As the saying goes, learn literature and martial arts, and sell goods to the emperor's family. The emperor doesn't need it, he sells it to his family, he doesn't need to know his family, and he acts righteously.

Now someone has made it, Ling Zhen, Ling Zhen, then what are you hesitating about? The injustices I have seen over the years, are there still fewer grievances that have been excluded?

Ling Zhen thought back to the past, closed his eyes and opened them suddenly, and sighed: "Let's go, there is a way that good birds choose trees to perch on, and virtuous ministers choose their masters. If the elder brother does not give up, the younger brother is willing to go to Chaojiazhuang. Follow the king of heaven to gallop across the field, even if it is a mountain of swords and a sea of fire, he will never flinch. ”

Before the words fell, he took two steps back and bowed his head to Chao Gai.

"Okay, good," Chao Gai was overjoyed when he saw this, and said three good sons in succession. Stretched out his hands and hugged him: "I have a brother to help me, why worry about big things?" ”

This sentence surprised Han Shizhong, Guo Sheng, and Lu Fang, Chao Gai is not the kind of person who tells lies, and he has never said that he should worry about big things? That shows that this ordinary man in front of him has something extraordinary.

But what is the use of making fireworks?

At most, there is a loud cannon, where are those sky-bombing cannons and wind artillery? Han Shizhong, who has been in the army for many years, believes that it is not as good as fierce fire oil.

The three guards couldn't figure it out.

Chao Gai was happy, how could he see their expressions, and enthusiastically pulled Ling Zhen to sit down. He took out a hundred taels of gold from the package and put them into his arms.

"Brother, what is this?" Ling Zhen looked at the two large gold ingots in his hand, and knew that they were worth thousands of yuan when he weighed the weight, which made him both surprised and puzzled.

I was surprised that although I had an official position, it was not low, but after all, it was an idle job, and I had a wife and children to support, so I didn't have to worry about food and clothing, but I was not very rich. What I wonder is that Chao Gai will give money when he meets, is there something that can't be done?

"Brother, don't think about it, it's just a settling-in fee, and each of them has it." Chao Gai smiled and pointed to Han Shizhong and the others beside him to explain.

"Yes, this is the rule, don't shirk." Han Shizhong and the others nodded again and again.

"Okay, thank you, brother!" Ling Zhen nodded and accepted the gold ingot. In his heart, he sighed that King Chao was generous and righteous, and he was really thoughtful.

"Brother, I made these pastries with my own hands, come on, eat more." Chao Gai took out a plate of cakes from the food box and placed it on the table.

Ling Zhen was taken aback, and opened his mouth before asking.

Seeing his expression, Chao Gai preemptively smiled and said: "I'm not a gentleman, besides, the people take food as the sky, and they can't eat without cooking." ”

"The people live on food? That's what the elder brother said. Ling Zhen's heart was greatly touched, he picked up a few cakes, and praised: "This pastry is very delicious." ”

"Hahaha, it's good if my brother likes it." Chao Gai laughed, waved his hand and asked Han Shizhong and others to come over and introduce: "Brother, this is Han Shizhong, originally an officer of the Western Army, nicknamed Po Han Wu, the one who runs in white is Sairengui Guo Sheng, and the one who is in a red robe is Xiao Wenhou Lu Fang, how close and close ......"

"In Xia Ling Zhen, I have seen three brothers." Ling Zhen had been in the officialdom for many years, and he could see that the three of them were very close to Chao Gai, so they hurriedly got up and saluted. Han Shizhong, Guo Sheng, and Lu Fang all stepped forward to see the new brothers.

The two sides met the ceremony and chatted while eating.

Chao Gai took this opportunity, and naturally finished what he hadn't finished saying before. It is a clay method related to the preparation of black powder mixed with white sugar to enhance the power.

The ancients were the wisest, but they lacked knowledge!

He always admonished himself not to be careless, and relied on his various theoretical knowledge to talk freely with beautiful women and give her a lot of inspiration. Now that Lei Lingzhen listened carefully, the more he listened, the more surprised he became.

Obviously, with a lot of inspiration, the ability to configure gunpowder will go further.

Chao Gai did not forget one of his main purposes, to purchase equipment such as iron armor and strong bows and crossbows, and asked Ling Zhen really not to say, it was the right person to ask.

Ling Zhen naturally knew everything, and told the truth about the situation of the Tokyo City Ordnance Station.

The Northern Song Dynasty was weak in weapons and equipment, but it was very powerful, and the Song Dynasty Shenzong set up an ordnance superintendent, which was the official organization in charge of the country's ordnance manufacturing, employing more than 4,000 workers; During the reign of Huizong, there were tens of thousands of people, and the prison was divided into ten workshops.

According to the object of service, it can be divided into two categories, namely the inner court workshop and the outer court workshop, the main task of the outer court workshop is to produce weapons for the garrison in Beijing and the local army. The inner court workshops include the Imperial Front Living Office, the Saddle Office, the Horse Chopping Bureau, the Imperial Front Weapons Office, the Armor Office, etc.

Generally, it was drawn by the eunuchs close to the emperor, and was mainly responsible for the construction of the weapons needed by the inner court, and some of the weapons made were also used to reward meritorious officials. In order to reflect the majesty of the emperor, the quality is absolutely top-notch!

In terms of affiliation, the inner court workshops were directly under the emperor and were not subject to the jurisdiction of the outer court institutions, and the exquisite craftsmen were all drawn from the outer court workshops. It can be said that there are many contradictions between the two departments, and after the establishment of the Ordnance Supervisor, there is still a conflict between the inner court and the outer court workshops.

It's just that the top manager is the Son of Heaven, and outsiders have no way to intervene, and many eunuchs make profits from it in private. forced craftsmen to work overtime to do private work, and sold them to enrich the small treasury.

"Ouch, there's such a thing?" Chao Gai was surprised and delighted when he figured it out. In that case, it is not a problem to spend some money to open up bulk purchases.

Ling Zhen somewhat guessed the purpose of Chao Gai's trip, and when he saw that he was interested, he took the initiative to ask: "If my brother buys weapons and equipment, my younger brother has lived here for a long time and knows a lot of people in the government, so he may be able to help." ”

Chao Gai felt that this was the case, and he was not polite, and after thinking for a while, he said: "The weapon is easy to say, but the armor lacks craftsmen, and it would be best if the brother could dig up some people, and buy armor in addition, is there such a way." ”

When Ling Zhen heard about the purchase of armor and equipment, he patted his thigh: "Hey, brother, if other junior brothers can't do anything, it's easy to dig up some craftsmen, and I also know a few cabinet chiefs who send fireworks and firecrackers to the palace, so there is just this way." Wait a minute, brother, and the younger brother will go to contact. ”

"Brother, don't be in a hurry, I'll go again tomorrow."

As he spoke, Ling Zhen got up and was about to leave, but Chao Gai hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop him.

"Brother, you don't know, I heard that someone is going to be transferred, go as soon as possible."

"Okay, then I'll bring the cabinet chief in charge of this matter,"

Chao Gai saw that what Ling Zhen said was reasonable, so he personally sent him to leave. He returned to the private room and instructed, "Hurry, Shizhong, go and bring a few boxes of gold and silver." ”

……

Ling Zhen, a resolute person, is very efficient.

When Dr. Tea in the teahouse re-brewed a pot of tea, Han Shizhong and Guo Sheng led more than a dozen soldiers to put down the wooden box, and not long after, the thunder came back. He was accompanied by two mysterious men wearing hoods.

Ling Zhen, as an intermediary, introduced the two sides, one surnamed Wang, the other surnamed Yang, led several workshops, two of them were in their forties, medium build, white and beardless, speaking sharply, and their movements were a little unusual.

He also said that Chao Gai was a landlord from Shandong, who was rich, very rich.

Chao Gai more or less knew that some officials of the Song Dynasty said that "father-in-law" was scolding. Eunuchs are mostly called official positions, and there is a set of honorific titles for insiders, and the inferior eunuchs are called middle nobles, the middle is the cabinet chief, and the senior eunuchs are the big officials.

He didn't care so much and shouted directly to the highest, and warmly entertained: "Two big officials, fortunately, come, please sit down quickly, drink tea and moisten your throat." ”

"Ouch, our family can't afford it." When the two eunuchs said this, a smile appeared on their faces, and they sat down one after another, picked up their teacups, and took another sip of tea.

"Good tea." That Yang Gonggong praised, then glanced at Han Shizhong and the others, and went straight to the topic: "This official is busy with affairs, and he is recommended by an acquaintance. Let's not go around in circles, Deputy Envoy Ling said that you need armor? ”

For Chao Gai's purchase of armor, these eunuchs are no longer surprised.

The Song Dynasty was a chaotic time, especially in the last years of the Northern Song Dynasty. Peasant uprisings arose one after another, and it was normal for every household to have a sword to defend themselves. As long as there is a little bit of power, they will make friends with the people of the government and purchase armor and armed customers, and the number is more or less, which is called Haoqiang.

The vast majority of high-end equipment such as iron armor, strong bows and crossbows come from Bianliang City. Or rather, they are all bought and sold for profit through the hands of these eunuchs. Wealthy businessmen like Chao Gai can meet every once in a while.

These people are their own way of wealth!

So the two eunuchs were naturally impatient, and the chief of the royal pavilion put down the teacup and picked up the conversation: "The types of officials need, how much to say a number!" ”

"The two big officials are quick to talk, and a certain family will not grind and chirp." Chao Gai saw that the two eunuchs were more eager than himself, so he smiled and went straight to the topic.

"As many as the two big officials, as many as so-and-so!"

"What? What did you say? The two eunuchs were stunned and reacted violently. Yang Gechang squinted his eyes, and Wang Gechang pinched his orchid finger sharply.

"The officials are so arrogant, don't play tricks on our family."

"Hmph, do the officials know how much inventory the armor has accumulated?"

The two eunuchs were yin and yang, their faces were full of disbelief, and they looked at Ling Zhen as if they were complaining. It's like how do you introduce such a customer.

These two dead eunuchs! Chao Gai scolded in his heart, but the smile on his face did not decrease, and he waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, the two big officials, listen to what a certain person says." ”

"There is a water town in Jeju, Jingdong, which is occupied by a group of strongmen who rob their homes. A few months ago, the two Zhuangzi of Chao and Song were attacked, and many wealthy families in Yunzhou were recently killed, and the impact was extremely bad. Have you ever heard of the two dignitaries? ”

"What the official said was that Liang Shanbo?" Yang and Wang The two eunuchs said "oh", obviously Shandong is not far from here, and they have heard of it somewhat. After many years of mixing in officialdom, they have some speculations and are overjoyed.

"Exactly, three to five thousand thieves have gathered in Liangshanbo so far, which is very rampant." The smile on Chao Gai's face disappeared, replaced by sadness: "Rich families like me around the water town are afraid of being harmed by it, so they have organized soldiers, but unfortunately there is a lack of equipment. In his early years, Chao was in business and walked everywhere. There are many guests and friends, and there are also some connections in the government, and they have found a commission. ”

"Now I represent twenty or thirty places, and I came to Bianliang City to buy armor. Equip tenants to defend themselves against thieves. There are three villages on Yunzhou Poison Longgang, and Zhujiazhuang alone invests 100,000 yuan. ”

"What? How could there be such a thing? The two eunuchs climbed up their cheeks in surprise.

A Zhujiazhuang has so much money, and twenty or thirty Zhuangzi still have it? Looking at Ling Zhen again, his eyes were full of approval. And the eyes that looked at Chao Gai changed, as if staring at a large moving vault.