I seek economic hegemony in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 5

Thinking of this, Li Heng inevitably became excited.

"Xue Liang, wait for me here!"

After finishing his words in a hurry, he ran back to the camp, picked up a pen and paper and started drawing.

The Quyuan plow appeared in Jiangdong during the late Tang Dynasty. It only made some structural improvements and was not complicated, but it greatly improved the efficiency of farming.

If the plows of the Three Kingdoms period were used with three people and two oxen to plow up to three acres of land in one day, the curved shaft plow with one person and one oxen could plow three acres of land in one day, which greatly saved manpower and material resources.

And it is easier to turn over the ground backwards.

The biggest change is that today's straight plows generally require two oxen to pull them, while the curved shaft plow only requires one oxen.

As we all know, in ancient times, cattle were very expensive agricultural tools.

Many people can't farm when they have time, but they have to wait until they have cattle before they can start farming. It's okay if they have cattle themselves, but those who don't have cattle have to wait until the official leased cattle are available and send them to themselves before they can use them.

Once the curved shaft plow became popular, a large number of cattle could be saved.

After finishing the painting, Li Heng looked left and right and felt that his painting was a bit rough.

He didn't know if it was the same as the Quyuanli of later generations, but the general principle seemed to be not a big problem.

No matter, let them adjust the details themselves.

"Xue Liang, take me to the nearest blacksmith shop."

Xue Liang took Li Heng away without saying a word.

There are still many residents on the south bank of the Wei River, which is why Sima Yi took the risk of stationing his camp south of the Wei River.

During the Three Kingdoms period, especially in the 12th year of Jianxing, the population had decreased a lot due to years of war.

People are the labor force, produce food, and are also a source of troops.

Let's say that the Prime Minister had previously conquered the city of Wei during the Northern Expedition. When reinforcements from the Wei army arrived, the Prime Minister wanted to withdraw his troops. The city could be discarded, but the people had to move away.

Not long after, the two found a place in the village ahead.

A shirtless man, with the help of two assistants, is forging a large knife.

The tinkling sound of gold and iron sounded rhythmically.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, salt and iron were managed by a combination of government and private parties. During the Three Kingdoms period, due to the need for war, the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu began to tighten control over salt and iron.

But no matter how strict it is, it is still a combination of government and private operations.

At present, this blacksmith shop is not officially owned, but privately owned.

Xue Liang was immediately attracted and stopped to watch, fascinated.

Li Heng asked: "Why, are you interested in iron art?"

"No, it's just that there's something wrong with his skills." Xue Liang shook his head and commented in front of the blacksmith.

Li Heng was stunned: "Do you still understand this?"

Xue Liang said seriously: "To be honest, my father and ancestors all made iron. However, after the war, I was the only one left in the family who fled to Xi County. However, the iron art is passed down from our ancestors and I dare not forget it."

The two of them were talking to each other, and the blacksmith was unhappy.

Seeing that neither of them were officials, he was not polite: "Where did the yellow-haired boy come from to slander me here! I have been blacksmithing all my life and have made countless weapons and farm equipment. Even the big locals praise me!"

Xue Liang shook his head: "If it is a farm tool, there must be no problem in operating it like this."

He pointed to the blade forged by the blacksmith at this time: "As for the weapon, if the whole body is calcined, the whole body will lack toughness and there will be a risk of breakage when chopping."

"The calcining techniques should be different for different utensils."

When it came to blacksmithing, Xue Liang, who had previously looked sad because of farming, changed his whole person and his eyes gleamed. "As a weapon, in addition to rigidity, you must also pay attention to toughness! If you add loess to the blade and calcine it, the blade will be hard and the blade will be flexible. This will be a good weapon!"

"That's nonsense! I've never heard that calcining weapons requires coating them with dirt or other filthy things!" The blacksmith didn't buy it. He had never heard of such a statement!
Li Heng was slightly shocked. Covering the earth and burning the blade was a craft that became popular in the Tang Dynasty, so the Tang sword was so invincible at that time.

I didn’t expect that some craftsmen would know about earth-covering and burning blades at this time!

Is Xue Liang still a technical talent?
Li Heng looked at the blacksmith and said, "Instead of using your words, why not let him have a try?"

The blacksmith snorted coldly: "Then let's try it! If it doesn't work, don't blame me for being rude!"

Xue Liang nodded, first found moist loess and spread it evenly on the blade, exposing the blade.

Put it into the stove to calcine, and put the red knife embryo into water to quench the fire!
After a series of treatments, Xue Liang walked towards the blacksmith with the finished knife.

"See for yourself."

The blacksmith is not stupid either. Just looking at the blade makes him feel defeated!

After taking the knife, I waved it a few times and found that the blade was indeed quite flexible!
With a hint of embarrassment on his face, he clasped his fists at Xue Liang: "I lost! Big brother, covering the earth and burning the blade is indeed more suitable for weapon casting!"

Xue Liang didn't care: "You're welcome."

Li Heng sighed in his heart, good guy, can't we upgrade all the weapons of the Han army from now on?
This is something to say later. Upgrading weapons is not only a technical issue, but also a political issue.

As far as Li Heng's current status is concerned, let alone saying goodbye to Zhuge Liang, even if he asks to see Yang Yi, he has to say everything good.

Unless the reason is to treat the Prime Minister's illness.

You can't always use this reason. If you use it a few times, the Prime Minister's senses will inevitably plummet.

Li Heng was not in a hurry. He could do whatever he wanted no matter his status.

Li Heng quickly took out a piece of paper with the words Quyuanli written on it, as well as a graphic drawn with lines.

After confirming that Xue Liang was an excellent blacksmith, Li Heng looked forward to it: "Xue Liang, can you make this?"

Xue Liang looked at it briefly and nodded: "Okay, this is very simple and can be done in half an hour."

Li Heng was overjoyed: "Okay, you can make one and let me take a look!"

"Okay, Lang Jun, please wait for me for a moment." Xue Liang said.

The old man just now really convinced Xue Liang. Xue Liang wanted to use his stove now. He didn't say much. He even put the business on hold. He looked at Xue Liang's work curiously and nodded from time to time to praise the young man's work. Diligent and attentive.

It was early summer, and Li Heng was sitting under a tree, feeling the breeze, and looking at the people in front of him who were busy in the fields from time to time.

Half an hour later, Xue Liang dragged the finished Quyuuli to Li Heng: "Lang Jun, the Quyuuli you mentioned is ready!"

"So fast? Let's go and try." Li Heng said happily.

With that, he was about to take Xue Liang away, but then he turned back to the blacksmith and said, "How much does it cost?"

"Haha, no money, no money." The blacksmith smiled honestly, "Langjun, my name is Tian Meng. I give this to you. Please take care of my business in the future."

"Okay, thank you very much." Li Heng clasped his fists, "I may really come to see you more often in the future."

"welcome!"

Li Heng took Xue Liang away and said, "Uncle Tian is quite nice."

"Maybe I know you are from Hanzhong."

"Oh, how do you say that?"

"Because of the Prime Minister!" Xue Liang explained, "The people here admire the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has a noble character and loves the people like a son. Since the Han army arrived here, he has never committed any crime, and all the thieves and bandits have been arrested. The people can Farm with peace of mind, and the Prime Minister will personally visit the people to inspect. Whatever the Han army needs, the people will help if they can, but it is said that the Prime Minister strictly prohibits those below from taking things from the people."

(End of this chapter)