Caoxian county government.
Ming Dechang, Zhao Captou and others gathered together to discuss the continued selection of young men.
If Huang Shan hadn't arrived in time for today's battle with Lian Nu, the county seat would have been captured.
The strong men's combat effectiveness and fighting will are weak, and they must establish a numerical advantage to make up for their shortcomings.
However, it is a bit difficult to select young men now.
Just now when they carried back the bodies of the fallen Imperial Guards and the strong men who defended the city for their families to claim and collect, the grief-stricken family members of the fallen soldiers and civilians not only deeply touched Ming Dechang and Zhao Captou.
It was inevitable that some resistance would arise in the hearts of the people watching outside the Yamen.
Just when Ming Dechang was about to be soft and hard, a limping old man walked into the yamen.
Upon seeing this, Capt. Zhao immediately stood up and hurried forward to greet him.
"Master, why are you here!"
Ming Dechang had to bow his hands in salute when he saw the visitor.
"Mr. Cui, why are you here!?"
Mr. Cui was helped by Capt. Zhao to sit down, and he smiled softly and cupped his hands to Ming Dechang.
Cui Lao worked as a policeman in Caoxian County for twenty years and as a head catcher for twenty years. During this period, he also went to Liuzhou City as an errand.
He is not only Capt. Zhao's master, but the captivating captors from several surrounding counties have also worked with Mr. Cui for a period of time.
His lameness was the root cause of his illness when he rounded up the gangsters who roamed the two countries of Beiman and Daqian.
With so many years of experience in handling cases, Mr. Cui is well-versed in both black and white circles in Liuzhou, and even has connections in Beiman.
"Master Ming, Tianxiong, I heard that you are inquiring about Huang Jiabai's steel refining? Is it true?"
After hearing what Mr. Cui said, Ming Dechang and Zhao Captou looked at each other and then asked quickly.
"Master (Mr. Cui), do you know the clues about Huang Jiabai's refining of refined steel?"
Seeing the excitement on the faces of the county magistrate and his apprentice, Cui Lao stopped trying to hold back and immediately told Ming Dechang and Capt. Zhao some of the news he knew.
"That was more than ten years ago, before the Huang family fell."
"Once I was investigating a theft case of the Huang family, and I overheard the Huang family saying that they seemed to have some secrets in their old workshop outside the city."
"It is said that the head of the Huang family at that time (Huang Shan's grandfather), in order to prevent the decline of the family, left an escape route for his children and grandchildren in the old workshop to make a comeback."
"Later, the Huang family was involved in a major court case and everyone was executed. I don't know if the only member of the Huang family knew about it."
After learning about this, Ming Dechang and Captou Zhao looked at each other, and then Capt. Zhao ran out quickly.
After a while, Huang Shan came to the county government office under his leadership.
Huang Shan, who had already learned about this on the way, was a little confused at the moment. What secrets had his grandfather left behind in the old workshop outside the city?
When Mr. Cui saw Huang Shan arriving, he stood up uncharacteristically.
"Boy from the Huang family, I know that you have repelled the attacks of the northern barbarians several times. I would like to thank you on behalf of the people in the city."
As he spoke, Cui Lao bowed his hands to Huangshan.
Huang Shan hurriedly hid aside to avoid bowing, then helped Mr. Cui up and asked in detail about his old workshop.
But Cui Lao shook his head and said helplessly that that's all he knew.
As for the Huang family's old workshop, it was the blacksmith shop before the Huang family became prosperous. It was where the ancestors of the Huang family discovered the art of refining fine steel, and then gradually became wealthy.
Huang Shan nodded thoughtfully, so the old workshop outside the city might actually have secrets left by the Huang family.
As long as your ancestors are not people who like to joke, then there must be something related to Bailian refined steel hidden in the old workshop.
Huang Shan didn't hesitate too much and immediately handed over to Ming Dechang.
"Uncle Ming, time is what we lack most right now."
"Right now, it will take at least two to three days for us to smelt it ourselves."
"If there are ready-made hundreds of refined steels in my Huang family's old workshop, I can make them into crossbow strings in just half a day."
"I have a half-baked idea."
Ming Dechang and Zhao Captou instantly understood what Huang Shan wanted to do, and their expressions became extremely solemn.
Nowadays, the inside of the city is much safer than outside the city. The wolf-like northern barbarians are eager to peel off the skin of the yellow cedar and cramp it.
If Huang Shan ventured out of the city and was accidentally caught by the northern barbarians, let alone how to build a repeating crossbow in the city, just the news of Huang Shan's capture would collapse the morale of the city.
Huang Shan is now the backbone of the army and people in the city. If something happens to him, things will be in big trouble.
"Nephew Huang Xian, how about I send some smart and capable detectives out of the city to look for him!"
"It's too dangerous outside the city, you..."
Huang Shan shook his head and interrupted Ming Dechang's words.
"Uncle Ming, the police are always smart and capable, but how can they clearly distinguish various types of iron materials?"
"If we mistake other iron materials for hundred-refined steel, wouldn't we fall short in our efforts!?"
"Besides, that is the old workshop of my Huang family. Outsiders may not be able to discover the secrets. At the moment, I can only do it myself."
Seeing that Huang Shan could not be persuaded, Ming Dechang began to select Huang Shan's entourage to be responsible for protecting Huang Shan and transporting the hundreds of refined steel that might be found.
The detectives soon learned of the matter, but they were not very enthusiastic about following Huangshan out of the city.
After all, there are many dangers outside the city, but there are too many safety concerns inside the city.
After learning about this, Ye Bushou Wang Qi chose to follow Huang Shan without hesitation.
Zhao Captou originally planned to go with Huang Shan, but was rejected by Huang Shan and Ming Dechang.
At present, the security in the city and the selection and training of young men depend on Capt. Zhao. He must never leave the city together.
Finally, after discussion between Ming Dechang and Zhao Captou, two agents were selected to follow Huang Shan out of the city, and then three young men were willing to follow Huang Shan out of the city.
So a team of seven people was formed.
For the safety of Huang Shan and the others, after discussing with the strong soldiers guarding the city, three repeating crossbows were handed over to Wang Qi and two catchers, plus Huang Shan's own repeating crossbows.
The seven-man team has four repeating crossbows, four waist knives, and three whistle sticks.
Huang Shan also got a waist knife to protect himself.
At the same time, Ming Dechang allocated 200 crossbow bolts to the team, with an average of fifty crossbow bolts per person.
After getting ready, Huang Shan left the method of making a continuous crossbow and the steel-making technique at Ming Dechang. The two agreed that if there was no news from Huang Shan by tomorrow night, they would give these two things to the craftsmen in the city and let them Continue to build repeating crossbows.
Ming Dechang put these two things close to his body, and then swore to the saint that he would never violate their agreement.
When the sun completely disappeared, Huang Shan and others used ropes to slide down from the top of the city under the cover of darkness.
Huang Shan, who landed safely, looked back at the tall and solid city wall, waved his hand and disappeared into the night with Wang Qi and others.
