Zhong Min looked at the construction site that was about to arrive in front of him and said, "I also want to know how expensive this cement is! Okay! Put the cement on the construction site, and we will go back and ask about the price!" The two put the cement down and walked back. Went to the cement workshop. Queuing was a good thing invented by Mr. Yang. The two of them did not dare to disrupt the order of the queue. They waited in the queue to receive cement and moved forward little by little. After waiting for a quarter of an hour, they got to the front.
Liang Laoer, who was distributing cement, glanced at Ge Laoer and saw that he came empty-handed. He asked loudly: "Where are the barrels for the cement?" Ge Laoer quickly explained: "We have already received it. We are here to ask a question. , is this cement for sale?" Several craftsmen distributing the cement looked at each other and said: "I hope the village will use it more in the past six months and not sell it. In the future, I hope the village will repair it and sell it to the outside world!" Ge Laoer's face was filled with joy. , said with a smile: "How much does this cement cost per pound?"
Hearing Ge Laoer's question, the masons behind him became interested and moved forward to listen to Mr. Liang's answer. These masons have all thought that if the price of cement is cheaper than Sanhe soil, then they can earn some money for building materials for people's houses in the future. When Boss Liang saw the masons queuing up behind him, they all crowded up and stared at him, and said loudly: "Queue up, don't mess up the queue!"
The masons who came up refused to leave, and said one after another: "There will be no chaos! Dad, please tell us a price and we will queue up!" "How much does this cement cost per kilogram? Dad, let me know!" "Yes! , how did Mr. Yang sell it?" When the masons saw Mr. Liang working for hundreds of households, they called Mr. Liang "father". Seeing that the masons were so eager to know the answer, Mr. Liang glanced at his companions and said helplessly: "Don't be anxious! The management team leader said that the price of this cement will not exceed three cents per pound!"
Hearing this, the masons who gathered around were all happy, and their faces were full of joy. Ge Laoer and Zhong Yong looked at each other, their eyes full of excitement. You must know that the cost of Sanhe soil is one penny per pound, but a pound of Sanhe soil can only be used as a pound! Cement is mixed with sand at a ratio of 1:5, so one pound can be used as six pounds. The price of cement is three times that of Sanhe soil, which means that the cost of using cement and sand as a binder is only half of that of Sanhe soil.
This means that as long as masons buy cement and help others build houses, they can save half of the cost of adhesives! This is no small sum of money. For a mason who only earns a little more than one tael of silver a month, his income will almost double! Although cement makes them throw away the most familiar three-component soil, it can make them more money!
Those happy masons asked loudly: "When will Mr. Yang start selling cement?" "The quantity is insufficient!" "Can I buy it? Can't I buy it?" Mr. Liang replied helplessly: "I can buy it! I hope you can buy it!" The cement will be sold as soon as the village is repaired! Our boss will definitely have enough supplies, now everyone go back and line up! Get the cement and start working!"
After hearing this assurance, the happy masons felt relieved and returned to the team receiving cement. On October 15th, Hua Zhang, a member of the first platoon of the third company of the first battalion of the Selection Regiment, received his monthly payment. The Yang family pays the three taels of monthly money in full without any deductions or arrears. After repairing the city wall that day, after dinner, the commander of the first battalion, Zhan Jinguo, set up a table with two oil lamps outside the barracks and distributed money to the soldiers of the first battalion one by one.
Although Zhan Jinguo is young, he is a close confidant of Master Yang Peng, and he speaks and does things in a very orderly manner. These days, Zhan Jinguo and his soldiers were filling and ramming earth on the city wall, sweating and working hard. No soldier in the camp dared to look down upon him. Hua Zhang's monthly money was personally received from the battalion commander Zhan Jinguo. The silver on her bare feet glistened under the light of the oil lamp. Hua Zhang took the silver and rubbed it back and forth in his hands, feeling indescribably happy. "Thank you so much, battalion commander!" Zhan Jinguo glanced at Hua Zhang and said calmly: "Thank me for what? If you want to thank me, just thank my brother! It's all his money!"
Hua Zhang quickly changed his words and said, "Yes, thank you Mr. Yang!" Hua Zhang took the money, held it tightly in his arms, and walked to his earthen house. Hua Zhang is nineteen years old, and his father sighs every day because he is worried that the family has no money to marry Hua Zhang. Now Hua Zhang can get three taels of silver a month, and his father's worries will be solved - soon he will be able to save twenty taels of silver as a betrothal gift and find a matchmaker to find a daughter-in-law!
After getting monthly money, Hua Zhang hurried home to report to his father. In the two mud houses of the Hua family, his father was overjoyed when he heard the news. His old cough seemed to be gone all of a sudden. He talked to Hua Zhang for a quarter of an hour without coughing. Hua Zhang talked with his father for a while, happily hid the money in the box and prepared to return to the barracks. As soon as he went out, he saw Mrs. Shen next door. Mrs. Shen looked at Hua Zhang from top to bottom, and then said, "Hua Zhang! You've grown stronger!"
Hua Zhang answered honestly: "I have eaten well in the barracks this month and worked every day, so I have grown stronger!" After hearing this, Mrs. Shen raised her head and stared at Hua Zhang with squinted eyes, mysteriously He said awkwardly: "Hua Zhang, please don't lie to me! I heard that you are paying monthly money!" Hua Zhang is a straight-tempered person and replied happily: "Why did I lie to you, Mrs. Shen? We are paying monthly money. Pay. I got three taels of barefoot silver without any deductions!"
Aunt Shen was silent for a long time after hearing Hua Zhang's words. After a long time, he said with great jealousy: "Hua Zhang, you are so lucky, you know how to apply for soldiers! My son was so stupid that he didn't apply when he saw the recruitment notice. He said it was a lie. As a result, he can only Drinking porridge in the Zhuang Army! Look, money is really being paid now!" After hearing Sister Shen's words, Hua Zhang touched his head and said, "I only accepted the recruitment after hearing Jiang Chong's promise."
Aunt Shen spat: "What Jiang Chong, don't mention that bad guy, that's your fate! Hua Zhang, you are rich now! Do you want to marry a wife?" Hua Zhang looked at Aunt Shen and said loudly: "Think about it, why don't you think about it? Sister-in-law Shen, do you have a connection?" Sister-in-law Shen smiled mysteriously and said: "I am well-informed. I don't know any girl from all over the country. If you want to get married, I will give it to you. Introduce me!"
Hua Zhang has been worried about not getting a wife for more than a year. He was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly agreed: "Okay, Sister-in-law Shen, please introduce me to a good one. I will give you money to thank you then!" Sister-in-law Shen He covered his mouth and smiled and said, "What kind of girl do you like?" Hua Zhang thought for a while, touched his head and said, "I like big ones!" Aunt Shen was stunned and asked, "What kind of big ones, butts?" Big or big breasts, Hua Zhang, please tell me clearly!"
Hua Zhang then said resolutely: "Big breasts!" Aunt Shen nodded and said: "Okay, I understand. If you want someone with big breasts, I will help you find a girl with big breasts in the next few days. When the time comes, I will find you a girl with big breasts." !" Hua Zhang said with a smile: "Then it's all down to Sister-in-law Shen!" "Remember the money you said!" Sister-in-law Shen spat, said nothing, and walked away with her hips.
Hua Zhang said goodbye to Sister-in-law Shen. He felt that he was getting married. He was overjoyed. He thought to himself that it was different to follow the leader of the team. Suddenly a matchmaker came to help him arrange it. He couldn't believe that he would be married in a few months. Got my wife in my arms. He walked towards the barracks with a grin on his face, and halfway there he met Jiang Chong who was wandering in the village.
"Jiang Chong! Jiang Chong!" Hua Zhang ran to Jiang Chong and said loudly: "I'm telling you a great thing!" Jiang Chong was wandering there with a piece of weed in his mouth. When he turned around and saw Hua Zhang, he asked casually "What's the big deal?" "A matchmaker is here to introduce me to a marriage!" Hua Zhang smiled happily and said, "My father has been worried for two years, but he was poor before and no one cared about me. Now As soon as the battalion commander gives me the monthly payment, a matchmaker will help me." Jiang Chong spat out the weeds and spat: "With a monthly payment of three taels, of course there will be money-greedy matchmakers eyeing you!"
Hua Zhang touched his head and said, "What do you mean by a money-grubbing matchmaker? She's just helping me introduce my wife. Jiang Chong, don't you want to get married quickly?" Jiang Chong said, "I used to think about it, but now I'm not in a hurry! Mrs. Shen just found me. , I ignored her!" "Sister-in-law Shen is looking for you too? Why don't you let her find you a wife?" Jiang Chong glared at Hua Zhang and said, "Hua Zhang, you are stupid, your family is still poor now , there are only three taels of silver in the box at home, and there are only two shabby mud houses in the house. What kind of beautiful girl can the matchmaker introduce to you? It would be great to find an ugly daughter-in-law for you! But we get three or two taels of money a month, if you are not in a hurry After getting married, wait two years and save dozens of taels of silver to buy a decent house, such as a small villa built by the team leader! The conditions will suddenly be different! With the small villa, the family will have money , and with such a high monthly salary, aren’t you allowed to choose girls from all over the country?”
Hearing Jiang Chong's words, Hua Zhang suddenly felt as if he was enlightened. He stood there hesitating for a long time and said holding his breath, "Jiang Chong, what you said makes sense!" Jiang Chong glanced at Hua Zhang and said, "Besides, you Think about it, we are the first batch of soldiers of the battalion commander!" After a pause, Jiang Chong said slowly: "Look at those rifles of the battalion commander, they can kill the enemy hundreds of steps away. Like, do you think the battalion commander will just be the boss in the future? I think the staff and generals can’t stop it. When the battalion commander expands his team, we veterans will have the opportunity to become officers!"
Jiang Chong looked at Hua Zhang and said, "I heard from the platoon leader that his monthly salary is sixty taels of silver! Think about it, if we were lucky enough to become the platoon leader and have sixty taels of silver monthly, we would be able to find many handsome girls. Being a daughter-in-law? How can it be compared with you now hurriedly looking for an ugly wife?" Hua Zhang was talked about by Jiang Chong from beginning to end. He blushed after thinking for a long time and said: "Jiang Chong, you That’s right! If I hadn’t listened to you, I wouldn’t have gone to apply for the battalion commander’s soldiers! I listened to you! Then I’ll go talk to Mrs. Shen and tell her that I’m not looking for a wife for the time being!”
When Jiang Chong heard what Hua Zhang said, he smiled and said no more. In mid-October, Yang Peng already had one hundred and thirty flintlock guns. Yang Peng used these rifles to arm a company of 125 people, and the remaining few were distributed to several battalion commanders to familiarize them with the weapons. After acquiring this magical weapon that could kill a person hundreds of steps away, soldiers and officers regarded them as treasures, and their morale increased greatly.
Yang Peng asked the company equipped with flintlock muskets to only build the city wall for half a day every day, and the remaining half of the day went to the training ground to practice formation and the shooting range to practice target shooting. Rifle shooting and formation are easy things to learn. After practicing for more than half a month, by early November, the company's shooting was able to hit the target 90% of the time at a distance of 200 meters, and the formation was well-trained.
Zhan Jinguo didn't understand why the soldiers were asked to practice formation. "Sir, you asked these soldiers to practice walking in unison and looking to the right. They practiced so neatly that they made a company move like one person. It seems to have nothing to do with the battle. There must be some hidden meaning!" Zhan Jin Guoji can speak, although He was expressing his doubts, but when he said a question, it sounded like flattery. Yang Peng glanced at Zhan Jin Guo and smiled: "Jin Guo, you have to know that our troops are different. We use rifles and do not emphasize the bravery of individual infantry, but use arrays to shoot. In this case, Whether soldiers abide by discipline becomes the key to combat effectiveness! I ask soldiers to train in formation, and what I train is their discipline!"
Zhan Jinguo raised his hands and said, "Listening to what you say is worth ten years of studying!" Zhang Xiang stood aside and said, "Zhan Jinguo, why are you so elegant? You look like a scholar!" Zhan Jinguo was about to explain, but he heard Yang Peng said: "Zhang Xiang, don't think others are polite! You still don't know a few words!" Zhang Xiang held his head high and said: "I am illiterate, but I don't want to take the exam for merit!" Yang Peng said: " From tomorrow onwards, find a teacher to teach you how to read. Recognize ten characters every day and learn 1,500 characters in half a year. At least you must be able to understand notices and documents." After a pause, Yang Peng turned to the other two who were watching the fun. Battalion commanders Cheng Shijie and Duan Zhixian said: "You two also need to learn to read. I will check you in half a year."
"Brother, your demands are getting higher and higher!" Yang Peng scolded: "Don't be lazy and ignorant. How will you deliver orders and lead troops to fight if you can't read?"
"Okay, I'll learn!" After hearing Yang Peng's words, the three battalion commanders agreed. Zhan Jinguo already knew how to read and write, so he didn't need to learn anymore, so he stood aside somewhat proudly. Yang Peng added: "You four battalion commanders should pay attention to observation at ordinary times, or entrust the company commander to observe, and promote those soldiers who are smart and responsible, and have outstanding performance in training and labor to squad leaders. Each squad leader will be in charge of seven or eight people. The monthly payment will be increased by one to four taels per month."
Zhan Jinguo replied: "Okay, big brother! The person who was promoted will probably go crazy with joy!" Duan Zhixian cupped his hands and replied: "Okay! Big brother!" Zhou Dayong and Liu Zhiliang hurriedly said: "I understand! Sir" "I Got it! Sir!" After practicing in formation for an hour, the soldiers left the training ground and moved to the shooting range to start shooting training. The soldiers of this company have been practicing for twenty days, firing twenty shots every day. The soldiers' shooting has become precise, and the targets hundreds of meters away are crackling. The reloading speed has also increased from half a minute to half a month ago. The hair rate has been increased to three rounds per minute now.
Yang Peng's troops used fixed gunpowder technology. This technology is simple to say, and at this time, the Song Dynasty still didn’t know what it was. However, in the Ming Dynasty, soldiers put the gunpowder and bullets needed for a flintlock rifle into a paper bag. When using it, they first bit the paper bag and poured a little gunpowder into the gunpowder pool, and then stuffed the remaining gunpowder and bullets into the gun chamber. RB people do not use paper bags, but put the gunpowder and bullets used in a single shot in bamboo tubes, which is called haohe.
This loading method ensures rapid shooting of the muzzleloading rifle. As a boss, Yang Peng would of course use this advanced charging method. He chose thick oil paper to wrap bullets and gunpowder. Yang Peng and the four battalion commanders watched the shooting range for a while, and they were all excited about the powerful firepower of this company. Liu Zhiliang licked his lips and said, "Brother! This flintlock rifle is too powerful. One soldier can be worth a hundred!"
Yang Peng laughed and said: "What you said is too exaggerated! Do you want to lead troops into battle?" Liu Zhiliang said loudly: "I think about it, I used to think that martial arts was the most important thing on the battlefield, but now I have the skills of an adult." Guns, I realized that weapons and equipment are the most important. With such a powerful force on the battlefield, you will not be afraid even if you face Khitan dogs!" Zhan Jinguo also said excitedly: "Yes, brother, we have such weapons Don’t be afraid if you encounter a Khitan dog! If the Khitan dog comes to rob again like it did a few years ago, we will kill him!"
A large group of refugees came to Yang Peng in a few days. Yang Peng asked where a group of bandits in Yanshan County were responsible. Yang Peng pulled the troops outside the city and camped outside the city for a night's rest. Early the next morning, Yang Peng asked Liu Zhiliang to lead the way to Yanshan to suppress the bandits.
Along the way, Liu Zhiliang was crying and kept nagging: "Battle Commander, that bandit leader is called Guo Shankong. He is good at using a big sword and has killed many heroes! How can you new recruits be his match?" "Mr. Battalion Commander, there are more than 20 good warriors among the bandits, and each of them is one of the best in a hundred. Last time, the county inspection team led 500 people to suppress, but they were all killed by the more than 20 bandits." He collapsed, and his head was chopped to death by Guo Shankong on the spot. As a kid, I escaped quickly and saved my life!"
"Master Battalion Commander, those bandits have killed outside the county town twice in the past six months. The county magistrate has no other choice but to close the city gate, so why do you have to confront them head-on?" "Sir, how can new recruits like you stand up to those ruthless bandits?" A rush? How about we turn back and ask the governor to send more troops to suppress it! Battalion Commander, no matter how famous you are, your life is important, sir!"
Yang Peng was annoyed by the guide's noise and said, "Don't be afraid. When you get there, show me the way and I will let you go!" When Qin Liu heard this, his eyes lit up and he quickly said, "Sir, are you serious about this?" Yang Peng cursed impatiently: "Why did I lie to you?" Qin Liu suddenly looked happy, as if he had saved his life, and then he stopped nagging.
Under the leadership of Qin Liu, the army of more than 200 people walked eastward, gradually walking out of the plains and into a mountainous area. There is no one living in that mountainous area, the terrain is undulating, and there are big trees and boulders everywhere. Yang Peng led his troops back and forth on the narrow mountain road, secretly thinking that this was really a suitable place to hide thieves. After Qin Liu was told that he could leave early, he felt much better and said attentively: "Sir, we have entered the Salt Mountain! After ten miles of walking, we will reach the Thief's Den, Chaoyunfeng Peak!"
In order to prevent being ambushed by bandits, Yang Peng put all infantry on first-level alert. He also sent three squads of twenty-four scouts to scout in front and on both sides, and the large army followed these scouts behind. After walking a few more miles, Yang Peng suddenly heard crackling gunfire from the scouts in front. Yang Peng was heartbroken and shouted loudly: "Everyone occupy the high ground and prepare to meet the enemy!" One hundred The infantrymen climbed on the big rocks on both sides of the road, loaded their rifles with ammunition and prepared to enter the battle.
After a while, a squad of scouts turned back. The scouts were beaming with joy. Two of them carried a bandit who was shot in the leg. They walked up to Yang Peng and threw the bandit to the ground. The bandit's wounds were pulled open and he screamed loudly on the ground. "Sir, I encountered three bandit scouts, captured one alive, and ran away with two!"
Yang Peng looked at the bandit with an injured leg, drew his knife and slashed the bandit's other leg, and the bandit immediately let out a scream. "How many bandits are there in the village?" The injured bandit saw that Yang Peng was so ruthless and did not dare to lie. He said in a panic: "Master! There are more than 340 bandits and more than a hundred women." service!"
Yang Peng asked again: "What weapons do you use?" The bandit replied: "Most of them use broadswords, there are more than 60 archers, and more than 20 horses! More than 30 people have armor! And... ..There are also two useless machine crossbows!" Yang Peng was stunned: "There are still machine crossbows? Where did they come from?" The bandit quickly replied: "Guan Ye! They were cast by the craftsmen of Luocao Village, but There are no bows and arrows in the village, so the crossbow can’t fire!”
"There are still craftsmen in the village?" Yang Peng felt relieved and asked someone to tie the bandit to a tree and ignore him, and continued to move forward with his troops. After walking another four miles, and still three or four miles away from Chayun Peak, Li Zhi heard a "pop!" and heard another shot suddenly fired by the scout squad in front of him who was exploring the road. This shot was obviously an alarm from the reconnaissance squad. Yang Peng quickly asked the troops to occupy a favorable terrain with a wide view and distribute them on the hillside to prepare for battle.
After a while, Yang Peng saw the scout squad in front of him running back. As he ran, he shouted: "Sir! The bandits are coming!" Yang Peng was stunned. He didn't expect these bandits to be so arrogant and so far away. He rushed out of the stronghold. He quickly asked: "How many people are there? How far away?" "About three hundred people! It's only two miles away from here!"
Yang Peng calmed down and secretly thought that his first battle against the bandits was about to begin. He shouted loudly: "Call the other two reconnaissance squads back! Everyone rushes to the top of the mountain to occupy the favorable terrain!" After thinking about it, Yang Peng said: Qin Liu said: "Qin Liu, get out of here, I don't need you to lead the way!"
Qin Liuru was granted amnesty, kowtowed to Yang Peng, and ran away on the road. Following Yang Peng's order, one hundred and twenty-five soldiers ran up the hill with their rifles raised, grabbed the top of the hill and occupied the highest point of the mountain road, and raised their rifles towards the foot of the mountain. Yang Peng walked to the top of the hill and observed the terrain: his troops were at the top of the hill, and the top of the hill was about four hundred meters away from the foot of the hill. If the bandits want to rush over, they can only rush up from the mountain road at the foot of the mountain. The bandits cannot run fast in such terrain. Moreover, this hillside is steep, and there are several cliffs that are impassable in areas where there are no roads. If bandits want to rush up, they can only take the mountain road. Yang Peng's riflemen can easily block the bandits on the mountain road.
Yang Peng secretly thought that the terrain was good, which was conducive to the deployment of firepower of his troops. Of course, if you use three-stage shooting on flat ground, the firepower will be more intense, but if you go into the mountains to suppress bandits, the chance of encountering bandits on flat ground is low. Even if the battle starts on the mountain road, Yang Peng is confident that these bandits will never come back! Yang Peng raised his sword and shouted loudly: "Everyone check again whether the ignition powder is loaded and whether the bullets are loaded!"
The soldiers checked the gunpowder and bullets again, and then pointed their guns at the foot of the mountain again. Everyone waited with bated breath. After waiting for half a quarter of an hour, they saw the bandits coming over. Led by a backbone of more than 20 horsemen, about 300 bandits walked to the foot of the mountain in a mighty manner. Those bandits are all very strong, obviously they eat well! At first, a big thief was very tall. He was riding a tall maroon horse and wearing brand new cotton armor. He was holding a five-ring machete in his hand. He looked menacing. It was probably the leader of the bandits who had passed over the mountain.
The bandits saw the officers and soldiers on the top of the mountain, rode to the mountainside more than 200 meters away from the top of the mountain, stopped their horses, and jumped off their horses one by one, not knowing that they had entered the range of the flintlock gun on the top of the mountain. Seeing that the bandits were stupid, Yang Peng shouted loudly: "Listen up, four platoon leaders. After I call for fire later, the four platoons will take turns to fire, and the platoon leader will take turns to direct the volley! There will be a five-second interval! Do you understand?" ?”
"Got it!" "Got it!"
The bandits jumped off their horses and started shouting at the foot of the mountain. Those wearing armor were adjusting their armor, while those without armor simply took off their shirts, leaving their upper bodies bare and holding up weapons. The leader of the bandits stood at the front, holding a machete and shouting loudly, as if to boost morale. The bandits looked very tough, which made the soldiers on the mountain a little nervous. However, after practicing the formation for a month, Yang Peng's soldiers have good discipline. Moreover, the soldiers all know the power of the rifles in their hands and are confident in defeating these bandits.
However, one soldier still deserted and was too nervous to shoot without permission. Only a "pop" sound was heard, and a soldier squatting on the right side of Zhong Feng pressed the trigger. The bullet didn't have an eye, and I don't know where it hit. The bandits were startled by the shot at first, but when they found that the bullet did not hit any target at all, the bandits burst out laughing. The laughter of more than three hundred people merged into one at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Zhiliang was furious at the soldier who fired without permission. He went up and kicked him until he rolled twice. "Don't obey the command! I'll kick you to death!" The soldier blushed under the gaze of others and hurriedly squatted back to reload his ammunition. After shouting for a long time, the bandits finally ran up the mountain. It was more than 200 meters away from the top of the mountain, less than the distance for a full charge. The bandits did not run at full speed at first. The vanguard of the bandits walked quickly on the mountain road. It took a minute to reach the 150 meters away from the Minigun.
Yang Peng had been waiting for this moment and shouted: "Fire!" After hearing Yang Peng's order, the first row waved their long swords and shouted: "First row fire!" His voice had not yet finished. As soon as it fell, thirty-one flintlock guns spit out tongues of fire, spewed out a cloud of smoke, and poured bullets at the bandits at the foot of the mountain. The distance of one hundred and fifty meters is too close. In daily training, the flintlock rifle almost always hits the human target. Although the soldiers were nervous in actual combat, they still had a 70% hit rate. In just one moment, more than twenty bandits on the mountainside were shot by flintlock guns and fell into a pool of blood amidst screams.
If you want to know what happens next, let’s look at the breakdown in the next chapter.
