Ding Quan has been a little depressed recently. When his lord established the Commercial Affairs Department, he and Huang Fu were divided into left and right envoys, one in charge of internal affairs and the other of external affairs. Both of them were fifth-grade, regardless of high or low.
In this campaign against the Qin Dynasty, Huang Fu was in Chang'an City. He sent out key information and made great achievements. He was awarded the title of Prince of Pingchang County and promoted to the fourth rank of General Guangwu.
Although the two were colleagues and had a good relationship on weekdays and often drank together, competition with each other was inevitable. Now that Huang Fu had surpassed him, the secret guards of the right commander were very happy, and the subordinates of the left commander were inevitably a little depressed.
In order to boost morale, Ding Quan summoned all his subordinates to give a lecture, comforting everyone that there are many opportunities to make meritorious deeds. The Lord has clear rewards and punishments, and he will not treat everyone poorly.
Then Ding Quan emphasized that the Lord had repeatedly ordered to keep a close eye on the Ordnance Department at Baizhang Mountain, strictly check entry and exit, strictly guard against intrusions, and must not reveal the secrets developed by the Ordnance Department.
The Ordnance Department of Baizhang Mountain was heavily guarded. A wall was built against the mountain. Three thousand soldiers and horses were stationed here. Two thousand county troops and one thousand elite troops were stationed here. A wall was built inside the military camp to surround the village, leaving only one entrance and exit. , entry and exit by ID card.
The Ordnance Department is located in the military camp. Craftsmen work at the beginning of every day with their identity cards. At the end of the day, they return to the village to live. They have one day off every ten days. The annual salary for ordinary craftsmen is 150 dan, technicians 260 dan, and senior workers. Five hundred stones is several times higher than making a living outside, and the work is mainly research and development, so it is not too tiring.
There are more than 800 households in the walled village, most of which are the families of craftsmen or officials from the Ordnance Department. The house where Yin Huizhen and her son live is in the west of the village. The houses around the house are guarded by Yang Anxuan, including retired veterans, members of the Yang family and secret guards.
Although the village is small, it has markets, schools, bars, restaurants, etc., and the prices are relatively cheap. There are farmlands and vegetable fields nearby. Apart from the inconvenience of access, everything that can be found in Xiangyang City is here.
Yan Kai, counselor of the Department of Commercial Affairs, said: "Sir Ding, in the past few days, more than ten agents have been captured in Baizhang Village, including those from the Northern Wei Dynasty, Qin State, Qiu Chi and the imperial court. They all sneaked in from Baizhang Mountain."
Ding Quan said angrily: "My lord has repeatedly told me that the Military Intelligence Department is the top priority. You have repeatedly told me to set up more hidden sentries in the mountains. If there is not enough manpower, my lord agreed that we can use them from the army. You also let Xi Zuo sneak in. If anything happens again, you will go to Yong Gong." Please forgive me."
When everyone saw Ding Quan getting angry, they all bowed and said, "Servants, please be careful and never dare to neglect me."
As the security chief of the Military Intelligence Department, Yang Anxuan gave Ding Quan great power, and could even mobilize the three thousand troops stationed there. The last time Meng Longfu came to Xiangyang, Ding Quan went to see him. The old master said, "The greater the power, the greater the responsibility, so take care of yourself."
This sentence made Ding Quan think about it for a long time. Brother Meng used to be a straight-talker, but now he has learned to speak half a sentence. Thinking carefully about the most important word "responsibility" in this sentence, Ding Quan thought that his lord came to Baizhang Mountain at least five or six times a month to inspect the research and development progress of the Ordnance Department, and he would inevitably go to the village mansion.
Ding Quan was actually the supervisor of the Ordnance Department. Yang Anxuan sometimes asked him to accompany him when he went to the village mansion, so Ding Quan knew that the beautiful and gentle woman in the house had given birth to two sons for his lord.
In September of the previous year, the lord summoned all his subordinates to come to discuss matters. Yin Ji, the prefect of Shunyang, went to the village to visit him with gifts. Yang Anxuan asked Ding Quan to accompany Yin Ji there. When he heard Yin Ji talking with the woman, he was shocked. I found out that the woman was the sister of Yin Prefect.
Ding Quan heard that Yin Ji had a sister who was sent to the palace as a concubine of the crown prince in her early years. Later she became a noble concubine and died of illness in Xiangyang. Thinking again that sometimes the lord's sister would come by car, Ding Quan thought about it and was extremely frightened, surprised and happy. I was shocked to learn such a shocking secret, which was unpredictable; I was happy that the lord did not hide from me, but treated me as a confidant.
This matter was so important that Ding Quan didn't even disclose the Meng Long Fu. As a secret guard, he knew that if he didn't keep his mouth shut, he would be close to death.
After learning the secret, Ding Quanhui deliberately searched for some children's toys and gave them to the young masters Yang Yi and Yang Yue when he followed Yang Anxuan to the village mansion. They were very fond of the two young masters, and the Yin family even gave them gifts in return. . Yang Anxuan turned a blind eye, and Ding Quan figured that his master allowed him to be close to the Yin family and the two young masters, so he tacitly allowed him to protect them.
The eldest son of the lord, Yang Min, was granted the title of Crown Prince of Yonggong, and then came the good news of marrying the eldest daughter of King Langya. Ding Quan secretly sighed in his heart, the young master Yang Yi didn't even have a chance to be known to the world, and the two legitimate sons were the two of them. Don't.
Ding Quan did not dare to continue thinking about it. The lord's family affairs were handled by the lord himself. After all, the lord was only thirty-six years old, in his prime, wise and wise, and could completely control the future. He just had to do his duty.
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Jiankang, Xizhou City, Taiwei Mansion.
Xu Xianzhi reported that he had sent dozens of agents to Xiangyang during this period. Most of them had no chance to approach Baizhang Mountain, and a few people had lost news and did not know whether they were alive or dead.
Liu Yu sighed and said: "Yang Anxuan has tightened his control over the craftsmen because of the Tangxi Iron Casting incident. It will be difficult to take advantage of the loopholes. Maozong, has your search for Taoist priests produced any results?"
Zhang Shao stroked his beard and said with a smile on his face: "I'm reporting to Lieutenant, initial results have been seen."
Liu Yu was overjoyed and said: "Oh, Maozong has cracked Yong Yan's army's weapon and made a great contribution."
Zhang Shao said: "After the servant Taiwei gave the order, he immediately summoned Taoist priests to consult. He just heard that Zhenren Zhong, a disciple of Zhenren Xu, came to the capital to preach, so I made a special trip to ask for advice."
Xu Xun was born in the Xu family of Gaoyang. The Xu family of Gaoyang was a top-grade family. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xu Shao and Xu Jing presided over the Yuedan Commentary, and they were Xu Xun's ancestors. Due to the rebellion between Sun En and Lu Xun, the imperial court strictly controlled the Tao of Heavenly Masters, but Xu Xun's teachings of loyalty, filial piety to gods, and respect for secular ethics were not banned by the imperial court.
"According to Zhong Zhenren, Master Ge Xian recorded the method of alchemy in his book "Baopuzi", which uses metal, eight stones, three yellows, mercury and saltpeter and other materials through satin, refining, burning and melting. , draw, fly, lie down and other methods to make elixirs. However, refining elixirs is extremely dangerous. If you are not careful, the elixir furnace will explode and cause thick smoke and fire, which is similar to what Yao Hong said." Zhang Shao said with a smile.
Liu Yu gave a high-five excitedly and asked, "Have you ever tried it?"
Zhang Shao said: "I immediately asked Master Zhong to start the alchemy furnace. The alchemy furnace accidentally exploded at Mao the next day. I stayed next to the alchemy room. When I arrived, I saw the iron alchemy furnace cracked into several pieces. Thick smoke and fire broke out, several Taoists guarding the furnace were burned, and the alchemy room was in a mess. The situation was similar to what Yao Hong said, but the power was not as good."
Liu Yu stood up excitedly and walked for two steps: "It means we have found the right path. We ordered to build a Taoist temple in Caizhou, asked Zhenren Zhong to teach Taoism, and invited Taoists who knew how to make alchemy to study explosive and burning things. We asked for money. If you want people to give it to people, they must develop this thing as soon as possible.”
Zhang Shao suggested: "Although there are some clues in studying this object, it may take some time to be as sharp as the one used by Yong Yan's army. Yao Hong and other Qin surrender officials have experienced this object, so we might as well send them to Caizhou to coordinate." Refining things.”
Liu Yu said with a smile: "Maozong is right. He told Yao Hong and others that if they can develop a pill that can explode and cause fire, I will spare their lives and let them serve as officials in the court."
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In Pingcheng, Wei lord Tuoba Si led the capital general Xi Jin, Hongfei general Wei Guzhen and others to attack the Yueqin tribe in Bana Mountain to the west and moved the Yueqin tribe to Yunzhong County.
Shengle in Yunzhong was the old capital of Dai State. Tuoba Si hosted a banquet for tribal leaders in the old palace of Shengle, and sent Duke Liu Jie of Kuaiji to garrison Xihe to recruit and conquer the rebellious tribes.
On June 3, Tuoba Si returned to Pingcheng, the capital, and received a battle report from Sun Song, the eldest son of Nanping. Changsun Song reported that it would be unfavorable to go south to capture Yanzhou of Jin, so he turned west to attack Qin's Hedong County, taking most of Hedong such as Donghuan, Anyi, Wenxi, etc., and went north to capture Pingyang County.
Tuoba Si said: "Qin was destroyed by Jin. I really didn't expect it. If I had known that Qin was so fragile, I should have ordered Duke Nanping to take Chang'an first."
I saw in the memorial that the Jin Dynasty used several kinds of powerful weapons when it destroyed the Qin Dynasty. There were objects that could send out huge earthquakes that could collapse the gates, there were arson objects that could be put out immediately, and there were also catapults that could continuously throw stones. Tuoba Si took a breath, Jin had such a sharp weapon, I'm afraid the offensive and defensive potential would be different.
Changsun Song reported that many people surrendered to Wei after the fall of Qin. He learned from the mouths of these surrenderers that the noise and fire objects were most likely related to Taoist alchemy, and he reported this to Qin who knew about it. The surrender ministers were sent to Pingcheng together.
Tuoba Si immediately summoned the surrendered ministers of the Qin State and inquired in detail about the reason. When he learned that the speculation came from the eminent monk Kumarajiva, Tuoba Si immediately issued an order to summon Kou Qian to see him.
When Kou Qianzhi learned the reason why Wei Lord Tuoba Si summoned him, he pondered for a moment and said: "When Pindao's alchemy failed, the alchemy furnace exploded and collapsed. The Taoist priest who kept the furnace was burned and shocked by the alchemy fire. As a matter of fact, whether the things used by the Jin army were produced by alchemy or not, I dare not judge arbitrarily."
Tuoba Si said: "Kou Immortal, if you can develop something used by the Jin army, I will make you a heavenly protector of the country and build a Taoist temple for you. I hope Taoism will flourish in the country."
Kou Qianzhi was overjoyed. When Yang Anxuan told him that "Tao is rising in the north," it could be that the opportunity has arrived. Kou Qianzhi shook the whisk, saluted with one hand and said, "I obey the order."
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In the Western Qin Dynasty, after the death of Qifu Gan, Qifu Chipan moved the capital from Yuanchuan to Wuhan to temporarily avoid the attack of the Later Qin Dynasty. Unexpectedly, in just one year, the once powerful Qin Dynasty perished at the hands of the Jin army, leaving Qifu Chipan in mourning.
Meeting the Jin army on the banks of the Qingshui River, Qifu Chipan further realized the strength of the Jin army. The Jin army with strong weapons and powerful weapons was no match for the Qin army. After receiving 1,400 swords and guns as a gift from Yang Anxuan, Qifu Chipan asked for vassal status from the Jin Kingdom and set his sights on the Liang Kingdom and Tuyuhun to the west. Only when they became stronger could they have a chance to compete with the Jin army.
After returning to Panhan, Qifu Chipan ordered his younger brothers Zhendong General Qifu Tanda and Pingdong General Wang Songshou to lead an army to attack the Xiuguan tribe, plundering more than 10,000 people, occupying Baishi City, Xianqin City, and various tribes in Longyou. Frightened by the power of Western Qin, they all surrendered.
Immediately afterwards, Qifu Chipan led his army to personally conquer Longxi. The commander of Longxi Town was Suoleng, the Taiwei of the Later Qin Dynasty. The Later Qin Dynasty was dead. Qifu Chipan recruited Suoleng as the Taifu and surrendered. He captured all the land in Longxi and won the surrender of the Later Qin Dynasty. Eight thousand soldiers.
After taking over Longyou and Longxi, the territory of Western Qin nearly doubled and its national strength increased. Qifu Chipan sent Anbei general Wu Diyan and champion general Zhai Shao to attack Tuyuhun, defeating the Jubang army and capturing Qinqinchuan.
Secretly, Chipan sent people to Jinliangzhou and recruited Taoists to Pouhan. He also coveted the extremely powerful "Heavenly Fire".
