Ming Empire

Chapter 42

Early in the morning, Zhang An, the guarding eunuch of Datong Mansion, had just washed up under the service of two young maids, when a servant came in to report: "Master, the new General Cao is here to visit the mansion. Did you see him or not?"

"Cao Yue Cao Zongbing?" After getting the confirmation from his servants, Zhang An chuckled, "I think he should come too!"

"Master," Zhang An didn't say whether he saw him or not, and the servant was a little confused, so he had to ask again, "Master, are you... planning to see him? Or... I see that he brought a generous gift!"

"Go, invite Cao Zongbing to the main hall!"

"Yes, master!" The servant hurried away.

Zhang An didn't dare to neglect, and went to the main hall to greet him first.After a while, the servant just now led Cao Yue into the hall.

Behind Cao Yue were two attendants who came in carrying a box.

"I don't know that Cao Zongbing came to visit, and the miscellaneous family is far away. Forgive, forgive!" Zhang An smiled and went forward to greet him, his eyes naturally fell on the box Cao Yue brought, and he was guessing in his heart. What is it wearing.

Zhang An's petty actions naturally did not deceive Cao Yue, he pointed to the box and said to Zhang An with a smile, "Eunuch Zhang, a mere courtesy is not a respect!"

"Cao Zongbing is polite," Zhang An suddenly smiled, "How dare the miscellaneous family accept Cao Zongbing's gift!"

"Eunuch Zhang please accept it with a smile," Cao Yue said, and ordered the two attendants behind him to open the box.

The box was full of white silver, which made Zhang An squint his eyes.

At least 2 taels of silver immediately made Zhang An happy.Datong is a barren place, and the filial piety that Zhang An can usually get is only a few thousand taels at most. Seeing that Cao Yue gave him such a generous meeting gift, his happy eyes almost narrowed into the slits of his flesh.

Cao Yue enjoyed looking at Zhang An's surprised look after seeing so much money. What Cao Chao said was true. Zhang An was indeed a money fanatic, and he couldn't take his eyes off when he saw the money.He knew that as long as Zhang An accepted his gift, he would listen to him in the future.

It took a while for Zhang An to recover from the shock, rubbed his hands, and said embarrassedly: "Cao Zongbing, you are too out of touch, your gift is too heavy, and the miscellaneous family dare not accept it!"

"Eunuch Zhang is being polite. This is just a small meaning of the lower official. Although my father once guarded Datong, the lower official is too young to get his father's love. In the future, Zhang An'an will need to take care of and help. This is a small gift, and the father-in-law should not I rejected it, or I would look down on the next official!"

"Cao Zongbing is really too polite." Seeing that Cao Yue is so understanding of the world and so generous in his actions, Zhang An's impression of the new Datong commander-in-chief suddenly changed, and he said with a charming smile: "Since Cao Zongbing said so, the miscellaneous family I didn’t dare to refuse any more, so I accepted it.”

Zhang Gong also immediately ordered the two eunuchs beside him to carry the silver box down, and then drove the other servants away.He is a fine person, knowing that Cao Yue sent such a generous gift, he must have something to ask for.He has already received the emperor's secret decree, and Cao Yue is so sensible, as long as there is nothing embarrassing, he decided not to make things difficult for Cao Yue, and will try his best to cooperate.

Seeing Zhang Anping retreating from the people around him, Cao Yue also asked his two followers to leave the house.

After only he and Zhang An were left in the house, Cao Yue also cut to the chase and said, "Eunuch Zhang, the Datong town soldiers were almost completely lost in the Battle of Songshan. , so as not to be unpredictable. The last general dare not disobey, so some recruiting and rectifying the army, I also ask Eunuch Zhang to support us a lot!"

"Naturally we need to support this," Zhang An agreed without hesitation, "Your Majesty also has a decree to come to the Zajia, and the Zajia will fully support Cao Zongbing's recruitment and rectification of Datong's army. It's just that the Zajia is not very familiar with military affairs, and some places even invite Cao. Commander-in-Chief, please remind me."

"Eunuch Zhang is being polite, and I will remember Eunuch Zhang's kindness in the end." Cao Yue knew that Zhang An was an old fox, and most of the time he just wanted benefits, but he didn't point it out, and continued to ask Zhang An, "Eunuch Zhang, there is something I still need your help."

Zhang An said with a chuckle, "Even though Zongbing Cao orders, as long as the miscellaneous family can do it, they will definitely do it."

"That's it," Cao Yue saw that Zhang An was very talkative today, and he understood that it was because of the generous gift he gave him, so he immediately expressed his request, "Eunuch Zhang, this time our Daming army repelled the Jiannu siege outside Songshan City. , it all depends on firearms. There is a great shortage of firearms in Datong Town, so I want to use the weapons workshop under my father-in-law's management to build a batch of firearms. Of course, I don't need my father-in-law to worry about all the expenses for making firearms. I will figure out how to do it myself Solve it. After the firearm is finished, there will be another tribute to the father-in-law at the end."

"Cao Zongbing is too far-fetched." Hearing Cao Yue said that there are benefits for him, Zhang An was overjoyed. Originally, he wanted to cooperate with Cao Yue, so he readily agreed, "The miscellaneous family thought it was something big." It turned out to be this. General Bing Cao, don’t worry. Tomorrow, the miscellaneous family will talk to the manager of the weapons shop in Datong, and everything will be at the command of General Cao. One thing that General Bing Cao doesn’t need to worry about is that the materials needed to make firearms are in Datong. There are all of them, and the workshop technicians are quite complete, if Cao Zongbing feels that there is something missing, just talk to the miscellaneous family."

Unexpectedly, Zhang An agreed so readily, Cao Yue was quite surprised, and immediately stood up, cupping his fists as thanks: "Then I will thank Eunuch Zhang."

Zhang An smiled and returned the gift: "Cao Zongbing, we will work together in Datong in the future, and we will definitely cooperate happily. In the future, don't be polite with Zajia. If you need help from Zajia, please just say it!"

Zhang An didn't expect Cao Yue to be so sophisticated at such a young age, he honored him generously, and promised to continue to benefit him in the future.Zhang An knew that building firearms must cost a lot, and he was happy if some of the money flowed into his pocket.

If Cao Yue really gave him kickbacks, he expected Cao Yue to build more firearms and spend more money.

What Cao Yue needs most now is a large number of high-quality firearms. The quality of the firearms used in the military today is not very good.Before crossing, he stayed in the field army for many years, and he has a lot of research on firearms.Although today's manufacturing process can't be compared with that of later generations, he still has some experience in grasping the quality.

If you can personally master the process of firearm manufacturing, the quality of the finished product will definitely be better, and the probability of failure will be less.Today, firearms workshops everywhere, including those in Beijing, are all run by eunuchs.Although this made Cao Yue very dissatisfied, he was powerless to change now, so he could only accept and adapt, benefit others, and get what he needed.

Cao Yueshen knew the important use of firearms in warfare. The combat effectiveness of an army armed with guns and explosives must be far better than that of an army with the same training but not equipped with firearms.After Cao Yue came to Datong, he was ready to train his troops well and train a team of elite soldiers.

At the same time as training, he must arm his army well, and building firearms and ordnance is an immediate task.

For this, he has done a lot of preparations!
(End of this chapter)