Zhao Tong inspects Teng Jia in the mansion.
Ouyang Bei brought them back from Dali before. There are five pairs in total, all of which are old Tengjia. They are shiny and have a history of at least a few decades or more than a hundred years.
One pair is dark red and four are black, all equipped with shields.
The dark red one is made of red blood vine, which is top grade, and the black one is made of green vine, which is average and middle grade.
The same goes for the shield, one red and four black.
Zhao Tong stretched out his hand to pick it up and weighed it. It was extremely light. Although it could not be compared with cloth armor, it was lighter than leather armor and at least 70 to 80% lighter than iron armor.
He said to Zhang Xian next to him: "Try cutting a few times."
Zhang Xian saw the novelty of the rattan armor, so he drew out his standard sword and chopped it off with a single blow. He used a lot of force, and he used every inch of strength, all his strength on the sharp edge.
There was only a "pop" sound, and the vine armor trembled, leaving only a shallow white mark on it.
Zhang Xian's eyes widened immediately. If his knife was made of cloth or leather, it would definitely cut through it. Even if the two were inlaid with iron nails and iron plates, the steel knife was sharp and long and would definitely cut through the non-iron surface. This rattan armor only left a shallow trace.
"My lord, why is this armor so strong?"
Zhao Tong touched the white shallow mark and said: "The material is special and it has been cooked for a long time. In addition, the rattan armor has long been soaked in oil, and the sword cannot fully focus on it."
Zhang Xian said: "I told you that I felt a slight slip when I stabbed it just now. Your lord, do you mean that the rattan armor is only worse than the iron armor?"
Zhao Tong said: "It is not as good as the armor, but it is light, suitable for moving around, and the cost is low."
Zhang Xian reached out and touched the rattan armor, then picked up a rattan plate and chopped it off with a knife. The result was still the same, still a white line.
He seemed to have thought of something and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, although this rattan armor can resist sharp edges, it is too light and may be easily broken by hammers and axes."
Zhao Tong smiled and said: "With heavy weapons, any armor can break the defense. Iron armor has a higher defense because of its hardness. Leather armor is useless, but you might as well give this rattan armor a try."
Zhang Xian grabbed a bone hammer next to him and hit the rattan armor hard, but this time there was a dull "pop" sound.
I saw that the iron bone flower had clearly hit the rattan armor and slightly dented it inward, but at this time, it suddenly bounced. Zhang Xian clearly felt the strong shock on his wrist, and he couldn't help but let out an "Eh" sound: "My lord, this armor is wonderful!"
Zhao Tong said: "Although the body is light and the defensive equipment is inferior to iron armor, it is far from comparable to cloth armor and leather armor."
Zhang Xian said: "Your Majesty, ordinary soldiers cannot wear iron armor, but if they can wear this rattan armor, it will not be much worse than iron armor. I will try my bow and arrow again."
As he said that, he took the bow again, found a suitable position and shot several arrows. Only one arrow got into the crack of the vine armor, but it did not penetrate completely. The other arrows slipped aside after being shot.
Zhang Xian returned to the front, pulled out the arrow that had been shot, took a look at it, and looked at Zhao Tong and said, "My lord, this vine armor's defense against arrows is higher than that of iron armor."
Zhao Tong nodded. Vine armor was slightly inferior to iron armor, but its defense against arrows was indeed higher than iron armor.
There is no other reason. At present, it is limited to craftsmanship. Most of the armors made are chain mail and fine mesh armor. This kind of armor has strong protection against slashing, but it is worse against stabbing.
Although iron armor can protect against stabs to some extent, it is not completely protective, especially compared with strong bows and crossbows, which may be penetrated or shot along the seams.
Zhang Xian touched the vine armor and said: "Your Majesty, these vines are common. If they were all made into armor and distributed to the soldiers, wouldn't they be invincible?"
Zhao Tong glanced at him, shook his head and said: "This kind of armor craftsmanship is extremely complicated, and it has been lost for a long time in the Song Dynasty."
Zhang Xian thought for a while: "That would be a pity. If there is a manufacturing method that can make this kind of rattan armor on a large scale, it will not be a hindrance to the cavalry on the battlefield."
Zhao Tong smiled slightly and said, "You mean to use rattan armor infantry against cavalry?"
Zhang Xian said: "Although my subordinates have never been to the border battlefield, they have seen the armaments of our Song infantry when we fought in Huaixi. If we encounter cavalry charging into the formation, they will definitely be in pieces."
Zhao Tong said: "War horses are very fast. Soldiers usually wear cloth armor, or just military uniforms without armor. If they can withstand the charge of the horse team, even if they are touched and fall, their bones and tendons may be broken, and they will no longer be able to fight."
Zhang Xian pressed the rattan armor hard, and the rattan armor bounced back slightly when he relaxed. He immediately said: "This armor is flexible. Even if you are knocked down by a war horse, you may not be seriously injured. This is far from comparable to iron armor." , Your Majesty, is it true that you can’t find a way to make it?”
Zhao Tong smiled and did not comment. In fact, Ouyang Bei had brought back this rattan armor method when he returned from Dali. However, there is no way to make armor in a place like Tokyo. There are too many things to do in Fujian, and Longyou can't even think about it. , so he didn't intend to reveal the matter.
He said: "So what if you find it? This kind of rattan armor takes up to two years from harvesting to final production."
"It takes two years?" Zhang Xian couldn't help but open his mouth when he heard this. This time was really too long.
You must know that armor weapons are fragile. Once a large-scale war breaks out, the battlefield ahead will definitely be consumed continuously. The weapons supervisor behind will continue to organize production to meet the needs of the battlefield. host.
However, it took two years to make a pair of rattan armor, which was obviously in short supply, so it was destined not to become the main equipment of an army of the size of the Song Dynasty.
But he did not give up and asked: "Your Majesty, if there is a way to make it, can't you save more?"
Zhao Tong actually had the same plan. No matter how strong and durable this thing is, it will still be a consumable after the war begins. The rear cannot continue to supply it, so it can only accumulate more and use as much as it has when the time comes.
Duan Yichang in Dali has promised to help him manufacture it, but although there is a geographical advantage there, both rattan and tung oil are convenient and easy to obtain, but it still has to be done secretly. After all, Duan Yichang also has scruples, and he does not dare to do it openly.
Just this morning, Duan Yichang's people had arrived in Tokyo, but they were very cautious. They only sent a letter and did not enter the house. The content of the letter was to agree on a time to discuss the matter of Tengjia.
Although the relationship between the Song Dynasty and Dali was relatively harmonious, given the status of Zhao Tong and Duan Yichang, such private communication was a taboo.
Zhao Tong understands the reason for the other party's caution. This kind of thing can't be done without meeting in the mansion. After all, Zhao Kai's spies from the Imperial City Division have never left outside. No matter whether they are fooling around or watching carefully, they can't To take that risk.
Zhao Tong invited the other party to meet tomorrow. The venue will be at Gaoyang Restaurant. Luliu Village cannot bring him there. No one can leak the information there except Yao Pingzhong and Luo Jinshui.
Although Gaoyang Restaurant is noisy, it does not attract attention because of this. If you really find a private place to stay, you will be noticed by interested people.
After leaving the palace arsenal, Zhao Tong took Zhang Xian to the study, and then took out a few pieces of paper from the red sandalwood box.
Zhang Xian was immediately excited, knowing that it must be a follow-up to the secret art of war he had learned before.
Zhao Tong looked at him and said, "Jing Ren, I have taught you three articles on the Art of War before. I will teach you three more articles this time. Remember to go back and study them carefully."
Meng De's new book has a total of fourteen chapters. The first chapter is the general outline and the last chapter is the political strategy. The actual text is only twelve chapters.
He has passed on the general outline to Zhang Xian, as well as the first preliminary chapter and the second military chapter of the twelve main chapters.
What is taken out at this moment is the third fight chapter, the fourth chapter, and the fifth chapter.
After handing these three articles to Zhang Xian, Zhao Tong waved his hand outside. Zhang Xian held the three articles on military affairs as if he had found a treasure, and left happily...
Zhu Meng had two sons and one daughter, the eldest son Zhu Ruxian, the second son Zhu Ruli, and his daughter Zhu Ying.
Zhu Ruxian usually likes to listen to music, enjoy drinking and banquets, and is arty.
Zhu Ruli was born martial and had a rough temper. He usually enjoyed playing with knives and guns, or beating servants and maids in the palace.
At this time, not long after the Laba Festival, Zhu Ruli was playing with a gun in the plum garden. After the gun was gone all the way, he straightened up, looked at a young man next to him and said with a smile: "Brother Xiao, how do you think I am doing with this marksmanship?"
The young man was well-dressed, handsome, with flowers on his temples. Hearing this, he nodded and smiled, "Second Young Master's marksmanship is perfect and powerful, and he is already at the beginning."
Zhu Ruli was not annoyed when he heard that the other party commented that his marksmanship was only for beginners. He sighed slightly and said: "I can't compare to Brother Xiao's fortune. I have a superb teacher and learned a superb skill."
Brother Xiao shook his head and said, "Second Young Master, why should you belittle yourself? With Second Young Master's family background, what advanced martial arts can't be learned?"
Zhu Ruli sighed: "Even so, there is always no guidance from a famous teacher. What's more, now that my muscles and bones are formed, how can I practice compared to when I was a child."
He walked while talking, and after a while the two of them walked out of the plum garden and came to another large garden.
The gatekeeper of this garden was an old man with a hunchback. When he saw him coming to greet him slightly, Zhu Ruli pointed at the old man and said, "Brother Xiao, this is Suzhou Mingtuo Zhu Tiefeng. He is very good at boxing and kicking."
Brother Xiao glanced at the old man and nodded slightly, with no special expression on his face.
Zhu Ruli knew that Brother Xiao did not look down upon this Suzhou Mingtuo, but according to his status, he naturally had the ability to look down upon him. He was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but his teacher was also a famous grandmaster in the world.
Zhu Ruli pointed to the garden and said, "This garden is called Nongchun Garden. Outsiders are not allowed to enter. Except for my father and my eldest brother, Brother Xiao is the first one."
Brother Xiao smiled and shook his head: "Second Young Master is too flattering. How could Xiao be so virtuous as to enter the Zhu Mansion's home?"
He could see that this was a place for Zhu Meng's family to play, so other men would not be allowed to enter.
When the two of them stepped into Nongchun Garden, Brother Xiao immediately felt a sense of a different world.
The place is full of pavilions, meandering water and rainbow bridges, rockeries and trees, and young women can be seen everywhere. They are all wearing silver and gold hairpins, silks and satins, and they are all charming and graceful.
When they saw Zhu Ruli and Brother Xiao approaching, they immediately pretended to run away, laughing and hiding by the back pillar of the pavilion to watch the two people. Their eyes especially fell on Brother Xiao, and they whispered something.
Zhu Ruli said: "They are all domestic concubines and maids. They have never seen the world. They make Brother Xiao laugh. If Brother Xiao likes anyone, he can just take them with him when he leaves."
Brother Xiao smiled and said nothing.
The two of them walked to a small building and saw four women nailed to the wall of the building. They had been dead for who knows how long. Because it was winter, the bodies did not rot, but still maintained their original appearance.
Zhu Ruli pointed casually and said, "This is made by a man. Brother Xiao, guess how it is made?"
Brother Xiao shook his head, without any expression on his face.
Zhu Ruli continued: "This is to cut off the living human skin first. There must be no damage during the cutting. It must be done by an expert in cutting human skin."
"Oh?" Brother Xiao looked up at the corpses and said, "I wonder what these women did to deserve such punishment?"
Zhu Ruli's face lit up when he heard this: "Let me introduce Brother Xiao one by one. From left to right, they are Yunxia, Jinxiu, Cuiying, and Jiaoer."
"This first Yunxia was a maid in my father's house. Because she had to help my father get up and clean up some filthy things at night, she felt sick and started retching. My father was shocked and was executed. People do it.
"This second Jinxiu also serves my father. Because he has seen a lot of things at night, it is inevitable that he will be full of love. But there is no other man in this yard. He actually has his mind set on another woman. My father found out and got drunk. Poison wine, then cut the skin into a human body and hang it here as an example."
"This third Cuiying was a little unjust. She was originally serving my eldest brother, but later she got pregnant, but my eldest brother insisted that he never called her, so he was sentenced to death and made a human being and hung here.
"This fourth Jiaoer died in my hands. I loved her very much, but one time she went crazy and dared to bite me, biting off a piece of flesh from my shoulder. Brother Xiao, do you think I should execute her?"
Brother Xiao heard this and sighed: "This is a family matter of the second young master. How can Xiao be so easy to judge?"
Zhu Ruli shook his head and said: "Well, actually I also know that these are shameless and cruel things, but I know I know, but I can't persuade my father and eldest brother. I am also a short-tempered person, and I usually can't bear it. It can only continue like this.”
Brother Xiao was silent, and Zhu Ruli said again: "I don't regard Brother Xiao as an outsider at all, so I revealed everything about the Zhu Mansion to Brother Xiao, so that Brother Xiao would not find out in the future and be confused and uncomfortable to ask. Create a gap.”
Brother Xiao muttered: "Xiao knows the sincerity of the second young master."
The two of them continued walking towards the back door of Nongchun Garden. From a distance, they saw a woman wearing only a thin layer of gauze tapping a small gong in a pavilion near the back door.
Brother Xiao asked in confusion: "Second Young Master, what are you doing?"
Zhu Ruli shook his head and said: "This is my elder brother's punishment for disobedient women. Any woman who disobeys him will only be allowed to wear thin clothes in this cold weather, cannot eat, and can only play gongs outside for at least two quarters of an hour. , even within an hour, several concubines could not withstand such torture and died of cold and hunger."
Upon hearing this, Brother Xiao glanced at the gong-beating woman again, then looked away and remained silent.
The two of them walked out of the back door at this time. Before they had gone far, they saw a servant stumbling over: "Second Young Master, Second Young Master, I want you to come over quickly."
Zhu Ruli asked doubtfully: "Why are you so anxious? Could it be that there are some rare and strange stones? But these stones have been almost collected, how could they be so easy to see?"
The servant hurriedly said: "Second Young Master, it's not a matter of flowers and stones, it's, it's... the eldest Young Master was assassinated by a gangster!"
Zhu Ruli was slightly stunned when he heard this, then glanced at Brother Xiao next to him, clapped his hands and said with a smile: "This is a great event. Brother Xiao, come with me to have a look."
(End of chapter)
