Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 389 Jinshan Inkstone (Supplement)
Let's not talk about how Cheng Wanli of Dongping Prefecture arranged things, let's just talk about Miao Shanggao. After seeing Zhang Yong off, he returned to the back house and lay on the bed. Although he had not slept all night, he was very sad thinking about the lost jade ruyi, and he couldn't fall asleep for a while.

After thinking about it, he came up with an idea. Since Liangshan County has strong troops, why not inform the Grand Tutor and ask for his permission to send troops from Liangshan County to suppress the Qingzhou bandits. Thinking of this, he got up and went to the study to write a letter, and asked two confidants to ride horses to Bianjing to deliver it.

Miao Shanggao looked at the two confidants who left and couldn't help laughing, thinking about the fight between Liangshan County and the Qingzhou bandits. If they won, he wouldn't have to be on guard against the Qingzhou bandits. If they lost, he could avenge himself for losing the jade ruyi. At that time, he might even be able to retake Wangtai Township. It was really killing two birds with one stone.

Thinking of this, Miao Shanggao felt much better and went back to his room to rest.

Back to Dongping Prefecture, the next morning, Cheng Wanli sent two officials with his own letter to Wangtai Township on horseback to deliver the message. After cleaning up the mansion, Cheng Wanli sent someone to call Dong Ping.

Seeing Dong Ping looking much more haggard, Cheng Wanli said, "Tuanlian Dong, it's not that I don't take you seriously. It's really because Grand Tutor Cai has spoken and no one dares to excuse you, so I demoted you to Tuanlian. I also heard that the new military commander has been very critical of you. Now my wife is going to Liangshan County to visit her daughter, so I'll entrust you to escort her. Firstly, you can avoid Commander Yao, and secondly, my son-in-law loves men the most, and he will definitely treat you differently when you go. If he agrees, I'll promote you to be a commander in Liangshan County, which is better than being bullied by Commander Yao."

Dong Ping was stunned when he heard this, and thought to himself: When Miss Cheng gets married, I will disguise myself as a robber. I wonder if the managers there can recognize me.

Then I thought: I had my face covered and was in the fog. I was not used to riding horses or using weapons. No one had suspected me for so long, so I thought no one would care about me. Yao Gang is making things difficult for me now. I am not happy here. I might as well go to Liangshan County. If no one recognizes me, I can find a job there. If they recognize me, I can easily get out of Liangshan County with these two guns in my hands. If I get angry with my grandfather, I will go to Qingzhou to seek refuge with Song Jiang.

In a flash, all kinds of thoughts flashed through his mind, and Dong Ping hurriedly thanked Cheng Wanli. He went home to pack his luggage. Before leaving, Dong Ping went to Xiwazi and gave instructions to his lovers, a pair of sisters from Qinghe County called Li Guiqing and Li Guijie. Then he rode on his silver-maned chestnut horse and went to Liangshan County with thirty or fifty soldiers, escorting the carriages.

Speaking of these two, it was a few days ago when Dong Ping was defeated and his subordinates asked him to relieve his boredom. That’s when he met these two. Since Cheng Wan’er got married, no one in Dongping Prefecture could catch Dong Ping’s eye. These two girls were both beautiful and talented: cherry lips, apricot faces and peach cheeks. Willow waists, orchid hearts and philanthropy. Their voices were melodious, like nightingales on branches. Their dancing was graceful, like phoenixes among flowers.

Ever since Dong Ping met the two of them, he felt a little reluctant to leave.

He relied on his power to win over the two girls. Because they were not married yet, he could not bring them home, so he rented a small courtyard in Xiwazi and kept them.

It turned out that Dong Ping was clever and well-versed in all kinds of things, including playing bamboo and tuning strings. Therefore, the two girls were seduced by Dong Ping. First, they had no shortage of food and clothing, and second, Dong Ping was young and romantic, and he was knowledgeable and interesting. They had a passionate and sweet relationship. Therefore, Dong Ping gave them some instructions before leaving.

It is said that Zhao Zhen expelled the local officials in Wangtai Township and transferred Xiao Rang from Liangshan County. He brought more than ten scribes and servants with him, and cleared the fields and population under the protection of soldiers.

In this battle, 1200 soldiers were captured, 1400 sets of iron and leather armor, 300 yellow birch crossbows, 100 black lacquer bows, countless spears and swords, only 30 horses, and carts.

Most of the boats captured by the navy belonged to fishermen in Wangtai Township. Except for those belonging to a few expelled township officials, the rest of the boats, along with the fishermen who rowed the boats, were released. The grain and grass seized were only 300 dan, less than what the officials expelled from Wangtai Township had obtained.

There was not a single treasure that Zhao Zhen cared about for the entrance to the rank. However, it was not a complete loss, as Wangtai Township actually had a specialty, the Jinshan Inkstone.

Stones from Jinshan, Fenghuang Mountain, Baihu Mountain and Qinglong Mountain are carefully selected and carved by craftsmen to create works that combine relief, line carving and round carving, creating the Jinshan stone carvings with an ancient, elegant, simple and heavy natural beauty.

In particular, the stone with dense texture, fine and moist texture, non-absorbent and water-storing without consumption, is used to carve peony, lotus, lotus leaf, etc., and becomes the Jinshan inkstone.

Jinshan Inkstone (special product, the stone is divided into four categories: yellow, green, flowery and purple, with solid texture, smooth stone color, and good ink absorption)
After meeting him, Zhao Zhen discussed it with Wu Yong and gathered the stone carving craftsmen in the village to set up a stone carving workshop in a large house.

There are more than 400 stone carving craftsmen in Wangtai Township. It is impossible to accommodate so many craftsmen in one house. Wu Yong came up with an idea and asked Jin Dajian to be the manager and hired the best carving workers Wang Feng and Wang Jian as court officials. In addition to carving stone carvings and inkstones, they were also responsible for receiving stone carvings sent by various families and evaluating their value.

Zhao Zhen collected all the stone carvings and inkstones in the whole village, and this move won the hearts of the people of Wangtai. After all, these stone carving craftsmen were all related to the villagers.

Wang Feng and Wang Jian are the best at stone carvings. The inkstone carved by Wang Feng is decorated with unicorns and peonies. The value of an inkstone ranges from two to ten strings of cash, depending on the material.

The stone lions carved by Wang Jian are the most lifelike. A pair of Jinshan stone lions are worth 20 strings of cash in size, while the smaller ones cost five strings of cash.

Jinshan inkstone and Jinshan stone gate lion, these two kinds of stone carvings have always been the goods sold by Wangtai Township. However, due to the different stone quality and carving skills, the prices vary greatly. Ordinary stone inkstones are only 30 or 50 coins. These inkstones are the best stationery for students in villages and towns.

As for the rest of the stone carvings and stone inkstones, apart from sending some to the heroes in the county, Zhao Zhen planned to take the rest back to the main world. The stone inkstones and small stone carvings would be sent to bookshops for sale, while the larger stone carvings, especially these majestic stone lions, would surely be very popular among the wealthy families.

Wangtai Township had to redefine the land, register the population, and guard against Jizhou Prefecture, so the cavalry and infantry did not withdraw. Ruan Xiaoer's fleet was transporting captured armor, stone carvings, etc. When Zhao Zhen was about to send the captured Jizhou soldiers to the coal mine in Heihu Temple Town, Taishan's letter arrived first.

(End of this chapter)