People came and went up the Cangzhou Canal Wharf, and the wharf was expanded several times, and the river channel next to the wharf was widened several times.

A bitter and cold frontier, a border prefecture that exiled prisoners, is now a lot of merchants. Just because the Cangzhou Jingliufu has money, he purchases a lot of money, from making military uniforms to making armor and weapons, a lot of food, and craftsmen from all over the world who seek life.

As long as you move to Cangzhou, Jingliufu will accept all the materials. There is even a joke circulating in the business trips: Even if you transport a stone to Cangzhou, Jingliufu will spend money to buy it for you.

Materials are too important, and Zheng Zhixing, who is hoarding materials, may have considered it more and more long-term.

Zheng Zhi tried every means to get money, but money was just a pile of metal after all, and all kinds of materials were far more important than money. For Zheng Zhi, money was only valuable after spending it.

When Zheng Zhi returned to Cangzhou, the first thing he did was to go to the factory in the valley outside the city.

The valley's garrison became more and more stringent, and you could hear the sound of metal hits echoing in the valley from afar. Nowadays, the production of armor and weapons is here, and there are two or three thousand craftsmen.

Zheng Zhi rode his horse all the way forward, crossing the stoves one by one, and there were many simple buildings on both sides, including residents, warehouses, and simple wooden sheds covering the stove.

When you walk to the innermost point, there is a fence that separates the inside and outside. Now this valley is not as rumbling as before every day. The idea seems extremely quiet, casting is not as good as crafting, and it is much quieter in comparison.

When Ling Zhen saw Zheng Zhi, he hurriedly stepped forward to pay homage. Zheng Zhi did not exchange polite greetings and asked bluntly: "How many have you made?"

Zheng Zhi was turning over and dismounting, and Ling Zhen hurriedly went forward to help him, but Zheng Zhi was quick to move. When Ling Zhen had just made the move, Zheng Zhi had already dismounted and stood still.

"My husband, there are eighteen cannons, and some slightly smaller cannons have been built, with seven or eight." Ling Zhen replied.

Zheng Zhi nodded and said, "Where are you? Take me to see."

Ling Zhen quickly led the way, passed through the fence and entered the innermost part of the valley. A few slightly smaller cannons were placed on the side of the road. It looked like it was seven or eight hundred kilograms, and several craftsmen were carrying small wooden barrels to brush the cannon body with grease to prevent rust.

Seeing that Zheng Zhi was looking at these slightly smaller cannons, Ling Zhen quickly spoke: "My husband, I didn't want to build these small cannons, but pig iron was not available three months ago. After some scraps, I produced a small cannon. After the test, the power was extraordinary. The small ones made their own decision to build a few more. This cannon was light and could run around with a horse. He could be a pioneer when he was pulled into battle."

Ling Zhen explained the reason for building these small cannons, but he thought it was more appropriate. If he really marched in a hurry, the cannons would definitely fall behind. Such small cannons could keep up with the team.

Zheng Zhi nodded and walked forward when he heard this. He walked to the innermost point. Under a long straw shed, there were more than a dozen huge cannons neatly arranged.

The black cannon barrel was facing Zheng Zhi, and the momentum was really terrifying. The black cannon barrel was not very flat, but it was shiny.

Zheng Zhi looked around and felt very satisfied. He ordered: "Transfer ten cannons and four small cannons to Cangbei Shipyard. We will set off tomorrow, and we will also arrive at Cangbei Shipyard in a few days."

Ling Zhen didn't ask much questions when he heard the words, and just answered: "Abide by the order."

The development of Chinese artillery is actually not much behind the West. The power of the artillery in the Ming Dynasty was not bad, and it was also the world's leading level at that time. During the Songjin War in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, both sides had artillery, and the artillery was extremely powerful. The red-branded cannons that emerged in China in the middle and late Ming Dynasty actually represented the general level of artillery in the world at that time.

The backwardness of artillery began in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, and in the early Qing Dynasty, artillery was used in large quantities. Whether it was the conquest of Junggardan, Mongolia or the pacification of the Three Feudal Francisco, artillery had become a necessary combat weapon for the army.

The real backwardness of China in thermal weapons was started by the Qing Dynasty. After the country was pacified, the Qing Dynasty began to truly close its doors, and these things were sealed up and no longer developed. When the muskets were developed, the gap in thermal weapons in China had reached an irreversible level, which also caused a tragedy in modern times for more than a hundred years.

Many people think that the word "close-locking" is like this since ancient times, but it is not true. The real "close-locking" state began with the Qing Dynasty. Although the Ming Dynasty also had a maritime ban, it was not a "close-locking" state. The late Ming Dynasty artillery technology was greatly influenced by the West at that time.

After inspecting the factory, Zheng Zhi was quite satisfied and everything was carried out step by step.

When Zheng Zhi returned to the Jingli Mansion, the servant outside the door came to report and said that Wu Yong was asking for a meeting outside the door.

Wu Yong asked for a meeting but Zheng Zhi was a little surprised. It is logical that Wu Yong could not get out of bed at this time.

When Zheng Zhi saw several servants carrying Wu Yong to the small hall, he also laughed.

As Wu Yong came in, four big men were already a little cooler, and the four of them were still wearing short cloth clothes.

After Wu Yong met, he turned around and said, "Come and meet your husband."

The four great men hurriedly fell to the ground and said in unison: "Greetings to you, my husband."

After the four of them knelt down and paid homage, a man kowtowed and said, "Thank you for your great kindness and virtue."

Zheng Zhi was stunned by this sentence. He had never met these four people, so he did not have any kindness. He turned to see Wu Yong.

Wu Yong hurriedly said, "Mr., these are the leaders of the naval army in Liangshan at that time. This person is Zhang Shun, Ruan Xiaoer, and the other two are Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi. They are both masters in the water. Today, I specially brought a few people to pay my respects to you."

Zheng Zhi heard the words and looked at the four people. He just thought about meeting these people. He thought about how he had never met them. At this time, he thought that Zheng Zhi had met these people. He had seen each other far away on the water surface of Liangshan River. He had also met outside Cangzhou City. Then he asked Ruan Xiaoer who had just spoken and said, "I wonder what kind of kindness you have with your brothers?"

Ruan Xiaoer answered: "My husband killed the Zeng family and avenged great revenge for Brother Chao Gai. Such a great kindness, my three brothers will never forget it."

Zheng Zhi only realized it at this time, and looked at Wu Yong again, as if he also understood why Wu Yong hurriedly called Han Shizhong into Zengtou City. People always had to talk about some feelings. If a person does not have a trace of affection in his heart, he could not be called a human being.

Seeing Ruan Xiaoer's sincere look, Zheng Zhi could bear the gratitude in his heart and asked, "How many can Liangshan Navy Army recruit?"

Wu Yong replied, "Reported to my grandfather, most of the Liangshan naval army were destroyed, and they were all in my grandfather's prisoner-of-war camp in Cangbei. There were two leaders, one of whom called Li Jun, who didn't know where he was, and perhaps he also came out of the prisoner-of-war camp. The other one called Zhang Heng, who was Zhang Shun's brother, who had returned to his hometown in Jiangzhou."

"Well, in a few days, I will go to Cangbei, so you four will go with you. Tomorrow, we will go to the factory outside the city to find a man named Ling Zhen and learn some skills first." Zheng Zhi said a few words and arranged the four people. The ships built by Cangbei Shipyard are not decorations, and the Ruan brothers and Zhang Shun will probably also arrange them on these ships. As for the skills to learn, of course, it is to use artillery.

Wu Yong heard Zheng Zhi ask these four people to go to Cangbei together, so he naturally understood that there was an errand. He was overjoyed and quickly replied: "Thank you for your kindness."

Zheng Zhi waved his hand: "You don't need to be polite. You can go home and raise it for a few more days, and you will also go to Cangbei with you."

"Don't worry, my husband, the students will be able to walk in a few days. Although they can't ride horses, they can take a car." Wu Yong replied, returning to Cangzhou from Yunzhou, walking slowly all the way, and staying in Qizhou and Dizhou for some time, and now he is almost done.

Outside Qingchi City, the military camp has expanded several times, and 50,000 people have already filled up, and military orders are everywhere, one after another.

Not only were the military camps expanded many times, but many private houses were also built outside the city. Today, Cangzhou Jingliufu is like a huge enterprise, with full production capacity, and naturally more people come to Cangzhou to make a living. From the coolies at the wharf to the construction workers and carpenters, there are everything. These people naturally have to live in the place. The city is too expensive, so people slowly built simple houses outside the city to live in.

Zheng Zhi led Yang Zaixing, Yue Fei, Niu Da, Lao Hu and a few personal soldiers to slowly hang out in the camp. Everything was orderly.

There are mostly queues on the training ground, and there are all new recruits. Some recruits have already received brand new armor, while more recruits are still wearing linen uniforms, red and gray, and felt hats on their heads.

There are naturally systems for the selection of new recruits. High-level horses and shooting, medium-level iron armored infantry, and low-level are naturally logistics. No matter which level, basic training must be completed in a qualified manner.

Zheng Zhi walked slowly along the way, and didn't look at each place without seeing each other, but just took a quick look. Someone recognized Zheng Zhi who passed by and naturally came forward to greet him. Zheng Zhi did not disturb the military man who was not paying attention.

I waited to the east and saw a huge empty field from afar. There were hundreds of strong horses galloping in the field, and there were stables in the distance, and countless strong horses. There were shooting ranges near me, with constant bowstrings.

A group of unarmored new soldiers were surrounding the shooting range.

A feather arrow was shot from the crowd from time to time, and it was steadily shot at the bull's eye a hundred steps away, and then burst into cheers again.

Zheng Zhi was also surprised and said, "There are actually some people among the new recruits who are shooting like this. They underestimated the world in front of them."

The people next to him also looked up and Yue Fei replied: "My husband, there are very few people who are accustomed to shooting in the folk, but there are some experts in the hunters in the mountains. Could it be that the children of hunters who come out of the mountains?"

Lao Hu suddenly stood up and looked at the stirrups. A feather arrow flew out of the crowd and hit the bull's eye. The crowd surrounded by tightly snatched again, and Lao Hu couldn't see who shot the feather arrow.

"Well, maybe the hunters' children came down the mountain when they heard about recruiting soldiers..." Zheng Zhi agreed in his heart that Yue Fei said, after all, the mountains were hard, and Zheng Zhi's treatment of recruiting soldiers was still very tempting.

Yue Fei saw another feather arrow hit the bull's eye steadily, and he also boasted: "It's really good at shooting skills. There are really hidden dragons in the world."

The more Lao Hu was standing up and looking, the more he stood up and slapped the horses a few times without consciously slapping them. Naturally, the horse's hooves took a few steps forward. Instead, he forgot Zheng Zhi on the side, and he beat the horse alone to the front of his head.

Zheng Zhi saw Lao Hu going first and smiled and said, "Old Hu, but I want to compete with this recruit?"
Chapter completed!