The world of film and television starts from the flow of money

Li Zhi, whose courtesy name was Hongfu, was also known as Zhuowu and Wenling Jushi. His ancestral home was Quanzhou, Fujian.

A thinker and writer in the Ming Dynasty, he was the master of the Taizhou School.

The ancestor Li Ni came to land in Quanzhou from Persia in the 1376th year of Hongwu (1499) and married a Seljuq woman named Pu. The family engaged in maritime trade, but in the th year of Hongzhi (), due to the maritime ban, the surname was changed to Li.

On October 26, the sixth year of the Jiajing reign, Li Zhi was born in Jubao Street, south of Quanzhou, Fujian. It is said that when he was born, there was a strange sight: the ancient well in his home suddenly gushed out spring water with a sulfur smell. (Yi Huawei speculated that this should be caused by submarine volcanic activity) But at that time, this strange sight undoubtedly added a bit of mystery to Li Zhi's birth.

Li Zhi's childhood name "Lin Zai" was taken from the "Book of Documents" which says "The rhythm of Lin Zhong gives birth to hundreds of grains."

In the 25st year of Jiajing, the -year-old Li Zhi took an important step on the road to the imperial examination and passed the examination. However, the road to the imperial examination was extremely bumpy. He participated in the imperial examination seven times, but failed each time. The last time he participated in the imperial examination was in the second year of Longqing. That year, he was full of ambition to serve the country and boldly criticized the maritime ban policy in the examination paper, but was also dismissed. However, Li Zhi was not constrained by this. Instead, he was unique in his writing style and created the method of "three breaking articles". The breaking point must contain one of the three elements of Buddhist scriptures, Western learning, and the market. He wrote from a new perspective and showed a unique thought and style.

During his official career, Li Zhi served as a teacher in Huixian County, Henan Province. During his tenure, he actively reformed the county school curriculum and added the Nine Chapters of Arithmetic with a unique vision, hoping to broaden the knowledge of students. Later, he served as a doctor of the Nanjing Imperial Academy, but was impeached by the censor for teaching Mozi and promoting the Mohist ideas of universal love and non-aggression, which touched the interests of some people.

In 1577, Li Zhi was appointed as the prefect of Yao'an, Yunnan. There, he implemented the "Four No's Policy": not kneeling to superiors, adhering to his personal dignity and the bottom line of being an official; not banning business and travel, vigorously promoting the development of the local economy; not destroying obscene temples, respecting folk beliefs and cultural traditions; not accepting surpluses, being honest and dedicated, and not coveting extra property.

In the fifth year of the Wanli reign, Li Zhi underwent a major ideological transformation in Dali, and he secluded himself in the Jianyue Temple on Jizu Mountain for 49 days. During the seclusion, he only ate pine needles and drank snow water every day. In this austere but peaceful environment, he completed the first draft of "Four Seas Theory", proposing the unique view that "all things in the world are born from the sea and return to the sea", showing his profound thinking on the origin and destination of all things in the world.

In the ninth year of the Wanli reign, Li Zhi and Geng Dingxiang broke up due to differences in ideology at Huang'an Tianwo Academy. After that, he made a surprising move, shaving his head and growing a beard, using a unique external image to show his departure from traditional ideas.

Li Zhi's talent was not only reflected in the fields of thought and literature, he was also a chemist, inventor, and had a wide range of friends. In the original time and space, in 1599, he met the Western missionary Matteo Ricci in Nanjing. The two met too late and exchanged ideas with each other. Li Zhi gave Matteo Ricci "Explanation of Laozi", and Matteo Ricci gave him "On Friendship" in return. Li Zhi also taught the Korean envoy Xu Yu the improvement of movable type printing, which promoted the exchange and development of cultural communication technology in East Asia.

As early as the eighth year of the Wanli reign, when Li Zhi was serving in Yao'an, he fully demonstrated his wisdom and creativity. He designed the "chain sluice gates", which increased the local irrigation efficiency by three times and greatly improved agricultural production conditions. He also introduced the "Kanez" technology from Persia, which successfully solved the problem of water shortage in the karst landform of Yunnan. At the same time, he improved the "Yiwofeng" rocket, designed a 32-tube joint launcher, enhanced the power of military equipment, and wrote "Huogong Yaolue", which recorded the secret method of purifying saltpeter. Unfortunately, this book has been lost in later generations.

However, Li Zhi's life was full of ups and downs. His thoughts and actions seriously impacted the traditional ethics and authority of the time, and he was eventually imprisoned.

On March 16, the 30th year of the Wanli reign, this maverick thinker, writer, and inventor committed suicide by slashing his throat with a razor in prison, ending his life.

In this life, the gears of fate turned quietly, and Li Zhi's life trajectory was completely different from the original time and space, as if he was pushed by an invisible hand to another road full of unknowns and possibilities.

Yi Huawei was able to meet Li Zhi thanks to Zhao Zhigao's introduction. At first, Yi Huawei had only heard a little about Li Zhi and was not aware of his uniqueness. However, after a conversation, the two talked about classics, history, and literature, the current social situation, and the views on state governance and the perception of life.

Yi Huawei found that Li Zhi's thoughts were bold and novel, and he had unique views on many things, and was not bound by traditional concepts at all. Li Zhi was also surprised that although Yi Huawei was young, he had knowledge and insights far beyond ordinary people, and had a deep understanding of various subjects. Whether it was Confucian classics or emerging Western knowledge, Yi Huawei could talk about it eloquently.

The two got along better and better as they talked. Li Zhi enthusiastically shared his experiences and thoughts from his travels over the years. Whenever Li Zhi put forward a point of view, Yi Huawei was always able to quickly understand and give a response.

As their communication deepened, Yi Huawei and Li Zhi felt that they had similar interests and that they had met too late. Since then, the two kept exchanging letters, often discussing academic matters and exchanging views on current affairs.

It was not until Yi Huawei confided his ambition to Li Zhi that he hoped to enhance national strength, resist foreign aggression and change the current situation of backward military equipment through advanced firearms technology.

After hearing this, Li Zhi was greatly shocked. In the 18th year of Wanli, he used the pseudonym "Mr. Zhuo Wu" and visited the Huashan Agricultural Reclamation Area. He immediately decided to become Yi Huawei's aide and take charge of the R&D Bureau.

As a result, a firearms innovation that changed the military landscape quietly began.

From the 17th year to the 25th year of Wanli, after eight years of development, the Firearm Battalion had grown to a considerable size and had a complete organizational structure.

Yi Huawei established a forging bureau in Xiangyang and built 32 blast furnaces. Each blast furnace was operated according to precise temperature and time, producing kilograms of refined iron per day.

An 800-acre test field was built in Poyang Lake to test firearms for infantry, cavalry, ships, city walls and night combat. Different target ranges simulated various actual combat scenarios to ensure that the performance of firearms could adapt to the diverse needs of war.

The Wuyishan Gunpowder Workshop, which was managed by Li Zhi, a direct disciple of Li Zhi, achieved a sulfur purification rate of up to 90%, providing a guarantee for the production of high-quality gunpowder.

Li Zhi personally led 12 craftsmen who were familiar with Western learning in the design room. These craftsmen had active minds and would gather together every ten days to discuss and produce drawings of new firearms based on their Western learning and practical experience.

After receiving the design drawings, 40 experienced craftsmen used their superb skills to make prototypes and left three sets of backups for subsequent research and improvements.

The mass production department has 2,600 craftsmen who carry out assembly line operations according to the standardized process of "The Exploitation of the Works of Nature". From the processing of parts to the assembly of firearms, every link is rigorous and orderly, ensuring the mass production and stable quality of firearms.

In terms of production data, the annual output of flintlock guns can reach 200, and its barrel has been specially processed and has a lifespan of up to 800 rounds. The annual output of ten-shot thunder guns is , and they are also equipped with special ammunition boxes for soldiers to carry and use. The annual production of improved Portuguese cannons is , with a range of up to steps, which greatly enhances the long-range strike capability. The annual output of trigger mines is , of which % are waterproof, meeting the needs of different terrains and combat environments. Ammunition support is also sufficient, and the lead bullet casting line can produce standard projectiles per day. The annual reserve of granular gunpowder reaches million kilograms, which are stored in underground cellars to ensure the safety and long-term supply of gunpowder. The production of matchlocks relies on the Poyang Lake reed base, which can produce miles of moisture-proof matchlocks per month, ensuring the normal firing of firearms.

In the 35th year of the Wanli reign, the Firearms Battalion imitated the Spanish Mushket matchlock gun, but there was a high misfire rate problem in the early stage, reaching 12%. The craftsmen did not give up. After continuous research, they successfully developed a mercury column firing device in the 180th year of the Wanli reign, reducing the misfire rate to %. In the rd year of the Wanli reign, they conquered the spiral rifling engraving process, which increased the effective range of the firearm to steps. Every technological breakthrough is inseparable from the day and night research and repeated experiments of the craftsmen.

To ensure the quality of firearms, each batch is strictly inspected, with a sampling rate of 20% for muskets and 100% for cannons. Extreme environmental tests are also carried out to test the performance of firearms under conditions such as freezing at -20℃ for 12 hours, continuous firing in heavy rain, and loading in a dusty environment. Once the wall thickness error of the gun barrel exceeds 1.5 mm, it will be immediately returned to the furnace for remanufacturing.

In terms of the raw material supply chain, the iron material is supplied by Shaoguan refined iron mine at a monthly rate of 80,000 jin. The ore is of high purity and provides high-quality raw materials for refined iron production. Seven charcoal kilns in Qinling Mountains deliver charcoal to meet the needs of forging. The annual yield of saltpeter, a byproduct of the salt wells in Zigong, Sichuan, is 4,000 dan. The special four-wheeled carriage has a load capacity of 800 jin, and the unique shock-absorbing device reduces the bumpy loss by 70%. There are 12 flat-bottomed fleets of inland armed cargo ships, each equipped with six ship-borne artillery to ensure transportation safety. There are 300 standard Fuwei escort vehicles with double-layer plywood for secret transportation.

In terms of personnel training and employment, the management of craftsmen is strict. Apprentices, craftsmen, and master craftsmen are assessed at three levels and nine grades to encourage craftsmen to improve their skills. A confidentiality agreement is signed, and those who have worked for five years will be granted 20 mu of land. Those who leak secrets will be punished for three generations to ensure that technical secrets are not leaked.

For disabled craftsmen, Yi Huawei issued 30 taels of silver as pensions according to the border army standard. The camp school trained 300 firearms operation instructors every quarter to improve the soldiers' firearms operation level. The illustrated version of "Firearms Maintenance Tips" was distributed to the captain level to facilitate grassroots officers to diagnose faults. A special battlefield recovery team of 800 people was set up to collect abandoned weapons, recycle usable parts, and reduce costs.

In terms of geographical isolation, the workshops are more than 30 miles apart, which reduces the risk of technology leakage. Craftsmen rotate their work areas every month to prevent a single craftsman from mastering all the technologies. The transportation routes are randomly changed every day to ensure transportation safety. In terms of technical splitting, the forging of gun barrels and the assembly of ammunition are carried out in different provinces, and the key components are manufactured by three places. The final assembly process is limited to Class A craftsmen, ensuring that technical secrets are not leaked at every link.

Yi Huawei invested 2.24 million taels of silver in the construction of the workshop over the past eight years, and spent 1.14 million taels on the purchase of raw materials to ensure a continuous supply of raw materials. He also spent 37,000 taels on accident compensation to provide pensions for more than 200 craftsmen who died or were injured.

The investment made by the Firearm Battalion was simply the profit from the Fuwei Escort Agency.

Under Yi Huawei's careful planning, Fuwei Escort Agency has achieved all-round and leapfrog development in the past ten years.

Fuwei Escort Agency has a wide distribution network across the country, with 263 branches, including 18 hubs in major commercial ports. These key nodes control the logistics direction of important trade routes. 78 strategic warehouses are distributed all over the country, with a single storage capacity of up to 2 shi, ensuring the large-scale storage of goods. There is a supply point every 30 miles along the official road. The supply system consisting of 412 post stations provides the escort team with sufficient supplies and rest places to ensure the continuity of transportation.

The escort agency now has 4800 four-wheeled freight carriages with a load capacity of 800-1200 kilograms, which can meet the transportation needs of goods of different weights. There are 220 inland river vessels, each with a load capacity of 400 dan, which undertake the transportation of bulk goods on the inland river. 120 special escort vehicles use double-layer armor and shock-absorbing devices to escort high-value or dangerous goods.

The total annual cargo volume of the escort agency reached 1200 million shi, of which 60% was government grain and 40% was commercial goods. In an emergency, the escort agency could deliver 5 shi of grain to Shanhaiguan within half a month.

Of course, the development of Fuwei Escort Agency is inseparable from a stable agricultural support system.

Fuwei Escort currently has 83 mu of directly-affiliated farms, with 42 mu in Hubei, 28 mu in Jiangxi, and 13 mu in Henan. Through the contract planting model, it cooperates with 12 farmers to ensure a stable supply.

Among them, the Changping Warehouse had a grain reserve of 180 million shi, reaching the three-year war reserve amount.

The annual output of high-yield sweet potatoes reaches 2900 million shi; the annual output of corn is 1350 million shi; the rest are economic crops such as cotton, peppers, and medicinal herbs. The diversified planting not only meets food needs, but also increases economic benefits.

Yi Huawei's positioning of Fuwei Escort Agency is not limited to logistics and agriculture, but has also begun to lay out financial layout. The "Fuwei Grain Tickets" issued during the 18th year of Wanli accounted for 150% of private transactions in the Yangtze River Basin and became an important circulating bill. It absorbed about million taels of private silver reserves and carried out deposit business. The exchange network covers major cities in provinces, and the account can be received within three days, which greatly facilitates commercial transactions.

The escort agency also got involved in military expenditure trusteeship, disbursed military pay for 7 garrisons in 37 provinces, and was deeply involved in military logistics support. It established a quarterly pricing system for food, iron materials, and saltpeter.

Among the core team of the escort agency, there are 8200 firearms operators among the 3000 escorts.

After all, in this world, no matter how high your martial arts skills are, if you haven't trained yourself to be indestructible, you can't stop bullets. Some robbers who were proud of their martial arts skills used to sneer at firearms, but when they really faced firearms, they realized the power of firearms.

Many underworld masters who had been famous in the underworld for a long time were defeated under the firepower of the escorts, which also made the reputation of Fuwei Escort Agency even more famous in the underworld.

In addition, the escort agency has 12000 drivers responsible for transportation, 6500 warehouse workers to ensure cargo storage, and 980 intelligence personnel disguised as peddlers and postmen to collect various types of intelligence.

The Fuwei Escort Agency also controls 70% of the grain transportation channels in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, affecting the logistical supply of five of the nine border military towns, and even has the ability to paralyze the operation of the Taicang Silver Vault of the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue, and has strong strategic control.

The Fuwei Escort Agency now has an annual revenue of 186 million taels, including 78 taels from logistics and transportation, 65 taels from grain trade, 25 taels from financial services, and 18 taels from arms commissions.

Excluding expenses, the Fuwei Escort Agency made a total profit of approximately 6.4 million taels in the past ten years.

(End of this chapter)