first minister

Chapter 31
"Master, is it too much for you to do this!"

In a courtyard in the county seat, Zhang Dazhi's three disciples put down the rags and beat their backs with exhaustion and complaints on their faces.

Zhang Dazhi said, "What do you know? Let me tell you, a person like him, as long as there are no accidents, he will definitely achieve great things in the future."

He took a sip from the small teapot, and said leisurely: "I have endured hardships at the bottom, and I am used to seeing life and death, but I also have an extremely outstanding ability. You need to be smart, smart, and capable. People like this make good friends. Losses are only small losses, and gains are big profits!"

The apprentice rolled his eyes, "I mean, why can't you clean it up with me? I've been busy here for an hour, and you didn't respond at all?"

Zhang Dazhi choked on his tea, and immediately said: "Ahem, as a teacher, this is training you in that direction, training your mind more, you are too impetuous."

The apprentice was stunned and gave a thumbs up.

The master-student relationship between craftsmen has always been similar to the personal attachment relationship. Zhang Dazhi is willing to tolerate his apprentice's talk and is willing to find an excuse, which is considered very good, and the apprentice dare not say more.

As he continued to clean up, he said, "But Master, I think you still think too well. How many skilled craftsmen we will be prisons have been working for half their lives. Mr. Xia was just talking casually last night. How can we come up with any good ideas!"

Zhang Dazhi rubbed his chin, "You can't say that, the pulley method is a seemingly simple method, but it is actually very useful. If there is another method like this, I'm afraid I can use a little effort to get a position as a young prisoner when I go back."

The apprentice murmured: "Master Xia is Wen Kui, why don't you ask someone to make a poem and bring it back to Zhongjing City as a gift, then there is still hope."

"What do you know, I am busy with your business, and I will go to Cuihua Building to urge the banquet later."

Zhang Dazhi waved his hands impatiently, but he couldn't help muttering in his heart.

As the apprentice said, most of the supervisors here are skilled craftsmen, but it has been a long time since they have made any good things.

Whether it is in the construction of military equipment, the method of building a city with earth, or the supply of treasures for the royal family, it is basically just a continuation of the past technology.

Even though the general who took office last year can't stop urging them, these things don't seem to be crowded, and if they can't get out, they won't get out.

It seems a bit unrealistic to expect Xia Jingyun to come up with a good method other than the methods like the pulley soil transportation method, and it is difficult to force others.

Forget it, if there is really no one, then treat him as an invitation to dinner.

As I said just now, it is not a loss to make friends with such a person.

And for someone with his status, if scholars like Xia Jingyun were willing to make friends with him, it would be even better.

Just as he was thinking, Tuer walked in with a few people.

Zhang Dazhi drank his tea silently, not bothering to move his eyes.

Immediately, a figure came to the gate of the courtyard, "Master Zhang!"

Zhang Dazhi stood up vigorously, with a smile on his face, "Young Master Xia! I'm sorry if I miss you!"

Xia Jingyun waved his hands again and again, and said in panic, "Master Zhang is such a villain."

"Why do you need to be humble, as Su Daru's disciple, today is different from the past, haha!"

Xia Jingyun knew in his heart that Master Su had released the news as he said before.

He smiled, stood still suddenly, shook his sleeves, and saluted respectfully, "I haven't thanked my lord for your kindness back then."

Zhang Dazhi was taken aback, "What kindness do I have to thank you?"

Xia Jingyun smiled and said: "That day in the labor camp, the adults helped me twice. I have never found a chance to thank you for this kindness. Today I finally have the opportunity to thank you in person!"

In the labor camp that day, after Manager Hu failed to steal Xia Jingyun's labor results, Zhang Dazhi said that this method was quite ingenious, which dispelled County Magistrate Zhao's concerns and gave Xia Jingyun a chance to use it.

After Xia Jingyun succeeded, he suddenly offered Xia Jingyun ten taels of silver.

Originally, this matter could have been settled by County Magistrate Zhao exempting their whole family from hard labor, but when Zhang Dazhi said this, it became the three officials who had to express themselves, so Feng Xiuyun had to stand up and give the reward.

Although judging from the follow-up results, even if Zhang Dazhi didn't make a move, Feng Xiuyun should have expressed something, but Xia Jingyun, who has always had a clear sense of grievances and grievances, still thinks about it.

Hearing Xia Jingyun's words, Zhang Dazhi laughed, and he valued him even more in his heart. There are many people with literary talents, but people with brains are even more valuable. Obviously, this young man who has become a literary leader from a labor camp is very brainy.

"There is no need to say anything else, you and I have a few more drinks tonight!"

"Respect is worse than obedience!"

As they spoke, the two came to the dining table with mutual humility, and the servants of Cuihua Building had already filled the table with food.

Zhang Dazhi and Xia Jingyun sat down, while Zhang Dazhi's apprentice was pouring wine.

Although the master-student rules were so strict that the young man did not dare to feel displeased, but seeing his master and Xia Jingyun chatting and laughing while he had to stand aside to pour wine, the young man still felt somewhat unhappy.

The most important thing is that he is deeply skeptical that Xia Jingyun can help the bank who will be a prisoner.

In this respect, he is much better than Xia Jingyun, so why should the master look far away, maybe stand aside and pour himself two glasses of wine, flatter himself, and then he will have a flash of inspiration!
"What are you doing in a daze? Pour the wine!"

The young man's dream was interrupted by a dissatisfied reminder from the master, and he hurriedly picked up the jug to fill up the wine respectively.

After drinking for a while, Zhang Dazhi and Xia Jingyun came to the process of calling each other brothers.

Zhang Dazhi blushed slightly, "Brother Gao Yang, you said last night that you have learned something, but which aspect is it?"

Xia Jingyun smiled and said, "Brother, do you know about bellows?"

The young man on the side lowered his head and pursed his mouth silently. Zhang Dazhi laughed awkwardly, "The bellows must know about it. For smelting and forging, it needs the help of bellows to raise the temperature of the furnace."

Xia Jingyun asked again: "Is the bellows pulled by human power?"

"That's needless to say! Even livestock can't get this thing!"

Xia Jingyun smiled, "Why don't you try the water wheel?"

Zhang Dazhi was taken aback, and Xia Jingyun briefly explained the structure of the hydraulic bellows to him.

This kind of thing is almost easy for an experienced person like Zhang Dazhi. After hearing the words, he immediately understood. He stretched out his hand and gestured in the air, muttering to himself, his eyes became brighter and brighter, "According to my brother, this bellows can not only be enlarged, but also can completely save manpower! Built by the river, the water power is endless, never exhausted, wonderful!"

As he spoke, he raised his glass and clinked a glass with Xia Jingyun.

He felt that with this method, tonight's drink would not be a loss.

But Xia Jingyun smiled slightly, "With the help of such a bellows, one thing can come in handy."

While talking, Xia Jingyun told him the basic principles of indigenous steelmaking blast furnaces, as well as some key points.

Hearing this, Zhang Dazhi's eyes became wider and wider, while the apprentice who was a little bit upset before opened his mouth slightly, and stood there dumbfounded.

This thing is used to smelt iron. Compared with the existing technology, I don't know how many times more convenient, and the output will also increase a lot!

Forging weapons is the job of a general as a prisoner!
After Xia Jingyun finished speaking, he smiled modestly, "I have something to say first. This is just an idea I made when I was bored looking at the blacksmith's shop. Whether it will be successful or not is up to my elder brother to measure. This is not a suggestion from a labor camp. If there is something wrong, my elder brother must not blame me. Your matters are important, and I can't afford to take it easy."

Zhang Dazhi wiped his face, but he still couldn't get rid of the deep shock on his face, "Brother, tell me, why is this person so different from other people! We have been facing that furnace for so many years, why can't we compare to you just thinking about it casually!"

After he finished speaking, he patted his thigh regretfully, and looked at Xia Jingyun's face full of covetousness, "Brother, in fact, it's pretty good to be a general in our place."

Xia Jingyun smiled playfully, "If my brother can make a decision with one word, I would be willing."

Zhang Dazhi sighed, "Come here, have a drink! Thank you brother for teaching tonight."

Then he took out a 100 taels of silver bill from his pocket and handed it over, "Brother, I didn't bring much money this time for my brother, and I've already spent a lot. You should keep this first, but there is a reward, so you must not forget your brotherly love."

Xia Jingyun declined a few times, but finally accepted it.

He likes this kind of exchange, pure and frank.

Putting the banknotes in his arms, he smiled and said, "No matter how many rewards there are in the future, I will fight for them myself, so you don't need to worry about me anymore."

Naturally, Zhang Dazhi hurriedly said no, the methods Xia Jingyun mentioned would definitely be of great help to him after he returned, so how could it be possible that he could get rid of it with one or two hundred taels of silver.

After all, he has plans for a long-term relationship, so he won't be greedy for such a small gain.

Xia Jingyun smiled and said, "If you really feel sorry for me, why don't you do me a favor."

"You said."

"I heard that the general supervisor not only has work such as equipment making and palace building, but also the task of a nobleman in the palace making exquisite expenses?"

"That's right. Brother Xian, what's the purpose of asking this?"

Xia Jingyun smiled and said: "Can I ask my brother to help me with something, such as a piece of relatively transparent glass? The price is expensive, and I can pay for it."

Zhang Dazhi pondered for a while, "Okay, I can give it to you in ten days, but it is true, I need to spend some money from my virtuous brother."

Xia Jingyun happily raised his glass, "Thank you bro!"
-
As the night was dark, Zhang Dazhi and his apprentice personally sent Xia Jingyun back to Nantian Lane.

At home, the lights are still on.

The whole family had nothing else to do. At the moment the women were doing needlework, Xia Hengzhi was writing in the room, and Xia Yunfei and his son went to buy some martial arts utensils such as stone locks and wooden sticks today, and they were practicing in the small yard.

Seeing Xia Jingyun coming back, everyone put down their work at the same time and surrounded him.

Xia Ningzhen was dressed in a red dress, jumped out happily, and said crisply: "Second brother, where did you go today? You came back so late."

Everyone looked at him when they heard the words, and it was only convenient for Xia Ning to ask this question.

Xia Jingyun smiled and said: "The big man who was going to be the prisoner said something together, it's not a big deal."

As he spoke, he sighed inwardly. He still changed the place, but he still couldn't get rid of the habit of telling his family the good news but not the bad news.

Maybe this is just human nature.

He took out the three gift boxes in his hand, "Mother, Auntie, Ning Zhen, I bought a hairpin for each of you, do you like it?"

All three women's eyes lit up, even Xia Li, who was the most gentle and restrained, showed a bit of joy on his face.

After they were confiscated from their homes, they had been wearing long hairpins and sarongs, but which woman doesn't love beauty!
"Mother, auntie, look, am I pretty?"

Xia Ning really quickly put on the hairpin. The elegant head of the hairpin lined the hair. The light gold-plated piece on the hairpin swayed slightly in the wind with her footsteps, like a butterfly flapping its wings gently.

Xia Li said with a smile: "Beautiful, the hairpin is beautiful, and the person is even more beautiful!"

"Second brother, what do you think?"

Xia Jingyun nodded, "I didn't expect Sister Ning Zhen to be so beautiful. I don't know which noble son is lucky enough to marry you!"

And Xia Zhang, the mother-in-law who was in love with Xia Ning, was naturally happy when she saw her daughter's smile like a flower, but she couldn't help but say provocatively: "Gao Yang, you said that you are really, you just have a few money, so you go spend it recklessly."

"Auntie, please shut up!"

Xia Jingyun tapped the 100 taels she just got from Zhang Dazhi in her palm.

"Pfft!"

Xia Ningzhen was the first to laugh, Xia Yunfei was also laughing foolishly, Dang Xia Zhang couldn't help but smile, and the rest of the people laughed.

That is the easy yearning for a better life.

It has been a long time since the house was ransacked, and everyone has not experienced this feeling again.

I thought this night would pass so happily and easily, but when the night was dark and people were sleeping soundly, a hasty knock on the door shattered the quiet night and awakened everyone's dreams.

"Young Master Xia! Young Master Xia!"

Xia Jingyun came out with his clothes on, and opened the door latch sleepily.

The county government officer on the opposite side scared his drowsiness away with a quick word.

"Master Xia, the jailbreaker has really come!"

　This chapter has almost written the word count of two chapters, so it should be regarded as adding another chapter, thank you for your support, okay!
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(End of this chapter)