Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 147 White Sunset Kunming (3)

Zhao Xingde returned the list to Du Chuanjiao, and personally summoned the sergeants of Ming Hongdu to explain the huge risks needed to open up trade routes, and asked them to make a decision after careful consideration, so as not to lose the money they earned through blood and sweat.The next morning, two other centurions, Deng Xi and Liu Shangyou, came to the door.

"Straightforward, you are too mean," Liu Shangyou said quickly, "Brothers in the same battalion, don't you take care of them?" After speaking, he took out a list from his arms, and more than 30 sergeants collected more than 4000 guns.Deng Xi also took out a list, and the sergeants in his capital also collected more than 5000 guns.

Zhao Xingde took it with a wry smile, and explained the risk of losing money to the two of them. The two centurions both said that people would die in a war. As long as Brother Ming Hongdu is not afraid of losing money, then we are not afraid of anything.I had to keep the list of those who contributed money, so I thanked them and left.

In the afternoon, Duan Huaixian brought Zhao Xingde over.

"I heard that you found a way for the sergeants to get rich? Duan Huaixian smiled half-smile, flipping through a volume of military books, it was Zhao Xingde's mission to protect the merchants that he brought back from Haixi Port.

"The general is ashamed," Zhao Xingde explained awkwardly when he looked at him like this, "several merchants hosted a banquet to thank you yesterday, and one of them brought it up. The general also felt that something was wrong. However, everyone seems to be very enthusiastic about it.”

"Well, it's not easy for sergeants to save up their savings." Duan Huaixian nodded, and tapped his fingers lightly on the roll of documents, "It's really risky to open up new business routes through a place with green clothes and a lot of food. risk," he paused, and suddenly asked, "Zhao Dutou, calm down, if you were yourself, would you invest money in this caravan?"

Zhao Xingde was slightly taken aback, and then replied without thinking: "The last one." Africa's wealth is almost unlimited for a caravan, so it is worth a try no matter what.

"That's good," Duan Huaixian said with a smile, and took out five hundred guan's Jiaozi from the drawer and put them on the table, "You can also count me in."

"General Duan," Zhao Xingde couldn't help being slightly surprised. In his impression, Duan Huaixian was not a person who valued money very much.

"You have made it very clear to the sergeants about the risk of opening up business routes, and they all know it," Duan Huaixian pushed Jiaozi forward with his fingers, and said slowly, "You don't have to worry about joining the team, if you lose money , the sergeants can’t afford to lose. At least, I won’t trouble you.” He looked up at Zhao Xingde with a smile in his eyes.

Zhao Xingde was slightly moved.Duan Huaixian really didn't take money too seriously, in order to dispel Zhao Xingde's concerns, he gave out the five hundred guan, even if he lost money, and the soldiers complained, Duan Huaixian would have a stand to speak for Zhao Xingde.Zhao Xingde put away the Jiaozi, bowed to salute, and said in a deep voice: "Thank you, General Duan, for your care."

"Okay," Duan Huaixian waved his hand, picked up the military letter on the table, raised his head and said, "There is one more thing." He handed the general letter to Zhao Xingde, "This is the order of the prime minister's mansion, Jin Jue Shuzhang." With a smile in his eyes, "Congratulations."

Zhao Xingde commanded Ming Hongdu, and he did a good job in dispatching military affairs several times, with many beheadings and little loss.Although he was the last centurion to be promoted to the rank of the concubine, this was the third time he had been promoted since the expedition.The higher you go, the harder it is to advance to the title.Duan Huaixian's own title, Bai Yaqing, is a hereditary title accumulated through countless military achievements. His eldest son will be able to worship as a doctor as soon as he becomes an adult.In the Xia Dynasty, the titles and badges of each rank of title are different. If the commanding officer dies in battle, all the sergeants will automatically obey the highest title. Title is also the most critical factor.

"Go to Jin Sima to get the badge of the general." Duan Huaixian lowered his head again, and carefully read the military newspaper. Recently, with the help of Sergeant Chengying, the barbarian tribes in Taiheling fought several times in a row A small victory.The Ross people suffered a lot in Taiheling continuously, and even the general who commanded the army was killed in ambush.Musti, the king of Ross, has elected another general and sent troops to Taihe Ridge to attack.

"Thank you, General." After Zhao Xingde retired, he came to Jin Changtai, the marching commander. Jin Changtai handed him the badge of the title of concubine, and said with a smile, "How much do you plan to pay for this business opening?" Zhao Xingde smiled wryly and said: "You are not as wealthy as Brother Jin, if you squeeze, you can get four hundred guan."

"That's all?" Jin Changtai said with a sneer, "Just take out the money you took away from the pirate's lair." After a pause, he continued, "By the way, Minghong sent it to the fallen soldiers There seems to be something wrong with the family members' money." "What?" Zhao Xingde's face changed slightly, "Is there a shortage?"

"Is that so?" Jin Changtai dug out the account books in the camp.Although the centurions sent back the money, the trading firm that exchanged Jiaozi would send a copy of the bill to the marching Sima to prevent mistakes. "On the contrary, there are quite a lot more. You must have miscalculated, right?"

Only then did Zhao Xingde heave a sigh of relief, and said with a smile: "Brother Jin needs to do a little favor with this matter, just keep it secret." Then he explained the matter of adding his share to the families of the fallen soldiers.

"So that's how it is," Jin Changtai nodded, and said in a deep voice, "Since Xingzhi has such a heart, I will never reveal it." Somewhat sighed, "The name will be wrong, but the nickname will not be chosen." Wrong. It seems that the sergeants called you General Li, and it is not unreasonable." Zhao Xingde shook his head, and smiled wryly: "Let them call you, I don't expect to be named as a marquis."

As a result, in the next few days, after hearing the news, the sergeants of the other centurions of Chengying's Seventh Battalion came up one after another, and there were more than 5000 guan, and Jin Changtai even increased the money to join the group to [-] guan. "I can trust the character of 'General Li'." He winked his eyes.

Li Yong's mansion is near Theodosius Square, and it is particularly eye-catching among the mansions of Lumei princes and nobles.Blue tiles and double eaves, walls covered with red mud, small bridges and flowing water are arranged in the garden, and a group of goldfish are raised in the pond.Zhao Xingde found it without any difficulty.

When Zhao Xingde told Li Yong the amount of money he had joined the gang, Li Yongpo was a little surprised, and sighed: "Brother Zhao, it seems that your robes trust you very much." , about 5000 taels of silver.Li Yong is the third son of the hereditary Bowanghou Li family. After establishing his own family, his capital has rolled up to the present, and it is only more than 5 guan.

"Today is a good time. I would like to introduce some friends who are partners in this business with Brother Zhao." Li Yong's face immediately returned to normal. He was born in the family of Liehou, and he is used to wealth and honor, but he was a little surprised at this Zhao Jun. It's just that they can gather so much stock money.

"This is the noble Manshul." Manshul Komnene is the eldest son of Lumei Crown Prince John. When Zhao Xingde nodded to him, he only nodded slightly proudly.

"This is Manshul's cousin, the most beautiful flower of Lumei, the noble Natalia Brinnius." Li Yong introduced Zhao Xingde with a smile.Zhao Xingde thought with regret: "Now that we know our identity, it is not easy to find out what's going on." Natalia nodded to her, and a trace of surprise flashed in Natalia's eyes at the same time, then she frowned slightly, and turned her gaze to Beside, it seems that some people hate such entertainment.

"Both noble persons are our patrons." Li Yong cast apologetic gazes at Zhao Xingde, and whispered in his ear, "Sponsored ten thousand Jinsu Le." Zhao Xingde nodded, Chengyingying Lu Mei's military salary is also issued in this kind of gold coins, and a gold soule is about the value of more than one penny.This trip to colonize the southern trade routes will help to break the monopoly of the big cannibals on the southern trade routes. If we can strengthen ties with the princes and nobles in the southern Sahara Desert and weaken the influence of the Roma Sultanate on these princes, the 1 A lot of sponsorship is really not that much.Like the ancient civilizations in the East, Lumei princes and nobles are both proficient and fond of the trick of using barbarians to control barbarians.

"This is Liu Zhiyuan, whose name is Guangzhi." Li Yong pulled a thin, dark-skinned Xia Guoren, and smiled, "Guangzhi also retired from the Chengying Army. Master of mines."

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Liu Zhiyuan cupped his hands to Zhao Xingde, only then did Zhao Xingde realize that his left hand was wearing a black leather glove, which seemed to be a prosthetic limb.The sergeants of the Chengying Army have experienced many battles, and deaths and injuries are very common.Zhao Xingde couldn't help but look solemn, and bowed his hands in salute, and said in a deep voice: "I'm Zhao De, it's a pleasure to meet you." Liu Zhiyuan knew why he had such an attitude, and smiled slightly. He was always taciturn, and didn't say anything more.

After the introduction, Li Yong led everyone into the flower hall, the host and guest were seated, and the servants brought fresh Sichuan tea.Before talking about the business, Li Yong talked about his experience in the hinterland of Dashi again, and gradually brought everyone's thoughts to that mysterious area.

"In Baghdad, where we have good relations with each other, I once saw a doctor heal a hand and foot sore for a diseased person. I just touched it with a copper stick pulled out of two clay pots, and the area around the affected area became numb. The knife is like flying. Whenever the patient cries for pain, he will touch the copper rod next to it. After the bandage is complete, the patient's wound will slowly regain consciousness. The temple uses the pottery pot to gilt the statue, and it is very uniform. , far better than usual. I can't figure it out, what's going on?"

Li Yong was eloquent, and even compared and painted in his hand, which attracted Liu Zhiyuan, Manshuer, Natalya and others around him, and was even more amazed.

Zhao Xingde pondered for a moment, then thought to himself: "Could this clay pot be the battery of the ancients?" Then he asked, "Those two pots, one holds acid water, the other holds alkaline water or something like that."

Li Yong shook his head and said in a low voice: "It's rare for idlers to get close, and big cannibals keep secrets. I don't know." He asked Zhao Xingde, "Does Zhao Jun know the secret?"

Zhao Xingde nodded, pondered and said: "I read in the book that Yin and Yang create all things. If Yin and Yang are separated, then if there is a high and low potential, it is called electric potential. When it is guided, it will generate electric current, which has many miraculous effects, such as numbness." , gilding copper and iron, all in it. So guess, the metal rod makes people numb and can be gilded because of the yin and yang ions and the electric potential." He paused, looked at Li Yong and smiled, "It is also The words of a family cannot be counted."

"It's really a wonderful book." Li Yong sighed, "Brother Zhao, can you take it with you?"

Zhao Xingde shook his head and said: "I saw it when I was young, but it was only the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and it has long disappeared. But I remember some strange talks."

"Oh! It's a pity," Li Yong sighed, "Brother Zhao will copy the parts he remembers to me in the future. After this business route is opened up, I will sink my heart and study the way of yin and yang to generate electricity."