Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

"My lord, because the divisions and naval teams have repeatedly reported that the army has a large amount of drinking water during the battle in Qiongzhou, and the replenishment of cold water is not timely, which consumes fuel and time. For this reason, the Armament Division has tried to make three new drinking water vessels to solve this problem. Problem.” Although Cai Qian didn’t quite understand Zheng Kezang’s emphasis on drinking water in the battlefield, there is a characteristic of the Chinese people, that is, they don’t stay overnight to implement the leadership’s instructions, so Zheng Kezang returned to Dongning within a few months, and the military The company took out the finished product. "The first strain uses charcoal net filtration."

A chief officer of the Armament Department poured dozens of ladles of muddy muddy water into a wooden barrel-shaped container. After a while, crystal clear water leaked from the drainage tube at the bottom of the wooden barrel, but when the water was drained, When the bowl was placed in front of Zheng Kezang, Zheng Kezang suddenly found that there seemed to be some black charcoal dust on the bottom of the bowl.

Seemingly aware of Zheng Kezang's focus, Cai Qian explained: "Although the water needs to be filtered again, most of the impurities have been removed, so it is not a problem to drink it in an emergency."

Zheng Kezang narrowed his eyes. He understood that this situation probably occurred because the production of activated carbon required oxygen and carbon dioxide, and these two things were absolutely impossible to separate and store with Mingzheng's current technical level. Whether the water quality can be directly quoted after the method is purified is probably a big question mark.

Of course, since the Military Weapons Department can eagerly make it, Zheng Kezang will not deliberately pour cold water on them, so he just nodded: "Gu is not very active, so I only make two suggestions. Using bamboo charcoal, secondly, whether it will work or not will not be known until it is transported to the Qiongzhou Army and tested."

"I understand." Cai Qian nodded in response, then pointed to the second wooden barrel. "This is diatomaceous earth found according to the instructions of the Lord." After the same demonstration, the bowl placed in front of Zheng Kezang was obviously much clearer. "My lord, I think that the quality of the water filtered by diatomaceous earth is better than that of charcoal net filter from the appearance alone."

Zheng Kezang did not immediately confirm Cai Qian's statement, but asked, "Did Dongning find a lot of this diatomaceous earth?"

"It's not uncommon, but as the master said, the whiter the color, the better the quality. Most of the diatomaceous earth found in Dongning are gray and taupe, and even light white is rare."

"It's more biased than charcoal and bamboo charcoal, which can be obtained from all over the place." Zheng Kezang asked Cai Qian for proof when he said this. "Isn't there a third way? Why does Gu only see a clay pot? Is there a mystery in it?"

"The third one actually uses heating to obtain boiling water, but it does not use common fuel." Cai Qian motioned for the chief executive to fill the pottery pot with water, then put the pottery pot on top of a wooden barrel, and Pour some water into the barrel, only to see a puff of white smoke coming out with an unpleasant smell.

"Heat it with lime?" Zheng Kezang's eyes lit up. "It's a good idea." As soon as the words came out, Zheng Kezang's face changed, as if he had just remembered something. That's right, lime is the main ingredient of cement, and it can also kill bacteria and mosquitoes. Therefore, the demand of the entire Dongning If it is too large, it may not be enough to distribute. "Have you coordinated with the Department of Military Weapons and the Department of Salt and Iron?"

"I have discussed with Lord Zheng Yingping that in addition to the cement provided by the military, the Yantie Division can allocate an additional [-] catties of lime every month." Cai Qian returned honestly. "I think heating with lime is just an extreme method, and only a small amount of lime is needed each time, so [-] catties of lime is enough."

"It doesn't count if you say it's not enough, or if you say it alone. You have to let the army try it out before you know if it's enough." Zheng Kezang thought for a while and instructed: "These three sets of water purification, heating Not only will the technique be tested in Qiongzhou, but it will also be tested several times in Dongning." The boss spoke, and Cai Qian naturally did not dare to object, so this matter was temporarily settled, and Zheng Kezang Signaling the guards and the head of the Armament Department to move out the things in front of them, and when only Cai Qian is left, Zheng Kezang asked. "What is the regulations of the Armaments Department regarding the discussion of Hundred Tigers Running and Thunder Gun Chariots?"

"In front of the army, there was talk about the fire dragon's short range and heavy equipment, and the Military Weapons Division had no objection." Cai Qian also came here with a good job, so naturally he answered any questions he had. "Speaking of which, the cost of producing a carved feather arrow is enough to buy five or six pieces of lead, and I have no choice but to produce it again." Zheng Kezang's eyes were fixed on Cai Qian, as if trying to distinguish whether what he said was true or not. Sincerely, but with Cai Qian's frank look, Zheng Kezang naturally couldn't confirm his true thoughts. "As for the statement made by the army before that the reloading speed of the Thunderbolt Chariot is too slow, I do not deny it, but I believe that the Thunderbolt Guncart can fire a volley, and it can be used to disrupt the enemy's terrain and even the cavalry. , should continue to equip the army."

"The cost of a gun cart is not only greater than that of a two-inch gun, but the barrel on it can equip half a team of gunners." Zheng Kezang believed in what the frontline commanders said. "However, the effect of forming a gun team is no worse than that of the Xunlei gun chariot, and there is a waste of pulling horses." Zheng Kezang shook his head. "Gu thought that perhaps the Thunderbolt can be installed on the navy's warship, and the enemy who jumps from the gang would be a big killer in the future. As for the tigers running in groups, I thought that maybe some of them could be kept." Looking at the somewhat astonished Cai Qian and Zheng Kezang laughed secretly. It is estimated that Cai Qian and others will never dare to guess their own minds next time. "Speaking of it, Qing reminded Gu, that war horses are afraid of fire, and I am afraid that a group of tigers would be more effective in breaking up the cavalry of the Qing captives."

After Cai Qian withdrew, Lin Weirong came in: "My lord, the North Korean side contacted our left-behind personnel in Jeju, and they promised to resume trade with us. They are willing to exchange horses, copper strips, pig iron, cotton, etc. They also want to buy a few of the blunderbuss, cannons, and carriages of Benfan."

"That's a good thing." Zheng Kezang raised his eyebrows. "So the Sandaogou incident has been settled?"

"The lord is holy, the Qing captives are domineering, and they bullied North Korea several times, so North Korea has a heart to join hands with this vassal." Speaking of this, Lin Weirong raised his eyes and secretly glanced at Zheng Kezang, but Zheng Kezang watched his little tricks , I felt something was wrong, so I heard Lin Weirong continue. "North Korea wants to send envoys to visit Zheng Jianguo, and also wants to use the princess to marry the Lord."

In fact, what Lin Weirong said about Zheng Kezang already knew from the official secretary, but he still showed a surprised expression: "It's okay to visit Zheng Jianguo, it's just a gesture of the Koreans, but what is the marriage? Therefore, it is possible that there are so many princesses in North Korea that there is no place to marry them, or that North Korea is sure that the matter of marrying a princess can be hidden from the Qing captives."

"My lord is very right." Lin Weirong showed a hint of admiration. Of course, this may also be his brilliant flattering skills, but in any case, Zheng Kezang seems to be very useful. "The Secretary of Commerce and Industry thought that maybe North Korea just used the patriarch, the patriarch, to pretend to be a princess, so that Qinglu would not be able to get hold of it."

"I didn't expect Xiao Zhonghua to learn how to make love. Is he just a barbarian?" Zheng Kezang said with an angry expression on his face, but despite this, what exactly Zheng Kezang thought, Lin Weirong didn't dare to speculate casually. "Marriage?" Sure enough, Zheng Kezang's expression changed. "Since it is a marriage, it must be a large amount of property, but North Korea is small and poor, so what kind of property can be used as a dowry, it is not an idea of ​​making a dowry."

Obedient and listening, Lin Weirong's forehead twitched. He understood that Zheng Kezang already knew about North Korea's fined money, and he knew who leaked the news, but in this way, he would He had the idea of ​​abandoning the staff and starting a new stove. Of course, this kind of thinking cannot be explained to Zheng Kezang now.

So Lin Weirong deliberately misinterpreted Zheng Kezang's meaning: "My lord, I will reply to the court and welcome the court to send envoys to Zheng Jianguo. As for the marriage of the court princess, I tried to evade it."

"No," Zheng Kezang stopped immediately. "The marriage of the royal princess to this feudal clan is a major event to close the relationship between the two countries. You have to continue to discuss with the DPRK side. As for the dowry? I remember that when the princess of the royal family married the king of England, she used her territory in Tianzhu as a dowry , you go and talk to the North Koreans to see if you can transfer Jeju to Benfan."

"Jeju?" Lin Weirong looked at Zheng Kezang in shock, obviously frightened. "My lord, is this possible?"

"What do you mean exorbitant prices?" Zheng Kezang said with a half-smile. "If we don't make a price, how can we find out where North Korea's bottom line is." Zheng Kezang stood up with his hands behind his back. "If the North Korean side doesn't accept it as a dowry gift, then we can negotiate a 99-year lease with them."

"This?" Lin Weirong still felt a little unbelievable, so he asked tentatively. "What if the North Korean side still disagrees?"

"Then it will be reduced from ten to eight years. Speaking of which, they initiated this matter. Even if the negotiation fails, we have nothing to lose." Zheng Kezang obviously has a complete grasp. "So don't worry, just wear it off slowly"

Looking at Lin Weirong's back, Zheng Kezang smiled lightly. Today, the magistrate was quite scared, but after a while, Zheng Kezang's smile disappeared: "Go and call Lu Xuefang."

The head of Zhifang Division rushed over, and as soon as he entered the door, he listened to Zheng Kezang's order: "Two things, first, the three provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong are now banning the sea, and the connection between Dongning and the mainland If it is interrupted again, you must send someone to sneak into the mainland to restore contact with Hanliu."

Lu Xuefang responded, and then heard Zheng Kezang say: "The trade between Dongning and North Korea is about to reopen. You find a way to sneak into the wicker border through North Korea to contact and rescue the old San Francisco."

"My lord, North Korea has just formulated the "North and South Participation in Merchants and Offenders along the Border". Lu Xuefang reminded. "I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult to cross the border from North Korea. I thought it would be better to send a boat straight to the mouth of the Tumen River, or to avoid the checkpoints of the Qing court."

"Things are done by Qing and others, only the results are alone"