the knife my general gave you was not high, and the salt he gave you was also cheap. This is a sign of trust in you. You should use more snacks. My general likes horses." Ma Lan said pissed.

The salt Malan mentioned was of course not refined salt, but coarse salt.It's not normal for everything to be the best.

In fact, this strategy of selling not only knives, but also salt and even other small items is to create the impression that Li Ping is changing hands and doing business, and to reduce the attention of others.

"That is, that is."

Huang Chengdong said with a smile, but it was obviously just polite.But he thought in his heart, after this deal, your guerrilla base is probably empty, and we will go our separate ways in the future.

"After a while, our general will be able to get another batch of these knives in his hands, but there are not so many." Ma Lan continued to lay the groundwork, completely imitating Song Baolai's appetizing method yesterday.

"Is there a knife? Brother Ma is serious." Huang Chengdong immediately regained his energy when he heard this, and he rushed to Ma Lan's side in one step.

Casting a glance at Huang Chengdong who was close at hand with eyes full of radiance, Ma Lan shook his head, then tilted his head and stared at Huang Chengdong again and said: "You have no horses, what else are you thinking about! My general will only ask for The horses are ready, and we have enough food. My general also wants to get a team of cavalry like Vice General Jin, that would be majestic."

"There are horses, there are horses. Brother Ma, leave it to me, and I will find a way to ensure that your family's majesty will not be missed." Huang Chengdong said anxiously.

Seeing Malan's disbelieving expression, Huang Chengdong rolled his eyes again, and then said with a smile: "I still have a lot of beauties in my hands. There are all kinds of beauties, such as Yan Feihuan thin, and your adults may like it too!"

"We can snatch it ourselves, and I can sell you some if you want." Ma Lan sneered.

"Hehe! It's Meng Lang, it's Meng Lang." Huang Chengdong smiled carelessly, obviously remembering the past.

Then, he rubbed the back of his head and woke up suddenly: "Look at my memory, it's better to come early than to come by coincidence. I just got a few beauties and a baby yesterday, and I didn't have time to taste it! Brother, you Take it away together. This is free of money, it is my personal wish, and I will definitely guarantee your family's satisfaction. Regarding the matter of horses, I will give you a letter within ten days. If my method is not good, I will not delay you from contacting other families. .can you?"

Ma Lan rolled her eyes a few times pretending to think, and then said as if she had made up her mind: "Okay, I'll trust Brother Huang first. I'll report to my lord when I get back. With your beauty, it shouldn't be a big problem." .”

After finishing speaking, Ma Lan picked up the knife and jumped off the millstone, and then shouted loudly to the next courtyard: "Zhao Dongdong, you are a crook, have you finished inspecting everything?"

Notes:

The lancets of the Ming Dynasty were all straight-handled knives.The lancet with a curved handle did not appear until after the Qing Dynasty, around the late 18th century.

It was also in the Qing Dynasty that the Lancet knife replaced the Yanling knife as the mainstream knife and developed into a two-handed light knife.The emergence of two-handed light swords is more due to the needs of martial arts performances, which cannot be confused with the need for sufficient strength and durability required by the army.

(End of this chapter)