Iron Dynasty

Barbarians may invade in autumn.

In addition to Pang Yukun, Lu Fei and other military generals also quickly got the news.

His Royal Highness, as long as the equipment and weapons can keep up, it is not a problem to defend Cangzhou City, but until now, only the equipment in the Qingzhou camp has not been obtained. Let's see if you can urge Chen Wenlong. Lu Fei squinted his eyes. Chen Wenlong, his teeth itch with hatred.

Chen Wenlong has a calm personality, while Lu Fei has an impatient personality. Naturally, it is not the right way for the two to be together. He said: Xiaowei Lu, it is not easy to produce this plate armor. It is not bad to be able to make a thousand sets of plate armor in a month.

But His Royal Highness clearly said that one hundred sets can be produced in one day. Are you kidding me? Lu Fei asked with a bandage wrapped around his chest and staring at him.

This time it was Xiao Ming's turn to blush. When the hydraulic forging hammer was used in the steel workshop, he was confident that he could produce a hundred sets of plate armor a day.

Later, his actual situation slapped him hard in the face, and it was not that his estimated production capacity was wrong.

It was because iron ore was simply not available, and now he understood that it was easy to make iron and steel, but mining was not easy.

After the shallow ore was dug, the pit became deeper and deeper, and then on rainy days, the pit was filled with rainwater into a pond.

Then the weather is clear, and the water in the pit must be drained first before mining can continue.

At the same time, the deepening of the mine has made it more difficult to transport ore from the mine, and now the iron ore supplied by the three iron mines in Qian Dafu's hands continues to decrease.

Coal mines are mentioned at the same time as iron ore, and the same problem is being staged.

There was no large-scale production of steel in Qingzhou before, and even in the rainy spring season, there was no shortage of coal briquettes and iron ore.

But now, the iron and steel workshop not only produces weapons and armor, bearings for bull-powered overturning cars, but also produces farming implements for civilian use and so on.

Chen Wenlong glanced at Xiao Ming, and said to Lu Fei, His Royal Highness is frowning now, so it can be seen that I didn't lie to you.

His Royal Highness, what the hell is going on? If this is the case, there will be at most eight or nine thousand people who can be used after half a year. These soldiers who have only been trained for half a year are not the opponents of the barbarians who are born to ride and shoot. Without the benefits of armour and armor, there will inevitably be heavy losses at that time.”

Xiao Ming covered his forehead and sat leaning on the chair, Do you think this king doesn't want to equip the new army with plate armor? In fact, this king is quite helpless.

Plate armor still can't keep up with production, and now they have to build artillery, Xiao Ming is really one of the top two now.

It was then that he understood why it was so laborious for a country in ancient times to keep a standing army of 100,000 people. The food, drink and Lazarus were all money for the army, and the armor and other weapons and equipment needed to be maintained.

The cavalry is a big spender. A cavalry not only needs to be equipped with four horses, but also has a special auxiliary to serve the cavalry.

The role of this auxiliary soldier is equivalent to the squire of Western knights, specializing in cavalry equipment and horses.

And this warhorse is not a fuel-efficient lamp. The forage it eats is very particular, and it must be high-quality forage. It costs a lot of money.

The workshop area is a big earner and a big spender. The food and clothing of the slaves in the workshop are all his, not to mention Qian Dafu's mine.

All in all, he earned a lot during this time, but he also spent a lot of money. Most of the money was put into production, but there was a lot of input in farming, such as cattle and tools.

Lu Fei was suddenly dumbfounded.

Chen Wenlong comforted: Don't worry, Colonel Lu, if the materials are sufficient, this will naturally be the most important thing in the army.

That's right, you can train with peace of mind. The king will find a way to deal with the armor and weapons. Xiao Ming said.

Lu Fei had to give up.

Asking Lu Fei to go back first, Xiao Ming said to Chen Wenlong: Now the supply of minerals in Qingzhou is insufficient, it seems that we can only purchase from outside.

It's okay, but it's just like this, Your Highness, beware of the slander in the court. Chen Wenlong reminded.

Xiao Ming frowned. Although he is a vassal king, it does not mean that he can do whatever he wants, and he is still subject to the restraint of the imperial court.

This iron ore has always been strictly controlled in the Great Yu Kingdom. Generally speaking, other feudal lords rarely buy iron ore from outside, but only supply it internally.

Because once it comes to large-scale iron ore purchases, this can only show one problem, this lord is mass-producing weapons and armor.

This matter is more sensitive to talk about. There is no war in the Great Yu Kingdom. The ore of a vassal king's own fief is not enough, and he has to buy it from outside. What is his motive?

I know this in my mind. This matter cannot be brought to the court. During this time, you need to balance your production and try your best to meet the needs of the Qingzhou Army. Xiao Ming sighed.

Now that he is still young, he can't be willful, otherwise, I am afraid that his life will not be guaranteed, and the hard work for more than half a year will be in vain.

Yes, Your Highness. Chen Wenlong nodded.

Qian Dafu was also in the main hall. He never said a word. After Chen Wenlong left, he said, Your Highness, what should I do about the water in this mine?

I will ask the equipment department to prepare a few more sets of bull-powered rollovers for you. Since the mine is temporarily unable to produce, you should focus on the search for minerals, especially wolframite, followed by tin and lead. Xiao Ming said.

The reason why Xiao Ming was looking for the last two minerals was to prevent the failure of the production of cast iron guns, and finally used bronze guns.

He really can't afford to play pure copper cannons. This is real money, and now the whole country of Da Yu is still using copper coins.

Qian Dafu nodded.

They respectively explained the three people's matters about dealing with the barbarians, and Xiao Ming personally wrote the matter about the barbarians and sent them to the post station to go to Chang'an.

And he went to the equipment department to find Chen Qi to discuss the casting of the artillery.

Chang'an.

At this time, the green willows and peach blossoms in the palace were full of vitality. Empress Zhao was strolling in the back garden with her concubines.

Concubine Zhen was following Empress Zhao. In the past six months, the concubines in the palace clearly felt that Empress Zhao and Concubine Zhen were getting closer.

Some smart concubines have already seen the clues, and dare not show any slights to Concubine Zhen.

A few days ago, King Zhao entered the capital to face the Holy Spirit, and Xiao Wenxuan personally went out of the city to meet him to show his respect for King Zhao. If King Zhao hadn't helped him, Xiao Wenxuan would not have been able to sit on the throne no matter what, and later the daughter of King Zhao became the current Queen Zhao. Not surprising.

Today, when the crown prince's position is in turmoil, it is self-evident that the king of Zhao has entered the capital, but it can be seen from the prince's sharpness in the court these days that the prince is proud.

And this Concubine Zhen seems to be more and more valued by the emperor in recent days, but the palace is a well-informed place.

What the King of Qi Xiao Ming did to the local nobles in Qingzhou has long been rumored in the palace.