On April 22, the seventh year of Chongzhen, when the official office and warehouse of Chifeng Fort were all completed, Zhao Jie and Zhang Tongzhu led a group of craftsmen to work overtime, and finally made the four-wheeled carriage designed by Li Xiao. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

"My lord, please see, after our tests, this four-wheeled carriage can be carried by two horses at the same time, and one carriage can carry 6,000 to 8,000 catties of goods. It is easy to turn and drive. I was thinking that such a carriage should be able to meet the requirements of the carriage and horse business that adults want to open. Zhang Tongzhu and Zhao Jie stood in front of the prepared carriage sample and reported to Li Xiao happily.

Seeing the very brand-new, unpainted, steel-colored, and four-**** carriage in front of him, exuding the fresh smell of wooden boards, Li Xiao was very happy.

He leaned over and listened to Zhao Jie's introduction to the details of the vehicle while carefully observing the body structure.

Zhao Jie said that they tried a variety of woods, and finally decided to use solid and wear-resistant oak wood for the rims. For durability, wrap a ring of wrought iron.

One of the advantages of this approach is that when the outer wrought iron is almost worn out, it can be reused by simply replacing it with a new wrought iron sleeve. The spokes are made of solid wrought iron to ensure that they do not break easily and that they can bear better weight. On the top floor is a cargo compartment made of thick wooden planks and tenons, and in front of it is a wooden carriage for the coachman and a pedal frame.

The axle of this four-wheeled carriage is also made of Fujian fine iron, which is strong and durable. In terms of connectors, Zhao Jie and others finally adopted the lost wax method of manufacturing the breech process at this time to cast wrought iron bearings and related accessories for connection.

Some readers may ask, will there be bearings in this era? In fact, bearings are not a modern invention, but they are ancient. As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, the wise ancestors had made wrought iron bearings in large quantities. In 1974, a total of 480 pieces of iron bearings were unearthed in the Han and Wei cellars in Mianchi, Henan. Because Li Xiao is willing to use materials, sparing no expense, all made of the best Fujian fine iron, the precision and performance of the bearings are greatly beyond the previous generation.

Li Xiao knows that in fact, the key and difficult points in the manufacture of four-wheeled carriages are the wheels and the steering device.

Because the four-wheeled car is quite similar to the car of later generations, the two front wheels must be deflected in one direction when turning, in order to turn smoothly. According to Li Xiao's sketch, Zhao Jie and their final steering device for the four-wheeled vehicle was designed after repeated design during this period of time, which was to add a rotating wheel disc to the front of the bottom of the car, and the axle was connected to the wheel wheel and could be steered left and right.

In this way, when the traction force in front changes direction, the wheel changes the direction of the axle through the axle sleeve, and the wheel rotates in the same direction of the traction force, and the steering of the four-wheeled vehicle is realized.

Li Xiao tried to turn it with his own hands, and found that the four-wheeled carriage really turned quite flexibly, and there was no such sluggish and stiff feeling at all.

Li Xiao was extremely happy in his heart, this carriage generally met his own requirements. Compared with the stupid and dull four-wheeled carriage of the same generation of the Ming Dynasty, I really don't know how much stronger.

Next, Li Xiao put forward some suggestions for improvement.

"The belt used for this four-wheeled carriage to cover the horse must be strong and durable, not too long, so that the frame will not directly hit the horse when steering and parking, and with a stable cushioning force, the horse will not be easily injured."

"My lord, I've made a note below." Zhao Jie nodded and said, "Later, Blacksmith Zhang and I will use cooked cowhide to make it, and it will definitely meet the requirements of adults." ”

"Well, there is another thing, that is, you will prepare more of these connectors, wearing parts, after all, it is a long-distance transportation, in case it breaks down along the way, it can be easily replaced in time. In addition, Master Zhang, you can set a specification for these accessories, so that the four-wheeled carriage of my carriage can be replaced universally to ensure the efficiency of use. ”

After listening to Li Xiao's opinion, Zhao Jie and Zhang Tongzhu both nodded again and again, saying that they must do Li Xiao's request as soon as possible.

Li Xiao was still thinking that if more solid steel could be made in the future to replace the current wrought iron accessories, the use of the carriage would be more durable and efficient. It's just that he thought about it, but he still didn't tell them, after all, it was too unrealistic to force a blacksmith like Zhang Tongzhu to make steel.

Perhaps, in the future, I can use the knowledge of later generations to make truly qualified and durable steel.

"The two of you worked hard to develop, and it only took more than 20 days to produce a sample, and the official is really happy. The official will reward you two with 50 taels of silver each, and the craftsmen below will also have their own rewards. You make ten four-wheeled carriages as soon as possible, and if the manpower is not enough, you can find Wu Zanche, and ask him to add family manpower. In a word, it is necessary to let our army's Chifeng carriages and horses start official operation as soon as possible. ”

After Li Xiao finished speaking with a smile, Zhao Jie and Zhang Tongzhu both knelt down and thanked him: "If you work hard, you will be rewarded by adults, and you dare not do your best to repay the kindness of adults." ”

After Zhao Jie and Zhang Tongzhu went down, Li Xiao, who was in a good mood, suddenly thought that now that the Liaoxi Tartars had already returned to Houjin, it was time to send someone to Zu Wan'er's parents, Mrs. Zu Dale Wang, to report her safety.

So Li Xiao laid out the paper and explained in detail in the letter that he took Wan'er all the way to Shandong, and then founded Chifeng Fort and settled down. Later, Li Xiao prepared a gift box, which contained 3 good wild ginseng, 4 large East Pearls, and 2 good mink skins, which were placed together with the letters. He sent Xu Cheng, the deputy captain of the Flying Harrier, to Jinzhou with 4 cavalrymen to deliver a message.

Seeing that Li Xiao gave such a valuable thing to his parents, Zu Wan'er was also happy. This simple girl was even thinking that her parents, Mrs. Dale Wang, got the news that she was safe, and saw Li Xiao with such a heavy gift, she should no longer object to being with Li Xiao.

Two days later, Li Xiao was thinking about how to send people to Laizhou, Dengzhou and other places to open a branch of the carriage and horse shop. Suddenly, a sergeant came to report that Chen Zilong, a staff member of the governor Li Maofang, wanted to see him.

Li Xiao hurriedly went out to greet him, and not far away, he saw Chen Zilong with two entourage, laughing.

"Li Qianhu, I came to disturb you today, please forgive me for coming uninvited." Chen Zilong looked at Li Xiao from a distance, and said loudly.

"Why did Wozi say this, you and I are brothers, you don't have to be so polite. A master like you can come to the shelter, but let the shelter shine. Li Xiao also smiled, and then made a welcome force, inviting him to sit and chat with his newly established Thousand Households Office.

Chen Zilong noticed all the way that on both sides of the Hubao Avenue at the front, there were several official offices scattered and standing. Seeing that he was looking intently, Li Xiao explained to him: "These official offices are the economic and people's livelihood departments in our army, such as the Department of Civil Affairs, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Industry. ”

Chen Zilong was very curious about these departments with novel names set up by Li Xiao. Li Xiao saw that he was quite interested, so he briefly introduced the functions of various departments, Chen Zilong listened to it, admired, and unconsciously respected Li Xiao a little more.

Soon, Li Xiao took Chen Zilong and others to the door of the Qianhu Official Hall.

Chen Zilong looked at it, Li Xiao's thousand-household official hall occupies a large area, with blue bricks and black tiles, plastered joints, and outside the gate of the vermilion lacquer gold beast, there are two stone lions carved vividly. Next to the stone lion, several sergeants stood solemnly with their helmets and armor.

Seeing this exquisitely built but unassuming Thousand Households Mansion, Chen Zilong suddenly sighed inexplicably in his heart.

Thinking of the last time I came to Chifeng Castle, everything in the fort gate except for the city wall was a grass creation. This Li Xiao can only meet with himself and the governor in the straw house. Now, just over a month later, such a good mansion has been built, all kinds of government offices and warehouses have been set up neatly, and a large number of craftsmen and their families are building buildings such as military barracks and school yards in the southeast.

Chen Zilong and others entered the door, facing an imitation Tang style blue gray wall, three feet wide and four feet, one foot high and six feet, east and west two corners, and there are gates to enter and exit.

Chen Zilong noticed that the front and back houses of the Qianhu official hall are centered on the main gate, the lobby, the second hall, and the third hall, and the other buildings basically maintain symmetry. The lobby is five rooms and seven shelves, which are divided into several rooms, which are the offices of the subordinates and the officials.

Then entering the center of the lobby, Chen Zilong saw that in the wide hall that was whitewashed with snow, there were martial arts frames on the left and right, on which knives, guns, swords, halberds, lances, maces and other weapons were placed as decorations, and there was a huge picture of the tiger coming out of the mountain at night on the hall, and the whole hall was arranged in a martial style.

After the lobby, Li Xiao invited Chen Zilong into the West Flower Hall and sat down with tea and the host. Chen Zilong's two entourages were taken to his room to rest by Li Xiao's men.

The two chatted casually, and the more they felt that they were deeply attached to each other, and the topic became more and more in-depth.

Chen Zilong suddenly lowered his voice and said, "My lord, the student has a matter on his mind, I don't know if to ask?" ”

"Mr. Wowzi, but it's okay to ask."

"Lord Li, now that my Ming state affairs are declining, and I am suffering from internal and external troubles, do you think that the imperial court can try to cheer up again?" Chen Zilong looked directly at Li Xiao, but his face was shrouded in an inexplicable layer of melancholy.

"Sir, Li thinks that although the Ming Dynasty has accumulated deep shortcomings and everything is not going well, it has not reached a state of irremediable despair. As a local guard, Li only knows how to serve the country loyally and do things wholeheartedly, in order to save in case, he is enough. Li Xiao said calmly.

Chen Zilong smiled noncommittally, and he didn't know if he could see that Li Xiao's words were quite reserved, he sighed, and said: "If all the officials and generals in the Ming Dynasty can be as loyal and diligent to state affairs as Lord Li, and can govern well, why did I end up in such a situation." ”

Li Xiao said with a smile: "Wozi, you have a good reputation, in fact, among my Ming Dynasty, there are by no means no capable ministers, there are actually quite a lot of outstanding military generals, but due to various conditions, there is no way for them to do their best to give full play to their talents." In addition, freezing three feet is not a day's cold, and the court has accumulated shortcomings for a long time, so how can it be changed suddenly. It will take time to get rid of the cheats. ”

Chen Zilong shook his head and said: "The adult's idea is good, the student is just afraid that my Ming Dynasty will not be able to hold on to this day!" Now the bandits are becoming more and more rampant, and the Tartars in the north are also very arrogant. It's like a two-sided big stone mill, sandwiching my Daming in it and grinding, like this, I'm only afraid that one day Daming will be ground into powder by these two big stone mills. ”

Li Xiao was suddenly shocked in his heart, this Chen Zilong is a rare sober person, and his views on the current situation are roughly consistent with the trajectory of historical development. Such a person is much smarter than those high-ranking officials in the DPRK and China who only know about party struggle and infighting.

Li Xiao, who came from later generations, knew that starting from this year, in just 10 years, the Ming Empire, which had been in Xuan He for a hundred years, would come to its end.

Thinking of this, Li Xiao couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"Mr. Chen, don't be too pessimistic about everything. Li believes that things are man-made, although the country is difficult, but after all, the shelf is still there, and it has not yet reached the point where it will collapse as soon as the wind blows. Li Xiao comforted him.

Chen Zilong had a wry smile on his face, he looked at Li Xiao and said, "Students, may I ask my lord, the rogues and the Tartars, which one can move my Ming foundation the most?" ”

Looking at Chen Zilong, who was looking directly at him, Li Xiao was thinking, could he tell him the true future trend of history? It is estimated that he said it all directly, and Chen Zilong may not be able to believe it.

He pondered for a moment, and said slowly: "From this official's point of view, in terms of the urgency of the danger to my Ming Dynasty, the Liukou comes first, and the Tartar comes second. But in the end, the most fundamental harm is that the Tartars are more important and the rogues are lighter. Because the Liukou is to take away my Ming Dynasty, but the Tartars are going to destroy my Chinese civilization. ”

"What adults say, so do students!" Chen Zilong sighed, and said again: "Now the rogue is rampant, everywhere he goes, there is a mess, and coerce the good people, so that they join the thieves, so that the Ming Dynasty collapses everywhere, and the people's hearts turn away, which is really hateful." ”

Li Xiao looked at Chen Zilong's distressed expression, and said in a low voice: "Mr. Chen, according to this official, the rampant rogues are certainly due to careerists, but in the final analysis, it is still due to the improper administration of the imperial court. ”

Without waiting for Chen Zilong to answer, Li Xiao continued: "From the last years of the Apocalypse to the early years of Chongzhen, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places, there have been disasters and droughts one after another, and the imperial court has lost relief, but has vigorously scavenged food and wages. In the eyes of this official, the first person who is responsible for the troubles of the current rogues should be the responsibility of the imperial court. ”

Chen Zilong was silent and speechless for a long time.

Li Xiaofu said: "However, the rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of the husband, and my Ming Dynasty is sinking so much now, it is the time for people with lofty ideals to work hard!" As the officials and soldiers of the Ming Dynasty, we should work harder to do our best to save the country. ”

Chen Zilong exclaimed: "The adults are loyal and brave and serve the country wholeheartedly, but the students are admired." ”

Li smiled and said: "It's just that Li's Chifeng Fort is still a grass creation, if a master like Mr. Chen comes to complement him, and let the official help as an arm, it will be very happy." ”

After Li Xiao finished speaking, he looked at Chen Zilong with an eagerly expectant look. Chen Zilong squeezed out a faint smile on his face and fell into a deep groan.

He could hear that Li Xiao said such things just to recruit himself.

It's just that although he also admires Li Xiao very much, after all, he is still working with Governor Li Maofang, although he has not clearly promised to become Li Maofang's staff, but it is not good to abandon him.

Besides, Li Xiao's Chifeng Fort is indeed smaller, so there is not much room for him to play, and Li Xiao still needs to be observed and observed。。。。。。

Li Xiao, who was smiling and drinking tea on the side, was like a mirror, and Chen Zilong's hesitant performance was already expected by him.

He knew that Chen Zilong was not ready to make a decision now. It's just that he is not in a hurry, and it would be a good thing if he could use Chen Zilong, who had a good relationship with him, to say more good things to Governor Li Maofang.

Next, Chen Zilong changed the topic and talked about the recent situation.

"The imperial court has just appointed Chen Qiyu, the right attendant of the Ministry of War, as the governor of the five provinces, to be in charge of the military affairs of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, Huguang, and Sichuan, and to punish thieves. Master Li heard about this. ”

"Well, this official has read the Di newspaper and knows about this matter, with the unified command of the military affairs of Governor Chen Daren, the troops of all provinces can form a joint force to exterminate the Liukou, which is more effective."

"Lord Li, now the imperial court has heavy troops, all of which are in the above provinces. When the students talked to the Governor about this, they found that the Governor had a worried face. ”

"Oh, what's the Governor's concern?"

"What the governor is worried about, if these rogue soldiers and horses jump out of the siege and come to our Shandong, it will be dangerous. And recently, a sentinel has reported that there are many bandits at the junction of Yanzhou and Henan. Chen Zilong said with a solemn face.

"Then the governor has arranged more troops on the Shandong border to defend it?"

"Master Li, don't mention this matter! In order to protect the place, the governor originally intended to ask Liu Zeqing, the chief soldier, and others to send troops to the border to take more precautions. Unexpectedly, Liu Zeqing held a grudge because the governor did not agree to send troops to attack Guibao last time, and he has been responding passively. It is not that the soldiers and horses are not in order, or that the food and salary are not sufficient, and they refuse to send troops. Although the governor was extremely dissatisfied, he was helpless. ”

After Chen Zilong finished saying this, he sighed unconsciously.

After Chen Zilong finished speaking, he took a sip of tea, but he didn't see it, and when he finished saying this, Li Xiao's eyes suddenly lit up.

A new plan flashed out like lightning in Li Xiao's mind.

Chen Zilong never expected that this unintentional remark, which was purely a complaint, became a new opportunity for Li Xiao to rise up.