Chapter 19: The Future of the Manufacturing Bureau

Didn't Zhang Xuan think about opening the sea?

On the contrary, when Zhang Xuan was in a financial crisis, the first thing he thought about was to open the sea.

As a person of later generations, it is an idiot to not know how profitable the maritime trade is at this time.

But he didn't act rashly, not for anything else, just because of the Zheng family.

Zheng Chenggong expressed silence on Zhang Xuan's handling of any matter. There seems to be no interest in meddling in any affairs in Guangdong. Is that really the case? Zhang Xuan knew that this was not the case, or that it was not entirely so. Zheng has no idea about what is going on in Guangdong at all. But this is not the case with the sea of Canton.

Although there was chaos in Guangdong, many things were affected.

But this is not to say that many maritime merchants have given up their voyages, just a few, Zheng's fleet patrols the waters of Guangdong every day, and seems to be dutiful, but in fact, they want to completely bring the waters of Guangdong into Zheng's sphere of influence.

He even wanted to build several military ports in Guangdong, just like in Fujian.

These things gave Zhang Xuan a headache.

Zhang Xuan was unwilling to stand on the opposite side of Zheng Chenggong, and Zheng Chenggong also made a contribution in defeating Ding Chukui. But let Zhang Xuan raise his hand to concede the benefits of Guangdong's sea to the Zheng family, not to mention whether Nanjing agrees or disagrees. Zhang Xuan himself was unwilling.

This is a good one, an annual income of one million taels.

Not to mention that Zhang Xuan has a financial gap, even if there is no financial gap, it is impossible for Zhang Xuan to give up this benefit to the Zheng family. But the Zheng family is not an enemy after all, how can we maintain the situation of fighting but not breaking, let Zheng Chenggong spit out the contents of the stomach he ate, and maintain a harmonious relationship with the Zheng family.

It seems like it's hard to have it both ways.

Zhang Xuan naturally wouldn't talk to Xian Zijing about these things.

Zhang Xuan didn't say yes, nor did he say no. said: "I know about this. Then he changed the subject and said, "Do you know, the iron mold casting cannon method? ”

Xian Zijing said: "Iron mold casting cannon? Could it be that the imperial court used iron molds for casting cannons? ”

For people in the industry, just one word is enough to make them think a lot.

Zhang Xuan said to Zheng Lian: "Let Wang Cannon come in." ”

Zhang Xuan and he couldn't explain many technical details clearly, so they asked Wang Dacang to talk about it.

Zhang Xuan introduced Wang Dacang to Xian Zijing and said, "This is the director of the Guangdong Manufacturing Bureau. The iron mold casting cannon method was made by his hands. ”

When Xian Zijing heard this, he immediately saluted and said, "My subordinates have seen adults." ”

Wang Cannon immediately returned the salute and said, "Don't dare to be." ”

Although Wang Dacang is in a high position, he always feels that he is just a blacksmith, so he still maintains respect for Xian Zijing, who is a scholar at first glance.

But Xian Zijing also has great respect for Wang's cannon skills. After a while, the two were talking together. At first, Zhang Xuan could still understand, but after a long time, Zhang Xuan couldn't understand many words. However, seeing Xian Zijing's eyes shining, his whole face was flushed with excitement.

Zhang Xuan understood one thing, this Xian Zijing was very obsessed with iron-smelting technology. When it comes to the exciting, I can't wait to dance. I almost forgot that there was another Zhang Xuan there.

Zhang Xuan had to cough twice to signal his presence to the two of them.

The two of them woke up from a dream and said, "Please forgive the general." ”

Zhang Xuan said: "Okay, you have to work together in the future, and we will talk slowly when we have time." I just want to ask one thing, the Guangdong Manufacturing Bureau wants to supply several provinces with military supplies, whether it is knives, guns, guns, cannons, rattans, shields, etc., all of them must be available. ”

"It must be produced immediately, and I will allocate 20,000 taels of silver first." When Zhang Xuan said "20,000 taels of silver", he felt that his teeth were slightly painful. The reason is simple. Zhang Xuan's bag is shy. 20,000 taels is already the most money he can come up with.

Xian Zijing said loudly: "Please find out, and start this matter immediately when you go back next time, you can't miss a big deal in a short time." ”

Zhang Xuan glanced at Wang Cannon, and immediately felt that there was a mistake in his actions, I am afraid that Wang Dacang will not be able to balance Xian Zijing. Zhang Xuan secretly said in his heart: "The weight of the armament is not enough to appoint the hands of the Xian family, I must send a trustworthy person to supervise it." ”

But although talents are rare in these years, there are still them. But there are always very few people who have believed, no matter when.

Zhang Xuan said: "Okay, there is one more thing, I want to consult, is it okay if the Manufacturing Bureau is not located in Foshan?" ”

It's not that Zhang Xuan doesn't look down on Foshan. However, the geographical location of Foshan is actually good, and the waterways can almost spread all over the two Guangzhou. But there was a fatal problem that Zhang Xuan had to think about more. That is, Foshan uses almost all charcoal, not coal.

Guangzhou is located in the south, and the grass and trees grow fast. However, tens of thousands of tons of iron every year may still be able to use charcoal, but if it is expanded to hundreds of thousands of tons, it will not be able to use charcoal. Even if you use charcoal, I'm afraid that all around Foshan will be cut down, and there will not be enough charcoal that can't be burned.

Only coal is used.

But Zhang Xuan didn't hear of any big coal mines in Guangdong. If you look carefully, it should be used, but there is a big coal mine in Zhang Xuan's eyes for a long time, and Zhang Xuan has no heart to think about other coal mines. This coal mine is none other than the Hongji Coal Mine in Vietnam.

A world-class coal mine is open-pit again.

Zhang Xuan salivated just by thinking about it. Plus Shiroku iron ore. Zhang Xuan will not put the manufacturing bureau on Hainan Island, but also place the manufacturing bureau on the seashore to prepare for future expansion.

Different names are different in the hands of different people, and the Manufacturing Bureau of the Ministry of Industry in Zhang Zhi's hands is just a large arsenal. But in Zhang Xuan's hands, he was ambitious to create a coal-iron consortium. For a while, the importance of Zhang Xuan's heart was arranged, this plan was definitely the first, and even the plan to attack Guangxi in the west was also secondary.

It's just that Xian Zijing's answer gave Zhang Xuan a slap in the face, and said: "General, the iron ore needed in Foshan is mostly in northern and western Guangdong, especially in Luoding, and there is also limestone needed for iron smelting near Foshan. Moreover, the craftsmen have been in Foshan for generations, and it may be difficult to move for a while, and the general is also urging it, but these iron furnaces cannot be moved. ”

Xian Zijing said so much, in fact, it was just two words: "No." ”

Zhang Xuan also knows that things have to be done step by step, and these things can be slowed down first.

Under Zhang Xuan's supervision, the Guangdong Manufacturing Bureau was established in Foshan, and Wang Dacang stayed, and there was a sentry guard who stayed behind. And that's not all, Zhang Xuan decided to return to Guangzhou, and set up five more posts to form a battalion. Led by the king cannon, although there are not many veterans. But it's enough to deter Xiaoxiao.

Zhang Xuan was still not very satisfied with this. After returning to Guangzhou, he immediately took out a thick roster of officials and looked at them one by one. I want to find a suitable person to go to Foshan as the magistrate. But after taking a closer look, he suddenly felt that there was no suitable candidate.

The officials in Zhang Xuan's hands consisted of two parts, one was a local demote, and the other was an official sent from Nanjing.

Although Zhang Xuan's expected large-scale official adjustment has not yet begun, preparations have already begun.

Most of the people who are familiar with Zhang Xuan's hands are already in high positions, at least one prefect. It's not good to let them go down and become a magistrate.

Suddenly, Zhang Xuan saw a person. This person is not someone Zhang Xuan is familiar with, but he is from Linying.

"Linying." Zhang Xuan suddenly sighed in his heart.

The so-called self-deception, Zhang Xuan didn't know for a while whether he was a native of Zhengzhou in later generations or a native of Linying in the late Ming Dynasty. One of his lies made countless Linying disciples die on the battlefield for him. The reason why the Linying camp defended Zhang Xuan many times was because of Zhang Xuan's favor, but there was also a part of the friendship.

This kind of lie that has been added with countless lives, Zhang Xuan can only take it seriously. said: "This former Jianyang Zhi County, Cui Panlong came over." ”

"Yes." Zheng Lian said. He was not surprised by this result, and in this era, it was almost customary to promote fellow villagers.

But after a while, Cui Panlong came over. Cui Panlong is in his thirties and dignified. As soon as he came in, he saluted and said, "Xiaguan Cui Panlong, I have seen the general." There was a hint of Linying's accent in his voice.