In Zhu Youxiao's opinion, it is best to wait for the winter to defeat Jiannu, and then transfer Ziyan back to Beijing. After all, Jinzhen will also be an important force in the counterattack against Jiannu, and Bi Ziyan is also more familiar with and can command better.

Thinking of Jiannu's very likely attack in winter, Zhu Youxiao remembered something again, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Looking up and seeing Li Chengcheng there, the emperor opened his mouth and ordered: "Chengcheng, according to the materials and wages estimated by the Ordnance Bureau, calculate how much silver is needed to build 10,000 pairs of iron masks?" ”

After a pause, Zhu Youxiao added: "There are also the data of cotton hats, hoods and gloves reported by the weaving bureaus in various places. ”

Li Chengcheng hurriedly agreed: "The slave obeys the order, please wait for the emperor, this will be settled." ”

It's almost the end of the year, and the household department doesn't have much money, so these expenses have to be used with my private money!

Although Zhu Youxiao was a little painful, he was not ambiguous or procrastinated. For the officers and soldiers who defended the country on the front line, he was not stingy with what he should spend.

Iron face, very majestic. The armor is complete, coupled with a slightly hideous iron mask, there is the horror of the undead army!

In order to rush the work of the eagle gun, the Ordnance Bureau has been unable to build an iron mask.

Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to ask the Ordnance Bureau to quote the materials and wages, as well as specifications and dimensions, and made a small number of samples, and then outsourced them to private workshops.

The artisan household system was abolished, and the Gunpowder and Ordnance Bureau recruited many of these craftsmen, while the remaining artisans made money by crafting and fended for themselves.

This outsourcing gave private workshops the opportunity to survive and even develop and expand, and it was also a test of the waters for Zhu Youxiao to promote the development of industry and commerce.

If the effect is good, there will be more work to be outsourced in the future, such as the construction of bayonets and so on.

As for cotton clothes, cotton hats, hoods, and gloves, they were used to keep the officers and soldiers in the northern border towns warm during the winter.

In previous years, the military department had been drawn and paid, and this year is the same, but the emperor has made more and better contributions.

If the state-owned enterprises in various places, the Weaving Bureau, cannot be completed on time, Zhu Youxiao is also ready to outsource it to increase the income of the people.

At that time, needlework was a compulsory course for women. Whether it is a beautiful lady or a poor family, they don't know how to needlework, and even getting married is a problem.

Zhu Youxiao also plans to let the Ministry of Industry build a batch of textile equipment, either sell or rent, so that male farmers and female weaving can truly be popularized. Both men and women make money, so this life can't be worse, right?

It can be seen that in less than a year, although Zhu Youxiao has been busy with his work, many jobs and things have not been smoothed.

But realizing the existence of the problem and taking the initiative to reform, Zhu Youxiao has taken the first step to solve the problem and avoid the collapse of Daming Co., Ltd.

On the whole, the burden on the common people has indeed been reduced. For example, artisan households, such as the common people who have been exempted from taxes, should be the group that feels the most obvious.

……………………

The wind is already a little cooler, and the leaves on the trees are half green and half yellow, which means that autumn will soon turn to winter.

Craftsman Zhou Laosi glanced at his sleeping wife, and his eyes swept over the bulging abdomen that covered the quilt. He couldn't help but smile, and gently pushed the door open and walked out.

The temperature at noon was not too cold, Zhou Laosi closed the courtyard door and strode out of the dormitory area, and there was a little fever on his body.

Working three shifts is a little harder than before, but the salary has also risen. Besides, for Zhou Laosi, there is still some free time to do some odd jobs.

After walking five or six miles, the sound of clanging percussions became clearer and clearer, and Zhou Laosi's face also showed a simple smile.

It was a blacksmith shop, run by an old craftsman surnamed Hu, and a grandson of fifteen or sixteen as a helper.

Before, because of his age, Lao Hu was not recruited into the Weapons Bureau, so he made this business.

But without the labor and restraint of the craftsman, Lao Hu's son went to Xishan to drive coal to transport, plus this small workshop, the family lived well.

Walking into the courtyard, Zhou Laosi heard the jingle sound and stopped. It's not to welcome him, but Lao Hu is indeed inferior to young people in terms of strength, and his little grandson hasn't grown up, so he has to rest for a while.

"The fourth is here." Lao Hu Tou got out of the blacksmith shop, sat on the bench with his ass, took out a cigarette bag and pot, and unhurriedly loaded the smoke and fire, "I have enough material today, you sell some strength, and make a few more pairs." ”

Zhou Laosi happily agreed, took off his coat, put on some shabby overalls, and stepped into the blacksmith shop.

A hot breath hit his face, but it didn't make the smile on Zhou Laosi's face retract. He adjusted to the light, and then skillfully manipulated the dick, carrying the iron into the fire.

The old beard was smoking a cigarette pouch and asked seemingly casually: "Fourth, you said that the Southern Barbarian offered a method and got twenty taels of silver?" ”

Zhou Laosi turned over the iron in the furnace and said, "Yes, I'm still angry when I think about it!" ”

"What are you angry about?" The old beard smiled and said, "First come, first served, who made you not think of it!" ”

Zhou Laosi didn't argue, smiled hesitantly, and said: "Twenty taels of silver, seriously, who doesn't blush?" ”

The old beard bowed his head lightly and said, "This is also true." But I don't have the knowledge and no ability, so I can only blush. ”

Zhou Laosi opened his mouth and swallowed his thoughts back. The experiment hasn't been successful yet, so you can't let others know. Maybe you'll be the next one to receive the reward!

As soon as the door of the opposite house opened, the old bearded daughter-in-law came out, holding a twisted rope in her hand. walked up to his father-in-law and said with a smile: "Dad, there are more than forty of these, it should be enough, right?" ”

The old beard nodded vigorously, stretched out his hand to take it, and said, "While it's still early, let's go to the capital with the old woman!" By the way, don't forget to buy a small jar of soju and come back, and ask for sorghum roasting! ”

Before the words fell, the old woman in his mouth had already packed up and walked out, giving the old man a blank look. Seeing that there were people in the blacksmith shop, he didn't reply, and beckoned his daughter-in-law to go out.

Zhou Laosi pursed his lips, he knew that the old beard was afraid of the old woman. Seeing that the iron was already red, he took it out and put it on the anvil, picked up the hammer, and smashed it down with a clatter.

Picking and processing, this is the new regulations of the Ordnance Bureau, and the large and small blacksmith shops near the capital have basically received this work.

The price is fair, there is no arrears, and you don't have to bear anything. No matter how hard you work, if you work hard, you can get more than one or two silver in ten days and a half months!

In the Ordnance Bureau, there are not a few people like Zhou Laosi who come out to do odd jobs and part-time jobs in their spare time.

For this slightly rough iron mask, with Zhou Laosi's craftsmanship, it is naturally not a problem. There was a clanging of the tapping, and the iron had already taken on the prototype of the mask.

"Take a drink and take a break." The old beard came in and took a look, and beckoned, "With your skill and speed, it is enough to buy a chicken for your mother-in-law to eat in one day." ”

Zhou Laosi really had such a thought, smiled and walked out.

"That's a good job." The old beard poured a bowl of water for Zhou Laosi and said, "I don't know if there will be wow?" ”

Zhou Laosi took two sips, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said, "It shouldn't be less, I heard that there is still going to be a wire-"

Stretching out his little finger to measure it, Zhou Laosi said: "It's even thinner than this, almost as thick as noodles." ”

The old beard frowned, thought for a while, and said: "Pull the wire, it's too hard to use people, and it's too expensive to buy a horse, so the winch may be able to do it." ”

Metal wire drawing technology arose in the West, and they had a wire drawing plate as a tool very early.

The earliest record of iron mold drawing technology in China is "Tiangong Kaiwu", which records the process of wire drawing needle making.

In the Ming Dynasty, it should have mastered the technology of the four-hole wire drawing machine very early, and under the influence of the Yuan Dynasty, it was mass-produced and equipped with chain mail.

For low-carbon iron, it can be drawn by hand or by horse-pulling. It is also possible to use gravity, using devices such as winches, swings, ratchets, etc.

Before the invention of the steam engine, water power was the best power to replace human and animal power. But this is not possible for small workshops.

As old craftsmen, Lao Hu Tou and Zhou Laosi have mastered the drawing technique. You can even use the stupid method of cutting iron plates and then forging them. It's just that they can't be very efficient in terms of efficiency.

"It's good to have a job!" Zhou Laosi was very optimistic about this, and said: "Whether you use people and horses, or make a winch, even if you do it slowly, you are making money." ”

Lao Hu nodded and said with a smile: "Come to me when the time comes, you can find two more." ”

After a pause, the old beard added: "Even if there is no official work, the odd work of iron stoves and chimneys cannot be stopped." ”

Zhou Laosi hesitated, thinking about the day when his wife gave birth, and finally nodded and agreed.

…………………

Capital.

A sweet smell wafted through the air, and people walking through the streets couldn't help but sniffle and look for the source.

"Roasted sweet potato, fragrant, sweet and glutinous roasted sweet potato!" Seeing that someone was paying attention, Erya shouted even louder.

The weather was cold, and the thirsty water was not easy to sell, but the old Sun family found a new livelihood. It is said that this stove iron bucket came out of the palace, and the sweet potato is also a fresh toy that has just been planted this year.

First of all, several royal shops in the city were launched, and the style drawings were made public, and a copy was sent to many small workshops.

In addition, there is also honeycomb coal, I heard that there are smart people in Xishan has recruited people to open a factory, so they are ready to pull to the capital in winter to make a profit.

It tastes so good! Erya watched her father turn out a piece of burnt sweet potato from the bucket again, and couldn't help but swallow her saliva.

Sun Daman smiled, handed a piece to his daughter, and said, "Let's have a piece." Hurry up in the morning and you're hungry, right? ”

Er Ya grinned, put this piece back again, picked a small one, put it in his hand to warm it, and slowly opened it and ate it.

"Sweet potatoes are only planted this year, and it is estimated that the harvest will not be too much." Sun Daman looked at the fire, and said thoughtfully: "After a while, let's also get a kebab." ”

Erya seemed to smell the aroma of the kebab again, nodded and smiled: "The kebab is also delicious." Well, and sugar gourds. ”

Sun Daman was about to speak, and a customer came over to inquire about the purchase, and the father and daughter hurriedly greeted him.

…………………