After instructing Li Liang and asking him to arrange manpower to build more giant crossbows like the ones he had just seen, Li Yanzhi left the workshop with Liu and Cao.

This time, Li Yanzhi was also bottomless in his heart. There were several battles between him and Liu Zhao before, but they were all petty fights, and when he commanded the most troops, it was only the 3,000 abandoned soldiers who lived in the old year. This expedition is not trivial, and the various backgrounds of the soldiers under his command, many factions, etc., are also a headache for him.

Before, no matter how many soldiers he led, he was always like an arm. After all, no matter how you calculate it, your subordinates are all their own soldiers. This time it's very different. There are not only the Wu Wei army under his command, but also the state governors and guards who were stationed here in the past, and the soldiers of the Qu family who were recruited by various high-ranking families in the future. The composition of this army to be formed is so complex that it is really unique to Li Yanzhi's life. And such a complicated situation also made him feel like he was defeated before the battle.

How to dispatch and deploy these troops with different components is the primary problem that Li Yanzhi should face at the moment. A matter of greater urgency and urgency than this question is the issue of the army's rations.

It is no secret that the counties and counties in the state have not had enough money in the past year. And now at this moment when the army is about to be dispatched. This problem is undoubtedly more serious. How long the battle will take and how it will be fought, no one can count in their hearts. And the more the better. It's just that at present, whether it is the county government treasury or the state accumulation, the commission is really very limited. If this battle is protracted, it is still difficult to say where the military rations will come from.

Although those state middle and high men swore to pat their chests, they raised their own salaries and soldiers. However, Li Yanzhi, who has been repeatedly dragged back by these wealthy families, is strange to be able to believe their nonsense. Yin Yuanyan and his willingness to donate more than half of the family's wealth, but in Li Yanzhi's eyes, this old fox can donate a quarter, and he is already thankful for burning high incense.

Since these pig teammates are unreliable, this is a serious problem that has to be solved, so we have to find a way on our own. Li Yanzhi thought about it, but the county government treasury was not yet rich, so he could only take advantage of the opportunity of preparations everywhere to increase his efforts, dump cattle, sheep, horses, and other livestock, and by the way, sell iron tools, weapons, and other things, so as to gather the military supplies for about half a year. In his opinion, Liu Zhao is still a behemoth. And after eating this place in Longxi, it won't take about half a year, he really doesn't believe it.

While thinking about it, Li Yanzhi had a flash of inspiration in his mind, and then turned around and walked back. The weapons and equipment in the workshop are of high quality, so why not sell these ordnance to those high-ranking families in the state. In this way, it can indirectly improve the combat power of each department, and it can also raise food and salary for the army through trading, killing two birds with one stone, why not.

When Liu Jiwu saw Li Yanzhi turn around and return to the workshop, he was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped forward, grabbed Li Yanzhi's sleeve, and asked, "Why did Zhaowu go back again?" But what is important to communicate? If so, you may wish to inform your subordinates, and your subordinates can go and convey them. ”

Li Yanzhi grabbed Liu Jiwu, and then beckoned to Cao Jian, who was standing on the other side. When Cao Jianxing came, Li Yanzhi led the two to a secluded place on the corner of the street, and then looked around, and when he saw that no one was paying attention, he said to the two: "Let the king order me to transfer to Sima, give me the title of general, and leave the festival." The intention of sending troops to Longxi has been revealed. At this time, if the grain in the treasury was used as military funds, the boil was afraid that it would be insufficient, so he thought of a clever trick and discussed it with the two brothers. ”

"How did Zhaowu do what he said?" When Cao Jian heard this, he was also full of doubts in his heart, so he asked. Li Yanzhi pointed to the workshop not far away: "The weapons and armor produced by the workshop in our county are all of the highest quality. As soon as I thought about this, I thought that I might as well sell these weapons to many high-ranking families in the state. It not only improves the combat strength of various departments, but also raises a lot of goods for food. ”

Li Yanzhi proposed this, but the two frowned and pondered for a moment. Then Liu Jiwu asked: "That being the case, how does Changshi plan to buy and sell these weapons?" "The objects they are going to sell to are all high-ranking families in the state, and it is impossible for them to shout and shout like ordinary street vendors. In their long-term dealings with them, the two have also found some ways to deal with this.

"This time he is handsome, thanks to the recommendation of Wuxing Xinfujun. Although I know that he also has a different mind, but the dust has settled on this matter, so that you will make me handsome, and I must always express a little gratitude to Xin Fujun......"

"You might as well transfer fifty collars of iron armor and one hundred bladed long knives from the inventory that has been built in the arsenal, send people to Wuxing, and give them to Xinfujun. And when he saw these blades and armor, he must have armed the elite troops in his family and showed them off in front of others. When others see that these blades and armor are sharp and strong, most of them will have the desire to beg for each other......"

Li Yanzhi smiled slightly: "And these things, I don't dare to say that there is no other semicolon, but the things produced in the workshop in my county are the most sophisticated." These wealthy families are eager to arm their subordinates, and most of them are willing to give up some money. At that time, how much these things will be sold for is up to me? ”

"That's a good idea." Cao Jian nodded again and again when he heard it. Then he asked, "The general has returned to the workshop, but does he want the craftsmen to make more armor and weapons?" ”

"Cao Du understands me." Li Yanzhi laughed: "Now that you want to supervise the construction of a giant crossbow by the head of the craftsman, and you need to ask him to send someone to make armor and weapons, the manpower must be insufficient. ”

The three of them returned to the workshop, and when Li Liang saw them leaving and returning, he hurriedly greeted them again: "Changshi still has something to order?" ”

Li Yanzhi grabbed Li Liang and walked into the house. Li Liang set up a room in the workshop to store recipes, various accounts, and books. It is usually locked when not in the world, but in the workshop, the door is open. Li Yanzhi and Li Liangyi walked into it, and then the two sat down separately. Li Yanzhi took the lead in speaking: "In today's workshop, when rushing to make giant crossbows, can you still spare people to make weapons and armor?" ”

Li Liang was suddenly a little puzzled when he heard this, so he said: "Most of the craftsmen used to make the giant crossbow are carpenters. But the crossbow arrows were blacksmiths. The long history told us to hurry up as soon as possible, and we didn't dare to slack off, but tried our best to make it. At this time, if Changshi talks about making weapons and armor, I am afraid it will be difficult to ......"

"Besides, nearly a thousand pairs of armor have been made before, and more than 1,000 long knives, spears and knives are countless in the arsenal, which is said to be enough for the entire army and soldiers, why did Changshi suddenly talk about building weapons and armor?"

Li Liang's doubts are not unreasonable. In the past few years, the weapons and armor made by the workshop have been made one after another, not to mention that the armed Wuwei Army, a force of less than 3,000 people, is more than enough to arm 5,000 people. At this time, Li Yanzhi proposed to make weapons and armor, but he was really a little surprised.

"This time, the envoy wants to conquer the thieves in Longxi, and he has ordered me to be the commander and lead the affairs of the army, but it is particularly difficult to raise food and salary. The head of the craftsman also knows that since last year, displaced people have flocked in, and there is not much grain in the county government, so how can it supply the expenses of the army? In desperation, he had no choice but to resell weapons and armor to raise military funds and salaries......"

When Li Liang heard this, he also knew the pain in Li Yanzhi's heart, and last year, when they went out to avoid trouble, they also suffered from displacement. After the war, people returned to their hometowns one after another. Then came the influx of displaced people, the distribution of pensions for the dead in battle, and a series of money-consuming affairs, which Li Liang also saw in his eyes. Therefore, it can be said that I empathize with Li Yanzhi's situation.

However, although Li Liang had the heart to follow Li Yanzhi's instructions to complete this matter, the current shortage of manpower in the workshop was indeed a problem that bothered him very much. He thought for a moment, and finally said to Li Yanzhi: "Long history, it's not that we don't want to build weapons and armor anymore, it's actually that there is a shortage of manpower in the workshop, and it is still difficult to make giant crossbows, and I can't rebuild the rest ......of the weapons at all."

Li Yanzhi smiled slightly when he heard this: "This is easy to do, and later I will ask Xin Ming Mansion to recruit apprentices from the children of the good families in the county." I think there will be a lot of people coming to apply. These apprentices were given 30% of the treatment to the grassroots craftsmen, and they were arranged by Li Jiangtou to take up their posts. Skilled craftsmen are still being drawn to make armor, iron billets, etc. As for the steel-filled knives and so on, a few craftsmen will lead the apprentices to make them. ”

Li Liang looked a little worried when he heard this, he raised his head and looked at Li Yanzhi and said: "This steel filling, knife blank making, etc. are still technical work. How do these apprentices do when they first enter the workshop? ”

Li Yanzhi thought for a while, and then said to Li Liang: "Craftsman Li, after recruiting these apprentices, you might as well tell them directly, so that they can watch the rest of the craftsmen work." If they can understand it themselves and do it as well as the rest of the craftsmen, they will be directly promoted to craftsmen. The treatment is the same as that of the rest of the craftsmen. The craftsman who teaches an apprentice is rewarded with 500 yuan for each apprentice who can meet the standard. ”

People will have selfish intentions, not to mention in this era of technological blockade and monopoly. Li Yanzhi asked Li Liang to do it like this, and he also wanted to use profit to induce these craftsmen to teach each other, after all, in the face of real interests, there will definitely be people willing to do this.

"Liang has understood, please rest assured." Li Liang smiled and arched his hand.

"Two days later, I will bring the recruited apprentices to Professor Li Jiangtou, and I hope that Li Jiangtou will be cautious. This mobilization of troops is really a major event in the whole state. Let the king take the stick as the general, and the stick is really not allowed to be lost. ”

After saying goodbye to Li Liang, Li Yanzhi left the workshop, immediately called Liu and Cao, and left the workshop and went to the arsenal in the camp. Li Yanzhi planned to open the inventory and see how many armors in the arsenal could be used for trading.

Sima Liu Xin of the other department led the treasurer to open the door and welcome Li Yanzhi and others into the arsenal. The arsenal in the battalion was expanded as early as the thirteenth and fourteenth years of Jianxing. Now it is no longer the small arsenal in the corner of the camp that lived in the middle of the camp. Instead, it became a large arsenal covering an area of nearly two or three acres with several warehouses.

Liu Xin and the treasurer opened several warehouses one by one. Li Yanzhi, Cao Jian, and Liu Jiwudang entered the first largest warehouse first, only to see hundreds of armor frames supported in the warehouse. In these years, the full-body iron armor produced by the workshop, along with the matching helmets, capes, handguards, iron boots, etc., are neatly placed on these armor frames.

In the huge warehouse, the armor frame is in a row of three, dozens of columns, and there is a passage in the middle to accommodate two people in parallel, and on the other side of the passage, there is a long queue composed of iron armor. Li Yanzhi walked among them, and touched the side of the iron armor, but he felt that there was only a thin layer of ash on the iron armor. And when he leaned down to carefully check the condition of the iron armor, he saw that there was not a single trace of rust on the armor leaves that covered his body.

Li Yanzhi turned his head to Liu Xin behind him and said: "The iron armor in this armor is very well preserved...... Liu Xin saw Li Yanzhi smile and said so satisfied, he couldn't help but be a little stunned for a while, and didn't know what to answer. However, Li Yanzhi then took out a bag of money and called the treasurer. The treasurer first saw Li Yanzhi praise him, and then saw him come forward, but he didn't know if he had made a mistake somewhere, which caused the new Qiang Protector Sima to be displeased. I was worried for a while, but I didn't dare to slack off, so I hurriedly stepped forward to obey orders.

When Li Yanzhi handed over the rather heavy money bag in his hand to the treasurer, the treasurer couldn't believe his eyes. In a daze, he forgot to thank him, and it wasn't until Cao Jian next to him reminded him that he hurriedly clenched his fists and knocked on the ground to express his gratitude.

Li Yanzhi and everyone inspected it, and saw that the neatly placed iron armor in this warehouse was well preserved. And behind the armory, neatly stacked wooden boxes attracted Li Yanzhi's attention again, he stepped forward to open a box, but saw that there was a collar stacked leather armor in the box.

The leather armor made in the Workshop is different from the others. Elsewhere, leather armor is made of hardened leather sewn together. However, the leather armor made in the Lingju workshop is still decorated with several large pieces of iron in the chest, abdomen and other vital parts of the leather armor. After the experiments of the craftsmen in the workshop, although it did not add much weight, the protective power of the leather armor has been greatly strengthened, at least with random arrows, and the arrows are stopped outside the chest and abdomen, and cannot enter.

Li Yanzhi covered the box, then walked to the outside room, and finally checked the entry and exit records of this armor warehouse at the entrance. Every stroke is remembered clearly. Now many clerks and treasurers in the Wuwei army who are responsible for logistics and salaries all know that when Li Yanzhi first arrived in Lingju Sima, he killed the lieutenant general Zuo and the clerks who were greedy for ink and resold military rations. And they have taken it as a warning, but basically no one dares to touch this mold again.

Li Yanzhi looked at the account books, and made a rough estimate, in this armor warehouse, there are about 1000 ironclad collars. The leather armor is no less than three thousand. Thanks to the extensive foreign trade carried out in Lingju County over the years, the source of leather goods is quite abundant, so among these weapons, leather armor is far more than the manufacturing time, and the troublesome iron armor.

After inspecting the first warehouse, Li Yanzhi called everyone again and went to another warehouse on one side together. After entering, Li Yanzhi felt as if he was about to be dazzled. In the other storeroom, there is a storeroom where the bladed knives are stacked. It was full of knife holders, and the space between the knife holders and the knife holders could barely accommodate one person.

Like the knives in the armory, the knives in this magazine are relatively well preserved. Li Yanzhi took out a knife from the knife holder and gently stroked the blade with his thumb, only to feel that the blade was still cold and shining, and it was extremely sharp. 、

"Liu Du, later, I will select 200 sergeants from your battalion, come to the arsenal, receive 50 iron armor collars, 100 long knives, and then organize their own convoys, etc., put these weapons on the car, prepare to set off, and escort them to Wuxing County. I will give you a letter to Xin Fujun later. Li Yanzhi's voice fell, Liu Jiwu was already solemnly clenching his fists, and replied: "Yes!" ”