Late Qing Dynasty Executioner

Chapter 69 News about Lao Nian

“When you only have one rifle, you are the Tao, and the rifle on you is one. Two and three need you, or you can use the rifle in your hand to imitate it, but after three, you are no longer needed.

For example, when more people under your command use it, the Bian family will spend a large sum of money to borrow one of them to have a look. It shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

"Haha!" Bian Shichun laughed happily.

Chen Gu glared and wanted to hit someone, because he knew that he could not prevent this kind of thing. Even if he could prevent it for a while, it would not last too long. With so many people under him, it is impossible for all of them to be so loyal.

Besides, the person just borrows it to take a look and doesn’t want your things. The person who lends it out can get a large sum of money. Who wouldn’t be tempted?
As for whether the Bian family can imitate it, that is not a problem at all. The technical reserves and resources that a big family like the Bian family can mobilize are simply incomparable to ordinary people, not to mention that they are already doing related research.

However, Chen Gu was not too worried, because at that time the firearms of the Qing Dynasty were still at the level of bird guns, and although Chen Gu's rifle was just a manual rifle, it was already a modern rifle with a rotating bolt.

According to the development process of firearms, it has developed along the lines of matchlock gun-flintlock gun-rifled gun-breech-loading gun-metal shell bullet + rotating bolt modern rifle.

Although it is only a structural change, the difference in essence is not as big as imagined, but there are still some technical difficulties.

If Chen Gu had made preparations in advance and prevented the Bian family from obtaining the size of the metal bullets, and simply disassembled the rifle, even if they could have copied it, it would not have been of much use. The airtightness alone would have greatly reduced the power of the rifle.

Isn’t it said that a clean magistrate can get 100,000 silver coins in three years?

What’s more, the Bian family didn’t have the formula for high-explosive gunpowder, so the power of the rifle would be even smaller.

Not to mention one thousand taels, even a hundred taels will be fine. After all, it's just borrowed to take a look, and the risk of being discovered is extremely low, but the profit of a hundred taels is not small.

I can earn more than 100,000 taels for a rifle, so how come a hen that lays eggs is not worth 100,000 taels?" Chen Gu said angrily.

Chen Gu thought for a moment and said to Bian Shichun, "Then I will show you the rifle now. How much silver can you give me?"

People often say that if one has a fortune of 100,000 taels, one can ride a crane to Yangzhou. This is the enjoyment of the top families. "

"I went to Yangzhou on a ride on a crane for fun. I asked someone for the money for a trip. Is that too much?

Bian Shichun was almost pissed off, "You really dare to ask for it, do you know what 100,000 taels of silver means?

"How about giving me 10,000 of the best iron pipes?" Chen the Lion said loudly.

This is a Qing Dynasty magistrate. If he were a corrupt official, he would have gotten at least one or two million. Besides, it's only 100,000 taels of silver. I've seen it before. There is more than this amount on the Addis ship.

"How much do you want?" Bian Shichun asked tentatively.

Bian Shichun was speechless. It seemed that this was correct, but as long as Chen Gu equipped his men with rifles, they would not need even ten thousand taels, let alone one hundred thousand taels. No matter how loyal Chen Gu's men were, one thousand taels would be enough to buy them off.

"One hundred thousand taels is absolutely impossible. Just give up on this idea. That's the price for 20,000 acres of prime farmland!" Bian Shichun refused without hesitation.

Chen Gu couldn't help curling his lips and asked, "How much can you offer?"

"Are you really willing to sell the rifle manufacturing method?" Bian Shichun asked uncertainly. Chen Gu pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled: "I'm not selling the rifle manufacturing method, I just want you to see the rifle. As for whether you can imitate it, it depends on your own ability. If you can't do it, you can't blame me!"

Chen Gu must first explain the difference clearly, otherwise after he takes the money, the Bian family will not be able to return the money and will come to harass him.

"No, if you say so, there must be a trap here!" Bian Shichun said with narrowed eyes.

"What traps are there?" Chen Gu would not admit it. "There are no traps. If you can make a replica of the rifle, I am willing to buy it from you for twenty taels of silver."

The output of Wu Hua's family is still a little too low. If Bian Shichun and his team can make it, Chen Gu can purchase a batch.

Bian Shichun thought about it and said, "Ten thousand taels of silver, but I have to bring a few people over to look at it together, and I have to disassemble the rifle and measure it."

"Ten thousand taels is too little. At least fifty thousand taels should be enough!" said Chen Gu.

Bian Shichun laughed. Chen Gu actually lowered the price by half at once. The price could be negotiated. After some repeated haggling, the deal was finally settled at 20,000 taels of silver.

Bian Shichun paid with gun barrels and agreed to trade on the spot after the 2,000 gun barrels arrived.

When Chen Gu returned home, he found that besides Liu Er, there was another person at home. He looked very familiar and should be a brother from the mountain village. He seemed to be one of the people who went with Lao Nian to visit the brothers' families, but Chen Gu could not remember the specific name.

"Greetings, Young Master!" the other party saluted.

Chen Gu nodded and asked, "When did you come back? Where are the others?"

Chen Gu asked vaguely, so that he could answer no matter who the other person was or where he came from.

"I came back to report the news first. According to calculations, it will take another two days for the leader and his men to return to Chongqing!" the other party replied.

Chen Gu had an idea in his mind after hearing this, and asked, "Tell me, was your trip smooth? How many people did you bring back?"

Compared to the people recruited by Sanlang and Luluhu, Chen Gu was more looking forward to the people brought back by Lao Nian.

Because Lao Nian knows all the people he brings back well, not only do he have acquaintances in the village, but he also does some investigation into their family backgrounds.

In other words, the village has knowledge of these people’s family situations. If these people want to betray the village, they have to consider the village’s revenge.

"Boy, Lao Nian brought back nearly a thousand people for you. I didn't expect that your appetite would be so big. Aren't you afraid of eating too much?" Liu Er was obviously a little angry. This step was too big.

Chen Gu was a little surprised to hear that Lao Nian actually brought back nearly a thousand people, but now was not the time to regret, "It's only a thousand people.

We have 100,000 or 200,000 taels of silver and tens of thousands of acres of land. Can't we support a thousand people?
Don't worry, I'll make the arrangements!"

Liu Er sighed and said, "You should think about how to bring so many people back. There are a thousand of them. If we attract the attention of the imperial court, we will probably get into a lot of trouble!"

(End of this chapter)