Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 183: I Don’t Know What to Say (4)

The principals of the Yaozhou Porcelain Guild had a detailed discussion for half an hour in the prime minister's mansion before leaving with heavy hopes.Although the prime minister did not make it clear, he implied that the rules of the guild should be generally respected, such as minimum wages and working hours.Faintly encourage the guild to infiltrate the workshops that recruit refugees, and encourage the migrant workers to ask for more wages.

Liu Yi watched them leave thoughtfully, secretly feeling that this shopping mall is like a battlefield.The veterans of these guilds have been holding back, but they have secretly collected many rumors that are not conducive to newcomers, including lowering prices to hurt people, squeezing and exploiting workers, substituting inferior goods for good ones, fabricating and slandering their peers, and so on.It's a pity that because each workshop is closed and the external protection is very strict, there is no real evidence for the unauthorized use of lynching in the workshop.

After returning home from the government office, Mrs. Lu took off the official robe for Liu Yikuan, and said in a low voice: "The two Kanto scholars died in a foreign land, and the scholar's office is raising money to donate to their families. Take out fifty sticks." The two Kanto fellow countrymen were going to visit in the afternoon, but she only waited for the news of their deaths, which made people feel sad and hoped that the real perpetrators would be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Liu Yi's thoughts moved slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "The dead are dead, what's the matter with the living. The government donated five hundred guan, let's do our best." Seeing that Lu Shi did not think that the victim was from the Kanto region, he ignored it indifferently. , Eyes 'show' happy 'color'.She put aside the prime minister's official robe, and put on light and loose regular clothes for him.Usually after changing the robes for Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu went to serve dinner.But today, he only spoke to Liu Yi, hesitating to speak.

Seeing her like this, Liu Yi walked up to him and said softly, "Madam seems to have something on her mind?"

Lu was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice: "Sir, did you have any clues about the person behind the assassination?"

Liu Yi was slightly taken aback, and said in a deep voice: "The imperial court is strictly investigating, and they will surely be able to give them justice." The specific progress of the case has been kept secret.

"It's clearly the work of those 'treacherous' merchants!" Lu's face flushed, and she said angrily, "If you lock up those cannibal workshop owners and put them in prison, the real culprits will naturally be brought to justice." , but he has a chivalrous nature and loves to fight injustice.That's why the scholar of the Dongren society, after failing to see Liu Yi, turned to see the prime minister's wife with the friendship of his fellow countrymen.

Liu Yi smiled slightly, he was familiar with a woman's temperament and temperament, he held her in his arms, and said with a smile: "If the lady makes the Chang'an order, I will definitely make Xiao Xiao's generation escape from hearing about it. "Lu Shi knew that her husband would never disclose the case, so she couldn't hold back her words and asked him. She gave him a blank look and said angrily: "The imperial court is so powerful, knowing that those are 'traitors', but let them go unpunished Is it?" She gently tied the knot on the robe strap with her hand.

After a long time, just now when Liu Yi seemed to be talking to himself, Lu pricked up his ears to listen carefully, but he was reciting a piece of "Zhuangzi" in a low voice: "...a good cook changes his sword every year, and he cuts it; the family cook changes his sword every month , folded. Today, the minister's sword has been 19 years old, and it has been unsealed for thousands of cattle, and the blade is like a new one. There is room for the joint, but the blade has no thickness. I see that it is difficult to enter the room without thickness. , Fear is a warning, look far ahead, and act late. Move the knife slightly, but it has been undone, as if the land is entrusted to the ground. Hold the knife and stand, look around for it, be full of ambition for it, and hide it if you are good at the knife..."

Feeling that her husband was being perfunctory and joking, Lu snorted, stretched out his fingers and tapped his chest, broke free from his arms, and hid in the inner room wearing flowers and willows.Liu Yi smiled slightly, shook his sleeves, and Shi Shiran followed in.

It's easy to find the Firearms Department in the General's Mansion. The faces of the officers in the past are gray, the rank of the chest badge is the lowest, and the yamen with the fewest Jiamian banners on the wall is the one.Generals Wang Yunzhong and Zhang Shanfu jointly planned to build an artillery battalion for field operations here, and the meeting was not over yet.General Yang Shaojie of the Ordnance Department was absent for some reason, and only invited the casters of the light and heavy field artillery. Master Chun Yuzhen was present to explain the performance of the new artillery.

The sergeants of the new artillery battalion came from only a small part of the artillery battalions in various cities, and most of them came from the infantry and cavalry battalions.In just ten days, the contradictions were fully revealed.The infantry sergeant looked down on the gunners, saying that they had always been hiding behind the city, and they were full of rogue habits and afraid of death.The gunner looked down on infantry sergeants even more, saying that these people had never seen gunpowder, let alone cannons.Many gunners said that other sergeants were stronger than civilian husbands, and that they could only serve as coolies in the artillery battalion.If it weren't for the officers' pressure, there would have been several gang fights.Even the infantry, cavalry, and original artillery officers were not convinced by each other.

"It's really difficult to find someone who is highly regarded by everyone to lead the whole battalion." Wang Yunzhong put the roster of officers and soldiers on the table and pushed it to the middle, as if the farther you push it, the farther away you will be from troubles.Ordinary battalions are elected from top to bottom.But experimental field artillery battalions are absolutely not acceptable.Judging from what I have learned in the past ten days, the really skilled gunners are proud and arrogant, but they don't get many sergeant recommendations.If it was really recommended, Wang Yunzhong was really worried that the sergeants would recommend a reckless man who knew nothing about artillery.A reckless man can still become a "violent general" in the infantry and cavalry, but he has a greater chance of killing his own people here.

General Zhang Shanfu of the Marching Division brought over the roster and flipped through the pages with a blank expression.If it was an ordinary battalion, the Marching Division would have strongly suggested candidates.But the Firearms Battalion is too special. The lieutenants and centurions that the Marching Division is interested in have only heard the sound of artillery at most, and have never even touched it.And what about the officers of the original city fire artillery battalion?Looking at the line by line, the title is either a public official or a material officer.Let such a person lead those concubines and superiors who have come down from the battlefield?There are even two Chehou who came from the Yingying Army? "Don't even think about it." Zhang Shanfu couldn't help but shook his head with a wry smile, secretly regretting that because he paid too much attention to the firearms battalion, the sergeants he selected were afraid that they would not be good. Worth mentioning.He frowned, but said in his mouth: "Among the officers who are familiar with artillery, isn't there a military title that convinces everyone?"

"Really not." "Yes." "Yes." Several marching commanders beside him echoed.The gunners of the City Fire Artillery Battalion have almost never been on the battlefield, and their military achievements and titles are rare in the entire Xia Kingdom.No wonder he couldn't hold his head up in the army.As time goes by, many of them become exhausted, lack a sense of honor, and are very good at bullying newbies and repelling dissidents.

Wang Yunzhong's black face turned hot, but he was not conspicuous, and the chiefs of the firearms department around him were also speechless.Looking down at the title badge on his chest, although he was slandering in his heart, he could only bear the ridicule of the people in the marching division.The Marching Army Division is the most important military division in the General's Mansion, and it is possible to win a decisive victory thousands of miles away while strategizing.The false title of General is personally held by His Majesty the Emperor, and the position of the Chief General in the Army Command is unshakable.But the Raptors Crossing the River can't be so dictating, the firearms department is still counting on the artillery battalion that can be used in field battles to turn over.

The Firearms Division once proposed that only the elite be selected from the city fire artillery battalion to form a field artillery battalion.The Marching Commander said bluntly: "For those of you city defense gunners who have never been on the battlefield, without the protection of sergeants of other arms, whether it is an infantry battalion or a cavalry battalion, 500 people vs. 500 people will be slaughtered directly when they rush up." Said: "To deal with those city defense gunners, there is no need for infantry and cavalry battalions. It is enough for the government officials to catch them quickly."The contempt for the city defense army has been deeply rooted in the bones for 100 years.Even if the military classics handed down from the Founding Dynasty repeatedly emphasized the role of firearms and city defense fortifications, this mentality could not be eliminated.

There was silence at the conference table, and the Marching Division had already waited for the Firearms Division to propose to arrange a well-respected officer as a lieutenant, and then the Firearms Division would persuade those gunners whose eyes were above their heads.The people from the Firearms Division put on a sullen face, showing the aura of guarding the capital, and would not give in even to the death.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was very oppressive, and neither of the two military commanders would give in.Only the people in the Ordnance Department had a relaxed expression. The Ordnance Department's deadly enemy was Cao, the Coordinator of the Prime Minister's Mansion, who had a detached position in the General's Mansion.In the tense air, only the sound of gently flipping the roster of officers and soldiers was heard.

Suddenly someone coughed to break the silence, and said in a deep voice: "Generals, this Marquis Zhao De is a great expert in artillery."

All the officers turned their heads to look, and they couldn't help showing surprise when they saw the cannon-casting master Chun Yuzhen, who had been sitting silently by the side, who spoke.Zhang Shanfu and Wang Yunzhong frowned at the same time. Craftsmen from the private sector should not have attended this meeting, but the position and attitude of the Ordnance Department is really delicate. The two generals were unwilling to offend the Ordnance Department alone, and they did not compare to this Really, of course I would not discuss military personnel with a craftsman.Unexpectedly, Master Chunyu would speak on his own initiative.

Being watched by everyone, Chun Yuzhen put down the roster in embarrassment, pushed it to the middle of the discussion table, and explained: "Just now General Zhang Shang asked, and I happened to know this Marquis Zhao Deche. He is a great expert in artillery." He rubbed his hands His hands seemed to be ashamed, hiding something on his mind.

"Really?" Wang Yunzhong remembered that he had a photo with Zhao De. The centurion from Chengying Army had a good impression of him.He is not very young, his military achievements are not low, and his title is already a Marquis.Among all the sergeants in the Firearms Battalion, only Zhao De and Wang Tongdeng were promoted to Chehou.

Zhang Shanfu also remembered Zhao De.The incident of coercing Crown Prince Lumei and seizing the army in front of the battle is impressive.

"Zhao De?" Zhang Shanfu stared at Chun Yuzhen suspiciously and said, "He is proficient in artillery?"

"Exactly," Chunyu Zhen stammered indifferently, "Zhao Chehou is as familiar with artillery as I am." As soon as he said this, the officers present were in an uproar.Zhang Shanfu and Wang Yunzhong could hardly believe their ears.In this era, because firearms have not yet prevailed in the world, casting artillery and "handling" artillery, artillery technology and artillery tactics are all mixed together.As a master of cannon casting, Chun Yuzhen is naturally also a master of cannon testing. The elite gunners who 'operate' this new type of artillery are all trained by him. It can be said that they are disciples and grandchildren who can't get into the door.Chun Yuzhen said that Zhao De's knowledge of artillery is as good as his, so who else in the artillery battalion can match him?

Zhang Shanfu curled up two fingers, and his knuckles tapped heavily on the officers and soldiers list: "Zhao De, Yuan Chengying Seventh Battalion Centurion Commander, the title is Chehou."