Ancient promotion routine

Zhang Yanjin smiled slightly, and then called Blacksmith Lu into the room to talk.

Zhang Yanjin and Blacksmith Lu walked into the room, and smiled and handed over the silver they brought to Blacksmith Lu. Blacksmith Lu looked at it and quickly declined: "Erlang, I can't help it. I am a servant of Ningguo Mansion. Help me." You should build objects, besides, why do you need so much silver to build a few pairs of horseshoes?"

Zhang Yanjin stuffed the silver taels into Lu Blacksmith, and said with a serious face: "Master Lu, to tell you the truth, this time I asked you to make horseshoes to be used on horses for the army's westward expedition. You know, with horseshoes, horseshoes will not It will hurt, and it will not seep into the sand, but I have to convince the emperor before I can use the horseshoes on the horseshoes of the war horses, so I am afraid that you will have to worry about it these few days, so help make more horseshoes."

Blacksmith Lu is also an exceptionally bloody person, his eyes hardened when he heard this.

"Erlang is young, but he is such a man of blood. He thinks about the court and the army. Now that I know about it, I can't pretend I don't know about it." Lu blacksmith held the heavy silver in his hand and said: "These I won’t refuse any more silver taels, but I will use these silver taels to buy pure pig iron to make horseshoes!”

Zhang Yanjin was deeply moved, the people of the Great Wei Dynasty really had integrity!If he refuses now, it may be counterproductive and cause unhappiness between him and Blacksmith Lu. It is better to wait until the horse and iron hoof is made, and then send the silver, saying that it was a reward from his uncle in gratitude for his loyalty.

After a little thought in his heart, he said: "Master Lu, your integrity is really admirable. In this case, I will not make excuses. I have worked hard for you and your apprentices these few days!"

Blacksmith Lu called his apprentices in, handed over the silver to one of his apprentices and asked him to buy pure pig iron, and then went out to make horseshoes. He wanted to make a few pairs for Zhang Yanjin before the market closed, so that Zhang Yanjin could take them back and use them.

In one afternoon, the five horses that Zhang Yanjin brought were all shoed on.

After the market closed in the evening, Zhang Yanjin asked Ruifu to lead the five horses, and under the baptism of the surprised eyes of passers-by, they returned to Ningguo Mansion with the sound of horseshoes.

"Second brother, what novelty did you get this time?" Seeing Zhang Yanjin come back, Zhang Xiuwu surrounded the five horses led by the boy and said, "You went out this morning and only came back now. What did you do?"

Ruifu saluted respectfully, and then replied: "Sanlang, what Erlang made this time will definitely sweep the entire capital again!" After saying this, he was quite proud.

Ever since Erlang was beaten by the emperor, Erlang has completely changed. During this period of time, he followed Erlang, and what he admired Erlang was five-body prostration.

Zhang Xiuwu also heard it, and said with a smile: "Ruifu, you were honest before, but now...how come you are in the same tune as the second brother."

When Ruifu heard that the third young master was suspicious, he immediately led the horse and walked a few steps: "Sanlang, did you hear that? This is what Erlang made today!"

Zhang Yanjin couldn't bear to see it, so she stretched out her hand and slapped Ruifu's head, and said with a smile: "You've been busy all day, go down and have a rest."

Ruifu looked at the horse greedily, covered his head and shook his head and said: "Erlang, I'm not tired, just let me serve you by your side, the horseshoe you made is really amazing, I want to see it again look!"

Zhang Yanjin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so she didn't stop her.

"Horseshoes?" Zhang Xiuwu could hear clearly at this time. He circled the horse for a few times, and finally found that the rattling sound was coming from the horseshoe. He squatted down curiously to have a look, but due to his body Too strong, his fat face turned red in no time.

He looked curious, and wanted to lift his horse's hoof to have a look.

The horse was naturally uncomfortable when someone grabbed its leg, neighing and about to struggle.

Zhang Yanjin was afraid that the horse would kick Zhang Xiuwu's face, so she quickly pulled Zhang Xiuwu's arm, and said with a suppressed smile, "Get up quickly, what do you think this is?"

Zhang Xiuwu took the half-crescent shaped horseshoe from Zhang Yanjin's hand, turned it over and said, "This is what you nailed on the horse's shoe? What are you doing nailing this kind of thing on the horse's shoe? Doesn't the horse hurt?"

"The place where a horse is shoed is the same as human nails. Does it hurt when you cut your nails?" Zhang Yanjin explained tirelessly.

"Then what's the use?" Zhang Xiuwu didn't understand.

Zhang Yanjin said with a faint smile: "With the horseshoes in the way, when the horse passes through gravel, or the ground full of thorns, or there are some sharp things on the ground, even if the horse steps on it, there will be no problem."

Zhang Xiuwu, who has always been fond of fighting, immediately became active in his mind. A gleam flashed in his two small eyes and said: "This relationship is good. As the saying goes, when shooting a man, shoot a horse first, and when capturing a thief, first capture the king. If our army With horseshoes, we can intentionally lure the enemy deep, lead the enemy into the thorny ground, and make it impossible for their horses to move an inch, then we can annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

"Exactly!" Zhang Yanjin praised without hesitation.

Hearing the sound, Zhang Bowen also came over. Seeing that Zhang Yanjin and Zhang Xiuwu were chatting enthusiastically, he couldn't help asking. At this time, Zhang Zhongqian had just returned from the palace after dealing with the government affairs at hand, so Zhang Yanjin told Zhang Zhongqian about the horseshoe.

"Is there really such an amazing effect? ​​Then my army must be invincible in this western expedition!" Zhang Zhongqian couldn't hide his surprise.

Zhang Yanjin said sincerely: "I also ask uncle to submit a memorial to report the matter of the horseshoe to the emperor, so that the horseshoe can be used on our army's horses as soon as possible!"

Hearing this, Zhang Zhongqian sighed in his heart, this child is really more and more measured, such a credit is not small, Erlang has now entered the eyes of the emperor, I am afraid it is not difficult to really want to see the emperor, but he did not take it for meritorious service, Instead, I want to give it to my family.

He shook his head, and then said: "Erlang, you are really getting more and more sensible, but you can't take advantage of your meritorious uncle. The last time the horse stirrup and saddle were presented to the emperor by you, with the last experience, the emperor You shouldn’t avoid it, so this time it’s up to you!”

Zhang Yanjin wanted to persuade Zhang Zhongqian, but was stopped by Zhang Zhongqian.

I only heard Zhang Zhongqian say: "Uncle sees you so motivated, uncle is already very happy in his heart, seeing you on the right track day by day, serving the country, becoming a promising person, uncle is finally happy in his heart." landed."

Zhang Yanjin sighed slightly in his heart, and couldn't help feeling sorry for Zhang Zhongqian. You must know that Zheng Yanjin had already gone to see his biological father, and now he is the one who occupies this body, but this doesn't seem to be an important matter anymore.

For Zhang Zhongqian to take such good care of his nephew, he can be regarded as worthy of his younger brother under Jiuquan.

"Uncle, please rest assured. Although my nephew has done a lot of ridiculous things before, but if he is willing to repent, he will definitely work harder and harder." Zhang Yanjin said seriously.

Zhang Zhongqian patted Zhang Yanjin on the shoulder and said, "Do it well, and tell uncle if you have any difficulties, and uncle will help you solve it!"

When Zhang Yanjin heard this, she felt a little embarrassed: "Uncle... I have something private to tell you!"

Zhang Zhongqian looked at Zhang Bowen and Zhang Xiuwu, Zhang Bowen immediately paid attention to him, he immediately dragged Zhang Xiuwu out, Zhang Xiuwu was still a little unhappy, what else can I not know about the second brother?

Zhang Yanjin watched Zhang Xiuwu go out, and couldn't help complaining in her heart. From what he said, it seemed that he and Zhang Xiuwu had some affection.

Zhang Zhongqian said: "Speak!"

Zhang Yanjin withdrew her thoughts, her gaze was a little evasive, and she said, "Uncle, I've made another meritorious service by tossing this thing out. Will the emperor take back me and that Li..."

Before Zhang Yanjin finished speaking, Zhang Zhongqian understood. He saw this kid defending Li Rongniang before, and Li Rongniang also seemed to defend this kid. He thought it was over. How dare you, now this kid still wants to marry?

Zhang Zhongqian pondered for a while, now he realizes that the emperor still values ​​him, at that time, he was afraid that the emperor hated Yanjin's playboy to let Yanjin marry Li Rongniang, after all, it was not an imperial decree.

"You really don't want to marry Li Rongniang?"

Zhang Yanjin was a little confused when he heard it, because he thought that his uncle would directly persuade him to take responsibility as before, or what the emperor meant, why did it sound like his uncle was really thinking about this matter?

When this was coming to an end, Zhang Yanjin suddenly remembered how Li Rongniang had shielded him from knives and kept him from getting in trouble in the carriage, and his words suddenly became speechless.

"Erlang?" Seeing that Zhang Yanjin didn't answer, Zhang Zhongqian asked hastily.

Zhang Yanjin recovered and said, "Uncle, I... have to think about it."

Zhang Zhongqian didn't know the complexity of Zhang Yanjin's heart at this time, he said: "The emperor didn't make an imperial decree. If you don't want to marry Li Rongniang, you have to take responsibility. Li Rongniang's reputation has been tied to you. Who else can marry now?" She... You made a contribution, if you can still find a home for Li Rongniang, I think the emperor is still willing to turn a blind eye."

After Zhang Yanjin heard this, he was immediately confused. Didn't this achieve his goal?But why, he was a little unwilling to listen.

"Uncle, I see, I have to think about it again." He replied.

Zhang Zhongqian nodded, he felt that it was better for Yanjin to decide this matter.

****

When everyone dispersed, Zhang Xiuwu still followed Zhang Yanjin and asked for four horseshoes from Zhang Yanjin before returning to his small courtyard.

After Zhang Yanjin waited for two days, Blacksmith Lu asked his apprentices to deliver the two boxes of horseshoes he had made to Zhang Yanjin, and also asked the two apprentices to follow Zhang Yanjin to help Zhang Yanjin nail the horseshoes.

Zhang Yanjin was at the time when he was employing people. After all, horseshoes were still a novelty in the Great Wei Dynasty. If he rashly took the horseshoes to the supply camp, no one would dare to put horseshoes on them.

But those who can do it are different. After a few demonstrations, those soldiers will also know it.

Therefore, Zhang Yanjin kept the two apprentices sent by Blacksmith Lu by her side.

Considering that it was difficult to get pure pig iron from Zhou Qiye in the supply camp, Zhang Yanjin wanted to pay for it to be made by blacksmith Lu.

Blacksmith Lu had a difficult time, stroked his beard, frowned and said: "Erlang, it's not that I don't want to make it. You know, these days pig iron is controlled by the government, and the government distributes it in a limited amount every year. I have entrusted someone to buy all the pure pig iron from the blacksmith shop in Jingzhong, if they hadn’t known that I was a blacksmith, I’m afraid they would still suspect that I did something illegal.”

Only then did Zhang Yanjin understand that whether it was the Great Wei Dynasty or the ancient times, salt and ironware were controlled by the government. Firstly, the government had to control the lifeblood of the country’s economy. Secondly, this was the era of cold weapons. Every war needed more than food and grass. , silver payment, various sundries, the most important thing is iron. After all, iron is needed to build weapons and luggage.

During the years of the Great Wei Dynasty, the people’s livelihood was stable, and the treasury was rich. The government had the ability to distribute some pure pig iron every year. If it were placed in other dynasties, it might not be easy to make so many horseshoes. things.

After Zhang Yanjin bid farewell to Blacksmith Lu, he asked someone to lead the horseshoeed horses, took the two boxes of horseshoes that had been made, and took Blacksmith Lu's two apprentices to the supply camp.