Li Yan ignored Du Xun, who was very angry, if it weren't for the fact that he still needed to expand his troops and control the place, he wouldn't be willing to kneel down to receive that holy decree. After all, relying on a land of Guide Province, he can't afford to support his 80,000 troops. And as the displaced people continue to flee from Huguang and the refugees left behind in Shandong and Hebei, his army will continue to expand.

Su Jing, who originally planned to return to his hometown, did not leave Henan in the end because Shandong was once again sacked by Qing soldiers. After handing over the resignation excerpt, he took his family to Qixian County, bought a house through Li Yan, and settled down. When he was the magistrate, he got a 100-acre field outside the city, but now he has to pay taxes to Li Yan according to the rules.

However, tenants are not easy to hire, but all those who have Ding Zhuang in their families have gone to serve as soldiers to change fields, and only those who have no young and strong families will become tenants. And the rent should be less and more. Because Li Yan also built a collective grange, he only collected fifty percent of the tax. If the landlords could not get the tenants to get fifty percent of the harvest, they would not keep them.

Therefore, they also learned from Li Yan's collective grange, and also left fifty percent of the harvest for the tenants, and they collected the other half, and then paid taxes to Li Yan. Fortunately, Li Yan only collects 20% of the tax revenue from these large households, and they can still have more than 20% left after they cut off the seeds and ploughing cattle, and they can still live.

Therefore, now the big families are starting to find other ways to make money. For example, to open a workshop, for example, to build a trading house. In short, the number of households that rely solely on arable land to amass wealth has begun to slowly decrease.

At the beginning of June, Sun Chuanting sent someone to inform Li Yan that he would go to Xi'an on June 12 to participate in the military conference and discuss the matter of sending troops to suppress the thieves. But Li Yan refused without thinking about it. Sun Chuanting's military discussion he didn't dare to go, like his current situation, maybe he would be the second to go to He Renlong.

After he refused Sun Chuanting's invitation, he went to Qi County. The artillery workshop had finally made a four-inch cannon, and he wanted to go over and take a look.

When he arrived at the artillery test site and saw the four-inch gun, he knew that it was a scaled up version of the three-inch gun. The caliber, barrel length and thickness were all proportionally enlarged, and at the same time the weight increased by nearly 600 catties, and the cannon carriage weighed more than 1,400 catties. In this way, the barrel looks a little too thick.

Li Yan asked the artillerymen to fire it and see the effect. A moment later, a cannon shot rang out, and a hole was punched in a large piece of cardboard a thousand paces away. At the same time, the artillery slid back more than two steps before stopping on its own.

Master Niu saw that Li Yan was curious, so he said, "The amount of gunpowder has increased, and the recoil has also increased." If it is fixed with a hoe, the gun carriage can be easily damaged. After some discussion, we made the tail of the gun carriage in the shape of a sleigh car, put iron on it, and let the gun carriage slide backwards so that the gun carriage could be protected. ”

Li Yan nodded. However, I quickly looked at the angle adjustment screw at the tail of the gun, and it felt that it was longer than that of the three-inch gun. Master Mu should have changed the gun carriage to allow the cannon to have a larger firing angle. If you are firing at a high elevation, it is almost enough to adjust the firing angle on the gun carriage yourself.

At this time, Ma Chaodong said: "If it is adjusted to 15 degrees, this cannon can hit four or five miles away." ”

Li Yan was very satisfied, but he was more concerned about the range of direct fire, and the most important thing was to directly inflict a lot of damage on the enemy. If it is 15 degrees, the bullet will hardly bounce after the solid landing, so the damage to the enemy is limited.

However, he immediately instructed Blacksmith Zhou, "You continue to make the flowering shell of this four-inch cannon, the bullet body is larger, the charge is more, and the power may be greater." ”

"Don't worry," Blacksmith Zhou said with a smile, "I'm working on it." Anyway, this cannonball is also going to be made, so let them start making flowering shells by the way. ”

"There are still enough people," Li Yan asked. After that, he planned to use as many iron bullets as possible to improve penetration. Whether it is a dense charge against the thieves, or a sophisticated shield against the Qing soldiers, it is very effective.

Blacksmith Zhou replied, "We have specially increased the number of people to make small iron projectiles. Anyway, it doesn't have to be round and smooth like a solid bullet, and it's not too much trouble to do. It's that a lot of iron is used, and Gongzi also asked to increase the production of firearms, as well as tiger squat guns, and the iron materials in Suizhou can't catch up. ”

Li Yan nodded and said, "Well, I know, I'll find a way to solve it." ”

He then said to Master Niu, "This cannon is okay, but I feel that the barrel is a little thick." You go back and sharpen it again, and since it's a test, then give it a try. Cut it a little thinner, and then pull it out and try it. Let's not be busy finalizing, we need to make a field gun that is both light and can hit far. You don't have to worry about copper, I'll do my best to ensure your supply. ”

"You all have to cooperate, the gunpowder pack, and the projectile, you have to get it out as required. When you try out all the data, I'll give you credit. These words were said to Ma Chaodong, Blacksmith Zhou and others.

Everyone hugged their fists and said, "Don't worry, Dashuai, we will work together to complete the test." ”

Li Mu also came here to watch the artillery test, but he never spoke, as if the whole person did not exist.

After returning to Li Yan's house, Li Mucai suddenly said, "Fourth brother, my second-room concubine is pregnant." ”

Li Yan nodded and said casually, "I know, you told me last month. ”

"Fourth brother," Li Mou said again and again, "There is something that I don't know if I should talk about or not." ”

Li Yan said with a smile, "Look at it yourself, just talk about it." ”

Li Mu waved his hand and instructed the subordinates outside the door, "Go and busy with your business, and call again if you have something." ”

After everyone had gone away, he sat down close to Li Yan and said in a low voice, "Fourth brother, if the two sisters-in-law can't do it, I will marry two more rooms." Seeing that our territory is getting bigger and bigger, and it will definitely be bigger, but the fourth brother, you are about to be confused, and you don't have an heir yet, and the brothers are not sure. ”

Li Yan frowned and looked at Li Mu, and after a while, he said, "You don't have to worry about this. ”

"Fourth brother," Li Mu still said, "I'll say it again today, and I'll never mention it again later." You have to hurry up, the brothers are all laymen, and they all think about the wealth and glory of their children and grandchildren. As long as you have a successor, everyone will not have other ideas. ”

Li Yan knew that it was Li Mu who really recognized him as a brother, so he said it so bluntly. If you want to say that in their group, if Li Yan has any accidents, don't look at Li Zhong as older, but the only one who can inherit Li Yan's power in the past can only be Li Mou. Li Mu can say this today, at least his loyalty to Li Yan is certain.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Well, I see." I'll take care of that. ”

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