Cao Min was stunned for a moment, then a wry smile appeared on his face, and he whispered: "I dare not lie to my uncle. My grandfather did recruit some craftsmen from the Song Dynasty intermittently, and the craftsmen were indeed able to create the original weapons of the Song Dynasty Forbidden Army."

arms.

It’s just that the crossbows of the Song Dynasty were a bit laborious to forge, and the current output is extremely low.”

Hearing this, Kou Ji nodded with satisfaction and said, "You are quite honest...not bad, not bad..."

Hearing Kou Ji's compliment, a smile appeared on Cao Min's face, but the smile didn't last long before it was dispersed by Kou Ji's next words.

"How advanced are your firearms research?"

Kou Ji asked lightly.

Liu Heng, who was listening on the sidelines, showed an expression of disbelief.

The smile on Cao Min's face froze instantly, and his body remained motionless as if under a immobilizing spell.

Kou Ji stared at Cao Min, smiled and said nothing, waiting for his answer.

Cao Min knelt on the spot, pursed his lips, unable to say a word.

Kou Ji waited for a long time, but Cao Min didn't speak. He asked with a smile: "Are you wondering how I know?"

Cao Min still pursed his lips and did not speak.

Kou Ji smiled again and said, "If you don't want to say it, is it because Cao Lili doesn't let you say it, or is it because everyone in your Cao family is planning to hide it from me?"

An ugly smile appeared on Cao Min's face and he said: "Uncle, although my nephew has seen firearms, he has never touched them, and he has never seen any artificial firearms in Jiaozhi.

Uncle, you sent all the man-made firearms before, and the horse guards took all of them away when they left.

Even the missing parts are not left."

Kou Ji couldn't help but admired: "You are smart and gave me an ambiguous answer. But I am not that easy to fool.

If you don’t want to tell me, I’ll tell you.”

With an ugly smile on his face, Cao Min stared at Kou Ji, seeming to be waiting for the next step, and also seemed to be waiting for Kou Ji's decision.

Kou Ji sighed: "Firearms are a good thing, but no one who has seen them doesn't want them. Generals like you, the Cao family, who made their fortune through war, are even more coveted for them.

The generals in the Song Dynasty all coveted firearms.

It's just that they know that they can't get past me and get the firearm, so they can only suppress their greed for the time being.

Not only could I not reveal it, I had to hide it deeply for fear that I would find out and break with them.

Outside of the Song Dynasty, there were countless people who coveted firearms.

But it is almost impossible for them to have access to firearms, even if they pay a high price, they cannot buy them.

You are different. You are the only one outside the Song Dynasty who has used firearms in combat, and you are also the only one who has held firearms for a long time.

I don't believe it, you won't study it in private.

Although I have told the horse guards to strictly guard against the leakage of firearms.

But Jiaozhi is your territory. If you want to hide it from the horse guards and take the firearms over to study for a few days, it will be easy."

After listening to Kou Ji's words, Cao Min's expression didn't even change.

Everyone inside and outside the Song Dynasty knew how much Kou Ji valued firearms.

From the emergence of firearms to the present, there has been an endless stream of people who have been researching and reselling firearms overtly or covertly, but without exception they have all been eliminated.

Although Kou Ji never came forward to deal with the matter, there was always Kou Ji's shadow behind it.

If Cao Min dared to admit it, Kou Ji would dare to raise troops.

Seeing this, Kou Ji said with a smile: "You don't have to hide it in front of me. You and I know very well whether your Cao family has done any research. Since I didn't send anyone to take you down, it means that I won't do it because of

This incident sparked an army.

But just because I have not raised troops now does not mean that I will not raise troops in the future.

Specifically, it depends on whether your Cao family is candid or not."

Kou Ji had already talked about this, but Cao Min still didn't want to speak.

Kou Ji slowly put away the smile on his face and said lightly: "Didn't your grandfather tell you not to try to hide anything in front of me?"

Cao Min hesitated again and again, gritted his teeth and said, "My grandfather will not let you down, and my Cao family will not let you down either."

Kou Ji snorted coldly and said: "Since you won't let me down, why can't you even be honest at the most basic level? Do you think that if you don't say anything, I won't know anything?"

Firebolt Meteor Arrow, you should have already made it, right?

But a hundred tigers are running together, but you still can't get the point.

As for the muskets and artillery, you should still be lingering at the door."

Cao Min suddenly raised his head and stared at Kou Ji in horror.

Kou Ji snorted coldly, "Don't look at me like that, and don't wonder if I have planted someone in your Cao family. When I gave the firearm to your Cao family, I knew that your Cao family would study it secretly."

I also know how much research your Cao family can achieve.

That’s why I will leave the firearms to you with confidence.”

Cao Min couldn't believe it.

Kou Ji is confident.

Things that are hundreds of years apart cannot be studied by anyone who wants to, even if the structure of the thing is very simple.

Kou Ji personally overcame some of the technical difficulties, and he knew the difficulties inside.

Without the guidance of craftsmen who are familiar with muskets and artillery, the Cao family would not be able to make muskets and artillery at all.

Many things are actually blinders, but just this one leaf is enough to block the Cao family for decades, even hundreds of years.

Kou Ji looked directly at Cao Min. Cao Min didn't dare to look at Kou Ji for long before he lowered his head with guilt.

Seeing this, Kou Ji stopped pursuing him.

"For the sake of your grandfather's joyful dedication of Jiaozhi this time, I will not pursue this matter. When you go back, tell your grandfather and ask him not to worry about it. No matter how long you study, you will not break it.

The secret is that there is more than a slight difference in the middle.

As long as he doesn't care about the Song Dynasty, he can take permission from places other than the Song Dynasty.

Now that you have researched the Firebolt and Meteor Arrow, it is enough for you to go out and bully others.

Any other armaments you want can be purchased from the Song Dynasty.

Five years from now, ask your grandfather to send people to my fief, and I will tell you the secret of Hundred Tigers Running Together.

At that time, you can also equip hundreds of tigers to run together.

As for muskets and artillery, maybe fifteen years from now.

Fifteen years later, as long as your grandfather is still alive, I can sell you some muskets and artillery as a token of our past kindness.

If your grandfather has passed away, then let’s see again.”

Kou Ji said calmly.

Cao Min knelt on the ground and listened.

Cao Min's biggest feeling was that the man in front of him controlled everything, and everything in the world seemed to be judged by the man in front of him.

He was now listening to this man's verdict on Cochin.

After Kou Ji finished speaking, he saw that Cao Min was still kneeling, so he waved his hands and said, "I have said everything that needs to be said, and I have nothing else to explain.

You go and stay in the post house.

Please discuss with the people at Honglu Temple the exact amount of the ships and supplies you need.

How much you can ask for depends on your ability. I will not participate in the negotiation of large ships and supplies.

Lest your grandfather complain that I bully the younger generation."

Cao Min knelt on the ground and bowed respectfully to Kou Ji, "Nephew, farewell..."

After Cao Min said goodbye, he stood up and exited Kou Ji's study.

Liu Heng led Cao Min out of the Bamboo Garden and sent him to the post house.

After nightfall, Liu Heng returned to the Zhuyuan. As soon as he returned to the Zhuyuan, he went straight to Kou Ji's study.

Kou Ji was sitting alone in the study, flipping through a book. When he heard Liu Heng's entry, he put down the book in his hand.

Liu Heng entered the study and said to Kou Ji with a smile: "Fourth brother seems to know that I am coming?"

Kou Ji sighed and said: "It stands to reason that you have been traveling around for several months, so I should let you go back and wash yourself before taking a rest.

However, you have been listening to the conversation between me and Cao Min today. You must have countless questions in your heart to ask me.

That’s why I’m waiting for you in the study.”

Liu Heng smiled and took off his coat, sat down on the recliner in the study, let out a sigh of relief and said, "Fourth brother still understands me..."

After saying this, Liu Heng seemed to be about to say something else, but before he could open his mouth, he heard Kou Ji say: "I have already ordered the kitchen to prepare the meals you like, and they will be delivered to you shortly.
To be continued...