Zhou Zhiyuan, who penetrated deep into the hinterland of Khitan, also captured a large number of Jurchen horses from the local Jurchens and Bohai people when he broke through the siege in Liaodong. In particular, most of the Jurchen horses captured by Zhou Zhiyuan were not castrated and could be used to breed new horse breeds. Because the shipping was withdrawn, most of the captured Jurchen horses were shipped back. The most important thing is that Yu Mingyuan learned from the captured Jurchens the secret of the strength of the war horses raised by the Jurchens.
If it can be cultivated in large quantities, imported camels will be added. It can solve part of the artillery transfer problem. Now, compared to the problem of pulling horses, what is more urgent to solve is the large amount of copper required for casting cannons. When Yu Mingyuan was ordered to cast cannons, the most lacking thing was not only the craftsmen, but also the copper needed for cannon casting. The copper produced in Daqi is not only too small in quantity, but also of low quality. Simply relying on overseas purchases is not only time-consuming, but also can easily be cut off from import channels due to the special circumstances of shipping.
Most of the various cannons cast by Daqi in the past had copper bodies and iron cores due to a lack of copper and problems with the casting process. Although the cost is relatively low, the process is relatively simple. But the problem is the quality, which cannot be compared with those all-copper cannons. The military likes the lightness of this kind of gun, but they are also very dissatisfied with the repeated bombing due to quality issues. This time at the Guilin County Prince's Mansion, not only a group of cannon-casting craftsmen were seized, but also craftsmanship passed down from the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Although the cannons cast by the false emperor did not have any improvement in craftsmanship from the cannons cast by his ancestors when the country was founded more than a hundred years ago. Moreover, the craftsmen under him can only cast cannons of several thousand kilograms, but not the light cannons that are more urgently needed in the army. But Huang Qiong believes that there is not much difference in that thing. It’s just a matter of the amount of consumables and the vision of the person in charge. As long as we integrate with the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works and the Privy Council, we will be able to come up with the cannons we need.
In the future, large-scale cannon casting is certain, and this is inseparable from the copper of Dali. Moreover, Huang Qiong, to a certain extent, also plans to use Dali, a country rich in rice, as a backup place for food in disaster years. Under the current situation that Dali has too many tribes for Da Qi to digest in a short period of time, it is still necessary to support a more obedient monarch to take over, replace Da Qi's direct jurisdiction, and suppress the rebellion of those tribes. Although he doesn't need it, he is the kind of puppet that he can completely control in his hands.
But in this Dali country, it is more in line with the interests of Da Qi that at least there should not be another family that is more tough than the royal family. But last night I discovered that the Dali royal family was too deeply involved with the Gao family. Not only Gao Zhisheng's younger brother, but also his most beloved eldest son married the princess of Dali. Even the daughter of the Gao family married into the palace and became a country. As for the marriage of side branches of the two families, there are more. Starting from the royal brother Duan Jin, the position of queen has become exclusive to the Gao family.
I just want to support another Shanchanhou Mansion, control the domestic political situation in Dali, and prevent Dali from becoming a monolithic country. But if these two families really come together, given the current situation of the Gao family with numerous talents, and the fact that the master now looks at it, his character is at least acceptable. It is not a good thing for Daqi that these two families are really stuck together. There are many aristocratic families in Dali, and the Gao family has fallen, but it won't take long for a new aristocratic family to take its place.
But if he wasn't so deeply involved with the royal family, it might not be easy for him to straighten things out again. In this way, it will be easier to achieve the goal of dividing and conquering. Therefore, after careful consideration, Huang Qiong finally decided that Shanchan Hou Mansion would no longer be retained. Everyone in the Shanchanhou Mansion moved to Daqi. At the same time, no woman from a noble family could be retained in the Dali royal family. All clan members, including those who became sons-in-law of the Gao family, must be moved away.
It's just these things that Huang Qiong doesn't want to explain to Zhao Wuhu, let alone know. Huang Qiong then asked someone to go to Duan Jin's place to recruit the candidates chosen by Zhao Wuye and take a look for himself. When the two women arrived, Huang Qiong discovered that these two women were fifty or sixty-six times similar, although compared with other eldest daughters of Dali Kingdom, they seemed somewhat ordinary. But with the appearance of Xiaojiabiyu, she should be a gentle and virtuous master.
Especially the one who had just returned to secular life and whose hair had not yet grown out, was even more gentle and gentle in temperament, compared to the other eldest daughter who looked like she could not eat the fireworks of this world. Although he has been away from home for a few years, he still has more fireworks. Seeing these two women, Huang Qiong knew that this was probably a military attache like Zhao Wuye who had fought in the bloody battles, and was more suitable for a good match. Huang Qiong couldn't help but nodded slightly in appreciation. Only such a woman can give a home to those who have experienced the true test of life and death.
As for Duan Lin, she is more suitable for those big families. Thinking of this, Huang Qiong asked the two girls what Duan Jin had rewarded them. The two girls were still very nervous when they heard Huang Qiong's inquiry. The slightly taller man glanced at Zhao Wushan, and when he saw Zhao Wushan nodded, he said: "Elder Princess, I rewarded the two ministers with a set of gold and jade heads and faces, as well as silk, satin, damask, Luo, and gauze. , a hundred horses each, as well as two ingots of gold, twenty ingots of silver, and two thousand guan of coins. I also rewarded twenty fox skins."
After hearing Duan Jin's reward to the two girls, Huang Qiong pondered for a moment, but she was quite satisfied. After all, this place is not as good as the capital, and many things are not available. Just like there are no minks used in the palace to reward people, because of the climate, the quality of sheepskins is not as good as in the north. Duan Jin was able to collect so many rewards in a hurry, which can be regarded as a deliberate effort. However, it must be not just because of Zhao Wuhu. No matter what, the second daughter is still her cousin, so a little reward would be considered a favor.
After pondering for a moment, Huang Qiong called the eunuch waiting outside. After giving another soft command, the eunuch hurriedly ran out. After a while, four more women came in with trays in their hands. Huang Qiong pointed to the things on the tray and said: "Since my beloved concubine has given you a heavy reward, it would be unreasonable for me not to give it at all. Here are two bear skins and one leopard skin produced in Tubo for you to use as bedding. Use it. There are also these precious medicinal materials for you to nourish your body."
"No matter you are my confidant and beloved general, I will definitely not treat his family badly. I hope you will stay with him and take care of him with all your heart for me. After all, Shanchan Mansion is not the capital, and there are not so many people. Good things. I also know that you are from the Dali clan, so you are not bad at all. But this is just my intention. After I return to Beijing, there will naturally be other rewards. As for now, I feel a little wronged to you. "
Huang Qiong rewarded so many things, how could the two girls dare to accept them? In the end, it was Zhao Wushu who spoke and finally accepted. After the two girls left, Huang Qiong nodded to Zhao Wushan and said: "It seems that I am more accurate in Wushan's vision. These two women, at first glance, are the masters of the house. With them staying by Wushan's side, I will I feel relieved. I also know that Wushu is not the kind of person who wants to play around, let alone a drunkard. But I still want to warn Wushu."
"Since you have married someone into the family, no matter what their background is, you must treat them well. They want to give birth to children. Time is short, I will reward you so much first, and I will give you another reward after I return to Beijing. Lots of rewards. When Wu Zhi has a heir, I will also give him a title and a heavy reward. Also, I have ordered people to choose ten slaves for Wu Zhi, and they will be sent to Wu Zhi in the evening. With someone familiar, at least It can relieve their homesickness.”
Hearing that Huang Qiong was so kind to him and thought so thoughtfully for him. He even considered alleviating the homesickness of his two future wives for himself. Zhao Wushu could not help but feel extremely warm in his heart. He knelt down on the ground, his eye circles were a little red, and he kowtowed with a choked voice: "It's okay for the master to be so kind to me, it's okay not to know what to say. Only by bathing in blood on the battlefield for the master, opening up the territory for the master, and fighting to the death for the master can I repay the master's favor." A great kindness."
After Huang Qiong reached out to help Zhao Wushu up, he said: "I have always regarded Wushu as my humerus. Naturally, I cannot treat Wushu badly, and I must think more thoughtfully for Wushu. Needless to say, I also know that Wushu is a true gentleman. He has always been a true gentleman." However, I hope that I don’t have to stick to the common etiquette and have to wait until we get married. It would be better to leave one for myself as soon as possible and let me rejoice and rejoice together. When the time comes, regardless of whether he is a man or a woman, I will give him a lot of rewards. of."
Hearing Huang Qiong's last words, Zhao Wushu blushed. Seeing this guy's appearance, Huang Qiong knew that this guy must have got on the bus first and then paid for the ticket. But when you think about it, a man in the prime of life cannot be expected to live like an ascetic. Although the two women are not too outstanding in appearance, they are also gentle and considerate. It is no wonder that this long-awaited guy can hold back when facing two lovely people.
Nowadays, there are many women around me, and those below are also doing too much. I can't ask this guy to live the life of an ascetic. What's more, Zhao Wushu has been able to achieve this level, always restraining himself and never messing up, which is already very good. You know, both Guo Chen and Cao Rui have done some things. Especially Guo Chen, I heard that whenever there is no war, people will be sent to find women around the station to relax.
Although Cao Rui did not reach that point, he still accepted everything sent by his subordinates. Huang Qiong naturally understood the two people's thoughts. Whether it is Cao Rui or Guo Chen, although they come from a grassroots background, they have made it all the way to this point and are also strong-willed masters. One is from an aristocratic family, so he naturally knows what he can and cannot do. And Huang Qiong also knew that these two people were not the kind of real lustful people.
The two of them acted like this because they probably wanted to taint themselves and took the initiative to send the knife handles to the hands of civil servants, so that after returning to the court, those civil servants who were jealous or worried about the military officers becoming bigger would not find fault with them and look for trouble in every possible way. They're in trouble. Being greedy for women is, at best, just excessive in official circles. Compared to other troubles they might find, this matter is nothing more than trivial. Even if he was punished by himself because of this incident, it would naturally not be excessive.
After three years of suppressing the rebellion, the money and food exchanged between the two of them was almost as much as the sea water. But along the way, fighting fiercely, conquering cities and territories, and risking one's life with one's head in mind, it is difficult to maintain consistent military discipline. There are so many crimes that can be impeached by civilian officials without even looking carefully. The two resorted to self-destruction in order to protect themselves, which was quite helpless given that the actual say in the DPRK was in the hands of civilian officials.
Just like before on Guangnan West Road, Cao Rui simply allowed his subordinates to rob. With this move, the two of them could not say that they did not trust themselves as the emperor. It's because they also know that there are some things that even they have to compromise on. Of course, with the army and horses in full swing, there are rare moments of leisure, and a wine-drinking woman is also a rare moment of relaxation.
