Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 261 Detailed Discussion
Tang Long asked, "What do you want, sir?"

Zhao Zhen said: "Brother Tang Long, during the days you were away, many brave men have come to the county. You still need to make weapons for these brothers yourself."

Tang Long said, "That should be the case. Since I started using these different types of high-quality iron to forge weapons, my skills have improved a lot. I would be more than happy to be able to forge more weapons."

Zhao Zhen nodded and said, "You can use any iron materials in the warehouse. In the battle of Dulonggang, we also seized several high-grade armors, which we will also modify. Secondly, there have been many changes in various places in the county, so you can go to the blacksmith shop and ask."

"These days, the armor workshop run by brother Hou Jian needs the cooperation of blacksmiths. I asked Yang Mazi to bring people to help for a while. To make armor, we can't do without the blacksmith workshop run by brother you. In a few days, call Hou Jian, Xiao Rang and others, and we will discuss it again and come up with a practical solution. Brother, you should also think about it these days."

"This last matter is related to my brother. He does need to make some standard short swords. I will show the sword samples to you later. It's just that it's a bit difficult. Try to use as little entry-level iron materials as possible, but the sword must reach the first level." As he said that, he asked Zhao Ji to get the Sun and Moon double swords used by Hu Sanniang.

Tang Long said, "Don't worry, sir. My skills have improved a lot. I am confident that I can make one or two hundredths of a short weapon made of fine iron, but it takes a lot of time and the amount of iron is unpredictable. If I can add some iron, meteorite iron, etc., I am confident that I can make half of it, but the quality can only be considered the lowest. As for long weapons, I can't guarantee it."

Zhao Zhen was delighted and said, "This is exactly the kind of weapon I want. It consumes less materials and is not too expensive, so we can make more of it."

As they were talking, Zhao Ji came in holding two short swords. Zhao Zhen handed them to Tang Long and said, "Brother, this is a sword sample. This sword is used by my newly married wife Hu Sanniang. Brother, make at least twenty pairs of first-level double swords based on this sword. This pair of sun and moon double swords is only second-level, made of refined steel mixed with meteorite iron. If there is room for improvement, just give it a try."

Tang Long took the two swords, examined them carefully, and said, "Sir, these swords are very well made, and the materials have been used to the extreme. Unless other materials are added, these swords cannot be made any better."

Zhao Zhen said: "In this case, brother, under the premise of ensuring the shape and weight of the sword, add other iron materials to make these two swords better. Put the others aside and make the Sun and Moon Swords first. Seven pairs of good ones and twenty pairs of first-level imitations."

Tang Long said, "Don't worry, sir. I will start forging them when I get back. I melted a three-pronged fork and got a ball of silver sand. I used up nearly half of it to forge the three-pronged fork and the dagger, and there is still half left. I will mix the silver sand into the recast of this pair of swords. This will not only reduce the weight of the swords, but also improve the grade of the swords."

Zhao Zhen said: "I'll leave everything to you, brother."

Tang Long patted his chest and agreed. When Zhao Zhen finished speaking, Tang Long said goodbye and left.

After Tang Long left, Zhao Zhen counted carefully. The new heroes included Wang Tianba, Lin Chong, Zou Run, Zou Yuan uncle and nephew, Shi Jin, Chen Da, Yang Chun, Zhu Wu from Shaohua Mountain, Li Ying, Du Xing, Hu Cheng, Hu Sanniang from Dulong Hill, Fu Yu from Dongping Prefecture, and Shi Xiu and Duan Jingzhu from the north, a total of fifteen people.

The weapons of these people are either ordinary weapons that are not of high rank, or they are of high rank but have low attributes. All of these people's weapons need to be recast, and Tang Long is afraid that he will still not be able to spare time to make armor.

Zhao Zhen lamented the shortage of craftsmen and got up to return to his residence on the mountain.

In the main room, Hu Sanniang was holding two cow bones and teasing the two small dogs, Wangfu and Wanglu.

When she saw Zhao Zhen, Hu Sanniang said happily, "My husband, my sister has agreed to let Wangfu and Wanglu stay in my room to take care of them from now on."

Zhao Zhen asked, "Sanniang, what did you use to make the eldest lady agree?"

Hu Sanniang said, "My husband, my sister is a good person. I just mentioned it and she agreed. My husband just asked the steward Zhao Ji to take my two swords. What do you want to do with them?"

"Tang Long, the manager of the blacksmith workshop, came back today. I asked him to forge a pair of [Sun and Moon Double Sabers] for you. I will also use the [Sun and Moon Double Sabers] as a model to make a batch of double sabers for female soldiers." Hu Sanniang cheered when she heard this. She said to Zhao Zhen, "My husband, when will they be ready?"

Zhao Zhen said, "Sanniang, please be patient. The entry-level weapons are not ordinary and will take some time to make. Sanniang, go to the warehouse and select a batch of single swords and practice with them first. When the swords are made, send them over to replace them."

Hu Sanniang responded and said, "My husband, I will go to the ranch to pick horses and start training first. When the weapons and armor are ready, I will ask you to check them."

Cheng Wan'er said, "Sister Sanniang, there is no rush to choose horses. If we go to the ranch now, it will be dark before we can choose. Let's go tomorrow."

Zhao Zhen said: "It's dark and we can't see the horses clearly, so we should go earlier tomorrow."

Zhao Zhen then said to Cheng Wan'er, "My lady, Tang Long brought back a hero today. I will host a banquet tonight to welcome him. You four can arrange dinner on your own and don't have to wait for me."

After hearing this, Cheng Wan'er advised, "Master, drink less wine."

Zhao Zhen said, "Don't worry, my lady. Today we are welcoming the new Ling Zhen. With so many people here, they will drink alone with Ling Zhen. I don't need to drink too much."

Having said that, Zhao Zhen stood up, said goodbye to Cheng Wan'er and Hu Sanniang, and went to the hall at the foot of the mountain.

There were already quite a few people sitting in the hall. According to past practice, the welcoming banquet was mainly for the new heroes to get to know the heroes from other places. Therefore, Zhu Fu invited heroes from Baishi Valley, Dongxi Village, Nandaying, and Baozhu Temple.

As Ling Zhen sat down, Zhao Zhen held three cups in his hands first, and then asked Tang Long to take Ling Zhen to meet the heroes one by one.

After getting to know everyone, Ling Zhen whispered to Tang Long: "Brother, Liangshan County is full of talents. With so many heroes, each doing his own job, we are not afraid that Liangshan will not prosper. Among them, I actually saw the spear and stick instructor of the 800,000 imperial guards, [Leopard Head] Lin Chong..."

Tang Long also whispered to Ling Zhen: "Brother, these heroes are only nearby. There are three battalions of troops on Dulonggang and Liangshan. In the next few days, the master will introduce these heroes to you."

They drank until midnight before everyone dispersed.

The next day, Zhao Zhen said to Ling Zhen, "Brother Ling Zhen, how about coming with me to Liangshan Marsh to meet other heroes today?"

Ling Zhen said: "Sir, I am still feeling groggy after seeing the warm hospitality of the brothers yesterday. How about testing the cannon today?"

Zhao Zhen said, "Alright, the [Cannon Capital] and [Bird Gun Capital] are both in Baozhu Temple. Come with me, brother."

After that, Zhao Zhen took Ling Zhen with him, and under the protection of Zhang Qi and other farmhands, they rode to Baozhu Temple.

(End of this chapter)