Yao Zheng first looked at the equipment and felt the weight of these things.
Then, he continued to test the strength of the kitchen knife.
"A precious blade that cuts iron like clay!"
While he was testing, Blacksmith Zhang also came.
"Here, let's see if these devices can be copied! If so, how much will it cost?"
Zhang Tiejiang and others who were dining with the Yao family came over and looked at the equipment curiously.
“These tools are so weird!”
"This one looks like a columbine, and this curved plow is so exquisitely designed."
"What material are these made of? They look like wood but not wood, they look like iron but not iron? They are actually transparent in color."
Seeing the admiration of many craftsmen, Yao Zhengxian hurriedly asked: "Masters, can you confirm the effectiveness of these tools?"
"Master, this seeder is so ingenious. I just tested its strength. It's harder than fine iron, but the overall weight is only ten kilograms. We can also make these things. But the production cost is very high. A set of this kind of machine costs at least Twelve taels of silver is totally unacceptable to the tenants."
"Twelve taels? Why is it so expensive?"
"Master! We make this tool purely by hand. It requires at least 4 craftsmen and takes at least 10 days to make a farm tool."
"Then why did Yong'er say that the price of this farming tool is only two copper coins?"
"Two guan of money? This is impossible. Unless the purchase price of fine iron is ignored, no one can use two guan of money to make such an ingenious farm tool."
In the Song Dynasty, there were always about 1,000 copper coins, which was always equivalent to one tael of silver.
"Yes, Master, who did you listen to? This is a joke."
"We definitely can't make these things with 2 taels of silver here."
"Master, with so much fine iron, the selling price is definitely not cheap. If you only sell two pieces, you will definitely lose money!"
Yao Zheng nodded first, then listened to the stories of these blacksmiths, and then confirmed that these people could not make it, and he became very curious about the Chunfeng Caravan.
"Okay, you guys go down first and take these farm tools with you for farming and use them to confirm whether they are as useful as you say!"
Yao Zheng drove off the blacksmith first, and then looked at several agricultural equipment that he had left behind.
Experiment to find out the truth!
When he saw the power of these tools with his own eyes, Yao Zhengxian knew what he had to do.
You don’t have to worry about brand new knives and various daily necessities, but you must pay attention to things related to agriculture.
"This matter is very important, I want to go to Jinling!"
Yao Zheng first left behind the farm tools used in his farmland, and then wrote a few letters to the people he was close to.
For example, the Lu family is also a general, the lonely Yang family, etc.!
Afterwards, Yao Zheng first asked people to pack their bags, and then prepared to go to Jinling tomorrow to discuss with his family the items produced by the Dongfeng Caravan.
With the size of his Yao family branch, there is no way he can take on the Chunfeng Caravan.
Unless the owner gets involved.
If they can control the mysterious Chunfeng Caravan, their Yao family's strength will definitely rise to the next level.
However, the plan could not keep up with the change. Before Yao Zhengxian went to Jinling, he received a letter from his third son Yao Yong.
A letter that requires Yao Zheng to go to Yuhang Town in person first.
Looking at the letter, Yao Zhengxian frowned: "Has Yong'er been trapped?"
The person who came to deliver the letter was a servant who had been raised by his family since he was a child. He was loyal and reliable, and there was no possibility of betraying his family in a short period of time.
The servant quickly replied: "Replying to the master, the Third Young Master has never been restricted. After his private chat with the Chunfeng Caravan, he seemed to be mentally stimulated and became a little excited."
"Got it, arrange the carriages and horses, and go to Yuhang Town first!"
"Yes, sir!"
The team originally headed to Jinling went directly to Yuhang Town.
Yao Zhengxian was old and it took him two days to reach Yuhang Town after traveling more than 100 miles.
After arriving here, he immediately found his third son Yao Yong.
"Why do you need me to come and discuss it in person?"
"Father, the Dongfeng Caravan is really too capable. If you don't see it, you won't realize their strength!" Yao Yong invited his father Yao Zheng to sit down first.
Then he told me everything he had seen and heard in the past few days.
"The Romance of Fairy Wood"
When Yao Zhengxian heard that various industrial products were being shipped continuously from overseas, he was not surprised. When he heard that the load of the ship reached 100,000 materials, he suddenly raised his eyebrows: "An iron-clad ship with 100,000 materials? Where in the world is this?"
Is there such a big ship?”
"Father, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought that what I saw was just a rumor. But after seeing those ships and those artillery pieces, I realized that I was a frog in the well."
"Ship? Artillery?"
"Yes, I saw the artillery yesterday! I saw with my own eyes that those ships fired the cannon, eroding a mountain, and easily crushing the rubble with a radius of more than a hundred feet into powder." Yao Yong was very excited when he said this.
What Yao Yong saw was actually something specially revealed by the people from the Dongfeng Caravan.
On the surface, they said that they saw the cement workers working too hard and felt pity for them, so they used weapons to dig out the rocks. But in doing so, they were actually attacking the mountains to shock the tigers.
Yao Zhengxian felt incredible: "Are those artillery really so powerful?"
"Yes, the artillery destroyed half of the mountain. I saw it with my own eyes."
"Hey, if it's true, then this matter is very important!"
"Yes, the origins of those in the Spring Wind Caravan are mysterious. Their methods are so powerful, and they possess extraordinary force and sharp weapons. If they deal with the Song Dynasty, there will definitely be waves."
Yao Yong came over and whispered: "Father, I think this is an opportunity for our army. We must find out their strength as soon as possible so that we can fight for the identity and status we deserve!"
boom!
Hearing Yao Yong speak like this, Yao Zheng was so angry that he slammed the table: "What nonsense! Never say such treasonous words in the future."
Yao Yong looked at the vaguely visible heads around him and nodded respectfully.
After a while, the two of them found an excuse to send everyone away, and then whispered to each other: "These news are indeed surprising, but I don't think it is the reason why it is inconvenient to say it in your letter, right?"
Yao Yong nodded: "Father Mingjian, the artillery bombing of the rocks frightened me, but I didn't ask you to come here because of this before. I asked you to come here in person because of the weapons manufacturing and procurement of weapons for the Chunfeng Caravan.
"
Yao Yong swallowed his saliva and said slowly: "The people of the Spring Breeze Caravan are very capable. They can not only produce farm tools, but also produce ordnance on a large scale!"
"Producing ordnance on a large scale? The purpose of these people is definitely not simple."
There is no small matter in the military. These people from overseas are so mysterious that they must have some agenda.
Yao Yong nodded, then shook his head: "Father, I feel like these people are here purely for business."
"Why do you think so?"
"A few days ago, I was amazed after seeing the various farm tools they produced. At that time, I met the person in charge of the Chunfeng Caravan. During the exchange, I speculated about their good and evil, and I had an idea at that time and asked them if they could produce ordnance.
.Father, do you know what they said?"
"How to say?"
"They said they could produce it. However, ordnance is a matter of national importance and requires official approval! I laughed at the time and said that our family had connections in the court. Then they lowered their guard, and then based on the conditions I proposed, they gave the cost and ordnance production details.
time."
"Please tell me in detail!"
"In order to verify their ordnance production capabilities, I specially customized 5,000 Miao knives made of hundreds of steel. They can produce them in three days. However, they said that it takes some time to transport the weapons, so it will take about half a month for the weapons to arrive.
time."
"5,000 weapons can be produced in only three days?"
"Yes, according to the requirements and styles I put forward, the weapons must have the markings used in various places in the Song Dynasty. They gave an accurate answer that they could be produced in three days."
"Such a productive capacity, so terrifying!"
"Yes, father, this is the operation that I asked you to come here personally. Father, do you know the purchase price of the ordnance?"
"How much does it cost?"
"It's one-fifth cheaper than the weapons made by our military state, but the performance is completely different. The materials used to make the weapons are all made from steel. These weapons are as sharp as clay, and each one can be regarded as a family heirloom.
.”
"Hiss..." Yao Zhengxian only felt that Yahuazi was sore from the ice.
Weapons cost so much and can be mass-produced. He felt a strong sense of crisis in his heart.
"If we increase large-scale procurement, how fast can they produce it? How much will it cost?"
"They said the cost can be reduced by another half. It can produce 100,000 knives, 100,000 swords, and 100,000 standard infantry armors every month!"
Yao Zhengxian wiped the sweat from his forehead in disappointment: "The arrow is disabled and cannot be produced? Can you confirm whether what they said is true or false?"
In ancient warfare, weapons and armor were indispensable, and crossbows were the absolute elite in ancient infantry warfare. They were also a weapon against cavalry.
These people can produce weapons and armor, and naturally they can also produce arrows and crossbows.
"I asked about it and found out that the divine arm crossbows they mass-produce are very powerful and can be used with only three-thirds of the usual effort. The production speed of the divine arm crossbows and arrows is also extremely amazing. They said that if they produce them at full capacity, they can be used in three minutes.
Arm millions of people within a month!”
"This...is this nonsense?"
"Father, I originally thought they were like this, but when I saw their equipment, I felt that they were indeed capable of mass-producing weapons! Father, do you know the military workshop production management method proposed by Mr. Ao?"
"Ao Xianggong's military workshop management method?"
"Yes, the Chunfeng Caravan not only masters powerful management methods, but also masters extremely powerful production methods. I once saw with my own eyes in their winery that they produced more than ten thousand glass bottles in a day."
"Glass bottle?"
"Yes, completely transparent glass bottles. I was shocked when they used these transparent glass bottles as consumables!"
"At the time I asked them why they were doing this, and they said these were just industrial consumables!"
"Later, I inquired carefully and learned that the people from the Chunfeng Caravan cooperated with Yuhang Town to produce wine and spent huge sums of money to build workshops...just to do business!"
"The ability of these people to master assembly line production cannot be underestimated!"
Many people may not know that assembly line production existed as early as the Qin Dynasty.
There was also an assembly line in the Northern Song Dynasty.
The assembly line in the Northern Song Dynasty was forced out.
In the early Northern Song Dynasty, although weapons and equipment were manufactured by the government, due to the uneven distribution of iron ore and other resources, each military state could only organize its own production, and then the vassal treasury would recycle and manage them.
Over time, corruption has become serious in various places, and there are many substandard ordnance supplies.
More than fifty years ago, when the Song Dynasty tried to attack Xixia, Wang Anshi discovered this problem.
In order to strengthen the army, he directly took advantage of the flat-headed brother's attributes and made massive changes.
During the Reform Period, Wang Anshi reorganized all the ordnance workshops in the Song Dynasty, unified the ordnance production methods of the Song Dynasty, and adopted assembly line production to improve the ordnance production level of the Song Dynasty.
The unification of military workshops and the unified production of weapons allowed the armies of the Song Dynasty to regain their combat effectiveness in a short period of time.
It is a pity that Wang Anshi's actions touched the interests of the core strata of the Song Dynasty.
If Shenzong and Wang Anshi succeed in their reform, the Song Dynasty will definitely become great again.
In the future, Xixia will definitely be destroyed, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun will also have a chance to regain it.
It's a pity that Wang Anshi failed... and then there was nothing more.
Sometimes when you look back, you will find that the history of the dynasty is so regretful and cruel.
For example, for the sake of development, the special financial class consists of financial institutions that have been supported but failed.
Yao Yong simply told the story of how he went to the Chunfeng Caravan and was taken to the workshop to inspect the production situation.
Although the generals of the Song Dynasty were rather strange, the family behind Yao Yong and the generals were inextricably linked.
When they arrived at Yuhang Town, they attracted Chen Mu's attention.
In order to show their strength and develop, Chen Mu used various methods to let Yao Yong see their strength and see their power.
When the knife and money were revealed, Yao Yong naturally made a wise choice before harming the core of both parties.
Find dad, find generals, and then master these techniques.
After Yao Yong finished talking about the glass bottle, he continued: "I have been getting to know them these days. I found that they value technology very much and they are open to some technologies."
"I once asked in a roundabout way and found that they have a more sophisticated method. Father, you know that Xianggong Ao relied on new management methods to provide countless ordnance materials to hundreds of thousands of troops in the Song Dynasty. Naturally, they also have the ability to produce countless ordnance in a short period of time.
Supplies.”
Yao Zhengtian frowned: "If you really have this ability, then the Song Dynasty will change."
If these people really mastered the technology of mass production of ordnance, there would be countless variables in the future of the Northern Song Dynasty.
These people must not be offended.
Previously, the Song Dynasty only dealt with enemies in the north and paid little attention to overseas affairs.
Now that there are powerful enemies on the sea, the Song Dynasty's war strategy must change.
But now the Song Dynasty has bloated bureaucracy, uneven distribution of finance, taxation and power, land annexation, the solidification of the rich and poor classes, and the corruption of the ruling class, making it impossible for the Song Dynasty to undergo a reform like Shenzong.
Once these people cooperate with the Liao Kingdom in the north or Xixia to attack from both sides, the Song Dynasty will be in danger.
"Yong'er, how do these people treat others?"
When it comes to dealing with others, Yao Yong suddenly laughed: "Father, these people can be won over! When I visited the leaders of the Chunfeng Caravan, I found that they are well versed in Confucian culture and they can be on the same page."
"Okay, I'll visit them tomorrow to confirm their interests, and then contact the capital commander who is staying in Jinling!"
Early the next morning, Yao Zhengxian and Yao Yong went to the Dongfeng Caravan to inspect various industrial products and discuss matters such as ordnance production.
After several hours of communication, Ju Chengyan explained many things.
They came to the Song Dynasty to do business in a fair, just and open manner.
They are here to make money.
Therefore, the Chunfeng Caravan hoped for the stability of the Song Dynasty more than anyone else.
When he heard that these people wanted these weapons, Ju Chengyan smiled and said that those swords were backward weapons.
Under the curious eyes of Yao Zhengxian and others, Ju Chengyan asked someone to bring out a new weapon that had been prepared long ago - a hundred flintlock guns.
Then, a hundred people who came from the bend formed a team. They used three-stage shooting to punch holes in the target 200 meters in front, wearing stainless steel armor, and destroyed each target.
When the smoke cleared, Yao Zhengxian began to tremble.
After the flintlock demonstration was completed, Ju Chengyan had several extra large solid cannons pulled out.
This is similar to?∞(＾`＾)/
"With just a few artillery pieces, a solid city wall can be destroyed. This is the greatest weapon of all time!"
Seeing Ju Chengyan's kind smile, Yao Zheng and Yao Yong looked at each other first.
The power of these terrifying weapons shocked them.
Seeing the other party's shocked look, Ju Chengyan smiled and handed the flintlock gun to the other party: "Mr. Yao, these weapons are actually part of our trade. It's a pity that there has been no reply to the statement sent to the state army by Magistrate Song Zhong.
If you have a way to contact the Song Dynasty court, we can also sell these weapons to you!"
Yao Zheng swallowed his dry throat first and carefully looked at the weapon in his hand.
In his eyes, this was not just a flintlock gun and artillery, but a magic weapon that changed the offensive and defensive posture of Song and Liao.
If they had these weapons, they could easily destroy the Liao army's cavalry!
The future of the Song Dynasty is brilliant.uu Kanshu www.uukanshu.com
An exciting scene could not help but appear in Yao Zhengxian's mind.
In the endless wilderness, the Liao army's cavalry rushed towards the Song army's formation. Countless densely packed muskets were fired, and the projectiles easily penetrated the flesh and blood of the cavalry.
The cavalry fell one by one, and the Song Dynasty infantry achieved a crushing victory.
After the picture emerged in his mind, Yao Zhengxian's body began to tremble with excitement.
"If the Song Dynasty were equipped with 100,000, no, 50,000 flintlock muskets and 1,000 artillery pieces, we could drive the Liao Kingdom back to the grassland."
"Mr. Yao? Mr. Yao?"
Ju Chengyan's shouting interrupted Yao Zhengxian's contemplation.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm rude!"
"It doesn't matter. Anyone who sees weapons of this scale can't help but be excited. We can sell these weapons to you. As long as you need them!"
"Yes, of course I do! Shopkeeper Ju, please give us some time. These weapons are of great importance and I need to report them to my superiors! By the way, how much do these weapons cost?"
Upon hearing the price, Ju Chengyan suddenly had a bright smile on his face.
"The price, this... is easy to say~"
Half a day later, Yao Zhengxian left Yuhang Town.
He carried a hundred flintlock muskets, as well as a divine cannon and corresponding cannonballs.
Regardless of his old body, he traveled almost at night to Jiangnan East Road. After contacting the general manager, he dispatched 500 soldiers to escort these advanced weapons to Bianjing.
Twenty days later, a mighty team arrived in Bianjing.
These weapons soon appeared on the desk of the current Prime Minister Zhang Chun...
When Zhang Chun saw the power of these weapons, he knew that the Song Dynasty's opportunity had come!
"Quick, prepare the donkey cart, I'm going to see the official."
This chapter has been completed!