"Is this really made of wool? How much labor is consumed? How much does it cost? Seven days later, in Big Rock City, the chief manager of Anxi, Niu Shi Award, stroked a roll of wool cloth, and the surprise on his face could not be concealed.

"Back to the general manager, this thing is made of ninety-five wool and half of straw cotton. The grass cotton came from Sogdian merchants, and Zhang Changshi had ordered people to search for it and its seeds. At the beginning of spring next year, we will try planting along the Broken Leaf River. Wang Han was wearing a lake-blue silk robe and bowed down in response. Between the gestures, there is a sense of grace. "As for the labor, according to the eyes of the younger generation, weaving a piece of woolen cloth is exactly the same as weaving a piece of linen. And the cost is definitely far lower than it in the Western Regions! ”

After a slight pause, he gave Niu Shi Award some time to receive this information, and he added with a smile: "And according to Changshi, after the Broken Leaf River thawed, the water flow was quite abundant. Just enough to set up a waterwheel to weave cloth. At that time, the same human hand, whether spinning or weaving, can be four or five times faster. ”

"Waterwheels can also be used for spinning and weaving?" Master Niu didn't know how to weave, but he saw the row of majestic waterwheels on the bank of the Weishui River that belonged to the Liushen Commercial House and the Ordnance Prison, and suddenly the surprise was overflowing.

There is a shortage of people in the Western Regions, but there is no shortage of rivers. In particular, the Chihe River meanders for more than 3,000 miles from west to east, and its widest point is almost similar to the Yellow River. And Shule, Broken Leaves, Khotan, Qiuci, Boxian and other important towns, except for Qiuci, the rest are all built near the river. If each city can open a wool spinning workshop powered by water power, the four towns of Anxi will be self-sufficient in military uniforms and bedding in the future. Don't let the imperial court send people all the way to transport it.

Zhang Changshi said that the waterwheel can not only be used for weaving, striking iron, making weapons, sawing wood, but also can be used. Having already guessed the performance of the Niu Shi Award, Wang Han smiled and responded unhurriedly, "And in all parts of the Western Regions, the most suitable place to set up a waterwheel is not the Broken Leaf River." The water volume of the Chihe, Yaozhishui, and Wuhu River is several times that of the Xiaye River. ”

"Then set up the waterwheel on the Red River first. Gumo Prefecture has been burned to the ground by his fire, so he simply moved south to Sanhekou. At that time, he will use whichever one he wants, he will use the Bali River, the Jade River and the Red River. "The Niu Shi Award is obedient and makes decisive decisions." As for the medicine killing water and the Wuhu River, in the old man's life, it is estimated that he will not see it return to the territory of the Tang Dynasty. If your parents have the ability to frame the waterwheel in the future, the old man will raise a glass for him even if he is under Jiuquan! ”

The various parts of the Yaozhishui and Wuhu River Valleys, although only when Emperor Gaozong was in power, once belonged to the Tang Dynasty for a short time. However, the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty have always regarded drinking horse medicine and killing water as the highest glory. That means that the exploits of the leading generals have left Huo Qubing of the Han Dynasty far behind. Compared with drinking horse medicine and killing water, sealing the wolf can only be regarded as a child's house!

As a veteran general in the army, Niu Shi Award certainly hopes that one day, he can personally kill the medicine and the Wuhu River and re-enter the territory of the Tang Dynasty. However, as the general manager of Anxi, he clearly knew that with the current strength of Datang, it was extremely difficult to keep the national border from shrinking to the east. If you want to wave westward, in a short period of time, there is almost no possibility!

However, it is not possible now, but it may not be possible in the future. Especially after experiencing the excellent performance of new weapons and equipment such as fire dragon cars, dazzling star armor, and iron vests. As a veteran of a hundred battles, Niu Shi Award clearly knows that with the large-scale deployment of these weapons in the army, the combat effectiveness of the Tang Army will inevitably be improved to a new level! The reason why the Tang Dynasty abandoned the land west of the Green Ridge back then, and even adopted a strategy of shrinking defense in Anxi, was not entirely because the combat effectiveness lost to the big cannibals, but because of the long distance, the heavy transportation and consumption of grain and grass were too heavy, and the treasury could not support such a huge expenditure for a long time.

If the four towns of Anxi can be equipped with a large number of fire dragon carts and iron vests, and then achieve self-sufficiency in materials, so as not to increase the burden on the imperial court...... Thinking about it, it makes the Niu Shi Award feel the blood boiling in his heart. With his age, he may not be able to catch up with the future battle of shame, but he can provide as much convenience as possible for this goal.

"After the old man received the good news that Zhang Changshi killed Suo Ge last time, he has already praised him to the imperial court and elected him as the deputy governor of Anxi Town." Thinking of this, Niu Shixue simply didn't go around the corner, and directly informed Wang Han, "If nothing happens, at the latest, in two months at the latest, the imperial court's canonization documents will be delivered to the army." At that time, the old man hopes that he will not patronize Broken Leaf City, and take care of Gumo, Dashicheng Jiturbidity Pavilion, Confessor Pavilion, and Sanhekou! Including the reconstruction of Gumo Prefecture! Wherever he ruled, he could set up the waterwheel wherever he wanted! ”

This is obviously authorizing Zhang Qian, let him let go of it, Wang Han heard this, how can he not feel ecstatic? Hurriedly straightened his clothes and bowed, "The younger generation will first take care of my parents, thank you to the chief manager." No matter how the court arranged, the juniors and all the brothers in the army were grateful for the kindness of the chief manager! ”

"You can talk, no wonder Zhao sent you to meet the old man!" Niu Shi awarded his hand to brush his beard and nodded slightly. Immediately, he put away his smile again, and Zhengse added: "Okay, don't be polite to the old man!" The old man's life was saved by him, shouldn't he do something for him? But ......"

He also paused slightly, so as not to change the topic too quickly, Wang Han couldn't react, "The credit for Qiuzi to relieve the siege, recover the broken leaves and exterminate Suo Ge is too great, and the old man can't give him all the credit." Therefore, he gave more than half of it to others, and even gave more than 20% to Guo Yuanzhen. After you go back, tell him that if he has a grudge in his heart, he should come to the old man and not hold a grudge against others! ”

"Thank you, Archmaster." Wang Han's reaction far exceeded the expectations of the Niu Shi Award. Since he was neither surprised nor angry, he bowed to him again, "My family history said that we are still young, and everything is up to the chief manager. He can let him sit in charge of Broken Leaf for five years, and not let the blood of the brothers in this counterinsurgency war be wasted, he will be satisfied! ”

"Yes, he's still young, and you're young!" Niu Shi Award automatically ignored Wang Han's second half of the words, grabbed the most important sentence, and sighed with a smile.

Even if most of the credit is divided, after the imperial court rewards meritorious deeds, among the three of Zhang Qian, Wang Han, and Wang Zhilian, the lowest position will not be lower than the fifth grade, and Zhang Qian himself may even be crowned a marquis. And Zhang Qian and Wang Han are only twenty-three or four years old, and Wang Zhilian is not a weak champion this year!

The Wupin general who is less than the weak crown, the founding marquis in his early twenties, similar precedents have only been in the era of Gaozu and Taizong. After Gojong, it never appeared again. And now, it is alive in front of the world, relying on real military exploits, not the favor of the emperor or a certain princess!

What does this mean?

This means that a new generation of generals has begun to rise in the military. This means that Datang may usher in the next prosperous era. This also means that some young people will reach heights that the older generation of generals cannot reach at the age of forty, so that they can then assist the British lord, so that the prosperity can last for at least twenty to thirty years!

From the accession of Gaozong in the first year of Yonghui to the accession of Emperor Gaozong in the fifth year of Xianqing because of frequent attacks of head disease and let Empress Wu assist the government, the last prosperous era only lasted for eleven years. In these eleven years, the Tang Dynasty destroyed Goguryeo and solved the trouble of Korea forever. At the same time, the Western Turks were eliminated, and the two protectorates of Mengchi and Kunling were set up, and all the places east of the Aral Sea were included in the territory of the Tang Dynasty. If the prosperous era can last for twenty to thirty years, where can Datang's soldiers and horses hit, the Niu Shi Award is unimaginable!

"My parent Shi said that when he was forced to be helpless, he offended Mr. Guo. Therefore, I didn't dare to come over to meet the chief manager in person recently, so as not to feel embarrassed after meeting Mr. Guo. Not wanting to make the Niu Shi Award feel guilty because of the distribution of credit, Wang Han took the initiative to divert the topic, "And the three thousand brothers who borrowed from Mr. Guo at the beginning, my family history is like a brother to them, and I am reluctant to return them to Mr. Guo for the time being." Therefore, I also asked the chief manager to mediate one or two on my behalf. ”

"Well said, well said!" Officialdom is always a deal, even in the military. Therefore, after listening to Wang Han's request, the Niu Shi Award not only did not feel embarrassed at all, but the pressure in his heart was also instantly lightened. Immediately, he laughed and nodded, "In such a cold weather, the two cities of Broken Leaf and Ye Zhi have just been calmed down, and he braved the wind and snow to travel seven or eight hundred miles to meet the old man, which is the last move." As for the 3,000 soldiers and horses borrowed from Guo Yuanzhen, the old man will make the decision for you, and you will never have to pay it back. Guo Yuanzhen relied on the credit he received from your parents, enough to go back to be a scholar, and it is estimated that he will not be able to stay here in the Western Regions. ”

The last sentence, according to the rules, he shouldn't have revealed it to Wang Han. After all, it is related to the overall arrangement of the imperial court for the Anxi army, and before it is decided, the fewer people who know, the better. However, in a hurry to relieve Zhang Qian's pressure and let the young people let go, the Niu Shi Award deliberately violated the rules and directly released the undetermined results!

When Wang Han heard this, his heart became more and more happy, and he hurriedly bowed down again to thank him. And since the "point" of the Niu Shi Award is in place, it is not a waste of time on the same topic. He smiled and began to ask Zhang Qianqian about some specific governance details and recent plans in Shattered Leaf City.

Grateful for the help of the old general, Wang Han tried his best to be endless. When he heard that Zhang Qian had issued the "Broken Leaf Tang People Protection Order" and asked all the troops of the Tuqi Shi to hand over all the Han slaves in their hands, the old general Niu Shi Award couldn't help but applaud. After hearing that in order to curry favor with Zhang Qian, Tuqi Shi, surnamed Huang, sent all the slaves with Han blood within three generations, totaling more than 4,000 people, to Broken Leaf City, and the old general couldn't help but start worrying about Zhang Qian's military food supply.

"Is there enough food in Shattered Leaf City? If it's not enough, the old man will try to allocate some to you. But don't expect too much, the grain in the old man's hands has to be delivered from Guazhou recently. Ten catties to be transported here, at least three and a half catties must be consumed on the way! When he said these words, the old general's face was full of honesty, as if Zhang Qian and Wang Han were his juniors.

"Thank you, Archmaster! However, for the time being, there will be no shortage of food on the side of Shattered Leaf City. Wang Han smiled and responded gratefully. Therefore, the weather is cold and freezing, and the chief manager no longer has to let Minzhuang brave the wind and snow to send food to the broken leaves. ”

Fearing that Niu Shi Award didn't understand what he meant, after thinking about it, he quickly explained, "When we first took Broken Leaf City, a lot of grain was seized, and although the rescued Tang people are being sent one after another, before the beginning of spring, the food is enough. And in the Broken Leaf River and Atami, there are a lot of fish. Sending people to fight some can also slow down the consumption of food! ”

"What about after the spring? If every tribe were like the Huang surnamed Tuqishi, Shattered Leaf City would have to feed tens of thousands of mouths. After you go back, I still tell you a word for the old man. Let him do what he can. lest you be kind and mess things up, and instead take advantage of your own reputation. Niu Shi Award was not at ease, and continued to whisper.

"After the beginning of spring, the first batch of woolen cloth from Broken Leaf City will be sold. At that time, it should be possible to exchange some grain from the merchants. Wang Han recently followed Zhang Qian and learned a lot of miscellaneous skills, so he replied, "In addition, my patriarch Shi plans to organize people to work in the fields after the beginning of spring. ”

"Tuntian is indeed a good idea, although the effect is slow, but as long as it works, it can continue." Niu Shi Award thought about it and nodded slightly. "The biggest reason why the imperial court values Guo Yuanzhen is that he can make military food self-sufficient everywhere he goes, and he doesn't need the court to worry about it. And occasionally there are wealthy colleagues who help nearby. ”

"Along the shores of Atami and the Shatteraba River, the land is very fertile. My patriarch plans to reclaim 400,000 acres of fertile land next year. However, there was not enough seed on hand, so I would like to ask the chief manager if he could borrow some wheat, grain, or sorghum seeds from Shule or Khotan. After the autumn harvest, my family history can be repaid tenfold. Wang Han was very unconvinced by Guo Yuanzhen in his heart, smiled, and continued to report in a low voice.

"400,000 acres, how is it possible?" Niu Shi Award's face changed drastically, his brows were tightly locked, and he counted angrily, "Young man, don't always expect to eat a fat man in one go." Even if the Turkish tribes send all the slaves to you to the broken leaves, and then your patriarch Shi takes everyone to open up the wasteland, 200,000 acres of wasteland in a year will reach the sky! He will have to weave cloth and train troops again in the coming year, how can he open up 400,000 acres of barren land? ”

"Don't hide it from the boss, the younger generation also had this question at the beginning." Wang Han was not ashamed, arched his hand, and responded with pride, "However, my family history is now leading craftsmen to ponder a heavy plough drawn by a horse. If it can be successfully built, it is said that each plough can plough at least 50 acres of land every day, which is almost ten times that of oxen plowing. ”