There is a small fort in the center of Yunzhou Craftsman Camp, named Baihu Fort. It was built along the river. It was originally dilapidated. Shi Tiegen began to renovate it after arriving in Yunzhou, and then built Yunzhou Craftsman Camp based on this fort. .
As the workshops of the Craftsman Camp were established one after another, the craftsmen also moved to build houses near the workshops. Instead, Baihu Fort here became free and became the place where the Yunzhou Craftsman Camp handled official business and received receptions.
There is a two-story small building on the bank of Baihe River in Baihubao. Tang Ruowang is currently on the second floor looking out of the window at the rolling Baihe River and the workshops built along the river.
Facing the neatly arranged workshops in front of him, thick smoke billowing up, faint shouts, and people coming and going in the distance, Tang Ruowang said with surprise on his face: "It is indeed extraordinary. , indeed I never thought of it!”
Zhang Cheng secretly rejoiced in his heart. He knew that Tang Ruowang had great talents. He had cast cannons for the Ming Dynasty in the capital in the ninth year of Chongzhen. He was especially good at astronomy and calendar. He had assisted Xu Guangqi in waiting for the "Chongzhen Almanac", but it had not yet been promulgated. It’s just the world.
If they can be kept on the North Road for a while, Yunzhou Craftsman Camp will definitely benefit the most. The firearms currently used in their own army are not to say the most advanced ones in the Ming Dynasty, but at least they are also the most sophisticated ones.
If there is a slight improvement, it will be the most advanced firearm in the world!
"Mr. Tang has already arrived at the North Road. You might as well stay a little longer. I have already selected a group of smart children. They are studying and literacy in the craftsman school here in Yunzhou. At the same time, they also need to learn skills from the old craftsmen. .
If not, wouldn't it be better if Mr. Tang tries to teach and see if children like me can learn the language of Mr. Tang's hometown well, and then be sent to the West to learn the technology of your country and study the Catholicism mentioned by Mr. Tang in the future? "
Zhang Cheng tried to persuade Tang Ruowang to stay. In his opinion, as long as Tang Ruowang could stay in Beilu for one year, the relationship between them would be established.
And this year will definitely benefit the craftsmen. The craftsmanship of Ming craftsmen is not bad, but they are indeed inferior to Westerners in terms of written records, summarizing experience, and detailed and complex calculations.
Tang Ruowang also felt that there was a novel feeling here on North Road, and he felt that Zhang Cheng was not a simple person. He seemed to have many puzzling ideas in his mind.
Just like when he was in the capital, Zhang Cheng talked about the Netherlands, France, England, Spain, etc. How could he, a military commander in the northwest frontier, know such details?
Now we see that he has made the North Road such a prosperous scene on his own, which shows that it is indeed not simple. If given time, this person will definitely become a very important figure in the Ming Dynasty.
Now, if he can establish a good relationship with him, it will definitely be of great help to his future missionary work. Tang Ruowang, who had such thoughts in mind, said: "The general invites you like this, how can Tang Ruowang refuse!"
"It's so great. There are so many craftsmen in Yunzhou here. Mr. Tang can design his own residence and church for worship, and they will be responsible for the construction according to the drawings." Zhang Cheng said enthusiastically.
He waved to Shi Tiegen again and ordered: "Shi Tiegen, this Mr. Tang Ruowang is my handsome guest. When Mr. Tang lives in my North Road, if Mr. Tang has any request, you must satisfy it to the letter.
If Mr. Tang draws out the drawings, you will organize the craftsmen to build them strictly according to the drawings. Mr. Tang is a great talent. He once built artillery for the current emperor. If you and other workshops have suggestions, you must listen carefully. , consider carefully. "
"Yes, the old man has remembered it all."
Zhang Cheng then ordered: "There are also the more than forty children selected from various castles at the beginning of the year. After Mr. Tang settles down, if they want to teach, you can't stop or interfere. It all depends on Tang." It will be handled as you wish, sir."
"Yes. The villain takes the order!"
…………
On April 23, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen reign in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Cheng, who was in Chicheng Castle, received a summons from Zhang Fuzhen, the new governor of Xuanda and the left minister of the Ministry of War.
Zhang Fuzhen, also named Tisheng and Danru, was a native of Gaomi, Shandong. He passed the Jinshi examination in the 41st year of Wanli. Since then, he has served as magistrate of Xingtang, Linying and Dongming counties, all of which have good governance.
Then he became the chief of the Ministry of War's official affairs department, prepared troops for Changping, and was later promoted to governor of Yansui and censor of Youqiandu of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Together with Hong Chengchou and other officials, he suppressed the rogue bandits in Shaanxi and Gansu.
In the ninth year of Chongzhen's reign, the Qing army invaded the pass and plundered, and martial law was imposed again in the capital. Zhang Fuzhen was again appointed as the right minister of the Ministry of War to governor Ji Liao Baoding, and later the left minister of the Ministry of War. Soon he resigned and returned home on the grounds of serving his mother.
In the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, after Chen Xinjia returned to Beijing and became Minister of the Ministry of War, Emperor Chongzhen once again appointed Zhang Fuzhen as his official title, Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War, and Governor-General Xuanda.
This time, when Zhang Fuzhen, the governor of Xuanda, passed by the security guards on his way to Yanghe to take office, he temporarily stationed here for a few days and summoned the generals on the East Road and North Road of Xuanzhen, as well as the officials from Yanqing and Baoan prefectures to come and see him. .
Zhang Cheng did not dare to neglect, so he took Lin Fangping and twenty guards with him and rode towards Baoan Prefecture.
…………
This is not the first time I have been to the Security Guard City. The last time I came here was with the previous Governor of Xuanda, Chen Xingjia. This time, there was a new Governor of Xuanda.
It really lives up to that sentence - an iron-clad and smooth official in the yamen!
By the time Zhang Cheng, North Route Soldiers He Chongwu, Grain Inspector Qin Shizheng and others rushed to the security guard city, Deputy Chief of Staff Zhang Guowei, East Route Soldiers, and Grain Inspector had already arrived ahead of them.
In the Security Department's official hall, a group of officials gathered together, but most of them were from the east road. After all, they were closer. Only three people from the north road, including Zhang Cheng, He Chongwu, and Qin Shizheng, were summoned.
Zhang Cheng looked up quietly from where he was sitting, and saw a man sitting upright behind the big case. He had a pale face, a five-locked mustache, and an appearance that suggested he was over fifty years old.
"I have resigned and returned home to serve my mother as a filial piety. However, the country is in dire straits. The Holy One has called me to return to the Governor-General Xuan Da. I have received the emperor's favor in this life, so I should rise up and serve my duty.
This is also a time when the country is in crisis. You should work together with me to organize military households, open up wasteland and cultivate crops, and put troops into practice to prepare for war and serve the country with loyalty to the emperor! "
Zhang Guowei, the deputy commander-in-chief of Xuanzhen, immediately responded: "Please rest assured, Governor-General, Zhang Guowei will definitely work together with the Governor-General to repay the emperor's favor."
Under the leadership of Zhang Guowei, all the officials expressed their opinions actively. The officials and generals on the East and North Roads in the official hall were shocked by the righteousness of Zhang Fuzhen, and they all sat upright.
Then, Zhang Fuzhen, the governor of Xuanda, inquired about the various conditions of the East Road and the North Road respectively. He even asked Yanqing Prefecture and Baoan Prefecture many times, and each time he asked about the key points.
After dinner that day, a person close to Zhang Fuzhen came to Zhang Cheng and told him that Governor Zhang Fuzhen had summoned him to speak.
