The iron ore that Zhang Xiu had been longing for was finally found.
After conquering Dingxi City, Zhang Xiu seized a total of 200,000 stones of grain and grass and 3,000 horses. It can be said that the maximum benefit is obtained at the minimum price.
This food and grass is enough to last until this summer's harvest, and he no longer has to worry about food and grass. The transportation of two hundred thousand stones of grain and grass was a big problem. All the war horses were turned into grain transport teams, leaving only 10,000 people as an emergency.
At this time, the battle situation in Sujiashan appeared on Zhang Xiu's desk. After watching the battle in Sujiashan, Zhang Xiu ordered Yan Xiang, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong and Fazheng to be summoned.
Show them the news about Su Jiashan.
Then he asked: "Wei Yan, Li Tong, and Ma Chao lost the battle and lost their troops and generals. What do you think?"
Yan Xiang thought for a while and said: "Cheng Yu is cunning and scheming. It is understandable that General Wei and the others are not opponents. Fortunately, Sujiashan has not been lost and can be dealt with as appropriate."
"What do Kong Ming think?"
"My lord, Han Sui has Cheng Yu to help him, so defeat in the battle is inevitable. However, Wei Qiying and Li Qiying were greedy for power and advanced rashly. Ma Qiying ignored the overall situation because of personal enmity. This crime cannot be escaped."
Zhang Xiu nodded: "Gan Ning and Ji Ling were greedy for merit and rashly advanced under Chiyang City, which led to their defeat. Now Wei Yan and Li Tong were also exploited by Cheng Yu because of their greed for merit and rashly advancing. This matter must be stopped. Hmm... How should Xiaozhi think they should be punished? appropriate?"
This question is difficult to answer.
Fazheng is a newcomer, Wei Yan and Li Tong are old men who have followed Zhang Xiu, and Ma Chao is also a famous battlefield general. It depends on how the newcomers criticize the old people. If it is too light, it will not achieve the punishment effect. If it is too heavy, it will definitely offend Wei Yan and others. Li Tong and Ma Chao.
After thinking about it, Fazheng looked at Pang Tong next to him and said, "Brother Shi Yuan is the second best in the imperial examination. He has unique insights. This matter is closely related. I don't know what Brother Shi Yuan has to say."
Damn it?
Pang Tong didn't expect Fazheng to bring the ball to him. He thought about it in his mind and said after careful consideration: "My lord, although Wei Qiying and Li Qiying were greedy for merit and rushed forward, they stopped it in time." The damage did not allow Cheng Yu's plan to succeed completely, and it also bought time for our army to capture Dingxi City. All the faults of the Maqi Battalion, but Ma Tengxin's death, his faults can be forgiven. His crimes should be remembered, and he will make meritorious service in the future."
Fa Zheng added: "Now that Ma Teng has passed away, he has 30,000 cavalry from the old army following Ma Chao, and they still need to be appeased."
Ma Teng passed away and left Ma Chao a fortune of thirty thousand Xiliang cavalry. Zhang Xiu was also very moved by this property. It depends on how to deal with it. Taking it directly from Ma Chao is obviously uncivilized and must be reasonable and reasonable. Bring it.
The question now is how to get it back in a reasonable and reasonable manner.
So he asked: "Ma Teng has recently passed away. His subordinates are all following the horse cavalry camp. However, the Huben camp already has 10,000 soldiers and horses. There cannot be more. What do you think?"
Yan Xiang said: "My lord, I heard that Ma Teng's subordinate Pang De is strong, capable of making good decisions, and is a good general. When Ma Chao was in Guanzhong, Pang De took care of all Ma Teng's subordinates."
"Um!"
Zhang Xiu nodded, knowing what to do next. Ma Chao's group of troops must not be separated, otherwise it will make these Xiliang people panic. Since they cannot be separated, they must not be led by Ma Chao alone. The danger is too great. We can only vigorously promote Pound and let him lead this army.
"In this battle, Wei Yan, Li Tong, and Ma Chao were defeated. In memory of their old achievements, they will remember their mistakes first and hope that they will be able to make meritorious service in the future. The three armies speed up the transportation of grain, and appointed Huo Jun, Wang Shuang, and Gu Ming as grain transportation officers to transport grain quickly. "
Everyone agrees.
After letting Zhuge Liang, Fazheng, and Pang Tong go out, only Yan Xiang remained.
Yan Xiang is regarded as Zhang Xiuqiang's counselor, and now he is considered loyal and trusts him very much. After the Battle of Dingxicheng, Zhang Xiu gained a lot. Not only did he get grain and grass, but he also got the 30,000 cavalry left by Ma Teng, which also blocked Han Sui's eastward advance after spring plowing.
It's time to return to the army.
Now there is another question, and that is who will be the final choice for the martial arts competition. It is already certain that Huo Jun will be the champion in martial arts, but Wu runner-up and Wu runner-up don’t know how to tell the difference.
Both Wang Shuang and Gu Ming performed very well, and Gu Ming was born in poverty. Zhang Xiu wanted to promote him, but he couldn't give Wu runner-up position to Gu Ming just because of promotion. This was unfair to Wang Shuang.
This is the reason why he kept Yan Xiang.
"What does Bo Bang (Yan Xiang's name) think of Wang Shuang and Gu Ming?" Zhang Xiu asked.
Yan Xiang pondered for a moment: "In terms of his bravery, he is Wang Shuangye, and in terms of his planner, Gu Mingye. Shuang is brave and strong, and he can be regarded as a tiger general. He is brave and strategic. Although he was born in a humble background, he is not humble or humble. He has the style of a Confucian general."
"In your opinion, who should Wu Yajun be?"
"Wang Shuang."
"Why?"
"My lord, martial arts is more important than military strategy. Although Ming has a plan, his military tactics are insufficient. Wang Shuang deserves to be the runner-up, and Ming can be the third runner-up."
"Um!"
Yan Xiang's comments were very pertinent, and he pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of the two people. Wang Shuang's strength was considered first-rate among the generals of the late Han Dynasty. Gu Ming's strength was at best quasi-first-rate, but there was still some gap between him and Wang Shuang. of.
"Just follow Bo Bang's words."
…
Five days later, Zhang Xiu returned to Chang'an City ahead of schedule.
As soon as he arrived in Chang'an, he got the good news that the iron mine had finally been found.
A few days ago, people who went into the mountains to inspect the mines found iron ore rich in iron in the mountains next to Wuguan. If there is ocher on the mountain, there is iron below. According to this method, the mine patrol finally found the iron ore after two months.
"Have you found out clearly?" Zhang Xiu said excitedly. If the situation is true, then there is hope for his Mo Dao Camp.
"I have already gone to investigate. It is indeed iron ore, but the quantity is not large. It is estimated that it can be used for about two years at most." The blacksmith said.
"Two years, is enough?"
Zhang Xiu said happily.
Two years were enough for him to eliminate the Xiongnu in Hetao and Han Sui in Xiliang. As long as the enemies in these two areas are eliminated, he will have to rely on Xiliang's horses to gallop in the Central Plains, and there will not be such a big gap for iron weapons.
"How is the production of Modao going?" Zhang Xiu asked after the trial production of Modao had been carried out for two months.
The blacksmith handed the thing wrapped in thick cotton cloth to Zhang Xiu from behind and said with a smile on his face: "My lord, this is made according to your instructions. I don't know if you are satisfied with it or not."
Zhang Xiu took the thing wrapped in cotton and opened the layers of cotton. A long knife with cold light appeared in front of him. The Han Dao has a very long handle, much like the Han Dynasty's Horse-Zhanning Dao, but it is much improved compared to the Ma-Zhan Dao.
Picking up the knife, he swung it towards the open space in front of him. The blade of the long knife was extremely sharp. The flashing blade left an afterimage and cut through the air with a whistling sound.
"good!"
He flicked his fingers on the back of the knife, and the blade trembled and made a crisp trembling sound, "That's it. Now that we have iron ore, you need to work hard to build this knife. I will give you three months to build at least a thousand. If you don't have enough, Just ask for anything and I will try my best to satisfy you."
There are still three months left after spring plowing.
Time is running out.
"Three months? A thousand?"
The blacksmith became embarrassed.
Zhang Xiu knew that this was a bit difficult, so he said: "Complete the task, and each person will be rewarded with a reward of one hundred taels. Can you complete it?"
As the saying goes: Money can make the world go round.
When the blacksmith heard that he had money, his eyes lit up, he nodded vigorously and said affirmatively: "Yes!"
Zhang Xiu laughed.
