The bright sun shines on the field ridges, and catkins flutter everywhere and get into people's noses.
Zheng Haizhu sneezed while looking at the warehouse under the willow shade near the school grounds.
Two tracker instructors from Songjiang, named Zhang Liben and Jin Baozi, were guarding the door. They also saw Zheng Haizhu, stood up immediately, and waved to her to say hello.
Since the firecrackers and field cannons used for training for the camp troops arrived, Zheng Haizhu has made a rule that the weapons depot must be manned in rotation day and night.
】
Today, no one in the camp wanted to miss the folk song opera. It was not appropriate for Qi Jin’s instructor to be the gatekeeper. Zhang Liben and Jin Baozi took the initiative to watch. Anyway, when they were working as trackers on the canal, they didn’t perform fishermen’s songs. I've heard of it before, but I'm not interested in performing theatrical performances with a high voice.
Zheng Haizhu walked over and asked, "Has anyone been here at noon?"
Zhang Liben shook his head: "Chenshi came over to change defenses, so we two are squatting here."
"Okay." Zheng Haizhu nodded calmly, turned around and walked towards the small courtyard where he lived.
Her courtyard gate is separated from the weapons depot by a small ditch dug by the hoarders for irrigation, and it is exposed to the sight of the depot guards day and night. So gradually, Zhengjiazhuang's most gossiping hoarders no longer talked about whether Manager Wu got into Mrs. Zheng's bed, because the people on duty said that when it got dark, she and the dog were the only ones in Mrs. Zheng's yard. .
Zheng Haizhu doesn't care about giving up her sense of privacy. In this time and space, it was difficult for her to focus on her small self-definition.
At this moment, when he saw her coming back, the big yellow dog he kept stood up suddenly. Not only did he say hello, but he looked a little restless, shaking his head and sniffing his nose as he walked.
This guard dog was brought from Songjiang. It was the cub of the loyal dog that helped Dong Erya look after the baby by the canal.
Zheng Haizhu had a small courtyard where she lived alone in the Wenzhe Academy of the Gu family. When she left Songjiang and traveled around, Dong Erya often trained the yellow dog to get familiar with the clothes and shoes left by Zheng Haizhu in the courtyard. When the hostess came back, the dog As expected, Zheng Haizhu took over the feeding for half a year and gained a loyal bodyguard.
Zheng Haizhu followed the yellow dog to the east wall of the courtyard.
Even if the dog doesn't lead the way, she will come here after entering the hospital.
For her safety, Wu Bondang and the hoarders built a courtyard wall as high as two people.
But Zheng Haizhu asked Wu Bond to leave an irregular hole in the top of the three mud walls, stuff it with rags soaked in mud and water, and cover it with thatch at the top of the wall, making it difficult to notice.
Normally, Zheng Haizhu would step on the ladder and use a telescope to look at the situation in the village.
Looking out of the cave on the east side, the nearest one and the one that can be seen most clearly is Zhuangzi's handicraft workshop.
During these days, Zheng Haizhu monitored Ah Shan several times in the workshop, working diligently on renovating the spinning machine. He was also very attentive to the dispatches of Hu Carpenter and others. He ate and rested in a place where everyone could see it. , there is really nothing unusual about it.
But today, there was no Lao Hu or Ashan in the empty courtyard of the workshop.
The yellow dog barked at Zheng Haizhu's feet again and headed outside the wall.
Zheng Haizhu climbed down the ladder, called to the dog, and went to the workshop together.
As soon as he stepped through the door, the strong smell of blood hit his face. Ahuang rushed towards the utility room and barked fiercely at the nook and corner.
Zheng Haizhu quickly walked over and took a look. There were several fresh blood stains on the piles of thatch.
She was startled and felt a chill on her spine. She approached on tiptoe and took a closer look.
"Mrs. Zheng!"
Suddenly, Ashan's faint voice came from behind.
The big yellow dog turned its head and rushed forward with a howl.
…
"Hey, hey! Don't bite me, don't bite me!"
Ah Shan was like a hen flapping its wings to escape, hiding behind Carpenter Hu in panic.
Carpenter Hu shook out a piece of brown felt-like cowhide in his hand to stop the big yellow dog's attack, and comforted him with "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh".
As the cowhide shook, the pinkish-white part on the back of the brown short hair flashed from time to time, and water droplets scattered in all directions, bringing with it a slight smell of flesh and blood.
"Ah Huang, come here!" Zheng Haizhu immediately stepped forward and stopped his pet dog.
After receiving the owner's instructions, the yellow dog gradually calmed down and continued to bark at Ah Shan.
It seems that what stimulates it is not the bloody smell of cowhide.
"Ah Shan, it's broad daylight. Why are you walking without making any sound? Even the dog's ears can't hear it. It must have been startled and annoyed by you." Zheng Haizhu teased with a smile.
Ah Shan was holding a basket of lime and was so embarrassed that he didn't know how to answer.
When Carpenter Hu saw Zheng Haizhu standing in front of a haystack covered with blood stains, he hurriedly explained: "There was an old cow in the neighboring village. The farmers there had just killed it. Ashan and I bought the skin of the cow body and cleaned it in the workshop. After a while, I went to the village river to wash myself and prepare to make a shield."
"Oh," Zheng Haizhu glanced at the lime in Ashan's hand and asked Wen Yan, "Is this made from soaked cow hair? Why did you think of making a cowhide shield?"
Ah Shan looked at Carpenter Hu cautiously, and Carpenter Hu said cheerfully: "Look at what I have done, old man, maybe I have to compete with you, a young man, for credit? You can talk to Mrs. Zheng."
Ashan then put down the lime and reported with a flattering look: "Madam, the other day when I was young, I saw the camp soldiers trying out a small cannon. They said it was used to engage the enemy in the field. The shells weighed only three to four kilograms. The frame did not need to be shot like a gun. The cannon is so strong. But the little ones can't help but think that the cannonballs are small, not much bigger than the lead bullets of the machine guns. Wouldn't they be easier to block? Well, the little ones don't think that the three-pound cannon is not powerful. …”
After Ashan said this, he stopped and looked at Zheng Haizhu's face.
While listening, Zheng Haizhu glanced around and saw several large wooden boards and wooden wheels placed next to the nearly completed multi-spindle spinning machine, which were obviously not parts of the spinning machine.
"Do you want to make a shield car and see if iron bullets can penetrate it?"
Ah Shan nodded.
Zheng Haizhu stared at him and said, "This is the brain of a general. You pretend to know yourself and the enemy."
This time Ah Shan put away the always-pleasant look on his face and his eyes were solemn.
"Madam, Ashan's home was destroyed by the Tatars. Ashan doesn't want to see us lose to the Tatars in any battle."
Zheng Haizhu walked to the wooden board and lifted it with his feet. He saw that there was an iron sheet underneath.
Carpenter Hu also came over: "Madam, we went to consult some instructors from the Qi Jiajun. They said that Mr. Qi in Zhenjiang still uses the same car shield making method used in Qi Shaobao's camp back then. A layer of iron sheet, A layer of wooden boards, with the outermost layer covered with old cowhide, and the cowhide should be tied with iron thorns, because it can be removed and spread on the ground to resist horses. But if the enemy uses it to defend small cannons in the field, they should not nail it. Get on top of the iron pear, otherwise the exploding iron thorns will hurt you even more."
Zheng Haizhu lowered his head and thought for a while, then smiled kindly and said: "Then make a launcher and try it with our muskets and cannons to see at what angle and distance you can be defended by this launcher. "
"Hey, yes, ma'am." Carpenter Hu said.
He knew that Madam was very clear about rewards and punishments, and she was especially not stingy with the craftsmen in the firearms workshop. If the position of the fire door was changed to a more reasonable position, she would get a reward of two taels of silver. Craftsmen who smelted and mixed gunpowder often received rewards. This time it was finally the turn of the carpenters to show off, and Carpenter Hu was naturally eager to do so.
He glanced at Ashan approvingly. This boy from the corner of the Northeast is good. He has an honest temper and a smart mind. He also has a little daughter who is old enough to marry him. Or, like his sister, he can recruit a son-in-law.
While Lao Hu was thinking happily, Zheng Haizhu took out a wooden handle from his backpack, walked up to Ah Shan and handed it to him.
"Hua Er's mother was also killed by the Tatars. Only a handle was left for her. When you have time, make her a cotton seed ginning machine and install the handle."
Ah Shan hurriedly took it, walked to his carpentry box, and carefully put the handle in.
He heard behind him that Lao Hu changed his tone of voice and said: "At least Hua Er still remembers her mother's appearance. My mother-in-law contracted smallpox when I was one year old. It's like I have been without a mother all my life. "
Zheng Haizhu was silent for a few moments and then said, "As you said, Lao Hu, I also miss my mother."
Ashan gently closed the box and thought to himself: Who doesn't want to miss E Niang? Mother, after finishing the work this time, my son will repair your tomb when he returns to Hetuala.
