Forty miles north of the Acropolis of Aoshan.

On this day, a huge team marched on the official road, among the team, a pair of "quiet", "avoid" white powder cards were raised high, followed by the elite iron cavalry of the brigade, and then a large number of entourage officials and personal entourage, Lu Xiangsheng accompanied by the general Lu Huaiying, rode the horse together, and behind the two was the elite iron cavalry of the brigade.

At this time, it was already the end of November, the weather was so cold that the water turned into ice, the sides of the official road were bleak, and there was not a single pedestrian in sight, nor a wisp of cooking smoke in sight on the white and gray wilderness.

"How far is it from Aoshanwei?"

Lu Huaiying said: "Qiyu Governor, there are still thirty or forty miles. This is already the garrison area of the Jimo battalion, and the chief officer is Mao Xingyi, the guerrilla general of the Jimo battalion. ”

Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly and said, "This person can't be used!" ”

"Why did the Doge say that?"

"Here and Ao Shanwei, Lingshanwei is close at hand, see how prosperous Lingshanwei is, this governor looks at it, Lingshanwei has been restored to the prosperous scene of the Wanli period. Not long after Aoshanwei was assigned to Liu Yan's rule, although it was not as good as Lingshanwei, it also had a different atmosphere, and the rest of Jimo Camp was already two worlds. ”

"That Mao Xingyi and Liu Yan are neighbors, they have such a good geographical advantage, but they are still so desolate under their rule, it can be seen that this person is either a mediocre or a villain!"

Lu Huaiying nodded in agreement, thinking deeply.

Lu Xiangsheng said: "Has Liu Yan notified you?" ”

"Don't worry, two days before the governor set off from Jinan City, the last general had already sent people to Jimo Camp City."

"Hmm."

"Governor, the last general has already asked Liu Guerrilla before, and he doesn't have any extra money and food, this time the governor came over in person, is it a little condescending?"

Lu Xiangsheng sighed slightly, and said: "Liu Yan used to feed thousands of strong troops with many industries, and during this time, he made strange cement, which was even sold in the city of Jinan, although the number is not much, but it is said that this thing is very magical, and it is very popular to build houses with half the effort, which shows how much silver taels Liu Yan earned." ”

"Liu Yan is good at management, not only a battlefield tiger general, but also a capable minister. If such a person is used well, he is a Zhongxing minister, and if he is not used well, he is Cao Cao in the world! ”

"So this time I went to Aoshanwei, not only did the governor want to buy some cement and go back to strengthen the city of Jinan, but also wanted to have a good talk with Liu Yan."

"The Governor is trying to ......"

"Yes, Bendu has no choice but to try, hoping that Liu Yan can help."

Early the next morning, in the north of the Acropolis of Aoshan, Liu Yan led the commanders Miao Shao, Shen Tuo, Han Feng, the head of the cement workshop, and a new army soldier of the personal guard battalion to wait for Lu Xiangsheng's honor guard outside the city.

Not long after, General Zhang Youxun and several guerrilla generals Mao Xingyi, Wang Ye, Dong Bihui, Li Jiwen, and Hu Zongming also rushed over.

Liu Yan said with a smile: "The general came quickly." ”

Zhang Youxun also squeezed out a smile on his face, and said: "The governor is here, how can I be late, so naturally I have to come and wait earlier." ”

Then Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming also came over to greet Liu Yan, and the three of them exchanged a few words, but because Zhang Youxun was on the side, Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming didn't say much, so they stopped talking after chatting for a few words.

Soon, Lu Xiangsheng's guard of honor arrived outside the city, and Liu Yan and Zhang Youxun came forward to meet Lu Xiangsheng.

Lu Xiangsheng said a few words to everyone, and then said to Zhang Youxun and others: "This governor is just to inspect the jurisdiction of Liu's guerrilla attack, and if you have something, you can arrange it yourself, so you don't have to accompany you." ”

Zhang Youxun and the others were stunned when they heard this, and looked at Liu Yan with jealousy.

"Guerrilla Liu, you can take this governor around to take a look."

"Yes."

Liu Yan took Miao Shao, Shen Tuo and others to accompany him on horseback, and accompanied Lu Xiangsheng.

"I wonder where the Governor wants to see?"

"Let's take a look at your new cement workshop."

Liu Yan was slightly stunned, and then said: "Then the governor will please postpone entering the city, and the end will lead the way for the governor." ”

"Okay."

Zhang Youxun and the others saw that Lu Xiangsheng's guard of honor did not enter the city, but walked to the north, hesitating whether to follow, and the general Lu Huaiying rode over, and said to everyone with a smile: "Everyone, please take it, it's okay for the governor to have Liu Guerrilla accompany you." ”

"Hehe, yes, I'll go back first, but the governor has orders, I'll be there soon."

Zhang Youxun left the Aoshan Acropolis with reluctance, and his jealousy of Liu Yan was a little more.

Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming sighed that Liu Yan's official fortune is prosperous, and with Lu Xiangsheng's favor, the future future is limitless.

Here, Liu Yan took Lu Xiangsheng to the cement workshop, and arranged for the director Han Feng to lead the way in front and introduce the situation of the cement workshop to Lu Xiangsheng.

Han Feng was very nervous, walking in front and talking while constantly wiping his sweat, even though the weather was very cold, he still couldn't stop dripping beads of sweat.

"Qi Yu Governor, Governor, this is the situation in the workshop, please move the Governor in a while, and the villain will demonstrate the use of cement for the Governor."

Lu Xiangsheng looked at the calcining furnaces in the workshop, and those craftsmen were constantly busy, transporting various raw materials to the designated place, and the workshop was a busy scene.

"What is the yield of this workshop? How much profit? ”

Han Feng was immediately stunned and hurriedly looked at Liu Yan.

Lu Xiangsheng looked at Liu Yan with a smile and said, "I wonder if Liu Guerrilla can tell the truth?" ”

Liu Yan clenched his fists and said: "Actually, the governor doesn't ask, after the demonstration is completed for a while, the last general will also report to the governor." ”

"At present, the cement workshop can produce more than 600,000 catties of cement per month, and sell it at a price of 400 wen per bag, which can make a profit of more than 7,000 taels."

Lu Xiangsheng was quite moved when he heard this, and now that the supervision battalion has been rectified, the expenses of each soldier, including military salaries, rations, military equipment, drills, etc., are about six taels of silver per month.

The income of a cement workshop in one month can support more than 1,000 soldiers of the supervision battalion, which shows the great income of the workshop!

"It seems that Liu Guerrilla knows how to manage it very well."

Liu Yan said: "The governor made fun of the last general, and the last general was also forced to be helpless, if these industries were not developed, with the money and food of Lingshanwei and Aoshanwei, the new army of the last general would have been disbanded long ago." Even now, the New Army accounts for the lion's share of expenses, and the proceeds from these workshops are invested. ”

Lu Xiangsheng was noncommittal, and Lu Huaiying also glanced at Liu Yan, obviously not very convinced.

"Let's go and see a demonstration of how to use cement."

"Yes."

In an open space in the workshop, Lu Xiangsheng stared at a wooden barrel, which was filled with cement mixed with clean water according to the proportion, and placed on the ground to wait for solidification.

Lu Xiangsheng stirred it with a wooden stick and asked, "How long does it take for this cement to solidify like you said?" ”

Han Feng said: "Qi Yu Governor, it will take about two and a half hours. ”

"It's been so long!"

Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly, and Lu Huaiying also shook his head slightly, it takes half a day for this cement to solidify, and it is too long.

Han Feng said: "It is true that the time is not short, but once the cement is solidified, it will be as solid as a rock, and it is very useful to build houses." ”

Lu Xiangsheng thought for a while, and then said to Liu Yan: "You just mentioned that there is a cement house that has been built? ”

Liu Yan said: "It's not far from the workshop, the governor wants to see it, you can go now." ”

"Check it out."

Soon, Liu Yan, Lu Xiangsheng and others came to the outside of the cement house, Lu Xiangsheng and Lu Huaiying looked at the two-story house with gray and white bodies, and the shock in their hearts was indescribable, there was such a house in the world.

Lu Xiangsheng strode to the wall, and then punched it violently, it was really as solid as a rock, the fist was red and slightly painful, with Lu Xiangsheng's strength, if it was an ordinary wooden house, even if it was a wooden wall, it had been penetrated at this time, but the cement wall in front of him was not damaged!

Lu Huaiying, who was on the side, also looked at the scene in front of him in astonishment, and muttered: "This is really an unheard of strange thing!" ”

"Haha!"

Lu Xiangsheng suddenly laughed and said to Liu Yan: "Guerrilla Liu, the governor wants to buy a batch of cement from you, but the governor doesn't have much money and grain, can the price be more favorable?" ”

Liu Yan clenched his fists and said: "The governor needs it, and the last general will support a batch, so why do you need the governor's money and food." ”

Lu Huaiying was overjoyed and cast an approving glance at Liu Yan.

But Lu Xiangsheng waved his hand and said, "You also need to earn money to raise soldiers, and this governor can't take it for nothing." ”

Liu Yan thought for a while, and then said: "The governor is sympathetic to his subordinates, and the last general is grateful in his heart. Each bag of cement is 30 catties, and it is 400 wen a bag to the outside world, and the governor needs it, so it is 200 wen a bag. ”

Lu Xiangsheng asked in surprise: "Half the price?" Wouldn't you lose a great deal in that way? ”

Liu Yan Zhengse said: "The governor is dedicated to the country, how can the last general be greedy for small profits!" Even if you lose money, you can afford it. If the governor wants to raise the price, then he will not sell it, and please don't blame the governor! ”

After hearing this, Miao Shao, Shen Tuo, and Han Feng on the side all showed an inexplicable look on their faces, and they secretly said in their hearts: "The cement that costs only 80 wen is sold to the governor for 200 wen, and it can still be righteous and awe-inspiring, so that the governor remembers it well, the lord is really eloquent!" ”

Lu Xiangsheng was a little moved when he heard Liu Yan's words, and said: "In this way, the governor will set two thousand bags of cement, and if there is any need in the future, the governor will send Lu Shen to deliver the goods with the workshop." ”

"Yes."

Then Lu Xiangsheng looked at the cement house in front of him again, and said to Liu Yan: "Liu Yan, you know the difficulties of this governor, originally this time, this time the governor was going to borrow some money and grain from you on credit." Now the remnants of the city defense of Jinan Fucheng, the Governor Battalion and the Governor Yan's Fubiao Battalion are also in urgent need of rectification, but the Governor and Governor Yan do not have much food. ”

"But after looking at it today, Ben Du also saw your difficulties, a cement workshop with a booming business, only more than 7,000 taels a month, even if you have some other industries, how much silver can you earn?"

Speaking of this, Lu Xiangsheng sighed, thinking that Liu Yan wanted to raise thousands of new troops and maintain the development of Lingshanwei and Aoshanwei, and he must be as stretched as himself, but at this time, he couldn't borrow any more money and food.

Lu Huaiying saw Lu Xiangsheng, who couldn't go on, looked at Liu Yan with a blank eye, and said: "Liu Guerrilla, if the governor didn't really have no choice, he wouldn't be so heartfelt today, otherwise you will squeeze out some ......"

Lu Xiangsheng waved his hand to stop Lu Huaiying, and then laughed and said, "Haha, don't say it." Today the Governor saw the miracle of cement, and his heart was happy. Liu Yan, today you are going to set up a banquet, and Bendu and Lu Shen will eat you. ”

Liu Yan also sighed in his heart, he could come up with money and food to support Lu Xiangsheng, but what about after that? Liu Yan is very aware of the truth that wealth is not exposed, and he admires Lu Xiangsheng, but it does not mean that his strength can be fully exposed.

So Liu Yan didn't mention the matter of money and food again, and said with his fists: "The last general is honored, and today I should not get drunk with the governor and Brother Lu!" ”

Some people died, but not completely......