"Lord Zuo came so early, did you have breakfast?" After sitting down and changing the tea three times, Xiao Chen continued to be polite.

"Xiaguan has been a little seasick these days, and he can't eat anything." Zuo Weipan smiled bitterly, "I knew that it was better to take the land route, although the road was bumpy, but I didn't have to live this crime...... Gonggong Gong, his old man has arrived, right? ”

"I arrived last night, but my body was also slightly unwell, I didn't dare to let him go, I stayed in the house, and ordered someone to serve the decoction, I am still resting at this time, our Yanyun bitter cold land, winter is also early, and now Fengyang City is still warm as spring, right?" Xiao Chen said.

"Isn't it, it's the weather of the autumn tiger, the hot man!" Zuo Wei climbed and said, "Lord Xiao, today's official is also an eye-opener, I thought that Yanyun County was in ruins, and the depression was extreme, but I didn't expect it to be so prosperous, I see it is comparable to Fengyang City and Jiangnan County!" ”

"Lord Zuo is serious, in fact, they are all people who do business, isn't this to catch up with the winter to collect skins? By the way, when Lord Zuo goes back, I will definitely bring you more good skins. Xiao Chen said.

"Lord Xiao, last time in Yihong Courtyard, the lower officials were offended, and they always wanted to apologize to the adults, but they didn't have the opportunity to see the adults......" Zuo Wei climbed out of his seat and wanted to worship.

"Oh, Lord Zuo, you can't do it!" Xiao Chen hurriedly jumped up and helped him up, "That's just a small misunderstanding, Lord Zuo didn't mention it, I forgot about it a long time ago!" ”

"Lord Xiao is an adult, and he will definitely not take this kind of trivial matter to heart, but some people always remember it, and the subordinate officials are helpless." Zuo Weipan sat down, took a sip of tea, and sighed.

"Hahaha, that thing has a small belly and chicken intestines, and it will be repaid...... But Lord Zuo doesn't have to pay attention to him, there is the prince of Fengyang to call the shots for you, are you still afraid of him being a bird? Xiao Chen laughed, "By the way, the prince has always been fine?" ”

"The prince is in charge of state affairs, but he can't talk about anything well, it's just a young man......" Zuo Weipan sighed, "Although he is young, he has been leading troops to fight all these years, and his body is not old. ”

"It's all on me!" Xiao Chen slapped his chest with a shocking sound, "The body of the prince is a thousand years old, it is related to our Great Zhou's Jiangshan Sheji, but it must not be ignored." ”

"By the way, Lord Xiao, I heard that you still have a few arsenals in Yanyun County? The musket produced is very delicate and advanced, and it can be fired continuously, and the prince is also very interested, and wants to ask you for a batch, but I don't know if it's inconvenient? Zuo Weipan changed his words.

"Hahaha, that's all rumors and nonsense, what is exquisite and advanced? In fact, it is an imitation of our old firecracker, and some parts are randomly added to it, claiming to be able to fire continuously...... It was used to scare those Rus and the northern Xinjiang tribes, how could the prince still take it seriously? Xiao Chen laughed.

"Oh? But when the subordinate was in the military department, he saw it with his own eyes, but it was not so unbearable as Lord Xiao said. Zuo Weipan said with a smile.

"If we want to fool people, we don't have to be real? Otherwise, can you fool the past? Let me tell you the truth, only one batch of samples is real, probably more than 100 pieces, but these are all I bought from the West at a great price, and one piece costs 3,000 taels of silver! If you want it, I can help you buy some. ”

Xiao Chen is talking nonsense, but it sounds like the real thing.

"But those Westerners are also too ghostly, they only sell me guns, but they refuse to sell me enough ammunition, since you have seen it with your own eyes, you must also know that those projectiles are specially made, right? We can't make it, unless we definitely pay a high price to buy projectiles, otherwise these foreign guns will eventually be equal to scrap metal! ”

This is even more true.

Because at that time, Zuo Weipan and the others also felt that the kind of precision construction and well-made repeating musket could not be made by the Yanyun County Arsenal, which had just been established for more than two years.

In particular, the projectile making process of the firing type is particularly complicated, and presumably they don't have the strength to do it at all!

"Oh, I see." Zuo Weipan sighed, "We can't afford such an expensive musket, but I am still going to spend a few days in Changshan Prefecture, are you lucky enough to visit the adult's arsenal and fur factory, garment factory, canning factory, and pastry factory...... The lower officials also want to see it. ”

"That's no problem, Lord Zuo can only watch what he wants, but there is also a condition below." Xiao Chen said.

"Oh? What conditions? Zuo Weipan raised his eyebrows.

"Lord Zuo can't look at it in vain, when you go back to see the emperor, you must give you a few more kind words!" Xiao Chen said with a smile.

"Hahaha, by all means!" Zuo Weipan laughed, a little rampant.

I didn't notice a sneer on the corner of Xiao Chen's mouth.

Xiao Chen used the excuse that he was busy with official business, and he did not personally go to the major factories with Zuo Weipan to inspect and visit, but only sent Xu Wenzhou to accompany him on his behalf.

Xu Wenzhou's identity is also quite subtle.

It is not high to say that he is high, because he is not a person from the county yamen, and he does not have any official position, so it is okay to say that he is white.

It is not low to say that it is low, because he is the chief butler of the Governor's Mansion, and he is Xiao Chen's proper confidant, even if he is a good man in the Governor's Mansion, he is definitely a pivotal figure in Changshan Prefecture and even in the entire Yanyun County.

Xiao Chen's intention of sending him to accompany Zuo Weipan was not very easy to ponder.

You say it's a bit cold, after all, Zuo Weipan is a member of the third rank of the imperial court, one grade lower than Xiao Chen, and one grade higher than Liu Congshu, the governor of Changshan Prefecture.

In other words, except for Xiao Chen, no one in Yanyun County was higher than his official rank.

So isn't it a bit inappropriate for you Xiao Chen to take a housekeeper to accompany you?

But you say it's quite affectionate, because maybe Xiao Chen wanted to deliberately befriend or befriend him, so he sent his henchmen to accompany him?

It means not to be with him, to be a close friend.

Anyway, you can understand it however you want.

However, the process of visiting was not smooth.

First of all, it is said that the arsenal is heavily guarded, and the officers on duty are iron-faced and selfless, and they look like they are doing business.

It was very polite to see Xu Wenzhou, and he also bowed to Zuo Weipan three times and nine times, and the etiquette was in place, but when he heard that Zuo Weipan wanted to visit the arsenal, he immediately changed his face.

"May I ask if Steward Xu has a warrant from our Lord Lei?" I want a warrant from Thunder Maniac, not Xiao Chen.

"Oh, it was Governor Xiao who asked me to accompany Lord Zuo, what more warrant do you need from Lord Lei?" Xu Wenzhou hurriedly said.

"Hehe, then forgive my brother for not daring to obey his fate, our arsenal is heavy, and idlers are not allowed to enter! Even if Governor Xiao comes in person, he must have the permission of Lord Lei, otherwise he will not be allowed to go! "The officer didn't give any face.