Waiting for Ma Xiaofang to take everyone else out, Zhu Hongsan said to Ma Youfu: "Go find Mr. Tong and serve new tea to the two gentlemen." "Ma Youfu went down to arrange it without mentioning it.

Zhu Hongsan sat down in the main seat and said: "Let the two gentlemen laugh, it's really tiring from the journey, and I got up late." ”

Ma Mingyuan said with a smile: "The lord is young, just pay attention to your body, this kind of thing can be stopped." ”

Just as he was saying that Tong Yangjia was here, he sat down with Ma Jiyuan and Ma Mingyuan after seeing each other. Feng Ziyong was an official in Hengzhou Mansion and did not come. These people are all of Zhu Hongsan's think tank team.

These people Ma Jiyuan sat in the first place, but Ma Mingyuan was the main one, because Ma Jiyuan was much worse than Ma Mingyuan in terms of ability and intelligence, and Ma Jiyuan was about the same as Feng Ziyong, and he could be a good magistrate. But in the grasp of the general direction, we still have to rely on Ma Mingyuan. As for Tong Yangjia, he was the role of Chen Ping in the Chu and Han dynasties, who was more than ruthless and lacking in intelligence, and he could be of great help to Zhu Hongsan in some small problems.

After Zhu Hongsan and the other servants finished serving tea, he said: "The two gentlemen happened to come today, and I originally wanted to go to Majiazhuang." Let's discuss what to do next. ”

Ma Mingyuan spoke first: "I discussed with my eldest brother for a long time last night, and we also thought that Huguang couldn't stay for long. I came today to ask my lord's thoughts. ”

Zhu Hongsan said: "At the beginning of this year, Zhang Xianzhong broke Xiangyang, and originally thought that he could attack Wuchang down the river. I didn't expect to go north to Nanyang. But I think the north is ruined and can't feed millions of rogues at all, and it is a foregone conclusion that they will go south to Huguang. I expect to be able to cross the Yangtze River and enter the south in May or June next year or early next year. ”

Ma Mingyuan said: "What the lord thinks is basically the same as what my eldest brother and I think. However, it is a long way to go south to Liangguang, and we have a large population, so I don't know how to arrange it. ”

Zhu Hongsan said: "Xiaofang and Ruyan are expected to give birth in March next year. I thought so and went south in two batches, the first group was led by the eldest brother and the second brother, and went south first with the old and weak and some heavy things. Mr. Tong and I in the second batch, when Xiaofang Ruyan's health improves, we will lead the rest of the staff to the south, and we will gather at the second cousin of Hengzhou Mansion to discuss the next step. How about three gentlemen? ”

Zhu Hongsan saw that the three of them nodded one after another, and then said: "Then ask the eldest brother and the second brother to be in charge of the affairs of Majiazhuang, and try to bring some softness." If there is a family member who doesn't want to leave, you can stay. There are also things that cannot be taken away from the fields and sold as much as possible, and more grain and salt are bought. After all, it is a long way to go to Guangdong, except for Hengzhou Mansion that can supply some, it is really difficult to say about other places. I'll recruit 1,000 people for the guards, and I'll take 2,000 with me when the two gentlemen leave, which should be about the same. ”

After seeing Erma nodding in agreement, Zhu Hongsan said to Tong Yangjia again: "Mr. Tong is in charge of the farm, and the craftsmen will be taken away, I don't care what method you use." The family members also came to bring it. The bulky equipment was all thrown away, and now it is in full swing to produce gunpowder and grenades * shells. Turning ore and coke into products and semi-finished products as much as possible, and selling what can be sold if you can't take it away. ”

After seeing that the three of them had no objections, Zhu Hongsan said again: "The three gentlemen should start preparing now." We have too many people and not much time to be safe. If there are any changes in the meantime, we will have to meet again to discuss them. ”

After Zhu Hongsan finished speaking, he served tea and sent off the guests, and the three of them went back to prepare not to mention it.

Zhu Hongsan watched them leave, and sat on the chair by himself. When did Zhang Xianzhong come to Wuchang? It's been so long that I've forgotten a little. It seems that it is either the fifteenth or sixteenth year of Chongzhen. It's May anyway. But now it seems unlikely that it will be in May next year.

Zhu Hongsan thought again: This bloody battle in Xinyang exposed many problems. There is no problem with the combat effectiveness of your own army, the main thing is the number of people. Because it is a cold weapon, it is dangerous when the enemy outnumbers you too much. The head of Xinyang City only faced 50,000 rogues and killed half of his own men. is still defending the city, if you encounter 50,000 people with 1,000 people in the field, you don't have to fight at all, just wait for death. It seems that in order to make firearms, we can only count on quality after quantity cannot win.

Thinking of this, Zhu Hongsan got up and went to the village, and found Tie Niu, Lao Liu, Liu Dali, and Duan Changyou, a gunpowder craftsman. Now these three people are the directors of the three workshops under Zhu Hongsan.

An empty room was found in the village, and the four of them sat down. Zhu Hongsan asked first: "Let's talk about the current production?" ”

Lao Liu Tou said first: "Master (because Zhu Hongsan passed on to him the art of steelmaking, Lao Liu Tou has always been called Master Zhu Hongsan), at present, steel production is very stable, if you can ensure the case of iron ore, you can produce a furnace of steel in two days." Now I have led my apprentices to eat through Master's blast furnace. If Master agrees, a second blast furnace can be built. ”

Zhu Hongsan nodded and looked at Tie Niu. Tie Niu saw that it was his turn and said, "At present, the production of weapons is stable, and a hundred horizontal knives can be produced every day. Ten collars of armor. A hundred grenades * shells. ”

Zhu Hongsan turned to the old Duan head and said, "Master Duan, how is the gunpowder over there?" ”

Duan Changyou stood up and said, "Back to the owner, I know that the main thing is that there is too little saltpeter now. Other raw materials are okay, and 70 catties of gunpowder can be made every day. ”

Zhu Hongsan nodded and said, "Lao Liu's side should not produce iron ore after it is finished." All the hands are handed over to the iron bull, I am useful. Master Duan's gunpowder production will be increased. If you don't have enough manpower, you can train yourself. I'll find you dozens of children and learn while giving birth. And finally, the Iron Bull, all of which stopped except for the grenade * shell. A thousand shells per month are sufficient. ”

Tie Niu asked, "Big brother, what are you doing when you stop everything?" Want to craft a new weapon? ”

Zhu Hongsan said: "I went to Xinyang this time and found that now we have a small number of people, and cold weapons can't defeat the rogues. So I'm going to make musket artillery. ”

Tie Niu was startled and said, "Big brother, we don't have firearms craftsmen." No one can make this thing. ”

Zhu Hongsan glared at him and said, "No one will figure it out on their own." Let's start working together tomorrow. ”

Lao Duantou said on the side: "The master should pay attention, our gunpowder is too powerful, and the current bird gun will definitely explode when used." ”

Zhu Hongsan said: "I will find a way to use the new gunpowder." Now everyone is fine. Let's go down and prepare. ”

After coming out of the factory, Zhu Hongsan came to the troop station again. First all assembled, Zhu Hongsan commended the meritorious people of this trip to Henan. Then a reward is given to those who die. Most of those who went to Xinyang became third-class soldiers and had more pay and more rights. There are also a small number of outstanding performers who have been directly promoted to second lieutenants and become officer ranks.

Each person who came back alive from Henan was repaid thirty taels of silver. One hundred taels of silver for each person who died, those who have family members will give it to their families, and those who have no family will find an orphan to continue the incense. All the soldiers in this hand surrendered happily, but they didn't expect the chief to find someone to inherit the incense, so they were not afraid that they would die and cut off the incense. You must know that the ancients were very superstitious, they believed that there was a world after death, and they had to eat, drink and Lazar as much as they did when they were alive. The fact that the incense is perpetuated is too important.

After the award meeting, Zhu Hongsan ordered the officers at and above the company level to hold a meeting in the conference room. At the meeting, Zhu Hongsan ordered Ma Jingyuan to recruit 1,000 soldiers. Thus the size of the army reached three thousand two hundred men. Establishment of six battalions.

Zhu Hongsan ordered Han Shirong and Zhang Sanqiang, two outstanding company commanders, to serve as the new battalion commanders. Now the six battalion commanders are: Qian Yong, the first battalion commander; Second Battalion Commander Zhao Guodong; Zhao Guoliang, commander of the third battalion; Zhou Yu, commander of the fourth battalion; Han Shirong, commander of the fifth battalion; Sixth battalion commander Zhang Sanqiang. plus the guard company commander Zhu Hongyi.

Each battalion was still five hundred men, plus the two hundred men of the guard company, exactly three thousand two hundred.

Finally, Zhu Hongsan stood up and said: "The troops will repair for three days, and strengthen training after three days. Chief of Staff Ma Jingyuan recruited 1,000 recruits in 10 days. The commander of the fifth battalion and the commander of the sixth battalion led the officers of the company and platoon to do a good job in the training of recruits, and I want to see a trained army at the end of the year. Do you understand? ”

All the officers stood up and said, "Yes, sir! ”

After finishing the army, Zhu Hongsan went to see Qian Wanli and Ma Fu of the caravan. Ma Youcai, the head of the Ma family's caravan, died a few years ago, Ma Youfu was also old, Zhu Hongsan asked him to be a housekeeper for himself, and his errand was Ma Youcai's eldest son Ma Fu took over.

The two reported to Zhu Hongsan about the situation in the past five months. The trade routes in Henan have stopped. Now Ma Fu is in charge of Sichuan, and Guizhou. Qian Wanli is still Nanzhili, but he has a relationship with the Zheng family overseas. Zheng Zhilong is very fond of sharp knives and grenades.

Zhu Hongsan said: "Wanli told the Zheng family how many horizontal knives there are. Firearms don't work, we don't have enough to use, we can't sell them to them. ”

Qian Wanli nodded. Zhu Hongsan continued: "At the same time, we should pay attention to the news of Guangzhou Mansion, and it is best to build a business in the city, and I will be useful when the time comes." He said to Ma Fu again: "Ma Fu, you are the same, pay attention to the information of the Liukou while making money." When it is dangerous, the goods can be thrown away, but the person must come back safely. "Zhu Hongsan knows that talents are rare, his caravan has been running for so many years, it is not easy to cultivate a merchant team, these people will be of great use in the future, and they must not die casually.

Hearing Zhu Hongsan say this, Qian Wanli and Ma Fu were very moved, after all, in this era, it is not easy to meet such a proprietor who pays attention to the safety of his subordinates. They all expressed their intention to complete Zhu Hongsan's task.

Zhu Hongsan nodded and asked them to go down to arrange.

At this time, it was already dark, Zhu Hongsan looked up at the sky, and thought: "I am really hard, I was running for life in my previous life, but in the Ming Dynasty, I was not as good as in my previous life, this time I was running for my life." ”

Zhu Hongsan went out of the conference room and returned home, and saw several wives and daughters waiting for him to eat. It's really warm in my heart, and I think that I am tired like a dog now, isn't it just for them? Thinking that the fatigue of the whole body was gone, he smiled and went into the house to eat with his family.