The calm war situation means less consumption, and the military production capacity has increased a lot. Therefore, during this period of time, on the basis of satisfying the existing troops, a lot of weapons and ammunition were stored in stock. These weapons and ammunition were obviously not enough to equip the newly expanded troops, so Ouyang Xuan decided to sell some to his allies. In recent times, many allies have written letters requesting the purchase of arms. Selling arms is both a commercial act and a political act. On the one hand, it can earn huge profits and alleviate financial constraints. On the other hand, it can enhance alliance relations and enhance its anti-Mongolian strength.
Zelang's tower group in the Dajianlu River Valley is about to be completed, and he needs a dozen light fortress cannons, as well as a large number of mines and grenades. The two states of Wei and Mao also wrote letters asking for firearms. They not only need grenades, mines, muskets, and even Also requested the purchase of heavy artillery. This request was rejected. Ouyang Xuan made it clear that due to insufficient gun production capacity, he could only provide grenades and landmines. As for the artillery, it could only be installed in Taoping Village, the caravan stronghold. Bozhou did not send a letter, but Yang Yan repeatedly informed Ouyang Xuan blew the pillow wind and said that his father-in-law Yang Wen was under great pressure. After the alliance, the tribes in Bozhou and Miao Jiang repeatedly defeated the attacks of the Mongolian army and Dali barbarians. These battles were not large in scale, but the cumulative number of Mongolian soldiers killed was indeed quite large. According to the agreement, even if artillery is not provided, grenades and landmines should be provided.
Zhang Jue from Diaoyu City and Liu Zheng from Divine Arm City, who were not allies at the moment, also sent people to purchase firearms. Divine Arm City's request to purchase artillery was rejected, and Ouyang Xuan only agreed to sell grenades. The reason for not selling artillery is simple: they are afraid that Liu Zheng will rebel against the Mongolian army and these firearms will be imitated by the Mongolian army. As for Diaoyu City's request, Ouyang Xuan gritted his teeth and accepted it all. Zhang Jue wants to purchase two heavy fortress cannons, ten light fortress cannons, fifty mines and two thousand grenades. Needless to say, the important role of artillery in Diaoyu City is that it can easily destroy the Mongolian army's siege weapons. Grenades are also a powerful weapon to restrain ants from attacking the city, especially when thrown on the narrow mountain road of Diaoyu City. One grenade can blow up a group of enemies. The reason why Ouyang Xuan wanted to fully support Zhang Jue was not only because of his firm determination to resist Mongolia, but also because the success or failure of Diaoyu City was related to the success or failure of Sichuan's anti-Mongolian war.
Yu Xing is still as domineering and greedy as ever. He was so proud that as soon as he took up his post at the Sichuan Manufacturing Department in Chongqing City, he began to reach out for money and things. "The wool comes from the sheep." In his view, he spent a lot of money to buy an official position, and of course he had to get the capital back. The money should naturally be borne by his subordinates and the people. In addition, in his concept, being an official is also a business of making money. As the saying goes, "If you don't get rich if you become an official, you won't even come to invite me." Of course, Yu Xing did not show up for these requests for money and supplies, but used covert means, such as sending out his confidants to expressly hint to state and county officials, or simply using the Sichuan Manufacturing Company to issue official documents for the transfer of supplies.
Yu Xing extorted many things from the Pili Army, and they were all divided into two parts, one was money and food, and the other was firearms. Money and grain are hard currency, and Yu Xing can sell them into gold and silver and put them into his own pocket. As for firearms, it is to make oneself stronger in the military, achieve greater achievements, and then use the merits to become a bigger official, so as to make more money. Ouyang Xuan hated Yu Xing and his son extremely, and he was not afraid of Yu Xing at all with the strength of the Pili Army, but Ouyang Xuan did not want to fall out with them. In addition to Yu Xing being the boss, the more important reason is that the waterway between the Pili Army and Bozhou needs to pass through Chongqing Prefecture. If Yu Xingzhen cuts off the waterway, communication between the two places will become extremely difficult, and business profits will also be reduced due to the land route.
Ouyang Xuan had no choice but to hold a joint military and political meeting to discuss how to deal with Yu Xing. After fierce debate, the meeting reluctantly reached three points. First, in the name of the Nanyang Company, Yu Xing was given several boxes of jades, silks, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and a complete set of glass tea sets and tableware. Although these items are expensive, they are not available in the war-torn Xichuan area; second, Then he took out the deed of 5,000 acres of land at the junction of Pengshan and Meizhou and gave it to Yu Xing. It is said that the land given to Lu Wende and Yu Xing by the Pili Army last time was still in a state of desolation due to lack of labor. There are still tens of thousands of acres of tax-free land in Pengshan, Baizhang, Changqiu Mountain and other places within the Perak Army that are uncultivated. How can anyone be willing to rent these dry lands? The third is to send a thousand old-fashioned grenades to perfunctory his order for firearms.
"I'm afraid these grenades can't satisfy Yu Xing's gluttonous appetite." There was a big gap between the number of grenades and Yu Xing's request for firearms. Lu Dezhi showed a worried and sad expression. The firearms Yu Xing requested included 2,000 muskets, 500 short muskets, 200 artillery pieces, and tens of thousands of grenades. These firearms are valued at market prices and are enough to buy Chongqing Fucheng. The Pili Army did not have the ability to give these firearms for free or even sell them at half price, even if the other party was Ouyang Xuan's father-in-law Yang Wen. At this time, Yang Bangxian, who was attending the recording, hesitated to speak. When Li Shuang saw this, he said to him: "Young Master Yang has something to say, but it doesn't matter."
"This time Yu Xing is deliberately creating difficulties, why not let Bozhou come to mediate", Yang Bangxian's words made everyone's eyes brighten. Although Yu Xing embraced Jia Sidao and other high-ranking officials, and was also an important official in the court, his influence was not as much as that of the Yang family who had been in charge of Bozhou for generations. The current emperor is very kind to the Yang family, and Jia Sidao is also very afraid of the Yang family in Bozhou. For the sake of Yang Wen, Yu Xing would not dare to embarrass Ouyang Xuan too much. At that moment, everyone decided that Ouyang Xuan would personally edit Yang Wen's book and ask him to mediate with Yu Xing. The reason was that the war consumed too much and production capacity was insufficient. This reason is reasonable and true. In order to prevent the Chongqing navy from discovering that the Pili Army was transporting firearms to Diaoyu City, everyone also decided to transport them by Nanyang Company ships flying the Bozhou flag.
Because Zan Wanshou had not yet arrived, Jiading did not send anyone to buy firearms, but Meizhou sent someone. However, Huang Dagen drove him back before he could see Ouyang Xuan. It turns out that according to reports from insiders deployed by the General Staff in Meizhou, there have been changes in the Meizhou Army since Yu Xing took up his post in Chongqing Prefecture. After further reconnaissance, it was discovered that the Meizhou guard not only frequently interacted with Cao Zhizhou of Yazhou, but also frequently contacted the Mongolian army on the other side. Recently, these three parties have even gotten together in Meizhou City, and I don't know what kind of shocking conspiracy is brewing. Selling firearms to Meizhou at this time is obviously shooting oneself in the foot.
Ouyang Xuan fully affirmed Huang Dagen's approach. Of course, this was not because he knew that Meizhou had a secret conspiracy with the Mongolian army, but because of political considerations. Meizhou is currently under the jurisdiction of the Jiading Army, and it would be unwise to trade arms with his subordinates before Zan Wanshou takes office. He valued his relationship with Zan Wanshou not only because Jiading had a close relationship with the Pili Army, but also because Ouyang Xuan admired Zan Wanshou's character and ability. This young and promising general will not only be a reliable ally, he may even join the Perak Army and become the backbone of the anti-Mongolian cause. Moreover, the Meizhou guard is still Yu Xing's confidant. He will definitely find out about selling arms to Meizhou. How will he explain that there is insufficient production capacity to transport firearms to Chongqing?
Not only could Meizhou not sell firearms, but they also had to find out what conspiracy Meizhou, Yazhou and the Mongolian army were engaging in. In the end, Ouyang Xuan specifically confessed to Huang Dagen.
