Some things seem easy and simple, but they are not. For example, the standard of one stone is different between the south and the north, the east and the west, and even the south and north of Jiangxi.
There is now such a dispute in the smelting factory. When adding materials, the master from Fujian felt that the measuring containers such as stones and buckets from Jiangxi were larger than those he used before! No one on either side can convince the other.
Although such matters are often suppressed by Sun She and others with authority, it is not a long-term solution, so Li Dan thought of establishing a standard measurement system.
This means that wherever the power of Qingshan Team and Chashan Society expands in the future, this standard must be promoted and applied. To be convincing, it must be precise and well-founded.
Chen Sanwen's "Precision and Standard Parts Production Factory" is actually the source of research, establishment and promotion of this standard!
All measurement starts with length. Only with length can we have volume and capacity. During the Qing Shi team's campaign, Li Dan sent people to collect rulers, buckets, and scales from folk and government offices all over the country, and brought them back to Chen Sanwen for reference.
It turned out that the difference was very large. There were seven different lengths of the ruler alone, and the difference between the shortest and the longest was as much as one and a half fingers! "With a ruler like this, let alone buying and selling, it's just a confusing transaction between merchants!
If you use such a ruler to make a stone container, and then make an iron-making blast furnace and crucible, you don't know how bad it will be. No wonder the masters quarreled all day long and wasted a lot of time on this!
As a result, the masters are different, and the quality of each furnace is also different! Chen Sanwen understood Li Dan's intention and immediately realized the cause and effect.
"After we unify it, everyone will no longer have different opinions. The quality of each furnace of molten iron will be the same, and it will be much easier to process later!"
"Yes, this is just an example of smelting. There are also cement, glass, car manufacturing, and other industries that have this problem. We can't let people look at the size of the carriage wheels produced by the first and second factories. They are all different, so where is our credibility?”
Li Dan said: "With standards, we can make the carriages made in Jiangxi and those made in Liaodong exactly the same. Users don't need to choose, they just need to look at the brand of our carriage and horse shop and buy directly!"
The carriage's font size was finally selected to be "Feng Yuan Ji". Li Dan requested that the font size be marked on the carriage, chassis beams, steering gear, handbrake and wheels, so that anyone could easily identify it and prevent counterfeiting.
Just like carriages, the brand name of glass products is "Baofengxing", pencils, quills and portable inks are "Wenquange", wine is "Jinfengtai", farm tools are "Daxingxing"...
"It is very important for others to be able to tell at a glance whether it is our product! We must let the world know that our product is the best!" Li Dan said.
Xu Tong agreed very much with Li Dan's point of view. Ever since he introduced Sun Shu to Li Dan, he knew that the capital and even the palace were paying attention to his future niece-in-law, so he tried his best to help.
"Under the pressure of Commander Shi, Gao Ao had to go to Chongren to take command. Lu Jiyong went to Xinyu to coordinate the officers and soldiers in Jiangxi and Jinghu. Governor Zhao remained in Fuzhou. This formed an iron wall surrounding Luoshan. Yang He was No matter what, you can’t run away!”
While walking with Li Dan in the garden, he said, "So Mr. Zhao ordered the Qing Shirt team to move south to Yingtan. He must be planning ahead for next spring, but Mr. Zhao doesn't seem to be happy. Why?" Regarding the war next spring, he said Express optimism:
"As long as the army marches eastward and Zhejiang and Fujian have already opened their pockets, how many more days can Lou Zishi still be able to dance around?
I have sent people to Ningbo with samples, and the news came back that the Japanese really like glass products, and some people even expressed the intention to buy them directly with gold of equal weight. The situation is great!
If the Shangrao Siege South Road is opened and things can be transported to Quanzhou and sold to various countries in Southeast Asia, I think the profits will be good! "
“The stuff is definitely good,” Li Dan said. “The next step is for me to build a mechanical design school and an attached mechanical design and manufacturing factory so that the mine can use machinery to drain water, blow air, lift ore, and transport materials.
In this way, the mining speed and efficiency will be greatly improved, and the safety of mine production will also be greatly improved. Our mining speed will be
Two to three times that of others!
At the same time, a large number of the wooden equipment and vehicles in the current smelting plant will be replaced by steel. The blast furnace can be taller and larger, and the amount of molten iron that can be produced at one time can be about ten days. "
"Okay, isn't this great!" Xu Tong's eyes shone with joy. Not only did he have shares in smelting and ironworking, but he also knew what Li Dan meant by using more steel in other products and machinery.
After the ships from Yugan to Anren and Nanchang were retrofitted with metal propellers, rudders, bearings, gears, brackets and brakes, not only the failure rate was greatly reduced, but maintenance was also easier, and the speed was faster with less noise.
He began to believe what Li Dan said: Steel will be the most important product in the next few hundred years. It will surpass wood and stone and become one of the important materials for civilian production and life.
"Second uncle, what I'm worried about is not our product, but another thing." Li Dan said softly.
"Oh? Saburo, can you tell me?"
"When I went to see Mr. Zhao this time, he asked me if I could leave one team each in Fuzhou and Jianchang. He said he planned to build the training teams of these two provinces based on these people."
Xu Tong stopped and looked at Li Dan thoughtfully: "Then how did Sanlang respond?"
"I told Mr. Zhao that if we advance in the spring and divide our troops at this time, it will weaken the Green Shirts. Mr. Zhao said that it's okay, there is no need to use the main force, and only two or three hundred people are left in each mansion.
So my nephew said that he would come back and discuss with the staff department which unit to send out and when to divide the troops. "
"What do Saburo think about this matter?"
"My nephew is worried. Is the court beginning to doubt my self-respect for supporting troops?"
"Well." Xu Tong took two steps and said, "Sanlang, the court naturally has to think about the safety of the overall situation, and not because of what a certain person does. An individual is insignificant to this world, but a team can start from tens of thousands. The team fighting in and out of the army is different.
Maybe Mr. Zhao is not targeting you personally, but don’t forget that he is an official and a descendant of the Zhao family. Do you think he is more at ease with you, or with a guest army from South Zhili? "
Li Dan was startled and then understood. He cupped his hands and said, "Second uncle is right. My nephew will start making arrangements immediately when he gets back."
Xu Tong chuckled, took his hand and patted it gently, saying in a low voice: "The people who are separated will probably be given the position of regiment trainer, but don't worry about anything. As long as he is willing to help us broaden our trade routes, then How?
His Majesty has never taken such care of them, so Saburo need not have any doubts. Besides, the more people from the Green Shirt Team become officials and get promoted, it may not necessarily be a bad thing for us! "
"Oh, yes!" Li Dan's eyes lit up: "Second uncle explained it thoroughly, my nephew understands!"
"Haha, Sanlang is a man who does great things. Don't be too petty, let alone be complacent, and learn to follow the trend. Master Zhao said this, how could he know that he was not giving instructions to Commander Shi or even His Majesty?"
Xu Tong mistakenly thought that Li Dan didn't want to let go of the team, or was worried that their position would be as good as his after being separated. In fact, Li Dan's main thought was not this. He was worried that the court's suspicion would cause internal fluctuations in the Qingshirt team. After all, he held a righteous position.
But Li Dan soon figured out that the power of Chashan Society had penetrated deeply into the Qingshirt team. Relying on these people and his own prestige, he could indirectly control the team, and there was no need to worry about the court's attempt to break it up.
As the saying goes, you still need to be hard-working. As long as the Chashan Society's influence is sufficient, won't even officers and soldiers from the army join? The division of troops was only a formal fission, but it facilitated the spread and development of the Chashan Society in other surrounding prefectures and counties.
Thinking of this, Li Dan immediately felt relieved. "In this case, why not simply let some veterans retire, or return to their hometowns, or enter factories or caravans, some of them can form escorts to escort goods, and place them in various industries as much as possible!" Li Dan said.
"There is no need to be too hasty. This matter needs to be carried out slowly. You can neither disgrace the veterans nor let the new recruits have other thoughts, nor can the court mistakenly think that you are resentful. Do you understand?"
Xu Tong taught him how to do it in a low voice. Li Dan listened carefully and asked questions from time to time. Their voices became quieter and quieter, even though
There was actually no one else in the yard.
After leaving Xu Mansion, Li Dan came to look for Zhang Nao. It turns out that last time Zhang Nao was sent out to look for Liang Mingshan, a military officer. After he came back and handed over the order, Li Dan asked him to be a secret guest. The internal name was the director of the statistics department of the Internal Affairs Bureau.
Han An, the director of internal affairs, led six or seven clerks to work, responsible for the statistics and verification of the accounts, weapons, and numbers of the Green Shirt Team and the Chashan Club. He left his shop to the shopkeeper, and now Zhang Nao is concentrating on it.
"I want to know the actual number of our entire army, including people, livestock, and vehicles. How long will it take for you to tell me?" Li Dan asked him bluntly after meeting.
"Well, an hour. But I only have the amount from four days ago." Zhang Nao replied. His statistics department requires that every company's documents need to compile new numbers and report them to the battalion, brigade, and staff headquarters every seven days. Four days ago was the latest time for the collection.
"Okay, I'll wait for you in Master Han's room." After speaking, Li Dan turned around and went out to find Han An first.
The small school ground behind the Chenghuang Temple is now the "Yu Gan Joint Defense Comprehensive Headquarters". The logistics and internal affairs departments of the staff, the Experience Office of the Xuanfu Envoy Department, the Yu Gan Battalion Headquarters and the Yu Gan Garrison Station of the Raozhou Regiment are all located here. here.
Only the Southern Division of Raozhou Inspection Department is still in the cross-yard next to the Chenghuang Temple, and Liu Hongsheng now holds this position.
The fences and wooden gates at the entrance have long been replaced by brand-new gates. Several dilapidated halls have been repaired and used as office spaces with the support of the squires. There are only dozens of people from the inspection department training in the school grounds.
Han An came out with several attendants. He had not seen Li Dan for several months, and he had not seen Li Dan last time when he came to his home, so he seemed particularly friendly. After welcoming him into the office, he said a few words and others exited one after another.
Han An smiled and said, "It's so busy here that I almost don't have time to sleep. The last time you came home, I didn't know until you came home at night!"
"Last time I went there just to see how Aunt Song and the others were doing. I guessed that Sir might be busy, so I didn't ask my wife to call." Li Dan said apologetically, and then asked, "Sir, you still have these few people, why don't you apply to the General Staff? Add more?"
Han An is now in charge of internal affairs, not only raising and allocating military resources, but also managing the internal treasury of the Chashan Society. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "The affairs I am in charge of now are not suitable for transferring people at will, lest someone who shouldn't come in comes in. It is not a joke to spread the word."
This was true. Li Dan nodded slowly, suddenly remembered someone, and said, "I will assign someone to be your assistant. Sir, do you still remember Liao Er, the boy from the rice store? He now uses the name Liao Cunguang, and he works in the team. The governor of town.
He performed well on an errand this time. I'm thinking of promoting him, so I'll ask him to be your assistant. How about that? ” Han An knew this Liao Er and immediately agreed.
Li Dan saw that Zhang Nao hadn't arrived yet, so he told him about his plan to divide his troops. Han An's face looked a little ugly: "We have just fought a few battles, is the court going to kill the donkey?"
"Master Han, we are developing too fast, so I agree to divide the troops. In addition, I also plan to gradually transfer some veterans into trading companies, factories, and standard banks to absorb them so that everyone can have a career, income, family, and industry. In this way, brothers’ minds will be more stable and at ease, what do you think?”
Han An chuckled and whispered, "Are you trying to hide wealth from the people, or hide troops from the people?"
"Don't worry about hiding anything, as long as you don't make the emperor uncomfortable." Li Dan also smiled: "So, I plan to separate the regiment training and the trading company in the name of better troops and simpler administration. For someone like you who is responsible for the regiment training now, I plan to separate come out.
We set up a business group, and this business group will manage the various trading companies, shops and factories we invest in. In the future, you will be responsible for the affairs of the business group and become a big shopkeeper. When I come here, I will go to Xu's house and have agreed with Uncle Xu that he will assist you. how? "
"Hey, are you doing extra work for me?" Han An couldn't laugh or cry: "How can any disciple treat his teacher like this?"
"More work, more reward! The internal affairs will be handed over to Zhu Qing. If the team training is maintained at 2,000 people, he won't have so many things to deal with."
With that said, Zhang Nao walked in. He sat down and reported the numbers to the two of them. They were both shocked.
"No wonder Mr. Zhao said this. If it were me, I would be worried too." Han An said.
The second temporary brigade under Tan Zhongxiao is currently attracting
After accepting part of the surrendered Jiangshan Army, the number already reached 4,000. The temporary first brigade, composed of the original Chinese military camp, the third battalion and the missing fourth battalion, has a strength of 2,000.
After Zhou Qin and Wei Xiaohe returned to Fuzhou, their troops also expanded to more than 1,600 people. Together with Yu Gan, An Ren's remaining troops and the two navy detachments on Xinjiang, the total number was close to 9,000! This does not include the 800 people Xiao Wanhe brought.
"There are too many." Li Dan began to realize the seriousness of the problem: "Such a huge team is not only easy to go astray, but also difficult to control. It also puts too much pressure on the supply of the business group!
A mixed bag of good and bad is not what I want. It seems that it is not what Mr. Zhao wants us to do, but that we ourselves must make appropriate cuts! "
In less than a year, a team of nearly 10,000 people was developed. How much mud and sand were mixed in? How could there be so many experienced officers?
If they are all integrated, it means that they must pay for everyone's military pay, food, equipment, pensions, etc. This is something Raozhou Prefecture cannot afford!
Li Dan knows that the reason why there is no problem with supply at present is that firstly, it is supported by the huge number of seizures after defeating Yang He and his son, and secondly, it is supplemented by local donations.
But if you don't continue to influx large amounts of income, your savings will soon be exhausted.
Take grain as an example. Calculating two kilograms of grain (including supplementary food) per person per day, 10,000 people have 20,000 kilograms or 200 shi per day, which is more than 6,000 shi per month. This does not include the huge expenditure on livestock fodder and war horse concentrate!
In the end, he came to the conclusion that no matter what the court thought, he himself could not be dazzled by this massive "group training". He would divide what should be divided and cut what should be cut, which could just meet the current needs of various industries. The rising need for employment.
The beginning of industry must be closely related to the liberation of a large number of labor forces from the countryside and receiving knowledge or training to become industrial workers!
The carriage had already boarded the ship first, and Liu Xi bowed deeply to Li Dan: "I will never forget these days with Sir Alex. If it weren't for the emperor's orders, I really don't want to leave!"
Li Dan smiled and said, "Your Majesty trusts me, so I asked you to escort the crown prince to the capital in person. It seems that after arriving in the capital, I will have to recruit some servants to understand the situation here. I hope you can give me some kind words."
"That is, that is true, sir, don't worry! Even if we tell the truth, the emperor will be happy enough." After Liu Xi finished speaking, he turned around and looked at Fan Xianzun, who was accompanying the prince on the boat: "Fan Ling will leave, the new one will It is said that you are a snobbery, Sir, please be careful!"
Li Dan's eyelids twitched. He knew that Liu Xi was not very old, but he seemed to have some connections in the palace, so his information must be accurate. Then he came closer and asked in a low voice: "Do you know the background of that person?"
"It is said that he was born in Yinguan. He is quite capable, but he is a bit arrogant. He is Prince Consort Xue's cousin, and he always claims that he has no bad dealings. Hey, he doesn't even look at people like us."
Li Dan almost burst into laughter. It seemed that Liu Xi had suffered from that person before. "Which department came down?" He was a little curious.
"This kind of pretentiousness naturally comes from the Ministry of Personnel. He is a doctor in the Kao Gong Department. It is said that he followed the path of Zheng Shangshu."
"Oh!" Li Dan heard that he was just a seventh-grade doctor, and he felt a little disapproving. He looked at the river and sighed, then raised his hands and said to Liu Xi, "I will see you again after a thousand miles. Dan here wishes you a safe journey. There are some drinks in the car. , you can relieve your boredom when you are bored, but... don't be greedy for drinks!"
Liu Xi burst into laughter and returned the favor with his hands in hand: "Thank you, thank you! If I have the opportunity to come to Li Jun again to deliver the message, I will take the initiative to ask your Majesty to fight!"
"I hope it's all good news!" The two looked at each other and laughed. Li Dan accompanied him down to the trestle and said as he walked: "I will go back to Anren to reorganize the troops after seeing Liu Jun off."
"Oh? But winter hasn't passed yet?"
"We are taking advantage of this period to sort out the team." Li Danzuo said casually: "Some old, weak and disabled people need to be eliminated and arranged to return to their hometowns to work in agriculture, work, or do business.
Then separate two or three troops and hand them over to Mr. Zhao, who will be assigned to guard them in various prefectures. The ones left behind should also be carefully selected. It’s good to retain the best for team training, but you don’t need too many.
I have to rush to Dongxiang to discuss a strategy with Mr. Zhao about this matter, and then implement it as soon as possible. "
After speaking, he helped Liu Xi board the ship's deck. Fan Xianzun said goodbye to Liu Xi and the Crown Prince again, and then disembarked with the help of Li Dan. They stood side by side, watching the paddle slowly start to move away from the dock.
Magistrate Fan invited Li Dan to ride a carriage back to the city with him, and said to him on the way: "Xiannephew, when are you going to return to Anren?" Now that Li Dan is at the sixth level, which is higher than him, he will no longer take the Acting like a county magistrate.
"Sir, Dan's manor in the countryside has been built. I am going to ask my aunt to move to Baima. I will return to Anren after finishing this matter."
"Oh? What about your marriage to the eldest sister of the Xu family?"
"Originally, I planned to leave after getting married, but Master Zhao wanted to discuss with me about sending a team to train in Fuzhou, Jianchang and other places. I had to rush back to Anren to discuss a plan with everyone, and then rush to Dongxiang to ask Master Zhao Ask for instructions.
If it is really implemented, this winter will be busy. "
County Magistrate Fan listened silently, and then said, "Xiannie, in fact, if you want to marry Xu's daughter, why don't you wait and see?"
Li Dan immediately understood what he meant, crossed his hands and said, "Dan Ming was deeply touched by your love and care. However, I can neither save the Chen family's daughter, nor can I betray the Xu family's daughter again, otherwise the world will regard me as a villain. That’s what Li Dan wishes!”
"That's right!" Magistrate Fan thought as he stroked his beard, "But, I heard that the prince gave you his two maidens as concubines?"
Li Dan's face turned red: "This junior is scared."
"What's there to be afraid of?" Magistrate Fan laughed: "It's a gift from my elders, so I accept it without hesitation. But I'm worried about her two identities. How will the daughter of the Xu family deal with herself after she gets married?" "
"This... junior has never thought about it."
"Haha, you Li Sanlang is so famous in southeastern Jiangxi, but sometimes you don't think well?" Magistrate Fan said after teasing: "The best way is to find someone with status, background, and reputation, and recognize him as a Foster father."
"It makes sense." Li Dan quickly handed over his hand: "Does the boss have anyone to recommend?"
"Far away, yet so close."
Li Dan was stunned: "You mean...?"
"Of course." Magistrate Fan nodded: "My ancestor is Duke Wenzheng Fan, my eldest father (grandfather) is the young master of the Renzong Dynasty, my father is the bachelor of Zuochunfang before he took office, and my uncle is currently the left minister of the Ministry of Punishment. .”
After he finished speaking, he looked at the dumbfounded Li Dan and asked with a smile: "Does Sanlang think it is appropriate for Xu's daughter to be my adopted daughter now?"
