In the secret room of the back hall of the Lu Mansion, Xiang Liang sat high and then went up, on the side, it was Xiang Bo and Cao Wuyi, several juniors, standing on the side, today, it was the first time that the Xiang family held a secret meeting in the secret room, this is also the first time that several juniors participated in the secret meeting of the Xiang family, the room was very quiet, the atmosphere was extremely serious, and no one dared to squeak without permission.

I don't know how long it took, Xiang Liang coughed dryly, and on the side, Cao Wuyi laughed dryly, looked at everyone, and said in a deep voice: "It's not early, let's start." ”

Xiang Bo also nodded slightly, and at this time, Xiang Yu arched his hand and said, "My nephew has something he wants to explain." ”

Xiang Liang nodded, Xiang Yu walked to the center of the secret room, and said: "After yesterday's martial arts competition, I packed up my things and wanted to go back to the house, but I met the very brave young man in the school field, his name is Yu Ziqi, and he was also a Chu person, and he was a family member, we hit it off at first sight and made friends, but during the day, Miss Feng went out to walk the horse, and was accidentally captured by the bandits in the upper mountain, and we went to the upper mountain together in order to rescue Miss Feng. ”

When Xiang Yu said this, Cao Wuyi couldn't help but widen his eyes, Cao Feng actually didn't mention this matter to himself, he was slightly unhappy in his heart, but he didn't show it, at this time, Xiang Yu still said: "In the cottage of the bandits in the mountains above, we killed for a while, captured the leader of the mountain bandits Huan Chu, rescued Miss Feng, simply, Miss Feng was not harmed, and Huan Chu, who was captured by us, is also willing to submit to us and make friends with us, I have secretly negotiated with him, he is willing to support our Xiang family, once we have any action in the future, The bandits on the mountain above will be our most powerful source of troops. ”

Xiang Yu said this, Xiang Liang glanced at Xiang Zhuang, Xiang Zhuang saw Xiang Liang looking at him, he couldn't help nodding slightly, Xiang Liang asked, "Does he have any conditions?" ”

Xiang Zhuang walked out and arched his hand: "I promised them that I would provide weapons and let them form an army to form a strong combat force, so that our Xiang family can stabilize the strength of Huiji." ”

Xiang Liang nodded slightly after hearing this, Xiang Zhuang's arrangement is very necessary, if the Xiang family can have a force of their own in the upper mountain, the foundation of the Xiang family in Huiji will be stable, and since this Huan Chu was surrendered by Xiang Yu, there should not be much problem, when Xiang Liang was pondering, Xiang Yu arched his hand and said: "There is also that Yuzi period, his parents and relatives have died in the hands of the Qin people, which makes him have a grudge against the Qin people, just because now, the Qin people rule the world, Yu Ziqi has to endure and join the Qin army, but last night, He has expressed his willingness to follow our Xiang family and overthrow the Qin State together. ”

Xiang Liang heard the loophole in Xiang Yu's words, and he couldn't help asking, "Yu Ziqi already knows our identity?" ”

Xiang Yu had to nod, and Xiang Liang said angrily: "Confused! Just a few days after coming to Wu County, you have exposed your identity? ”

Seeing that Xiang Liang was angry, Xiang Yu immediately knelt down, and on the side, Xiang Zhuang stepped forward and explained: "At first, we didn't reveal our identities, but later, we found out that Yu Ziqi was really obedient to us, with such a fierce general, the Xiang family is like a tiger, uncle, you shouldn't blame your brother." ”

"You get down on your knees too!" Xiang Liang was displeased and scolded, Xiang Zhuang had to kneel, on the side, Xiang You also came over and knelt down, there was a brief silence in the secret room, and soon, Xiang Liang sighed lightly, and said helplessly: "If our Xiang family reveals its identity, it is likely to arouse Yin Tong's vigilance, which is not good for us, and, in the past few days, although you have surrendered Huan Chu and enveloped the Yuzi period, have you thought about it?" It's not a good thing that you're too sharp! ”

"My nephew wrote it down." The three of them replied together.

"Get up." Xiang Liang was very satisfied with the attitude of the three of them, and when the three of them got up, Xiang Liang instructed: "Since this incident has happened, I won't blame you, but remember, when dealing with these two people, you must be more careful, don't show your feet, in addition, I think it is still feasible to provide weapons from the upper mountain, but our Xiang family, we must send someone to join the cottage to ensure that he will not change his mind, this matter, I will deal with it, you don't have to worry about it." ”

The three of them nodded, at this time, Xiang Liang picked up a bamboo slip from the table, this is the bamboo slip he brought back from the county guard yesterday, on it is a letter of appointment, Xiang Liang opened the bamboo slip, and said with a smile: "This is the appointment letter issued by the county guard, he wants to choose one person between Yu'er and Zhuang'er, to serve as the marquis of the militia group, and the fixed number of two thousand people, these two thousand people, will be selected from the people." ”

Xiang Liang said this, paused, Xiang Yu couldn't help but show a look of anticipation, but Xiang Zhuang, seemed indifferent, Xiang Liang didn't pay attention to this, he continued at this time: "This militia group, Yin Tong's plan is to maintain law and order, it is not difficult to see from my understanding, Yin Tong is also selfish, he wants to form a private army, maybe, in the near future, Yin Tong will also become an anti-Qin force, but it is not excluded that he may also become a resistance to our Xiang family, no matter what the future is, we must think about the present first, so this matter, I have decided, Zhuang'er will serve as the military marquis. ”

"Why?" Xiang Yu couldn't help asking, at this time, Xiang Liang looked at Xiang Yu and said comfortingly: "I plan to cultivate this private army of Yin Tong into a new force of our Xiang family, but you have a violent personality, I am worried that you will not be able to encircle these people." ”

Xiang Yu was slightly unconvinced, but Xiang Zhuang had already given up his hand and said, "Uncle, please forgive my nephew for not being able to receive his life." ”

Xiang Liang was slightly surprised and scolded, "What do you say again?" ”

Xiang Zhuang arched his hand again and sighed: "My nephew has his own plans, and I hope that my uncle can support my nephew." ”

Seeing that Xiang Liang didn't speak, Xiang Zhuang said again: "My nephew wants to develop a set of equipment that can refine iron ore and build weapons, but the idea is not mature, and my nephew needs time. ”

Seeing Xiang Zhuang's insistence on being humble, Xiang Liang had no choice but to nod and say, "Okay, Yu'er, you put this appointment letter away." ”

Xiang Yu was overjoyed, bent down and bowed deeply, at this time, Xiang Liang instructed again: "But you have to remember that this private army must be firmly grasped in your hands, he, like the army in the mountains above, will be the capital of our Xiang family, and the backbone of our future uprising that cannot be ignored, do you understand?" ”

"My nephew obeys my uncle's teachings." Xiang Yu thanked him, and at this time, Xiang Liang's gaze fell on Xiang Zhuang again, and asked, "You just said that you want to build an iron weapon?" ”

"Yes."

"Is there a belly?" Xiang Liang asked again, and Xiang Zhuang smiled back: "Uncle, don't worry, my nephew already has a belly case, and he will be able to submit it to you soon." ”

After hearing this, Xiang Liang couldn't help laughing, "In this case, I will leave the care of the craftsman shop to you, I hope you don't let me down." ”

"My nephew will do his best."

。。。。。。

The secret meeting was held for a whole morning, Xiang Liang roughly arranged the affairs of the Xiang family, and Xiang You was in charge of the upper mountain, secretly liaison, and Xiang Yu was ordered to serve as the military marquis of the Huiji County Militia Group, although this position was not officially appointed by the imperial court, but in Huiji, it was still recognized by the government.

As for himself, he served as the treasurer of two craftsmen's shops, mainly responsible for supervising the construction of weapons, hoarding weapons for the Xiang family, and preparing for future wars.

The third uncle, Xiang Bo, is responsible for the logistics of the Xiang family, buys Guanzhong horses and Hebei horses, and raises Shandong horses, so as to prepare for the Xiang family to form a cavalry in the future, and the Xiang family's 100 acres of fertile land are also handed over to Xiang Bo to deal with, making advance preparations for the future storage of grain, but these lands are not enough to meet the future needs of the Xiang family, and more land must be acquired, which is also within Xiang Bo's share.

Cao Wuji is the nominal housekeeper of the Xiang family, warehouse management, and he is naturally responsible for external affairs, and the Yuzi period is subordinate to the Xiang family, although Xiang Liang's consent is passed, Xiang Liang still gave an order, so that Cao Wuji can wait for the opportunity to contact Yu Zi Period, probe his bottom, and then decide how to appoint Yu Zi Period.

Xiang Zhuang was sitting at the table at this time, he found that his thinking had gone too far, he took a deep breath at the moment, looked at the parchment roll in front of him, he wanted to try to recall, the blower of the later generations did not know the principle, but he could still do it by making bellows.

In this era of cold weapons, the reason why the Qin State was able to use iron to make plows and arrowheads was that they mastered the technology of the dragon, but this thing could not produce greater wind power like the bellows, stabilize and continue to heat the charcoal, and smelt iron ore.

In this way, it will no longer be a dream to manufacture bellows, so that the iron shop can refine iron ore on a large scale, increase the furnace, and make ironware in large quantities, and it should not be difficult to find some excellent blacksmiths or cultivate some in the Huiji area, so thinking so, Xiang Zhuang picked up a brush and began to conceive the structure of the bellows on the parchment roll, hoping that the manufacturing could start in these days.

Early in the morning, Xiang Zhuang came to Xiang Liang's room with a sheepskin roll in his hand, but at this time, Xiang Bo didn't know what he was talking about in Xiang Liang's room, Xiang Zhuang could only salute, stand aside, and wait quietly, at this time, Xiang Bo looked at Xiang Liang and said with a smile: "I think that if we can breed northern horses and Shandong horses, maybe the quality of horses will be better than we imagined." ”

Xiang Liang smiled heartily: "This, you can indeed try it." ”

Xiang Bo saw Xiang Liang's support, and said with a smile: "Actually, I originally wanted to purchase horses in Jiangdong, but the horse sources here are mainly from Lingnan and Bashu, and the horses are weak and short, so they can't be used as war horses, so I decisively gave up this idea, however, Jiangdong's cattle farming industry is not very developed, I think it is necessary to introduce some calves from the north to develop animal husbandry." ”

Xiang Liang nodded again, and Xiang Zhuang also smiled beside him: "Uncle has ever seen my white horse, he was given to me by the emperor's uncle, that horse has thick limbs, strong body, tall and tall, and is most suitable for making war horses, and when I left Guanzhong, I heard that the biggest animal husbandry in Guanzhong is called barley, and my uncle might as well find someone to contact him, maybe you can buy a very high-quality war horse." ”

Xiang Liang couldn't help laughing after hearing this, nodded and said, "This, Uncle Xiang, you go and arrange it." ”

Xiang Bo also smiled and nodded, at this time, Xiang Liang's eyes fell on the parchment roll in Xiang Zhuang's hand, and he couldn't help asking, "Say, what good things did you bring me today?" ”

"This thing is called bellows, uncle might as well take a good look." Xiang Zhuang unfolded the parchment roll and threw himself in front of Xiang Liang and Xiang Bo.