Go along the west of the Zhanghe River, when you reach the intersection of wading and Zhangshui, it is the eastern foot of Taihang Mountain, the mountains and forests are reckless, the grass on both sides is green, and the big river is rushing, but it is a large abandoned ferry.

"Ma Xuanzan, this seems to be a military town specializing in logging, why does it seem to be abandoned?"

Looking in the direction pointed by Wang Song, there were large abandoned grass huts on the bank of the river, a mess, a large pile of felled trees, leaves and weeds, all over the ground.

Hundreds of men were busy working on the shore, and some of them put the wooden rafts into the water, and there were dozens of wooden rafts in a row, covering the entire surface of the river.

Everyone picked up the penny, paddled the water, and slowly walked in the direction of Wang Song's finger, and when they reached the ferry in front of them, the boat stopped at the river.

Inward by the river, about a hundred steps behind the timber, a small city about four meters high and surrounded by an earthen wall about five miles in radius stands out impressively.

Because it was too far away, everyone couldn't see the words on the north gate of the military town. However, everyone could also see clearly that inside the earthen wall, there were several rows of houses scattered around, and it seemed that there were at least two or three hundred. As outside the south gate, there was an open space of two or three football fields inside the wall, also heaped with felled timber, and a dozen or so half-finished ships, where they were piled up, which seemed to be nearing completion.

Wang Song couldn't help but gasp. The imperial court is really wealthy, such a big ferry, it seems to be a special military town, and he is a dignified envoy of the two rivers and the same court, but he also has no idea.

Looking at this scale, it is not an exaggeration to use it to make shields, chariots, and even warships in the army. It's a bit of a waste to put it here for nothing.

"A few officials, to be honest, this is the "Qiangyang Affairs" set up by the imperial court, with 600 supervisors and craftsmen, and it is usually very lively. Every year between February and October, these people cut down trees from the back of the Lin Shu Mountains and transported them to various parts of Hebei Province through the Zhanghe River. ”

"Brother, why is it so scarce now, there are not many people in it?"

Wang Song said "brother", and the boatman's face bloomed with joy. He shook his head and said, "The officials don't know. Since the Jurchens went south, in this "Yang Affairs", the officials of the imperial court have all run away. The remaining craftsmen and townsmen, who had nothing to do, sold timber and sometimes boats, making ends meet. There is nothing to do, no one cares, they all hide in the room and gamble for fun, so it looks very deserted, but in fact there are three or four thousand people. ”

"Brother, in addition to providing timber to Hebei, does this "Panyang Affairs" also build ships? ”

Wang Song pointed to the half-finished ship he saw and continued to ask.

"Make, how not to build!"

The boatman said: "Xianggong, there are shipbuilders here, but they are all small and medium-sized ships and passenger ships. If it is a large warship and a boat, I heard that it has to be bought from the south, and many of the ships there can go to sea, which is cheap and durable. ”

Wang Song and a few people around him glanced at each other, and Ma Kuo said: "Boatman, you dock the boat for a while, our father-in-law wants to go to this "Xiangyang Affairs" to have a look." Don't worry, the boat money is yours!"

"I'm afraid that the officials will not take the villain's boat!"

The boatman happily stopped the boat on the shore.

"Xianggong, there's a lot of wood here!"

Yang Zaixing looked left and right, and said in surprise: "With so much wood, I don't know how many things to make!" Chariots, horses, shields, guns, iron, and so on. Xianggong, it seems that the wood in the iron mill is usually bought, but this is a saving of money, and you can sleep well at night!"

Wang Song laughed, he couldn't imagine that Yang Zaixing, a reckless man, in addition to marching and fighting, also had valuable benefits in his mind. However, he valued the half-finished ships more than the wood.

Seeing the arrival of the officials of the imperial court, the craftsmen and men of the "Panyang Affairs" knelt on the ground.

"The villain doesn't know that the ministers are coming, and they are disappointed, and they hope that the ministers will forgive their sins!"

"Alright, everybody, get up, let's make a long story short!"

Ma expanded his voice and said: "This is the prince of Wang Song, the envoy of the two rivers. From today onwards, the "Panyang Affairs" will officially resume work, and the silver and rice will be distributed as usual, and the previous ones will also be made up, so don't worry. ”

Everyone was overjoyed and bowed to Wang Song and others together. A middle-aged man in front of him said, "Thank you, little people!"

Wang Song nodded and said in a deep voice, "Among you, how many shipbuilders are there?"

The bearded man bowed solemnly and said: "Prime minister, there were more than 60 shipwrights in the "Panyang Affairs", and now there are more than 30 people. The villain Yang Fan is a shipbuilder of "Panyang Affairs". If the prince wants to build a ship, the villain will definitely follow the work of dogs and horses!"

Wang Songxi said: "This is very good! The official will select a group of carpenters from among the refugees, and they will all be under your control, and build chariots, ladders, and things to reject horses in case of emergency!"

Attacking Taiyuan City, such siege equipment must keep up.

It stands to reason that this "Xiangyang Affairs" is under the rule of Hebei, and it should be under the jurisdiction of Xiangzhou, this Xiangzhou Zhizhou Wang Boyan, Xiangzhou Tongju Zhao Butry, what are they doing all day?

Could it be that the Jin people go south, the imperial power does not go to the countryside, and these high-ranking officials and nobles hide in the city every day, eat, drink and have fun, and can be at peace in their hearts?

In the barracks of "Panyang Affairs", Wang Song lay on the table, while thinking, while writing, within half an hour, a kind of ship that looked like a centipede, with rows of oars on both sides of the boat, jumped on the paper.

“…… It is 18.6 meters long and 3.1 meters wide, with 40 wooden oars and a few artillery pieces ......"

Wang Song put down his pen and looked at the ship on the paper with satisfaction.

"Xianggong, what kind of ship is this? Do you really want to build a ship?"

This is called a "fast crab boat", and one or two hundred ships will be built first, and it will be of great use later. ”

Although there is no need for warships in Hedong for the time being, there are the Yellow River and canals in Hebei, as well as Jiangnan and Jianghuai, and naval divisions will be needed in the future. Although the sea vessels are all built in the south, the inland rivers are still controlled by small and medium-sized boats.

Moreover, this "Panyang Affairs" is located in Hebei, but the location is remote.

The imperial court built the capital of Kaifeng, and the supply of grain required was all looking up to the southeast, but the entire north, except for the land of Kaifeng and Gyeonggi, did not have a shipyard for shipbuilding, and all the warships were supplied from the south, which can be said to be a big pity.

"Below three generations, the capital of the state is no greater than the Cao Yun, and the Cao Yun is no greater than the boat!"

In history, there is a Ming generation, Linqing Weihe, Huai'an Qingjiang No. 2 Shipyard repairs ships only up to thousands of ships every year, the country is strong, but the Song Dynasty is concentrated in the southeast, the country is declining, and the military strength is obvious.

In the huge warehouse, the dried sawn timber is piled up, which is not used to build ships and cars, which is incredible.

Thinking of these state-owned assets in history, they were so cheap for nothing, Wang Song couldn't help but sigh. The children and grandchildren are incompetent, and the huge family business is wasted in vain, which can be described as inferior to beasts.

"This "Xiangyang Affairs" can only be used now, and in the future, to open up the territory and develop maritime trade, only the shipyards in the south, or ......"

Or, of course, to build a new shipyard in the north, but that doesn't seem to be his purview.

Once the north is restored and he retires, he may marry Zhao Duofu. Once you become a princess, your political career will also end, and if you want to go on an expedition overseas and expand your territory, I am afraid it will only be a mirage.

"Xianggong, although your "fast crab boat" is good, but in the villain's opinion, it is better to build some sampan boats, and then build some cars and boats, foot strength instead of arm strength, 4 oars are set on both sides, each wheel has 8 paddles, very light and fast, can travel hundreds of miles a day......

Yang Fan often builds ships, and he is also everyone, although he does not have the famous saying "fast crab boat" cannot be built, Wang Song also understands.

Although the "fast crab boat" is fast and has a long body, the bottom is too sharp and thin, not to mention that the ship is difficult to build, and it is difficult to adapt to the characteristics of shallow inland rivers and forked ports.

"Yang Fan, sampans and cars and boats can be built, first build a hundred each, as for the "fast crab boat", you can flatten the bottom a little, what do you think?"

Wang Song was a little apprehensive when he opened the yellow cavity just now, but the vehicles and sampans were too small, and they needed to carry heavier warships, with dozens of artillery pieces on them, and when they reached the river, they were devastating and decaying, and they were unstoppable.

"It's not impossible, the villain thinks about it, and he will give Xianggong a reply."

Yang Fan pondered for a moment and continued:

"Xianggong's idea is good, the river boat is different from the sea boat, it needs to rely on manpower to propel, this "fast crab boat" is like this, only need to change the bottom structure. As for the "artillery" mentioned by Xiang Gong, it is possible to leave a place on the side of the ship and the hull of the ship, and the manpower paddle can be changed to the wheel foot force, or it can not be changed, so as not to hinder major events. ”

He also seemed to be infected by the ambition of this Shangguan, and followed.

"Xianggong, in fact, this shipbuilding is not difficult, but it is the good shipwrights and sailors who are difficult. If you want to have a naval army, you have to find people from the canals and the Yellow River, and you have to train them. This is all said by the generals of Hebei Caoyun, and the villain only knows a fur. ”

"Yang Fan, since this is the case, this "fast crab boat" has to be transformed, and it will be handed over to you, and the construction of sampans and vehicles and boats is also urgent. Do it well, and the reward will be yours! ”

Wang Song laughed, thinking that it had always been the case to come to the Caoyun Office of the Hebei Daimyo Mansion to recruit officers and soldiers. However, when Yang Fan said this, he reminded Wang Song that this sailor is not an overnight thing, and he has to think about it in the long run.

Yang Fan happily accepted the order, Wang Song thought for a moment, and continued to explain to Ma Kuo on the side:

Ma Xuanzan immediately arranged for people to take over the "Panyang affairs", and after he returned, he asked Deng Shixiong to gather a group of sailors or boatmen from Hebei to practice on the canal. When we recover Hebei, we will build a large shipyard and officially establish a sailor. ”

There are many ferries in Hebei Damingfu, and shipyards can be built on this, Hebei relies on Taihang Mountain, and the wood is complete, which is exactly what the warship needs.

I heard that Guangdong and Fujian are rich in iron pear wood, hard as iron, and building sea ships is the best choice, I don't know if I can get some small sea boats made of iron pear wood in the future, crisscrossing the rivers, absolutely the one who is broken, indestructible.

Taking precautions, the east of the river was restored, and then Hebei, the Hebei Canal and the Yellow River led directly to Yanjing, and the army went north, with the help of water power, it was no longer suitable.

The Northern Expedition to Taiyuan is imminent, and for Wang Song, the most important thing is to replenish the chariots, shields, including ballistae and other items in the army as soon as possible.

"Xianggong, if you want to build a ship, this is a lot of silver, I'm afraid it will not work if you don't restore the salt solution!"

Ma Kuo shook his head and smiled bitterly. Wang Song has always been resolute, but if there is no additional income, the finances of the Hedong Loyal and Righteous Army will soon be stretched.

"You're right!"

Wang Song laughed and said: "Sailors and warships are all urgent. If there is a shortage of silver, it is natural to find a way. Salt relief is where this way out. ”

The solution to salt is very profitable, and the shipbuilding and car building, and the reward of silver and silver all come from the salt profit. It is imperative to recapture the salt solution.