The struggle of the reborn prince

Full text without advertisements Chapter 140 Six hidden worries after victory

Compared with modern candles in Song Dynasty, there are still many shortcomings due to the problems of all materials, beeswax and insect wax, these things are produced in a small amount and are scarce materials.Therefore, animal fats are still used in large quantities, but the soap removal technology has to wait seven to eight hundred years to be invented. Therefore, candles made of fats contain glycerin, and the flames are smoky when burned, and the smell is unpleasant, but this is not ordinary. People can afford it, but they can't even eat meat, so where does the fat come from!

Zhao Tong directed several craftsmen to heat and melt the paraffin wax in several large pots, stir thoroughly to dehydrate and remove impurities, then add the weighed red dye and spices, and then pour the wax juice into the candle wick. In the mold, sixteen candles were made in a row before they stopped. After the wax juice was completely cooled and condensed, the mold was dismantled, and what appeared in front of everyone were more than ten huge red candles, a strong man with a thick waist and the height of a person.The last ones were the two sculptors. According to the prince's instructions, they carved a hundred "shou" characters on each red candle, and carved the twelve zodiac signs on the candles respectively, and painted them with gold powder before the work was completed.

At that time, if there were Guinness records, it is estimated that these candles would have been selected in that year, because the raw materials for making candles were relatively soft at that time, and they became softer when heated, and they would be a puddle at the end of burning, so it was impossible to make such tall candles.The remaining paraffin Zhao Tun did not waste it, and made it into an ordinary candle, but changed the candle wick from one strand to three strands, which is a little underestimated. This solved the trouble of frequent cutting of candle wicks in the past hundreds of years, "Hongxiu Accompanied by reading, cut candles together' It sounds beautiful, but in fact it was a very helpless choice.

After the candles were made, Zhao Tun ordered people to wrap the candles in yellow silk, put them in custom-made boxes, and send special personnel to escort them to the capital to celebrate his father's birthday.In the next few days, Zhao Tun personally presided over the experiment, using all available means to extract gasoline, diesel, kerosene, asphalt and lubricating oil from petroleum.He hasn't figured out what to use gasoline for. In this era, the possibility of making cars and tractors is almost zero, and it is easy to catch fire, but he also keeps them properly. Who knows when they will be used; diesel and kerosene can be used to light lamps And cleaning gun parts; the quality of lubricating oil cannot be compared with modern ones, but it can replace animal grease, and it is durable; after the asphalt is melted, it is brushed on the linen to make a rainproof felt, which can be used as a rain cloth to build a simple house.

This transaction can be said to be a costless business. No one collects oil resource tax these days, and the products produced are sold for nothing. Of course, the premise is to do a good job in publicity.Zhao Tong and Sun Erqian agreed that the sales of candles should be divided into two steps. First, open up the high-end market and sell it as a luxury product. When the output increases, they will follow the civilian route.Full text, no advertisements, kerosene is mainly used by the Zhongyong Army. Zhao Tang conveniently made a kerosene stove for himself. This thing is light and convenient, and can meet his needs at any time. Of course, it can only be used for his own use at present. . .

The prince said, Sun Er counted the money, if these things are really used as the prince said, the profit brought by the light candle will be a lot of money, that yamen does not light candles, besides the prince, the palace There are a large number of candles lit every year. It is not a dream to win this big order and turn a profit. It may not take two years at all.

"Erqian, has the government made any trouble now?" Zhao Tong asked.

"My lord, do you still need to ask?" Sun Erqian was stunned, and said with a wry smile, "In addition to paying taxes according to the rules, our warehouse also has to be filial, and the petty officials also come to take advantage of it. In the past, they used local snakes to make trouble. We called back and saw that our business is booming, and the annual apportionment is not a small amount!"

"Well, that's easy to say. I'll put up a sign for you tomorrow, and it's called 'Zhongyong Army Hedong Material Supply Terminal', so that your dealings with us will be justified. I'll ask Zhao Zhi to send a team of sergeants to stand here for a few days. If those guys come to make trouble again, just take them down!" Zhao Tang thought for a while and said, "I'll say hello to Zhao Zhi again, from now on, all these materials will be purchased and transported by the warehouse for the food, drink, and use of the Zhongyong Army. Do you have the strength now?"

"My lord, it's no problem. With this brand, we can let go of our hands and feet. The food and drink expenses of more than 2 people are trivial. There is no problem at all, and it is definitely lower than the market price!" Sun Erqian Happy, this is also a big deal. Although it is sold to his own family, as long as the operation is good, it will be profitable. The prince is really shrewd and knows how to keep the fat and water from outsiders' fields.

"Hehe, let's just say two points. The quality of the goods must be good, the price must be fair, and you must not deceive your family, otherwise, don't blame me for turning your back!" Zhao Tong laughed.

"My lord, don't worry, if I don't do this well and let my brothers suffer, my lord will cut off my head and kick it like a ball!" Sun Erqian swore.

As for the remaining four candles, Zhao Tuo ordered the craftsmen to reduce the height and diameter, painted colorful patterns, and wrote "loyalty to serve the country", "protect the family and defend the country", "diligence in government and love the people", " Then he moved four candles one size smaller to his office, and made four two-foot-high candlesticks out of white marble, and placed them in the hall of the office.

I don't know how many officials go in and out of the yamen every day. They are all amazed when they see these four 'giant objects', and they all ask where the Zhizhi envoy came from, but the officials of the Zhizhi Division are all silent,' Really' being entangled however, Fong quietly revealed to them.Not long ago, large pillar-like candles were placed in the halls of every yamen in Taiyuan Prefecture. It is said that four or five hundred candles are out of stock now, and you will have to wait until the next year to buy one, but those small finger-thick candles are open for supply. It costs twenty cents a piece, but this kind of candle has high brightness, long burning time, less wax tears, and does not need to cut the wick. It is very popular among the servants and maids who need to stay up late at night, and they all ask to buy it.

Now Shengyitang offers another service besides selling candles. It provides free refueling for the axles of carts passing by. At first, everyone saw this black thing smeared on it, and they were skeptical about the effect, but after running a few times, they found this. The oil works well, and it can travel four to five hundred miles without refueling.Businessmen who care about every detail start to calculate small accounts, and come here to stay and eat for the cheapness of car oil. Of course, sometimes they can't stand the lobbying of the guys to buy more.But there are also people who come for the brand of 'Sheng Yi Tang'. Most of them are old businessmen who have traveled all over the world.

Of course, there are also those who want to grab a big bargain. Seeing the booming business of Shengyitang, they think of buying a dry stock, buying and selling to monopolize the candle business, and even empty-handed white wolves want to occupy this treasured land of geomantic omen, but when they put it into practice But I found another square sign on the side, and there were officers and soldiers in military uniforms coming in and out, and I lost my mind immediately. The envoy's personal soldiers have not gone anywhere to complain after they have been beaten.

With the income from the candles, Zhao Tang believes that the income from the Northwest can gradually support the various expenses of the pro-army, and his strategic focus is on the Northwest, and the time has come for industrial transfer. Several people from Lu sent a letter, instructing them to gradually move the workshops of guns, cannons, bullets, and gunpowder involved in the military industry to the north. Xiangyi only left the production of civilian products. overseas trade.

In the letter, Zhao Tong paid for a "secret recipe" for the production of perfume. They continued to develop how to make it, and it still appeared as a luxury product. This will quickly accumulate funds, increase Zhuangzi's income, and supplement all kinds To meet the needs, maintain the operation of various systems, so that the transfer of the workshop will not affect the income of the farmers, and stabilize the hearts of the people.

. . . . . .

Zhao Tong has been tossing and tossing in Hedong for nearly a year, and Tong Guan has not been idle. There is an official document on his desk, which is a report on the battle of cutting the cow city in July.Tong Guan, the Northwest Sixth Route Economic Strategy Appeasement Envoy, ordered Kuozhou Defense Envoy He Guan to launch a night attack from Fugong City, and successfully pulled out the fortress Cut Niu City set up by Xixia, and reported to the emperor with a great victory. Tong'an City, to show the meaning of commanding the border Jing'an Luxia.

Zhao Tong found the location of Cutting Cow City on the map, which is indeed a dangerous place.After last year's Battle of Ancient Bone Dragon City, the Song army defeated the Xixia military commander Jinwang Chage and took control of the Datong River.The Datong River is located between the old frontier of Siluo in Hehuangjiao and the Zhuanglang River in Xixia. It is the first line of defense between the Western Front of Xixia and the Song Dynasty.Cutting Niu City is a pass on Liuling. The city is surrounded by high mountains, and the middle road is only open to pass through. It guards the main roads of Gansu and Qinghai. Xixia relies on this city to firmly guard the Zhuanglang River and then control Yongdeng North. territory.Once the cattle-cutting city is lost, the Zhuo Luonan Army Commander in the right wing of the Xixia West Front Defense Center will be completely finished, and the gate to the Xingling area in the heart of Xixia will be opened.

"Oh, I don't have much time left!" After studying the map, Zhao Tong dropped his pen and sighed. It was precisely because of the victory in this battle that Tong Guan was dazzled and made a wrong judgment. Determined to achieve the campaign goal of conquering the right wing and finally taking Xingling, and achieve the strategic goal of first eliminating the threat of Xixia, stabilizing the northwest backyard, and then going north to conquer Liao and restore Yanyun.

As a latecomer, Zhao Tun knew about the Battle of Unified Ancheng, in which Liu Fa died as a "natural general" and lost all 10,000 cavalry.The Western Army of the Song Dynasty was about to attack Liao, but was held back by Fang La's uprising. As a result, after two battles, the Western Army exhausted its blood and was finally defeated at the city of Yanjing.However, Xixia seized the opportunity to recuperate, restore national strength, and recapture the old land after the Jingkang Incident. The Song Dynasty conquered for decades. The hard work of three generations of emperors cost countless money and food, and all the land bought by the flesh and blood of [-]+ soldiers was paid. East flow.

"How can we break the shackles, change the predicament of history, and prevent the tragedy from happening again?" Zhao Tuo fell into deep thought as he looked at the dancing lanterns on the table.

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