Early the next morning, Li Yan came to the gun-making workshop. At this time, the craftsmen had already made various preparations overnight.

After Li Yan arrived, he began to melt the copper. After the copper is red-hot, and then tin is added, the melting point of the copper is reduced a lot, and it can be melted quickly.

At noon, the discharge port began to be opened, and the bronze solution flowed down the diversion groove into the fixed and preheated iron mold. The joints of the iron mold are fixed with iron hoops, and everyone is nervously looking at the erected iron mold, for fear that the iron mold will not be able to bear the weight of the solution and collapse.

Fortunately, there were no accidents, and the cannon was successfully cast. Now we can only wait, and after the cannon solidifies, take out the outer iron mold and the inner core, and then we can start the next step of processing.

Li Yan instructed: "Yes, there were no accidents. Feed all personnel, and have meat. ”

"General Xie!" Everyone happily thanked Li Yan. Although there are more people who raise chickens and ducks now, they will sell these meat and eggs to Li Yan's army in exchange for some other daily necessities, and rarely eat them themselves, so they are very happy to eat meat.

Li Yan later summoned the gentry of Qixian County on the tower of the city gate.

He was not hypocritical, and said directly: "This year, I have been happy to cooperate with everyone. Everyone paid taxes on time and carried out various transactions, in short, Li thanked you for your support. ”

Everyone politely bowed their hands to Li Yan. For more than a year, they have not been attacked by thieves or bandits at all, and they are much luckier than those big families near Kaifeng. The only thing that dissatisfied them was that Li Yan did not allow them to sell the grain to Kaifeng, where the price was much higher than that of Qixian. If you want to sell it, you can only sell it to Li Yan.

Boss Zhang said: "Thank you General Li for protecting us. However, the price of food given by the general is not a little low. If only it could be higher, to a thousand dollars per bucket. Otherwise, I beg the general to be gracious and let me sell the grain elsewhere. ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "That's not right. If you were to sell your own grain, I can guarantee you, you wouldn't get a penny back. As long as it's out of my control, and the bandits and thieves on the road are in groups, how many guards can you have? If you hire enough guards, the price of a trip will definitely be much more expensive than the grain in Zhuxian Town. It is the most cost-effective thing for you to sell me the grain. ”

Everyone also knows about this situation, but after all, they haven't tried it personally, and they are still unwilling to give up higher profits. Everyone laughed and didn't speak.

Li Yan nodded and said, "Then let's do it, I don't care about you, if you want to sell it to Kaifeng, sell it yourself." However, if there is any accident, you are responsible for it, and I don't care. ”

Everyone stood up, hugged their fists at Li Yan and said, "General Xie Li is complete." ”

Li Yan waved his hand and asked everyone to sit down. After that, he said: "This time I called everyone to come, and I still have a chance to make a fortune for everyone." ”

The crowd was delighted. Now many of them have begun to raise pigs and chickens and ducks in the grange, and the army has a new source of income. I don't know what good things will happen this time.

"General, please speak, I'll listen to you." Everyone said excitedly.

Li Yan said: "From now on, you can open all kinds of workshops. Except for gunpowder bows and crossbows, which cannot be built, everything else can be opened. The people who consume are not only our Qi County, but also the counties of Guide Province. This is a big deal, all parts of the country are broken, all kinds of items are lacking, as long as you can make things, there should be no problem in selling. Moreover, Guide is my territory, and I am responsible for the safety of the road. ”

Boss Wang arched his hand and asked, "Do they have the money to buy it?" I heard that Guide Mansion has been occupied by thieves for a long time, and there are always thieves who have robbed the Liu family and the Song family's grange a few days ago. ”

Boss Huang also smiled and said, "If I build a workshop, will the workshop built by the general continue to operate?" ”

Li Yan admired the acumen of these large merchants, and he said: "Of course, they will continue to operate, and you don't have to worry too much, as long as your output is large and the price is appropriate, there will naturally be a market." Of course, you still have to pay taxes, but don't worry, the tax rate is very low, as long as you can sell, you won't suffer. In addition, I will repair the roads in various counties, so you don't have to worry about road transportation at all. ”

The crowd fell silent. Li Yan's various workshops in Qi County are very large-scale. The workers are all ready, and if they build a new one, it doesn't seem to be competitive. However, since Li Yan asked them to build a workshop, it means that the output of Li Yan's workshop cannot meet the needs of Guide Province. Everyone is hesitating.

At this time, Master Hou stood up and said, "Since the general has given me the opportunity to make a fortune, I will naturally cherish it." Let me set an example first, my Hou family will open a weaving and dyeing workshop first, and explore the way for everyone. ”

This old man Hou is the father of Hou Guangtai, a small officer in Qi County. Now Hou Guangtai is serving under Li Yan, and he is already the general manager.

Li Yan nodded with satisfaction and said, "Yes, since Master Hou can trust me Li, Li will naturally not disappoint Master Hou." Just do it, and you'll be rich in three years' time. ”

"General Xie, the villain must live up to the general's expectations." Master Hou clenched his fists and said.

Others still haven't said what they want to do and whether they want to do it or not, they have to think about it carefully. The cost of building a workshop is not small, and they have to be careful.

After Li Yan sent away the rich households, he summoned Ma Dianshi again.

"How is the situation of Lu County Ling lately?" Li Yan asked.

Ma Dianshi bowed and replied: "Everything is as usual, still stay in the county office." The yamen in the yamen stared at it, and there was nothing abnormal. ”

Li Yan instructed: "Don't treat them badly when eating and drinking, let them live more comfortably in the county government." ”

"Subordinates obey." Ma Dianshi bowed down and agreed.

Li Yan asked again: "There is nothing difficult about the affairs of the county, right?" ”

Ma Dianshi replied respectfully: "The law and order in the county is very good, and there are very few lawsuits from the people. If there is any problem, it can basically be solved by the villagers of each village. There is no problem with taxation, and the people and merchants can take the initiative to cooperate. However, a few talents in the county have quite a few complaints. Now we have free literacy classes, so that their private school has no students. ”

Li Yan said with a smile: "Then let them also go to the literacy class, and give them as much food as they want." ”

Ma Dianshi said helplessly: "These few people are reluctant to go, and the other talents have gone, but they feel that the literacy class is not the right way, and they have been unwilling to go." ”

"Then ignore them." Li Yan instructed: "Let them fend for themselves." ”

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