"Uncle, wake up - I want to sign up."
Her voice was loud and clear, and the half-asleep middle-aged man almost fell off the bench in shock.
He quickly straightened his hat: "Who, who wants to sign up?"
"Sang Xuanqing, you want to sign up for this recruitment of masons."
She quickly moved her face forward, hoping that the recruiting officer with bad eyes could see her.
"Oh, Sang Xuanqing, right? Hey, why does this name sound familiar?" The middle-aged man couldn't remember it for a moment. He raised his eyes and glanced at her a few times, then retracted his neck: "Are you Sang Xuanqing? No, no, we only recruit male workers, not women."
He waved his hand and shook his head in refusal.
Zheng Quchi groaned: "It's not me, it's my second brother."
Only then did the middle-aged man realize that he had misunderstood. He picked up the brush and planned to write down: "Oh, it's your second brother, right? He's a stonemason? Which village does he come from? Has the grade been upgraded?"
Zheng Quchi blinked: "He is a carpenter, but he can also do the work of a mason."
"Hey, you little girl, why are you trying to tease me? That's not okay. A carpenter is a carpenter, and a mason is a mason." The middle-aged man looked sullen, and pressed his pen with a snap to refuse.
Although they are both craftsmen, but the categories of craftsmen are different, how can they be confused?
Masons are actually more respected than carpenters.
Because the craftsmanship of stonemason is more difficult. If you can choose, or ordinary people with good family backgrounds will prefer stable stone houses to wooden houses. The scope of masonry also includes building walls, carving stone tablets, cutting rough stones, etc., etc. It consumes more physical energy among craftsmen.
Being rejected again, Zheng Quchi was not discouraged. Anyone who has ever been to a job fair to look for a job will know that high-paying jobs are hard to find. The greater the competition, the more difficult the job will be. If you fail twice, you will retreat.
As long as she thought of the three people at home who were waiting for food, and the first year's unmarried tax owed by "Sang Xuanqing", she couldn't just watch the ten dollars fly away.
She thought hard and finally remembered something important.
She put her hands on the table and asked the middle-aged man who was recruiting: "Uncle, do you have Mu Gongguan as the supervisor for this fortification?"
When the middle-aged man heard this, his eyelids crinkled and he said in surprise: "Do you know Mr. Mu?"
Judging from this tone, Gongguan Mu should be here, that would be great.
"I don't know him, but my second brother knows him. Please tell him that Sang Xuanqing wants to participate in this project."
"Your brother really knows Engineer Mu?" The middle-aged man still didn't believe it.
"Seriously, my second brother built a camp at Changxunpo with Gongguan Mu some time ago. If you don't believe it, why don't you just ask?"
Xiuyingzhai, Sang Xuanqing... These words were like electricity, instantly lighting up the middle-aged man's previously hazy consciousness.
Ouch! He remembered.
Isn't Sang Xuanqing the same Sang Xuanqing who built the "earth lifter" as Engineer Mu said?
When he thought of this, the way he looked at Zheng Quchi was a little different.
Is she Sang Xuanqing's sister?
He stroked his beard and nodded: "Okay, I'll ask for you, but why doesn't your second brother come by himself?"
"Oh, he went to visit relatives and asked me to register for him."
The middle-aged man did not pay attention to the contradiction in these words for a moment, his mind was elsewhere.
He felt that Sang Xuanqing was indeed quite capable, and since Engineer Mu really praised Sang Xuanqing, it was not difficult to do him a favor.
When Sang Xuanqing goes to evaluate the craftsman's level in the future, he might even beg for help one day when he is really promising.
When Gongguan Mu heard that he was recruiting junior officials to help spread the word, he was a little stunned.
Sang Xuanqing?
Why did he sign up for the job as a mason?
No, isn't he a carpenter?
"What's going on?" he asked the recruiter Zhang Mi.
Zhang Mi was the middle-aged man who had dealt with Zheng Quchi before.
He said: "It was a black girl who came and said she was signing up for her second brother."
"What else did she say? Her second brother is Sang Xuanqing, but isn't he a carpenter?"
"She said she was a carpenter, but she can also do masonry."
Muke pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said: "She must have been blinded by money. Hey, she doesn't know how difficult it is to build the city wall this time. If the truth is really announced to the outside world, no matter how much money she has, it won't be enough." Someone dares to try it.”
"Yeah, it's too difficult. I don't know how many people died from exhaustion, suffering, or falling to death. Now whoever can repair the Guipo City Wall in Fu County will be a blessing for a hundred years."
"This matter... I have to go to the Ming Dynasty in person to report it. Sang Xuanqing's situation is different. Whether he passes it or not depends entirely on what the higher authorities want."
——
sangzhai
Not long after Zheng Quchi left for the county town, Yu Wensheng took down Hui Ge's letter and read it before disappearing into Sang's house.
changxunyingzhai
"General, where is the lady?"
Wei Yao looked behind him.
Yu Wensheng looked at Wei Yao with narrow eyes under his mask: "Is she your mother?"
Otherwise, why would he care so much about her presence?
"...This is my subordinate's honor."
Wei Yao thought to himself, as long as I am thick-skinned enough, I will not be afraid of the general's poisonous tongue.
Wang Zebang also came forward at this time: "General, the catapult lifting device of Julu Kingdom has begun to take shape. Do you want to take a look? There is also the Qianjunduo cart that was brought back before. The craftsmen dare not dismantle it without authorization. , I am worried that the damaged structure cannot be restored, and I am about to ask you for instructions."
"Then go over and have a look."
When we arrived at the school grounds, there was a large piece of equipment. The main components were wooden frames, pulleys, short shafts, and ropes. The core component was the pulley.
It is indeed similar to the earth starter made by Sang Xuanqing before.
In addition to the craftsmen at the school, there is also a woman wearing an ordinary craftsman's uniform. She has clear and gentle features. Her wide sleeves and trousers are tied with ropes. Her long hair is tied behind her waist. She looks like she is working neatly. appearance.
At this time, she didn't mind the hard work and was helping to adjust the equipment.
"The general is here."
When the craftsmen saw Yu Wensheng arriving, they quickly came forward to ask for a gift.
"General, it's successful, it's successful!"
The craftsmen asked him for credit excitedly.
The woman was startled. When she turned around and saw the tall figure wearing a Shura mask and black armor and red robe, she couldn't help but pursed the corners of her raised lips, and stood there with a low profile and grace, blessing her body.
Yu Wensheng stepped forward and looked at this heavy-duty equipment. It had very little difference in appearance from the wreckage he brought back. It was basically restored, but he didn't know how effective it was.
"Have you tried it?"
"It has been tried. It can throw boulders weighing less than three to four hundred kilograms, and it can be raised and lowered three feet high for observation. It will definitely have miraculous effects when used for climbing city walls and long-range precision operations."
A clear female voice sounded at this moment.
The craftsmen all looked at Gongshu Lan. Thinking of her recent contributions and help, they couldn't help but praise: "Miss Gongshu really impressed us. If it weren't for her guidance, the lifting equipment with such complex craftsmanship would have been impossible." It will take a little more effort.”
"Yeah yeah."
It was rare for Wang Zebang to be kind to someone at this time: "Miss Gongshu is worthy of being a Gongshu family, and her dexterity is indeed extraordinary."
"No, compared to my brother's miraculous craftsmanship, I'm not as good as one or two." She blushed a little at their praise.
But she is still not as shy and uncomfortable as ordinary women. Instead, she straightens her back and accepts all praises.
She looked at Yu Wensheng with a twinkling look in her eyes, wondering what his opinion of her would be, but she saw him curling up the corners of his mouth, half-smiling: "So, why are there so many famous craftsmen in Ye country? If you are not as good as a woman from a branch of the Gongshu family, then what use is it for me, the general, to keep a bunch of people like you in vain?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone felt as if someone had stabbed them in the chest, their blood flowed backwards, and the smiles and joy on their faces froze instantly.
Wang Zebang immediately realized his mistake just now.
The public loser is a person from the Beiyuan Kingdom. The craftsmen of the Ye Kingdom praise a person from the Beiyuan Kingdom so much. Isn't this like tearing off the dignity and face of their own country and stomping it into the ground?
As soon as the air dropped below zero, everyone was trembling with fear and no longer dared to say a word.
Fortunately, Yu Wensheng didn't really intend to pick off their heads at this time. He smiled harmlessly and naturally: "No more boasting? Well, come over and test the effect."
"……Yes Yes."
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, this time, no one paid attention to Gong Shulan anymore, and instead concentrated on arranging this new equipment.
"Put the stone away!"
"cast!"
Bang!
It should be about a hundred meters away.
Yu Wensheng narrowed his eyes and rubbed his fingertips a few times: "Continue."
"Put the stone away!"
"cast!"
Bang!
"continue."
…
After repeating this four times, a "click" sound sounded like wood breaking. Yuwen Sheng's ears were sharp, but he had already caught the abnormal sound the first time.
The sound at this time was no longer subtle. Everyone was startled, stopped placing stones, and hurriedly ran to check. Finally, it was determined that the fixing plate had been pried, broken, and loosened.
The next second, snap! The whole thing broke and collapsed with a sound.
Yu Wensheng had a creepy smile on his lips and stared darkly.
Since all this happened, everyone's legs have become weak and they dare not even make a sound.
what happened? How could this happen?
Gong Shulan also looked in disbelief.
She quickly ran over, inspected the pile of wood residue, and finally murmured: "The base was obviously reinforced, but why did it break after only being cast less than ten times? Could it be that the wood is not hard enough, or..."
Yu Wensheng's mocking voice sounded behind her: "The lifting equipment of Julu Kingdom can adjust its position independently and can throw stones sixty to eighty times in a cup of tea. But now it can withstand even a few times." Can’t live.”
The craftsmen's voices trembled, feeling that they could still fight for their lives: "I, we will continue..."
"Wei Yao, show them the drawing," Yu Wensheng said.
"yes."
The craftsmen took a drawing with doubts and trepidation. After looking at it carefully, although they could not understand what was written on it, the drawing of the equipment on the drawing, which was almost like a real appearance, made them all see clearly. Eye.
As if he was worried that the stimulation for them was not enough, Yu Wensheng added slowly: "It looks very light and simple, but it can bear three to four hundred kilograms of soil, and the chassis can easily rotate and adjust its position."
They were shocked when they heard it.
"W-what is this?"
"You can't even understand what it is used for, haha~" Yu Wensheng's lips smiled like the spring breeze, but his eyes swept over them like scraping bones and eroding flesh: "This general spends hundreds of gold every year to support you. You are a bunch of trash, you have achieved nothing now, but you can still live with peace of mind, what makes you think this general is so generous?"
Plop! Suddenly everyone was so frightened that they knelt down.
Wang Zebang recognized the drawing, which was drawn by Sang Xuanqing.
Seeing this situation, he felt helpless and seemed to have had a premonition, and sighed.
General, you still haven’t let go of Sang Xuanqing.
Gongshu Lan's face was ugly, Yu Wensheng was not only embarrassing the craftsmen, but also slapping her in the face.
"This should be a lifting device, but its structure is very simple. It is impossible to lift such a heavy object. I don't know who drew the drawing. Maybe the general was deceived-"
"Miss Gongshu." Wang Zebang quickly interrupted her, not letting her continue.
If she completely angered the general, even if public defeat came, she would not be able to save her life.
They had witnessed the authenticity of this drawing with their own eyes, so even if she made a reasonable guess, the general would think that she was slandering and questioning it.
He told her: "This drawing is real. It is called earthenware. It was made by a carpenter in Fu County when he was building a camp. This is not just a fake name."
Gong Shulan's eyes widened when he heard this.
The craftsmen looked even more unbelievable after hearing this.
A carpenter from Fu County? A carpenter like this from the countryside can't even be rated as a craftsman. Can he make such a wooden instrument? !
Yu Wensheng saw that they all looked stupid and decadent, which was very different from their previous self-satisfied appearance, as if they had achieved a lot.
Yu Wensheng lowered his voice, lingering in the ears like a curse: "Now, you should know that Ye country is not without skilled craftsmen, it's just that you always work behind closed doors, that's all."
That's all. The four-character evaluation simply reduced all the arrogant craftsmen to ashes.
Their faces suddenly turned ashen, as if they were in mourning.
In the eyes of the general, these outstanding craftsmen selected from all over the country are not as capable as a carpenter in the countryside. What are they doing alive? They might as well die.
Wei Yao and Wang Zebang looked at each other, but they both felt strange that today's general seemed to have a much better temper than before. If it had been this time in the past, he might have buried several craftsmen who were not doing things well. Serve as a warning to others.
But today, his mood and sanity were in danger several times, but never to the point of being on the verge of losing control... After thinking about it, they found that nothing special had affected him recently, except——
The general married the general's wife.
The two eyes suddenly woke up.
Shout miraculous.
It turns out that to cure a man's madness and murderous lust left after losing control on the battlefield, all he needs to do is give him a soft wife?
At this time, a soldier trotted over: "General, Engineer Mu brought the list of stonemasons and said there is something that needs you to see in person."
(End of chapter)
