The main restriction on the production of iron by the blacksmith shop was the supply of coke and iron ore, as long as these two raw materials were sufficient, it was actually very convenient to use mold casting to produce swords and ironware, and the speed was much faster than the production of iron tools by block refining and hammering in this era.

It was also a coincidence that on the day when Xiang Bo opened his mouth to ask Xiang Kang for a steel knife, the Shiling Pavilion blacksmith shop happened to have a new batch of coke, plus Feng Zhong sent people to buy some ore and some inventory, so it only took a little more than a day for Xiang Kang to make twenty steel knives that he promised to give to Xiang Bo, and under the pretext that his brother had found a buyer in the field, he took all the newly beaten steel knives out of the construction site and sent them to his third uncle's house.

It was also at this time that Xiang Kang knew that Xiang You was going to personally send the steel knife to Xiapi and hand it over to Xiang Bo, considering that the road was not too far, twenty steel knives were not very easy to attract attention, and Xiang You was Xiang Bo's own son who must miss his father, Xiang Kang did not stop him, but just carefully explained that Xiang You must be careful on the road, and kindly asked Li Dian, who was good friends with Feng Zhong, for a road guide, so that Xiang You could go north legally and justifiably, and then he didn't ask about this matter again.

Xiang Kang expected that after Xiang You and Han Li went north with the steel knife, although they were checked by the checkpoints along the way twice, because the number of steel knives was not very large, Xiang You brought the road guide from the Shiling Pavilion, so the checkpoints along the way did not deliberately make it difficult and particularly carefully checked, and with a wave of his hand, Xiang You, who delivered goods to the merchants, and Han Li, who was traveling with him, passed the customs, and Xiang Han and the two were able to arrive at Xiapi smoothly a day later, and sent the steel knife directly into the house of 'Han Liang' who lived outside Xiapi City.

After fleeing for nearly a year, he only saw his sons and nephews in a hurry, and suddenly saw his own son sending a knife to the door, of course Xiang Bo, who was still concerned about his family, couldn't help but be overjoyed, and couldn't help but hug Xiang You and cry in front of his friend Zhang Liang, who was alias Han Liang. However, after learning that his son only brought twenty steel knives this time, Uncle Xiang, who had a very bad temper, immediately turned his joy into anger and asked his son: "Sui'er, my father asked for fifty knives, why did you send such a little?" ”

"It's Xiang Kang who doesn't give it." Xiang You was waiting for his father's words, and immediately said: "He said that the blacksmith shop in Shiling Pavilion was opened by him and the original pavilion chief Feng Zhong, he can't be the master, and he doesn't make a lot of money, and he can't make fifty knives, at most he can only give his father twenty." ”

"Pavilion Chief Feng Zhong?" Xiang Bo was stunned and said suspiciously: "Feng Zhong, that puppet, didn't you bring someone to our house to arrest me last time?" How could Xiang Kang get involved with him? ”

What is called adding oil and vinegar, Xiang You's words to answer are called adding oil and vinegar, in front of his biological father, Xiang You, who has long been full of resentment against Xiang Kang, poured bitter water, first carefully explained how Xiang Kang and Feng Zhong turned enemies into friends and embarrassment, and then said that Xiang Kang became famous in Xia Cross with the indirect help of Feng Zhong, and finally insisted that Xiang Kang was ungrateful after he was developed, only caring about his own food and spicy food, and did not care about the life or death of Xiang brothers and two uncles, and was even more stingy with Xiang Bo, no matter how he and his mother pleaded, I just don't want to give my uncle Uncle Xiang a few more steel knives.

“…… Father, in fact, Xiang Kang is just looking for excuses, he is unwilling to give that money, I know how he fights the knife, that is, first burn the coke carbon, and then use the coke to make iron, and then like the copper and bronze ware, pour the molten iron into the mold to cast the knife, which is convenient and simple, Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Guan and I can help him, and you can quietly make a knife with Feng Zhong on his back. But no matter how much my mother and I begged him, he just wouldn't agree, for fear that he would ...... out of that money. ”

"Say no more!" Xiang Bo finally spoke, interrupting his son's words with a blushing face, and then said with some gritted teeth: "He is reluctant to forget that money!" He doesn't recognize me as an uncle, and I don't recognize him as a nephew! ”

"Brother Xiang is angry." Zhang Liang, who was alias Han Liang next to him, opened his mouth and kindly persuaded: "Xiang Kangxian's nephew shouldn't be that kind of person, he must also have his troubles." Besides, if you want Xiang Kangxian's nephew to send you so many knives in one go, once they are discovered by the government on the road, the government will definitely suspect the origin and whereabouts of these knives, as long as you trace them down, maybe your whereabouts will be exposed, and it will not be good for you. ”

Xiang Bo kept a straight face and didn't speak, and Zhang Liang persuaded again: "I am also to blame for this, I shouldn't ask Brother Xiang to help me prepare weapons, okay, I didn't say anything before, let's find another way to get weapons elsewhere, so don't embarrass Xiang Kangxian's nephew anymore." ”

The book explains that the reason why Xiang Bo asked Xiang Kang for fifty good steel knives in one breath was really because of Zhang Liang's casual words - he accidentally saw a steel knife from Shiling Pavilion on the market in Xiapi, and heard that such a sharp weapon was actually made by Xiang Kang, who he had met once, Zhang Liang talked to Xiang Bo about it, so he casually asked Xiang Bo to ask for some of this steel knife. And Xiang Bo was grateful to Zhang Liang for his kindness in taking him in and protecting him, and secondly, he wanted to show off his uncle's shelf, so he had the story of sending a letter to ask for a knife.

The perpetrators have changed their tunes, and it stands to reason that this matter should be closed. However, it is a pity that Xiang Bo, who felt that he had lost face, refused to give up, and suddenly yelled at the case: "No! A gentleman's word, the horse is difficult to chase! I promised Brother Han that you will definitely do it! I'll go back to Shiling Pavilion now, and go to Xiang Kang in person to ask for a knife, and see if he can give it or not!" ”

"Brother Xiang, this is no joke." Zhang Liang hurriedly said: "You are a murderer in Shiling Pavilion, the last time you went home, you were found by the pavilion guards there, and you were investigated most closely in that area, you go back now, isn't it a self-throwing net?" ”

Xiang Bo closed his mouth, and Zhang Liang asked Xiang You, "Virtuous nephew, do you know what method Xiang Kangxian's nephew uses to smelt iron?" How can an iron knife be so tough and sharp? Can you tell us? If I can, I will let someone open a blacksmith shop in Xiapi to make their own knives, so that there is no need to embarrass Xiang Kangxian's nephew. ”

"Uncle, it's not that my little nephew doesn't want to tell you, it's that I don't know, my cousin is too fine, and there is a link in ironmaking, he doesn't say anything to anyone, and no one is allowed to see it."

Xiang You smiled bitterly, first explained Xiang Kang's iron-making method in general, and then introduced a key link that Xiang Kang personally did not allow others to know. Zhang Liang also smiled bitterly when he heard this, and said to Uncle Xiang: "Brother Xiang, it seems that you and I still underestimate your virtuous nephew, I can't imagine that he still has such a wit, in order not to starve the apprentice to death of the master, he even keeps his own brother so secret. ”

"Little Shaft!" Xiang Bo smashed his fist on the desk again, and roared with a black face: "I personally asked him for it, see if he gives it or not!" You'er, bring me a letter back, and ask Xiang Kang to write his secret method into a letter and send it to me! ”

"It's ......." Xiang You's face was full of embarrassment, and he said, "Father, what if Xiang Kang insists on not giving it?" You also know that Xiang Kang not only picks the door, but also speaks better than anyone else, what if he finds various reasons to insist on not giving it? ”

"Brother Xiang, I don't think it will work to do this." Zhang Liang also said: "With the shrewdness of Xiang Kangxian's nephew, he will definitely not teach such an important iron-smelting method to others, although Brother Xiang, although you are his uncle, if he knows that you are going to teach me, he will definitely not give it." ”

"White-eyed wolf, how did our Xiang family raise such a white-eyed wolf?" Xiang Bo, who was already very angry at the instigation of his son, gritted his teeth, and didn't want to lose face in front of his friends, so he said: "Then I'll call him to Xiapi and ask him for it in person, and see if he gives it." ”

"Brother Xiang, it's better not to do this." Zhang Liang warned: "Not to mention that Xiang Kangxian's nephew may not come, even if he is really ordered to come to see you, it will be inappropriate." ”

"What's wrong?" Xiang Bo asked.

Zhang Liang explained: "Don't forget, Xiang Kangxian's nephew is a blacksmith shop opened in partnership with the pavilion chief who once led people to arrest us, and he has the key method, once he leaves, the blacksmith shop will have to stop, and the pavilion chief named Feng Zhong will also know immediately, once he has suspicions to investigate the whereabouts of Xiang Kangxian's nephew, Brother Xiang, your whereabouts may be known by the officials of the tyrannical Qin, so it is best to be careful." ”

didn't dare to rule out this possibility, Xiang Bo had no choice but to give up the plan to force Xiang Kang to come to Xiapi to meet him, and couldn't help gritting his teeth again and said, "Recognize the thief as a father!" Knowing that Feng Zhong wanted to arrest me, and still being friends with him, partnering with him to open a blacksmith shop, why didn't I find out that this kid was so unconscionable before? ”

Because he has always cherished the dream of recovering the country, Zhang Liang really wanted to know what method Xiang Kang used to make a good iron knife, and after a little thought, he gave Xiang Bo an idea and said: "Brother Xiang, if you must want to meet Xiang Kangxian's nephew, it is not impossible, you can go to the side of the Shiling Pavilion, find a safer place to wait, and then ask your son-in-law to ask Xiang Kang's son to meet with you, and come back immediately after the meeting, so that it will be fine." ”

"But you must not go directly to the realm of the Shiling Pavilion." Zhang Liang hurriedly added: "You are the person who killed you there, not only is the government strictly investigated, but there are also many people who know you, and your identity may be exposed at any time, you have to find a place not far from Shiling Pavilion and few people know you, so that it is safe." ”

"It's not far from Shiling Pavilion, and there are few people who know me? Where is it more appropriate? ”

Xiang Bo pondered in his heart, trying to recall the places that met these two conditions, but before Xiang Bo could think of a suitable place, Xiang You next to him had already had an idea, and hurriedly said, "Father, why don't you go to Yanji Pavilion in Ling County?" It's less than two hours away from Shiling Pavilion, and it's in Ling County, almost no one knows you, and if you wait for Xiang Kang to meet there, Xiang Kang will definitely have to go. ”

"Why?" Xiang Bo asked casually.

"Because Xiang Kang and Yan Jiting's daughter of the Yu family have already married." Xiang You hurriedly explained, first about Xiang Kang's proposal to the Yu family, and then introduced the situation that although Yu Gong promised to marry, he wanted to play tricks and refused to admit it, and then said: "The child thinks, father, after you arrive at Yan Jiting, you can go directly to the Yu family and wait for Xiang Kang, and by the way, you want that Yu Gong to fulfill his promise, Xiang Kang will definitely thank you if he knows, and if you ask him for the secret method of iron smelting, he just can't give it if he doesn't want to." ”

Xiang Bo was greatly moved when he heard this, and he was somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Jian's words and was untrustworthy, so he patted his thigh and said: "Okay, let's go to Yanji Pavilion, meet with Xiang Kang's little rabbit cub there, and help him talk about family affairs by the way. ”

"Wait." Zhang Liang hurriedly stopped and asked Xiang You: "Virtuous nephew, that Duke Yu is not reliable, will he sell your father?" Also, did the Lingxian Shan Right Lieutenant who fought with your cousin to ask the Yu family do anything later? ”

"Uncle Han, don't worry, that Duke Yu is as timid as a mouse, and he will never dare to sell my father, otherwise our Xiang brothers will never spare him!"

Xiang You confidently assured, hesitated a little, and decisively concealed the fact that his brother helped the Yu family to rectify the white gloves of the single right lieutenant, and said: "As for the single right lieutenant, I just heard that he threatened the Yu family with a letter, asking the Yu family to divorce Xiang Kang and marry his daughter to his son, but Yu Gong ignored him, and then there was no news. ”

Zhang Liang closed his eyes and thought about it, combined with the last time Xiang Kang took the Xiang family brothers to the Yu family to cheat and cheat on food and drink, and considering that the Yu family had a big business, he would definitely not dare to offend the Xiang family's outlaws to death, Zhang Liang also believed that the Yu family would not betray Xiang Bo, but considering the grievances between the Xiang family and Shan Youwei, Zhang Liang was a little worried, so he opened his eyes and said: "Brother Xiang, it's better to change places, your son and nephew have a feud with the right lieutenant of Ling County, once you reveal your identity, the consequences will definitely be unimaginable." ”

Xiang Bo was a little hesitant for a while, but after a little thought, Xiang Bo shook his head again and said, "It's okay, almost no one knows me in Yan Jiting, so it's so easy to expose my identity?" Besides, Yan Jiting and Xiapi also border, and if the situation is not right, I can come back immediately. ”

It is indeed more greedy for Xiang Kang's secret method of ironmaking, seeing that Xiang Bo insisted, Zhang Liang no longer insisted on blocking it, nodded and said: "Okay, but it's better like this, Brother Xiang, you go with Xiang You and Han Li, calculate the distance and time, Brother Xiang, you and Xiang Youxian's nephew go to Yu's house to wait for Xiang Kang there, and ask Han to leave Shiling Pavilion to send a letter to Xiang Kang, telling him to go to Yanji Pavilion immediately." In this way, Brother Xiang, you don't need to wait too much time in Yan Jiting, and you can come back as soon as you talk about things after meeting. ”

Xiang Bo agreed, and also praised his friend's meticulousness, and even the details of the time were extremely thoughtful. Next to Xiang You, he quietly clenched his fists, and said in his heart: "There is hope, my father has always loved me more, I begged him on the way and asked him to ask another daughter of the Yu family for me, he will definitely agree, he will not face Xiang Kang like his mother, and say that he will do Xiang Kang's affairs first." Gong Yu is afraid of my father's prestige, maybe he will agree, I like the two daughters of the Yu family, I don't care who I can marry! ”

…………

In this way, after hurriedly preparing the bags, it was only in the early morning of the next day, Xiang Bo, Xiang You father and son and Han Li went out to the south, and estimated the time and distance on the way according to Zhang Liang's instructions, and parted ways when they arrived at the fork in the road, Xiang Bo and Xiang You father and son went east to Yanji Pavilion to visit Yu Gong, and Han Li continued to go south, and rushed to Shiling Pavilion to meet Xiang Kang again.

The distance was placed here, and it caught up with the heavy snowfall, Han Li didn't rush to Shiling Pavilion until near noon the next day, and then like last time, Han Li first went to visit the third uncle's house, and then Xiang Bo's other son Xiang Sui came forward to invite Xiang Kang, who ate and lived almost always in the blacksmith shop, and finally explained the reason to Xiang Kang, asking Xiang Kang to rush to Yanji Pavilion to meet Xiang Bo and Xiang You within today. As a result, it was natural to learn that Xiang Bo and Xiang You had already gone to Yanji Pavilion, Xiang Kang was of course like earth on the horse, and he opened his mouth and yelled and asked, "What?" My third uncle went to Yan Jiting Yu's house? He was dizzy, what did he do when he went to Yanjiting?! ”

"Xiang Gong has something important to discuss with you, and he knows that you are too busy to go to Xiapi, so I have to wait for you at the nearby Yanji Pavilion." Han Li explained, and said: "Also, Xiang Gong heard that the Yu family's Yu Gong has promised to marry his daughter to you, but he is not sure about the marriage date, and he wants to personally come forward to do this for you, also for the sake of your son." ”

Xiang Kang was speechless, and after wiping his forehead hard, Xiang Kang turned around and rushed out, and the third uncle and aunt in the back hurriedly shouted: "Kang'er, call your brothers, we don't worry if you go alone." ”

"It's too late!" Xiang Kang didn't look back and said loudly: "I'm going to hurry over and tell them to leave immediately!" Don't hurt the Yu family, and don't hurt themselves! ”