In early April, the new two hundred hydraulic drilling machines were completed and installed in the workshops of the Firearms Supervisory Manufacturing Department and the Armor Supervisory Manufacturing Department.
Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le stared at the workshops along the Nanhe River almost every day, urging the craftsmen to increase production capacity to the maximum.
Outside the Tieshan Mountain Mining Base, a convoy of more than thirty carriages was ready to go. Gao Yunshan and his two apprentices were carefully registering and checking to confirm whether the number of goods carried by the convoy was incorrect.
"Master, since last month, our mining base has begun to increase transportation efforts. The amount of iron materials, coke, lime and other materials transported to Wangjiazhuang has increased by 30% than before. Why has it increased so much during this period? ah?"
While inspecting a carriage in front of him, Gao Yunshan said: "Master Cheng has put into production a new machine in Wangjiazhuang. It is called a hydraulic drilling machine, which can increase the output of the Firearms Manufacturing Department and the Armor Supervision Manufacturing Department. So more raw materials are needed there.”
"Oh, I see."
When the apprentice saw that the form in Gao Yunshan's hand was full, he hurriedly handed over a blank form, took the filled form, and continued: "But master, there is something I don't quite understand. Didn’t the imperial court strictly prohibit private mining in various places? If we mine with such great fanfare, will it be okay?"
Gao Yunshan finished counting the last cart of raw materials, then glanced at his apprentice and said, "What can happen? Now the court has too much time to take care of itself. The slaves and thieves outside and the bandits inside are all giving the court a headache, so how can they notice it?" Here, the court no longer has the energy to care about these things."
"Besides, what would happen even if the court knew about it? Lord Chan has a strong army, how can the court still convict Lord Chan? What a joke!"
After finishing speaking, Gao Yunshan put away several forms and gave them to his apprentice to file for future reference. Then he said to the New Army captain who was responsible for the escort: "Wangjiazhuang is in urgent need of this batch of supplies. Please transport them to Wangjiazhuang Baihu Station within four days." , there must be no delay.”
The captain clasped his fists and said, "Don't worry, Chief Gao, my brothers and I will not make any mistakes."
After saying that, the captain of the New Army summoned his dozen or so New Army soldiers, and set off with more than twenty accompanying civilians, escorting more than thirty carriages, and marched in the direction of Wangjiazhuang.
Watching the convoy going further and further away, Gao Yunshan said to the two apprentices: "There are still two batches of iron ore to be smelted. You all go and keep an eye on them. In the past two days, all the smelted iron materials will be stored in the warehouse and prepare to make enough. The amount of supplies in one batch.”
"yes."
It was said that the departure motorcade had a smooth journey and arrived at Wangjiazhuang Baihusuo at noon on the third day. Some of the raw materials were unloaded in Wangjiazhuang Fort for use by the Firearms Supervisory Manufacturing Office and the Armor Supervisory Manufacturing Office, and then most of the raw materials were transported to two workshops along the Nanhe River.
At this time, Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le were stationed in two workshops in Nanhe, staring at the creation of gun tubes and armor components.
"Chief Tan, Chief Xu, my subordinates are fortunate to have fulfilled their mission and delivered this batch of raw materials on time."
After saying that, the captain of the New Army handed a copy of the form to Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le, and said: "Please send someone to check and accept the two chiefs: this batch of materials includes 6,000 kilograms of iron, 500 kilograms of lime, and 1,000 kilograms of copper. Three hundred kilograms, four hundred kilograms of coke, and a total of more than three hundred and ninety kilograms of other various materials."
Tan Xiaoda looked at the form and then handed it to Xu Le. The two of them whispered a few words, with smiles on their faces.
"Haha, this batch of supplies is so timely. There is not much inventory in Wangjiazhuang now. If it is a few days later, I am afraid that work here will be suspended."
After Tan Xiaoda finished speaking, Xu Le also clasped his fists and said: "Captain, you have worked hard all the way. Let's take the brothers and the husband to have a rest. Director Tan and I have prepared food and drinks in the workshop. Let's go and have a rest. To relieve the fatigue of the journey."
The new army commander clasped his fists and said with a smile: "Haha, then I will lead my brothers to thank the two principals. But forget about the wine, we have finished eating and drinking, and we have to go back today. We are still waiting for us at the Tieshan Mining Base Go back, the next batch of supplies is being prepared, I don’t dare to miss anything.”
Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le smiled and nodded in agreement.
After seeing off the captain of the new army, Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le couldn't wait to summon the craftsmen and apprentices to start unloading the trucks and sorting them.
Most of the materials in this batch were transported to the workshop. Dozens of craftsmen and apprentices from the Firearms Supervision Department and the Armor Supervision Department worked for half an hour to unload all the materials from the convoy.
Then Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le discussed it and began to allocate it.
The iron was divided equally between the two, as was the lime. However, all the copper materials were given to the Firearms Supervision Department. After all, copper materials were needed to cast cannons, and copper materials were dispensable for the making of armor and weapons.
As for Jiao Tan, Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le scored 64 points.
After all the supplies were sorted, Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le returned to the workshop with supplies and manpower and began to replenish supplies.
"Distribute all the iron materials, as well as the coke, and immediately start casting bird guns and gun tubes. The casting of these two batches of bird guns and gun tubes cannot be interrupted."
"yes!"
"The armor leaves and heart protection plates and other components will be cast immediately. Transport the coke to the blast furnace. Hurry up and don't interrupt the casting."
Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le are now full of energy. With the blessing of the hydraulic drilling machine, the output of the Firearms Supervision Department and the Armor Supervision Department has greatly increased, which has also increased the income of all craftsmen and apprentices.
According to the regulations formulated by Liu Yan, all craftsmen and apprentices below Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le are "paid by piece." Only by producing qualified military equipment can everyone earn more income.
Now based on the output of the Firearms Supervision Department and the Armor Supervision Department, if everyone is busy for one month, they can earn an income equivalent to about three months in the past. Everyone does not need the supervision of Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le at all, everyone takes the initiative When they came forward, all of them were very motivated, completely different from the craftsmen from all over the Ming Dynasty. They had completely different mental styles.
In the evening, the captain of the New Army declined Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le's attempts to stay, and set off back to Tiechu Mountain with a group of subordinates and a group of civilians.
Then Tan Xiao said to Xu Le: "Since this batch of raw materials has been delivered in time, we don't have to rush. Everyone has worked hard during this period. How about we stop working all night tonight and let everyone take a breather?" "
Xu Le said with a smile: "Well, that's fine. If we continue to be so busy, someone will probably collapse from exhaustion. It's better to let everyone rest."
"Haha, I'm going to send someone to deliver the message. Chief Xu should also send someone. Let's give everyone an extra meal tonight. We'll drink the Shaoguo wine that the New Army Commander and the others didn't drink."
"Haha, okay, maybe I haven't drank for a long time, and tonight is just the time to satisfy my craving. But..."
Xu Le then said: "But we must also be cautious. First, let everyone turn off the engine and inspect the drilling machine and other equipment. Don't be too happy to be sad, and something goes wrong."
"Well, what Director Xu said makes sense."
A few days later, at Lingshan Acropolis, the commanding officer Yamen.
A motorcade came from Wangjiazhuang Baihu Station. More than thirty carriages were covered with large black cloths and looked bulging and full of things.
Soon, the convoy passed directly through the city and arrived at the military camp in the city. The commander Tian Huixu had already been waiting here. When he saw the convoy arriving, he smiled and said to the two flag officers beside him: " Right, count the numbers quickly."
"yes!"
"Come, gather the carriages here, arrange them according to the serial numbers issued, and let us count the numbers."
"Carriage No. 1, unblock and unload!"
"Carriage No. 1: Thirty-two pairs of armor, recorded. Carriage No. 2!"
"Carriage No. 2: Thirty-four pairs of armors, already recorded."
Tian Huixu looked at the armors carried on the carriages being inspected, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Haha, this should be the last batch, right? After this batch of armors is distributed, the amount of armors for the entire army should be complete."
In the past month, everyone in the Firearms Supervision Department, the Armor Supervision Department, and the Tieyu Mountain Mining Base have been extremely busy. Tian Huixu was also so busy that he transferred batches of flint-haired bird muskets and armors. Register and store all kinds of military equipment in the warehouse, and then distribute them to each battalion to equip officers and soldiers.
After a month of busy work, each battalion now has all the weapons, spears, swords and shields that need to be equipped. Only the armor is still missing.
This batch of armors arrived today. Judging from the amount on the form that arrived with it, it should be able to make up for all the shortfalls.
"call!"
Less than half an hour later, all the armors were counted, and two flag officers ran over to report.
"Your Majesty, this batch of armors totals 1,155 pairs. All of them have passed the inspection and have been registered."
Another flag officer asked: "Sir, are all these armors stored in the arsenal?"
Tian Huixu said: "Currently, in the whole army, the soldiers of the Guards Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion still lack armor. The commanders of the two battalions have already reported the amount, which is about 1,053 pairs."
Tian Huixu then took out the forms sent by the Guards Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion, handed them to the two general flag officers, and said: "You count them, sort them out according to the forms of the two battalions, and then send someone to inform the two generals. , come and collect the armor as soon as possible.”
"As for the remaining armor, all are stored in the arsenal."
"As you command!"
That afternoon, Miao Shao, the commander-in-chief of the Guards Battalion, and Xu Ming, the commander-in-chief of the Cavalry Battalion, both received the news. They were overjoyed and each sent a sentry to the school grounds.
At this time, the area of the school grounds and military camps in the Lingshan Acropolis was limited, so in addition to the Zhongqianhusuodun Army led by Jia Hongyu who was stationed in the Lingshan Acropolis, there were also soldiers from the Guards Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion stationed in the city, and the remaining left, right, and middle camps were stationed in the Lingshan Acropolis. The soldiers of the battalion were all stationed outside the city, and a large camp was set up in an open space just north of Lingshan Acropolis.
The soldiers from the Guards Battalion and the Cavalry Battalion came nearby and quickly took away their respective armors.
That night, Tian Huixu came to the commander's office with a smile. He passed by the front yard and met the officials on the night shift. After making a briefing, he went to the middle yard and met Liu Yan.
"Your Majesty, as of today, all the new soldiers of our army are wearing armor, and all kinds of military equipment such as flintlocks, birds, and muskets are also in place."
After Liu Yan heard this, there was no smile on his face: "Master Tian has come just in time. I would like to ask you to go out and send someone to summon the thousand generals of each battalion, as well as all the officials of the thousand households and above in our Lingshan Guard. Order everyone to arrive immediately. Discuss business here!”
Tian Huixu was taken aback and said blankly: "Sir, what happened?"
Liu Yan said with a solemn expression: "The Qing army broke through the pass and moved south again!"
Some people died, but not completely...
