When a group of chiefs, lackeys and traitors of the Qing Dynasty such as Kang Mazi, Yue Le, Shang Kexi, Jie Shu, Leer Jin and Kong Sizhen were busy working in Yanjing City, Wu Lao Han Jian, Hu Guozhu and Lu Fatzi and other big and small traitors, traitors and dog thieves in Pingxi Wangfu were naturally not idle in the south.

Time turned back slightly, back to the middle of February of the twelfth year of Kang Mazi, at this time, the Pingxi Wangfu had just been freed from the busy spring ploughing and sowing of Juntun Mintun, and the top and bottom had just breathed a sigh of relief, and the question of the location of Wu Laohan's new palace was also raised. Some people out of military considerations, suggested that Wu Lao Han Zhan stay in Wuchang City for a long time, first, Wuchang City, which is divided into inner and outer cities, is originally large, which is in line with Wu Lao Han's identity, second, it is convenient to command the most important battlefield of crossing the river, and third, Wuchang is rich in products, grain and grass are sufficient, and it is also suitable for stationing the main army.

But there are also objections, for example, Wu Yingqi, on the pretext of filial piety to his father, suggested that the old man choose the new palace in the rear safety zone, such as Changsha, Hengzhou or Changde, which are all good places with abundant products and safety and comfort, the most suitable for the old man to retire, and it is also convenient to command the whole - as for Wuchang City, which can extract tariffs and carry out bilateral trade by guarding the Yangtze River waterway, such an important place, Wu Lao Han can entrust him except for his loyal and lovely little son, who else can he trust?

Fortunately, Wu Lao Han Jian is not old enough to suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and Wu Lao Han's most trusted henchmen Hu Guozhu, Fang Guangchen and Wang Shirong are also resolutely opposed to letting Wu Yingqi be in charge - he was really scared by Wu Yingqi's 205 surnames, plus Wu Lao Hanjian was saddened by the death of his beloved son, and he wanted to avenge his son, so he finally accepted the proposal of Hu Guozhu and Fang Guangchen and others, and decided to locate the new palace in Wuchang City. At the same time, in order to facilitate the resettlement of the generals and some of their families, Wu Lao Hanjian decided to build a palace in the city of Hengzhou, and the collateral effect was to facilitate the launch of the Jiangxi campaign, open a gap in the southern part of Jiangxi, where the Qing army was weak, and open up the land connection with Geng Jingzhong's troops in Fujian.

Wu Lao Han Jian's idea is certainly good, but according to Wu Lao Han Jian's requirements, the construction cost of the two palaces as luxurious and spacious as the Wuhua Mountain Palace, as well as the construction cost of the large and small mansions of civil and military officials, Hu Guozhu and Wang Shirong around Wu Lao Han Jian were shocked-it was as high as 6.5 million taels of silver! Although the Wu army can get this money now, it has invested a huge amount of money in these aspects, and after the decisive battle with the Mites Qing army in the coming year, what if the food and salary are not spent? Can the Qing Imperial Court still take out more than 20 million taels of silver to honor Wu Lao Han like it did at the beginning of this year?

Of course, it is not that no one supports Wu Lao Han's decision to be poor and extravagant, at least Wu Laohan's youngest son Wu Yingqi raised his hands in agreement, because the second prince of Wu suddenly found that it seemed that he could make a lot of money as a contractor, so he not only resolutely supported it, but also insisted on serving as a supervisor to build a pension for his father. Many people at the top of the Wu army, who were carried away by a series of military victories, also supported and agreed, believing that it was time for them to conquer the five southwestern provinces with the annihilation of Wu Laohan, and it was time to enjoy it, not to mention that the great cause of opposing the Qing Dynasty was not something that could be achieved overnight, and it was necessary to prepare for a long-term 'bitter' war.

Hu Guozhu wanted to resolutely oppose it, but he was afraid of being infamous for being unfilial and insulting on his back, and he was afraid of offending many colleagues. In the end, Wang Shirong, who had always been at odds with Lu Fatzi, came up with a bad idea, "Call Mr. Mao Yao's slippery student back from Ji Ji Mountain, with his deceitful and slippery and eloquent ability, there must be a way to persuade the prince to take back his fate and spend the silver on the blade!" ”

"Yes, Yifeng will definitely be able to do it!" Hu Guozhu slapped his thigh and agreed with Wang Shirong's opinion. At that moment, Hu Guozhu wrote a letter overnight, introducing the matter in general, and sent someone to the Ji Ji Mountain Firearms Camp at night, asking Lu Fatzi to return to Wuchang as soon as possible, and trying to persuade Wu Lao Hanjian to change his decision and adhere to the hard and simple style. And after the letter was delivered to Ji Ji Mountain, Lu Fatzi was also startled, and hurriedly explained the work in hand, took the latest achievements jointly created by himself and Xu Zhengming, led a few entourages, and returned to Wuchang at night.

When I returned to Wuchang City, the time was the end of February of the twelfth year of Kang Mazi, because the spring ploughing had just ended and there was a shortage of manpower, and Wu Laohan's new palace had not yet begun to break ground.

When Wu Laohan's guards led him to the narrow back garden of the temporary line, Wu Laohan was leading a large group of relatives and confidants to drink tea in the pavilion. You don't seem to have been there for long this time, and you've only been busy for a month? ”

"Back to my grandfather, in fact, the matter of casting heavy artillery does not require too much interference from my grandson-in-law." Lu Fatzi saluted and replied: "The casting process of Hongyi cannon, when I was in Yunnan before, my grandson-in-law has already taught it to Yunnan-Guizhou craftsmen. Besides, his grandson-in-law has Xu Zhengming's help this time, and he does many things better than his grandson-in-law, so he doesn't have to worry about his grandson-in-law. It just so happened that the grandson-in-law had business to report to his grandfather, so he came back first. ”

"Very good, you do things, I don't worry. It's better that you can free up your hands from the firearms camp, and you can help the old man in other ways. Wu Lao Hanjian was very happy, beckoned and said: "Come here, take a look at our new palace, and the new inner city of Wuchang, and talk about business separately in a while." ”

"Thank you, grandfather." Lu Fatzi thanked him, and quickly got up and walked in front of Wu Laohan, and Hu Guozhu, who was behind Wu Laohan, glanced at Lu Fatzi and asked Lu Fatzi to take the opportunity to try to advise.

"Yifeng, come and see, how is this palace?" Wu Yingqi and Lu Fatzi have always looked at each other, and they pulled Fatman Lu to the table very affectionately, pointed to the palace map on the table and said with a smile: "It's exactly the same as our palace in Wuhua Mountain, and the inner city of Wuchang is also all rebuilt to be our mansion. ”

"Okay, it's really good, magnificent, ......, even Anfu Garden is built according to Kunming? Good! This time, the grandson-in-law was able to go to his grandfather's 10,000-volume Lou Laishu to read it. Lu Fatzi pretended to praise him repeatedly, and nodded his head again and again, full of praise, as if he sincerely supported Wu Laohan's wise decision.

"Not bad, right?" Wu Yingqi was very satisfied with Lu Fatzi's praise for his work, and said with a smile: "Uncle I personally arranged it, so that Liu Yingdi, the palm print of Gongcao, was designed according to the appearance of the Wuhua Mountain Palace, and even the size of the area occupied was exactly the same." ”

"Exactly the same size?" Lu Fatzi was stunned, and hurriedly said to Wu Yingqi: "Uncle, about this point, my nephew is going to take the liberty to say a word about you, now our situation is still comparable to that in Yungui at that time, why is the scale of land the same as before?" Is such a small palace worthy of my grandfather's current status? ”

"What? You mean, the size of this palace is too small? "Wu Yingqi and Wu Lao Han Jian and others are all the same, and Hu Guozhu and Wang Shirong over there almost didn't bulge out of their eyes, and they said that you kid is crazy? We told you to come back quickly, so that you could find a way to persuade the prince to be diligent and thrifty, and use the silver, money and grain on the edge of the knife, why did you persuade the prince to go further and build large-scale construction?

"Of course it's too small." Fat Lu nodded, and said very seriously: "Uncle, please think about it carefully, when my grandfather was in Yungui before, he only had two poorest provinces in the world, so he was wronged to live in a small palace like Wuhua Mountain. Now that my grandfather has five provinces and one government, 200,000 soldiers and horses, and the world is shaken by every breath, wouldn't it be more aggrieved to live in such a small palace? ”

"So, the nephew thinks." Lu Fatzi said categorically: "Either don't build my grandfather's new palace, if you want to build it, you must build it big, so that the new palace is in line with my grandfather's current identity!" Otherwise, don't say that we have wronged our grandfather, the Mangou court will also laugh at us, saying that we are stingy and stingy, and we get so much money and food from them, and we are reluctant to do our filial piety to our grandfather! ”

"That's right, it's still Yifeng Xian's nephew who has insight!" Wu Yingqi slapped his thigh, and immediately turned to Wu Lao Han and said, "Father, the child thinks that Yifengxian's nephew is reasonable, either don't build it, or build it!" The child thinks that the size of the new palace should be doubled! ”

Wu Lao Han Jian didn't rush to speak, just waited for Lu Fatzi's next words - Wu Lao Han Jian was not stupid, and he vaguely felt that there was something wrong with his construction at this time, but most of the lackeys around him agreed to build a new palace, and there was almost no opposition, and Wu Lao Han Jian himself was also a very hedonistic drinker, so even if he felt that it was inappropriate, his attitude was very hesitant and ambiguous, and he was a little reluctant to build it, and if he didn't build it, he felt sorry for himself who had already half of his body in the ground- I'm in my sixties, and if I suddenly kick my legs that day, I can't say anything if I want to enjoy it.

"Uncle, forgive my nephew and son-in-law, it's still too small to double the size." Lu Fatzi shook his head and said seriously: "Grandfather's original palace covers an area of only more than 200 acres, and it is only 400 acres when it is doubled. According to the nephew's opinion, it should be expanded fivefold, so that the new palace covers an area of 1,000 acres! ”

"A thousand acres?" Wu Yingqi was also frightened, and hurriedly said: "Yifeng, don't joke, there is such a big palace in the world?" Build a thousand acres of royal palace in the inner city, how to build the mansion of civil and military officials? ”

"Uncle, you're testing your nephew and son-in-law at this point." Fat Lu smiled and said, "The Emperor Mangou occupies the Forbidden City, doesn't he cover an area of 1,085 acres? According to his nephew's humble opinion, my grandfather's new palace must cover at least 1,086 acres, and I can't let the Emperor Mangou compare my grandfather! ”

Wu Yingqi's eyes widened, and he looked at Fat Lu for a long time, and found that Fat Lu didn't seem to be joking, so he said: "It's a good idea, but now we are afraid that our money and food are not enough, build such a big palace, where do we go to find so much silver, money and food?" ”

"Then don't build it yet." Hu Guozhu finally understood Lu Fatzi's intentions, and hurriedly said: "I also think Yifeng has a point, what kind of person is grandfather, how can he let Kangxi Xiaoer compare?" So now since you can't repair the palace that surpasses the Forbidden City, then simply don't repair it for the time being, and when you save enough money and food in the future, it's not too late to completely overhaul it! ”

"General Kongo has a point." Wang Shirong also helped: "And Wuchang City is still too small to accommodate such a large palace, and it is not too late to build such a palace when the prince takes a larger city like Nanjing or Yanjing in the future." ”

"And where does my father live now?" Of course, Wu Yingqi was not convinced, pointed to the garden and said, "Is such a small garden worthy of the identity of the father?" Isn't it to laugh at me for not being filial to let others know that my father still lives in such a small place? ”

"Ying Qi, but if you build such a small palace for your father-in-law." Hu Guozhu pointed to the sketch of the palace construction in front of Wu Yingqi, and asked with a wry smile: "Then don't others have to say that you are not filial?" ”

"It's ......." Wu Yingqi was a little dumbfounded, with his pitiful brain, he naturally couldn't argue with his resourceful brother-in-law. Next to Wu Laohan, the civil and military lackeys were also discussed, either thinking that Hu Guozhu and Wang Shirong were reasonable, or thinking that Lu Fatzi was talking nonsense, ignoring the reality of Wu Jun, and some people proposed to build a palace as big as Wuhua Mountain in Yunnan first, and live there for the time being. Only Wu Laohan didn't say a word, thoughtful.

"Uncle, let's put this aside for the time being." Fat Lu suddenly changed the topic again, took Wu Yingqi's hand and said with a smile: "Grandson-in-law showed you a good thing, after you have seen it, I feel that it is too aggrieved to build such a small palace to honor my grandfather, and there is a way to build a palace bigger than the Forbidden City for my grandfather." ”

"What's good?" Wu Yingqi squinted and asked.

Lu Fatzi didn't answer, but turned to Wu Jun's other famous two hundred and five Ma Bao, and said with a smile: "Ma Junmen, do you remember the promise you made to you back then?" The lowly promised that he would make you the best musket, but later because of the poor craftsmanship of the lowly job, you were not satisfied with the flintlock pistol made. ”

"Of course I do." Ma Bao replied casually, and suddenly stared at the long cloth bag behind the fat man Lu, and asked in surprise, "What are you carrying?" Could it be that the musket you promised me back then has already been made? ”

"Bell, bell, bell!" Fat Lu sang a rhythm with a smile on his face, took off the long package on his back, ripped off the outer wrapper, revealed two brand-new muskets, and said loudly: "Grandfather, uncle, General Ma, generals, please look, rear-loading shotgun gun!" ”

Wu Laohan jumped up, and the generals of the Wu army also rushed up, surrounding Lu Fatzi in the middle, but saw that Lu Fatzi's two muskets were very strange, the fire hole was very large, and there was a magazine similar to a flintlock pistol but no flint, only a very long iron needle. Wu Laohan couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Yifeng, why does this musket have no flint, how can it be ignited?" Also, the ignition hole in the back is so big, doesn't it leak when you load gunpowder? ”

"Grandfather, you don't need to fill it with gunpowder." Fat Lu took out a few small paper tubes from another small cloth bag and said loudly: "Grandfather, please look, this is the paper shell bullet that your son-in-law told you a long time ago, Xu Zhengming's clever hand has finally made it." ”

Wu Lao Hanjian didn't speak, but just grabbed the paper shell bullet and looked at it carefully, but saw that the bullet was wrapped in oiled paper very strongly, the front tip was flat, the back was flat, and the thickness of the thumb was about an inch and a half long, very much like an ordinary firecracker, and he was not very surprised. Lu Fatzi explained: "Grandfather must not underestimate this little thing, it is divided into three parts, the first is a projectile, the second is thunder mercury, and the third is gunpowder. Because the ammunition is loaded in advance and there is no need for ignition, the gun is fired extremely quickly, more than five times the speed of a normal musket! And it won't blow up! ”

"I'll take two shots!" Wu Laohan handed the bullet back to Lu Fatzi and pointed to the rockery thirty paces away with his hand. Lu Fatzi understood, and hurriedly loaded the bullet into the chamber in public, tightened the butt, aimed at the rockery and pulled the trigger, after a loud bang, sparks splashed on the rockery, and a crater appeared. Without waiting for everyone to cheer, Lu Fatzi quickly stuffed in the second bullet, pulled the bolt and pulled the trigger, hitting the rockery again.

So again and again, three shots in a lightning row, Wu Junzhong couldn't help cheering together, Ma Bao and Wu Yingqi were even brighter, and hurriedly snatched the firing pin gun from Lu Fatzi's hand, and loaded and shot according to Lu Fatzi's method, and the Yi Ying surname of the firing pin gun was definitely not covered, Ma Bao and Wu Yingqi were still fast when they first got started, and they also hit the rockery accurately. Wu Yingqi shouted happily, and when he hurriedly went to grab the bullet again, Lu Fatzi didn't give it, and said with a wry smile: "Uncle, you can't fight anymore, save some bullets, this thing is too expensive, and the cost of a bullet is more than 20 yuan." And I'm in a hurry, and I haven't built much yet. ”

"Less nonsense, I'll have two more shots!" Wu Yingqi didn't give Fat Lu a chance to defend himself at all, and snatched two bullets from Fat Lu's hands, and Ma Bao over there also did the same and snatched two bullets from Fat Lu's hands.

"Yifeng, how many of these muskets can be made in a year?" Wu Laohanjian asked in a trembling voice - Wu Laohanjian is also an old Qiu Ba who has been on the battlefield for decades, so he can naturally see at a glance the important surname of this needle gun.

"If there are enough men, within a year, we should be able to build four or five thousand such muskets, and we can also equip them with corresponding bayonets." Lu Fatzi replied in a deep voice: "In terms of bullets, there is still room for improvement, and it should be no problem for each gun to be equipped with a hundred bullets." But....... ”

"But what?" Wu Laohan asked.

"Funding." Fat Lu replied with a wry smile: "The most expensive bullet is thunder mercury, and the most expensive musket is steel needles and springs, which must be made of the best fine iron, so the cost is very expensive." ”

Wu Lao Han was silent, and after a long time, Wu Lao Han Jian gritted his teeth, stomped his feet and shouted: "The palace is no longer built, and the silver saved will be used to make new firearms for this king!" ”

"The prince is wise!" Hu Guozhu, Wang Shirong and some of the generals of the Wu army cheered together and hurriedly saluted Wu Laohan. Fat Lu got cheap and obedient, and said kindly: "Grandfather, it doesn't have to be like this, isn't it too aggrieved to let you live in such a small place?" ”

"Bastard boy!" Wu Laohan glared at Lu Fatzi and said angrily: "Is this king's anti-Qing cause important?" Or is a royal palace important? When the king takes Nanjing Yanjing, how many palaces do you want? ”

"Grandfather Shengming. The grandson-in-law did not distinguish between the severity and asked the grandfather to punish the crime. Fat Lu lowered his fat head in shame. Although Ma Bao and the others felt a little regretful, considering the power of such a weapon on the battlefield, they felt that it was worth it. Only Wu Yingqi cried and mourned, quietly bumped into Lu Fatzi, and scolded in a low voice: "Bastard boy, you are all responsible for this." ”

"Uncle forgives sins, and nephew also knows that your filial piety to your grandfather can be seen in Mingyue." Lu Fatzi replied to the question, and said with a wry smile: "But Wuchang City is so big, and our silver, money and food are not enough, how can we build a palace of thousands of acres?" ”

"I didn't mean you that." Wu Yingqi was a little sullen, but he quickly diverted his attention and began to pull Wu Laohan's sleeve and begged, hoping to let his descendants be equipped with new muskets first, and the same was true for Ma Bao.

"You!" Wu Lao Hanjian didn't pay attention to the dispute between his baby son and his love general, but just pointed to Lu Fatzi, and scolded with a smile: "No wonder others call you oiled fat loach, it's really true!" ”

Fat Lu also understood that Wu Laohan saw his sinister intentions, so he quickly bowed his head and admitted his mistake. Fortunately, Wu Lao Hanjian didn't bother with Lu Fatzi, but just beckoned: "Follow this king to the study, yesterday, your mentor Liu Xuanchu sent a letter from Kunming and put forward a good suggestion, you come to help this king refer to the details." And the pillars of the country, good ministers, you also come together. ”

"Yes." Lu Fatzi agreed, and hurriedly followed Hu Guozhu, Wang Shirong and others, and pondered in his heart, "My teacher made a good suggestion?" What's a good suggestion? My teacher is very strategic, but he is not as good as me in terms of tactics and improvisation, so what advice can you have? Could it be that there is some good strategic idea that there is no way to implement it, so kick the problem to me, the hapless student, right? ”

(To be continued)