Eastern Jin Dynasty: My powerful father

Chapter 129 The master and the minister get along with each other
  Zhang Yuan drove a carriage from Xingyang and drove through Henan and Hongnong counties.

The carriage stopped in front of Tongguan, and he recalled what he saw along the way.

The official road, which was once filled with pedestrians, carriages and horses, is now occupied by birds and animals.

Zhang Yuan once visited Luoyang when he was young and was deeply impressed by the prosperity there. However, the past has faded away.

After Huan Xi and Fu Jian’s intensive cultivation, abandoned villages can be seen everywhere.

Although after Fu Jian took Zhang Yu away, the land of Xu Luo ushered in a new owner, the former Xuzhou governor Zhou Cheng.

But Zhou Cheng was only running Xuchang. As for sending 500 soldiers to occupy Luoyang, they were only used as police posts to monitor the movements of the two evil neighbors Huan Xi and Fu Jian.

Just as Zhang Yuan was recalling the past, the gate of Tongguan was slowly opened. He waved his riding whip and drove into the pass.

On this trip, Zhang Yuan was ordered by Wang Meng to pick up an old man from Xingyang.

This old man mastered the steel-filling method that Huan Xi had always dreamed of.

Huan Xi specially sent a hundred cavalry to Chenggao via the trail, bypassing Luoyang City where five hundred soldiers were stationed.

Because there was no human habitation along the way, neither the hundred cavalry marching eastward nor the carriage entering the pass alerted the defenders in Luoyang City.

The curtains of the carriage were opened, and a little head popped out, curiously looking at everything in Guan City.

The child is the grandson of the old man. The old man's wife died young, and his son also died young, leaving only a nine-year-old grandson to depend on him.

As for the grandson's mother, she left not long after he was born. It was not that she disliked the poverty of the family. The old man had ancestral blacksmith skills. The family also had a blacksmith shop in Xingyang, and their life was relatively wealthy.

But the problem lies in the wealthy family. The old man took a beautiful wife for his son, but he did not expect that it caused trouble.

Seven years ago, Shi Hu ordered the recruitment of more than 30,000 elect women from the private sector, and Prince Shi Xuan and the princes and nobles also privately issued orders to recruit tens of thousands of elect women.

Those envoys responsible for recruiting elect girls had to be sent to Yecheng regardless of whether they were married or not, as long as they were beautiful. Among the 40,000 women, more than 9,000 women were forced to be separated from their husbands.

As a result, more than 3,000 of their husbands were killed or committed suicide.

This incident caused an uproar among the people. More than fifty prefects and county magistrates were imprisoned and executed because they could not appease the people under their rule.

As for the envoys who were ordered to search for women of the people, twelve of them were granted the title of marquis because they completed their tasks brilliantly.

The old man's son, who had taken over the blacksmith shop from his father, also died in the storm. He couldn't bear to have his wife taken away, so he resisted and eventually lost his life.

A few days later, Zhang Yuan finally brought his grandfather and grandson to Chang'an.

In the military mansion, Wang Meng met the old man first.

"Old sir, please take a seat. I, Wang Meng, may I ask for your name."

The old man replied:
  "Old Qi Wu Boda, I have seen the general."

Wang Meng asked curiously:
  "Is the old gentleman a descendant of Qi Wuzhang, an official of the Jin Dynasty during the Spring and Autumn Period, or is he from the Xiongnu tribe?"

Qiwu's family name is both a Chinese and a Xiongnu surname, so Wang Meng had this question.

Qiwuboda explained:
  "The ancestor is a senior official of the Jin Dynasty."

Wang Meng nodded and immediately asked him for advice on how to pour steel.

Qiwu Boda didn't hide his secrets either. After entering Tongguan, he heard about Zhang Gaoping's deeds on the way to Chang'an. A farmer not only received 100,000 yuan, but also received 100,000 yuan for his contribution of farming technology. Got an official status.

As the saying goes, a thousand gold buys horse bones, Qiwu Boda can arrange a future for his grandson.

He explained to Wang Meng the difference in process between the steel filling method and the steel frying method in detail. Wang Meng saw that what he said was clear and logical, and he believed most of it, so he invited Qiwu Boda to go with him to meet Huan Xi.

Unexpectedly, Huan Xi had already heard the news and was now talking to Qiwu Boda's grandson outside the courtyard.

Wang Meng hurriedly greeted him:

"Since the Lord is here, why not just come in."

Huan Xi smiled and said:

"Since Sir is meeting guests, why should I bother him? I have nothing to do anyway. Seeing how innocent this child is, I asked him to chat with me."

Qiwu Boda was even more surprised. He did not expect that the young man in front of him was the current Lord of Guanlong. He quickly took his grandson and took him to salute Huanxi.

Huan Xi helped his grandfather and grandson up and sighed:

"I already know your family's life experience. Shihu was immoral, so his descendants were extinct. Now that you have come to Kansai, your life will definitely get better."

When Qiwu Boda heard this, he burst into tears. He had never seen such a noble man in his entire life.

He wiped away his tears and said:

"I also ask the general to take Lao Chan to the smelting place. Lao Chan is willing to show the general the method of pouring steel.

"It's just that I'm old and frail now. I hope the general can find a blacksmith to do it for me."

Huan Xi nodded and said:
  "It's easy to hear."

He was also worried that the old man wouldn't be able to wield a hammer, but there were thousands of craftsmen in Jiqiaoyuan, including many skilled blacksmiths.

Huan Xi, Wang Meng, their ancestors and grandson went out of the city together and came to the bank of the Weishui River. A group of craftsmen were surrounding the iron smelting furnace, making their newly designed armor.

Wang Meng called for someone to start a new fire. Qiwu Boda said to the blacksmith:
  "Please also prepare pig iron and soft iron respectively."

The blacksmith was surprised and said:
  "Pig iron cannot be forged, so what are you going to do with it?"

He suspected that the old man was cheating.

It turns out that pig iron refers to iron that is directly smelted from ore. Due to its high carbon content and impurities, it is brittle and brittle.

Soft iron, also known as wrought iron, is iron that has been decarburized by steaming and frying pig iron. It is soft and malleable, but it has only been decarburized and contains a lot of impurities inside, so it needs to be forged repeatedly.

Huan Xi on the side said in a deep voice:
  "Do as he says."

The blacksmith did not dare to disobey the order, so under the guidance of Qi Wuboda, he bent the low-carbon and soft wrought iron, embedded the high-carbon but fragile pig iron into it, sealed it with soil, and smelted it in the furnace.

Qiwu Boda explained:
  "The sealing mud has three purposes. One is to melt the pig iron slowly so that all parts of the iron material can be heated evenly.

“The second reason is that after the pig iron is melted, it will not flow and can be better melted and mixed with the soft iron.

"The third is to reduce the burning loss of carbon in the furnace gas."

Huan Xi was confused when he heard this, but the blacksmith was much more attentive. After all, a layman could see the excitement, but an expert could see the rules.

When the iron material is taken out of the furnace, it is forged and hammered, and then forged and hammered again. This may happen two or three times, or multiple times.

After Qiwu Boda was behind the three fires, he called to stop and said to Huan Xi:

"General, why don't you take a look at the steel filling after the three fires?"

After everyone heard this, they waited for the steel to cool down.

In fact, in the final analysis, the so-called steel filling method uses the oxygen in the wrought iron to oxidize the silicon, manganese, and carbon in the pig iron to achieve the purpose of removing inclusions. The operation is simple, but the effect is very significant.

It's just that Huan Xi, as a liberal arts student, doesn't understand the principle.

For a long time, when the filled steel cooled, the blacksmith tested its effect. Huan Xi and others waited with bated breath, but Qi Wuboda was the only one who was full of confidence. This is a method handed down from their ancestors. I have used it to refine steel and forge iron for a lifetime. Today, all the steps are correct, and the skill of the person operating it is no worse than when I was younger. How could something go wrong? .

Sure enough, the blacksmith exclaimed:

"General, this steel is very hard. If it can be hammered many times, its quality will be no less than that of a hundred steels."

Of course, the man-hours consumed are much less than steelmaking.

Huan Xi was overjoyed when he heard this. He put his palms in his hands and said with a smile:

"Okay! There will be rewards, lots of rewards! Come here and tell me my order. Qiwu Boda has performed meritoriously by performing the Steel-Gun Method. He will be given a special reward of 100,000 yuan. He will be admitted to the Jiqiao Courtyard and placed in the same category as Zhang Gaoping."

Even the craftsmen who operated forged iron also received a large reward.

Because of the new armor designed in the distance, the finished product was far less effective than expected. When the dejected craftsmen heard this, their fighting spirit broke out again.

Qiwu Boda requested from Huan Xi that he could leave the opportunity to serve in Jiqiao Academy to his grandson when he grew up.

Huan Xi shook his head and said:

"I have always made clear distinctions between rewards and punishments. This is your contribution. How can I let anyone else take my place?"

"Since I have given you one hundred thousand dollars, you might as well help him study and practice martial arts. If he succeeds in his studies in the future, I will definitely give him a future."

Qiwu Boda quickly took his grandson to kowtow and thank him.

Huan Xi asked people to arrange a place for the grandfather and grandson to live, and also ordered the blacksmith to use this method to temper it many times to see how much fire was needed to obtain the same quality as Baili Steel and how many man-hours could be saved.

On the carriage back to Chang'an, Huan Xi smiled at Wang Meng and said:

"Sir has done another great thing for me, how should I reward him?"

Wang Meng did not take any credit, he said:
  "The official just gave an order. It was my lord who bought the horse bones for a thousand gold, so the craftsmen rushed to offer the family's secrets."

Huan Xi shook his head and said:

"How can you not reward meritorious service? After Luo Niang was born, I carefully sealed the altar under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard of my home and buried three jars of my daughter's wine. When she gets married, I will take it out and drink with my husband."

Ji Han of Shangyu (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province) in the Eastern Jin Dynasty wrote the book "Southern Grass and Trees" in 304 AD, which is years ago, and recorded that daughter wine was a must-have for rich families to give birth to and marry daughters.

It can be seen that it has become a custom to bury girls in wine when they give birth and to dig out wine to entertain guests when they get married.

Huan Xi really couldn't reward him for such merit, so he had to use his concubine's eldest daughter's wine to draw cakes.

But Wang Meng just followed his example and was very happy about it.

After all, in Wang Meng's opinion, this was much more precious than rewarding him with money.

Since he spent too much time looking at forged iron, it was getting late when he returned to Chang'an, so Huan Xi naturally wanted to return to Weiyang Palace.

Before Huan Xi entered the palace gate, he watched the carriage slowly driving towards the military mansion and remained silent.

He knew Wang Meng well. The other party must have worked hard until late at night, finishing the delayed political affairs after leaving the city today before going back.

The military government only provides lunch and does not provide dinner.

Returning to Weiyang Palace, Huan Xi first arranged for three trustworthy slaves to check under the sweet-scented osmanthus tree every day to see if anyone had disturbed the soil.

Fu Hong's lesson was right in front of him. If someone really followed Ma Qiu's example and poisoned the wine, both he and Wang Meng would suffer badly. Don't let a happy event turn into a funeral.

When he returned to Yutang Hall, Li Yuan told him that the kitchen was cooking chicken soup. She didn't know when Huan Xi would come back, so she didn't prepare it in advance.

Huanxi tried some desserts to fill his stomach. When the chicken soup arrived, Huanxi took a bite and praised:

“This soup is so delicious!”

Just when Li Yuan was about to serve herself a bowl, she heard Huan Xi say again:
  "Share with sir."

Then he went out with a pot of chicken soup, handed it to his personal attendant, and went straight to the military mansion with him.

At this time, all the officers and assistants in the military mansion had returned home, and only Wang Meng's wing was still lit by candlelight.

Huan Xi took the chicken soup from his attendant and rushed to the side room happily. Before anyone arrived, the voice came first:
  "Ahahaha, chicken soup is here!"

However, as soon as he entered the door, he saw Wang Meng's wife dining with Wang Meng.

It turned out that Wang brought the food to Wang Meng in a food box.

Only then did Huan Xi realize that he was overthinking it. Wang Meng had a good wife, so how could he starve?

The couple were surprised to see Huan Xi and hurriedly stood up and saluted.

Huan Xi smiled and said:

"No need to be polite. I thought your husband had no time to eat, so I specially brought chicken soup to eat with you. I didn't expect that my wife had already prepared it."

After saying that, Huan Xi put the chicken soup on the table without Wang Meng's invitation. He sat down casually, took his bowls and chopsticks from his hands, and said with a smile:
  "It's been a long time since I tasted my sister-in-law's cooking skills."

Wang Meng's food has always been cooked by his wife. According to Wang's words, Wang Meng is used to her cooking.

After all, before Wang Meng defected to Huan Xi, the couple lived in poverty and had no money to hire a cook.

Huan Xi often visited Wang Meng's mansion and often ate the food cooked by his wife.

Naturally, Wang Meng would not refuse to eat with Huan Xi.

When Wang saw this, he smiled and said:
  "I often hear my husband say that the general will never tire of fine food and fine food. I am afraid that my simple food will not suit the general's appetite."

Huan Xi and Wang Meng were close friends, so naturally they were also familiar with his wife.

When Huan Xi had eaten and drank enough, Wang was about to say goodbye and leave. Seeing that Wang Meng had no intention of leaving, Huan Xi simply asked someone to move the remaining official documents away and said:

"Sir and my wife are returning home together. I will take these official documents back and dispose of them."

Wang Meng got up and said:
  "How does this work."

Huan Xi pretended to be unhappy and said:
  "Mr., do you really think that Huan is not good at handling official affairs? Sir, please don't forget that at the age of fourteen, Huan served as the director of the Western Cao in my father's shogunate."

Of course Wang Meng didn't mean this, but he also knew that Huan Xi was not really angry.

Sure enough, Huan Xi smiled and said:
  "Starting from tomorrow, I will instruct the scribes around you to send all unfinished business to Weiyang Palace every day."

As he spoke, Huan Xi said with emotion:

"Sir, please don't forget Zhuge Wuhou's lesson, and remember not to overwork yourself. I regard you as my own Wuhou, and I don't want you to get sick from overworking for me."

In the original time and space, Wang Meng devoted himself to Fu Jian. When he died of illness, he was only fifty-one years old. Huan Xi really did not dare to let him do things like this.

When Wang Meng heard this, he burst into tears of gratitude.

Even Wang was genuinely happy for the relationship between the two of them.

　The third chapter is here. Today is 1W2. I have made up for the 2000 words missing yesterday. Tomorrow it will still be words. The first chapter will be before one o'clock in the afternoon.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)