Li Yan said to Master Niu: "Master Niu, now the cannon is molded by lost wax, and the requirements for time are relatively high, and it can only be done once a year. But there is a great demand for artillery in the army, do you think you can use iron molds to cast cannons? ”

"Iron mold?" Master Niu frowned and thought for a while, shook his head and said, "I haven't done this, I have to think about it carefully." ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Well, think about it again and see how you can make it." Also, you look for the reason, what happened to the failed artillery, and see if you can avoid it later. ”

Master Niu shook his head and smiled: "Childe's requirements are a little too high, it is not easy to make cannons, and if you can have three percent of the cannons combined, you are the master of the masters." ”

Li Yan also smiled and said: "Keep improving, as long as it is caused by your own reasons, try to avoid it if you can." The aim is to increase efficiency. The ultimate reached by the predecessors is not necessarily the current extreme, it must always be better. You're right? ”

Master Niu listened carefully, then touched his beard and nodded, "There is some truth." Then let's find out why, as you said, to improve efficiency. ”

Li Yan said to everyone: "Today's test is very successful, and in two days, all those involved in the manufacture of artillery will be credited, and rewards will be distributed to you later." ”

"General Xie." Everyone clasped their fists and saluted loudly, thanking loudly.

After that, Li Yan waved his hand and prepared to take Master Niu home. Master Niu said: "Childe, you better find another place for the old man and me to live, it is inconvenient to be in Childe's house after all." ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "Then live in the dormitory of the gun-making workshop, you are all together, and it is convenient to communicate if you have questions." ”

"Okay, my old man is alone, and it's the same wherever he lives." Master Niu nodded in agreement.

Li Yan asked Master Mu to clean up a small courtyard, and then let Master Niu and Master Mu get acquainted with them, while he returned to the barracks with Li Zhong.

Li Zhong said excitedly: "I didn't expect that the three-inch cannon and the tiger squat cannon would have such power, if our troops were equipped, it would be even more powerful." ”

"There's only one door." Li Yan said regretfully: "The others can only wait for next year, and I don't know how many waste products there are." ”

Li Zhong suddenly said: "By the way, Li You sent a letter, saying that the items in Zhu Xianzhen have also increased in price because of the threat of thieves. We don't have enough money. And our burden this year is relatively large, even if we don't count Yucheng Xiayi Yongcheng, our current food is not enough to provide rations and grow food for the people. ”

"Plant potatoes and vegetables first, and ask for the rest" Li Yan said directly: "As long as you survive this year, there will be no problem." ”

Li Zhong asked in surprise: "Do we also want to rob it directly like a thief?" This is not good, even if it can be successful, then our posthumous name will not be good. These people are all heirlooms, and they will write the public opinion and history books in the future. ”

Li Yan said disdainfully: "Can they come out to be officials?" They don't distinguish between grains and grains, they don't know how to count, and they don't understand the names of the punishments. The greatest merit is to rule by inaction, what do you want them to do? ”

"You mean, don't read people anymore?" Li Zhong became more and more surprised, and asked, "If you don't need a scholar, then who will you use?" ”

Li Yan also asked, "How about letting the officials go up?" What do you think of the fact that they have the ability to handle all kinds of affairs, and they can also write official documents, so that they can rise up and manage a larger area? ”

"No, no, absolutely not." Li Zhong's head shook like a rattle and objected: "You don't know the conduct of those officials. Accepting bribes, arbitrarily apportioning, oppressing the good, and embezzling land and property, all these kinds of evil deeds are all in one, and let them be the prefect of the county, doesn't that let the people fall into the sea of misery? No, absolutely not"

Li Yan smiled and asked, "So now, those people who are pro-people and jinshi are not the same result?" Aren't they, and their families, all the same, having all kinds of evil deeds? The words of the saints are well known, but none of them do it according to the standards of the saints. ”

"A saint is not an ordinary person, if everyone can become a saint, will there be a saint?" Li Zhong said immediately.

Li Yan nodded and said, "That's right." This is originally a personal cultivation, and it doesn't matter if you can do it or not. But it can't be illegal, as long as the law is properly formulated and strictly enforced, what does it matter if the official is a saint or not? ”

"If there is no education, how can the people know the etiquette and shame? Do you want people who only know how to read to educate and guide others? Let everyone become a selfish and utilitarian villain? That will cause chaos in the world," Li Zhong said with some excitement.

Li Yan waved his hand and said with a smile: "Second brother, don't worry, that's what I said." ”

Li Zhong reminded: "Don't do such a stupid thing. This is no joke. ”

"Second brother, don't worry, I won't do that." Li Yan hurriedly said with a smile. Later, he asked: "I learned from the captives that Yuan Shizhong did not go south when he was defeated, but ran to the east." Is there anything unusual in Qi County? ”

Li Zhong finally stopped dwelling on the problem of scholars, but thought for a while, and replied: "After I came back, I heard a report that there was a group of thieves who went east, did not enter our territory, and bypassed far away. And I haven't heard of any looting in Tuocheng, Taikang and other places, so I should have gone far. ”

Li Yan frowned and thought for a moment, then asked, "Are there any other thieves around us?" ”

"The big ones are gone, and the small ones don't dare to come here to spread wild." Li Zhong said: "A few days ago, more than a dozen squires from Tongxu came to me and wanted us to send troops to help suppress the bandits, and they were willing to give money and food. ”

Li Yan asked suspiciously, "Why did you come to us?" Whatever it is? Also, there are a lot of thieves there? ”

Li Zhong smiled and said, "It's not much, at most five or seven hundred." If you add some homeless people, it will not exceed three or four thousand. Heyin County was occupied by bandits, and the soldiers of Kaifeng went to deal with this matter. Their officials and soldiers did not dare to go out of the city, so those gentry thought of coming to us. ”

Li Yan shook his head and said, "What's the use of us in the past?" Thieves, after destroying this army and coming that one, they have to garrison for a long time and actively defend it. We don't have the strength to take care of them, so forget it. ”

"It's a pity, as long as you send a company over, you can beat the thieves away, and you can ask for a lot of food from those gentry." Li Zhong said reluctantly.

Li Yan said with relief: "Second brother, rest assured, there will be no shortage of food, and those big families have a lot of food." ”

"You haven't said how to get those big families to produce food, they all have deep backgrounds, but they are not richer than those ordinary landlords." Li Zhong asked curiously.

Li Yan spread his hands and said, "I haven't thought of this yet, but there should be a way, let me think about it again." ”

...