Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 258 Armor Making Workshop
Hearing cheers from the backyard, Zhao Zhen could imagine how these people felt after listening to Wang Qiao's words and knowing that they would no longer have to embroider in the shop and could pick up the swords and guns they were good at.

Sure enough, after a while, these people rushed to the front and expressed their joy at being able to re-enter the army.

After everyone quieted down, Zhao Zhen said, "Everyone, since you are good at horse fighting, follow Sanniang to the ranch today to pick a suitable warhorse. If you need any weapons, just ask Sanniang and I will arrange them one by one."

After hearing this, Hu Sanniang stepped forward to greet everyone. For a moment, the silk shop became lively.

Zhao Zhen asked Wang Qiao, "Where is Brother Hou Jian?"

Wang Qiao said: "Manager Hou is not here today, he should be in the armor workshop."

After hearing this, Zhao Zhen saw Hu Sanniang chatting animatedly with a group of female soldiers. Zhao Zhen informed them and turned to go to the armor-making workshop next to the South Camp.

This workshop was newly built after Hou Jian came. It faces the river on one side and has a two-meter-high wall. There are usually thirty soldiers stationed here to patrol and guard the workshop, and they also keep seven or eight fierce dogs.

Liangshan County also continued the Song Dynasty custom and did not prohibit weapons, especially broadswords. They were sold in blacksmith shops and could be customized.

However, armor was not allowed to be privately possessed. Whether it was the "Tang Law Commentary" of the previous dynasty or the "Song Criminal Code" of today, there was a provision that one armor could hold three crossbows, and three armors could enter the underworld.

Zhao Zhen also studied history in the county school and had witnessed the chaos of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The continuous wars and the change of the throne, from Liang to Jin, are exactly what he said: "Zhu, Li, Shi, Liu, Guo, Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, Zhou, all came fifteen emperors, and spread chaos for fifteen autumns."

Therefore, we know that the emperor is the one who has strong soldiers and powerful horses. What do strong soldiers and powerful horses rely on? They rely on strong armor and sharp swords.

Hou Jian saw Zhao Zhen coming in, and several armor craftsmen came forward to pay their respects. Hou Jian said, "Your Excellency has come at the right time. The snakeskin armor has been finalized, and a batch has been made."

As he spoke, he led Zhao Zhen to the middle of the workshop, where he saw leather armor already on a row of shelves in the middle. From the outside, no snakeskin pattern could be seen.

Hou Jian said, "Sir, please look, this armor is made of cowhide with a layer of snake skin in between. The snake skin you sent me has good toughness and protection, but it is too thin and lacks support. It can protect against sharp blades, but it cannot protect against heavy weapons such as hammers and axes."

"It is made of two layers of cowhide and one layer of snake skin. This armor is not only much lighter, but even fifty forged broadswords cannot cut through it."

Zhao Zhen heard this and asked, "Which snake skins are used?"

Hou Jian said, "We are using the first-level ones. Ten pieces of leather armor use one snake skin. I have tried it and found that the snake skin is best when it is folded into two layers and sandwiched between the skins. It is not wasteful and cannot be cut through. I plan to make leather armor with 34 first-level green water python skins. As for the second-level and above ones, their protection is even better and can be made into officer armor."

"As for the low-grade green water python skin, its protection is not as good as raw cowhide. If you chop it with a sharp blade, three layers of it will be as good as one layer of cowhide. I thought we could add a layer of raw cowhide in the middle and wrap it carefully. With the characteristics of snake skin, this armor will not be heavy when it enters the water, and it is most suitable for the navy."

Zhao Zhen smiled and said, "Brother, you are right. Let's make thirty pieces first and send them to the three Ruan brothers. Let them use them for half a month to see if they have any suggestions for improvement. After all, there is only so much snake skin and it will be gone after use."

Hou Jian said: "Don't worry, sir, I will take care of it."

Zhao Zhen then looked at the leather armor on the shelf.
world log
Leather Armor (Level 1, made of two layers of cowhide and two layers of snake skin, divided into seven sections, with upper and lower sections.)
Features: Lightweight, Protection +3, Sturdiness +2.

Hou Jian then said, "These ten pieces of armor have no names yet. Please give them names, sir." Zhao Zhen said, "Since these pieces of armor are mixed with green python skin, why not paint them blue in the future and call them python armor?"

Hou Jian said: "Thank you for the name, sir. In addition to these ten pieces of water python armor, the workshop also made sixty pieces of ordinary cowhide armor and fifty cowhide vests."

Zhao Zhen examined them one by one and found that the armor was made of sufficient material, had small pores, and the armor plates were tightly connected.

Zhao Zhen said, "It seems that the armor workshop has become proficient in making leather armor. Send these ten pieces of water python armor to Instructor Lin's army to see if they are suitable. If they are, the remaining snake skins should be made as soon as possible. The armor makers have made great contributions. In addition to their salaries this month, each of them will be awarded a gold melon seed."

When everyone heard this, they cheered.

Hou Jian accompanied Zhao Zhen around the workshop. Pointing to several empty rooms, Hou Jian said to Zhao Zhen: "Sir, now only the leather armor workshop is open, and there will be horse armor workshop, horse armor leaf workshop, lacquer armor workshop, iron armor workshop, soft armor workshop, etc. Recruit apprentices and train craftsmen, and slowly we will be able to make all kinds of armor here."

"Everything else is easy to deal with. Iron armor is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The blacksmith's workshop is always busy. The supply of armor leaves is insufficient. Now there are not even enough for one set of armor. Please transfer a group of craftsmen to the armor workshop to concentrate on making armor."

"Take infantry armor as an example. A full set of armor weighs 1825 to kilograms and uses large and small armor plates. If you want to improve defense, the armor plates should be smaller and the number of armor plates should be increased. The specifications for swordsmen, archers, crossbowmen, and riders are different. People are tall, short, fat, and thin, so armor also needs to be divided into different sizes. It takes pieces to make one armor plate."

Zhao Zhen praised him, "It's right for me to be the manager of the armor workshop. You're right. I've seen that the armor is not the right size. Last time I adjusted the equipment in the army, I found that there are many differences between infantry armor and cavalry armor. The waist of infantry armor needs to be five slings, and it's better to cover the right side. The armor body should also be longer, otherwise the feet will be exposed. The waist of the infantry armor body is better to be connected to the sling legs, which is called gold armor."

"Cavalry armor is different. It is best to have a waist circumference of four inches. If it is too large, it will hit the armpits and make it difficult to bend or straighten, and it will rub against the legs and make it impossible to turn. It is also better to cover the left side, otherwise it will easily support the left foot and hinder the riding and stepping on the stirrups. The armor body is too long to wrap around the legs. It is best to have it three inches below the knees. The armor body should also be divided into two sections for easy removal and use, which is called "removing and hanging".

"Brother, as the manager of the armor workshop, you have to take all these into consideration. Brother Tang Long hasn't returned yet, so I will call Yang Mazi from the blacksmith workshop and bring five or seven blacksmiths with me to modify the armor that is not suitable for use in the army. When Tang Long returns, we can discuss the forging of armor. After all, brother Tang Long grew up in the army and has more experience than you and me."

Hou Jian nodded and said, "Your Excellency has profound insights. I will make leather armor first. I will also ask the captains to report the armor in the army. While there is no war, I will modify the armor."

Zhao Zhen said: "Brother, in addition to armor, we must also supervise the preparation of military clothing, so that all soldiers in a battalion can be prepared together, and the robes, armor, flags, and battle jackets have their own regulations. The products of the workshop must be inspected by the army to be qualified before they are considered successful. Brother, you can ask Brother Pei Xuan to formulate a reward and punishment system."

After hearing this, Hou Jian nodded repeatedly.

Zhao Zhen continued, "I haven't seen you practicing martial arts in the past few days. Is it because you are stuck in making armor?"

Hou Jian said, "The great master has entrusted me with such an important task, and I dare not disappoint him. The silk shop is fine, with Wang Qiao managing everything, and everything is in good order. But the armor workshop is difficult, and I took apart several sets of leather armor before I figured it out. I dare not slack off these days. As a result, I have been a little slack in martial arts."

Zhao Zhen advised: "Even so, you must not slack off in martial arts training. It is good to practice martial arts for half an hour every day."

Hou Jian said yes.

The two chatted for a while, and then Zhao Zhen said goodbye and left.

(End of this chapter)