Chao Gaileng reacted after a while, got up and rushed out of the tent to look at the black smoke drifting, a breeze blew, and he smelled the familiar smell of gunpowder again, and smiled: "Hahaha, okay, God help me!" ”

He knew that the back mountain was designated as a forbidden area, and that it was where the Shenji Battalion was stationed. Some time ago, a lot of old craftsmen who can make fireworks and firecrackers were recruited from Bianliang City, and they were brought back to his command by Ling Zhen.

Unexpectedly, Ling Zhen's ancestral craftsmanship was mastered, and he had a breakthrough in only two months. Not to mention the opening of the mountain in the test just now, the scene was definitely a splash of rubble. As long as you fill it with shrapnel and embroidery needles, it is a land mine!

The biggest gain from going to Bianliang City is not armor, but technical talents! Chao Gai was very happy to think of this, and the back of his head blossomed.

The sudden laughter startled Han Shizhong, Guo Sheng, Han Yong and other guards. Wu Yong, Xiao Jiasui, Wen Changzhang, Li Zhu was also puzzled.

They somewhat knew that the Shenji Camp was harsh in its selection, and there was no news coming. I didn't know the power of the artillery in later generations, and I couldn't help but wonder when I saw Chao Gai's excitement: "Brother, why are you so happy to throw some firecrackers?" ”

"This is a good thing, you will know in the future, strengthen the defense of the back mountain." After Chao Gai's excitement, he didn't say much about returning to his composure. In his heart, he secretly sighed, "The Chaojia army will rely on this to attack the city and pull out the village in the future." The secret weapon that I talked about military theory before was also black powder.

In this era, there were wind cannons and sub-cannons thrown by catapults, which were huge and worrisome. Han Shizhong, who was born in the Western Army, was a little unimpressed. Seeing Chao Gai's mysterious smile, he couldn't help but be interested.

His brother has invested a lot of manpower and material resources, most of which is the secret weapon!

The crowd returned to the tent again.

Xu Guanzhong was a newcomer, and it was the first time to participate in this kind of meeting, and he didn't know much, so he quietly took out a pen and paper and made a record to understand the situation.

His self-consciousness made Chao Gai nod secretly, and he had to work hard.

After sitting down, Wu Yong took a sip of tea and took the lead in speaking: "Lord, there are currently three major things that need your approval, and many small things to discuss. ”

Chao Gai picked up the teacup and said "um" motioning.

"During this time, the eunuch who read the holy decree revealed that there was a batch of old grain for storage, about five or six million stones, which was disposed of at a low price, and asked us if we wanted it?"

"Holy, so much?" Chao Gai was taken aback, and agreed without thinking about it: "Yes, send someone to contact, implement it as soon as possible, and buy it all." ”

"Lord, this food is a bit much." Wu Yong's face was full of embarrassment.

Seeing this, Chao Gai thought of something very important, and the investment in various businesses was also large, and money was asked everywhere, so he hurriedly asked, "How much money do we have?" ”

"There are three million yuan in the treasury, and there are almost two million yuan of antique calligraphy and painting that have not been realized......"

Chao Gai heard Wu Yong's answer, and his hand was raised again: "So many? Buy ......"

It's just that his hand hasn't moved yet, and the sound of hearing the words below has stopped abruptly.

Because Wu Yong showed a wry smile on his face, he seriously summarized the financial problems in detail: "Lord, you listen to me first!" Chaojiazhuang employs tens of thousands of workers, and needs to pay a regular amount of money every month, which needs to be set aside for 500,000 yuan. The purchase of pig iron, cloth, gauze and other materials also requires hundreds of thousands. In this way, it is only 2 million yuan that can be mobilized.

In Jeju, Shi Xianggong contacted the door again, revealing in advance that there were thousands of sets of leather armor and more than a dozen warships, and Wang Fatzi still sold goods from the Western Army. Gangneung Mansion, this place is relatively rich, several times more than 200,000 stone of grain. Cattle and sheep in the north also need money to trade, and they also have to be kept in reserve.

Lord, don't forget, the salary of 100,000 soldiers is sent over, but they have to eat, drink and Lazar, and the expenses are also very large. Hundreds of thousands of people also depend on us for food. It is also necessary to help the poor people, which is a large expense. It takes time to earn a monthly income, so Chaojiazhuang is barely able to make ends meet, and it is a bit difficult to mobilize millions of dollars to buy millions of stone grain last time. ”

Chao Gai drank some tea, listened carefully to Wu Yong's words, and every time he heard him say that he used money for an expense, his face darkened a point, until he finally finished speaking, which was a little ugly. I silently calculated it myself and found that the money in the treasury was not enough at all.

He has been spending money to buy and buy, he has considered this situation, and it is proof that I have the money and the confidence in Hujiazhuang!

Chaojiazhuang's business was mostly open, and the outbreak of war or the blockade of the imperial court was in trouble. Walking on one leg is not a problem after all, this situation is unavoidable. It is time to let the fifth battalion of the navy go to sea and add a way to make money.

Chao Gai thought for a long time before he smiled bitterly: "See? It costs money everywhere, and the assets are three to five million yuan, but Lao Tzu is still a poor ghost. ”

He said it funny, and everyone couldn't help but laugh!

"Lord, that batch of old grain?" Wu used to use the tone of inquiry.

After Chao Gai pondered for a while, his attitude was still resolute: "Buy, that batch of grain still has to be purchased, first, to show our strength, and second, food is very important in the future, and you can't buy it if you have money, so you must hoard it while you have it." ”

"Well, why is the lord so worried?" Wu Yong saw that Chao Gai's expression was wrong.

The other people couldn't help but be curious when they saw Chao Gai's solemn face, except for Xu Guanzhong, they knew that Chaojiazhuang had hoarded a total of three or four million stone grain. That's a staggering number, enough for millions of people a year.

Chao Gai put down the teacup and sighed helplessly: "Hey, you don't understand!" Hedong Tianhu and Jiangnan wax have already shown signs of rebellion. ”

Xu Guanzhong saw Wu Yong, Xiao Jiasui and others were a little puzzled, and added for the first time: "The little brother of Hedong Tianhu has seen it, this person is entangled with evil, and the ruffian is a party henchman who robs the house, and half a year ago he intended to attack the county seat, and invited me to go out of the mountain to help but was politely rejected by the younger brother and his mother. This person is cruel and excessive, and he will definitely be the party. It's just that Jiangnan wax again? ”

The last thing is to the point, Wu Yong, Xiao Jiasui, Wen Huanzhang, and Li Zhu have heard of Tian Hu's evil, but they don't know who Fang La is, after all, the news is blocked, and it is not like Chao Gai's prophetic sense.

Chao Gai was puzzled for a moment and suddenly realized that during this time period, Jiangnan Lap was just organizing people to preach everywhere and bewitch the people, and not many people knew about it.

"Who knows Manichaeism, Mingjiao?"

Li Zhu muttered for a moment, and then responded: "I have heard a little about Poor Dao, it is a sect that flourished in Jiangnan a few years ago, what is the name of the sect leader!" ”

"That's right! That's square wax! Chao Gai nodded, and casually commented on Manichaeism: "This religion is best at bewitching the public, bewitching the poor people to donate money and food, eating vegetables and demons, gathering in private, and rebelling when the time is ripe." In the next two or three years, there will be tigers and wolves in the north and south who will rebel, the army will be in chaos, and the taxes and taxes will be as fierce as tigers, and the people will fall into dire straits. ”

What he said was more subtle, in fact, there was another reason why he didn't say it, the history was also during the Zhenghe period, the floods around Jingxi Road were frequent, and the law of the fields could not be exempted, and the people at the bottom could not survive. There were many uprisings in various places, large areas of land were abandoned, and grain production was sharply reduced.

The people did not have enough to eat, and countless people died of starvation!

Because Chao Gai knew but didn't want to see the tragedy happen, he began to hoard grain from the day he made his fortune, spared no effort to buy, and spent a lot of money to sell antique calligraphy and paintings, so that he had nearly four million stone grain reserves.

But all this is not enough!

"It is estimated that next year, there will be a shortage of food, and the price will continue to rise, and now the money will always be able to buy a stone, and then it will be at least two or three times, or even more expensive. The most important thing is that there is money and nowhere to buy, so you must prepare in advance. ”

"Yes, prepare early, food must be bought!" Xiao Jiasui cared about the people and was the first to echo. Wen Huanzhang, Li Zhu, and Xu Guanzhong nodded one after another.

"Okay, make less reservations in other areas, and embezzle money to buy food." Wu Yong understood the importance of the three armies not moving and the grain and grass first, and made a summary statement.

Chao Gai was very happy to see the resolute attitude of the five military advisors, and immediately ordered: "The vote is unanimously passed, and all the gold and silver that cannot be eaten and drunk will be used in exchange for food." In addition, it was notified that no one was allowed to waste a grain of grain, otherwise Lao Tzu would let him eat a bowl of soil. Spring ploughing is almost over, and the troops trained outside must not trample on the farmland, but must bring back wild vegetables to pickle and dry......"

Xiao Jiasui and Wen Huanzhang quickly recorded Chao Gai's method of opening up sources and reducing expenditure, while Xu Guanzhong was surprised by Chao's army training methods and more than ten kinds of wild vegetables. Boss Chao's roar was not small, which alarmed a few men outside.

After the food purchase is over! Li Zhu talked about the second thing: "My lord, according to the information collected by the rivers and lakes and the scouts, Jeju, Yanzhou, Huazhou, Puzhou, Bozhou and other state capitals all have three or five battalions of forbidden army transfers, Yunzhou has twelve battalions of forbidden troops, and the light cavalry occupies eight battalions. ”

"Twelve battalions? So much! Chao Gai was taken aback, and his first reaction was directed at himself, but he quickly denied it again, because he thought of something. Zhao Zhizhou's black yarn hat is not guaranteed, the imperial court will definitely send a new Zhizhou, and in two more years in history, Yunzhou will be upgraded to Dongping Mansion.

Could it be that person?

"Lord, there are tens of thousands of military horses around Yuncheng. It's all border troops who have changed their guards. This encirclement battle is obviously coming towards Liangshan and us. Wen Huanzhang, Xiao Jiasui's face was somewhat worried.

"Of course, the attack on Yunzhou alerted the imperial court, and naturally there was some movement." The Chao family's soldiers are strong and strong, and Chao Gai is not afraid, but he does not relax: "Don't worry, they prevent strongmen, and we also need to be vigilant." ”

"Lord, this is news from Bianliang City!" Wu Yong took out a note from his sleeve and handed it to Chao Gai, a little melancholy: "Yunzhou Zhizhou has been masturbed." Wang Fatzi is leaving, Wang Lun also has a place to go, Jeju Shi Zhizhou is also about to be promoted, let's Yuncheng County, come to a new master, named Shi Wenbin. ”

"Jeju Shi Laosan's life is good!" Chao Gai scanned the information on the note one by one, and saw that the row of Jeju Zhiju was a little grinning, both lamenting the change of Shi Zhizhou's fate and a little headache about the upcoming Xinzhizhou.

It seems to be Zhang Shuye, a famous minister in the history of the Song Dynasty, it is said that this person is upright and very capable, and his situation may be threatened.

Headaches are headaches, but you always have to face them, don't you? Chao Gai rubbed his temples and smiled: "It's all old friends, they're leaving, find a time to invite them over for dinner." Especially Wang Fatzi and Wang Lun, dial one or two ......"

"Hehehe, I'll arrange it!"

"After walking wave after wave, how many old people are left?"

……