Although he was quite dissatisfied with Zuo Liangyu's trust, after a few words of conversation, Yang Sichang's attitude towards Zhao Dangshi and Chen Hongfan was still quite dependent. Zhao Dangshi secretly glanced at Chen Hongfan, his face was relieved at this time, and he no longer had the initial crampedness.

Outside the hall, the bamboo pole tapped a few times, and Yang Sichang stretched his sleeves and said: "Just this moment, I don't want another two quarters of an hour to pass." Life is like a white horse, every bit of it needs to be grasped well, otherwise it will be wasted, and it is written on the surface that it has lived for decades, but in fact it is only more than ten years. ”

Zhao Dangshi continued: "What the envoy said is. For example, in the case of suppressing the coquettish, toiling for several years was fruitless, which greatly damaged the vitality of the country. Fortunately, there are envoys now in charge, and the turmoil can finally be stopped. ”

Yang Sichang smiled and said: "It's not enough to rely on this official, we also need Zhao Zongzhen and Chen Zongzhen to work together." ”

Zhao Dangshi and Chen Hongfan said in unison: "Without a minister, we are just headless flies, and there is no order." The appearance is to clear the clouds and point the way for us to be at a loss. ”

"The two are loyal and courageous, and their momentum is very good." Yang Sichang nodded slightly, and then said, "The meeting in the afternoon is all government affairs in the government, and the two soldiers have heavy responsibilities, if you have no time, you can return to the camp first." ”

Zhao Dangshi agreed, and then said: "Make Xiang Ri take care of everything, and he shouldn't bother too much, but there is still one thing for the lower officials here, and I hope that Xiang Haihan will be the same." ”

"What?"

"The guerrilla commander of the old standard battalion Lu Zhen is a military strategy and self-righteousness, which can be described as a good general."

Yang Sichang said "oh": "He, I know." ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "Since Lu Guerrilla led his troops into Xiangyang, he has been protecting the city for several months, and thieves from near and far have avoided it. He also contributed to the peace of Xiangfu. ”

Chen Hongfan listened to it and said the same.

Yang Sichang frowned and said: "Lu Guerrilla is indeed old and serious, but according to the rules, he is the head of the battalion formed by Xiong Wencan, and it is not easy for this official to use him." The implication is that he still plans to reorganize the standard camp.

Zhao Dangshi had already promised Lu Zhenguo that he could not let Yang Sichang hesitate any longer, he knew that compared with Chen Hongfan, who had just won the merit not long ago, Lu Zhenguo had lacked combat examples for a long time, so it was difficult to get Yang Sichang's approval, so he said: "Lu Guerrilla is a veteran general, although he has not fought since he led the standard battalion, Xiangyang Mansion City has him in good order, and Yu Yong is good." Today, I heard that the envoy wanted to dredge the moat, and set up a deputy general to guard it. Xia Guan thought that Lu Guerrilla had been in Chuyu for a long time and was familiar with the thief's situation, so he was actually the best candidate among them. ”

Chen Hongfan also said: "Yes, the thieves are cunning and treacherous, and they often make people pretend to be business travelers and ordinary people to sneak into the city to make trouble. ”

Yang Sichang heard this, nodded, at this time, the sound of bamboo outside the hall sounded again, and a waiter ran in with broken steps, and said a few words to him, he first said "I know", and then shook his head and said: "It's three quarters of an hour in the blink of an eye, alas, 'Qimo fragrance floats like a thread, and time is like electricity', the official has to leave." He stood up as he spoke.

Zhao Dangshi and Chen Hongfan also stood up and arched their hands and said: "I have to see the mountain fight, I am flattered, so please take it easy." ”

"Okay." Yang Sichang was supported by his attendants and took two steps, stayed at the entrance of the hall, and suddenly turned slightly and said: "Mr. Zhao, the matter of Lu's guerrilla will be considered. Whether to use it or not, wait for the official to meet him again. It's really a usable talent, and this official will not be confined to prejudices. With that, he walked away slowly.

Zhao Dangshi and Chen Hongfan then walked out of the festival hall, and Chen Hongfan said with relief: "Accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger, and it is not so easy to accompany this Yang Ge Lao." ”

"That's not it, Yang Ge is always a close minister of the saint, and he is really the prefect of the emperor. Get along day and night, and get along with each other, more or less similar. Zhao Dangshi said, "But look at Yang Ge's old meaning, my brother stays in Xiangfu, and it's a certainty." ”

Chen Hongfan smiled and said: "It's not in vain for you and my brother's hard work. And he said, "How is the Lu guerrilla?" ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "I don't think it's far from ten." The old nobleman of Yang Pavilion is really not interested, and he doesn't have to bother with the two of us at all, and he said that 'this official will meet him again', which is actually a hint. ”

"It makes sense, the scholars who came out of the court all like the set of clouds and mountains and fog."

"Yang Ge is afraid that he is also used to it. The court is sinister, everyone is walking on thin ice, it is common for disasters to come out of the mouth, and if you don't put a few layers of paste on the outside of what you think in your heart, how dare you say it. ”

Chen Hongfan looked at Zhao Dangshi with a strange look, and sighed: "I can't see that the virtuous brother still understands this." Set up a small lake, I think it's a condescension. If the virtuous brother has a better chance and can be transferred to Jingshi and Liaodong, then the sea is wide and the sky is high and the birds can fly, and the future is not limited to the current general guard. ”

Zhao Dangshi came back to his senses, and hurriedly waved his hand and said: "It's all hearsay, nonsense, and it can't be taken seriously." is still a brother, up and down. When it comes to the future, the younger brother is not as good as the elder brother. ”

Chen Hongfan shook his head and said, "You and I have different starting points, we are born, and we can't change it." In this life, some people take one step at a time, some people stand still, and some people take a few steps back. However, in addition to this, there are some people who can always take four or five steps or even seven or eight steps above others in one step. In this way, the starting point is important, but if it is met by chance, it may not be the most important. He added, "The foolish brother is not so-so, but in the past few decades, whether it is looking at the flowers or getting off the horse to see the flowers, it is difficult to see countless people, and finally there are some experiences." In the case of walking, there are more people in the first three types and fewer people in the latter type. can look at it again, cough cough, but I have never seen a character like Brother Xian. ”

"Haha, brother said and laughed, what kind of character am I?"

"It's not something in the pool." Chen Hongfan said with a long meaning.

Zhao Dangshi's footsteps paused, Chen Hongfan also stopped, and the two stood on the stone path of the small garden outside the festival hall, and stood speechless. In the distance, military music suddenly played in the direction of the White Tiger Hall, and the suona gongs and drums sounded in unison, and it was lively again, presumably the afternoon meeting had begun.

The two stood still until the military music stopped, Chen Hongfan suddenly coughed, and said: "When I was nine years old, there was a traveling Fang Dao man who came to beg, and I gave him three pennies. ”

"What's it?"

"Partial wealth."

"Oh? What kind of wealth is favored? Zhao Dangshi asked with a smile, "It's a good hexagram." ”

Chen Hongfan replied: "I don't know, I asked that person at that time, and that person asked me for money again. When Jia Yan passed by at the right time, seeing this situation, he was furious and blew the person away, turned around and smoked me too, which was a profound impact and is still unforgettable. ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "It's a pity. ”

Chen Hongfan said: "Saiong lost his horse, and he didn't know if he was blessed." I'm afraid I'll never figure out what that partial wealth is. Since then, though, I've had an extra mind. ”

"What heart's eye?"

"Haha, I'm ashamed to say that. It's that when something happens, no matter what the outcome is, I always have to work hard to get into the camp, for fear of missing out on my destined opportunity for partial wealth. Therefore, even if every effort is in vain, there is some consolation, so as not to be discouraged. ”

Zhao Dangshi nodded silently, as if he heard something from Chen Hongfan's words.

"Haha, do you think this Yang Ge Lao is stunned. But after a few words, I always remember the moment and be really careful. Chen Hongfan changed the topic at the right time.

Zhao Dangshi said thoughtfully: "Everything must be done personally, hard work, and those who are not in a position should be." ”

"What do you mean?"

Zhao Dangshi smiled and said, "I don't have any other intentions, I'm just worried about Yang Ge's old body." ”

Coming out of the gate, Zhao Dangshi said goodbye to Chen Hongfan. Chen Hongfan's family and his family all settled in the manor on the shore of Qiangxi Lake on the outskirts of the city, and he sent troops for a long time to go back and see. Zhao Dangshi did not go straight to the Gucheng military camp, but went to a restaurant in Xiangyang Mansion to meet with Lu Qiqing, the deputy envoy for internal affairs.

Lu Qiqing's responsibilities are to contact the merchants and gangs in Huguang and the Confucian family in Sichuan. Although Zhao Ying, through various channels such as seizure and purchase, now has more than 6,000 bird guns that can be used, Zhao Dangshi proposed very early on that Zhao Ying must have the ability to develop firearms on its own, and Lu Qiqing was also responsible for the preliminary work. He left Huguang in July last year, took the waterway into Sichuan, paid a visit to Kong Qingnian, and discussed the current work docking and follow-up plans with the Kong family. Then, with the assistance of Kong Qingnian, he visited merchants in Tongchuan, Ziyang, Qianwei, Guanxian, Maozhou and other places, and determined a number of supply channels for purchasing saltpeter, pig iron, charcoal, lead, etc. Lu Qiqing also just returned to Xiangyang a few days ago, and when he arrived in Fanhe City, he learned that Zhao Dangshi was stationed elsewhere, so he rushed over non-stop.

Lu Qiqing pointed out to Zhao Dangshi the contents that needed to be determined in front of the hand-drawn book, mainly including procurement costs, transshipment costs, consumption costs, the selection of relay points and the corresponding construction costs, the cooperative relationship with the Confucian family, customs clearance procedures and costs along the way, and so on. Zhao Dangshi is not sloppy, his principle is that everything must be confirmed and approved by him in the early stage, so he is also patient and concentrated. The two of them sat in the restaurant for most of the day, and even the restaurant was about to close, and the drinkers dispersed one after another.

After the last item was decided, Zhao Dangshi sighed, looked at Lu Qiqing, and felt that his originally extremely fair skin had darkened a lot, and said, "Old Lu, I have really worked hard for you in the past few months." ”

Lu Qiqing said: "If you can do things for the lord, bitter is sweet." ”

"Regarding the cost, you go and proofread it with Lao He. He knew best what the battalion was spending, and only after he could settle the production of all kinds of firearms that our battalion could support and the quantity of commodities to be purchased. ”

"My subordinates understand."

Zhao Dangshi took a sip of tea to relieve his fatigue, and Xu said: "What we just discussed is on the supply side, and I take materials from our camp and make them with them." In the past few months, Lao He and I have also come to Xiangyang Mansion more than once to inspect the Ordnance and Gunpowder Bureau, and in general, the manufacturing of these bureaus is varied, but the output is small due to the proficiency of craftsmen and the efficiency of the government's establishment. To meet the needs of our battalion, we must set up a new bureau and keep it firmly in our own hands. ”

"The lord is wise, and it is naturally difficult for him to exert his strength when he is controlled by others."

"I am ready to propose to Yang Ge Lao on a later date the proposal to set up a new firearms manufacturing bureau. Elder Yang Ge is determined to forge ahead, this move is conducive to suppressing the Kou, and he will not refuse. When Zhao Dangshi said this, he suddenly sighed.

"Why does the lord sigh?" Lu Qiqing was encouraged, and when he saw that he was sad, he was puzzled.

Zhao Dangshi frowned and said: "The establishment of the bureau is beneficial to our army, but it is not necessarily too helpful to our army at present. "Finding it and saying, "Birds, tigers, and guns, even if they are all numbers, as long as my battalion is willing to spend energy, it is not difficult to make it." But these guns, fighting soldiers and horses, can destroy the village, and it is not meaningful. ”

Lu Qiqing's heart was bright, and he said: "The lord is worried that my battalion does not have big artillery? ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "Exactly." The wild is easy to defeat, and the siege is difficult to win. The foundation of our army is weak and cannot withstand much attrition, but we look forward to it, and we may encounter a strong city in the future. If you continue to use the method of attacking with ants, I am afraid that the loss will be too great. The scale of the armament and powder bureau in Huguang and other places is far inferior to that of the Beijing Division, and it has never had experience in manufacturing cannons, and there is no mold, and it is difficult to start with a skillful hand like Lu Puyi. ”

"Coming across the fortified city?" Lu Qiqing was a little puzzled, but he didn't think much about it, and said: "When my subordinates were in Sichuan, I got acquainted with a person, and I hope to solve the urgent need of our battalion's artillery." ”