In a flash, August has passed and September has arrived.
The autumn mood is getting stronger day by day, and the weather is getting cooler day by day. After two autumn rains, the sky looks more solemn and deep, and the clouds are especially white, but the trees in the capital have changed unconsciously.
Color. Red, red, yellow, green, and green, as if returning to the colorful spring.
On the fourth day of September, Zhang Yanling finally finalized the itinerary and headed to Xishan Manor. The purpose was not to see how the crops were harvested, but to see the extent of the construction of the Wild Dog Ridge Arsenal.
Originally, Zhang Yanling had long wanted to go to Wild Dog Ridge. After all, he had invested countless money and efforts there, and also placed many hopes on Zhang Yanling. However, after returning to the capital, he encountered various things and had to postpone his trip until September.
The beginning of the month.
Now that everything has calmed down, we can finally inspect Wild Dog Ridge, but it has been four months since we last left Xishan Manor.
On the early morning of the fourth day of September, Zhang Yanling went out accompanied by Chen Shi's first-class bodyguard. They first went to Zhumuchang Hutong in Xizhimen to pick up Xu Youtang. They made an appointment yesterday and went to Wild Dog Ridge together today. Xu Youtang is a wild dog.
Ling was the director of firearms manufacturing and smelting, how could she be absent? Besides, Zhang Yanling hadn't seen Xu Youtang for many days and happened to take Xiao Nizi to have some fun.
Arriving at the entrance of Zhumuchang Hutong, Zhang Yanling waited for a while on horseback and saw Xu Youtang hurried out of the alley. Seeing Xu Youtang coming out, Zhang Yanling jumped off the horse with a smile, walked to the carriage, opened the door and got in first. He
I want to ride in the same car with Xu Youtang and have a good 'talk' on the way.
Xu Youtang came to the car door, smiled at Zhang Yanling, but did not get in the car, looking a little strange.
"Get in the car, we still have dozens of miles to go, what are you waiting for?" Zhang Yanling winked.
Xu Youtang blinked a few times and whispered: "My dad..."
Zhang Yanling said: "What? Your father doesn't allow you to go?"
Xu Youtang waved his hand and whispered: "No, my father is going to follow."
Zhang Yanling was stunned when she saw Xu Gao walking out of the alley from Shi Shiran at the entrance of the alley over Xu Youtang's shoulder. Xu Gao was wearing a shabby cloth robe, a green scarf tied on his head, and a small baby in his arms.
He picked up the package and walked quickly to the carriage.
Zhang Yanling was in a daze, but Xu Gao had already pushed his daughter away and sat next to Zhang Yanling.
"Get in the car, aren't you in a hurry?" Xu Gao said to Xu Youtang who was standing outside the car door in a daze.
Xu Youtang glanced at Zhang Yanling, who hurriedly made a gesture. Xu Youtang had no choice but to get in the car. There were two rows of seats in the carriage, which could accommodate four or five people. It was not crowded for three people. Xu Youtang sat in the back row knowingly.
He pursed his lips and dared not make a sound.
"Let's go!" Zhang Yanling shouted towards the outside of the car.
The carriage started and headed straight to the west gate. The atmosphere in the car was a little awkward. Xu Gao looked out the window with a sullen face. Zhang Yanling wanted to talk to him, but didn't know how to speak. Xu Youtang sat in the back and peeked at Zhang Yanling and his father from time to time.
, naturally he didn’t dare to speak.
The carriage and horses left the west gate and entered the official road. Only then did Xu Gao look away from the window and look at Zhang Yanling.
"Why don't you ask me, Lord Marquis, why should I follow Lord Marquis to your Xishan Manor?" Xu Gao asked in a deep voice.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Xu..."
"Don't call me Mr. Xu. I have resigned." Xu Gao said in a deep voice.
Zhang Yanling said in surprise: "Resign? When did it happen?"
Xu Gao hesitated and didn't answer.
Xu Youtang whispered: "Yesterday, my father submitted his resignation. The Ministry of Industry asked him to keep him, but he resigned due to lack of energy and poor health. My mother and I only found out last night."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Why is this necessary? Mr. Xu is not the official punished this time. Why should Mr. Xu do this?"
Xu Gao said in a deep voice: "I am not an official at all, I am just a craftsman. For so many years, I have been an official in the Ministry of Industry and gained nothing. On the contrary, I have always been aggrieved and taken advantage of. I was originally
I thought that by serving the imperial court, I would have the opportunity to do something for the imperial court. However, the imperial court does not need people like me at all. Apart from building the mausoleum mechanism and the city gate shaft for the late emperor, I can do nothing, but it is in ruins.
Got the craftsmanship.”
Zhang Yanling nodded slightly. Indeed, Xu Gao was a technical official and did not come from the imperial examination. He was the type of person who was discriminated against among officials. In the Ming Dynasty, those who actually did practical things did not have a high status. Those who talked in general terms were very
He had status. Xu Gao's character was too upright and dull, and he couldn't get along well in the yamen.
It seems that he is unhappy as an official.
"If you are really unhappy, it is a good thing to resign. There is a lot of chaos in the court now. It is not a bad thing to stay away from right and wrong." Zhang Yanling said.
"After this impeachment incident, I have finally seen through it. There is no place for people like me in the imperial court. I am not among the officials punished this time. I know it is also because of you. Mr. Marquis, you protected me.
I know it better than anyone else." Xu Gao said softly.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "What's wrong with protecting or not protecting me? Of course I can't let them attack you. You didn't do anything and you were deceived by others. You are not at fault. Besides, I have always respected you. Even for Youtang.
In terms of your own face...I can’t let them harm you either.”
Xu Gao sighed softly and said: "The Marquis didn't tell me that it was because I judged a gentleman with a villain's heart before. Let the past be forgotten by the Marquis. That day when Liu Jin and I fell out, I was really shocked. Xu Gao Yijie
Foolish man, I acted inappropriately before, and I apologize to you today."
Zhang Yanling hurriedly waved her hands and said: "It doesn't have to be like this, there is no need to apologize, you didn't ask me to do this, it was of my own free will."
Xu Gao frowned and said, "I know that part of your reason is because of Tang'er. What happened between you and Tang'er... I actually knew about it a long time ago."
Xu Youtang blushed and did not dare to breathe, secretly looking at Zhang Yanling.
Zhang Yanling saw that the conversation had reached this point, so there was no need to worry. She said in a deep voice: "Your love and I are really in love, and I want to marry her. I hope Mr. Xu can make it happen for us."
Xu Gao looked at Zhang Yanling and sighed: "I just don't agree, so what can I do? Women are not admitted to the university. Naturally, this is the only way."
Xu Youtang called out softly: "Daddy! My daughter is unfilial."
Xu Gao waved his hand and said: "Ah Tang, my father was not opposed to your relationship with Mr. Hou before. My father just hopes that you can live a peaceful and stable life. Marrying a loyal and honest person from a small family will definitely treat you obediently.
Smooth
, although life is a little poorer, it must be stable. For a person of Marquis's status, you are destined to be frightened. Besides, he has many wives and concubines, and you are not the only one. That's why dad objects to your association with him.
"
Xu Youtang said softly: "My daughter knows what her father is thinking, but when she sees him, she can't let go."
Xu Gao sighed: "It's useless to talk about this now. Now that things have come to this, can dad still object? Lord Marquis, I have nothing else to ask for. I only have such a daughter. I hope you can treat her kindly and don't make her sad.
. We are a small family, and it is actually inappropriate for us to seek someone as high as the Marquis. I only hope that the Marquis can protect me, Tanger, in the future."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Don't worry, I will never make Youtang sad. I will make her live happily. If you don't believe it, I swear to God."
Xu Gao waved his hand and said: "Forget it, there is no need to swear. Words speak louder than actions. Lord Marquis only needs to follow through with actions. If possible, get the matter done by the end of the year to avoid the rumors spread outside."
Zhang Yanling said: "In a few days, I will invite someone to come to propose marriage."
Xu Gao nodded and looked at the scenery passing by quickly outside the car window with a slight smile on his face.
Zhang Yanling looked at Xu Youtang. Xu Youtang's face was excited and she was looking at Zhang Yanling infatuatedly. Her heart was obviously about to explode with joy.
"I resigned from office and have nothing to do from now on. I have already heard about what you did in Xishan Manor. Mr. Marquis, you are really brave. You dare to make firearms privately. And, you actually
Let Youtang help you make it. What does she know? You are not afraid of ruining your business." Xu Gaohu said.
Zhang Yanling's heart moved and she asked, "Could it be that you are traveling with me today because you want to take a look at my firearms manufacturing factory in Xishan?"
Xu Gao smacked his lips and said, "Just to have a look, lest Youtang does something random and ruins your business. I still know what she is capable of."
Xu Youtang said angrily: "Dad, I didn't do anything stupid."
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "That's right. The tiger father has no dog daughter. If it weren't for Youtang's help, how could I have made a good firearm? Youtang has already mastered your skills."
Xu Gaoshan said: "Get all my true biography? She has only learned a little bit. Don't think she stole my book and secretly transcribed it without me knowing, or stole a piece of refined iron I refined and thought I didn't know? Smelting refined iron,
The procedures are complicated, how can you learn it by just copying the gourd? I find it very frustrating."
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said: "Now you are looking down on Youtang. Facts have proved that she has really succeeded. She has succeeded in smelting fine iron and making firearms. It is all her credit."
Xu Gao looked at Zhang Yanling sideways and said, "I don't believe it."
Zhang Yanling reached out and took out the shotgun from his waist and said: "Look, this is the short shotgun and flintlock shotgun that Youtang made for me. There is also a double-barreled one, which I gave to the emperor. This thing is also
Can it be fake?"
Xu Gao reached over and took the short-barreled firecracker, looked at it over and over again, nodded and said: "It looks pretty decent. I don't know how powerful it is."
"You can wear light armor within forty steps." Zhang Yanling said.
Xu Gao nodded and said: "The power has also been enhanced a lot. Unfortunately... it is still very rough. In my opinion, this thing is just a semi-finished product. It is extremely crude and vulgar."
Zhang Yanling was stunned. Xu Youtang said unconvinced: "Dad said this, and my daughter is not happy. This short gun is much more powerful than the firearms used by the court. It is also easy to carry and shoot. How can it be considered useless by dad?"
Xu Gao said: "This thing must have cost a lot of money."
Zhang Yanling said: "It's not much, probably one or two thousand taels of silver."
Xu Gao smiled bitterly and said: "You can build such a thing with one or two thousand taels of silver? Mr. Hou, it seems that you have wasted a lot of silver by Youtang. Youtang, you don't know that firewood and rice are expensive. Mr. Hou's
You have wasted too much silver. At the cost of one or two thousand taels of silver, there are at least a dozen areas where this blunderbuss can be improved. Hey, what am I talking about? You haven't even learned the basics of me.