Li Yan did not rush back to Qi County the next day, but went to the coppersmith shop to find Master Niu.

"Master Niu, I'm here to see you." When Li Yan saw Master Niu, he arched his hand and said.

Master Niu smiled and said, "Let's go, let's go inside and talk, it's a mess here." ”

After entering the house in the backyard, Li Yan asked, "When are you going to Qixian?" Wu Niang has been gone for more than three months, and she still thinks about you. ”

"Wait a while, I'll go later." Niu Shi said: "Now there is a lot of work in the Zhou Palace, all of which are gold and silverware, which consumes energy and time. ”

"Oh?" Li Yan asked strangely: "In such a year, the palace is still so extravagant?" ”

Master Niu shook his head and smiled: "That's wrong, it's more extravagant than before, there weren't so many things to do in previous years." Moreover, this year's food is half of the grain and half of the silver, and the current grain is expensive, and I don't know how much more it will cost than in previous years. ”

Li Yan asked curiously, "What are the happy events in the palace?" ”

"I haven't heard of it," replied Master Niu, "but it doesn't matter to us whether there is a happy event or not, as long as we give us enough food and money." ”

Li Yan nodded.

Master Niu suddenly whispered: "There is a bean demon in the first month of Guide Mansion, do you know?" ”

Li Yan was stunned, shook his head and said, "I don't know." ”

"The beans are as long as a human head, and you can see even your eyebrows and eyes clearly. Not one, but all of them in the shape of human heads. Master Niu said matter-of-factly: "This is not a good sign." You see, something happened, and the thieves were taken by the thieves in the summer, and the casualties were not counted. ”

Li Yan was about to explain that the thief's occupation of Guide was the defeat and death of Gao Mingheng's soldiers, which fueled the thief's momentum.

Before he could speak, Master Niu continued: "Shangcai's ground crack, Luoyang earthquake, you know this, right?" ”

"The earthquake in Luoyang is felt." Li Yan nodded.

Master Niu broke the news: "It's still Luoyang, a few days ago it was foggy, and there was ice hanging on the trees!" ”

"It's cold." Li Yan nodded and said.

Master Niu didn't seem to hear it, and continued: "It's actually hanging ice in the summer. Luoyang has had these things one after another, and they all say that something big is going to happen in Luoyang. ”

Li Yan said helplessly: "Let him be, it's not peaceful now anyway." ”

Master Niu also nodded and smiled: "Yes, whatever, as long as we are safe here." ”

Li Yan hurriedly spoke, he had to talk about something serious. He asked in a low voice: "Master Niu, I want to ask you, can that cannon be made of iron molds?" Also, does the material used to make the cannon have to be bronze? Copper is very expensive and can't afford it. If you can use iron, it can be better. ”

Master Niu thought for a moment and explained, "If it is a Frankie cannon, it can still use iron." If you install a red cannon before building, you still have to use bronze, which is light, hard, and dissipates heat quickly. As for the words of Tiefan, I don't know, I haven't heard of it. ”

Li Yan was very disappointed, Master Niu didn't have a ready-made answer here, so he could only slowly figure out a way with Blacksmith Zhou. Fortunately, it was almost autumn now, and in a few days he would be able to start casting clay molds, and he could try to make a few artillery pieces first. So now he wants to let Master Niu go to Qixian for a trip, at least to give guidance, and his first cannon casting in the province ended in complete failure.

He invited, "Master Niu, can you come and help me?" I'm going to forge a cannon, but I don't have any experienced manpower there. ”

Master Niu didn't agree, but asked, "What is Wu Niang doing?" She's okay. ”

Li Yan immediately replied: "I use her to make an account for me, which is very easy work." I found him a courtyard with four rooms. She's doing much better now than she was in the palace, so you can go and see for yourself. ”

Master Niu nodded at Li Yan and said with a smile: "You, you just want to trick me." ”

Li Yan smiled and didn't say much.

Master Niu thought for a moment and said, "Let's see when the time comes, I don't know if I have time." In such a workshop, there are more than ten people up and down, and fifty or sixty families, but they all have to wait for grain and rice to support their families. ”

"You can take these people and their families to me." Li Yan immediately suggested: "I guarantee that your life is better than in Kaifeng." ”

Master Niu waved his hand and said, "Forget it, few people are willing to leave Kaifeng City." If they didn't survive here, they wouldn't have left their ancestral homes and their relatives and friends. ”

Li Yan had no choice but to agree, and said regretfully: "Then I'll come back to you later." I'll go back first. ”

Master Niu went to see him off, and reminded him in a low voice on the way: "I don't know if I have time to go, so I'll remind you now." The mud fan must be dry and dry, and there can be no moisture. Otherwise, a cavity will be formed when pouring, and then the whole cannon will be in vain. But you also have to be mentally prepared that if you can achieve a pass rate of 30%, it is quite a remarkable level. ”

It's okay not to remind it, Master Niu's reminder made Li Yan even more disappointed. Three achievements is a high pass rate, so how much time and money will he waste?

Li Yan returned to the inn all the way in a depressed way, and then gathered his own soldiers, took the price of selling grain 4,000 taels of silver, and an empty car, and went out of Kaifeng to Zhuxian Town.

He set up a purchasing office in Zhuxian Town, which was responsible for contacting them with all kinds of supplies they needed. The person in charge of this purchasing office was a small businessman named Hao Shiren, who became a homeless person after bankruptcy and joined Li Yan's men. At that time, Li Yan happened to need someone to be in charge of the procurement work, so he sent this Hao Shiren to take charge of it.

Before meeting Hao Shiren, Li Yan met the **** who was sent here to check the accounts. At home, he also managed the account office for a period of time, and ordinary little tricks still couldn't hide it from him. It is good to have a supervision mechanism, after all, it is his Li Yan's money that is spent, and he can't use his money to enrich others. But you can't change people frequently, so that the people who have been contacted with great difficulty can start over, so that the gains outweigh the losses.

"Fourth brother, I've checked it, and there's nothing wrong." reported to Li Yan.

Li Yan had expected this result, nodded and smiled: "Well, I know." If he starts to come nonsense less than half a year after he has just come, then he doesn't cherish the good life he has now, and I just use his head to warn other people with other thoughts. ”

Then he reported: "Hao Shiren has done a good job, the price he buys is basically the lowest price in Zhuxian Town, and there has been no problem with the quality." He should be given some rewards, so that he can be more willing to do things for us. ”

"Well, there are meritorious rewards and punishments, this is my rule all along." Li Yan nodded in agreement. After that, he whispered to the ****: "The food for the family has been transported, you can rest assured." ”

At this time, **** laughed happily and arched his hand: "Thank you, fourth brother." ”

"It's all my own people, how can I thank or not." Li Yan picked up the ****, patted him on the shoulder and said.