Martial power is the foundation of Anguo Army, and military production has always been put first, and Gu Zhenhua has even devoted countless financial and manpower. So far, Anguo Army has built four arms bases, the largest one is Nanyang, followed by Guide, Kaifeng, and Huguang Wuchang.

There were more than 3,700 craftsmen in all places, 23,000 apprentices, and various contracted workshops, all of which were all over 100,000. In particular, there were more than 300 Western craftsmen and missionaries, led by Joshua Chan and others, serving the Anguo Army.

In terms of personnel size, it is definitely the most powerful in the world. Of course, the military production is also quite amazing. Each month, it can produce 3,000 guns, 50 cannons, 4,000 rounds of flowering bullets, and 300,000 kilograms of gunpowder. In addition, there are a large number of cold weapon workshops that produce weapons such as waist knives, shields, breastplates, and spears.

As for military uniforms, tents, shoes and hats, etc., they are all subcontracted to relevant merchants, which can not only save resources but also improve efficiency. Gu Zhenhua has made a detailed estimate. With the strength of An Guojun, there is absolutely no problem in mobilizing more than 100,000 people.

However, among these armies, the number of firearms can only account for 30% and the best guards can only reach 50%. As for the artillery, there is more lack of artillery. This is not because Gu Zhenhua does not work hard, but because of the limited time and full calculations, it only takes two years. Moreover, the combat losses are very large. It is indeed not easy to increase the popularity of firearms.

Thanks to the craftsmanship system of the Ming Dynasty, Gu Zhenhua can at least find suitable workers. If he accumulates a little bit, he may not have the current home business in ten years.

Of course, the development of An Guojun has exceeded many people's imagination, and even Li Jibo, as a veteran, sometimes could not keep up with the speed of progress.

"Prince, I asked the General Staff to draw up a plan. If you really want to take this opportunity to send troops to Shanxi and fight against the Tartars. At least 50% of your chances of winning, you can even drive the Tartars out of the capital in one fell swoop! However, the price will be quite high. According to the sand table deduction, there will be at least 20,000 casualties, especially in the cold winter battle, and the loss may exceed our imagination."

Gu Zhenhua smiled slightly: "Mr. Li, since the loss is so great, I will not move my troops. Wait until Geng Zhongming and Dorgon are exhausted. Then send troops to destroy them. Only a few months later, I can afford to wait!"

Li Jibo also smiled and said, "If the prince can afford to wait, we can calm down. The reorganization is still going on. When we prepare everything and deal with the Tartars, we will be even more sure. But there is a biggest trouble right now."

"Oh? What's the trouble?"

“There is not enough copper!”

Li Jibo said very simply: "Prince, the Ming Dynasty originally produced copper in limited quantities, and it was to be circulated as copper coins. Although we collected a lot of copper coins and melted them into cannons, we collected too much. The copper on the market is expensive and silver cheap. Materials in various places soared. After all, ordinary people use more copper coins in daily life, and some people complain about it!"

Gu Zhenhua frowned. Cannons are the god of war. He also needs to build a large number of them, not only the army, but also the navy. There is a larger gap there. If you can't bear it now, wouldn't it affect his development plan?

"Mr. Li. What if copper coins were completely abolished, paper money would be adopted?"

Li Jibo shook his head: "Prince, everything is too much, and I am absolutely convenient for paper money, but many fools and stupid women are not willing to believe in a piece of paper, but copper coins are affordable. And you also know that the Daming Baochao has long been stinking, and it is not a matter of one day or two to make business people regain their confidence!"

It is hard for a good cook to cook without rice, and these two stared at each other and couldn't come up with their ideas for a while.

At this moment, Fang Jianming walked in and said with a smile: "Prince, Princess Shang is here, and he is waiting for you at the mansion."

"Oh!" When Gu Zhenhua heard this, he temporarily put aside his annoying things and walked out with a smile.

When he arrived outside the palace gate, hundreds of people were waiting here. Shang Pei was among the group of people, wearing a fox leather jacket with charcoal red, high-tube horse boots, and holding a horse whip in his hand, full of queen style. Standing among the crowd, he was much more majestic and steady, completely unlike the wild girl he used to be.

Since Shang Pei returned to Ryukyu, Gu Zhenhua has been missing him from time to time and spared no effort to support Ryukyu, in order to drive away the Japanese pirates as soon as possible so that he can take the beauty in his heart as soon as possible!

"Hahaha, Pei Pei hasn't seen her for a long time, but I want to die!"

"Stupid!" Shang Pei opened her mouth and exposed the wild girl's temperament.

"Don't rush to remind me, I've known this for a long time. Who doesn't know the name of the King of Zhongshan? I've filled my ears along the way, which has ruined three ear-digging spoons!"

Okay, you little girl, you can't treat me as earwax!

Gu Zhenhua was immediately angry and didn't know that Prince Ma had three eyes if he didn't give her some family rules.

"Pei Pei, it's too cold outside, let's dare to talk about the past quickly!"

As Gu Zhenhua said, there was a lightning in his eyes, Shang Pei's heart suddenly felt aroused. To be honest, for so long, she no longer missed the mighty and powerful body that made her reach the top of the world. A warm current surged in her heart, and her little face turned red.

Shang Pei almost nodded directly, but then she thought about it and woke up again.

"Prince, let's put aside your private matters. I'll come here this time, but I have something to discuss."

Business? Marriage?

Gu Zhenhua was full of questions, and Shang Pei turned around and called an old man. The old man was wearing a kimono, with a slap on his forehead and a walnut-sized bun tied to the back of his head. It was the popular Yueda head in Japan, and it looked very weird and ugly.

However, when this old man saw Gu Zhenhua, he practiced the standard Ming Dynasty etiquette and spoke authentic Mandarin.

"The foreign minister Tadaosaki Sakai has seen His Highness, the prince is thousands of years old!"

"Princess Shang, doesn't this person look like a Ryukyu?"

"Yes, he is a Japanese pirate. He was sent by the Tokugawa Shogunate. I heard that he was a close retainer of Tokugawa Iemitsu."

Gu Zhenhua immediately smiled and said, "Princess Shang, what are you singing about? Are Ryukyu and Japan not enemies? With your temperament, you didn't chop him up and throw him into the sea to feed the sharks?"

When Tadao Sakai heard this, he suddenly felt chills all over, thinking that this Chinese prince did not talk about benevolence and righteousness at all, he was even more savage than that unruly princess!

"Report to the Prince. General Tokugawa has always admired the Ming Dynasty very much. Since Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu, he has been hoping to resume trade with the Ming Dynasty. As for the Satsuma tribe who invaded Ryukyu, it was Satsuma tribe, and he had no relationship with General Tokugawa. This time, the foreign minister came here because he heard that the Ming Dynasty established a Maritime Division in Shanghai and opened a port to trade. Japan and the Ming Dynasty were neighbors with water. They had been engaged in trade for many years, and the foreign ministers thought they should regain their old good."

"Princess Shang, how do you feel when you listen to this?" Gu Zhenhua ignored Sakai and said to Shang Pei with a smile.

Shang Pei shook her head: "How did I know that this guy ran to Ryukyu and said that both countries were neighbors of the Ming Dynasty. Although there were some conflicts, I also asked for adjustments from the Ming Dynasty. How dare I take care of the affairs of the Celestial Empire? I brought him here!"

Gu Zhenhua smiled slightly: "Pei Pei, I listen to him and it's like farting!"

As he said that, with the backhand, Gu Zhenhua slapped on Tadao Sakai's face. The old guy was slapped out for five or six steps. He opened his mouth and vomited four or five teeth mixed with blood.

This came so suddenly that everyone unexpectedly. It was too rude for this prince to attack foreign envoys in person!

Gu Zhenhua walked to Tadao Sakai indifferently and sneered: "How does this slap feel?"

Sakai struggled to stand up. He bowed to the end, his head touched the ground, and he was not afraid of his waist being broken. He was even more respectful than before.

"Your Highness Prince Xie's beating is for the purpose of trading. As long as the prince agrees, even if you beat the foreign minister to death, there will be no complaints!"

The Japanese's ability to do it by spitting on their faces is indeed amazing. Gu Zhenhua sneered: "I beat you with my left hand, not by me. Do you think it's right or wrong?"

Tadaoka Sakai was not a fool either. Of course he understood what Gu Zhenhua meant. He was mocking himself for shirking the responsibility for invading Ryukyu! No matter whether it was the Satsuma clan or the shogunate, they were all Japanese, so don’t try to shirk the blame.

When Sakai thought of this, he became more and more awe of the prince of the Celestial Dynasty. The other party was not only strong, but also smarter and wise.

"Foreign minister, thank you His Highness for your attack."

Gu Zhenhua smiled slightly: "It's a guest from afar. Let the doctor help me with some medicine first and then go to the palace to talk later!"

Several people took Tadao Sakai to apply medicine, and the Japanese he brought were all extremely respectful, just like sheep.

"Pei Pei, do you know why you can't beat the Japanese?"

"Because they are even more shameless!"

"Congratulations, you answered correctly!" Gu Zhenhua smiled in her ear: "A prize for a macho man, just tonight!"

Gu Zhenhua took Shang Pei into the palace. After saying a few words, Tadao Sakai was brought up again. Sakai's face was swollen, but he respectfully bowed to Gu Zhenhua and stood aside.

"Your Highness, General Tokugawa has always been hoping to resume trade with the Ming Dynasty. The resources of the Celestial Empire are abundant. All the Japanese admire them. I also asked the prince to agree."

Gu Zhenhua smiled slightly: "Mr. Sakai, sit down. When it comes to business, we are all equal businessmen. I treat all overseas countries equally. As long as I am willing to trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, there is no problem with business. In fact, there are merchants smuggling in the Ming Dynasty and Japan, but the scale is too small to satisfy you. What I said is correct?"

"His prince is wise. Our country has high-quality sulfur and the most exquisite swords. We are eager to exchange for the silk, cloth, porcelain and food of the Ming Dynasty!"

Gu Zhenhua nodded: "No problem, but Mr. Sakai, have you ever thought about it? With the Japanese products and trade with the Ming Dynasty, it is inevitable that an unbalanced situation will occur. How to solve it? You can't mobilize a large number of Japanese pirates to harass the Ming Dynasty's sea frontier, right?"

"The foreign minister dare not!" Sakai stood up in a hurry and said, "The prince must have an idea, so please give me advice!"
Chapter completed!