The words spoken by the prime minister in the Privy Council were naturally very serious, and the news quickly spread to the Song Dynasty palace.
Zhao Xu, who was recuperating, was shocked when he heard the news brought by Zhang Chun: "A farm tool that doubles the work efficiency? A weapon that can easily penetrate a 150-step infantry armor and easily destroy a human body? Quickly
Let Zhang Aiqing...and Cai Aiqing and others come over."
"promise!"
Soon, the elders of the Privy Council, the elders of the Shangshu Province, the elders of the Arms Supervisor, the elders of the Menxia Province, and a group of top military craftsmen from Bianliang City of the Great Song Dynasty gathered outside the palace.
Zhao Xu, who was pale and seemed to have run out of energy, held himself up. After being polite to everyone, he asked Zhang Chun to test the power of the flintlock gun and artillery.
Naturally, there are also dedicated people in charge of farm tools and the like.
The manufacturing process of farm tools aroused the exclamation of the craftsmen of the Song Dynasty.
After modern weapons such as flintlocks destroyed the Song Dynasty's strong Mingguang armor and infantry armor, countless exclamations rang out in the audience.
Seeing the power of these weapons, Zhao Xu looked solemn: "Mr. Zhang, are you sure these military weapons were made by foreigners overseas?"
"Guan family, I can guarantee that these military weapons were donated to the Song Dynasty court by people who call themselves the Chunfeng Caravan. These people are very confident that they can produce 100,000 sets of fine steel armors in one month.
Set of ordnance..." Zhang Chun simply told the news he got from Yao Zhengxian.
Before Zhang Chun came to Zhao Xu with these weapons and farm tools, he received several recommendation letters from managers on Zhejiang East Road.
Zhang Chun, who attached great importance to agriculture and military affairs, personally started experiments after seeing Yao Zheng.
He confirmed the authenticity of these things and immediately reported these epoch-making weapons and agricultural tools to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty.
"Then is there room for large-scale imitation of these weapons? How much does it cost? How long does it take to manufacture? How much manpower is required? Can it be mass-produced?"
An official from the Ordnance Supervision came out: "Steward, farm tools require at least three craftsmen, consume 15 kilograms of iron, and take three days to complete! As for these flintlock guns, the craftsmen are confident that they can make one within fifteen days.
"
"It took fifteen days to make one?"
"Butler, you don't know the technical difficulty of this flintlock gun. Just now Master Chen tested the strength of these muskets and found that they are all made of hundreds of refined steel."
Speaking of this, the craftsman's face showed a look of frustration: "Guan family, we in the Song Dynasty do not have the luxury to produce weapons with hundreds of refined steel."
"In addition to the fact that it is difficult to mass-produce steel, the design of this flintlock gun is even more exquisite, and its barrel is made with unheard-of technology. These steels are formed in one piece, and we cannot confirm how these barrels are produced. We can only
Manual production and then manual digging are extremely difficult, and half a month may be a conservative estimate!"
Listening to the craftsman's story, many officials looked at each other.
"Is there no way to copy it in batches?"
"The officials please atone, we can only produce in small batches."
"Zhang Aiqing, they are more than ten, right?"
"Nine times out of ten it's correct!"
Hearing what Zhang Chun said, Zhao Xu sighed: "I thought that the Song Dynasty had a vast land, rich resources, and abundant talents, but it could not even produce these weapons and agricultural tools."
Many officials dare not answer!
"My dear friends, how much do you know about those aliens? Do you think they can endanger the safety of the Song Dynasty? Can we obtain these advanced smelting technologies?"
"Guan family, we don't know much about those who call themselves the Spring Breeze Caravan."
"Officials, I heard from officials in Yuhang Town that the people in the Chunfeng Caravan are very principled, have strong martial arts skills, and are armed with sharp weapons. If they act rashly, they will cause a chain reaction."
Zhao Xu looked at Zhang Chun.
Seeing that he was going to take action on his own, Zhang Chun stepped out bravely, and then told what Yao Zheng saw and heard when he met him first.
When they heard that Yao Zheng had arrived in Shenjing first, everyone thought that there were witnesses who had seen the technology of Dongfeng Caravan.
Zhao Xu quickly summoned Yao Zhengxian.
Soon, Yao Zhengxian, who was waiting outside the palace, entered the palace.
Then the person involved told what he saw and heard. As a witness of modern weapons, he compared the Spring Breeze Caravan to civilized and very polite people.
These detailed insights caused a lot of discussion within the Song court.
Yao Zhengxian whitewashed the origin of the Chunfeng Caravan. He said that these people were proficient in Confucian customs and had left China to avoid war in the Wei and Jin Dynasties.
They traveled thousands of miles to return to China. The first reason was to appreciate the style of the Song Dynasty, and the second reason was to open up commerce and do business with the Song Dynasty.
Later, Yao Zhengxian told everything about what Chunfeng Caravan did in Yuhang Town.
Hearing them talk about the mutually beneficial cooperation and win-win model adopted by these people, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
They continued to listen and were amazed to learn from Yao Zhengxian that these people had arrived in Yuhang Town in a ship worth 100,000 yuan.
Hearing that these people made large quantities of farm tools and sold them to the people of the Song Dynasty at a loss, in order to increase everyone's food production, the officials of the Song Dynasty thought
"The officials, they have many armored ships that can transport 100,000 materials at a time. They have the ability to mass-produce weapons. The firearms I saw today are extremely advanced. This shows that the other party's manufacturing level is extremely high, and the Song Dynasty must not make enemies!
"
"Officials, if the above information is true, then the people of the Dongfeng Caravan can only be friends with each other, not enemies."
Everyone expressed their opinions, probably meaning that if the Chunfeng Caravan is strong, they need to make good friends with them.
The Song Dynasty seemed prosperous and powerful, but there were so many people who coveted the Song Dynasty.
Moreover, there was no natural protection in the north of the Song Dynasty. If the south turned against outsiders, the Song Dynasty would definitely fall into danger.
"Okay, regarding the exchange with the Chunfeng Caravan, the Ministry of Etiquette will send someone to handle it. Since they are interested in our tea, silk and porcelain, let's make a good deal. We also need to obtain their military technology and various manufacturing skills.
"
A meeting lasted for several hours before it ended.
Zhao Xu, who was frail and sick, could not support his body and returned to rest.
And Zhao Xu set the tone for cooperation with the Chunfeng Caravan and it was basically confirmed.
Zhao Xu had the ambition of his father, Song Shenzong, but unfortunately he did not have the body and bones of his father. This resulted in a very short time for him to deal with many government affairs.
Fortunately, in the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Chun worked hard to support him.
Although the reforms in the Northern Song Dynasty failed, the reformists still held some power.
Since the failure of the Yuanfeng New Deal, the conservatives headed by Sima Guang overthrew the reformists. Party strife continued in the Song Dynasty, and the Northern Song Dynasty declined.
Zhang Chun, who has always been focused on fighting and working hard, naturally knows the power of these equipment provided by the Dongfeng Caravan.
He organized various ministries and sent personnel to Yuhang Town to discuss cooperation with Chen Mu.
…
In Yuhang Town, in a school funded by Chen Mu, the county magistrate Song Zhong was wearing regular clothes and looking happily at the bright school in front of him.
I saw an old master in Confucian shank, holding a newly printed Song poem in his hand, reading aloud: "There is a house of gold in the book, and there is a face like jade in the book..."
Below, more than fifty children aged thirteen or fourteen were shaking their heads and repeating: "The book has its own golden house, and the book has its own beauty like jade..."
Song Zhong nodded with satisfaction. Some of these old masters he knew, and some were down-and-out scholars.
Their task is not to teach these students any etiquette, nor to teach them the Four Books and Five Classics and policy theory, but to teach them to read and read, to know the way of kings and ministers, and to understand etiquette, justice, integrity and shame.
Thinking about the changes in Yuhang Town during this period, Song Zhong sighed in his heart.
At first, he, Song Zhong, thought that these dragons crossing the river were going to fight for world supremacy. Then he was hypnotized by Chen Mu, and then he was convinced by the fair concept and teaching method of the Chunfeng Caravan.
It was something that Song Zhong could not even imagine, allowing the children of workers to read and become literate.
But the Spring Breeze Caravan actually dared to do it!
You can imagine how excited Song Zhong was at the moment when he could see Confucianism educating the world here.
Then I walked to the Opinion School and saw a large number of children reciting the Three Character Sutra.
"At the beginning of man's life, his nature is good..."
Song Zhong nodded with satisfaction and went back to write the booklet.
Ever since the Yao family discovered the changes here, Song Zhong's work has become busy.
Every day, he writes some notes and submits them to his superior, the manager, so that he can keep track of all the news here.
Song Zhong left, but the education in the school continued.
In the school where Li Xiaoyao was staying, a gentleman who was originally a cross talk speaker was reading aloud a modified version of the Legend of the Heroes of the Heroes.
I saw dozens of students here, listening carefully.
The students are like this, naturally because these stories are well told.
This method of telling stories every day was proposed by Chen Mu.
If you want your children to learn, it is best to combine work and rest.
Using stories that are mixed with country, nation and patriotic sentiments to activate people's suppressed hearts is what Chen Mu is doing here.
The story today is about Guo Jing, who led his troops to resist foreign barbarians for the sake of national justice.
Many children's blood boiled with excitement after hearing this, and they wished they could join in the plan to conquer the barbarians.
The great chivalrous person serves the country and the people!
These inspiring words also planted some seeds in Li Xiaoyao's heart who was listening to the story below.
…
Before I knew it, another month had passed.
Cai Jing, one of the treacherous officials of later generations and the current Vice Minister of the Privy Council, arrived in Yuhang Town.
With curiosity, he carefully observed the changes in Yuhang Town, and then came to a conclusion: the Chunfeng Caravan could not be offended.
Since you can't afford to offend, let's cooperate well.
The cooperation between the Chunfeng Caravan and the Song Dynasty finally took only three months to reach an agreement.
Tradeable commodities are also identified.
Munitions, weapons and food were all materials purchased by the Song Dynasty.
The ordnance provided by the Chunfeng Caravan was very good and was deeply loved by the officers and soldiers of the Song Dynasty.
And their prices are one-third or even one-fifth cheaper. This makes Da Song feel profitable.
The two sides almost reached cooperation on the bulk trade based on the principles of fairness and justice. The Song Dynasty exchanged tea, silk and exquisite porcelain for steel-making farm tools, various materials, and ordnance supplies.
In short, Da Song felt that he had won.
Chen Mu also traded with a smile.
Because they knew that these transactions were an important inducement to activate folk power in the Northern Song Dynasty.
Stimulating folk power in the Northern Song Dynasty was the first step in the awakening of folk workers in the Song Dynasty.
This step is accomplished with almost no effort.
Time flies, and one year has passed without realizing it.
During this year, great changes took place in the land of China.
The first is farm tools.
In the past year, hand farming tools have been selling well throughout the Song Dynasty.
As soon as these fine agricultural tools appeared, they were loved by all classes in the Song Dynasty.
Merchants can sell these agricultural tools to other places and earn the price difference.
When the gentry obtained these agricultural tools, they could directly give them to their own tenants or lease them to farmers for use.
When the rich farmers in the village obtain these things and improve their work efficiency, they can also increase crop production.
Farm tools were slaughtered indiscriminately, as were all types of supporting daily necessities.
Although the reform in the Northern Song Dynasty failed, the people were very wealthy after hundreds of years of accumulation.
Soaps, perfumes, glass products, and drinks mass-produced in cooperation with the ruling class of the Song Dynasty have been selling well throughout the Song Dynasty.
Even the distant Liao Kingdom, Xixia, and Nanzhao Kingdom are now attracted by these exquisite things.
In industrial production, not to mention other supporting things.
Various daily necessities made of iron and steel, such as kitchen knives, scissors, and needlework, were also circulated in the Southern and Zhejiang provinces of the Song Dynasty. Within three years at most, these items could be circulated throughout the Song Dynasty.
After more than a year of operation, Chunfeng Caravan gained a great reputation in the Song Dynasty.
Their spirit of selfless dedication won the love of people in the Song Dynasty.
This was true in the civil affairs, and the military cooperation between the two sides in the Song Dynasty became even closer.
Cai Jing, dispatched by Zhang Chun, arrived in Yuhang Town. After seeing the huge ships of the Chunfeng Caravan with his own eyes, he reached cooperation on some matters.
For example, the Song Dynasty purchased 200,000 sets of armor, 200,000 sets of swords, crossbows and other materials.
Of course, they also purchased 30,000 muskets and 500 artillery pieces of various calibers.
These artillery pieces were quickly installed in the Forbidden Army of the Song Dynasty.
After the officers and soldiers received the new weapons, they chopped them up on the spot, and then they completely fell in love with these sophisticated weapons.
The training and teaching of new muskets are also proceeding in an orderly manner.
In half a year at most, the first musketry unit of the tenth century will appear on this land.
The emergence of musketeers represents the decline of kung fu and martial arts.
But this takes a long time!
The two sides have cooperated smoothly in both civilian and military fields. In philosophy, thought, and humanities, the two sides have also conducted various exchanges.
Sociologists who pretended to be Confucianists only spread some scientific knowledge to these scholar-bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty!
For example, chemical knowledge, steel smelting knowledge, mechanical production knowledge, mathematical knowledge, and statistical knowledge.
At this moment, the Song Dynasty was at a time of prosperity and had not yet experienced the torment of Song Huizong Zhao Ji, so they could not spread the treasonous remarks at this time.
This scientific knowledge alone has made the scholar-bureaucrats of the Song Dynasty overjoyed.
The transformation of Confucianism and scholar-bureaucrats began in the Southern Song Dynasty. After more than a hundred years of evolution, and then the needs of major rulers, Confucianism began to become complacent and rigid.
If you practice the truth, you will be beaten if you fall behind!
Our ancestors knew this truth during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, but with the needs of dynasty rule, Confucianism was abruptly turned into a knowledge that tightly bound people's thoughts.
With the emergence of these scientific knowledge books, these scholar-bureaucrats in the Song Dynasty were like hungry young women, crazily craving for positive energy from their lovers.
This year was the year when science and technology became popularized in the Song Dynasty.
It was also the year when Chen Mu established a firm foothold in the Song Dynasty.
A certain village outside Yuhang Town.
Several large tin speakers shouted, and they were followed by several local Li Zheng.
"We're recruiting, we're recruiting. In half a month, the Chunfeng Caravan will reach a cooperation agreement with the local county magistrate to build a cement road leading to Yangzhou. Each worker will earn 100 cash per day, including room and board, and three meals! Only
If you work during the slack time, you will return when the farming season is busy, and if you do well, you will be rewarded with a manual tiller."
The big tin loudspeaker shouted wildly, and curious villagers immediately came over.
"Lao Lizheng, are you telling the truth? Is there any good thing in the world like giving money to build roads?"
This matter of building bridges and paving roads existed in the Song Dynasty, but it was either initiated by the gentry and mobilized the surrounding people to participate in the process by subsidizing meals, or the court imposed corvee labor.
They actually gave money to pave the road, which completely subverted everyone's perception.
"It can't be true! Haven't you seen the reputation of the Chunfeng Caravan? They keep their word and have never broken a contract. My boy has already signed up. Because he signed up early and is proficient in writing, he has now become a squad leader. I can
Let me tell you, if you sign up late, don’t even think about making money in the future.”
Hearing that the children in Li Zheng were also participating, these strong laborers in the village signed up one after another.
The construction team for this section, which is about 20 kilometers long, was confirmed.
These villagers received training and instruction and participated in the construction of cement roads within half a month.
If a bird flies across the sky, you will see a shocking scene.
From near the port of Yuhang Town to Yangzhou, in this area of several hundred kilometers, a winding road paved with cement is taking shape.
It will take at most half a year for this avenue to be completed.
It won't take long for both parties to establish perfect communication~
Countless items brought from the sea will also enter the Yangzhou area.
This chapter has been completed!