"Guo Xianzun has thought clearly, this is the iron armor and weapons needed by the 10,000 army!"

Zhu Fu said with a solemn face.

Zhu Di also looked directly at Guo An, and there was a trace of expectation in his eyes that he was not aware of.

"Guo An, this king informs you that in my standing army of the Ming Dynasty, the weapons and equipment of a hundred households are ten fires, twenty swords, thirty bows and arrows, and forty guns! As for the armor, each soldier of my Yanshan Three Guards has a pair.

Other large and small muskets, large and small generals' barrels, large and small iron cannons, chariots, and gunpowder are not mentioned, but the standing weapons mentioned by this king, 10,000 troops need at least more than 600,000 catties of pig iron. ”

"600,000 catties?"

Guo An's brows furrowed slightly, and he quickly calculated in his heart, 200,000 catties a month, more than 6,000 catties a day, if it ......

OK!

Thinking about it, Guo An nodded slightly, and replied with an affirmative face: "Your Highness, more than 6,000 catties of iron are smelted a day, as long as you add more blacksmiths to the Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Institute, it can still be completed!" ”

Zhu Fu covered his face a little, although he was a little unaccustomed to this little magistrate, he dared to be such a close relative of his Royal Highness, and it was possible that his Royal Highness would be disgusted and disliked by the prince and the emperor.

However, the armor required for an army of 10,000 is an important matter of the state, and the stakes are very high, and there must be no mistakes.

So, subconsciously reminded word by word: "Guo Xianzun can think clearly, this is 600,000 catties of pig iron, not 60,000 catties, let alone 60 catties......"

Guo An smiled sincerely at Zhu Fu, "Thank you Zhu Changshi for your concern, Xia Guan is really sure, within three months, 600,000 catties of pig iron will be smelted, and if there are enough craftsmen, you can also create the weapons and armor needed for 10,000 troops!" ”

Seeing that Guo An was so sure, Zhu Fu's words of persuasion that he had already thought of suddenly dissipated, and he had nothing to say.

It's just that my heart is still in a panic.

600,000 catties of pig iron is so easy to refine? He is the chief of Yanwang Palace, and he understands the government affairs up and down the Yanwang Palace.

Even if it is an iron mine in Shangzhuang Village, there are nearly 100 blacksmiths, and in a year, it can smelt 150,000 catties of pig iron, which can already make Yanwang Palace comfortable for a long time.

And now, in three months, 600,000 catties?

Thinking about it, Zhu Fu's expression was a little complicated.

Above, Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and he actually felt that Guo An, a thief official, didn't seem to be lying!

"Guo An, this matter is very important, this king finally confirmed again, can you really guarantee that within three months, 600,000 catties of pig iron will be smelted?"

A trace of helplessness flashed in Guo An's eyes, "Has Your Highness not paid attention to the situation of the Shangzhuang Village Iron Metallurgical Institute for several days?" ”

Hearing this, Zhu Di seemed to think of something, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said: "You mean, those strange furnaces forged by you and those old craftsmen can make iron?" ”

"Yes! What is it to smelt some iron......"

Saying that, Guo An remembered something, and bowed his hand slightly towards Zhu Di, "Please also ask Your Highness to forgive Your Highness for your courage, if Your Highness has time, you might as well go to Shangzhuang Village Iron Metallurgy with Your Highness to take a look." ”

"Huh?"

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, and then looked at Zhu Liang on the side: "Zhu Liang, how is the situation of the iron mine in Shangzhuang Village now?" ”

"This ......"

Zhu Liang's face changed, and he was still a little ashamed.

"Your Highness forgives your sins, the last general has been helping Guo Zhixian carry some iron pieces and furnaces for the past two days, and he has not found out how fast the iron-making furnace forged by Guo Xianzun is."

Zhu Di looked at Guo An with some doubts.

Guo An smiled slightly, "Your Highness's forgiveness, it's really that the lower officials are understaffed in the iron smelting station, and even the personal guards of the lower officials are sent to work."

As for a strong man like Zhu Baihu, the lower officials are even more reluctant to let it go! ”

Zhu Di glanced at Guo An, and then ordered directly to Zhu Liang: "Hurry up and prepare the car, this king is going to Shangzhuang Village Iron Metallurgy to take a look!" ”

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhu Liang answered, and hurriedly walked out.

"Zhu Baihu, bring it and prepare some cold ice ...... for the carriage."

Guo An shouted behind his back.

Zhu Di said angrily: "You guys enjoy it even more than this official!" ”

Guo An sneered, "Xiaguan is afraid that Zhu Baihu will not be able to think of this stubble, and there is still a long distance from here to Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Institute." ”

"Hmph, let's go......"

This month, when the sun is hot, even if you are sitting in a carriage, it is like sitting in a steamer, just out of the city, everyone is sweating profusely.

When he arrived at the Shangzhuang Village Iron Metallurgical Institute, Guo An felt that he was already soaked, and as soon as the carriage stopped, he skillfully drilled into the nearest room.

"Hoo ......"

Suddenly, I felt that I had entered the cold cellar, and the whole body was cold, which was very comfortable.

When Zhu Di entered the house, his brows were also stretched.

However, when it cooled down, he looked at Guo An, "This is also what you asked me to prepare?" ”

Guo An replied with a sneer: "Your Highness, there may not be many other items in the iron smelter, but water and saltpeter are absolutely indispensable.

These cold piggybacks are made. ”

"Hmm!"

Zhu Di nodded expressionlessly, and then urged directly: "This king has come, where is the iron-making furnace you want this king to see?" ”

"Your Highness, please!"

Guo An hurriedly led the way and walked out.

A group of people walked directly through several houses and came to the place where the iron-making furnace was located at the back.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, Zhu Di, Zhu Fu and others all subconsciously stopped and looked ahead with surprise on their faces.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Guo An stopped and asked with some doubts.

Zhu Di pointed to the huge furnace leaning against the mountain wall in front of him, and said in surprise: "Is that an iron-making furnace?" ”

"Exactly!"

Guo An nodded slightly, and introduced: "Your Highness, for more than a month, Xia Guan and the ten old craftsmen have been forging this iron-making furnace with all their might. ”

Zhu Di was surprised: "How big is this?" ”

Guo An replied: "Your Highness, this iron-making furnace is two feet tall, the inside of the furnace is one zhang and five feet deep, the front is four feet two inches wide, the back is four feet wide, the left and right sides are four feet one inch, and the furnace capacity can hold more than 2,800 catties of mineral sand!" ”

Zhu Di asked curiously: "Such a high iron-making furnace?" How many catties of iron can be produced in a day? ”

Guo An said: "Your Highness, you should be able to refine seven hundred catties of iron!" ”

Zhu Di asked again: "Why isn't iron smelting opened now?" ”

Guo An was stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly explained: "Your Highness forgive your sins, this iron-making furnace was just forged the day before yesterday. The lower officials have been busy with the government affairs of the county government for the past two days, and they will not come here.

Therefore, the trial has not yet begun. ”

Zhu Di directly scolded angrily, "Such a big matter, you, a thief official, actually left it alone and went to be busy with the government affairs of your county government?"

Now that this king has come, what are you waiting for, why don't you start quickly? ”

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Guo An hurriedly replied.

Then, he began to shout to the front, around the iron-making furnace, and the group of old craftsmen who were busy with something: "Blacksmith head." ”

……