There is a space for passenger planes in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 138 Seizing the Mine (Part ) Please vote and subscribe

At night, two large candles were lit in the large room of Miao's house in the mine's earthen house.

Li Wanxiang led Zhou Zhiwei and others to sort out the situation of seizing the mine and discuss the next steps.

Miner Zhang Yuan, who had outstanding performance in the public trial and execution of the mine foreman, was also invited to participate.

After Li Wanxiang invited everyone to sit down, he first asked: "Boshen, have the troops and miners we brought settled?"

"Master, everything has been arranged. Everyone has had dinner, and the place to stay has been temporarily arranged. Now we can only squeeze in.

Each of the miners was given a thick coat. There were not that many quilts, so they had to make do with what they had. "Li Boxhen replied.

"Don't call me the head of the family next time. I'm here on official business arranged by the president. Call me vice president." Li Wanxiang corrected. This is not to occupy the mine on behalf of the Li family. We must make a clear distinction.

"Yes!" Li Boxhen responded.

"Zhang Yuan, right? Is it cold for the workers to sleep at night?" Li Wanxiang first asked with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, sir. Manager Li gave everyone thick coats and brought a few quilts over. It should be no problem if you squeeze in. This is much better than before." Zhang Yuan said gratefully.

"Zhang Yuan, we are subordinates of Governor Lin Fenglin of the Zhenming Army in Fugu County. Are you willing to follow us?" Li Wanxiang asked.

"Back to the adults, it was Captain Zhou who led the people to rescue the villain and avenged the villain. This villain's life is yours. I can do whatever you want me to do.

Also, today's dinner was the best meal we had since coming to the mine. Everyone was very happy, and we were worried that the adults would not want us. "Zhang Yuan is satisfied that his great revenge has been avenged this time, and now he is only thinking about repaying his kindness.

“Don’t worry, if you follow us you can not only get revenge, but also live a good life in the future. You have to help us lead the miners to continue mining.

Of course, our Governor Lin has always been very concerned about his subordinates, and there will never be any abuse. From now on, you guys will eat the same food as us. If the iron ore mine is profitable, we will get paid. Li Wanxiang said. He also didn’t raise the miners’ pay too high all at once, otherwise the people would be dissatisfied and it would be difficult to manage.

"Really, as long as we have enough to eat, everyone will be satisfied. As for the wages, we can't even think about it." Zhang Yuan said in surprise.

"Haha, in the future you will gradually know how you are treated in our Zhenming Army. As long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to live a good life." Li Wanxiang promised.

"Then I would like to thank the adults on behalf of all the miners." Zhang Yuan replied excitedly.

"Okay, Zhang Yuan, go back and talk to your co-workers first, so that everyone can relax." Li Wanxiang ordered. When you come into contact with Zhang Yuan, you must first investigate before you can participate in confidential matters.

After Zhang Yuan went out. Li Wanxiang then said: "There are already tens of thousands of kilograms of pig iron stored in the warehouse of this mine. We have to notify Fugu as soon as possible to transport it back."

"Okay, Vice President, I will send someone back to Fugu tomorrow to report the news and arrange for the four-way express delivery to transport the railway." Zhou Zhiwei responded.

"God helped us this time. We just happened to occupy the Miao family's mine, and we can immediately start smelting iron to supply Fugu. The president will be very happy to know it.

Our next step is to focus on how to keep this mine. If the Miao family loses such a large mine and tens of thousands of kilograms of pig iron, they will definitely not give up. Please tell me, what preparations should you make? "

"Vice President, President Lin also told us before we set off that after we find the mine, we should immediately build a dock for defense. I think there is a lot of iron in stock now, so we can stop the miners from mining and organize them Let's build Wubao together.

The ore here is also readily available. First use part of it to build the wall, and then use water and soil to reinforce it to form a defensive capability as soon as possible. In addition, building a good wall will also facilitate the management of personnel and prevent anyone from running out and leaking secrets. Zhou Zhiwei said first.

"Captain Zhou has thought very well, then we will start building Wubao tomorrow." Li Wanxiang affirmed.

"Vice president, we have 150 people here this time, and we don't have enough living space. We need to build two more rows of houses." Butler Li Boxen followed.

"Yes, we will consider this when building the fort. Build the wall first, and then build the houses inside." Li Wanxiang made it clear.

"How big is the appropriate size of the Wubao?" Zhou Zhiwei then asked.

"At least we need to be able to enclose this mine. I think the perimeter is about two miles." Li Wanxiang gestured and said.

"The perimeter is two miles. Including the miners, there are a total of 2,560 of us. Each of us can build a three- to four-meter wall. I think three to five days will be enough." Zhou Zhiwei said.

"Vice president, it's best not to stop the iron-making furnace, otherwise the fire will go out and it will be troublesome to restore it. We also brought some blacksmiths here this time. Do you want to divide a group of people and continue to practice iron?" Zhang Sidao suggested. road.

"Vice president, according to Zhang Yuan, there are some people and refugees in the surrounding areas who want to work in the mines recently. We can also recruit some to expand our strength." Zhou Zhiwei followed.

"Okay, the iron-making furnaces will continue to be maintained, and the city will not be short of this group of people. It is also necessary to recruit manpower. In this way, we can also divide the work.

Captain Zhou, you are responsible for the defense of the mine, including building forts, and you will also take the lead.

Li Boxen, you are responsible for logistics support and arranging the food and accommodation for the people in the mine. Recruitment staff are also responsible.

Zhang Sidao, you are responsible for matters related to mining and iron-making. Mining has been suspended these days, but iron-making will continue. Arrange blacksmiths to collect materials locally and build some weapons to provide to Captain Zhou and the others. "

"Understood!" Several people replied in unison.

The next day, the Governor's Mansion in Fudong Courtyard.

Lin Feng was looking through various documents in the newly established Governor's Office. At this time, Li Rushi walked in.

"Xiao Shi, why are you here?" Lin Feng asked happily.

"Dad has gone to Hequ, and my younger brother has also gone to Luoyang. I have nothing to do at home, so I just wanted to come over and see if Brother Lin can help." Li Rushi said.

"Xiao Shi came just in time. Now that the Zhenming Army is starting up, there are a lot of documents. Come and help me sort them out." Lin Feng happily ordered, thinking that he could finally live a good life as a secretary when he has something to do and a secretary when he has nothing to do. ?
  "It would be best if you can help Brother Lin. I will come here to help during the day and then go home in the evening." Li Rushi replied.

"Ah, do you want to go back tonight?" Lin Feng asked depressedly.

"Of course. How can a girl be outside without getting married? Besides, her mother is still at home." Li Rushi said matter-of-factly.

Hey, if the mother-in-law moves out, there will definitely be no chance. However, it would be nice to have red sleeves to add fragrance during the day. Lin Feng was relieved as soon as he thought about it.

"Sir, Captain Zhou who went to Hequ to mine has sent someone to report. They are already at the door." Fang Xiaoyu knocked on the door and said.

"Oh, there is information so soon. Let him come in quickly." Lin Feng ordered.

"See you, Lord Governor!" the escort who reported the news saluted.

"No need to be polite, tell me, how's it going over there in Hequ?"

The escort who reported the news immediately reported in detail the occupation of the Miaojia Iron Mine in Hequ and the seizure of more than 3 kilograms of high-quality pig iron.

"Very good, Vice Chairman Li and Zhou Zhiwei did a great job!" Lin Feng immediately praised after hearing this.

"Do you have any news about dad or the others?" Li Rushi asked.

"Yes, they have captured an iron mine in a meander of the river, and the progress is going very smoothly." Lin Feng responded.

"Oh, that's good!" Li Rushi said.

"Xiaoyu, take this guard to have a rest first, and then find Fang Dashan and Guo Tianyou, the director of the Fugu branch of Sitong Express.

With the rapid growth of Sitong Express's business, Lin Feng recently appointed Guo Tianyou, a scholar recruited from refugees, as the head of the Fugu branch.

Soon the two came over.

Lin Feng asked them to sit down first, and then said: "Vice Chairman Li Wanxiang has led people to take control of an iron mine in Liujiata Town, Hequ County, and seized more than 30,000 kilograms of pig iron.

Mr. Guo, please immediately arrange for Sitong Express to go over with the escort who reported the news, and bring these pig iron back as soon as possible. The ordnance factory here is still waiting to be used. "

"Okay, you need to cross the Yellow River eastward to reach the meander. Our ferries now have a small carrying capacity. If we want to transport large quantities of goods in the future, we may need to build a few larger cargo ships." Guo Tianyou suggested.

"This is a good suggestion. The cargo volume this time is not large. More than 30,000 kilograms is only 15 tons. A small ferry will make two more trips. In the future, large-scale transportation will require several new cargo ships." Lin Feng agreed.

"Understood, I will go back immediately to organize people and horses to transport." Guo Tianyou took the order.

"You guys go back together, Dashan, and the escort team will send about a hundred people over to strengthen the defense. It turns out that the mine belongs to the powerful people in Hequ County. They will definitely come to take revenge. You go over and be prepared." Lin Feng continued.

"Yes!" they both responded at the same time.

On the outskirts of Hequ County, the Miao family compound.

As one of the leading wealthy gentry in Hequ County, Miao Mingyang, the original owner of the Maoergou Mine, did not place the Miao Family Courtyard in the county seat.

The main reason is that the county town is too crowded and cannot accommodate the huge Miao family. Therefore, Miao Mingyang built a huge Miao family compound on an area of ​​more than 20 acres five or six miles away from the county seat.

In addition, arrow towers were set up around the compound, thirty or forty people were recruited to guard the compound, and a small fortress was built, with the protective power no less than that of the county seat.

That evening, Miao Mingyang's younger brother, Hequ Dianshi Miao Chaoyang, also returned to the compound from the office.

The two were drinking tea and chatting in the main room. At this time, the chief steward Miao Minrong came in and reported: "First Master, Second Master, there has been no news from Liujiata Town for five or six days. Last time they said There is a batch of refined pig iron that is going to be shipped back for sale, why don't you send someone to take a look?"

Miao Chaoyang put down his tea cup and continued: "In Hequ County, who dares to find trouble with our Miao family? Is it because Miao Li was delayed drinking in the mine? There is nowhere to go in the barren mountains."

"Although Miao Li is greedy for drinking, he will not miss the main business, so I feel free to send him there. In this way, Chief Butler, please arrange for someone to go and have a look tomorrow. If nothing happens, ask him to transport the railway here as soon as possible." Miao, the head of the Miao family. Mingyang spoke.

"Yes!" Miao Minrong responded.

"Brother is just cautious. If there is any problem, come back and report it quickly so that the county government can send someone to solve it." Miao Chaoyang was also a native of the county and was a veteran in history. In addition to dealing with the county magistrate, he usually kept his word when he was in the county government.

"In these days of war and chaos, it's better to be cautious," Miao Mingyang replied.

　By seizing the mine, there will be a source of pig iron supply.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)