Question: Tell me about the place where you were in Bianliang.
Answer: Sir, it was a very big place. It was a manor in the west of Bianliang. There were more than ten workshops and five to six hundred people. All of them were owned by a single owner …
Question: You made gunpowder?
Answer: Yes, my family has been firework craftsmen for generations. I used to have a small workshop, but unfortunately …
Question: How did you get into that manor?
Answer: First, the people there came to invite me. Making fireworks was my family's craft, so I stayed in the shop and didn't want to go there. Not long after, another firework shop opened up opposite my house. They had many different kinds of fireworks, and they exploded loudly. They were all sold at a low price. I couldn't compete with them, so my business died down. Later, the people in the manor offered me generous conditions, so I had to go there.
Question: After you went there, you learned how to improve gunpowder?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Since gunpowder could be improved in this way, why didn't you think of it before?
Answer: The preparation of gunpowder was originally a method passed down from my ancestors. After I entered the yard, I realized that there was such a place. The rules in the yard were very particular. Even how to use a cup or a cup of water was regulated. The process of preparing gunpowder was also a bit complicated. I didn't think about it before.
Question: Who thought of the process of improving gunpowder?
Answer: I don't know. The one in charge of the gunpowder workshop was Mr. Gongsun. The one in charge of the whole yard was Mr. Lin. There was another person with the surname Lin. They were all involved. But some people said that the method of improvement was personally taught by the owner. It was just that Mr. Lin and the others were in charge of the production.
Question: What was the name of your owner?
Answer: Ning Yi, Ning Liheng.
Question: He later … killed your emperor.
Answer: Yes, it was him.
Question: Have you seen him?
Answer: I saw him a few times. He treated us to a meal every year. Sometimes he would come over to greet us. He was always discussing business with Mr. Lin and Mr. Gongsun. I … met him about three or four times.
Question: What kind of person was he?
Answer: He … was young, but dignified. He always smiled when talking to us. He rarely smiled when talking to Mr. Lin and Mr. Gongsun. No one dared to be too presumptuous in front of him.
Question: Do you know why he built such a yard?
Answer: I don't know. He said that he wanted to research some interesting things for Takeshi to sell.
Q: Takeshi?
A: He also opened a lot of shops, restaurants and teahouses, selling food and necessities. When he went out to tell stories and perform magic tricks, he called himself Takeshi. From Bianliang, there were many big cities, there were also many carts hauling goods to the villages to sell.
Q: How many kinds of workshops are there in this courtyard?
Answer: I'm not too sure. There are some places that I can't enter. But he remembered gunpowder, cloth, wine, toilet water, paper making, blacksmithing, coal briquettes, fruit jam, dried meat …
Question: How much do you know about your boss?
Answer: I … only know that when the Heavenly Soldiers came south, he left the city and said that he wanted to … strengthen the walls and clear the fields. Later, he said that he won the battle in Xia Village. The commoners weren't sure if it was true or not, because later on, the higher-ups said that the boss colluded with the Right Minister's Residence. When the Right Minister's Residence fell from power, the boss was implicated.
Question: Yes, it was them who defeated Guo Yaoshi's resentful army in Xia Village, forcing Guo Yaoshi to lead his army to flee to the west. Later on, it was your boss who killed the emperor.
Answer: Yes, yes.
Question: You hate your boss?
Answer: Yes, he … no, I'm a commoner. I'm just a commoner. I'm just a commoner. I can't be considered …
Question: If he didn't kill Zhou Zhe, would you think that you wouldn't come here?
Answer: I … don't know. Moreover, the emperor acts on behalf of the heavens. It's a good thing that I can come here …
Question: … If I say that the battle in Xia Village was really a big obstacle for our army to take down Bianliang, would you think …
Answer: …
… Ha. Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you …
…
A loud boom sounded on the slope on the other side of the mountain. A group of Jin officials walked over and looked at the traces of the explosion. On the table, several high-ranking officials sat in their seats and drank tea. They hadn't moved yet.
The ones with the highest status here were the Right Military Supervisor of the Marshal's Residence, Wanyan Xiyin, and the Han official Shi Liai who was in charge of the Privy Council. Xiyin shook his head, "The power seems to have increased, but it still needs to be improved to be used on the battlefield."
Shi Liai nodded, "These people have just started working, there is still room for improvement." After saying this, he frowned slightly, "I've heard of the person with the surname Ning who killed the emperor in the Wu Dynasty, but I didn't expect the Goddess of Grains to pay attention to him."
Wanyan Xiyin was the most knowledgeable in Sinology among the Jurchen officials. He was skilled in both literature and martial arts. This Han official, Shi Liai, was originally a famous talent in Yan Yun and his family was a powerful aristocrat. He used to work for Zhang Jue and when Zhang Jue wanted to overthrow the Wu Dynasty, Shi Liai immediately retired and returned to his hometown. When the Wu Dynasty took back the Yan Yun and several other prefectures, Zhang Jue sent people to invite Shi Liai to be an official but Shi Liai knew that the Wu Dynasty was rotten and did not want to join them. In the end, Yan Yun fell into the hands of the Jin people. He then became an official and was in charge of the Privy Council under Marshal Zong Han. Among the officials in the court, Xiyin and Shi Liai got along well and could be considered as good friends.
"I didn't pay too much attention to it at first. Two days ago, when the Western Xia Country's battle report came, I found out a few things. That's why I asked about the matter of gunpowder." Xi Yin smiled. "Speaking of which, I have a grudge with this person."
"Oh? Did the Goddess of Grains fight with him? "
"No, but when the army entered Bianliang, everyone was busy collecting the gold and silver of the Wu dynasty. I purposely ordered people to search for the rare books and records of the Wu dynasty, but there was not much. Later on, I found out that this person killed the emperor and occupied Bianliang for two to three days. When he left, not only did he loot a large amount of military equipment, but he also searched a few places in Bianliang where the books were kept. It's a pity that I was one step ahead. "
Shi Liai smiled, "The Goddess of Grains and this person seem to have a mutual appreciation for each other."
"I can't say mutual appreciation for each other. The culture of the South is as bright as the galaxy and as vast as the ocean. Sometimes, the things that happen in the South are regrettable. However, in such a culture, there are always some people who are worthy of admiration. Just like this man. A few years ago, he had been making arrangements for Bianliang. When the army marched south, he personally went to the front. He even fell into a dangerous situation and defeated Guo Yaoshi. Guo Yaoshi's two brothers died under his hands. After making such a contribution, he was framed and suppressed when he returned. He killed the emperor himself in the Golden Hall. He is indeed a hero of his generation. " As he spoke, he lightly patted his thigh, "I didn't see Zhou Zhe's expression when he died. It's a pity."
Wanyan Xiyin had a high status among the Zhenrens. At this moment, he said what was on his mind. Shi Liai's gaze was complicated. She lowered her voice, "Goddess of Grains, please be careful with your words. After all, this person killed the emperor …"
"Haha, Headmaster Shi, you are too dependable." Wanyan Xiyin smiled nonchalantly and patted his shoulder, "The Jurchen court is different from the Han court. We were able to fight our way out of the White Mountains and Black Waters because of the unity of the people and the sacrifice of the soldiers. We did not rely on anyone's flattery or flattery. With such an emperor in the Wu dynasty, it is already a sign of the country's demise. Killing him is a great satisfaction! The Jin Kingdom was able to conquer the world, but how can it last for hundreds of generations? If there is a Jin Emperor in the future, it means that the Jin Kingdom is about to be destroyed. We should be saying this out loud so that we can be more vigilant. If someone tries to make a false claim, I'll kill him with a single sword strike. Otherwise, these scoundrels will mess up the Jin Kingdom court. "
Although he was the creator of the Jurchen words, he had been in the army for a lifetime. He was usually gentle and refined, but when he wielded his sword, he was not angry. He could even kill a few of Aguda's sons. The Fourth Prince, Wanyan Zongbi, had some conflicts with him and feared him like a tiger. At this time, there were other people around them. Shi Liai, who was deeply influenced by Confucianism, advised him to be careful with his words. Wanyan Xiyin's gaze swept across the crowd. Most of them were silent and did not dare to look at each other.
Wanyan Xiyin's behavior was not ostentatious. At this time, as he said, the Jin Kingdom court could be said as much as he wanted. Even Wu Qimai had been flogged by the ministers when he made a mistake. Wanyan Xiyin was a true founding hero and could be ranked in the top ten in the Jurchen court. He did not care about what he said. But after he finished speaking, his expression became solemn and slightly nostalgic.
"Headmaster Shi, do you know? The war in the northwest of the Wu dynasty reminded me of the time of the uprising. In the early years, our tribe was bullied by the Liao people. We knew that there would be a battle. When we left Hedian, the Liao people sent a hundred thousand troops. We only had three thousand armored soldiers. The late Emperor led us in a night attack. It was heroic and heroic. But when we were in the middle of the army, it was difficult for you to understand the feeling of knowing that the other side had a hundred thousand people … "
He paused slightly. "Protector Bu Dagang, the Liao people had seven hundred thousand people and our army had twenty thousand. To say it, the Jurchen people were invincible and the Liao people had internal strife. But on the battlefield, who would not grit their teeth and move forward? You say this and that, but the truth is, even without military strategy, we can only move forward. We have no family, and if we take a step back, we will all die. "
Wanyan Xiyin's eyes were calm as he said these words, but he also had the calmness of someone who had experienced a great battle, a person who had crossed life and death, "Earlier I told everyone not to look down on the Han people. Unfortunately, although I value them, the Han people have never given me any face. Now, I can finally say that the Hans have heroes too. Headmaster Shi, you live with heroes and fight for the world. We can all share your glory. "
"The Goddess of Grains is wise." Shi Liai, whose hair was black and white, nodded. After a while, he said slowly, "But it is difficult for a person who kills an emperor to achieve great things. Even if he shows off for a while, I am afraid it will only be a flash in the pan. I feel that he may be content with a corner, but I am afraid he will not be qualified to fight for the world. "
Wanyan Xiyin reached out and tapped his thigh. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "What Lord Shi said is indeed true … come." He called for the official behind him. "I want all the gunpowder and firework craftsmen among the Hans who went north, no matter where they are now."
"Yes." The official accepted the order and went away.
Wanyan Xiyin stood up, and so did Shi Liai and the rest. They looked at the platform for a while, then turned around and walked down. Shi Liai followed beside him. Xiyin turned his head and whispered to each other. The breeze carried their conversation.
"It is not wise for the Wu dynasty to elect a new emperor …"
"… Attack Wu … Wait until next year …"
"Little Canghe, Zhong, Zhe family … I want to send people …"
The appearance of these names in this conversation probably meant that Ning Yi had finally entered the eyes of these people in a relatively equal way. Although his words were light and breezy, it was impossible to estimate the impact it would have in the future. Not long after, a group of people left the barren mountain and returned to the city along the road.
Four years of the Jin Dynasty.
Xijing Datong, also known as Yunzhong Residence, was rapidly prospering after the Jin Kingdom attacked the Wu dynasty for the second time. It was where Wanyan Zonghan's East Road Marshal's Mansion and Bureau of Military Affairs were located. Not long ago, following the death of Zong Wang's Bureau of Military Affairs, Liu Yanzong, the core of the Jin Kingdom's military, which had been divided into two roads, was now rapidly gathering in Datong.
The large increase in slaves filled the wartime population and labor force. The concentration of nobles and merchants led to the prosperity of the city. Although it was still a military town, the various businesses in the city had indeed greatly flourished.
In every brothel here, one could find southern Wu Dynasty noble women who had been reduced to prostitutes. In every shop, there were one or two slaves captured from the south. They wore ropes and had their cheeks pierced, and were forced to work. Right now, it was the time when the Female Zhenren was truly invincible in the world, and she had not lost the will to improve. Stars and talents gathered in this city, but of course, there were all sorts of people, and the secret collusion and transactions had not truly stopped for a moment.
In a courtyard in the east of the city, two groups of people were meeting.
"A few months ago, when people came in large batches, it would have been easy. Recently, the checks have been stricter, and the price has been higher than before." The serious-looking Female Zhenren official took the gold and silver from the other party's hands and frowned as he counted them. He was still talking. "What's more, the people you want specialize in this business. They will naturally be found, but … I'm afraid they will increase the price again. When that time comes, don't blame me for not being clear."
"Of course." The Female Zhenren man who was paying smiled. "As long as Seventh Master helps me make Shangjing's fireworks business unique, money won't be a problem. Um, Seventh Master, there are no problems with these contracts, right? "
"Of course not. They are all official contracts. You can look at them in person."
"If Seventh Master says there are no problems, then there's no need to look." The Male Zhenren put the contracts into his pocket.
"From here to Shangjing, I guarantee that you will be safe, but don't wander around." The Male Zhenren frowned. "To be honest, since I've taken the money, I don't care what you do. Use these pigs however you want. If they aren't willing to work, then beat them. If they are beaten to death, then go to the authorities and hand over the money. But if you mess around on the road and something goes wrong, don't blame me. If it weren't for that brat Wuyan's recommendation, I wouldn't be doing business with you. "
"I understand. Rest assured, Seventh Master. It's business, after all. You don't have to worry about it this time, but you can do it next time. Now is a good time, so how could I not want a few pigs? "
"I don't think you're that kind of person. Hey, is the fireworks business really that good?"
"Shangjing is different from Xijing. Xijing's soldiers know nothing but brothels. The people of Shangjing love to join in the fun and set off fireworks and firecrackers at night. I have a few Liao craftsmen on my side, but how can the Khitans compare to the Wu Dynasty in this aspect? That's where the fun is. Just watch, I'm going to make a huge profit. "
"It's your turn to make money."
Both sides laughed as they spoke. Then, they went to the back and brought out the 'pigs' from the Wu Dynasty. There were a total of five Wu Dynasty craftsmen. Their faces were tattooed. One of them had offended someone and was beaten black and blue. Another had his arm broken at the elbow. The five of them were strung together by chains. Their clothes were ragged, their eyes were lifeless, and they were all skin and bones.
The well-dressed man expressed his dissatisfaction with the man with the broken arm, but not long after, he accepted the goods. He and his five subordinates escorted the five slaves out of the courtyard and headed in the direction of the east gate of the city. The group of eleven people was soon interrogated.
In the afternoon, Wanyan Xiyin returned to his residence and chatted with Chen Wenjun, who was his concubine but was actually his wife. Not long after, someone asked to see him. It was a trusted general whom he had arranged to gather the gunpowder craftsmen. Wanyan Xiyin didn't avoid arousing suspicion and summoned him into the courtyard. After the general saluted Chen Wenjun, he reported some things to Wanyan Xiyin in a low voice, "There are a few strange things …"
After Wanyan Xiyin heard this, his gaze became serious. After a moment, he waved his hand and said, "Got it. Look for them." The trusted general excused himself. Wanyan Xiyin stood there and pondered for a moment. Chen Wenjun came over and asked, "Husband, what's the matter?"
"… Nothing." Wanyan Xiyin thought for a moment, then smiled and shook his head. "Jumping clown … Oh right, something big happened in the Wu Dynasty recently. I haven't told you …"
The setting sun gradually turned red. In the courtyard planted with all kinds of flowers and trees, the world-famous general hugged his wife and spoke softly. Occasionally, his wife would laugh. The two of them snuggled together in the sunset, forming a happy silhouette.
*****
At the end of July, Yanzhou City was a lively scene.
Li Pin sat on the stone steps at the edge of the small square, watching a group of people crying and protesting not far away. Tie Tianying, who was disguised as a peddler, stood beside him and frowned. "This Ning Liheng, what is he planning …"
At the end of June, the battle on Dong Zhiyuan had been spreading and fermenting for nearly a month, shocking the whole world. Li Pin had left Little Cang River in despair, but when he heard the news, he was also shocked to the extreme. In Little Cang River, the person who said he wanted to overthrow the Confucian school with that kind of tone gave people the impression that he was crazy. However, when the Black Flag Army, with only ten thousand people, defeated more than a hundred thousand Xixia soldiers and seized back the power of the northwest region by himself, no matter what this lunatic said or did, no one could ignore him.
Li Pin didn't know how to defeat him, and he didn't even know how to start. But after thinking about it, he decided to come and take a look. After that, due to a freak combination of factors, he met Tie Tianying and they came together.
After seizing Yanzhou, the Black Flag Army also seized a large amount of grain that was originally harvested by the Xixia army. Afterwards, they did something strange inside the city of Yanzhou: They made a census of each household's household registration, and in the past few days, they announced that as long as the person whose name was on the household registration came and wrote the word 'Huaxia', they would be able to receive a fixed amount of grain for one person.
Writing two words to receive food was something that had never happened in the northwest region. Some people were overjoyed, but at the same time, there were many people who originally lived here. They were originally wealthy families and were looking forward to the return of the army to restore their original fields. But now, it only became a fixed amount of food for one person, so how could they be willing? Soon after, these country gentlemen and rich families elected people to try to contact and negotiate with the upper echelons of the Black Flag Army. This process lasted for a few days and was still going on.
During these days, outside Yanzhou City, the Zhe family army recaptured Clear Stream City, the Zhong family army captured Yuanzhou, and the Black Flag Army didn't move after seizing Yanzhou. And after the Xixia King Li Qianshun suffered a great defeat, many armies began to return north. Not long after, Li Qianshun appeared and was already on his way back. For the tribal Dang Xiang clan, after experiencing such a great defeat and the emperor missing for a few days, they could only return to stabilize the situation and fight with many leaders.
However, the city of Qingzhou, as well as some other small towns and cities, were still under the control of the Xixia army. Although the troops that were left here were not very strong, the Zhe Clan was striving for stability. The Zhong Clan had lost their strength. So, it would not be an easy task to conquer Qingzhou.
At this moment, everyone was also watching the movements of the Black Flag Army. If this army really forced their way into Qingzhou and displayed their previous invincible fighting strength as well as those new firearms, they believed that it wouldn't be a difficult matter to destroy these Xixia armies. And if there was another battle of this scale, it would be even more convenient for the surrounding forces to clearly see the true strength of the Black Flag Army.
The Xixia emissary, whose name was Lin Houxuan, was waiting in the courtyard. Not long after, someone came to invite him in, and he once again saw that kingslayer in Little Blue River.
This rather young leader of the Black Flag Army was writing something on the desk. Lin Houxuan swept a glance at it. That sentence vaguely read, "After all the twists and turns, we are brothers, and we meet again with a smile." The latter part was not finished, and it was unknown who this inscription was for. When Lin Houxuan cupped his hands in greeting, the other raised his head, put down his writing brush, and then came over with a smile.
"Haha, Brother Lin, we meet again. No need to be so courteous. Please sit, please sit."
"Greetings, Mister Ning."
"I said no need to be so courteous. Sit, I'll make some tea for you."
Ning Yi didn't sit, so Lin Houxuan remained standing. Not long after, Ning Yi simply made two cups of hot tea and sat down. Only after waving his hand did the other take a seat next to him.
"I won't beat around the bush." After Ning Yi sat down, he said, "In the past few months, there have been some misunderstandings and unpleasant things. Now, both sides are not having a good time. Under such circumstances, I'm very happy that Brother Lin could come over."
Lin Houxuan was silent for a moment. "The Huaxia army is powerful. I admire it."
"But regarding these misunderstandings, I have an immature opinion. Brother Lin, do you want to hear it?"
"… I'd like to hear the details."
"I think it's all your fault."
"…"
Hearing Ning Yi's words, Lin Houxuan frowned and blinked his eyes. He probably didn't know how to express his feelings. Ning Yi put down the teacup in his hand.
"It's like this. Our Huaxia army has never thought about fighting a war. We just want to do business. Before you came to Little Blue River, our people had been contacting outside, and we also contacted your Xixia people. As soon as you came, you asked us to surrender. I told you that Huaxia people don't surrender to foreign countries. This is a principle. We don't surrender to foreign countries, but we can cooperate. You guys are too overbearing. You had to lock us up and even contacted Lady Zhenren. What do you think we could do? We want to live in peace, and we never wanted to fight. In the end, we ended up like this … "
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