When Jiang Beiming was in Yulin Bay, he consulted the committee and the military commission on this issue, but neither committee gave a clear answer, but let Jiang Beiming take care of it himself.

After Jiang Beiming returned to Beijing, he discussed with Zhang Hai and others for a while, and finally decided to listen to Wu Sangui's meaning first. However, Yulinwan must adhere to a principle, steam engines and other production equipment can be provided to Wu Sangui to produce rifled guns, but the technology and principles of rifled guns must not be transferred, and the output of rifled guns must be controlled, and Wu Sangui's family must not be allowed to dominate.

Jiang Beiming relayed the meaning of Yulin Bay to Wu Sanfu, that the equipment and machinery and technical personnel of the arsenal could be provided by Yulin Bay, and Wu Sangui was responsible for the start-up capital, site, workers and raw materials, and that Yulin Bay could help Wu Sangui build a steel-smelting plant in order to solve the problem of raw materials.

At the same time, Jiang Beiming also made it clear that Yulinwan, the arsenal and steel plant, must own half of the shares, and all firearms production and trading must be operated strictly in accordance with the market model, and Wu Sangui cannot participate in the operation, and everything must be decided by Yulinwan.

Wu Sanfu didn't dare to agree to Jiang Beiming's conditions immediately, but only said that he would return to Liaodong as soon as possible to tell his father and brother the news.

On the fourth day after Wu Sanfu left, Wang Chengen sent someone to invite Jiang Beiming to his home for a banquet.

There were only two people at the dinner table, Wang Chengen and Jiang Beiming, and Wang Chengen was not polite, and asked directly to the point: "General Jiang, I heard that the Wu family in Ningyuan has recently looked for you?" ”

Jiang Beiming did not hide it: "Back to my father-in-law, yes, Wu Sangui's younger brother Wu Sanfu did find a lower official." Wu Sangui means that he hopes that we in Yulin Bay can assist him in opening an arsenal and steel factory in Liaodong, and the Wu family means that he wants to produce guns and cannons by himself. ”

"I wonder how General Chiang replied?" Wang Chengen looked at Jiang Beiming with a smile.

Jiang Beiming was a little weak when asked by Wang Chengen: "My father-in-law knows, the officials themselves can't make the decisions in this matter, and they still need to ask the meaning of Yulinwan." However, Xia Guan also told Wu Sanfu that the arsenal and steel factory could be opened, but all the operations should be taken care of by our Yulin Bay, and the Wu family could not interfere. ”

Wang Chengen still smiled and asked, "What does the Wu family mean?" ”

Jiang Beiming was a little stunned, he didn't understand why Wang Chengen suddenly asked so much, but he still replied truthfully: "Wu Sanfu said that he wanted to go back and ask Wu Zongbing and Wu Sangui what they meant, but he didn't give a direct answer to the lower officials. ”

Wang Chengen finally stopped asking, picked up the wine glass and said: "General Jiang has worked hard, let's respect the general with a glass." ”

Jiang Beiming drank this glass of wine, his heart became more and more strange, and he couldn't help but ask: "Princess, is there anything wrong with the lower official replying to Wu Sanfu like this?" ”

"The general is too worried." Wang Chengen said with a smile, "There is nothing wrong with the general's reply being just right. ”

"Thank you, father-in-law." Jiang Beiming had just put a snack, but he didn't expect Wang Chengen to continue, "General Jiang, our family has also seen your firecracker, your rifled gun is really sharp, and now my Da Ming Shen Machine Battalion and Quick Gun Team are not equipped. ”

Jiang Beiming was shocked in his heart, and hurriedly got up and gave a deep salute: "Father-in-law, don't think too much, the cooperation between Xiaguan and Wu Sangui also wants to strengthen the strength of the Guanning Army, so as to protect my Daming." Wu Sangui and his son have to face the Tartars, and they also have to beware of Zu Dashou, and the lower officials really have no other meaning. ”

"General, what is this doing?" Wang Chengen grabbed Jiang Beiming and said with a smile, "Our family and your Yulin Bay are in the same breath, and our family understands what you mean." ”

Jiang Beiming sat down again, seeing that Wang Chengen did not speak, Wang Chengen said slowly: "The industrial and commercial taxes you have collected in Qiongzhou Mansion these days, as well as the business with various places, have added a lot of silver to the imperial court, and I am very happy there." Long live now also knew the benefits of the industrial and commercial tax, so General Chiang 。。。。。。 ”

Wang Chengen said that he would not go on, Jiang Beiming really couldn't guess what Wang Chengen meant: "Princess-in-law, the lower officials are dull, and please ask your father-in-law to make it clear." ”

"How could such a smart person as General Chiang not understand." Wang Chengen said with a smile, "The Guan Ning Army does need firearms, but how can I never need firearms in the nine-border town of the Ming Dynasty." It is also necessary to fight against the Tartars, to exterminate the Liukou, and to guard against the Mongols, you Yulinwan are loyal to the imperial court, don't you want to solve problems for Banzai? ”

Jiang Beiming was stupid, and secretly scolded in his heart: "We want to make money by opening an arsenal with Wu Sangui, and if we cooperate with Chongzhen, we will make a fart." ”

"How confused is General Chiang." Wang Chengen said again, "Didn't you give Banzai an excerpt a year ago, to spread commerce and trade throughout the Ming Dynasty, our family thinks that this arsenal is the right time now." You don't have to go to Liaodong to open a factory, that place is cold and snowy, and it is close to Tartar, how about opening a factory in Beijing? According to General Chiang's proposal, our celebrant and cabinet will find someone to raise money, and we will share the profits with you. ”

Jiang Beiming was almost stunned by Wang Chengen: "Forgive me, my father-in-law is brave, but I have to ask." It costs a lot to build a steel mill and an arsenal, and the imperial court can still afford so much silver. Even if the imperial court can get it, if the guns produced are distributed to various places, will the imperial court be able to collect money? That's all the Ming Army. ”

"That's not something for the general to think about." Wang Chengen took a cup at Jiang Beiming, "General Jiang, please, our family only needs General Jiang's words, okay or not, our family can call back to Long live." ”

Jiang Beiming really didn't know how to reply to Wang Chengen, if he promised him, in case the army of the Ming Dynasty was equipped with rifled guns, what would happen to Yulin Bay. But if you don't agree, it doesn't seem so appropriate, and it may not be a good thing to take advantage of this to set off an industrial revolution in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Chengen didn't continue to ask, and drank the wine himself: "We have read the letter from General Jiang who brought back to our family a few days ago, and these two children are taken care of by Lao Yulinwan. They wrote to them that they liked Yulin Bay very much and wanted to stay there after graduating from the academy, but I wonder if the general can agree? ”

Jiang Beiming got up again and saluted: "Father-in-law's trust, the lower officials are grateful to Dade." The lower official immediately returned his father-in-law's intention to Yulin Bay, and there will be a reply within a month, and he asked his father-in-law to forgive me. ”

After discussing with Zhang Guodong and Wang Jian, Zheng Jiang felt that it was difficult for the two committees to come up with a resolution on their own, so the three of them decided to convene a temporary meeting on this matter.