Forty miles north of Aoshan Acropolis.
On this day, a huge team marched on the official road. In the team, a pair of white pink cards with "Quiet" and "Avoidance" were held high, followed by the elite cavalry of the brigade, and then followed by a large number of accompanying officials. Lu Xiangsheng and his relatives, accompanied by his general Lu Huaiying, rode in together. Behind them were the elite cavalry of the brigade.
It was already the end of November, and the weather was so cold that dripping water turned into ice. Both sides of the official road were desolate. There was not a single pedestrian or a wisp of smoke in the white and gray wilderness.
"How far is it from Aoshanwei?"
Lu Huaiying said: "To inform the governor, there are still three to forty miles away. This is already the garrison area of Jimo Camp, and the chief officer is Jimo Camp guerrilla general Mao Xingyi."
Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly and said, "This person cannot be used very much!"
"Why did the governor say that?"
"This place is very close to Aoshan Guard and Lingshan Guard. You can see how prosperous Lingshan Guard is. From my inspection, Lingshan Guard has returned to its prosperous scene during the Wanli Period. Aoshan Guard was placed under the rule of Liu Yan not long ago. Although it is not as prosperous as Lingshan Guard, it is It has a different atmosphere, and it is completely different from the rest of Jimo Camp."
"Mao Xingyi and Liu Yan are neighbors. They have such a good geographical advantage, but their rule is still so desolate. It shows that this person is either a mediocre person or a villain!"
Lu Huaiying nodded in agreement, believing it to be true.
Lu Xiangsheng said: "Has Liu Yan notified you?"
"Don't worry, Governor. Two days before the Governor sets out from Jinan Fucheng, the general has already sent people to Jimo Yingcheng."
"Um."
"Supervisor, the general has already asked Liu Youyi before. He doesn't have any extra money or food. Isn't it a bit condescending for the Superintendent to come here in person this time?"
Lu Xiangsheng sighed slightly and said: "Liu Yan used to rely on many industries to support thousands of strong armies. During this time, he came up with a strange cement, which is even sold in Jinan Prefecture. Although the quantity is not large, it is said that this thing It's very magical. It's very popular to build houses with half the effort, which shows how much money Liu Yan earned."
"Liu Yan is good at management. He is not only a fierce general on the battlefield, but also an able minister in governing the world. If you use such a person well, you will be an important minister of ZTE. If you use him poorly, he will be Cao Cao of the world!"
"So when I go to Aoshanwei this time, I not only want to buy some cement and go back to strengthen the city of Jinan, but I also want to have a good talk with Liu Yan."
"The governor wants to..."
"Yes, I have no choice but to give it a try. I hope Liu Yan can help."
Early the next morning, in the north of the Aoshan Acropolis, Liu Yan led the commanders Miao Shao, Shen Tuo, the cement workshop director Han Feng, and the New Army officers and soldiers from the Guards Battalion to wait for Lu Xiangsheng's guard of honor outside the city.
Not long after, General Zhang Youxun and several guerrilla generals including Mao Xingyi, Wang Ye, Dong Bihui, Li Jiwen, and Hu Zongming came over.
Liu Yan said with a smile: "The general arrived very quickly."
Zhang Youxun also had a smile on his face and said: "The governor is here. How can I be late? Naturally, I have to come earlier and wait."
Then Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming also came to greet Liu Yan, and the three of them exchanged a few words. However, since Zhang Youxun was nearby, Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming couldn't say much, so they stopped talking after a few words.
Soon, Lu Xiangsheng's honor guard arrived outside the city, and Liu Yan and Zhang Youxun stepped forward to pay homage to Lu Xiangsheng.
Lu Xiangsheng said a few words to everyone, and then said to Zhang Youxun and others: "This governor is just inspecting Liu Gueryi's jurisdiction. If you have anything to do, you can make your own arrangements. There is no need to accompany him."
Zhang Youxun and others were stunned when they heard this, and looked at Liu Yan with jealousy.
"Liu Youyi, please show me around."
"yes."
Liu Yan, Miao Shao, Shen Tuo and others rode their horses to accompany Lu Xiangsheng.
"I wonder where the governor wants to see?"
"Go and see your new cement workshop."
Liu Yan was stunned for a moment, and then said: "The Governor, please postpone entering the city for a while, and I will guide the Governor the way."
"good."
Zhang Youxun and others saw that Lu Xiangsheng's guard of honor did not enter the city, but walked towards the north. Hesitating whether to follow him or not, General Lu Huaiying rode over and said to everyone with a smile: "Excuse me, everyone, there is someone over there with the governor." Just let Liu Youyi accompany you."
"Haha, yes, I'll go back first. The governor has orders, and I'll be there soon."
Zhang Youxun left Aoshan Acropolis unwillingly, and became even more jealous of Liu Yan.
Li Jiwen and Hu Zongming lamented that Liu Yan's official career was prosperous, and with Lu Xiangsheng's favor, his future prospects were limitless.
Here, Liu Yan took Lu Xiangsheng to the cement workshop and arranged for the person in charge, Han Feng, to lead the way and introduce the situation of the cement workshop to Lu Xiangsheng.
Han Feng was very nervous. He kept wiping his sweat while talking as he walked ahead. Even though the weather was very cold, he could not help but shed beads of sweat.
"Reporting to the governor, the governor, the situation in the workshop is like this. I will ask the governor to move over later, and I will demonstrate the use of cement to the governor."
Lu Xiangsheng looked at the calcining furnaces in the workshop. The craftsmen were busy transporting various raw materials to designated locations. The workshop was a busy scene.
"What is the output of this workshop? How much profit is it?"
Han Feng was stunned immediately and looked at Liu Yan hurriedly.
Lu Xiangsheng looked at Liu Yan with a smile and said, "I wonder if Liu Youyi can tell the truth?"
Liu Yan cupped his fists and said, "Actually, the governor doesn't ask. After the demonstration is completed, the general will report to the governor."
"Currently, the cement workshop can produce more than 600,000 kilograms of cement per month. It can be sold at a price of 400 taels per bag, making a profit of more than 7,000 taels."
Lu Xiangsheng was very moved when he heard this. Now that the Dubiao Camp has been reorganized, the cost of each soldier, including military pay, rations, military equipment, training, etc., together, is about six taels of silver per month.
One month's income from a cement workshop can support more than a thousand soldiers of the supervision camp. This shows how huge the income of the workshop is!
"It seems that Liu Youyi knows how to manage things."
Liu Yan said: "The governor is making fun of me. I am forced to have no choice. If these industries are not developed, with the money and food of Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard, my new army will have been disbanded long ago. Even now , the New Army’s expenses also account for the bulk, and the profits from these workshops must be invested in it.”
Lu Xiangsheng was noncommittal, and Lu Huaiying also glanced at Liu Yan, obviously not very convinced.
"Let's go and see a demonstration on the use of cement."
"yes."
In an open space inside the workshop, Lu Xiangsheng stared at a wooden barrel, which contained cement mixed with water in proportion and placed on the ground to wait for solidification.
Lu Xiangsheng stirred it with a wooden stick and asked, "How long will it take for this cement to solidify like you said?"
Han Feng said: "It will take about two and a half hours to report to the governor."
"So long!"
Lu Xiangsheng frowned slightly, and Lu Huaiying shook his head slightly. It would take half a day for the cement to solidify, which was too long.
Han Feng said: "It does take a long time, but once the cement solidifies, it will be as solid as a rock and is very easy to use for building 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. If the governor wants to see it, he can go now."
"Go and have a look."
Soon, Liu Yan, Lu Xiangsheng and others arrived outside the cement house. Lu Xiangsheng and Lu Huaiying looked at the gray-white two-story house. They were shocked beyond words. There was such a house in the world.
Lu Xiangsheng strode to the wall, and then punched it hard. As expected, it was as solid as a rock. His fist was red and slightly painful. With Lu Xiangsheng's strength, if it were 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 me was not damaged at all!
Lu Huaiying on the side also looked at the scene in front of him in astonishment and murmured: "This is really an unheard of strange thing!"
"Ha ha!"
Lu Xiangsheng suddenly laughed and said to Liu Yan: "Liu Youqi, I want to buy a batch of cement from you, but I don't have much money and food. Can you give me a better price?"
Liu Yan clasped his fists and said: "If the governor needs it, the general will support him. Why do we need the governor's money and food?"
Lu Huaiying felt happy and cast an approving look at Liu Yan.
But Lu Xiangsheng waved his hand and said, "You also need to earn money to support the army. I can't take it in vain."
Liu Yan thought for a while and then said: "The governor is considerate of his subordinates, and I am grateful to the general in my heart. Each bag of cement is thirty kilograms, and the external price is four hundred yuan per bag. If the governor needs it, just two hundred yuan per bag. "
Lu Xiangsheng asked in surprise: "Half the price? Wouldn't you be at a big loss?"
Liu Yan said seriously: "The governor is devoted to the country, how can the general be greedy for small profits! Even if the governor suffers a loss, the general can bear it. If the governor wants to raise the price, then he will not sell it. Please don't do it." Strange!"
Miao Shao, Shen Tuo, and Han Feng on the side all had an inexplicable look on their faces after listening to it, and they all thought to themselves: "The cost of cement is only 80 yuan, and you can sell it to the governor for 200 yuan, and you can still be upright and let the governor." Please keep this in mind, your lord is indeed very eloquent!"
Lu Xiangsheng was a little moved after hearing Liu Yan's words, and said: "In this case, the governor will order two thousand bags of cement. If there is a need later, the governor will send Lu Shen to deliver it to the workshop."
"yes."
Then Lu Xiangsheng looked at the cement house in front of him and said to Liu Yan: "Liu Yan, you know the difficulties of this governor. When I came here this time, I was prepared to borrow some money and food from you. Now in Jinan Fucheng The remnants of the city defense, Supervisor Biao Camp and Governor Yan's Fubiao Camp are also in urgent need of rectification, but I and Governor Yan don't have much food."
"But after looking at it today, the governor also saw your difficulties. A cement workshop with a booming business only earns more than 7,000 taels a month. Even if you have some other industries, how much money can you make? "
At this point, Lu Xiangsheng sighed, thinking that Liu Yan had to raise thousands of new troops and maintain the development of Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard, and he must be as stretched as he was. At this time, he couldn't open his mouth to borrow money or food.
Seeing Lu Xiangsheng unable to speak, Lu Huaiying looked at Liu Yan eagerly and said, "Liu Youqi, if the governor had not really had no choice, he would not be so sincere today. Otherwise, you could squeeze out some..."
Lu Xiangsheng waved his hand to stop Lu Huaiying, and then laughed and said: "Haha, let's not talk anymore. Today, the governor saw the magic of cement, and he was very happy. Liu Yan, you are going to have a banquet today, and the governor and General Lu Shen are going to eat it. You have a meal."
Liu Yan also sighed in his heart. He could support Lu Xiangsheng with money and food, but what happens next? Liu Yan is very clear about the principle of not exposing wealth. He admires Lu Xiangsheng, but it does not mean that he can fully expose his strength. In this world, he still has to keep a low profile.
So Liu Yan didn't mention the money and food again, clasped his fists and said, "I'm so honored, I will stay with the governor and Brother Lu until they get drunk today!"
Some people died, but not completely...
