Chapter 976
Recruiting the Ministry of Industry
Chapter 976 Recruiting the Ministry of Industry
Jingnan,
In the imperial camp,
In a tent not far from the entrance,
Ningbian ordered his personal soldiers to bring food and set up a simple banquet. Outside the tent, three armies marched out at the same time, causing the bandits in the county city to mobilize frequently. The sound of drums and horns sounded, which had some special meaning.
"My Lord, I have sent someone to invite Chief Tian. I think he will be here soon."
"Well, don't worry. I treat people with sincerity. It's a waste of talent for such a great man to be a mere official in the Ministry of Revenue. By the way, have you checked those Thunderbolt Cars?"
Zhang Jinyu still had some doubts in his heart. The so-called Thunderbolt Chariot was actually a catapult, but it was more flexible and simplified. That is, the lever principle was lengthened to make the catapult lighter and its range and power greater. However, due to the complexity of siege equipment nowadays, the catapult was extremely heavy and gradually disappeared. He did not expect that someone in the Dawu Dynasty would design and build ten of them. It was really rare.
"My Lord, I will personally take people to check it out. The Thunderbolt Chariot is about 20 feet long and can throw more than 300 steps, which is the same range as a crossbow. It has wheels and can be easily moved. There are also three catapults, which are about 40 feet long and can throw more than 1,000 steps. They are extremely powerful, but difficult to move."
Ningbian was also a little surprised. This kind of siege weapon was very rare and a bit thankless. Nowadays, sieges are all made with arrow towers, ladders, siege vehicles, and shield vehicles. These are rare, so almost all the craftsmen in the court, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, would not build them. It was really "rare" to have such a person.
"Haha, isn't this even better? Just imagine, if there were ten catapults and ten thunder chariots attacking the city together, the enemy soldiers on the city wall would not be able to withstand the power of the boulders even with iron shields, and would suffer heavy casualties. If they were replaced with kerosene bombs and burned the city towers, the enemy soldiers would certainly not be able to hold on. This can be said to be a powerful siege weapon."
In fact, the reason why Zhang Jinyu was determined to win was because all the cities inside the pass were strong cities. If he really wanted to enter the pass in the future, he would have to conquer the cities one by one, and it would take him forever. I think the Western Palace family also had a lot of cavalry to guard against the Xianbei people. If he wanted to enter the pass, there were so many cities on the northwest border, which would be enough for him.
Unless they did the same as the Taiping Sect and drove a large number of young and strong people to launch a crazy attack on the city to consume the strength of the defenders, the price would be a bit too high. One zhang is about three meters, four zhang is twelve meters, and two zhang of the Thunderbolt Chariot is close to seven meters, which is acceptable.
Of course, except for the old soldiers who are paid for nothing in the imperial court, if they really encounter the main force, these are their trump cards.
"I understand what the Marquis means, but I wonder if the chief official Tian is willing to work for the Marquis."
Ningbian also thought of what the Marquis was thinking. There were only four big cities outside the Great Wall, so there was no need for these. However, there might be changes inside the Great Wall in the future. If they entered the Great Wall, the most difficult thing would be the siege.
"It depends on the price we offer. Who doesn't love money? My father-in-law had to accumulate wealth for several generations to have a small courtyard in the brothel in the capital. The clothes used by this Tian Zhushi for his official robe are just ordinary brocade. He is really short of money."
Zhang Jinyu was not really worried. From the conversation of the official Tian, he could see that he was not pedantic, his clothes were clean and simple, and he was a self-disciplined person. However, his official robes were made of ordinary brocade, which must mean that he was short of money. No matter how poor the officials in Beijing were, they would at least use Su brocade to make their official uniforms. Therefore, he should be able to be bribed with money.
As the two were talking, there was a sound of footsteps outside, followed by the lifting of the door curtain. Tian Feng, the head of the engineering department, carefully lifted the tent curtain and saw the Marquis and General Ning inside. He quickly stepped forward and performed the greetings.
"Your humble servant Tian Feng greets the Marquis and General Ning."
Bowing with great respect,
really,
Zhang Jinyu was a man with good sense. He nodded with satisfaction and extended his hand as a gesture of invitation.
"Master Tian, there is no need to be so polite. Today we are just chatting. Please take a seat."
"Thank you, Lord Marquis."
Tian Feng bowed again, then lifted up his skirt and sat down steadily, without any panic, but there was still some confusion in his eyes. He didn't know why the Marquis had asked him to come here today. Could it be that the Thunderbolt Cars were not made finely enough?
"Come, Chief Tian, you are not allowed to drink alcohol in the army. You can only drink tea instead of wine. I will offer you a cup first, and then try the yellow sheep I brought from the capital to satisfy your craving."
Zhang Jinyu first picked up the tea bowl, paused for a moment, then drank it all in one gulp and smiled.
"I don't deserve your Majesty's behavior. I will accompany you."
Tian Zhushi was a little panicked, and quickly picked up the tea bowl and drank it all. Then, at the invitation of the Marquis, he picked up his chopsticks. The top-quality yellow sheep was roasted crispy, and the fragrance filled the mouth. It was a rare delicacy. Zhang Jinyu ate happily and did not rush to talk about anything. In this way, after three bowls of tea and five dishes, the atmosphere became lively when they were almost done.
Seeing that Master Tian was eating so much that his mouth was full and he was burping, Zhang Jinyu had a hidden smile in his eyes and asked;
"I don't know how long Mr. Tian has been in the Ministry of Works. How come I didn't see Mr. Tian when I went to look for my father-in-law? It's a pity."
"Well, my Lord, how can I compare with Doctor Qin? At that time, I was just an official in the Ministry of Works, running errands. Then, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs was short of personnel for the weapons department, I volunteered to supervise the production, just for the extra ten taels of silver per month. Later, because Director Qin was promoted and his position was vacant, I restored the Thunderbolt Chariot and completed the weapons catalog. Only then was I promoted, and I spent a lot of money on it."
At this point, his eyes twitched, and he suppressed his pain. The money he spent was his monthly salary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he had to give it away for the hard work of supervising the construction. It was painful to think about it. Moreover, he was now living in the capital, sharing a large courtyard with others.
"Oh, there is actually such a backstory. So, this position is not cheap. Those evil-minded people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, since they have completed the weapon catalog, I think the craftsmen can also make it. Such a great achievement still costs money, really, tsk tsk."
Zhang Jinyu didn't know what to say. It was said that the first to reach the top had the greatest merit. How did it become like this?
The Marquis was still defending him, which made Tian Feng feel even more annoyed and he sighed;
"My Lord, you may not know that I have only completed the weapon list of the Thunderbolt Chariot, and it is a simplified version that will not be used many times.
Eunuch Yao of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that these have existed since the Han Dynasty, and I am not considered the first to climb the mountain, so my contribution is not great. Because of this, I have not completed the drawings of the catapults. As a person in charge, I have seen the end of it. "
Even if he were to move up, Tian Feng was afraid that he would not be able to do it well. The Marquis had invited him today, so he must have something to ask for. He had no money and no official position, so he could only use the siege equipment that he had prepared. He did not know if the Marquis had this in mind.
"Oh, there is such a thing. Does that mean you have something better?"
Zhang Jinyu's eyes lit up. If that was true, it was said that when teaching apprentices, they would definitely keep a secret skill and not pass it on until they died. If they died suddenly, the skill would be lost. I guess the same thing would happen to their skills.
"My Lord, I dare not lie. The trebuchet has a long range and great power, but it is inconvenient to move and is too heavy, so I can only reduce it to a height of three meters, and the range remains unchanged. As for the thunder chariot, any length below three meters has a corresponding relative range, and the power remains unchanged. The smallest one, I can fix within two meters, which is extremely convenient to move and has a range of about three hundred steps."
Tian Feng spoke with great confidence, with a hint of arrogance on his face, which then disappeared immediately. The more this happened, the more Zhang Jinyu valued his talent. If it was a three-meter Thunderbolt Chariot, it would be exquisite and convenient. Behind the iron shield, it would be useless even if it was fully armored. Three hundred steps, that is three hundred meters away. Good fellow, it's you.
Let's just get straight to the point;
"Master Tian, I won't beat around the bush with you. I am very interested in what you have invented. As for Master Tian, I admire him even more. I wonder if Master Tian is interested in the weapons inspection in Pingyang City outside the Great Wall."
If you want to recruit someone, you have to be clear about it. The Weaponry Bureau outside the Great Wall that Zhang Jinyu mentioned is the Weaponry Workshop in Pingyang City. The position is comparable to that of a Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works, which is considered a promotion to the next level. It would be a lie for Tian Feng to say that he is not tempted. However, in the capital, he not only has a wife and children, but also an old mother in Gaotang. In the bitter cold land outside the Great Wall, there are also the Jurchens wreaking havoc. How can a mere civil servant deal with all this? However, the Marquis is recruiting him, and a huge opportunity is right in front of him. How to make a decision is very difficult, so his face is tangled.
Zhang Jinyu found it a little funny. Thinking of the rumors outside the pass, they were all spread by him. He was obviously afraid.
"Master Tian, you have something to hide. Why don't you just tell us so we can solve it together?"
Looking at Luo Yunhou's serious expression, Tian Feng did not hide anything, he stood up, bowed, and clasped his fists and said;
"My Lord, I am very lucky to have your care for me. It would be a good idea to be the Director of Works, but I have a wife, children and an elderly mother in her sixties in Beijing. It is a bitter and cold place outside the Great Wall. I am afraid my mother cannot bear it."
Thinking of how his mother had worked so hard to raise him, and how he later passed the imperial examination and became an official, but after more than ten years he was still a small official who couldn't even afford a house, he felt so ashamed that his eyes immediately turned red when he thought of this.
Zhang Jinyu felt a little emotional after hearing this. He was still a filial son, so it was okay.
"Haha, Master Tian is a very pure and filial person. I was not considerate enough. In this case, you will be the chief officer of the Supervisory Office, but you don't have to go back to the border areas first. As for the capital, you can just accept the transfer order and stay here. After all, my 10,000 elite cavalrymen are still in the capital. By the way, where does Master Tian live now?"
This is a win-win solution. Everything outside the pass can be used by myself. Tian Feng was touched and asked about the place of residence. His face turned red again.
"My Lord, I live in a humble house, rented in a large courtyard in the south city."
"How can that be? Well, there is a five or six-room courtyard being renovated by the Ministry of Works in the south city. You can choose one and live there first, and settle your mother and parents down. In addition, all officials outside the Great Wall receive a salary from the Marquisate in addition to their salaries from the court. This is enough for you to live in the capital, so you don't have to be so tight on money in the future. This is your resettlement allowance."
Zhang Jinyu did not say much else. He took out a thousand taels of silver from his bosom and put it on the table, pushing it over. Sometimes, no words are as effective as silver. Even if the other party is indifferent, it is because the money is not enough, and more money must be paid.
Seeing the banknotes pushed in front of him, Tian Feng seemed at a loss. He couldn't even think about accepting the 1,000-liang banknote. He wanted to say something else, but General Ning interrupted him.
"Master Tian, this is customary. Although it is bitter and cold outside the Great Wall, the Marquis' Mansion will always do things fairly. These are not only the resettlement expenses, but also the reward money given to you by the Marquis. After all, you are the first to board the Thunderbolt Chariot. You will not be treated unfairly if you serve the Marquis' Mansion." These words were spoken sincerely, and Tian Feng's eyes turned red, and he bowed his head.
"I, Tian Feng, am willing to serve you, Lord Marquis."
"Haha, good, good, I am very happy today. Come on, change the table of dishes. I am very happy today and want to chat with the head of Hotan."
Nothing happened overnight, just wait for dawn!
"Quick, speed up the march,"
North of Xihe County,
Before the morning light came up, it was almost three o'clock in the morning, and the troops of Prince Beijing had already set out, not daring to slack off at all. The King of Wei even forced his sparse eyelids open, yawned, and sat in the same carriage with Prince Beijing Shui Rong.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The situation ahead is unclear, so I was anxious and rushed. Please forgive me. When we get to the county city, you can have a good rest."
The words came lightly, and Shui Rong was somewhat helpless. He hurried on, but the mountain road was rugged and even the official road was in disrepair, so the journey was delayed for a whole day.
It was not until yesterday evening that we finally reached the border of the county town.
King Zhou Chong of Wei nodded to show his understanding.
"Your Highness, please be at ease. I understand. But the soldiers are so exhausted from traveling so fast. Isn't it too late?"
Looking out the window, he saw that although the soldiers were moving, they all looked tired, and it was obvious that they were not as relaxed as he was sitting in the carriage.
"I'm sure I'm exhausted, Your Majesty. Xihe County is of great importance. If I can't take control of it as soon as possible, I'll be uneasy. The White Lotus Sect has always been cunning, and the various sects in the martial arts world have different ideas. We have to guard against this mess in Xihe County. At the very least, we can stop the White Lotus Sect's bandit army in the county city."
Shui Rong was unsure. The White Lotus gained its fame through killing. Wei Xiangping, the old fox, had always been calm. How could he be driven out so quickly with the important town of Runan behind him? Although Shizhou was strong, it was not big after all. The White Lotus would besiege it for several days, and he was afraid that Wei Xiangping would not be able to hold out. At that time, Yangping, which was close to the river, had almost no strategic location to defend. If it was defeated, it would lose half of the county and could only defend the county town.
Thinking of this, he became even more anxious and shouted to the person outside;
"Xue Shou, you lead the people in front. When you get to the city gate, knock on the door directly. There is no need to wait for the seal."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the powerful words fell, a sturdy figure, accompanied by his shadow guards, rode to the front of the team to lead the way.
Seeing that Prince Beijing Shui Rong was so anxious, Prince Wei was also a little flustered, thinking to himself, no way, isn't Prince Beijing known as the most knowledgeable about military affairs in the capital? Why does he seem so timid now? Prince Beijing is planning to gather a hundred thousand soldiers. A hundred thousand soldiers is a lot. They should be able to stop those people from the White Lotus Sect.
Suddenly I thought of Wang Ziteng, the governor of the Beijing camp, who led hundreds of thousands of elite troops to the south. He thought it would be easy to suppress the bandit army, but who could have imagined that he would be trapped in the city of Daliang and fight to the death. If it weren't for Marquis Luo Yun's quick reaction and leading his troops south, I don't know if the marquis rescued the people. As I thought about it, my thoughts drifted away.
Inside the car, Beijing Prince Shui Rong had a solemn look on his face, and no one knew what he was thinking about.
A loud shout rang out from under the north gate of Xihe County!
"Open the city gate quickly, open the city gate quickly, Prince Beijing is here!"
now,
The army of Beijing Prince Shui Rong had already arrived at the north gate of the county city. There were more than 20,000 soldiers and horses, still in a marching formation.
Shui Rong sat in the car, silently lifted the curtain, raised his eyes and looked at the city wall not far away. The Xihe County City seemed a little strange!
The county city was majestic and tall. Although the towers and pavilions were a bit dilapidated, the city walls had not fallen into disrepair. As for the arrow towers and other defensive structures, they were almost gone, and there were no crossbows or other weapons. I guess they were locked up in the camp. There were mostly listless soldiers on the top of the city walls. No matter how many of them there were, what was the use? He was unhappy and his face became much darker.
Only His Royal Highness the Prince of Wei beside him, with eyes full of curiosity, lifted the curtain to look at the scenery outside.
The city gates are not open.
The guards on the top of the city wall did not dare to open it privately. They were so scared that they sent messengers to the government office to pass on the order and shouted to the people below the city wall;
"General, please wait a moment. The thieves are cunning and need to pass the customs to verify the documents. Please, "
The rambling words made Xue Shou, the vanguard of Prince Beijing's Palace, furious. He pointed his spear at the top of the city wall and cursed;
"Open the city gates immediately and welcome Prince Beijing and Prince Wei into the city. If they dare to say no, arrest them immediately."
Just because of this sentence, the guard Fan Heng was frightened and trembled, and immediately shouted;
"Quick, quick, open the city gates,"
The lieutenant next to him tried to give a warning but was kicked.
"hurry up,"
"Yes, General."
Then, several embarrassed figures ran down, waiting for the city gate to open, and then they would immediately go forward to apologize.
And inside the city,
The messenger rushed into the government office in a panic and informed the prefect Li Chengliang, saying,
"Sir, the troops of Prince Beijing have arrived outside the North City Gate and are knocking on the door."
"What, so fast."
Li Chengliang looked nervous and shouted, "It's only been a few days and Prince Beijing has arrived in the county city. Could it be that he has been marching all night? This shouldn't be possible.
The enemy army has not yet been defeated, and they are moving so fast. Your Highness, the Prince of Wei, is still young, how can he endure the hardship of traveling by boat?
in addition,
Prince Beijing called on Qi Yun's troops, but even if they flew, they would not be able to reach the city in an instant.
"How many troops are coming?"
"My Lord, we have more than 20,000 soldiers and horses, no more, no less,"
The messenger looked carefully, although he didn't count them in detail, but he was pretty close. After hearing this, Li Chengliang frowned even more tightly. It really was 20,000 soldiers and horses. How could they come so quickly?
Could it be that the army of Prince Beijing marched first and then issued the transfer order? He muttered to himself, but before he could think about it, he saw Meng Enyun, the garrison commander of the county city, and Fu Qiubai, the commander of the palace army, hurriedly walking in. They had not even put on their armor. When they got closer, they began to adjust their armor. After they were done,
The two of them then clasped their fists. Fu Qiubai was still thinking about the matter at the government army, so he hurriedly asked;
"Lord Li, how could the Prince of Beijing come so quickly? Although we have recruited enough soldiers, we have not yet organized them into a complete army. The common people who have just changed into their armor will know it at a glance. Isn't this a revelation?"
(End of this chapter)