On May 14, Li Yan and the others did not know that Zhang Xianzhong had rebelled again. He came to the county seat to get the finished crossbow, as well as the crossbow arrows.

Li Yan entered the bow and arrow shop through the back door. Now the bow and arrow workshop is also closed, and it doesn't want Li Yan's money anymore, but wants food. Therefore, the Bow and Arrow Workshop can be regarded as being incorporated by Li Yan.

"Master Fan, how are things doing?" Li Yan asked. This Master Fan is the master of the bow and arrow workshop, with four apprentices, and the crossbow arrows he makes are of good quality.

Master Fan bowed to Li Yan, and then said, "Master Li, you have made nine crossbows and four hundred crossbow arrows. But~"

Li Yan didn't speak, waiting for Master Fan's words.

Master Fan said with some embarrassment: "However, we won't be able to make bows and crossbows in the future, and all the materials we have saved have been exhausted." Look at us~"

"Didn't contact your previous home?" Li Yan asked in surprise. Now he's all counting on crossbow arrows to fight, but there's no material here, doesn't that make him look good? This crossbow is not without faults, and if you use it too much, it will be damaged. Crossbow strings are the most common problems, as well as crossbow arms, which can also break or become less elastic.

Master Fan said dejectedly: "It's not peaceful now, and I don't dare to come out to do business." If it's okay to be close to the Yellow River, after all, we are far away here, and it's not easy to procure. ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "In this way, you go to Kaifeng, trade there, and then ship it back." ”

"That's okay," Master Fan asked cautiously, "Then we~"

Li Yan knew what he wanted to ask, so he looked at Master Fan and said, "In the future, you will work for me, and I will pay for all the materials, and I will give you three stones of grain every month, and you will divide it yourself." But if something goes wrong, it has to be deducted, and all of them are qualified and will be rewarded. In the future, there will be money and cloth, what do you think? ”

Now food is the most important, as long as food is given, they can have enough to eat, and naturally everything is easy to say. Master Fan nodded and agreed: "Yes, yes, just do what Gongzi says!" ”

Li Yan asked people to put away the crossbow arrows, left the bow and arrow workshop, and went to the blacksmith shop of the blacksmith of Zhou. When they arrived at the blacksmith shop, they found that the people in the blacksmith shop were idle and no one was working.

"What's going on with you?" Li Yan asked with some dissatisfaction, "Why are you idle?" ”

"Son, Yang Shoubei won't let us start work." A blacksmith said in a depressed mood: "It's not that we're lazy, we really don't dare to disobey Yang Shoubei's intentions." ”

At this time, Blacksmith Zhou also came out and said, "Childe, yesterday Yang Shoubei sent someone over and said that we would not be allowed to start work." It is said that we want to check the whereabouts of our iron weapons, and also check whether the things we have built are prohibited weapons, and whether they will be sold to thieves and bandits outside the city. What do you think you should do? ”

Li Yan asked, "Has he come to check?" ”

"Not yet," Blacksmith Zhou replied, "I said I would come today, and I don't know if I would come." ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'll just wait here for him to come and see if I can resolve this misunderstanding." ”

"Otherwise, let's move things to Qili Village, and save him from being idle." Blacksmith Zhou suggested.

Li Yan shook his head and said, "Qili Village is far away from the water source, and it is not easy to get coal. The important thing is that it is too small and not safe. Let's stay here for now. ”

"Alas, what a bad luck!" Blacksmith Zhou said disappointedly.

Li Yan saw that he was idle now, so the two of them entered the house and said, "Let you get a firecracker, how are you preparing?" ”

Blacksmith Zhou took Li Yan to the next room, pointed to an iron pier with two semicircular grooves, and said, "This is the one I just cast recently, which is used to make the three-eyed gun. ”

Li Yan glanced at it and felt that there was a problem. He stepped forward again to take a good look, and compared it with his hand, and asked, "Why are the two grooves one big and one small?" ”

Blacksmith Zhou explained: "The three-eyed gun, even the fire gun, is the same, it is covered by two layers of iron pipes. The seams of the two layers of pipes are staggered back to back, so that there will be no air leakage, and only then can they be played far. Therefore, the longer the pipe, the more difficult it is to play. ”

Li Yan thought for a moment and asked, "Can't you just have a thick iron pipe?" ”

Blacksmith Zhou explained: "If it is a layer, it is necessary to use thickened iron bars, and the welding of the seams is more difficult, and if there is an air leak, it will be in vain." ”

"How about a direct cast?" Li Yan asked again.

Blacksmith Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Firebolt, it's not a cannon, you have to do a lot to be powerful." If you use a clay fan, you can make a batch a year, and the gun pipe should be very thick, and it is easy to have trachoma. If you don't worry about the time and materials, then let's give it a try. ”

Li Yan proposed: "What about using the iron model method? Isn't it simpler? It can be used on a large scale repeatedly, and it is not easy to have trachoma. ”

Blacksmith Zhou thought about it for a while, and then said unconvincedly: "In this case, if you make a cannon, you can make up for it, and you can make such a small gun, I don't know if it will work." ”

"You try slowly, you have to come up with a good solution." Li Yan said comfortingly. Later, he reminded: "The inner diameter of the gun tube should preferably be between three and four minutes (between ten and fourteen millimeters), and it should not be larger." ”

"It's all out! Come out! Before Blacksmith Zhou could reply, a scolding voice came from outside: "The garrison will be here soon, and they will all come out to greet you!" ”

Li Yan and Blacksmith Zhou glanced at each other, and then they both went out. They stood with the craftsmen, waiting for Yang Shoubei's arrival.

After a while, there was a sound of horses' hooves, and then I saw Yang Garrison with a helmet and armor coming in. He looked at the craftsmen who greeted him at the door, and at a glance he found Li Yan standing in it. But he didn't go to say hello, but said loudly: "Ben will be ordered to strictly inspect all the workshops, and not let the thieves and bandits have a place to receive weapons." Now I found the workshop here, and made swords and guns without authorization. From today, the workshop is closed! The craftsman is imprisoned awaiting trial! ”

"Slow!" Li Yan didn't wait for Yang Shoubei to order his subordinates to arrest people, so he immediately stood up. He hugged his fists and said, "Li Yan, I've seen Yang Shoubei." ”

"Oh, isn't this the new village commander?" Yang Shoubei asked wantonly: "Since General Li is also here, then come with me to see the county honorable!" ”

Li Yan arched his hand and smiled: "Is Yang Shoubei mistaken?" This workshop is my industry, and the swords and weapons created are also for my village soldiers, how can it be said that they were made without authorization? ”

"Do you have a report? Do you have paperwork? Yang Shoubei had a businesslike face.

Li Yan was also unambiguous, and said: "That's good! Let's go to the county and make it clear! My township soldiers don't have blades and weapons, how can they protect the peace of the county? The township is uneasy, where does the tax come from? Without taxes, how to distribute the food and salary of the Yang garrison and the military salary of the imperial court? Without food, I don't know if Yang Garrison can still live in the county without losing? I think the county lord should understand these truths. When the time comes, a piece of paperwork, that's not a matter of raising your hand? You're right, Yang Shoubei? ”