Youzhou is the westernmost territory of the Qian Kingdom. There is a dedicated Youzhou Army stationed there, totaling 50,000 people.
Hearing Zhao Kang say that the imperial court would also send troops to Youzhou, Yu Guanglong immediately felt that this matter was extraordinary and immediately showed military style.
"I will definitely follow the instructions of the National Preceptor! I will never slack off."
Zhao Kang nodded. Yu Guanglong was born in the military and was valued by Her Majesty the Empress. Needless to say, his ability to handle affairs in guarding Youzhou was needless to say.
The large army rested for a night in Youzhou, and the next day Zhao Kang met the group of craftsmen who had been summoned early.
After bringing everyone along, we set out again to leave Youzhou and head outside the Pass.
The leader of that group of craftsmen was Yang Qian, the son of Grand Master Yang and a former doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
If the iron-making matter is settled, when Yang Qian returns to the imperial capital, he will not be just a fourth-grade official doctor.
When the time comes, he may be able to earn a position as a minister, or at worst, he may become one of the nine ministers.
In letting Yang Qian take charge of this matter, in addition to being grateful for Taishi Yang's support for Zhao Kang, Her Majesty the Empress also wanted to compensate.
Now Grand Master Yang has faded out of the sight of the officials, intentionally or unintentionally, and there is a faint feeling that he is preparing to retire and return to his hometown to rest in his old age.
If Yang Qian can manage the iron ore mining business well, then even if the old master really retires, the Yang family will not completely lose their right to speak in the court.
Master Yang thought of this, and Yang Qian, who had been a doctor in the Ministry of Civil Affairs for more than ten or twenty years, also thought of it.
Therefore, although he was originally in charge of personnel affairs, he knew nothing about iron-making.
But I have been working hard these days to discuss it with the group of blacksmiths I gathered.
Now Zhao Kang came and asked directly the doubts in his heart.
"My lord, I have something unclear."
Zhao Kang glanced at the middle-aged man who was very humble and polite along the way. He had also checked Yang Gan's personality before.
The news we received is that this person is very strict about his duties. As the son of a grand master, he never bullies others. He is a type of honest person.
"Master Yang, what do you want to ask?" Zhao Kang smiled.
Yang Gan asked in confusion: "I would like to ask, why do we need to summon blacksmiths to mine veins?"
After all, the blacksmith can only make iron but not mine.
Zhao Kang smiled and said: "I am going to make several weapons for battlefield use directly after the ore is mined and the steel is refined."
"Sir, you still know how to cast?" Yang Qian asked in surprise, with deep admiration in his eyes.
Ever since Zhao Kang entered the court, it seemed that there was nothing he couldn't do.
This made Yang Qian admire this national master who was more than ten years younger than him.
"There are specialties in the art industry. I definitely don't know much about things like casting, but I know a little bit about it and it can provide some ideas."
Zhao Kang's eyes were filled with longing: "If we can get Damascus steel and use it to forge swords and weapons, then on the battlefield, no matter what enemy we are facing our Qianguo soldiers, they will be nothing more than fish on the chopping board!"
Yang Qian was shocked: "Damascus Gang? Dare you ask the Imperial Master what that is!"
"A kind of patterned steel, used to forge weapons. The swords made are very sharp, at least seven or eight times sharper than the swords we use now in the Qian Kingdom."
Zhao Kang said that he had been to many places and had seen the weapons used by the soldiers of Qianguo and Jingguo.
How should I put it? There is only one word for the feeling it gave him.
Simple!
Regardless of whether it is Qianguo or Jingguo, the weapons and equipment of the soldiers of the two countries, especially ordinary infantry and county police officers, are terrible.
Take Yuanjiang County as an example. When Zhao Kang first arrived, Zhang Long and others were the head catchers.
There are more than a dozen policemen in a county government, and they only have one damn knife, and it’s a rusty one.
Just this piece of paper that Long and others treat as a treasure is completely different from the person in the TV series holding a big sword.
If that were the case, forget it. The key was that the forging process was so poor that even Zhao Kang doubted whether he could kill the chicken.
Those in the army are better, but not much better. Zhao Kang once asked Xiao Linglong.
I know that the swords used by ordinary soldiers in the Qian Kingdom can only be used to chop seven or eight times. If they can do it continuously, it is a good sword.
A sword that can break through two layers of leather armor is a magical weapon!
For this reason, Zhao Kang also saw Xiao Linglong's Emperor's Sword. That sword was really good. Even if he went down with it, he could cut a tree trunk as thick as an adult's arm.
But that's it, the entire Qian Kingdom only has this Emperor's Sword.
This time when mining veins, Zhao Kang wants to make some really good knives and swords!
As long as it succeeds, with the iron ore reserves in the Yunshan mines, it will not be difficult to equip soldiers from Qianjing and Qianjing with such swords in the future.
In the battlefield of the cold weapon age, a good weapon is really important.
Why are Zhou and Qi stronger than Qian and Jing?
It is precisely because the national strength of the two countries can support their armies and have better weapons and equipment.
Hearing what Zhao Kang said, some of the blacksmiths behind him couldn't help it, and someone took the lead in asking.
They are all craftsmen who have been working hard all their lives, so they naturally know more about casting than Zhao Kang.
Zhao Kang was also happy to discuss with them, and each of them felt that they had benefited a lot from the conversation.
After passing through the Youzhou customs, there are large tracts of mountains.
According to Zhao Kang's initial request, the location for mining veins should be chosen as far as possible where there is a water source and is easily replenished.
Therefore, the Jingguo craftsmen who set off first followed this instruction and chose the mining site.
Zhao Kang and others walked in the mountains for six days according to the map given by Ye Hongxue, and finally saw Jingguo soldiers.
After a briefing, Ye Hongxue, who received the news, hurried over to meet Zhao Kang.
Zhao Kang was a little excited to see each other again after a few months, so he left Yang Gan and others and trotted forward.
"Red snow!"
"What are you yelling about!"
Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Lin, who was tethering his horse to the side, had a playful look in his eyes, these two people have a story!
Ye Hongxue glared at him and her pretty face suddenly turned red.
Zhao Kang giggled and asked hurriedly: "How is your injury? Are you feeling better?"
"Okay, it's almost done, but after all, we can't use force. Can I take you to see the mining area we chose?" Ye Hongxue asked.
Zhao Kang was helpless, this woman had the same temperament as Her Majesty the Empress, they were both the masters of state affairs that were more important than heaven.
I still wanted to catch up on old times after not seeing each other for a long time.
Ye Hongxue led the way, and Zhao Kang followed.
The mining area they chose was a valley, which was vast enough to accommodate a garrison of thirty to fifty thousand people, and also had a river with a strong current.
From far away, Zhao Kang could see many people wielding shovels and hoes, digging under the guidance of the miners.
Zhao Kang looked at the huge team and was very satisfied: "How many people have you come?"
Ye Hongxue said softly: "There are a total of fifteen thousand miners, blacksmiths and troops. These soldiers are used for mining. In addition, we are preparing to open two supply channels..."
