The land of Jingxiang has not been a coal-producing area since ancient times. The coal mining technology in this era was not perfect, and some deep coal mines could not be mined. Therefore, coal resources are indeed relatively scarce.
However, the steel production in the first year of this year is only so small. Judging from the number of coal mines that have been mined in Jingxiang, it is not that it cannot support Zhang Xi's large-scale transformation of ordnance.
Coal mines and iron mines are actually not a problem. The real problem is money.
These days, the cost of mining coal and iron ore is very high. The technology is not enough, so it can only be done by manpower, and the mining efficiency is not high.
Not talking about the cost of materials, nor about the issue of wages, just saying that these miners spend a lot of money eating, drinking and eating in the mine.
So, when making weapons these days, you have to consider some cost issues.
This cost issue has become another obstacle to Zhang Xi's research on new ordnance.
After more than a month of continuous attempts, the craftsmen followed the steel filling method provided by Zhang Xi and produced a batch of iron blocks with good hardness and toughness, and also tried to create a simple knife.
Zhang Xi didn't know martial arts, so he brought Zhang Ni along with him for this inspection, and gave Zhang Ni the plain knife so that Zhang Ni could test its quality.
Zhang Ni took the sword and flicked the blade first to listen to the sound. Then he checked the edge and looked happy.
Then, Zhang Ni was not polite and slashed at the scarecrows on the trial ground. He chopped down five scarecrows in a row. Then he took a rest, put on a long handle, and chopped down five more scarecrows. His face was not red or angry the whole time. He was panting, but Zhang Xi's heart skipped a beat when he saw it.
He is truly worthy of being the future Commander-in-Chief. The value of this force is really not bad.
Zhang Yi was even more delighted.
He chopped down ten scarecrows in a row, and the plain knife in his hand had no chips or curled edges, just like new.
This kind of hardness and toughness is something Zhang Yi has never seen before in his life, and it can be classified as a "treasure sword".
Zhang Ni immediately fell in love with the simple sword. While repaying Zhang Xi, he also hoped that Zhang Xi would give him this "treasure sword".
Zhang Xi flatly rejected Zhang Ni's request - it's okay if you have some potential, this is the standard weapon for soldiers, you are a great general, I will build a better one for you later.
Zhang Yi was a little confused. Is such a good knife meant for soldiers? !
However, Zhang Xi ignored Zhang Ni's thoughts and heard that Zhang Ni had tried it out and agreed, so why did he hesitate? He directly ordered the craftsmen to start making them. He first ordered ten thousand simple knives.
Well, after hearing this amount, Zhang Yi was a little convinced that this was for ordinary soldiers.
But the blacksmith refused, and he knelt down to Zhang Xi on the spot.
It’s not that the blacksmith wants to be too busy, or that the blacksmith is lazy and doesn’t want to do it. It’s just that the steel used to make one plain knife can be used to make three standard ring-shou knives.
If he only made a few to give to the generals, the blacksmith would naturally not have a problem with it. But now that he wants to make ten thousand guns, the blacksmith really dare not obey the order. If he really obeys the order, Guan Yu can kill him later.
Therefore, after the blacksmith explained the situation, he begged Zhang Xi to take back his life.
Zhang Xixin said I don’t know this yet, but doesn’t good steel have to be used on the blade? !
This is a question of combat power. No matter how many Huanshou swords are built, can it improve the soldiers' field combat capabilities? !
Therefore, Zhang Xi said that he should let the craftsmen build it with confidence and tell Guan Yu if anything happened.
The craftsman had no choice but to obey the order.
But when the craftsmen had made about two thousand simple knives, Ma Liang came to the door.
Ma Liang was actually wondering why the army had consumed so much stone and iron stone in less than two months, and Zhang Xi still let craftsmen go into the mountains to mine ore in the middle of winter, which was a bit unkind.
People these days are poor and have no means of keeping warm. They never go out if they can hide in their houses.
Asking people to go out to do work in the middle of winter is like forcing them to die.
When he reached the military camp and looked through the ledger, Ma Liang was shocked and hurriedly asked Zhang Xi to settle the account.
Yes, it is really a matter of settling accounts in the army. Not only the consumption of stone and iron stone has increased, but the consumption of money, food and cloth has also increased a lot. Ma Liang must come and ask clearly.
Otherwise, it will be difficult to explain this matter when Guan Yu asks him in the future.
Zhang Xi said what is this? !
In the middle of winter, when you let people go out to work, you are not allowed to keep them warm. Isn’t it normal to use some cloth to make a few more clothes? !
Another thing, since you don’t work by default in winter, and now you ask people to work overtime, why don’t you give them some overtime pay? Otherwise, if they work hard for you, will they be able to produce good weapons? !
Ma Liang looked stunned and said he had never heard of it.
What is this overtime pay? !
After hearing Zhang Xi's explanation again, Ma Liang suddenly couldn't tolerate the military craftsmen doing their own jobs. Why should he be given more money and food? !
What a prodigal, this county governor is really a prodigal.
He wanted to say something on the spot, but now it was not the first time that Ma Liang had dealt with Zhang Xi. He knew the character and temper of this county governor, and knew that it would be useless for him to say anything.
But, if Zhang Xi is allowed to mess around like this, the army will spend too much money and food. As Jingzhou's pastoral officer and the chief steward of Jingzhou, he will not be able to explain it to Guan Yu.
So, Ma Liang looked at Zhang Xi, then at the account book, at the account book, then at Zhang Xi. After hesitating for a long time, he decided not to argue with this person, but to go to Guan Junhou.
At least Guan Junhou must know about this matter, and let Guan Junhou come forward to have a good talk with Zhang Yuanchang.
Therefore, Ma Liang hurriedly went to Guan Yu for advice, and asked Guan Yu to take charge of Zhang Xi.
Good guy, half a year's worth of iron, stone and stone have been used up in two months, and a lot of money, food and cloth have been wasted. If this continues, if General Guan has any military operations, the supply of weapons may not be available.
Guan Yu narrowed his eyes when he heard Ma Liang's return.
To be honest, if it had been anyone else, Guan Yu would have had someone kidnapped.
But this is Zhang Xi.
Not to mention that Zhang Xi was the prefect of Nanjun appointed by Liu Bei personally. Guan Yu also had to give him some face, and it was impossible to really treat him like a subordinate by shouting around.
Just talking about Zhang Xi, can Zhang Xi make people who do things without a plan and just mess around? !
Although Guan Yu and Zhang Xi have not known each other as long as Zhang Fei, they have known each other for a long time. Zhang Xi even lived in Guan Mansion for more than a month. Guan Yu thinks that he knows Zhang Xi very well.
Every time Zhang Xi does something, although it is very unexpected, the effect is very good every time. It can be said that there is almost no mess.
Especially in the military.
Whether it is the Yuanyang Formation or the Wugang Vehicle, they have received miraculous results.
Therefore, Guan Yu did not get angry immediately, but went to the army in person and inspected the ordnance factory.
Then Guan Yu saw Pu Dao.
Guan Yu felt very friendly when he saw the Pu Dao. Except for the lengthened wooden handle, the appearance was really similar to his Qinglong Yanyue Dao.
Moreover, this mode that can be disassembled into a short knife and a machete made Guan Yu immediately think of its application-it can be used to enhance field attack power and can also be used to attack cities.
In an instant, Guan Yu understood Zhang Xi's intention in building it.
I knew this kid wouldn't mess around.
However, after Guan Yu saw the consumption of money, food and minerals in the past two months, he was somewhat gnashing his teeth and spending money.
And what is this "steel filling method"? Can good weapons be made using this method? !
Guan Yu didn't believe it, so he decided to try this Pu Dao himself.
I took the Pu Dao in my hand and weighed it. It was a bit light, but I'll make do with it.
Then Guan Yu chopped open ten scarecrows in one breath.
Guan Yu's force value is indeed higher than that of Zhang Yi. He can kill ten scarecrows without taking a break.
But Guan Yu, like Zhang Yi, was also surprised by the sharpness and toughness of the knife in his hand. There was no curled blade? !
If this was a standard ring-shou sword, it would probably have a curled blade already, right? !
Guan Yu pondered for a moment, and then had ten more scarecrows put up. However, this time it was not for Guan Yu to test. Instead, he put long handles on them and turned them into machetes, and then asked his personal guards to go up and test them.
The principal also chopped off ten scarecrows, but his arms were completely numb, the tiger's mouth was somewhat cracked, and the hand holding the knife was trembling slightly. He was just holding on to take care of Guan Yu's face.
Guan Yu took the knife with a smile and told Xiao Xiao to go and have a rest while he checked on Pu Dao again.
Well, there is a small gap and an inconspicuous curled blade. If this is a sword, it may be destroyed, but if it is a standard weapon, it can still be used after it is hammered back.
Don't tell me, Guan Yu is tempted now.
If such a weapon appeared on the battlefield, its field combat capabilities would be greatly improved.
It's just too expensive.
Although the blade length of this Pu Dao is shorter than that of the Huanshou Dao, it has a wide blade. It can be seen at a glance that the amount of iron used is quite large. This does not matter if it is equipped with elite soldiers, but if it is a standard weapon, Guan Yu does not know Can you equip the entire army yourself?
Coupled with the problem of money and food, Guan Yu felt that it still needed to be solved.
Therefore, Guan Yu did not leave, and directly sent people to invite Zhang Xi to the army to discuss it carefully with each other.
Although it was agreed at the beginning that Zhang Xi had nominal control over the soldiers of Nanjun, but Zhang Xi should not have told him in advance about matters involving ordnance.
Not to mention spending so much money.
(End of chapter)
