Iron Dynasty

Is Your Highness really preparing for us to go to war? Don't forget, Your Highness, that although a country is big, it will die if it is warlike. Even if His Highness can defeat us, it will inevitably lose its strength.

Xiao Qi said loudly.

It's not that this king is going to fight, but you are forcing this king to go to war. If that's the case, we will burn all jade and stone. Xiao Ming looked like a rogue who was afraid of whom.

Seeing this, Xiao Qi and Zheng Hao were silent, and now Xiao Qi obviously ate the weight and became determined.

Cui Zhang and Wang Xi were secretly happy in their hearts, they wished that these three families would fight, so that they could profit from it.

After looking at Xiao Ming for a while, Xiao Qi was finally defeated. Now Xiao Ming is arrogant as the victor, but he is trembling as the loser.

After hesitating for a while, he said: This matter is too important, I can't be the master, this matter must be decided by His Royal Highness King Wei, I just hope that His Royal Highness can give time to the lower officials, and don't take the opportunity to plunder the land.

Xiao Ming smiled, and now his strong appearance finally made Xiao Qi cowardly, he said: Yes, but this king's patience is limited.

Xiao Qi nodded and turned to leave.

Cui Zhang sighed, Hey, it's going to take another ten days.

Why do you have to be impatient, Your Highness, there is food, drink, and opera in this Qingzhou, so this day is not boring. Wang Xi said with a smile.

Cui Zhang sneered inwardly, thinking how could Wang Xi know that they had reached a deal with King Qi in private, but he was still calm on the surface, and said, What Wang Shilang said is very true, since that's the case, today we I went to this Qingzhou Theater for a stroll.

After all, the two of them went too.

Zheng Hao and the others left, and didn't stay much. He clapped his fists to Xiao Ming and left.

At this time, Zhan Xingchang said to Xiao Ming: Your Highness, will this King of Wei agree? Yangzhou is a well-known and prosperous place in the world.

I'm not afraid that he won't agree, but I'm afraid that he will agree. Now we have been in three cities in more than a month. No matter how stupid this King Wei is, he should understand that he is not our opponent. At this time, he delays our attack time to them. It's beneficial. Xiao Ming said.

Zhan Xingchang nodded, It's just more beneficial for us to delay the time. If we include the population of these four states, we will greatly increase our strength.

That's right, but the reason for the truce this time is that the four sides are united. The issue of ammunition also made me a little helpless. The military workshop came to report that there is not much ammunition stored in this warehouse. Xiao Ming sighed.

Zhan Xingchang's expression suddenly became a little exciting. He didn't expect that Xiao Ming was just trying to scare Xiao Qi, but he was actually unable to attack again.

It turns out that it is true that you should leave a batch of ammunition for self-defense, and not all of them can be used for conquest. Zhan Xingchang said.

Xiao Ming nodded, this time at the Pengzhou station, the battle of Tongzhou, and the battle of Huaizhou, 1.2 million rounds of musket pellets and 16,000 solid shells were consumed.

Although some of the shells were picked up after cleaning the battlefield after the war, there were still some shells that didn't know where they went, and more marbles were lost because they were too small.

Also, the marbles that had hit the local soldiers could not be taken out.

Exactly. Xiao Ming said, the continuous war almost exhausted the inventory.

But now that there is a converter steelmaking production line, this problem is not a problem, but he needs time to reserve.

After chatting a little with Zhan Xingchang, Xiao Ming went to the steel workshop again. He often runs to this place these days. Whenever he sees a whole furnace of molten steel flowing out, he will be very satisfied.

Because this is one step closer to the industrial revolution. After all, to fully realize the industrial revolution requires a large amount of steel to make various types of machinery.

After observing the production of steel for a while, and then watching the production of the second converter, Xiao Ming left for the palace.

Just after returning to the palace, Xiao Ming was about to take a break when Li Kaiyuan walked in with a man with red hair and blue eyes.

Your Highness, long time no see.

The person following Li Kaiyuan is none other than the Dutch Rhodes.

A few days ago, Li Kaiyuan was still talking about trade with the Dutch, and also mentioned that Rhodes went to Dengzhou, but he did not expect Rhodes to go to Qingzhou with him.

His Royal Highness, Rhodes said that Earl Claire asked him to come to Qingzhou, and the lower official brought him. Li Kaiyuan said with a smile.

Xiao Ming looked at Rhodes at this time, Bring this king to say hello to Earl Clare, this time Earl Clare must have something important for you to come here.

Yes, Your Highness, the British were very active at sea during this time, and our fleet was under great pressure, so Earl Claire hopes to sign a military pact with His Highness, and hope that His Highness can block the British attack in the Asian waters with us. Damn Brits are really driving us crazy, Rod complained.

Haven't the British always been in the Indian waters? As far as I know, the southern waters are mainly the colonies of your Dutch and Spaniards. Xiao Ming said thoughtfully.

No, there are also French and Portuguese. Rhode corrected, His Royal Highness is right, the British have always been in India, but our merchant ships have brought unfortunate news, the British have improved the damn The steam engine, it is said that this has increased their cloth production a lot, and now these Englishmen are looking for dumping grounds, they must have an idea here, and Earl Clare is just taking precautions.

Xiao Ming didn't look on the surface, but his heart was slightly turbulent. According to his understanding, the west of this world was invaded by the steppe barbarians half a century earlier, which led to the early end of the Middle Ages.

And now Rhodes' words further confirm his speculation that Western technology is about half a century older than the contemporary era.

He couldn't help asking, When did this happen?

It took more than three months for our merchant ship to arrive in Holland from Gerlandia, plus one year, it took a total of three months a year, but when everyone knew, the first batch of steam engines had already Entering the textile factory. Rhode spread his hands.

Xiao Ming's eyes narrowed, he didn't expect that he would get this big news by accident.

Now all the countries in Europe want to get steam engine technology from the British. It seems that they are very interested in this thing. Rhode said to himself.

He's been out of the Netherlands for far too long and is now slow to change in Europe.

The purpose of Rhodes coming here this time is to test the matter of military alliance. After thinking about it, Xiao Ming said: Military alliance may be a good idea.

Of course, plus His Royal Highness's more than 30 warships, the British can't take advantage of this sea area. Rhode's eyes were earnest.

Xiao Ming was stunned for a moment. It seemed that Rhodes and Claire already knew about the addition of twenty-four battleships to his fleet. The Dutch people were really well informed.