The bright sun shines on the field ridges, and catkins dance everywhere, getting into people's noses.
Zheng Haizhu sneezed and looked at the warehouse under the willow shade near the school grounds.
Two tracker instructors from Songjiang, named Zhang Liben and Jin Baozi, were guarding the door. They also saw Zheng Haizhu, and immediately stood up and waved to her to say hello.
Ever since the firecrackers and field artillery used for the training of the camp troops arrived, Zheng Haizhu made a rule that the weapons depot must be manned in rotation day and night.
】
Today, no one in the battalion wanted to miss the folk song opera. It was not appropriate for Qi Jin's instructor to be the gatekeeper. Zhang Liben and Jin Baozi took the initiative to watch. Anyway, when they were working as trackers on the canal, they didn't perform any fishing songs.
I’ve heard of it, but I’m not very interested in theatrical performances with high-pitched voices.
Zheng Haizhu walked over and asked, "Has anyone been here at noon?"
Zhang Liben shook his head: "Chenshi came over to change the defense, so we two are squatting here."
"Okay." Zheng Haizhu nodded calmly, turned around and walked towards the small courtyard where he lived.
Her courtyard gate is separated from the weapons depot by a small ditch dug by the hoarders for irrigation. It is exposed to the sight of the garrison guards day and night. So gradually, the hoarders in Zhengjiazhuang who love to talk about right and wrong are no longer there.
They are now talking about whether Manager Wu got into Mrs. Zheng's bed, because the people on duty said that when it got dark, she and the dog were the only ones in Mrs. Zheng's yard.
Zheng Haizhu doesn't care about giving up her sense of privacy. In this time and space, it is difficult for her to focus on her small self.
At this moment, when he saw her coming back, the big yellow dog he kept stood up suddenly. Not only did he say hello, but he looked a little restless, shaking his head and sniffing his nose as he walked.
This guard dog was brought from Songjiang and was the cub of the loyal dog that helped Dong Erya look after the baby by the canal.
Zheng Haizhu had a small courtyard where she lived alone in the Wenzhe Academy of the Gu family. When she left Songjiang and traveled around, Dong Erya often trained the yellow dog to get familiar with the clothes and shoes left by Zheng Haizhu in the courtyard. When the hostess came back, the dog
As expected, Zheng Haizhu took over the feeding for half a year and gained a loyal bodyguard.
Zheng Haizhu followed the yellow dog to the foot of the east wall of the courtyard.
Even if the dog doesn't lead the way, she will come here after entering the hospital.
For her safety, Wu Bondang and the hoarders built the courtyard wall as high as two people.
But Zheng Haizhu asked Wu Bond to leave an irregular hole in the upper part of the three mud walls, stuff it with rags soaked in mud and water, and then cover it with thatch at the top of the wall, so that it would be difficult to notice.
Normally, Zheng Haizhu would step on the ladder and use a telescope to look at the situation in the village.
Looking out from the cave to the east, the closest one and the one that can be seen most clearly is Zhuangzi's handicraft workshop.
During these days, Zheng Haizhu monitored Ah Shan several times in the workshop. He was diligently renovating the spinning machine. He was also very attentive to the dispatches of Carpenter Hu and others. He ate and rested in a place where everyone could see.
, there is really nothing unusual about it.
But today, there was no Lao Hu or Ashan in the empty courtyard of the workshop.
The yellow dog barked again at Zheng Haizhu's feet and rushed out of the wall.
Zheng Haizhu climbed down the ladder, called to the dog, and went to the workshop together.
As soon as he stepped through the door, the strong smell of blood hit his face, and Ahuang rushed towards the utility room, barking fiercely at every corner.
Zheng Haizhu quickly walked over and took a look. There were several fresh blood stains on the piles of thatch.
She was startled and felt a chill on her spine. She approached on tiptoe and took a closer look.
"Mrs. Zheng!"
Suddenly, Ashan's faint voice came from behind.
The big yellow dog turned its head and rushed forward with a howl.
…
"Hey, hey! Don't bite me, don't bite me!"
Ah Shan was like a hen flapping its wings to escape, hiding behind Carpenter Hu in fear.
Carpenter Hu shook out a piece of brown felt-like cowhide in his hand to block the big yellow dog's attack, and comforted him with "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, uh," Hu Carpenter shook out a piece of brown felt-like cowhide in his hand to block the big yellow dog's attack.
As the cowhide shook, the pinkish-white part on the back of the short brown hair flashed from time to time, and water droplets flew everywhere, bringing with it a slight smell of flesh and blood.
"Ah Huang, come here!" Zheng Haizhu immediately stepped forward and stopped his pet dog.
After receiving the owner's instructions, the yellow dog gradually calmed down and continued to bark at Ah Shan.
It seems that what stimulates it is not the bloody smell of cowhide.
"Ah Shan, it's broad daylight. Why are you walking without making any sound? Even the dog's ears can't hear it. It must have been frightened and annoyed by you." Zheng Haizhu teased with a smile.
Ah Shan was holding a basket of lime and was so embarrassed that he didn't know how to answer.
When Hu Carpenter saw Zheng Haizhu standing in front of a haystack covered with blood stains, he hurriedly explained: "There was an old cow in the neighboring village. The farmer there had just killed it. Ashan and I bought the skin of the cow body and cleaned it in the workshop.
After a while, I went to the village river to wash myself and prepare to make a shield."
"Oh," Zheng Haizhu glanced at the lime in Ashan's hand and Wen Yan asked, "Is this made from soaked cow hair? Why did you think of making a cowhide shield?"
Ah Shan looked at Hu Carpenter cautiously, and Hu Carpenter said cheerfully: "Look at what I have done, old man, I may not want to compete with you, a young man, for credit? You can talk to Mrs. Zheng."
Ashan then put down the lime and reported with a flattering tone: "Madam, the day I was young, I saw the camp soldiers trying out a small cannon. They said it was used to engage enemies in the field. The shells weighed only three to four kilograms. The frame did not need to be shot like a gun.
The cannon is so strong. But the little ones can't help but think that the cannonballs are smaller, not much bigger than the lead bullets of the machine guns. Wouldn't they be easier to block? Well, the little ones don't think that the three-pound cannon is not powerful.
…”
After Ashan said this, he stopped and looked at Zheng Haizhu's face.
While listening, Zheng Haizhu glanced around and saw several large wooden boards and wooden wheels placed next to the nearly completed multi-spindle spinning machine, which were obviously not parts of the spinning machine.
"Do you want to make a shield car and see if iron bullets can penetrate it?"
Ah Shan nodded.
Zheng Haizhu stared at him, and for a moment she said: "You have the brain of a general, pretending to know yourself and the enemy."
This time Ah Shan put away the always-pleasing look on his face and his eyes were solemn.
"Madam, Ashan's home was destroyed by the Tatars. Ashan doesn't want to see us lose to the Tatars in any battle."
Zheng Haizhu walked to the wooden board and lifted it with his feet, and saw that there was an iron sheet underneath.
Carpenter Hu also came over: "Madam, we went to consult some instructors from the Qi Jiajun. They said that Mr. Qi in Zhenjiang still uses the same car shield making method used in Qi Shaobao's camp back then, with a layer of iron sheet.
A layer of wooden boards, covered with old cowhide on the outside, and iron thorns tied on the cowhide, because it can be removed and spread on the ground to resist horses. However, if the enemy uses it to defend small cannons in the field, they should not nail it.
Get on top of the iron pear, otherwise the flying iron thorns will hurt you even more."
Zheng Haizhu lowered his head and thought for a while, then smiled kindly and said: "Then make a launch vehicle and try it with our muskets and small cannons to see at what angle and distance you can be defended by this launch vehicle.
"
"Hey, yes, ma'am." Carpenter Hu said in a hurry.
He knew that his wife was very clear about rewards and punishments, and she was especially not stingy with the craftsmen in the firearms workshop. If the position of the fire door was changed to a more reasonable position, she would get a reward of two taels of silver. The craftsmen who smelted and mixed gunpowder often received rewards.
This time it was finally the carpenter's turn to show off, and Carpenter Hu was naturally eager to do so.
He glanced at Ah Shan approvingly. This boy from the corner of the Northeast could do it. He had an honest temper and a smart mind. He also had a little daughter who was old enough to marry him. Or he could recruit a son-in-law like his sister.
While Lao Hu was thinking happily, Zheng Haizhu took out a wooden handle from his backpack, walked up to Ah Shan and handed it to him.
"Hua Er's mother was also killed by the Tatars, and only a handle was left for her. When you have time, make her a cotton seed ginning machine and install the handle."
Ah Shan hurriedly took it, walked to his carpentry box, and carefully put the handle in.
He heard behind him that Lao Hu changed his tone of voice and said: "Hua Er still remembers her mother at least. My mother contracted smallpox when I was one year old. It's like I have never had a mother in my life.
"
Zheng Haizhu was silent for a few moments and then said: "As you said, Lao Hu, I also miss my mother-in-law."
Ashan gently closed the box and thought to himself: Who doesn't want E Niang? E Niang, after finishing the work this time, my son will repair your tomb when he returns to Hetuala.