Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 390 The way out
After Zhao Zhen read the letter, he handed it to Wu Yong and Zhu Wu. After they read it, Zhao Zhen asked, "Brothers, what do you think?"

Wu Yong said: "It seems that Miao Heitian has surrendered, but only 3000 strings of money are only enough for reward. From what the letter says, we can ask for another batch of military equipment."

Zhu Wu also said, "That's right. Nowadays, bows and crossbows are the most time-consuming and labor-intensive. In addition to bone bows, the Military Equipment Bureau is now imitating the jumping crossbow and the divine arm bow. I'm afraid it will take another month or two. It would be best if Jeju City could send a few crossbow craftsmen."

Zhao Zhen said, "I heard that most of the craftsmen in the Capital Works Office are military craftsmen, weapon craftsmen or soldiers in the Works Office, and they serve in the manufacture of weapons for their entire lives. Anyone who leaks the manufacturing patterns of weapons will be punished as a violation of the regulations. The manufacture of bows and crossbows is particularly strict, so I'm afraid this craftsman can't get them easily."

Zhu Wu said: "Why not give it a try? If it works, that's great. If it doesn't, we can bargain and get more bows and crossbows."

After the three of them discussed it, Zhao Zhen wrote a letter, put his seal on it, and asked the messenger to send it back to Dongping Prefecture.

After three rounds of negotiations, both sides had no intention of escalating the war, so they naturally reached an agreement.

Miao Shanggao was really bold. When he heard that Zhao Zhen was a craftsman who wanted to make a crossbow, he actually agreed.

After repeated attempts, it was not a question of whether to give the craftsmen or not, but how many to give. Finally, Miao Shanggao finally sent the three oldest people in the hospital who reported the disease, along with their families.

In addition, 500 yellow birch crossbows, 300 sets of infantry armor, and 500 sets of leather armor were mobilized from the Capital Works Institute as compensation.

Zhao Zhen also released the captured soldiers from Jeju City. Zhao Zhen did not make it difficult for He Tao, the envoy of Sandu, to be arrested, and sent him back as well.

He Tao was a man of knowledge and interest, and he actually recommended someone before leaving. At first, Zhao Zhen didn't care, because he heard that this person was good at building a large boat that didn't use oars but was driven by a waterwheel.

When Ruan Xiaoer asked him about it, He Tao said frankly that he didn't know exactly. He only knew that the man's surname was Ye and his given name was Chun. He was originally from Sizhou and was good at shipbuilding.

This man is now resting in an inn in Jeju City. He Tao only knew about this man because his brother He Qing mentioned him.

This fight made He Tao see clearly the true strength of Prefect Miao. Thinking that the Qingzhou bandits were rampant, He Tao had already thought of joining them. His brother was a gambler and made friends with all kinds of people in the market. Now he was keeping accounts in the inn, so he got to know Ye Chun. It was the first time that his brother praised someone so much. So He Tao kept it in mind.

Liangshan County is close to such a large lake, and if he recommended Ye Chun, he would have a place to go if anything happened in the future.

But when He Tao returned to Jeju City, Miao Shanggao did not make things difficult for him. After all, except for a few unlucky ones, all the soldiers on the water returned safely.

After meeting Miao Shanggao, He Tao did not go home, but went to the inn first, and met Ye Chun through He Qing. He Tao recommended Ye Chun to Liangshan County to find a job, and Ye Chun agreed without hesitation.

He Qing, who was listening, complained, "Brother, I am your brother. Since you have such a good place, why don't you recommend me? Everyone knows that Mr. Zhao is a very extravagant person. It is better to find a job in his farm than to copy and write in the shop every day, which is not happy at all."

He Tao scolded: "Can you also build a ship?"

Thinking that Ye Chun was also told by his brother, He Tao softened his tone and said, "If you have nothing to do, you can accompany Brother Ye Chun for a trip. If the master likes you, he will naturally benefit you."

After hearing this, He Qing smiled and thanked his brother.

Without mentioning what happened to He Tao after he returned home, it was only said that He Qing asked for leave from the shopkeeper, and Ye Chun also paid the rent, and the two of them went to Wangtai Township together.

At this time, Wangtai Township had stabilized. Zhao Zhen discussed with Wu Yong and Zhu Wu and decided to appoint Liu Tang as the general manager of Wangtai Township, assisted by Zou Run and Zou Yuan, commanding 200 armor-piercing axe soldiers and 800 sword and shield soldiers to garrison.

The vacant left military camp of Haoshanfeng was garrisoned by Jie Zhen and Jie Bao with 400 men of the [Mountain Flying Army].

As soon as the two fleets of Ruan Xiaoer and Liu Lin delivered the people, Zhao Zhen and others would set off to return to Baishi Manor.

In the past few days, in addition to discussing with Wu Yong, Zhu Wu and Miao Shanggao of Jizhou, Zhao Zhen took Yu Baosi, Jiao Ting and Hu Qidu to travel around the villages in Wangtai Township and visit the elderly in the villages. Through casual conversation, he got to know many of the village heads and wealthy families in Wangtai Township.

Those who committed crimes and abused their power were punished. The orphans, the elderly and the weak in the village were rewarded with rice, and those who secretly provided information were also rewarded with cloth and land.

That day, Zhao Zhen met He Qing and Ye Chun at the Wangtai Township Office.

After greeting, Zhao Zhen asked, "Brave man, I heard that you are from Huainan East Road. How did you end up in Jizhou?" Ye Chun said, "I went to Shandong to sell goods. I passed through Qingzhou. Due to the war, my caravan and goods were looted and taken to the mountains. I saw the opportunity quickly and escaped. Because I lost my capital, I cannot return home, so I am staying in Jizhou Prefecture for the time being."

"I got to know you in the inn thanks to the care of this brother He Qing. Now, He Guancha recommended me to you, sir. I don't know anything else, but when I was in my hometown, I helped others build ships. Now I have drawn a model of a ship and present it to you, sir, as a stepping stone to advancement."

As he spoke, Ye Chun took out the pattern from his bag and handed it to Zhao Zhen.

world log
Drawings (drawn by a skilled craftsman, including drawings of large and small eel boats.)
Zhao Zhen sent someone to invite Ruan Xiaowu. After looking at the design, Ruan Xiaowu said, "Sir, this ship is different from all the warships in the county. It has no sails and no oars. I have never seen it before."

Ye Chun said, "What the general said is true. My boat has no sails and no oars. It is a sea eel boat that can hold hundreds of people. It uses 24 water wheels, each of which is operated by 12 people. It is protected by bamboo fences to avoid arrows, and there is a crossbow tower on the boat. When it is time to move forward, a gong sounds from the battlement, and the 24 water wheels are all operated at the same time, and the boat flies across the wide water."

"This small sea eel boat can hold about a hundred people. It only uses twelve water wheels, and there are crossbow towers on both sides, and there are also fences to block the sea. This boat can sail in shallow water ports. Long spikes can be nailed in the front and back to block the waterway."

After hearing what Ye Chun said, Wu Yong smiled and said, "After hearing what Brother Ye Chun said, I can't wait to see what the boat looks like."

Ruan Xiaowu said: "It's just as you said. Once this boat is built, I want to give it a try."

Zhao Zhen also smiled and said, "In that case, I will appoint Brother Ye Chun to be the chief military officer of the Shipyard Camp led by Brother Meng Kang. Build five large and small sea eel boats each, and practice them to see if they are suitable for use."

After hearing this, Ye Chun was overjoyed and thanked Zhao Zhen.

world log
Name: Ye Chun (Hero)

Nickname: None
Race: Terran

Reputation: 30
Occupation: Shipwright

Secondary occupation: Merchant
Level: Level 3 and Level 1 (Strength 20, Commander 15)

Attributes: Strength 28, Constitution 30, Agility 40, Spirit 30
Skills: Shipbuilding level 3 (good at building sea eel boats, Constitution +3), Merchant level 2 (traveling through cities and counties, Agility +2), Accounting level 1 (keeping accounts by hand, Spirit +1).

Commander Skill: Supervisor Level 1 (Commander and Supervisor, Speed ​​+1)

Martial arts: Spear and stick (proficient, using spear and stick weapons force +3, -way Taizu stick)

Equipment: jujube stick
Monthly salary: 10 dollars

As for He Qing, Zhao Zhen saw that he was smart and a heroic soldier. After discussing with Wu Yong, he decided to open a restaurant and inn in Jeju City.

He Qing was hired as the manager, and Yun Ge from Dulonggang was transferred to be the wine master. Waiters were recruited and the restaurant was used as a cover to gather information.

After hearing this, He Qing immediately bowed to the ground and thanked him repeatedly.

world log
Name: He Qing (Heroic Class)
Race: Terran

Reputation: 15 (Arrested the He Tao brothers, the envoys of Jeju Sandu)
Occupation: Idle man

Secondary occupation: Gambler
Level: Level 1 Level 7 (Strength 15)

Attributes: Strength 9, Constitution 10, Agility 16, Spirit 18
Skills: Accounting Level 1 (keeping accounts by hand, spirit +1), Eavesdropping Level 1 (Level 1, good at chatting, asking for information, spirit +1), Gambling Level 1 (pushing cards and rolling dice, yelling, spirit +1)

Martial arts: fists and feet (initial glimpse, use fists and feet force +1, Turtle Fist, Destroying Kick)

Monthly salary: 5 guan.

(End of this chapter)