It seems that everything is developing for the better, Xiao Ming can't help but be a little complacent, and with Su Caier by his side these days, Xiao Ming is full of spirit wherever he goes.

In the past few days, there has been good news from the Taiping Iron Factory, and several people from several businesses in Xuzhou City have come to them, claiming to buy the "bile ash" produced by the Iron Factory, that is, cement, and the largest one of them undertakes the repair work of the east and west walls of Xuzhou City, and the others are suppliers.

Originally, some people found that the bile ash used by the Taiping Iron Works to build houses and walls was extremely hard after hardening, while the traditional city wall repair required a large amount of plant ash and egg whites, and the green bricks and stones used in the reinforcement of the city wall were also extremely expensive, so some people focused on the bile ash of the Taiping Iron Works.

However, the cement produced by the Taiping Iron Plant itself is very large, but due to the application of prefabricated cement slabs, the construction speed of the iron plant is rapid, and there is already some cement stock. Why not sell it, after the construction of the iron plant is completed, can it be said that the cement kiln will be stopped? It is best for someone to buy it, this can be vigorously developed as a side business of the iron factory, and the profit is not low.

As a stable source of profits, Xiao Ming increased the investment in the cement kiln, and strive to increase production to a certain proportion in the short term, and the old iron factory personnel and craftsmen arrived in large numbers, but also need to build a living area, the amount of cement doubled, not to mention the Tiger Guard Battalion, the Tiger Guard Battalion sent a hundred Tiger Guards to escort this time, according to Xiao Ming's requirements, are some experienced old people, this time to Xuzhou, Xiao Ming wants to expand the scale of the entire Tiger Guard, with this group of old people can be instructors.

And Gu Shouzhen has been busy building a blast furnace in the past two days, Gu Shouzhen, who is known as "Golden Shoulders and Iron Back" in the rivers and lakes, is now like a clay leg maker, because the firing of refractory bricks takes too long, Gu Shouzhen is anxious, and he himself screens the cement.

When Xiao Ming found him, he was almost unavailable, Gu Shouzhen's face was full of yellow mud, and the big shopkeeper thought that it was really decrepit like this! But when he heard that Xiao Ming was about to enter the Richanglong, the sweat towel that had washed half of his face fell to the ground.

Surprised, Gu Shouzhen pulled Xiao Ming and said, "Brother! Brother won't hide it from you, since I know you, my heart has always been so shocked by you that I can't put it in my stomach, you have too many amazing things, I'm a little used to it, I didn't say it, you let me let my Gu family refining workshop surname Xiao It's okay, let alone enter the master Richanglong"

Xiao Ming said: "Brother Gu, Gu's refinery, as the mother, now has two iron factories, in the future we will build iron factories in various places, the name does not need to be changed, just as a time-honored brand, this is called intangible cultural heritage protection, I want to preserve Gu's brand name for a hundred years"

Gu Shouzhen said: "Then thank you, to be honest, when my ancestors started to make iron, it was just to make a living, and my father renamed the blacksmith shop 'Gu's Iron' just hoping not to break the craft in my hands, how could I think that it would be a hundred years, and now the business of the Gu family refinery is so big, to the point that more than half of it is your credit, and my brother has followed it."

Xiao Ming said: "What is not stained, it wasn't you who took me in at the beginning, I don't know where it is, since I promised you, I will do it, the golden signboard of the Gu family's refinery, find an opportunity to let the current emperor personally write an inscription for you, the royal pen is thin and golden, hehe, absolutely beautiful!" ”

Gu Shouzhen was pleasantly surprised, I don't dare to think that there is an inscription plaque that the emperor can give to his own business, which is a blessing that has been cultivated for several generations! If you can do this, you are really worthy of your ancestors and ancestors! I couldn't hold back my tears.

Xiao Ming felt that he still needed a lot of funds to become the owner of Richanglong, Gu Shouzhen didn't care directly, everything was decided by Xiao Ming, he obeyed Xiao Ming's words and plans, a hundred rest assured, besides, the iron factory was not opened, and he could make money just by selling some burned soil, is Xiao Ming still a human? It's basically a "big immortal", do you think, do you turn some soil into gold?

The construction of the iron plant is in full swing, Xiao Ming has also become busy, this day Su Caier sent the latest situation in Xiuzhou in the southeast, Richanglong sent it with flying kites overnight, and the southeast was a great victory!

The Demon Cult rebel army Seven Buddha led troops to attack Xiuzhou, was ambushed by the official army with the defenders outside the city, defeated and returned, Fang Lazuo bravely killed Li Tianrun, the rebels retreated to Hangzhou, the official army followed the pursuit to recover the counties, in early February, the official army pursued to the city of Hangzhou, Fang Lagu City refused the enemy, Tong Guan sent an envoy to surrender, was rejected by Fang La's words, Tong Guan listened to Yang Zhen's plan, retreated and set up an ambush, lured Fang La out of the city to pursue, was cut off by the commander Wang Yu, and was defeated, this battle was beheaded by the official army 20,000, Fang La's nephew Fang Jie, Marshal Shi Bao of the General Altar Army died in battle, The 8,000 Five Banners Army was all in ink.

In this battle, Yang Zhen's son Yang Qi made great contributions, captured Zhu Yan, the head of the Red Fire Banner of the Demon Sect, Gong Rixin, the deputy envoy, died in battle, and injured Fang Qifo, and Yang Zhen's subordinates Fan Rui, Li Gon and others also made meritorious contributions, beheading Yu Daoan, the head of the Jumu Banner, and Wu Bang, the deputy envoy of the Ruijin Banner......

Fang La's vitality was greatly injured, retreated to Hangzhou City, the official army continued to besiege Hangzhou, Fang La led the people to fight hard for several days, it was difficult to defend the lonely city for a long time, but broke through the siege in batches and retreated south, and Hangzhou was occupied by the Song army.

And at the beginning of March, it was the time when Xiao Ming built the iron plant, Fang La recalled the scattered soldiers and horses that attacked the counties, and ordered Fang Qifo to re-attack Hangzhou, and was heavily injured by the defenders of the city, Wang Yin was injured by the bright left, and when the rebels retreated, they were ambushed by the young general Han Shizhong, killed the thick soil banner Zhong Shiyang, captured Lu Xing'er alive, beheaded five thousand, Fang La led the army to retreat, retreated to the Qingxi General Altar, the official army continued to pursue, and the siege of Hangzhou was completely resolved.

Richanglong informed Su Caier that he would return to Hangzhou on a certain day, and sent a letter informing Xiao Ming that Gu's refining workshop would also return to Hangzhou with him, and Luo Wen, who stayed in Xiuzhou, could not make a decision and reported to Xiao Ming for instructions.

Xuzhou Iron Mine has started, chores are cumbersome, Taiping Iron Plant is busy with construction, Xiao Ming found Gu Shouzhen to discuss, who will return to Hangzhou to reopen the iron plant? In the end, it was decided that Gu Shouzhen would go back first, there were still a large number of craftsmen's families in the Gu Refinery and Chengxi Iron Factory in Xiuzhou, and Gu Shouzhen's family was also there, so it would be more appropriate for him to go back.

Gu Shouzhen set off soon, Xiao Ming told him that after returning to Hangzhou, he must go to Lingyin Temple to inquire about the news of Master Foguang, during this time, Xiao Ming thought of Ding Jianpeng several times, and was very worried about his safety.

A few days later, Richanglong Fei Kite arrived again, Richanglong arranged for Jie Zhicong to accompany Su Caier to Tokyo, the war in the southeast is about to subside, there have been recent changes in the capital, the purchase of 200,000 silk in previous years, there may be changes, Emperor Huizong is considering a war with Liao, I don't know if this year's tribute will be on this year.

"It turns out that Cai'er didn't come to Tokyo for that Shi Wengong!" Xiao Ming only knew, but Su Caier was reluctant and wanted to say goodbye to Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, I'll accompany you to Tokyo!" ”

As soon as the words came out, he couldn't allow him to regret it, Su Cai'er was overjoyed, Xiao Ming didn't seem to make her sad, just accompany her, just want to see the biggest city in the world now-Kaifeng.

But before going, you have to be prepared, and the things that should be explained must always be explained, fortunately, there are a large number of people in Richanglong and Gu's refinery, in addition to the account room, there are also professional managers such as assistant managers, and the project plan can be done step by step, and the mining of iron ore is gradually on track.

Xiao Ming reused Li Laohe, promoted him to deputy mine manager, and commanded a group of old miners to mine iron ore, these people are all veterans and experienced, and the iron mine is now more abundant, and the food is also good, all of them are working hard, and the output of ore is increasing.

Xiao Ming only explained one thing to Li Laohe that needs to be paid attention to, that is, to ensure safety, even if it affects production, it is necessary to ensure safety, especially not to die, those mining accidents in later generations have made Xiao Ming very frightened, and he doesn't want to have any sloppiness in this regard.

But there is another troublesome thing, that is, the money is pulled out, he is not as obedient as Hao Stick, and arranged for them to be trained in the Tiger Guard Camp, and as a result, he took a group of Tiger Guards and began to gamble money, and the angry Xiao Ming scolded him bitterly, but this guy still has some advantages, that is, he is serious in his work, and his own martial arts are not bad, and he is arranged to be a small chief in the Tiger Guard Camp, and he is responsible for teaching the Tiger Guards martial arts is quite competent.

This guy heard that Xiao Ming was going to Tokyo, and he wanted to follow him alive and dead, Xiao Ming didn't listen to what he said, and people said: "He will go wherever the lord goes, and he can't leave the lord half a step" Xiao Ming was helpless, so he had to arrange to take him with him, in fact, this guy wanted to see the world in Tokyo.

After arranging everything, Xiao Ming and his entourage set off on a certain day, in addition to the personnel of Richanglong, Xiao Ming brought Gu Xiaoliu and Qian Baguang, and ten tiger guards accompanied him, these ten people are all familiar with Qian Baguang, usually nothing is gambling money, now Qian Baguang everyone owes a gambling debt, Zhonghuwei usually has a lot of money, but he doesn't care about that money, but Qian Baguang This person's gambling is excellent, and the money owed must be repaid, so he kept advancing money to Xiao Ming, Xiao Ming had no choice but to give it to him.

The crowd started from Xuzhou, along the official road of Jingxi Road all the way to the north, and then turned west, entered the official road of Jingxi Road, crossed the Yellow River, and passed through Luoyang to Kaifeng, that is, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty - Tokyo Bianliang.

When the Northern Song Dynasty Shenzong, Bianliang was already a metropolis with a population of one million, and it was also the largest metropolis in the world at that time.

Commerce is basically synonymous with Bianliang, Xiao Ming learned from the data that during the Northern Song Dynasty, there were more than 6,400 large and medium-sized industrial and commercial people in Bianliang, and 8,000 to 9,000 small merchants and hawkers. In the traffic arteries around the city and in the countryside, many large and small bazaars gradually formed. This kind of bazaar is called "bazaar" in Lingnan and "grass market" in the north. These bazaars, also known as fangchang, are spread all over the country, forming a network of exchanges.

In Bianliang, Beijing, there are several kinds of embodiments, there are grain market, meat market, tea market, cattle and horse market, salt market, pottery market, cloth market, flower, bird and fish market and brick and tile market, and the people's life is closely related to the fang market has everything, and many are government-run, private and mixed, there is a good sense of competition.

The well-known big businesses in the country basically set up branches in Bianliang, and Richanglong has its own stores and branches, and in this regard, Gu's Refinery is just a nouveau riche, Xiao Ming also shoulders the heavy responsibility of setting up a branch of Taiping Iron Factory in Bianliang, Tokyo, or called Gu's Refinery, anyway, the name will be said when the plaque is erected.

Richanglong's branch and store in Bianliang are only average, and there are not many houses, so Xiao Ming and they had to stay at the inn, which is China's largest, chain-operated inn - Yuelai Inn!