After visiting the papermaking workshop, Zhao Jie came to the weapons workshop not far away. The ironwork workshop has completely changed, and in the days since Zhao Jie left, it has expanded its area several times and increased the number of blacksmiths several times. The workshop was full of people, walking in the middle of it, Zhao Jie couldn't believe his eyes.

"What's your name, and when did you enter the Prince's Mansion?" Zhao Jie asked about the workshop owner who followed him, that is, his old guard.

"Zhao Qidou, King Zhao Huiwen was elected to the Prince's Mansion in 23 years." Zhao Qidou replied meticulously, with a little military momentum in his voice.

"Can I trust you?" Zhao Jie asked, his tone full of caution. Hearing this heart-wrenching remark, the old guard panicked in his heart.

"The life of the humble has been completely handed over to the Zhao family, and I am willing to throw my head and spill my blood for the Zhao family." The old guard couldn't wait to get down on one knee to show his loyalty.

"I want you to be loyal to only one person, not the entire Zhao family, can you do that?" Zhao Jie bent down and whispered in Zhao Qidou's ear.

Zhao Qidou's ears were like thunder, and he was stunned for a while, but after three or four minutes, he eased up. "Obey the Prince's orders." Zhao Qidou kowtowed, which was regarded as agreeing to Zhao Jie's request.

"Get up! Take me around and learn more about this ironwork factory. Since he has become his own person, Zhao Jie personally helped Zhao Qidou to say.

"Your Highness, please come with me." Zhao Qidou said respectfully, and then led Zhao Jie to visit the workshop. Walking on the road, passing through one room after another, looking at the production scene in full swing all the way, Zhao Jie was overwhelmed with emotion.

"Zhao Qidou, how did you develop the workshop to what it is today, tell me quickly." Zhao Jie asked suddenly.

Zhao Qidou replied respectfully: "Back to His Royal Highness, since His Royal Highness handed over the workshop to the humble position, the humble and trembling operator of this small workshop does not dare to live up to His Highness's kindness. After a few days of investigation, I found that this workshop was just taking some work from the nearby people and helping them produce some simple farm tools. At that time, he thought why couldn't he build farm tools for the farmers around the entire city of Handan? ”

Zhao Qidou paused, and then continued vividly: "So I used the money left by His Highness to set up sales points in Handan and the surrounding towns. Because of the good quality of the farm tools produced, the reputation soon spread among the farmers, and the more people bought them, the workshop naturally expanded, and after a few months several merchants found a lowly position, and they wanted me to make them five or six iron swords at a low price. ”

Zhao Qidou changed his words and continued: "The workshop has never built an iron sword, so he refused without hesitation, but those merchants did not give up. They offered to have them instruct the craftsmen in the workshop to make iron swords, but I had to promise to sell them at cost, and I agreed without their pleas. Later, I heard that these merchants had lost a lot of money in business and could not afford to buy the swords sold in the city, so they came to me to make swords. ”

Zhao Qidou's tone was full of pride, and he continued excitedly: "Under the guidance of the merchants, the craftsmen in the workshop learned the art of sword making. After the merchant left with the finished iron sword, the workshop continued to produce the iron sword, and the lowly priest hung the iron sword in the place where the farm implements were sold to sell. Because we don't understand the market, our swords are sold quite cheaply, attracting a considerable number of poor children to buy swords. It was not until later that we learned that iron products were quite expensive because Handan's iron smelting industry was monopolized by the Guo family. ”

Zhao Qidou happily continued: "My surplus, his shortage. It didn't take long for us to usher in Guo's suppression, and the workshop was on the verge of despair, and he almost wanted to die to apologize. Fortunately, at that time, Handan Zhuo's family found a lowly position and asked for mutual support to tide over the difficulties together, and the lowly position agreed without hesitation. With the help of Zhuo's family, the workshop survived the difficulties and had today's grand occasion. What His Highness saw, almost all of them were helped by the Zhuo family. Now, seeing that we can't be easily destroyed, Guo has to admit our existence. ”

"I didn't expect you to have such an adventure!" Zhao Jie said with a look of appreciation: "According to you, there should be many craftsmen of the Zhuo clan in this workshop, is that so?" ”

Zhao Qidou nodded, and then replied, "And most of our own craftsmen have also been retrained by the Zhuo Clan. ”

"If there is a conflict between the Zhuo clan and us, how many of these people in front of you do you think will firmly follow us and turn away from the Zhuo clan." Zhao Jie asked with concern.

"About one percent of the people will always follow me, and as for how many people will follow the Zhao family, it's uncertain." Zhao Qidou replied uncertainly.

"Since 90% of people are not credible, then I let the weapon lance you made leak out." Zhao Jie asked a little eagerly. Businessmen are profit-oriented, and for their own safety, Zhao Jie does not want his weapons to be known to others.

"Your Highness, rest assured, all the weapons you have asked us to manufacture are made by our cronies." Zhao Qidou replied with an oath.

"Then I'll be relieved." Zhao Jie continued to command: "I will give you another task, to help me secretly make a long sword that can cut off horses, I call it the Horse Cutting Sword." The overall length of the weapon is about two zhang, and the blade of the sword is about one zhang and three feet. ”

"Yes!" Zhao Qidou replied solemnly: "The humble duty must not disgrace the mission." ”

"Now that you're running the workshop, you must remember to recruit craftsmen as much as possible to become our people." Zhao Jie paused, and then responded: "At the same time, we must also innovate iron-smelting technology, and give rich rewards to those who innovate technology." ”

Zhao Jie had not been deeply involved in the iron-smelting industry in his previous life, so he knew little about the smelting of ironware, but he also knew the importance of new technologies, so he once said it.

"No!" Zhao Qidou replied respectfully.

"In the next few days, I may visit Zhuo's family, you can help contact you. Zhuo Shi is our partner, you should also try to get as close as possible to Zhuo Shi, remember that we want to run this partnership for a long time. Zhao Jie reminded.

"No!" Zhao Qidou replied again.

Unconsciously, Zhao Jie came to the place where the horse lance was manufactured. The horse lance has not yet been completed, and although it has Zhao Jie's guidance, it is still in a state of research, and its success or failure is still unknown. According to Zhao Jie's instructions, the craftsmen who studied made a lot of experimental products, and the raw materials and semi-finished products were already filled with the warehouse.

Seeing the scene in front of him, Zhao Jie patted Zhao Qidou's shoulder and said, "Good job." Do your best and you will have a bright future ahead of you. ”

"Your Highness Xie praises you for daring to serve Your Highness wholeheartedly." Zhao Qidou replied.

Before Zhao Jie could say something, suddenly the drum sound of "dong dong dong...... muffled all the sounds. Subsequently, Zhao Jie saw that the craftsmen in the workshop had put down their work and walked out of the work place.

After more than a dozen drums sounded, Zhao Jie stared at Zhao Qidou and asked, "What happened?" Why did all the craftsmen leave? ”

Zhao Qidou had already seen Zhao Jie's confusion, and he hurriedly replied: "The drum just now is the drum sound of the lunch meal, and the craftsmen all went home to eat after hearing it." ”

Zhao Qidou continued: "Your Highness shouldn't have eaten yet!" It's better to go to a cold house. ”

"No!" Zhao Jie waved his hand and said, "What I say to you today must be remembered, do you know?" ”

"Humble duties must be remembered!" Zhao Qidou replied: "Congratulations to Your Highness!" ”

Under Zhao Qidou's gaze, Zhao Jie left the ironware workshop with a smile on his face. The carriage started again, and Zhao Jie left the Acropolis with a satisfied mood.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhao Jie returned to the Prince's Mansion. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the king urgently summons you to the palace." Before Zhao Jie could take a sip of tea when he returned to the mansion, a messenger came to summon him.

"Please wait for the envoy to change your clothes, and then you will enter the palace with you." Zhao Jie bowed to the comer and said.

"His Royal Highness the Prince, please hurry up." The envoy didn't dare to offend Zhao Jie, so he bowed and saluted back. Five or six minutes later, Zhao Jie, who had finished changing his clothes, walked out of the inner room.

"Let's go!" Zhao Jie said lightly. As soon as the words fell, the envoy and Zhao Jie Pegasus rushed towards the palace. In front of the palace gate, Li Min waited anxiously, and his eagerness made him can't help pacing back and forth.

"Cousin, why are you here!" Zhao Jie walked to Li Min's side and suddenly asked. Li Min was startled by the sudden voice, and when he turned his head, it turned out to be Zhao Jie, and his heart was instantly settled.

"Your Highness! The Han envoy is here! It's in the royal palace! Li Dui told Zhao Jiedao, there was still a trace of panic in his eyes.

"Han Envoy is here, is there any problem? According to the original agreement, it should have come. Zhao Jie didn't understand why Li Min was so flustered, and said puzzled.

"Your Highness, the Han envoy is here to fulfill the covenant, aren't you worried? If the courtiers object, our carefully concluded covenant will be ruined, and our prestige will be greatly undermined. Li Min explained, with some eagerness in his tone.

"When we entered into this covenant, we kept a pure public heart, and we did not use it for personal gain. As the saying goes: 'Don't worry about bad things, don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door.' So why should we worry. Zhao Jieyi continued rhetorically: "We concluded this alliance entirely for the safety of Zhao State, and if the courtiers oppose it, it is just that they have no vision. We are worthy of our hearts, of our kings, and of our families and countries. ”