"I may have to leave. It's your world now. It's time for our old bones to give way."
"Why did Yuanwai say this? Could it be that he was joking that we overestimate our capabilities and are unwilling to contribute to the Song Dynasty?"
Zheng Zuliang has been in the northwest for many years and has never returned to his hometown for a moment. However, he misses his hometown all the time. He has abandoned his family and children in these years and has become a loner in a foreign land. Although he has made small achievements, no one has shared them with him. More often than not, he has abandoned his family and his children. It’s really hard to express my inner thoughts.
He missed his wife in his hometown and his two children. Although he was the envoy of the Third Division of Xixia, he did not dare to reveal his true identity for a moment, for fear of bringing disaster to his descendants.
What's the point of walking at night in brocade clothes if you don't return home rich? Li Yuanhao's defeat has been exposed. Even if Liang Chuan doesn't come to find him and return to his country, he will start looking for a way out for himself.
Many evenings and sunsets, he stood on the top of the city of Xingqing Mansion, looking at the clear Yellow River, which had not eaten yellow sand yet and was as graceful as a jade belt, flowing in front of his eyes, towards the Song Dynasty and towards his homeland.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The place where it sets happens to be my home. I have a home but can't return.
Everything seemed to be destined. He even felt sad for Zhang Yuan. The two of them had made a high-spirited appointment to go to Xingqing Mansion together, vowing to make the Song Dynasty regret not paying attention to talents like them, but now he was alone. Escape from that land of right and wrong. How will Zhang Yuan escape in the future?
Cherish each other!
The two were once full of ambitions, thinking that with their own strength, they could change the world and make the arrogant Zhao Guan family of the Song Dynasty surrender to them.
Unexpectedly, such a humble little person, such as Liang Chuan, would ruthlessly crush his dream!
It may be a road of no return. On that night of passion, the two of them strode forward and never looked back. Now, he leaves alone. .
well. .
"Brother, you know my difficulties."
Liang Chuan glanced angrily at the helpless Zheng Zuliang. Zheng Zuliang helped Li Yuanhao conquer Ruoda, but there is no mention of him in the history books. For a person who longs for fame, this is a great pain, but if he uses him The lives of his family and the inheritance of his ancestors were exchanged for this lifetime of infamy. Even if Zheng Zuliang was so heartbroken, he would not be able to make the decision.
Why Liang Chuan bet that Zheng Zuliang would return to the Song Dynasty with him was because of the appearance of the stone.
This sole child of the Zheng family is Zheng Zuliang's last threat. No matter how crazy he is, he would not dare to cut off the incense of their Zheng family.
Otherwise, he could just show his true name to the world, so why hide his head and tail? Isn't it because he is afraid of harming his descendants?
This man is ambitious, but like himself, he is a bloody man, not a cold-blooded beast.
Liang Chuan looked at Zheng Zuliang carrying him on his back, and suddenly remembered the time when he rescued him from Xinghua Prison. However, Zheng Zuliang was full of energy back then, not as depressed as he is now.
Nothing is permanent.
Zheng Zuliang felt extremely detached after this experience, and he had a clear understanding of the world. He looked into Liang Chuan's eyes and smiled: "When we first met, I just thought that you were a hero who rescued my naughty son with righteousness. I never thought that this was actually God has given me a great opportunity to be with you!"
"Member Wai has come to the rescue many times in Xinghua. In the past, Mr. Liang was not worth mentioning and had many offenses. Please bear with me."
Zheng Zuliang cast his eyes into the distance and said with fascination: "When you talked about the new way of drinking tea and the way of eating tiger shrimp, I longed for it. I wonder if I can taste that unique taste in this world!"
Liang Chuan said with a smile: "I have planted several acres of tea trees on Fengshan Mountain. I think it will be ready for roasting and drinking in a few years. When I return to Nanshan, I will invite people to come to my home to taste the first brew of the new tea!"
Zheng Zuliang's eyes were full of expectation again: "It's a deal!"
Liang Chuan said: "Shitou, I promised him to make a little money during this war. Yuanwai is determined to return to Xinghua. Do you really feel free to work in his place?"
"How sure are you about this war?" Zheng Zuliang asked rhetorically.
"I won't fight an uncertain battle!" Liang Chuan said firmly.
Seeing that he was confident, Zheng Zuliang smiled bitterly and said: "I, Zheng, have a son and a daughter. I saved my son's life. At the beginning, I saw that you were an outstanding person. I wanted to betroth my daughter to you. I asked. You had already married and had a family. At that time, I didn’t know that you had achieved what you have today. I thought how could I, the daughter of Zheng Zuliang, be your concubine? But now that I think about it, your deeds in Bianjing have already been spread all over the world. I agree with you. I don’t want you to have the same name and surname.”
Zheng Zuliang paused and then said: "If you think about it in time, you will definitely be the master of the title of marquis and prime minister. Even if my daughter works as a maid in your house, she will be in a high position. Alas, my family is not so lucky. Forget about my daughter. , I am originally a businessman, and my business experience has not been passed down to my son. I didn’t expect that I would rely on you a lot."
"After all, I am also a businessman. If I don't do loss-making business, it will naturally be beneficial for me to make money from stones!" Liang Chuan thought to himself, I don't want your daughter's hot temper, but I will accept your niece!
"That's good. You won't harm that stupid stone in my family. Leave him to you to hone his skills in Xinghua for ten years. I feel relieved to leave him to you. Naturally, I won't ignore him. No matter what, if you have to, you can write to Xinghua and I will do my best!"
The two of them stood on the city wall, facing the wind, looking at the mountains, rivers and deserts. Liang Chuan loudly chanted: "The world is more powerful than my generation. Once I enter the world, the years are rushing, and the emperor's hegemony is chatting and laughing. I am so drunk in life!"
Zheng Zuliang clapped his hands and said: "Brother, if you have such a domineering spirit, why worry about the failure of great things!"
Liang Chuan raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "It's funny."
As soon as Shitou returned to Dingchuan Village, he started working on various profitable businesses. His father had already found one. Anyway, he came to the northwest and was not in a hurry to go home. Wouldn't it be nice to make a lot of money and go home? As a child, you naturally have a desire to prove yourself in front of your parents. He mentioned to Zheng Zuliang repeatedly the glorious story of Mi Xing making a lot of money back then. Now Liang Chuan has given him a great opportunity to make money. Can you stop showing off?
Unexpectedly, Zheng Zuliang's determination to return to Xinghua was as solid as stone. Shitou knew that he had repeatedly persuaded his father to stay with him and give him guidance. It could be said that he was begging hard. The scene was touching.
Zheng Zuliang just looked at his only precious son with relief. Back then, he refused to persuade him to learn how to do business, but now he was willing to come to the northwest desert to drink wind, eat sand and work hard. It was no longer possible for him to take the scientific examination. Finally, he had his own home. The karma will not be ruined in his son's generation.
"I have failed your mother for so many years as a father. It's time to go back and accompany her. When I am by your side, you will rely on me for everything, and you will not make much progress. It is better to let you go and explore on your own. It's okay to suffer a little loss. Ask Sanlang for advice more. , he is a character, I don’t need to say anything else.”
In desperation, Shitou could only accompany Zheng Zuliang to have a farewell meal in the military camp with tears in his eyes. The food in the army was relatively rough, consisting of flatbread, beef with soybean paste, and some wild game hunted in the desert. Liang Chuan and Xin Wubing were accompanying him, and the others were too talkative, so the others didn't bark too much.
Zheng Zuliang set out to return to his hometown the next day. The stone was sent one way after another, and it was not until Zheng Zuliang called him back that he was sent hundreds of miles away.
"My father is gone." Shitou returned to Dingchuan Village and said to Liang Chuan.
"I know, I saw it all at the top of the city. It's rare that your father understands the righteousness. He has devoted his whole life to the Song Dynasty these years. It's time to go home and enjoy peace and happiness. Next, I will fulfill my promise!"
"Third brother...!"
Shitou's mood was extremely complicated. The eldest brother in front of him came from an extremely humble background. He suddenly reached the heights he is today. Even his own father favored him. He was only a few years older than him, and his background was not as good as his own. Now It is not an exaggeration to say that one's own family relies on others.
Before Zheng Zuliang left, he told him many times that Liang Chuan's vision and methods were beyond those of ordinary people. Staying with him and learning a little bit will be of great benefit to him in his life!
Shitou doesn't take anyone's words seriously, but he respects his father very much.
Zheng Zuliang had allowed his hands and feet since he was a child to make him extremely naughty. He did not ignore it, but did it intentionally. He did not want to restrain Shitou and release his nature. Sure enough, when the time came, Shitou became enlightened on his own, no matter how stubborn he was. It was indescribable. Not a bold pedagogy!
"The craftsmen your father brought back are all top-notch craftsmen. They can make a kind of armor with strong defense. These are the only people who know this kind of technology. You can find a group of reliable blacksmith apprentices and return to In the name of my younger brother."
"This is easy to handle."
Zhao Di has learned crafts from Fang Tianding since then. Although he is married to Fang Tianding's daughter, he has learned the craftsmanship from other people, and he also eats and lives with other people's goods. He is no different from his son-in-law. Since he is determined to learn this craft, If the wealth does not go to outsiders, let Zhaodi know this trick by himself.
In the past, Zhaodi was the most important helper around him, but now he had to let go and let Zhaodi try.
He has his own life, and he can continue to help himself in other ways.
If he wanted to use Ling Hu's skills, he would need a lot of steel, and his younger brother's skills could be used just in time. Moreover, he was someone he trusted. If it were anyone else, there would be no way for him to tinker with cannons. !
Shitou was eager to eat hot tofu. Before Liang Chuan finished speaking, he got up to do it, but Liang Chuan pushed him back.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. You are the boss now, not my assistant. You don't have to obey me, but you can't discount my requirements. Please understand what Mao Dun said. In addition to what I just said, you You also want to help me go to Song Youcai’s hometown to help me get a batch of mines!”
Shitou asked in confusion: "What mine?"
Liang Chuan said: "Coal mines and iron mines!"
To make a gun barrel, raw materials are essential, and these raw materials are the most abundant in Northwest Qiaqia!
Shitou knew about iron ore, but he didn't know what coal was.
This thing only became popular in the early Northern Song Dynasty. Charcoal was widely used in the south. When the cost of burning charcoal was increasing day by day, the north finally found this substitute.
"I know about the iron ore. If you find the local government and buy it from them, they will usually have it. But do you want to give me a document? Otherwise, if you buy a small amount, it will be fine. If you buy too much, will the government start to ask questions?"
The stone is still too young!
There are many people in the Tianxiong Army now, but they are all private soldiers recruited by Liang Chuan with his own money. Including him, the royal horse has always been a small role, but in the imperial court's establishment, there are no officials. Must admit it! The Tianxiong Army's group is even less organized, otherwise they would all have tattoos on their faces!
Give them equipment, what's that but rebellion?
"I went to ask Xia Song for documents and he couldn't give them to me. You have to use your own means to do this. There are no precious resources in the northwest. Coal and iron resources can be dug up everywhere with a shovel. I believe in small private mining kilns. It’s quite a lot, you can figure it out on your own, I’ll need hundreds of thousands of kilograms of ore within a month, and then you can earn a hundred cents per kilogram!”
Isn't it possible to earn tens of thousands of pounds for one hundred thousand pounds per pound? Is it just about buying iron ore? Shi Shi suppressed his inner master's excitement and desire and swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva.
"So what is coal?"
"You will naturally know what coal is when you find iron ore in Suizhou. This thing is much easier to use than charcoal. A piece of coal can hold many charcoals and can burn for half a day! This thing is indispensable for iron smelting, but it is expensive It’s much cheaper. It’s up to you to transport as much as you want. If you sell this thing in Bianjing, you won’t be able to spend it all in your lifetime!”
Purchasing enough iron ore to sustain a war through normal channels will definitely attract the attention of the government. The Song Dynasty also wanted to end the war as soon as possible, and would certainly not allow itself to privately cast weapons and equipment.
Private smuggling is serious in the northwest. The iron ore and coal mines in Li Yuanhao's hands were obtained through smuggling. Civil fights over mining have become common, which has developed the fierce temperament of northwest people. Anyway, he is not short of money and can fight with money. The problem is not a problem!
"I'll do it right away!"
"Wait!" Liang Chuan rolled his eyes at him, why is this kid so impatient!
Shitou scratched his head in embarrassment and said to Liang Chuan: "Third brother, please stop showing off here, I'm in a hurry to make money!"
Liang Chuan said: "Finally, you can help me buy three more supplies."
"what else?"
"Charcoal, saltpeter, sulfur!"
Shitou is a little confused now. If the coal thing just mentioned is not very useful, why do we need charcoal?
"Didn't you say that charcoal is not useful?"
Liang Chuan's playful face changed instantly, and he said seriously: "You have to purchase these three things separately and secretly. It's best to let different people do this. Each other doesn't know what the other is buying and what it will be used for." Don’t even ask! This is related to the direction of this war, you... can’t be careless!"
"How much?"
"Sulfur, dinitrate, and charcoal, I will charge you as much as you have. Likewise, the first two will make you a hundred cash per kilogram, and the charcoal will make you twenty cash per kilogram. If the artist is not too far away from us, , I asked her to deliver the charcoal!”
