The Chu army is equipped with the latest flintlock torches, which is actually nothing new, and even the military department and the engineering department have asked about it several times. However, every time, Liu Jun was dismissed on the grounds that it was still in trial production and its performance was unstable.

The new flintlock pistol does still have many problems, but this gun is still a great improvement over the original arquebus, which is a qualitative leap, and small flaws cannot hide its advantages of inevitably replacing the arquebus. You can shoot without a fire rope, so you don't have to carry a fire rope, and you also reduce the steps of lighting the fire rope and clamping the fire rope before each shot.

Moreover, the flintlock pistol is not afraid of the wind at all, nor is it afraid of the tide, nor is it afraid of the general rainy day. In addition, this gun will also be suitable for night raids, and there will be no premature exposure to the fire. With these advantages, it is not a problem to have a slightly lower ignition rate or anything like that.

With such a sharp weapon, how could Liu Jun easily sell it to others. Just like when he sold artillery, it was also in exchange for valuable resources such as war horses, and it was also to deal with the imperial court, but more importantly, the artillery he sold was all old-style artillery. Heavy, old, and much less powerful than today's new Hydra.

The Hydra has the latest long cannons, short cannons, the latest howitzers, as well as the improved cannon howitzers, infantry mountain howitzers, not to mention the extremely powerful howitzers, and large-caliber siege mortars.

The Hydra has a new artillery system, a better artillery classification, and better shells. These are the technical cores that Liu Jun adheres to, and they will not be leaked at all.

With these technologies, even if Liu Jun sells some old artillery, he can still maintain a strong technological lead. But even so, he has careful control over the numbers.

Wu Sangui wants a bird gun and a flying dragon gun, it's okay, Liu Jun can give it to him. You can sell him as much as you want. But if you want a flintlock pistol, and you want a flintlock riding gun, there is no talk at all, there is no room for discussion.

"The flintlock pistol is still in the trial production stage, so it can't be provided for the time being, so let's talk about the bird gun and the dragon gun."

Wu Sangui saw that Liu Jun directly refused. There is some helplessness. But I also understand that firearms have always been sharp weapons. Liu Junbu also relied on the advantage of firearms to put down the Central Plains banditry first. Then, relying on the Western artillery obtained from the sea, he won a great victory in southern Liaoning. Liu Jun wants to hide some selfishness, which is also a long-term affection. It seems that the flintlock pistol is not available. And he also thought that Liu Jun was willing to sell those Hongyi cannons to himself. Presumably he has more powerful artillery in his hands.

This time, though, he was clever not to mention the guns.

"I have 30,000 horses under my command, all of which have been newly reorganized according to the will of the imperial court. Since the fire of the Duke of Chu is sharp, and now it is the time of the great war, I plan to buy 10,000 first, and if it is easy to use, I will buy more at that time. ”

"Bird Gun or Wyvern Gun?"

"The Wyvern is a bit more expensive than the Bird's Gun. But it's really better to use and good value for money. Just 10,000 Wyvern guns, each with 300 rounds of fixed ammunition. ”

Liu Jun was a little surprised by Wu Sangui's arrogance, "Brother Wu has good vision and courage, then I will also give you a discount, with 300 rounds of fixed ammunition per gun." Fifty dollars in total. 10,000 guns with 3,000,000 rounds of ammunition, a total of 500,000. Give me 1,000 war horses and 10,000 horses, plus the previous ones, a total of 2,000 horses and 14,000 horses, can you get them? ”

"Two thousand war horses. Fourteen thousand horses, the number is not small, but the problem is not big, we can supply it in batches. However, with so many horses, Duke Chu has to go to Ningyuan to transport them by himself, and we can't transport them. ”

"This is no problem, the imperial court asked the Beiyang Navy Division to be responsible for escorting the grain and grass to Ningyuan outside the Guan, and it happened that every time he returned, he would transport the horses away."

The two quickly finalized the details of the transaction, Liu Jun's guns and Guan Ningjun's horses were delivered in batches and delivered within half a year. Everyone took what they needed, and everyone was happy.

After the business was negotiated, Liu Jun asked people to bring wine.

"Duke Chu, the last general heard that Duke Chu and the Zheng family in the southeast have partnered to open a company, and the trade is not small." Wu Sangui carefully chose the words, "I don't know if we can also take a ride and earn some pocket money by the way?" ”

"Who are you referring to?"

"It's all the comrades and brothers in the Guanning army, and they have accumulated a little loose silver in their hands, always thinking about making some rest. The Duke of Chu also knew that we had been stationed outside the customs for many years, and although the food and salary of the imperial court were given priority to us as much as possible, the places outside the customs were fought all the year round, and all kinds of things were transported from the customs. The price of goods is expensive, even more than that of Jingshi. The little money that everyone has in hand is not easy to live. Wu Sangui complained bitterly.

Liu Jun understood what he said. After so many years of fighting outside the Guan, the people are almost gone, and although they are barely still in the tuntian, the grain grown in the tun does not care about the supply at all, and as for other cloth and other materials, they all rely on the transportation from the Guan. This has led to extremely expensive prices outside the Guan, and it seems that the salary of the Guanning army is higher than that of the soldiers and horses in the towns of Daming, but in fact, if the price factor is deducted, their purchasing power of food and salary is the lowest.

And those generals all support their families, which also costs a lot. Without an elite family, it will not be able to stand in western Liaoning, let alone maintain its official position. Therefore, long ago, in fact, these Liaoxi generals of the Guanning Army relied on tuntian and business and even secret smuggling to survive.

Liu Jun smiled, "The company is just a small fight, there is no need to talk about shareholding and the like, why bother so much." But cooperation is still possible, I will go back and let people open a business station in Ningyuan, you can sell us any good things, I guarantee that the purchase price will satisfy you. We will also ship the goods over and hand them over to you directly at the dock, and you will sell them outside the customs. ”

There are still a lot of good things in Liaoxi, especially they can do entrepot trade, buy the goods of the Mongols, and then resell them to Liu Jun, and then resell the goods shipped by Liu Jun to the Mongols, and make a profit from it.

They control the army in western Liaoxi, the head snake, and they have an extremely advantageous smuggling route in the situation that the imperial court has cut off trade with the blockade outside the Guanwai, and they don't have to worry about someone intercepting them. All they need is the source of the goods and the channels through which they can sell them.

The Mongolians' cattle and horses, cattle and sheepskins, wool, jerky, medicinal herbs, and the Central Plains' tea, cloth, needlework, etc., are all huge markets. The Daming East India Company is mainly engaged in maritime trade and port trade, and will not personally go deep into Mongolia to buy goods. If Guan Ningjun resells Mongolian goods to them, there will be a few fewer links in between. Cost savings, naturally, are profitable.

Moreover, Liu Jun also needed cattle and horses, wool and other commodities, and Liu Jun did not plan to pay for them with artillery guns, so he changed to commercial transactions. Nature is also a great option.

Guan Ningjun can make money in the middle, the East India Company can also make money, and Liu Jun can also have a better channel to get Mongolian cattle, horses, wool and other materials, and everyone can get their own benefits, a win-win situation.

After listening to Liu Jun's plan, Wu Sangui was very satisfied. It is already very good to be able to cooperate with Liu Jun and do this business in western Mongolia.

"Brother Wu, I have a very good deal here. I don't know if you'd like to go next. Liu Jun smiled and said to Wu Sangui.

"Please ask Duke Chu to command."

"Let me tell you, I need not only livestock and furs, but also people. It doesn't matter if he is a Mongol or a Jurchen, as long as he is not a citizen of my Ming Dynasty, I want it. Liu Jun said with a smile.

Wu Sangui touched his nose with his right hand, "I don't know what specific requirements Chu Gong has, whether he wants women or both men and women." Or is there an age requirement, is it to be young or a child? Other than that. What about the price for different people? He suddenly heard that Liu Jun was going to buy someone, but he was not surprised at all. He didn't ask Liu Jun what he wanted people to do. As long as it's business, follow the rules of business.

"Over fifteen years old and under fifty years old, male or female, as long as the body is not sick or disabled. Under 20 and over 40 years, 20 yuan for each male, 20 to 40 years old. Thirty dollars each. Thirty dollars each for women from fifteen to twenty years old, and twenty-five dollars each for twenty to forty dollars. Forty to fifty, twenty dollars each. ”

"How much?" Wu Sangui asked.

"As much as you want, as much as I want, no time limit."

This price is not cheap, at this time of the disaster year, a seven or eight-year-old girl in the mainland only needs four or five taels of silver, and a big girl who can cook or do textiles about twenty taels of silver is only about twenty taels of silver.

Although Liu Junkai's price is not as much as the first-level merit given by the imperial court, the first-level merit is not considered for women and children, and false reporting and counterfeiting are also risky after all. Moreover, the military rewards of the imperial court are often difficult to fulfill.

"Brother Wu, when you bring back the cannon and firearms, you can just pull them out to practice the soldiers, and by the way, sweep and sweep those captives. And if you have prisoners of war who are willing to sell, I want them too. ”

Taiwan is now being developed, and people are needed everywhere to mine the fields. Although there is no shortage of manpower in the Central Plains, there is still a difference between slaves and hired laborers. Liu Jun couldn't pull the Han people from the Central Plains to Taiwan to work as slave laborers, but there was no pressure on the northern captives.

Spending a few dozen dollars to buy a strong slave laborer, it is definitely a good deal, although it is a little cruel, but when the northern captives are looting, they have never been soft. In this day and age, they are by no means our race.

"Duke Chu, Beiyu matured early, and he was almost strong at the age of ten." Wu Sangui said.

"Sturdy captives between the ages of fifteen and ten are fine, ten dollars for each man, and ten for each sex."

Wu Sangui smiled, "Duke Chu, in fact, those over fifty years old in Beiyu are still very strong. “

"Stop, don't want to be over fifty years old, you can keep it for yourself."

Wu Sangui has a little regret, those over fifty years old can't be sold for money, so it's a bit of a waste. However, he glanced at it, and the Tartars did not have a household registration, so it would be good to let those who looked relatively strong say that they were less than fifty, could Chu Guogong still be able to find out if their household registration could not be registered.

"Duke Chu, can this deal be handed over to the last general?"

Liu Jun glanced at Wu Sangui and saw the expectation in his eyes. "Yes, I don't care if you arrest people yourself or buy them from others, I only buy them from you. However, there is one rule, it has to be a Tartar, it is okay to build a captive, and it is okay to be a Mongolian Tatar, but not to the Han people, even if it is a Han captured from the territory of the Tartars. Moreover, you have to be strong, and you don't want to be sick or disabled. ”

If it is not specifically added that there are no Han people, Liu Jun has no doubt that Guan Ningjun will definitely arrest his own people and use them as prisoners and clothes in exchange for money. They all dare to kill the good and take the risk, and what dare they not dare to catch the good and sell the money. As long as Liu Jun insists on this rule and doesn't want Han people, then they won't arrest people.

As the saying goes, if there is no buying, there is no killing.

It was a big deal again, and Wu Sangui was excited. Raise a glass and pour the wine, and dry three glasses in a row. It can be regarded as a thank you to Liu Jun.

After drinking a few glasses of wine, Wu Sangui began to clap Liu Jun endlessly, and all kinds of flattery came as soon as he opened his mouth. Liu Jun just smiled slightly, and now Wu Sangui is still a little too young after all. In his words, all the ideas revealed are meritorious deeds, although there is also the pursuit of being promoted to an official and a knighthood. But it cannot be denied that at this time, he really still wanted to report to the Son of Heaven with military merits and make meritorious deeds, the ideal pursuit of the standard generals' disciples. Even compared with many officials and generals who only think about eating and drinking, he has a heavier heart for fame.

"The last general will resign here, thank you for your hospitality." Seeing that the time was almost up, Wu Sangui got up to say goodbye, and Liu Jun got up to see him off.

With a bit of alcohol, Wu Sangui felt excited in his heart. This time I came to Hubei. It can be said that the purpose has been fully achieved, and even far beyond. Not only did he get more than 80 red cannons, but he also bought 10,000 fine firearms.

Not to mention, he also reached two important trading agreements with Liu Jun.

When passing by the garden of the annex, Wu Sangui heard a crisp female singing voice from inside. The song was so sweet that for some reason, he stopped and hesitated. Still quietly approaching the moon gate leading to the garden.

Just a glance, Wu Sangui saw a beautiful shadow.

It was a figure with its back to him. Graceful figure, standing in the pavilion, singing songs, next to her, there are two women playing the piano and music.

His brain was hot, and his feet couldn't help but move forward. Want to get in.

At this time, a handsome young man suddenly walked out from behind the moon gate and stopped him.

"Who are you who dare to trespass on the back garden of the Guogong Courtyard?"

That shouting question suddenly swept away the confusion in Wu Sangui's mind, and he came to his senses and immediately realized that he had done something quite indecent. actually tried to spy on the female relatives in the back garden in the courtyard of the Chu State Princess.

was annoyed and remorseful at the moment, and hurriedly bowed down to apologize.

"Wu Sangui, the chief soldier of Xia Ningyuan, was about to leave after visiting the Duke of Chu, because he was greedy for a few more glasses before, he was a little drunk for a while, and he went in the wrong direction, so he was offended, sorry."

"Oh, it turns out that you are General Wu, Chenggong has heard the name of the general for a long time, and they all say that you have been filial piety for nine days, bravely crowned the three armies, became the chief military officer at a young age, and was praised as the Ming Dynasty together with my father-in-law."

"Don't dare to be on the same page as Duke Chu." Wu Sangui hurriedly said, "It turns out that you are the son of Admiral Zheng, the righteous son of Chu Gong, surnamed Xiaoguo." I also bothered to ask the small country surnamed Ye to send someone away. ”

"General Wu, please come with me." Zheng Chenggong led the way, and looked back at Wu Sangui from time to time, in his heart, Wu Sangui was the hero of the world like his father-in-law, and he was also an example to learn. In the future, I will also become a loyal and filial general like General Wu.

Wu Sangui regretted it in his heart as he walked, why did he make such a rude move just now. If Chu Guogong knew about it, it would be a very bad impression, and maybe it would affect the agreement they had just reached.

Thinking of this, he couldn't wait to slap himself a few times.

But on the other hand, the beautiful singing voice was still faintly coming out of the garden, which made him yearn for it.

In the end, he couldn't help but ask, "This song is really beautiful, who is the singer?" ”

"That's Aunt Xing singing." Zheng Chenggong only replied simply, but it was already pointed out that the person who sang was Liu Jun's concubine. Wu Sangui was even more uneasy in his heart, and it was indeed Liu Jun's concubine who was singing, not some slave maid and a kabuki.

"Xiao Guo's surname Ye, just now I strayed into the garden and almost collided with Chu Gong's relatives, please also ask Xiao Guo's surname to include one or two for a certain one, don't tell Chu Gong, otherwise Wu will really be ashamed to see Chu Gong in the future."

Zheng Chenggong nodded, "General Wu, please rest assured, I will keep it secret for you, you are just taking the wrong path for a while, not intentionally." ”

After leaving the house, Wu Sangui repeatedly asked Zheng Chenggong to help him hide the matter.

Back at the inn, Wu Sangui felt uneasy. After waiting for a day, when he visited Liu Jun again, he found that Liu Jun did not mention yesterday's incident, and he was relieved when he came back.

But at night, he couldn't help but think of that shadow again. And the gentle singing voice filled his mind. Sleepless all night, and the next day he couldn't help but ask his subordinates to inquire about Liu Jun's concubine information.

"The Duke of Chu has a wife and five concubines, and his wife is the daughter of a wealthy businessman surnamed Lu in the same town of his childhood sweetheart. Of the five concubines, two are concubines, one is the original eldest girl, and the other is the dowry girl brought in by the main wife Lu when she entered the room. The remaining three are all from Jiangnan, one surnamed Lu, one surnamed Liu and one surnamed Chen. ”

"There is no surname Xing?" Wu Sangui asked suspiciously.

"Oh, that Aunt Chen was originally surnamed Xing, and later adopted by her uncle and took the surname Chen. Therefore, some people call her Aunt Xing and some people call her Aunt Chen. ”

"Oh, what else do you know?"

"That Aunt Xing turned out to be a famous actor in Suzhou Liyuan, who was good at acting in Yiyang drama, and was called Chen Yuanyuan at that time. It is said that every time she performed in Suzhou before, every time she appeared on the stage, she was bright and outstanding, and she was the only champion at that time, and it was sought after by everyone. Later, Congliang married a person surnamed Gong as a concubine, but later was not allowed by the eldest wife of the Gong family and was kicked out of the house, and then got acquainted with the Duke of Chu and accepted him as a concubine. ”

"Chen Yuanyuan." Wu Sangui muttered a few times, shook his head, and waved his subordinates back. (To be continued......)