Lord: Start with a book of Water Margin

Chapter 75 Departure

The next day, Zhao Zhen finished practicing martial arts with Du Qian, had breakfast, and went to sit down in the front hall. The messenger invited Liu Tang, Han Bolong and Li You. After a while, all three of them came to the hall. After giving in to each other, Liu Tang took the seat first, followed by Han Bolong and Li You.

Zhao Zhen said: "Brother Liu Tang, the private salt business mentioned yesterday is indeed profitable. Do you dare to lead a team?"

Liu Tang said: "I would like to lead the team on a journey."

Zhao Zhen asked: "Where do you want to collect salt, brother?"

Liu Tang said: "Just go north and take the waterway. The waterway is tortuous and the government will not control it. Go straight to the Binzhou Salt Farm on Hebei Road. It is an 800-mile waterway without stopping along the way. It can take five days and nights, and the round trip can take up to half a month."

Seeing Liu Tang's detailed explanation, Zhao Zhen felt relieved and asked, "Brother, how much salt can you collect in one trip?"

Liu Tang said: "Master, I used to make small fuss. I wonder how much salt the village owner wants?"

Zhao Zhen said: "After all, I have been going back and forth for a long time, so I bought more once I went there. I originally thought of taking the land route, so I prepared 50 carts. That is to say, by water, I arranged an 800-material three-masted ship and a 500-material two-masted ship. How about it? As for how much to buy, it depends on the brother."

Liu Tang said: "Don't worry, owner. When we get there, we will only go to the homes of kitchen households we are familiar with, and we will collect more if there are more, and less if there are less. We will then use them as a cover and hire them to collect more for us when we travel from house to house in the countryside." We won’t come forward to reduce the risk. I should be able to receive more than a thousand stones of private salt. I don’t know when to set off?”

Zhao Zhen became more relieved after hearing this. He opened his mouth and said: "Ruan Xiaoer and Ruan Xiaoqi will accompany them in the boat, and then ask Brother Han Bolong to escort the boat. There are 20 sailors, 30 soldiers, and 6 crossbowmen from the warship, each carrying a crossbow and pretending to be The leader, the spearman, the beacon, the Ikari hand, the sailor, all the weapons and leather armors brought on the ship have been hidden. We will set out early tomorrow morning, brother, what do you think of this?"

After hearing this, Liu Tang said: "The owner of the village has arranged everything properly, which is very good."

Zhao Zhen immediately asked Li You to sort out the convoy, move all the food and drink expenses prepared to the dock, and send a fast boat to the Golden Beach to summon Ruan Xiaoqi. Everything was prepared that day. At night, Zhao Zhen held a banquet for Liu Tang, Han Bolong, Ruan Xiaoer, Ruan Xiaoqi, and Li You. At the banquet, Zhao Zhen took out 2000 pieces of money, boxes of gold, silver, and many scattered pieces of silver and copper coins.

Zhao Zhen pointed to a few boxes on the ground and said to Liu Tang: "Brother, these are 2000 pieces of money. They are all handed over to you. Brother, you can use them as you please. Wherever you go, the purchase will be made by you."

He also told Han Bolong, Ruan Xiaoer, Ruan Xiaoqi, and Li You: "Brothers, this time we go to Binzhou Salt Farm on Hebei Road to buy private salt. If everything goes well, it will also be a way for us to communicate with the outside world. . From now on, the salt we eat is more than half the price. We must obey Brother Liu Tang’s orders wherever we go on the road. Can brothers agree?"

Ruan Xiaoqi said: "Master, don't worry. We and the rest of us will just follow Brother Liu Tang's instructions. If you want to go early, go early, if you want to go late, go late, if you want to stay, stay, and if you want to rest, then rest."

Ruan Xiaoer, Han Bolong, and Li You also raised their hands and said, "Master, please don't worry, we will all act according to the instructions of brothers Liu and Tang."

Zhao Zhen said to Li You, "You are here to provide convenience for the four brothers. All food and drink expenses must be properly arranged." Li You agreed.

Because they were leaving early tomorrow, everyone had a few glasses of wine, and then they were served steamed buns. Everyone dispersed after they were full.

The next day, Liu Tang led the team to set off early. Zhao Zhen still learned the stick from Du Qian. After more than ten days of learning, Zhao Zhen also memorized the seventy-two Taizu sticks. After that, it was all a matter of water grinding.

After breakfast, Zhao Zhen, Du Qian, and Shi Qian sent people to drive a boat and headed straight for the golden beach. After a while, we arrived at the Golden Beach Water Village. Ruan Xiaowu followed everyone and saw the ceremony. Zhao Zhen and the others did not stop and went straight to Wanzi City.

Along the way through Duanjin Pavilion and Nanshan Pass, Zhao Zhen also introduced Shi Qian one by one. When they arrived at Wanzi City, only Jiao Ting was there, while Tao Zongwang led his people to build the Dongshan, Xishan and Beishan walls.

The messenger summoned Li Zheng and Tao Zongwang from Sancun Village and met them all. Zhao Zhen then said: "Brothers, I have now appointed brother Shi Qian as the escort officer, and I want to select a group of smart and agile men to serve as sergeants. I am dedicated to inquiring about information, and I am the eyes and ears of the entire army. If there are people I am optimistic about, I have no objections, and you cannot stop them."

Everyone did not feel dissatisfied after hearing this, but accepted it happily. Jiao Ting said: "Now that Liangshan Township is becoming more and more prosperous, we can only be happy." After dinner, Zhao Zhen took advantage of the opportunity of Jiao Ting and Tao Zongwang to see each other off and told the birthday plan scam. matter, so that everyone can train soldiers with peace of mind.

Zhao Zhen saw that the three passes of Nanshan could be repaired in a few days, so he left Du Qian to guard them. Shi Qian also stayed behind and searched for some suitable sergeants on Liangshan Mountain, whether they were villagers, villagers or laborers. He took off and returned to Zhuangzi.

When they arrived at the village and had just finished tea, Zhao Yuanli came to report: "Master of the village, the farm tools that were made by the blacksmith shop have been made according to the requirements. Have you seen it?"

Zhao Zhen thought for a while, nodded and said, "Then let's go take a look."

When I arrived at the blacksmith shop, I pushed the door open and felt a wave of heat hitting my face. Zhang Da, who was standing next to the anvil, heard the knock on the door and looked behind him slightly. Seeing that it was Zhao Zhen who was coming, he quickly came forward to meet Li.

Zhao Zhen asked: "Zhang Da, where are all the farm tools?"

Zhang Da pointed to the side room and said: "Master, all the farm tools are here. Thanks to the four masters and apprentices of Yang Mazi, we were able to complete the work so quickly."

Zhao Zhen said: "Where are the people from Yang Mazi?"

Zhang Dadao: "I took four apprentices and Zhang Er to the village hotel for a drink."

Zhao Zhen said: "Why don't you go?"

Zhang Dada: "I've sorted out the charcoal fire and I'm going to go."

Zhao Zhen nodded, looked at the farm tools first, praised Zhang Da a lot, and then said, "Zhang Da, what is Yang Mazi like as a person?"

Zhang Dadao: "Master, this man's craftsmanship is much better than mine. When he drank too much, he once said that he was the best at forging weapons. He is a very cheerful person. He has also taught me a lot of blacksmithing skills in the past few days. I would rather give way to Yang. Mazi is in charge."

Zhao Zhen did not answer and said: "Zhang Da, can you build ordnance now?"

Zhang Dada: "It's still a little short of heat."

Zhao Zhen nodded to indicate that he understood, and said to Zhao Yuanli: "Arrange for someone to be sent to Liangcun and handed over to Sun Lizheng." After that, regardless of Zhao Yuanli's reaction, he and Zhang Datong went to the village hotel.

Zhao Zhen and everyone saw the ceremony and sat down at the head. Zhang Da made introductions next to him. Zhao Zhen took note of them all and drank a few drinks with them.

Knowing that Yang Mazi was good at making ordnance, Zhao Zhen asked: "Brother Yang, can you adapt to the village now? What else is missing?"

Yang Mazi said: "My life is much better than when I was in the village. It's just that there is no good iron in the village, and the weapons made are ordinary household items. If I can get some good iron, I can't say how many of them can be cast with my skills." A magical weapon."

(End of this chapter)