Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were given a fright when they realized what their opponent was going to use. It turned out to be the leftover waste from Japan and the southwestern countries that had been used for wet alchemy.
In smelting, besides cold forging, one would generally use decomposition and replacement to get out what was needed. The most common method was to heat it up, and this process would inevitably produce a lot of used water and gas.
In truth, used things could not be called waste, but it was not cost-effective to extract and decompose useful things from them, so they would all be disposed of.
The Great Tang was currently using a local metallurgy method, as well as a technical idea provided by Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. During the replacement process, the heat would be used to replace what was being replaced, and the gas would be replaced.
A lot of waste gas would be produced, most of which was poisonous. The two of them had no good idea about this, and this was not their time. As long as they were willing to invest money in the treatment of waste gas and waste water, they could minimize the harm.
Now was not the right time. It was still far from that level, but they could not stop refining. They could only try to open the factory in remote places, such as the northern part of Hebei Province, or places near Tubo, Southwest, and other countries.
Henan Province would never agree, and neither would Gyeonggi Province, including the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. The two of them were well aware that it was most convenient to drain waste water from these two rivers and their tributaries.
But the two of them would definitely not do something that would cause them to be criticized by future generations. They would rather spend even more transportation costs to carry out polluting operations in important areas.
If not for the Great Leap Forward development, the construction of railroads, and the manufacture of weapons, the two of them would not have wanted to build so many factories with low individual output.
Once the railroads were finished, the areas around the factories that vented and drained air would probably be scrapped and left behind.
When the technology improved and the population increased, they would have to spend more money on management when they needed to move there.
At that time, the money spent on management would be many times more valuable than the products directly produced by the factories.
But there was nothing they could do about it. Moreover, the value of the products produced by the factories could not be estimated so simply. They also had to consider the economic value that the products would bring to the country, and this value would definitely exceed the cost of management.
However, the Yellow River and Yangtze River basins were no good. It was not only a matter of money, but also a matter of people's health.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had already thought about it. When the railway was completed, they would close the factory and move it overseas. It would only increase the cost of transportation, but the cost of production would be lower. The labor outside was not worth much. They would give out a few kilograms of sorghum rice and highland barley, and people from other places would be more than willing to work for a few days.
In the Great Tang, the people of the Great Tang would never be willing to do such a thing. Only when the Imperial Court and the Zhang Clan had ordered them to do so would the people be willing to do such a thing. At that time, the demands would be even lower, as long as they didn't starve to death.
Because this was a moment of life and death for the Great Tang.
The current situation was that the Great Tang would refine a portion of it itself, while the small countries of the southwest would send a portion over through the waterways, as well as Japan.
Their country, the Great Tang, had not given them the 'advanced' technology. They were still using their own methods to refine the products, producing a lot of waste gas and water. They had probably also discovered that the places where the waste gas landed and where the waste water flowed through had a large effect on crops. Even people and livestock were prone to diseases.
Thus, someone thought of collecting the waste water, drying it under the sun, transporting it back to the Great Tang, and dumping it into lakes or rivers.
"You can't blame them for coming up with such a bad idea. They're being exploited too severely. When the dried sea products from Japan enter the port, they have to pay a large sum of money, and the grain from the small countries of the southwest is the same.
When they return from the Great Tang to exchange for luxury goods, the price is extremely high. The Great Tang only recognizes the Great Tang's currency, and this is the simplest form of exploitation. This is especially true for medicines, which are packaged in glass. They still have to pay an exorbitant price for the glass. It's not easy. "
After saying these harsh words, Zhang Xiaobao turned to Wang Juan and the four people who had come to deliver the news.
But the four of them didn't believe him. In their eyes, Young Master Xiao Bao was an existence akin to a devil. He would never cry when dealing with others, unless he transformed into a crocodile.
As for Wang Juan, Wang Juan acted like she had been enlightened by Buddha, the Jade Emperor, the Lord, or the Holy Son, and agreed.
"That's right, I also feel it. Because their smelting skills are lacking, the finished products they make can only be considered half-finished products. We still have to do some processing before we can use them, so the price is very low. Their lives are truly difficult.
Thus, we'll first take care of Japan this year. We have to help the small countries of the southwest. We can't just watch them suffer and do nothing. Once they've compensated us for our losses, we'll give them a similar chance to compete. That is, after all their hard work, they'll also receive the Great Tang's money. "
The four people who had come to deliver the news were confused. They carefully examined their little wife and little young master to see if they had been possessed by something. Their words didn't sound like the original people they were.
"I agree. The compensation is very simple. Give us all the places with jade. Give us all the places with good weather and suitable for growing rice. Give us all the places with other mineral resources. Give us all the places that can be built into important ports. Give us all the places with important water transport. Let's say 'all the places' first. We'll add the rest later."
Zhang Xiaobao thought of the problem of compensation. "The enemy's actions this time have inflicted unimaginable losses on the Great Tang, leaving a wound that can never be healed. Our hearts have also been greatly wounded. Coupled with the fact that our Great Tang has lost so many people because of their instigation, even if our Great Tang loves peace, we cannot remain silent."
Hearing the little young master's words, the four people who had come to deliver the news breathed a sigh of relief. The stars were still the same stars, the moon was still the same moon, and the little young master was still the little young master. Nothing had changed.
Wang Juan revealed a bodhisattva smile. "Xiao Bao, we both have the same idea. That's our plan. But after we accept the compensation, we will still help them. As I said before, we will help them occupy the mines and let them mine and refine them. We will give them money from the Great Tang.
If they are paid the equivalent of two catties of grain in a day, we will pay them twice the amount of money in Great Tang to buy four catties of grain in a day. Bullying people is not our intention, but helping people is our dream. "
When the four of them heard this, they felt that Lady Cuckoo had been possessed.
They were well aware that the amount of money given to the Great Tang was nothing to the Great Tang people. That was the kind of money given to the Great Tang when a child went over to help with a small matter, or the allowance given to the elderly who could no longer work by the government.
Comparing the two, the Great Tang had the advantage. But every place had its own rules. The people of other places were not from the Great Tang, so why give them all benefits?
One of them mustered up his courage and questioned, "Little girl, the money of the Great Tang is like this. For example, one copper coin can buy three catties of rice locally. But the three catties of rice can't be sold for one copper coin in the Great Tang. Five catties of rice are also priceless. If we give them the same amount of money, they will still make a profit. In private, the rich people of the Great Tang will charge us a high price and buy good things in the Great Tang. I think it's unnecessary."
"Are you questioning me?" Wang Juan turned her head and asked.
"Uh ~! I … I am objecting. "The person broke out in cold sweat, but he still gritted his teeth and admitted it.
"Very good, your courage is commendable. However, the method is wrong. You shouldn't have objected directly. You should have asked me and Xiao Bao why we did this. Don't do it again."
Wang Juan didn't plan to do anything to this person. As long as the people of her family listened to her orders and didn't scold her, everything was fine. Sometimes, being able to object was also an advantage.
If the people couldn't do it, then they would know. But this person in front of her was too arbitrary, so she gave him a reminder.
"Yes, this little one knows his mistake. Little girl, what is your purpose in doing this?" The other side readily followed her advice and immediately asked.
"Xiao Bao, you speak. I'm going to clean up the river snails that were thrown up." Wang Juan gave this task to Zhang Xiaobao while she went to find a basket to pick up the river snails that her younger brothers and sisters had thrown over.
"In truth, I can also go and pick them up." After saying this, Zhang Xiaobao turned to the person who had asked the question. "It's very simple. It's because we don't have the time to fight them. Our target is the northwest, Duoshi. Duoshi also participated this time, so we're not prepared to accept any compensation or apology from them.
To tell the truth, I don't hate them for coming to make trouble. Without them, Cuckoo and I would never have been able to discover the undercurrent hidden beneath the harmonious facade. There are still many things that we haven't noticed.
The people of the Great Tang aren't very clear about their position either. It's better for problems to appear early than to explode at the end. They've already done very well, but they were too greedy.
They just needed to bring the goods over and dump them in the river. Now that we've caught them, they won't have a chance to dump the goods from upstream again. Idiots. "
"It's idiots. This little one believes that they feel that it's not worth it to invest so much manpower and resources if they don't do something heaven-shaking. Little Young Master, you mean to say that we should first calm them down, give them benefits, and then beat them up after we're done with Duoshi?"
The person who had asked the question earlier asked.
"No, after we're done with Duo Shi, we probably won't need to fight them anymore. We'll give them money and make them lose confidence in their own currency. We'll recruit a lot of local workers. Their power class and wealthy families will use their own country's currency to exchange for money from their hands.
We'll increase the number of times that Great Tang's merchant ships trade with their ports and send a large amount of goods from the Great Tang. The land route isn't easy to travel, so the water route is much more convenient.
When the time comes, there will be one consequence, and that is that their currency will rapidly depreciate. With the depreciation of the currency, their purchasing power will fall, and the people's hearts will be shaken. While we're fighting Duoshi, we'll have their various local powers struggle for power.
When the time comes, we'll only be paying a small amount of luxury goods and relatively more advanced technology, while they'll have to pay the price of their lives. Cuckoo and I will lead the main force of the Great Tang to fight outside, and we'll be driving the tiger to fight the wolf. Ah, wrong, it should be called driving the wolf to fight the dog.
The lives of the Great Tang are valuable, and it's better than us personally fighting them, understand? "
Zhang Xiaobao was in a good mood today, so he exchanged a few more words with someone from the intelligence department.
"Brilliant, really brilliant. Little Young Master is really amazing." The person who asked the question got a reply. In fact, he still didn't understand what was going on, but it didn't affect his judgment and he still praised him.
"Thank you." Zhang Xiaobao didn't stand on ceremony and left the person's words of praise behind. Then he said to the four people, "There's some work in your eyes. Go and help to pick up the river snails. You don't have to go anywhere else tonight. You can eat supper here and help to keep watch."
The four people hesitated and ran over to help. They didn't want to disturb the family coming out to play, but they couldn't bear to leave. In a situation where there was no mission, it was good to be close to the main family. Moreover, they could eat the food personally cooked by the Little Young Master. No matter how it tasted, it was a blessing to eat it.
The nine children weren't afraid of being disturbed, and they didn't worry that the food they picked up wasn't enough to eat, so they did things for others for free.
For them, their ability to eat the food they picked up was a kind of praise and recognition. Seeing that there were four more people, they picked up the river snails faster.
Their actions shocked the people on the shore who were responsible for picking up the river snails. One of them went down in his clothes to see how deep the water was. However, when he walked five steps from the shallow part of the shore into the water, he disappeared with a splash.
After a few seconds, he popped his head out, grabbed a few river snails in one hand, and shouted to the other three colleagues on the shore, "It's deep, at least three and a half meters. Little Young Master and Little Young Lady have worked hard."
The three nodded together. They were good at swimming. After jumping in and paddling a few times, they could pick up the river snails. However, they couldn't stand it if they did it too many times. Moreover, they were much taller than Xiaobei and the others.
Xiaobei had nine children, so they had to paddle down two of their own height before they could touch the bottom. However, from the top, the frequency of them going up and down was very fast.
Just as the four people were sighing at how good the children were at swimming, the surface of the originally calm pool suddenly churned, and the nine children all disappeared.
The four people were shocked. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan had already rushed toward the pool.
Wang Juan jumped in first, and Zhang Xiaobao also jumped in after her.
The moment they entered the water, the figures of people appeared where the water was churning. The bodies of several children, and … there was also an adult?
With the help of the light in the sky that hadn't disappeared yet, the four people who delivered the information saw that the adult's face was covered in blood, and it was still bleeding. One of his eyes seemed to be blind, and there was a piece missing in front of his nose. Blood was also continuously flowing out of his neck.
However, this person seemed to have fainted. When the nine children completely pulled him out of the water, they saw that this person was holding onto Xiaohai's arm with one hand, and that the wrist of his other hand was also bleeding.
"Let go, let go, I'll bite it off for you." Xiaobei shouted like a crazy person, then opened his mouth and bit the hand that was holding onto Xiaohai's arm. The four people on the shore saw the blood flowing out of the person's wrist, and finally knew what was going on with the other hand.
Other than Xiao Bei biting, Zhang Hu also opened his mouth and bit the person's thumb, pulling it out with all his might. He forcibly pulled the person's clenched hand away. The four of them suspected that the bone of the person's thumb was about to be exposed. The little fellas were gnawing on it like a pig's trotter.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also swam over one after the other. When they saw that the person's other hand was still clenched, they knew that this was the last reaction before drowning.
Wang Juan was about to make a move, but Zhang Xiaobao swam faster than her and reached out his hand first. "Let me do it."
As he spoke, he reached out and broke the other person's fingers, one by one, and suddenly used all his strength. After three consecutive sounds, the person who had already fainted woke up from the pain of his broken fingers.
"Ah! Cough, cough! "
"You scream, I'll let you scream." Xiaobei had already let go of his mouth, waving his little fist and smashing it at the other person's heavily injured eye. The other children also cooperated and landed their fists on various parts of the person's head. Xiaohai, who had just broken free from the other person's hand, splashed water at the other person's mouth.
"Get out of the way." Zhang Xiaobao shouted. Following the other person's arm, he used his legs to clamp the other person's body. Exerting strength in his arms, he directly carried the other person's arm behind his back in the water. Wang Juan also did the same from the other side.
Then, there were two cracking sounds. The person's two arms were directly dislocated by Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan behind him. The person's head also fell into the water again, and a few bubbles appeared. He fainted again, not sure if it was because of the pain or because of choking.
"Let's go ashore first." Zhang Xiaobao said to his younger siblings and dragged the person over with Wang Juan. The four people who delivered the information quickly took over. Without any instructions, they began to treat the person. He had frightened the main family's babies in the water. It was impossible for him to die so easily.
"Brother, does it hurt?" Xiaobei asked as soon as he came up and helped Xiaohai rub the place where he had been grabbed.
Xiaohai grinned. "It's okay. His hand is really strong. He wanted to grab my neck. Luckily, I dodged. The next time I go back into the water, I'll bring the tri-edged dagger with me. If someone comes, I'll stab him to death."
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were examined by their younger brothers and sisters, afraid that they would get hurt. In the end, they found that only Xiao Hai's arm had been scratched. There was a circle of purplish bruises on his arm, but it was not too obvious because of Shui Leng's purplish skin.
"What's going on?" Zhang Xiaobao gathered his siblings together and hugged Xiao Bei as he asked.
There was still blood on Xiaobei's teeth that had not been washed away by the water. He spat out two mouthfuls of blood and said, "I bit him to death. Just now, when we were fishing for things, he came over. The water was mixed because of us, so we couldn't immediately see that it was a person. It was just a dark shadow.
Then, he wanted to grab me. I used my foot to kick somewhere on his body and used the force to dodge. Brother Xiaohai, who was behind me, showed up. We fought and bit each other. I even used the tip of the conch to stab his eyes. "
Xiaohai continued, "He wanted to grab my neck, but he couldn't see. I felt the shadow come towards my head. I kicked the water, and my body rose a little. He grabbed my arm. Then, I seemed to use my foot to kick his throat. Before my other hand could close, he stopped moving."
"Yes, he was unlucky. He calculated the wrong person." Zhang Xiaobao nodded and said.
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