"The general is here!" Wang Wenzuo quickly bowed.
"You are adept at military affairs, well versed in the methods of attack and warfare, and are good at handling weapons. Now you are serving as the military commander of the Xiongjin Governor's Mansion, and you will be responsible for supervising the construction of this continuous crossbow." Having said this, he turned to Liu Renyuan and smiled: "The Governor. , what do you think?"
It is said that when Liu Rengui left the Tang Dynasty, he joined the army with a crime, but he had the official position of inspector and governor of Fangzhou (the inspector had a temporary and probationary meaning). Although he won a great victory later, according to common sense, the court would definitely treat him as the governor of Fangzhou. The "inspection" was removed, but after all, the journey was long and the court's decree had not yet been issued, so his official position was still under Liu Renyuan. It is really rude to appoint and dismiss generals first in the presence of a superior. Although Liu Renyuan felt a little unhappy, he still did not show it: "Mr. Liu's words are very suitable to my liking, so be it!"
"I obey the order, thank you two superior officers for your training!" Wang Wenzuo hurriedly knelt down to thank him. He was very happy. The so-called Bing Cao joining the army refers to the officials in charge of military affairs. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, not far away from ancient times, prefectures and counties were also regarded as the kings of the same place, with the authority to open government offices. There were six departments: Gong Cao, Cang Cao, Hu Cao, Bing Cao, Fa Cao, and Shi Cao to assist the prefecture and county officials. , just like the six subordinate officials under the prime ministers of the Han Dynasty and the six tribes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Although the Xiongjin Governor's Mansion currently only consists of Sixian City, if it can pacify Baekje in the future, it will at least be a member of the Central Governor's Mansion. Bingcao Junjun is at least a seventh-rank official and someone close to the chief. Compared with Wang Wenzuo's original official position can be said to be a leap forward.
Although Liu Renyuan was a little unhappy with Liu Rengui's decision-making without authorization, he did not anger Wang Wenzuo. After all, this person was a talent that he had long been optimistic about, and he had nothing to do with Liu Rengui before. He signaled Wang Wenzuo to stand up: "You have heard what the governor just said. This is a weapon of the military and must not be leaked. Let us know what your plans are!"
"Xiaguan didn't think carefully before. If he hadn't been reminded by the governor, he might have made a big mistake!" Wang Wenzuo quickly flattered Liu Rengui, and then said with a smile: "If possible, Xiaguan plans to go to the river Let’s build a shipbuilding place first!”
"Where is the shipbuilding?" Liu Renyuan was stunned: "What does this have to do with shipbuilding? Aren't you going to build this repeating crossbow?"
"Captain!" Wang Wenzuo walked to the crossbow and patted it gently: "Look at this repeating crossbow. It needs to be made of hardwood, beef tendon, hemp rope, copper, iron and other materials. It is cut wood, tanned, and made. There are many processes including parts, forging, casting, and polishing. It requires a lot of labor. There are Baekje people everywhere in Sixiang City. If you want to prevent the news from leaking out, it will be harder than climbing to the sky!"
"Then what do you mean-?"
"It's very simple. If you take this part apart, divide it into dozens of parts, and let different craftsmen make it, as long as you don't tell them what it does, they won't know, right?"
"Wang Shenjun's plan is very clever!" Liu Rengui on the side had already reacted: "Liu Duhu, Wang Xiaowei is hiding something from the truth! He was building ships on the surface, but in fact he asked the craftsmen to make the parts of the repeating crossbow. , anyway, there are blacksmiths, ropemakers and other craftsmen in the cabin. As long as you don’t tell them, who knows what they are doing? Others think they are shipbuilders, but who knows that they are building a repeating crossbow? "
"Yes, it is indeed a good plan!" Liu Renyuan also woke up from a dream: "Tomorrow you will find a suitable place for shipbuilding on the bank of the Xiongjin River! The craftsmen's labor is also at your disposal, and we will report it afterwards!"
Sixian City, wine shop.
The clear wine flowed from the mouth of the pot and fell into the cup, splashing with a little aroma. Cui Hongdu took a sip intoxicatedly and sighed: "I haven't drunk the best Lanling wine in a while!"
"Cui Shiyilang behaves like this when he sees wine, come on!" He Bayong, who was pouring the wine, pushed the filled wine glass towards Cui Hongdu: "Pinpin, how old is this?"
"It smells so good." Cui Hongdu took a big sip. This man never drinks in small sips: "Fifteen years, I would say fifteen years to you. If you miss one year, chop off my head!"
"And this marinated pork!" He Bayong put down the wine bottle, pulled out a dagger and cut the marinated pork for everyone. The sliced marinated pork slices fell tamely onto the wooden plate. The bright red muscles and fat intertwined to form a beautiful shape. The pattern makes people salivate when they see it: "I found these in the Baekje people's cellar. They are all front legs, twenty in total. Come on, join the army and please try it!"
"We are all brothers, so there is no need to be so polite!" Wang Wenzuo was a little embarrassed by the subtle change in the attitudes of his companions. He returned the plate to Liu An, who had been silent all the time: "Let Wu Lang taste it first!"
"Sanlang is still the same!" Liu An smiled bitterly. He stretched out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of bacon and put it into his mouth to chew carefully: "Well, this bacon is really good!"
Liu An started, and everyone stretched out their chopsticks to pick up the meat. Wang Wenzuo could feel the strange atmosphere. It seemed that the distance between him and other people had become farther. Only then did he notice that Liu An was sitting opposite him. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a strict hierarchy in banquet seating. Sitting facing east It is the chief position, the second one is sitting facing south, the third one is sitting facing north, and the lowest position is sitting facing west. After entering the door, I habitually chose to sit facing south. Unexpectedly, everyone sat down in order, and intentionally or unintentionally, the most prestigious seat facing east was vacated.
"Brother Liu!" Wang Wenzuo coughed: "Why don't you sit in the east-facing seat today?"
Liu An was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Sanlang moved to the right (promoted) and joined the army as a soldier. The position to the east should belong to Sanlang."
"Brother Liu, why did you say this? When we gather together for a drink, we should be ranked by age. Is there any etiquette to determine seniority based on official position?" Wang Wenzuo said with a smile: "Besides, Bingcao is only in the seventh rank when he joins the army. Brother Liu is Zhechong in the mansion. Captain Guo Yi is from the sixth rank, and even in terms of official position, he is above me!"
"Yes, what Sanlang said is, Brother Liu, please sit in the east-facing seat!" Seeing this, He Bayong hurriedly agreed, and the others also offered words of advice, and pushed Liu An to the front seat to sit down. Liu An cast a grateful glance at Wang Wenzuo. Of course he knew in his heart that although his official rank was still higher than that of Wang Wenzuo, Wang Wenzuo, the soldier who joined the army, was from the Xiongjin Protectorate, while his Captain Guoyi was from Qingzhou Zhechong. At present, the only thing he can manage is the hundreds or thousands of soldiers on hand, while Wang Wenzuo is in charge of the election of military attachés, weapons, equipment, and camp keys within the entire Xiongjin Protectorate (i.e., the entire Baekje). , Fenghou preached and other matters (although there is only one Sixian city now). For example, during the Three Kingdoms period, Ma Di's official position in the Shu Kingdom was Bingcao Jianjun. He was just a Bingcao Jianjun in the Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's Mansion. His actual power and future were far beyond Liu An's reach.
