Zhang Yan stopped the fight between Xu Chu and Tai Shici, and after the two put down their weapons, they were still panting and glaring at each other at first, but after a while, they suddenly became hahadaxiao again.

Tai Shici immediately hugged his fists and said: "Although I didn't distinguish the winner with you today, but you are strong in martial arts, not under me, I am convinced by you, this Huwei captain, you deserve it!" ”

"Haha...... You're not bad, but we'll have to learn from each other often. Xu Chu also laughed heartily.

Niu Jin and Xu Sheng were also very impressed by Xu Chu's force, and even the expressions on their faces became smiling.

Zhang Yan was also very happy to see Xu Chu and Tai Shici sympathizing with each other, after all, they were all his subordinates, if it was really stiff, it would not look good. Such a happy result is what he wants to see the most.

"Alright, let's go in and drink together!"

Subsequently, everyone re-entered the hall together, this time, everyone drank happily, Xu Chu and Tai Shi Ci even competed in wine, but Tai Shi Ci's wine strength was not as good as Xu Chu, and he was drunk and carried back home by Niu Jin and Xu Sheng.

After the banquet was over, Zhang Yan took Xu Chu around Pengcheng alone and introduced the situation in Pengcheng to Xu Chu.

Unconsciously, Zhang Yan and Xu Chu came to the arsenal together, Zhang Yan entered the arsenal with great interest to inspect it, and found that the weapons displayed in the arsenal were covered with a thick layer of dust, and the weapons were covered with cobwebs, these weapons were all iron, and the arsenal was relatively dark and damp, and the weapons were rusty.

After Zhang Yan made an inspection, he asked someone to call the little official who managed the arsenal, took a spear and crossed it in front of the little official, and asked, "Can such a weapon be used?" How do you manage the arsenal? ”

"The lord is angry, and when the little one takes over, it's like this......"

"That's how you took over, so you don't care about the arsenal, do you? Fortunately, I had nothing to do today, and I personally came to inspect the arsenal, and if such weapons were sent to the soldiers, how would they go to war? As the steward of the arsenal, you should know how to maintain weapons, but you have not done anything, you have left it unchecked, what use do I want you to do such an irresponsible stewardship? ”

Zhang Yan angrily threw the weapon in his hand on the ground, and when there was a loud sound, the head of the rusty spear broke when it was touched, and the iron weapon was very oxidized.

When he saw such a scene, he was extremely surprised, he only knew that there was a batch of weapons in the arsenal, but he did not know what age these weapons were cast. Looking at the way this spear breaks when it touches, it has been seven or eight years to say the least, right?

Not only the weapons here, but even the entire army, the texture of the weapons is not very good. In the era of cold weapons, when fighting, one relies on courage, and the other is by weapons, if the weapons are sharp enough to reach the level of sharpening iron like clay, then such a force will become the king of this era.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zhang Yan's mind, he wanted to smelt iron, rebuild a batch of brand-new weapons, and replace all the existing weapons in the army.

He has more than a thousand years of knowledge in his mind, and the Xuzhou he occupies contains rich coal, iron and other resources, he can boldly use these resources to arm his troops and protect his people.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yan didn't have the heart to blame the arsenal manager, he asked Xu Chu to go to the military camp first to appease the four thousand troops he brought, and all the four thousand people were under Xu Chu's subordinates, and he walked straight towards the Taishou Mansion.

In Pengcheng's Taishou Mansion, Taishou Chen Qun was sitting in the hall reviewing official documents, and suddenly saw Zhang Yan coming, hurriedly put down the official documents in hand and went to greet them.

"The lord came from afar, and the long text was not welcomed, and I ask the lord to forgive the sin!"

Zhang Yan waved his hand and said: "Changwen, I have always disliked red tape like this and that, so you don't have to worship me so much in the future." I came to you because I had a very important matter to discuss with you. ”

Chen Qun said: "If the lord has anything to say, just say it, what his subordinates can do, he will definitely not be held back." ”

"Do you know where there is an iron mine in Xuzhou?"

Chen Qun was stunned for a moment, and asked rhetorically: "There is an iron mine in Pengcheng, doesn't the lord know?" ”

Zhang Yan was also stunned for a moment and asked, "Is there an iron mine in Pengcheng?" ”

Seeing Zhang Yan's confused appearance, Chen Qundao couldn't guess without saying that Zhang Yan definitely didn't know that there was an iron mine in Pengcheng. He couldn't help but feel a little funny, and couldn't help laughing, so he showed it, and a smile appeared on his face.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhang Yan was a little confused by the monk and asked.

Chen Qun stopped laughing, and then said: "I'm laughing, I also worked as a Pengcheng Taishou before I lost my lord, and I didn't even know that there was an iron mine in Pengcheng?" I just think that the lord is riding a donkey looking for a donkey, so that's why he laughs. ”

Zhang Yan said: "Although I once served as the Taishou of Pengcheng, most of my official affairs were handed over to Chen Deng, so I didn't pay attention to it. ”

"I see. However, it is no wonder that the lord of Pengcheng originally had an iron official, who specialized in managing iron ore mining and manufacturing iron tools. Later, during the Yellow Turban Uprising, the iron official was killed by the people who mined the iron ore, and the pit was also occupied by the Yellow Turban soldiers. If the lord wants to mine iron ore, he only needs to appoint a reliable official to serve as an iron officer, and recruit some people to go to the mines. ”

As the saying goes, there is nowhere to find the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get them. It was only at this time that Zhang Yan knew that he was stepping on a treasure under his feet, but he didn't know it.

Pengcheng, where he is located, should be the contemporary Xuzhou, Xuzhou is rich in coal, iron ore and other resources, he can just make good use of it, not only to mine iron ore, but also to mine coal, two-pronged.

Subsequently, Zhang Yan asked Chen Qun for advice, and then learned that in Xuzhou, in addition to Pengcheng iron, there are several places rich in iron ore, namely Qu County in Donghai County, Tangyi County in Guangling County, and Xiapi City.

In addition, Yingxian County in Taishan County, Yanzhou is also rich in iron ore. Zhang Yan told Chen Qun that he was like mining iron ore and building weapons and armor, which was supported by Chen Qun, and advocated the establishment of iron officials in Pengcheng, Quxian, Tangyi, Xiapi, and Yingxian respectively, specifically responsible for mining iron ore and smelting iron.

In addition, Chen Qun suggested to Zhang Yan to set up a salt official, Xuzhou is close to the sea, is a place where salt is produced, salt is an indispensable food in life, after the establishment of salt officials in various places where salt is produced, not only can the salt merchants be taxed, but also can be made of official salt, stabilize the price of commercial salt, and crack down on the speculation of profiteers.

After listening to it, Zhang Yan felt that Chen Qun's suggestion was very feasible, but he lacked a right-hand man who could go and implement it. At Chen Qun's suggestion, Zhang Yan asked the East China Sea Taishou Mizhu to be in charge of managing salt and iron.

Mi Zhu has been in business for generations, and his industry also involves salt and iron, and he has rich experience in operation and management, so he is the first choice.

Zhang Yan then called Chen Jue, and after saying his thoughts and Chen Qun's suggestions, Chen Jue also felt that this method was feasible.

So, Zhang Yan asked Chen Ju to draft an official document, and he stamped it with a ribbon, and sent someone to Tancheng in Donghai County to let Mi Zhu have full authority to deal with the matter.

However, Zhang Yan was personally responsible for mining iron ore and smelting iron tools in Pengcheng, after all, he was close to the water and easy to manage.

In the evening of the same day, he posted the article and began to recruit young adults to become miners, and he took a group of people to inspect the mine in person.

The iron ore pit was located near Weishan Lake in the northeast of Pengcheng, and Zhang Yan led his entourage to take advantage of the terrain and chose a relatively flat location as a place to build the smelter.

The smelting jishu of the Han Dynasty had reached a very developed point, and it was at this time that Bailian Steel came into being.

Zhang Yan not only wanted to mine iron, but also smelt iron ore, recruit blacksmiths, smelt them on the spot, and make all kinds of weapons, and they must be extremely sharp. And he is ready to equip his entire army with such weapons.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yan was busy recruiting miners and building a smelter. After several days of recruitment, we finally got a team of hundreds of people and officially started mining iron ore.

But the smelter, which is on the way to construction, and the blacksmith is in full swing to recruit.

Zhang Yan goes out early and returns late every day, and it is very hard. However, in Zhang Yan's view, all the hard work is worth it.

After everything was formalized, Zhang Yan selected an iron official to be responsible for mining iron ore in Pengcheng, building a smelter, and recruiting blacksmiths.

At noon that day, Zhang Yan came back from the mine, and as soon as he entered Pengcheng, he saw Chen Qun standing at the gate of the city with a sad face.

As soon as Chen Qun saw Zhang Yan returning, he immediately greeted him, and said in a panic: "Meet the lord!" ”

"Changwen, when did you get so flustered?"

"Lord Qi, celebrities Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong have arrived in Pengcheng, and are now waiting for the lord's reception in the hall! But ......"

"But what?" Zhang Yan asked.

Chen Qun said: "However, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong's faces were a little displeased, I inquired, and then I learned that when Chen Deng went to visit Erzhang, Erzhang was unwilling to go out, so Chen Deng asked Erzhang's family to be imprisoned, and coerced Erzhang to come to Pengcheng to serve the lord......"

"Haha...... I really can't see that Yuan Long can still do such a thing. ”

"Lord, are you still laughing? Chen Yuanlong's move angered Erzhang, although Erzhang came to Pengcheng, he did not come to serve the lord, but to sue. ”

"It doesn't matter what their purpose is in Pengcheng, since they are here, don't think about leaving." Zhang Yan said with a smile.

After hearing this, Chen Qun hurriedly persuaded: "Lord, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong are both famous people in the sea, and they both have talents that have passed through the heavens and latitudes. Even if they are unwilling to come out, Chen Yuanlong should not use this to provoke Erzhang. In this way, no matter how polite the lord is, it is estimated that Erzhang will not serve the lord. ”

Zhang Yan said: "Changwen, I understand your worries, but sometimes, to deal with these old stubborns, you should also use extraordinary means." Even if the two of them don't serve me, I will never let the two leave Pengcheng to serve others. Let's go, and go in with me, and I'll meet these two famous celebrities for a while! ”