As Duan Xing trained the soldiers for a long time, the problem of insufficient * was gradually exposed, and as early as soon after the training began, the old soldier in charge of guarding the * warehouse reported to him many times: "Lord Baihu, the * inventory is almost insufficient, which will affect the training effect of the brothers who operate the guns and artillery." Hearing this, although Duan Xing understood the seriousness of this problem, the training of the troops had just begun at that time, and the non-commissioned officers were not satisfactory in terms of military discipline, combat effectiveness, and cohesion. Therefore, Duan Xing did not pay attention to this issue, but with the implementation of military discipline and military regulations promulgated by Duan Xing before, strict training gradually became a part of the daily life of the soldiers, and the few gunners and musketeers in Duan Xing's entire hundred households were trained desperately by Duan Xing, which also led to the fact that the inventory was soon empty. In this regard, Duan Xing was anxious.

How to solve the problem? Duan Xing thought about it and felt that there was no way, so he called Zhang Yi to discuss this matter together, Zhang Yi said: "Lord of the Hundred Households, in the past, the Hundred Households were approved by the Ministry of War at the beginning of each year, and then distributed and transported by the Thousand Households above. ”

"It's going to be hard." Duan Xing has been thinking hard about this. As the saying goes: "It is difficult for a good woman to cook without rice." "No*, then the ten muskets and the two cannons in your own army are no different from scrap metal. Although Duan Xing knew the ingredients, how to obtain saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal made it difficult for Duan Xing. After Duan Xing thought about it for a few days, he suddenly broke into Zhang Yi's room and said to Zhang Yi: "Yes, since there is no ready-made *, why not try it yourself?" “

"Huh?" Zhang Yi opened his mouth wide in surprise, and it took a long time before he stammered: "Bai, Baihu, Lord Baihu, do you really want us to make it ourselves*?" This is a great crime to kill the head! Duan Xing saw Zhang Yi's surprised expression, and became suspicious in his heart, so he asked him what was wrong with this, Zhang Yi still had doubts about what Duan Xing said, and wanted to persuade him again.

Duan Xing looked at Zhang Yi and knew what he wanted to say in his heart, and he didn't break it, but just asked him to arrange for someone to find some miners who had mined minerals such as sulfur and saltpeter, and told him that he must do it in private, and he must keep it secret from outsiders. Zhang Yi had no choice but to call a soldier after leaving Duan Xing's room and said to him: "Wang Li, Lord Baihu has instructed you to secretly find a few miners who mine sulfur and saltpeter. When Wang Li heard this, he was a little surprised at first, but he didn't think much about it, just turned around and gave a military salute to Zhang Yi and left.

After about half an hour, the soldier returned, followed by a group of young craftsmen with dark faces and various tools in their hands, and Zhang Yi personally led the group into the gate after receiving the report from the guards.

After Zhang Yi led everyone into the barracks, he first led them to a side room behind the main hall, and said to them: "Please sit down less first, and then go to report to the hundred households, and the hundred households will personally receive the ranks later." The crowd didn't even dare to say it.

After Duan Xing received Zhang Yi's report, he hurriedly stopped the training at hand and rushed over from the school field, everyone saw an officer in armor walking into the door, and was stunned at first, Zhang Yi saw that everyone was puzzled, and hurriedly got up and introduced: "Rank, let me solemnly introduce to you, this is my family's hundred households Duan, A group of miners heard this, and hurriedly got up to kneel down to Duan Xing. He said: "The little people and others knock to see the adults." When Duan Xing saw it, he felt sorry in his heart, after all, he was from the 21st century in his previous life, and he was very unaccustomed to bowing. I wanted to help them up, but when I was about to reach out to help them, a middle-aged man in the lead spoke: "My lord, this is unacceptable, we are in charge of cheap karma, and it should be so." Duan Xing said, "You don't have to be like this. The kid bothered. Come on, tea. ”

After some greetings, Duan Xing and everyone sat down, and Duan Xing said: "Everyone, the official invited you here today for an important matter. Duan Xing deliberately sold a pass and said.

"I don't know what the adults are talking about?" An old miner closest to Duan Xing asked. As soon as he spoke, a young man next to him hurriedly spoke up to stop him: "Uncle don't talk nonsense, this matter is very important, and it is not something that we can speculate about." I'd better listen to the adults first. As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Xing glanced up at the young man, and there was appreciation in his eyes. It seems that this person must be different from ordinary people, and I will try him in a while.

At this time, Duan Xingcai said leisurely: "I invite you here today, I want to ask where the local saltpeter and sulfur are produced?"

As soon as this remark came out, all the miners present were surprised, you must know that saltpeter and sulfur are the necessary raw materials for the first time, and they are also important materials strictly controlled by the imperial court.

Finally, at Duan Xing's repeated requests, an old miner agreed to tell Duan Xing where saltpeter and sulfur came from. But he repeatedly asked Duan Xing and everyone present not to reveal the current matter, and Duan Xing naturally readily agreed when he heard this.

So after the guest and host took their seats again, Duan Xing called Zhang Yi and whispered a few words in his ear, and Zhang Yi took the order and left.

After a while, Duan Xing went back to his bedroom to change into a businessman's dress, walked out and said to everyone: "I have been waiting for a long time, and the reason why this hundred households are like this is to hide people's eyes and ears and make things go smoothly." Meng Lie's position helps, and Duan will have a good reward in the future.