Chapter 446: Master Jiang, whom we havent seen for a long time
Auntie chopped up the mutton at home, made a bowl of soup, and then cut up the beef with soy sauce at home and put it on the plate.
When the food was served, Li Yuan looked at the pot of soy sauce beef and said, "I haven't drank for a long time and I don't know the taste of wine."
Zhang Yang poured tea for the two elders, "I don't have any wine at home."
In fact, my wife also likes to drink. Now that she is pregnant with the child, she no longer drinks.
Putting the tea in front of Li Yuan, Zhang Yang said: "If the Emperor has given up drinking, then stop thinking about what wine tastes like. Once you drink again, it will be even harder to let go."
Zhang Gongjin nodded pertinently, "I think so too."
Li Yuan picked up a piece of beef with soy sauce and put it into his mouth, tasting it carefully.
The dishes at home are very simple, a bowl of spinach, steamed eggs and mutton soup.
Li Yuan sighed: "If there is a woman at home who is pregnant, it would be better to be more indifferent."
Zhang Yang filled another bowl of soup and handed it to the teacher, "Teacher, you can drink the soup first to warm your stomach."
Taking the bowl, Zhang Gongjin took a sip and said, "The saltiness and freshness are just right. It's very good."
"Our aunt's craftsmanship is first-rate."
When Aunt Yang heard this, she said politely: "The cooking skills I learned from Her Royal Highness the Princess and the County Marquis are not even half as good as those from the County Marquis."
Zhang Gongjin nodded and said: "The aristocratic family recruits scholars to promise an official career. Even if His Majesty opens the imperial examination again, there will still be many scholars who will join the family, either as disciples or as disciples to lobby for them."
Li Yuan picked up a piece of beef with soy sauce and tasted it carefully.
"It is impossible for aristocratic families to allow everyone to enter the official career. Moreover, there are also children from their respective families. When a poor student has achieved results in his studies and wants to become an official, he must first submit his application to someone with a high family status.
Or give it to a prestigious local elder."
Zhang Gongjin added, "There are not so many positions for everyone in the state capital, which has also caused a lot of conflicts among the gentry in various places. Some people also fought hard for the position of the county chief clerk, and the counties
There are also fights among the squires, which is the weakness of the aristocratic family."
With the teacher's guidance, the internal scene of the aristocratic family was opened. The aristocratic family has absolute power, as well as the allocation and scheduling of candidates and manpower.
Even one word can ruin a person's future. The existence of aristocratic families is contrary to fairness and justice. In the eyes of rich people, talking about fairness and justice with poor children is a joke.
Zhang Yang sighed with emotion: "It's really scary. It shows how serious the corruption is. According to the teacher, it's not impossible for the aristocratic family to break in."
Zhang Gongjin nodded, "The aristocratic family is too old. It has followed thousands of years of rules and raised countless generations of people. Some of these people are in high positions, some can enjoy an extremely luxurious life, and some even have no imperial power in their eyes, and even divide the country.
"
"The emperors of all dynasties have been pursuing great unification. In those troubled times, the world was divided into three parts, and heroes and sages from all walks of life refused to settle in one place. Some people said that Zhuge Kongming could enjoy his old age as long as he stuck to the Shu road, but he did not do so. In his later years, he was still seven
Qishan led troops out of the mountains to unify the Central Plains."
"I think that if the power of the aristocratic family is not weakened, it will become a hidden danger and shake the foundation of the country. I shouldn't say it, but I hope the emperor will not take offense."
Li Yuan smiled with relief, "As you say, it's not me who is sitting on the throne now."
Zhang Gongjin looked a little tired, nodded and said slowly: "Your Majesty's army from Jinyang has also received the support of many nobles. However, at present, the prince's marriage is avoided and he avoids discussing the marriage with noble women. When he ascends the throne, he will always communicate with the nobles."
Keep a distance, it shows that His Majesty is also aware of the poison, and getting rid of a family does not happen overnight, what do you think should be done?"
Zhang Yang put down the chopsticks in his hand, "Ignore the significance of the existence of the aristocratic families and erase all their vested interests. I don't like those grandiose words. I feel that these big and empty ideals have nothing to do with me. I prefer
Defending our country and working hard for world peace is closely related to everyone."
After explaining his thoughts, Zhang Gongjin said nothing more.
After finishing the meal, Zhang Yang said goodbye to the two elders.
Li Yue just walked out of the house, "Lu Chengqing has fallen, and the battle between the aristocratic family and the court is about to begin."
Zhang Yang nodded and said, "I'll go to the blacksmith shop in the village."
Li Yue held her back, "I really wish this child could be born earlier."
"tired?"
"Once I was born, I will always remember it in my heart." Li Yue pursed her lips and looked at her belly.
"You also said you want to have more children?"
Li Yue looked at Xiao Wu and Xu Hui and was speechless again.
She was also very conflicted about having children.
Li Yue handed over the bamboo hat and said, "The snow is so heavy. My husband will leave early and come back early."
Taking the bamboo hat, Zhang Yang frowned and looked at the wind and snow in the sky, then walked out of the house.
There is still no news about the casting of the compass needle, and we don’t know what happened to the blacksmiths.
The level of ironware manufacturing determines the village's production limit. The investment in improving technology is a bottomless pit, but once there is a slight breakthrough, the benefits will be huge.
Zhang Yang took the bamboo hat and walked all the way from the village path to the east of the village. There were several huge chimneys in the iron foundry.
Since its completion at the beginning of the year, there are still fifteen blacksmiths working here.
Zhang Yang walked forward and saw Li Tai also at the door.
"What is His Majesty the King of Wei doing here?"
Li Tai is now holding a bronze mirror in his hand, arrogantly arranging his bun in front of the bronze mirror.
When did this little fat guy become narcissistic? What's so good about a fat face?
"This bronze mirror is very strange, but I can't see through the mystery."
"What a mystery."
Li Tai was still playing with the mirror, "This kind of bronze antique is hard to find. It was given to me by Taoist priest Li Chunfeng. He said it has some secrets that cannot be solved. Brother-in-law, come with me."
Li Tai walked into a nearby warehouse used to store iron materials. He placed the candle in front of the bronze mirror. A pattern soon appeared on the wall instead of the light spots reflected by the bronze mirror.
Zhang Yang looked at it, "Are the characters on this pattern Xiaozhuan?"
Li Tai nodded, "This is an ancient artifact handed down from the Han Dynasty."
"When did His Highness the King of Wei become interested in archeology?"
"Brother-in-law is wrong. I am not interested in anything except money."
The money tree of Lishan, His Highness the King of Wei, who led Lishan to ride the wind and waves, should only have money in his heart.
Li Tai added: "I asked the blacksmiths here about the casting method, and they knew very little about it. They were also curious that no one has inherited the casting technique of this ancient mirror."
The picture shows a disc with small seal characters written on each grid of the disc. The pattern in the middle looks like a pair of phoenixes.
Most of them were dowries from wealthy families in the past.
Li Tai pointed to the back of the bronze mirror, "Obviously the fire source is on this side of the bronze mirror, but what happens to be reflected is the pattern on the back of the bronze mirror."
Zhang Yang picked up the bronze mirror and carefully stroked its surface, "Is this thing valuable?"
Li Tai nodded, "It's probably worth some money. Taoist priest Li Chunfeng exchanged his house worth ten guan for this ancient mirror, and now he gave it to me."
Zhang Yang put away the bronze mirror and said, "His Royal Highness the King of Wei should not be obsessed with this kind of antiquities. This object is too expensive. I will keep it for you and let you know after I have studied it clearly."
Ignoring Li Tai's resentful look, Zhang Yang walked into the blacksmith. There were more than a dozen blacksmiths here, most of them casting farm tools.
When I came to Master Jiang, I started working for him in the west of the city. After all these years, he didn't seem to have aged at all.
Zhang Yang looked overjoyed when he saw the things placed in the basket, "Huh? Spring?"
Then he stretched out his hand and pressed the spring, and the spring broke immediately.
His expression changed from joy to disappointment, and Zhang Yang said worriedly: "What a brittle spring."
Master Jiang, who was concentrating on polishing a small piece of iron, finally noticed Zhang Yang beside him. He saw that Li Tai was accompanying him, and he was also dressed in noble clothes.
Zhang Yang said with a smile on his face, "Master Jiang, do you still remember me?"
Master Lao Jiang looked at it for a long time and said, "It looks familiar."
"But do you still remember a small worker in the west of the city?"
Master Lao Jiang slapped his forehead, pulled Zhang Yang aside and whispered: "What are you doing here? Do you know that this is the princess' fiefdom? Be careful of being caught and kicked out."
"They won't take me out." Zhang Yang smiled and waved his hand.
"I won't take you out? Do you know where this place is? I heard that His Majesty will also come here, and it is rumored that there are many royal private shops, how can you easily walk in."
He emphasized his tone, "I left and looked for you in Chang'an City for a long time. Where have you been all these years? Now I can't eat outside? Why don't you follow the old man and me because of your skills? It just so happens that the old man's skills have not been passed down.
I'll pass this on to you."
Li Tai stepped forward and listened curiously. Was it related to his brother-in-law's previous whereabouts?
Zhang Yang smiled and said, "Aren't you always too nervous?"
"I'm nervous. If I'm careless in this place, I'll break a taboo. I heard that in the past two years, some people have been trying to sneak into Lishan territory, and they were beaten to death with sticks. They will be sent to the government in a short time."
Master Lao Jiang paused for a moment and looked up and down, "Huh? Where did you, a poor boy, get such expensive clothes?"
Zhang Yang cleared his throat, "Master Jiang, do you still remember my name?"
"Your surname is Zhang, and you call yourself Little Zhang. Who among the blacksmiths in the west of the city doesn't know you, a hardworking boy? Of course I remember you, old man."
"Then do you still remember my full name?"
Master Lao Jiang shook his head.
Li Tai was very interested in seeing his brother-in-law and did not disturb their acquaintance.
Master Lao Jiang took Zhang Yang to the front of King Wei and said, "If you don't bow to King Wei yet, His Highness King Wei will learn the craft from the old man and me. I will control him and won't let him act recklessly."
Li Tai took two steps back and said, "I don't dare to accept his courtesy."
Master Lao Jiang was stunned for a moment, and then said: "I just want to salute. Seeing that the old man has worked hard for Lishan Blacksmith this year, he also asked King Wei to take him in. This young man has superb casting skills and is very talented.
.”
Li Tai scratched his head in distress, "Master, please stop making trouble, this person..."
Zhang Yang coughed twice quickly.
Li Tai stopped talking again and immediately understood what his brother-in-law meant, "There is no need to salute. Just listen to the master. I don't care."
What kind of strange hobby does this brother-in-law have that he has to hide it to be happy?
Is he an old acquaintance of my brother-in-law? His craftsmanship is also excellent. Li Tai added: "Actually, he is my disciple, and he is considered a knowledgeable person. If you accept it, accept it. From now on, the entire blacksmith workshop will be handed over to the master.
Already."
"Thank you, Your Highness, King Wei."
Zhang Yang also followed suit and saluted.
Li Tai lowered his body lower. Not only had the ancient mirror been taken away by his brother-in-law, but he still had to show off. Damn it! What day is it today?
Master Lao Jiang introduced to the blacksmiths here, "This boy will be a disciple of a certain person from now on. You all should take good care of him and give him advice."
"Okay." Someone responded loudly.
Some people nodded and smiled.
Master Jiang is the eldest and most authoritative among this group of blacksmiths.
With a smile on his face, Zhang Yang listened to the greetings of these blacksmiths. They came from all over the Central Plains, and some of them were specialized in making military ironware.
I came to Lishan because of the arrangement of the Ministry of Industry.
Master Lao Jiang continued to polish a small piece of iron, "Bring the magnet on the side."
Zhang Yang saw the magnet beside the stove and handed it over.
Master Lao Jiang first calcined the iron pieces and made them red.
Seeing that he was still using the old method, Zhang Yang said again: "Master, you can add some charcoal powder during the forging process."
"Charcoal powder?"
"Well, more impurities can be removed after reacting with the carbon powder."
Hearing this, he smiled knowingly, "Hey, I know you have hidden skills. I thought your skills were not easy at first."
The old master said and followed the words, picked up the pebbles, crushed them into powder.
Zhang Yang watched as his dirty hands sprinkled some charcoal powder on the red-hot iron sheet.
The calluses on these hands are the hands of the toiling masses.
Zhang Yang added: "Fold the iron piece in half and use a magnet to mix in some magnet powder."
Master Jiang glanced at Zhang Yang strangely and continued to forge as instructed.
"The owner of this place wants to cast a small iron needle that is very light and thin."
While talking, Master Jiang frowned and looked at the polished iron piece, then placed it on a magnet and continued polishing it.
It doesn't end until the iron piece is placed on a magnet that can be absorbed.
"Hurry up and show it to His Royal Highness King Wei outside the door to see if it fits." Master Jiang said with a smile on his face.
Zhang Yang took the iron piece and walked outside the blacksmith's workshop. Li Tai was sitting at the door, in a daze.
"Brother-in-law, why are you bothering..."
"The old man also has good intentions, and he accepts them."
Li Tai took the iron piece and placed it on a compass. The iron piece was fixed on a needle and watched it rotate. It turned in one direction and stopped moving.
Next, the compass was rotated again, and each time the iron piece was displaced, it returned to its original position.
"What do you think, brother-in-law?"
"Just leave it like this for half a month and see if there are any changes in the future. If there are no changes, it's probably a success."
"My father sent someone to inquire about the papermaking workshop again. The production of three thousand feet of paper a year is still too little. He said it is related to the country. I hope my brother-in-law can be more careful."
Li Tai looked sad, "According to what my brother-in-law said, this stupid method of increasing manpower to increase production is not advisable. It will also increase the cost of paper. Price and cost are very contradictory things. If the cost of Lishan cannot be reduced,
As a result, the price of paper is too high, which goes against my brother-in-law's original intention of making paper cheap."