Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 26
The main restriction on the production of ironware in the Shilingting Blacksmith Shop is the supply of coke and iron ore. As long as these two raw materials are sufficient, it is actually very convenient to produce ironware with mold casting, and the speed is much faster than the production of ironware with block smelting and beating in this era. for fast.

It was also a coincidence that on the day when Xiang Bozi opened his mouth to ask Xiang Kang for the steel knife, Shilingting blacksmith shop happened to have a new batch of coke, and there were still some ores in stock that Feng Zhong sent people to buy, so only used In a little more than a day, Xiang Kang made twenty steel knives that he promised to give to Uncle Xiang, and on the pretext that his brother had found buyers in other places, he took all the newly made steel knives out of the construction site and sent them to At the home of my third aunt.

It was also at this time that Xiang Kang knew that Xiang You was going to deliver the steel knives to Xiapi in person to Xiang Bo. Considering that the journey was not too far away, twenty steel knives were not very eye-catching. Xiang Bo's own son must miss his father, so Xiang Kang didn't stop him. He just explained carefully that Xiang You must be careful on the road, and kindly asked Li Dian, who had a good relationship with Feng Zhong, for a guide so that Xiang You could He went north legally and legally, and then he never asked about this matter again.

According to Xiang Kang's prediction, after Xiang You and Han Li went north with steel knives, although they were interrogated twice at checkpoints along the way, because the number of steel knives was not very large, Xiang You brought Shilingting Li Dian out. Therefore, there were no intentional difficulties and careful interrogation at the checkpoints along the way. Xiang You, who was delivering goods to the merchant, and Han Li, who was traveling with him, passed through with a wave of his hand. Pi, the steel knife was sent directly to the home of 'Han Liang' who lived outside Xiapi city.

After fleeing for nearly a year, he only met his nephews briefly, and suddenly saw his own son delivering a knife to his door. Uncle Xiang, who still cared about his family, couldn't help but be overjoyed. Then he and Xiang You hugged each other and cried.However, after learning that his son only brought twenty steel knives this time, Uncle Xiang, who was quite bad-tempered, immediately turned his anger into anger, and asked his son, "Sui Er, what I want is fifty knives for my father?" , why did you send so much?"

"It's Xiang Kang who won't give it." Xiang You waited for his father's words, and immediately said: "He said that he and Feng Zhong, the original pavilion chief, opened the blacksmith shop in Shiling Pavilion. If you don't have much money, you can't make fifty knives, and you can only give your father twenty at most."

"The head of the pavilion, Feng Zhong?" Uncle Xiang was stunned, and said in doubt: "That bastard Feng Zhong, didn't he bring someone to our house to arrest me last time? Why did Xiang Kang get involved with him?"

What is adding oil and vinegar, Xiang You's words in response are called adding oil and vinegar. In front of his biological father, Xiang You, who had long been full of resentment towards Xiang Kang, poured bitter water on him. After that, I also talked about Xiang Kang’s rise to fame in the underworld with the indirect help of Feng Zhong. At the end, he insisted that Xiang Kang became ungrateful after he became rich, and he only cared about his own food and drink, and he didn’t care about Xiang’s brothers and two aunts. He was even more stingy with Uncle Xiang, no matter how much he and his mother begged, they just didn't want to give Uncle Xiang a few more steel knives.

"...Father, in fact, Xiang Kang is just looking for an excuse, and he is unwilling to pay that little money. I know how he uses the knife, that is, he burns charcoal first, then uses the coke to make iron, and then casts it like a bronze tripod. Pour molten iron into the mold to cast a knife. It is convenient and simple. Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Guan and I can help him, and we can make a knife quietly with Feng Zhong behind our backs. But no matter how much my mother and I begged him, he I just don’t agree, because I’m afraid of paying that little money…”

"Stop talking!" Uncle Xiang finally spoke, interrupted his son with a livid face, and then said with a bit of gritted teeth: "He doesn't want to give up the little money! He doesn't recognize me as an uncle, and I don't recognize him as a nephew!"

"Brother Xiang, calm down." Zhang Liang, whose alias Han Liang was next to him, said kindly, "Nephew Xiang Kangxian should not be that kind of person, he must have his own difficulties. Besides, you want nephew Xiang Kangxian to give it to you in one breath." Sending so many knives over here, once the government finds out on the way, the government will definitely suspect the origin and whereabouts of these knives, as long as you continue to investigate, your whereabouts may be exposed, which is not good for you."

Uncle Xiang remained silent with a stern face, and Zhang Liang persuaded him again: "It's my fault too, I shouldn't have asked Brother Xiang to prepare weapons for me, well, I didn't say what I said before, let's find a way to get it elsewhere. Weapons, don't embarrass nephew Xiang Kangxian anymore."

According to the book, the reason why Xiang Bo asked Xiang Kang Shizi for fifty high-quality steel knives in one breath was because of Zhang Liang's casual remark - he accidentally saw a knife from Shiling Pavilion in Xiapi Market. Steel knives, and heard that such a sharp weapon was made by Xiang Kang, whom he had met once. Zhang Liang was talking about this with Xiang Bo, so he casually asked Xiang Bo for some of these steel knives.On the one hand, Xiang Bo was grateful for Zhang Liangrong's kindness in protecting him, and on the other hand, he wanted to show off his uncle's airs, so there was a story of sending a letter asking for a knife.

The perpetrators have already changed their minds, and it stands to reason that this matter should be settled.However, it is a pity that Uncle Xiang, who felt that he had lost face, refused to let it go, and suddenly slammed the case and shouted: "No way! A gentleman will never chase you! I promised Brother Han that you will definitely do it. I'm going back to Shiling Pavilion now, and I'll go to Xiang Kang for the knife myself, and see if he will give it to me!"

"Brother Xiang, this is not a joke." Zhang Liang hurriedly said, "You were in Shiling Pavilion for the murderer, and the last time you went home, you were discovered by the soldiers there. Going back now, what is it if you don’t throw yourself into a trap?”

Uncle Xiang closed his mouth, and Zhang Liang asked Xiang You, "Nephew, do you know what method Nephew Xiang Kang used to forge iron? How can the iron knife be so tough and sharp? Can you tell me?" Us? If possible, I will let people open a blacksmith shop in Xiapi to make knives by themselves, so that nephew Xiang Kangxian will not be embarrassed."

"Uncle, it's not that my nephew doesn't want to tell you, it's that I don't know. My cousin is too skilled. There is a link in iron making. He doesn't tell anyone, and he doesn't let anyone see it."

Xiang You smiled wryly. First, he briefly explained Xiang Kang's iron-making method, and then introduced a key link that Xiang Kang did by himself and never allowed others to know.Zhang Liang smiled wryly when he heard this, and said to Uncle Xiang, "Brother Xiang, it seems that you and I have underestimated your good nephew. I didn't expect him to have such a plan. Keep it a secret from your brothers."

"Little Zhuzi!" Uncle Xiang slammed his fist on the table again, and shouted with a dark face, "I'll ask him for it myself, and see if he will give it to you! Youer, bring me a letter back, asking Xiang Kang That kid wrote his secret method into a letter and sent it to me!"

"This..." Xiang You said with a puzzled face, "Father, what if Xiang Kang insists on not giving it? You also know that Xiang Kang is not only stingy, but also speaks better than anyone else. If he finds various reasons to insist What if I don't give it?"

"Brother Xiang, I don't think you can do that." Zhang Liang also said, "Nephew Xiang Kang is so shrewd that he would never teach others such an important method of making iron. Although you are his uncle, Brother Xiang, if he Knowing that you are going to teach it to me, you will definitely not give it."

"White-eyed wolf, how did our Xiang family raise such a white-eyed wolf?" Xiang Bo, who was already very angry at his son's instigation, gritted his teeth, and he didn't want to lose face in front of his friends, so he said, "Then I'll call him Come to Xiapi, ask him face to face, and see if he will give you."

"Brother Xiang, it's best not to do this." Zhang Liang warned: "Not to mention that nephew Xiang Kangxian may not come, even if he is really ordered to come to see you, there is something wrong."

"What's wrong?" Xiang Bo asked.

Zhang Liang explained: "Don't forget, Nephew Xiang Kangxian is a blacksmith who jointly opened the blacksmith shop with the pavilion chief who once brought people to arrest us, and he has mastered the key technique. Feng Zhong's pavilion chief will also know immediately, once he becomes suspicious and investigates the whereabouts of Xiang Kangxian's nephew, Brother Xiang, your whereabouts may be known by the officials of the Tyrant Qin, so it's best to be careful."

Not daring to rule out this possibility, Uncle Xiang had no choice but to give up his plan to force Xiang Kang to come to visit him in Pi, and couldn't help gnashing his teeth again, saying: "Accept the thief as your father! He knew that Feng Zhong wanted to arrest me, and he still had to fight with him." He is a friend and partnered to open a blacksmith shop, why didn't I find this kid so heartless before?"

Because he has always cherished the dream of restoring the country, Zhang Liang really wanted to know what method Xiang Kang used to make a good iron knife. After thinking for a while, he gave Xiang Bo an idea and said, "Brother Xiang, if you must It is not impossible to meet nephew Xiang Kangxian. You can go to the side of Shiling Pavilion and find a safer place to wait, and then ask your son to invite Mr. Xiang Kang to meet you. After the meeting Come back right away, and you'll be fine."

"But you absolutely can't directly enter the Shiling Pavilion." Zhang Liang quickly added: "You were committed by the people who killed there. Not only are the government's investigations strict, but there are also many people who know you. Your identity may be exposed at any time. , to find a place not far from Shiling Pavilion, where there are few people who know you, so as to be safe."

"It's not far from Shiling Pavilion, and there are few people who know me? Is it more suitable there?"

Uncle Xiang pondered in his mind and tried to recall the places that met these two conditions, but before Xiang Bo could think of a suitable place, Xiang You who was next to him had an idea and hurriedly said, "Father, why don't you go to Yanji Pavilion in Ling County? It is less than two hours away from Shiling Pavilion, and it is in Ling County, almost no one knows you, and if you are waiting for Xiang Kang to meet there, Xiang Kang must go there."

"Why?" Xiang Bo asked casually.

"Because Xiang Kang and the daughter of Duke Yu's family in Yan Jiting are already engaged." Xiang You hurriedly explained, first, he briefly explained Xiang Kang's proposal to the Yu family, and then introduced that although Duke Yu promised marriage, he still wanted to play tricks and deny it. Then he said: "I think, father, after you arrive at Yanji Pavilion, you can go directly to Yu's house to wait for Xiang Kang, and ask that Duke Yu to fulfill his promise by the way. Xiang Kang must thank you if he knows it, and you can ask him for the secret method of iron smelting." , he just can’t give it if he wants to.”

Uncle Xiang was very moved when he heard that, and somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Jian's dishonesty, he slapped his thigh and said, "Okay, let's go to Yanjiting, meet that little bastard Xiang Kang there, and tell him something for him by the way." Speaking of marriage, that old man surnamed Yu wanted to keep his word, so he asked me, my uncle, if I would agree."

"Wait." Zhang Liang hurriedly stopped him, and asked Xiang You: "Nephew, is that Duke Yu reliable? Will he sell your father? Also, the one who is competing with your cousin to ask for marriage from the Yu family." Shanyou Lieutenant of Ling County, did you do anything later?"

"Uncle Han, don't worry, that Duke Yu is as cowardly as a mouse, and he would never dare to sell my father, otherwise our Xiang family brothers will never spare him!"

Xiang You made a confident assurance, hesitated for a while, and decisively concealed the fact that his brother helped the Yu family to punish Shan Youwei's white-gloved Misan, and said: "As for that Shan Youwei, I just heard that he threatened the Yu family with a letter. , and asked the Yu family and Xiang Kang to withdraw their marriage and marry their daughter to his son, but Yu Gong ignored him, and then there was no news."

Zhang Liang closed his eyes and thought about it, combined with the last time Xiang Kang took the Xiang family brothers to the Yu family to cheat for food and drink, and considering that the Yu family has a great career, he would not dare to offend the Xiang family's desperadoes, Zhang Liang I also believed that the Yu family would not betray Uncle Xiang, but considering the grievances between the Xiang family and Shan Youwei, Zhang Liang was a little worried, so he opened his eyes and said, "Brother Xiang, it's better to change to another place. Your nephew and the right lieutenant of Ling County had a feud, once you reveal your identity, the consequences will definitely be disastrous."

Uncle Xiang hesitated for a while, but after thinking about it for a while, Uncle Xiang shook his head again and said, "It's okay, almost no one at Yanjiting knows me, so it's so easy to reveal my identity? Besides, Yanjiting and Xiapi also border each other. No, I can come right back."

Indeed, he was more greedy for Xiang Kang's iron-making secret method. Seeing Uncle Xiang's insistence, Zhang Liang no longer insisted on blocking him, nodded and said, "Okay, but it's best like this. Brother Xiang, you go with Xiang You and Han Li. Good distance and time, Brother Xiang, you and nephew Xiang Youxian went to Yu’s house to wait for Xiang Kang there, and asked Han Li to send a letter to Xiang Kang at Shiling Pavilion, telling him to go to Yanji Pavilion immediately. In this way, Brother Xiang, you don’t need to be at Yanji Pavilion Waiting too much time, we can come back right away after meeting and discussing things well.”

Xiang Bo agreed, and also praised his friend for his meticulousness, and his consideration of time and details.Next to you, Xiang You clenched his fists quietly, and said in his heart: "There is hope, my father always loves me more, I begged him to come forward on the road, and asked him to propose to another daughter of the Yu family for me, and he would definitely agree. I will not face Xiang Kang like my mother, saying that I will deal with Xiang Kang's affairs first. Yu Gong is afraid of my father's prestige, so maybe he will agree. I like the two daughters of the Yu family. I don't care if I can marry Anyone can!"

…………

In this way, after hastily preparing the luggage, it was early in the morning of the next day that Xiang Bo, Xiang You and his son, and Han Li went out to the south. On the way, they estimated the time and distance according to Zhang Liang's instructions, and arrived at the At the fork in the road, they parted ways. Uncle Xiang, Xiang You and his son went east to Yanji Pavilion to visit Duke Yu, while Han Li continued southward, and came to Shiling Pavilion to meet Xiang Kang again.

Putting the distance here, and catching up with the heavy snowfall, Han Li didn't arrive at the Shiling Pavilion until the next day's close to noon. Then, like last time, Han Li first visited the third aunt's house, and then another of Xiang Bo's One of his sons, Xiang Sui, came forward and invited Xiang Kang, who lived and ate almost all in the blacksmith shop, and finally explained the reason to Xiang Kang, asking Xiang Kang to come to Yanjiting to meet Xiang Bo and Xiang You within the day.As a matter of course, when he learned that Uncle Xiang and Xiang You had already gone to Yanjiting, Xiang Kang, of course, looked ashen on his horse, and he opened his mouth and yelled, "What? My third uncle went to Yu's house in Yanjiting? He lost his mind and ran away. What are you doing at Yanji Pavilion?!"

"Xiang Gong has something important to discuss with you. He knew you couldn't go to Xiapi, so he had to wait for you at the nearby Yanji Pavilion." I have already promised to marry my daughter to you, but I am not sure about the date of marriage, so I want to personally do this for you, and it is also for the sake of your son."

Xiang Kang patted his forehead and was speechless. After wiping his forehead vigorously, Xiang Kang turned around and rushed out. The third aunt behind hurriedly shouted: "Kang'er, call your brothers, we don't worry about you going alone. "

"It's too late!" Xiang Kang said loudly without turning his head: "I'm going to tell them to leave immediately! Don't harm the Yu family, and don't harm themselves!"

(End of this chapter)