Zhao Tianyou smiled: "Lao Zhou, this is the first time you have talked to me, if you have anything to say, otherwise you will think that you are dumb!" ”

"I just don't understand something, I always can't sleep well, and the adjustment of the formula ratio of gunpowder in the past two days is better because of your suggestions. Zhao Jiaotou knows more about gunpowder than we do, why do you still use us? ”

Zhao Tianyou was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect that although this Zhou Yuan didn't like to talk, his ability to observe and comprehend was much stronger than Liu Jinli's, and he was able to think of this, was it too obvious that I was in a hurry and said too much!

"Master Zhou, I haven't made this gunpowder before, but I heard others talk about the recipe and method many years ago, and I don't remember it too clearly and comprehensively. Looking at your approach this time, I can only add a little bit of superficiality, mainly relying on the efforts of the two of you. ”

"Sect Leader Zhao, could it be that you also escaped from the north? The master who talked to you about the gunpowder formula is not a person from Huaibei? In the previous dynasty, there was a detailed formula for gunpowder, but the materials were too cumbersome, and the effect could only be arson or poisonous smoke.

I have been working in the gunpowder workshop of the Ordnance Supervision for ten years, and I have been partnering with Liu Jinli for three years to make a living, and I have never given up the idea of improving the formula, and I have also discussed with my peers for improvement. But I've been making gunpowder all my life, so it's better to teach the head to talk casually for the past three days, how can I sleep peacefully? ”

Zhou Yuan shook his shirt and took a step forward, fell to his knees, and knocked his head three times in a row.

"Master, please accept me as an apprentice!"

Zhao Tianyou was dumbfounded, and hurriedly stepped forward to help.

"Hurry up, Master Zhou, I am my elder in terms of age, how can I make such a big gift. Regarding the formula of gunpowder, we just need to communicate and learn from each other, don't do this! ”

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuan was very stubborn, and Zhao Tianyou resolutely couldn't afford not to accept the apprentices.

"Good! Since you have the heart to study the formula of gunpowder, then I will pass on to you what you have learned before, but we are equal friends, and we can never mention the matter of apprenticeship again! ”

Zhou Yuan got up to thank him, looked at Zhao Tianyou with a smile on his face, and the beard under his chin was pouted.

"I don't call when there are people, and I must give disciple salutes when there is no one, okay Master!"

Zhao Tianyou smiled helplessly: "No, I just heard it, and it's not that I have much ability, let's study and discuss it together!" Don't worry, if you don't call Master, what I should tell you will not be less at all. Under the current conditions, you can produce more finished gunpowder as soon as possible, which is more effective than calling me master, and the soldiers will soon be trained with live ammunition, and I am afraid that your output will not be able to supply. ”

"Don't worry, Master, according to the current output, 600 catties of medicine is loaded with 300 thunderbolts, and there is absolutely no problem. At present, the quality of saltpeter still needs to be improved, and you can ask someone to inquire whether there is a way to purify saltpeter among the people who escaped from the Jiankang Military Mansion. ”

"Well, I'll arrange someone to go to Quanzhou to inquire about this matter, I'm afraid the raw materials for saltpeter are almost gone, right?"

Zhou Yuan nodded and said: "It's been used for more than half of it, listening to Master's suggestion and increasing the proportion of saltpeter, the power has really increased, but the quality and quantity of saltpeter have increased." If this continues, the cost of gunpowder made by the gunpowder workshop will triple compared to the original, and I am afraid that the consumption of silver taels will become larger and larger, so you should prepare early! ”

"Well, this is something I've thought of a long time ago, it's rare that you have a heart! You go get busy first, I'm just going to find the old man of the Meng family, and by the way, talk about money. ”

Mencius Yan sat in the ancestral hall and brushed his beard, Meng Wenshan and the one-armed Meng Lu were not there, and several other elders sat around Mencius Yan.

"Old man, what's wrong, why are there so many people, did you just finish the meeting?"

"The Meng family has reached a life-and-death juncture, Wenshan, a child, is good, but he didn't take responsibility at a critical time. Since you came back from Quanzhou at night, he has been taking care of his illness and not caring about anything, and he can't afford this patriarch. ”

No matter what Zhao Tianyou says, he is an outsider, although he is dissatisfied with Meng Wenshan's performance last time, it is not his turn to speak. But what Mencius Yan said is strange, it should be that a meeting is held within your family, and a new patriarch is being discussed, so what's the use of calling me here?

"There is also news that someone in our fishing village has colluded with pirates and wants to attack our wharf, what do you say?"

Zhao Tianyou was stunned, if it was said that the matter of burning Cao Jian was exposed, it was reasonable for someone to report to the state government to ask about the crime, why did he have a relationship with pirates again.

"Where did the news come from, is it accurate?"

"It's very credible from a trader who does business with pirates, and this is true." An old man with a square face and a wide mouth answered, it seems that the Meng family fishing village is not without friends of three religions and nine streams, this trader can do business with pirates, and naturally he is not a good type.

"Is it the Black Tiger Banner of Sanshan Island you said, but there is nothing, since it is a feud sooner or later, why be afraid? In addition to the children of Mengjiazhai soldiers, do we have any help available, what will happen if this matter is reported to the state capital? Zhao Tianyou thought about it, since you have to face something, what does it matter sooner or later, if someone wants to kill you, do you still have to say hello to you? There is no war in the world where you can be completely prepared, and it is best to be ready for war at all times.

After Mencius Yan saw Zhao Tianyou, his heart was settled, and he had the confidence to speak.

"Our Mengjia fishing village has lived on this wharf for generations, and we would rather die than give up this wharf, whether it is pirates or officers and soldiers, no one can snatch the wharf away. Now with the help of Zhao Jiaotou, not only must we defend the wharf fishing village, but we also have to kill Sanshan Island and destroy the pirates' lair. It's not that there is no one who can stand on the dock to help, but I don't want to drag others down, and it is even more useless to report to the government, the current state government will only collect taxes, and other things will not be taken care of at all! ”

Zhao Tianyou nodded and said: "We have more than 200 soldiers in our fishing village, and we have the right time, place and people, and we are not afraid that his pirates will attack, but I am afraid that they will come less, and it will not be enough for us to eat!" One more thing, do you know who colluded with pirates? Who is the traitor in the wall? ”

The people in the field were all ashamed and didn't dare to look directly at Zhao Tianyou.

"Could it be the patriarch Meng Wenshan? Impossible! I don't think he'll do such a thing! ”

Mencius smiled bitterly: "It's not Wenshan, it's not Wenshan, it should be Menglu of the Western Courtyard, but there is no definite evidence yet." The day before yesterday, he went to Quanzhou for a day, saying that he was visiting friends for tea, but someone saw him go to Jiangfu.

As for the son of Jiang Fu, he and Wenshan talked twice about cooperating with the wharf, they funded the expansion, and then shared the benefits, which I refused. If Meng Luzhen went to him and cooperated to betray the Meng family's fishing village, he really deserved to be ashamed of his ancestors! ”

Zhao Tianyou was silent, people who are connected by the same clan and bloodline can do such a rebellious thing, who can guarantee the purity of their organization? If we really want to lead people forward, we can only maintain vitality by relying on discipline and rules, as well as a sound system for the distribution of benefits.

"Haha, what can I do?" The one-armed Meng Lu with a smile on his face, holding a long knife in his right hand, flashed in from the door.