Back to the end of Ming Dynasty to be a warlord

Chapter 102

Early the next morning, Yang Chao transferred the two best teams to camp with him. The two teams seemed to be very satisfied with this treatment, and followed Yang Chao in unison.

In particular, the two teams seemed to have won the competition, wishing they could raise their necks to the sky.

Along with him were four of Yang Chao's so-called personal soldiers.

The Longjiang Shipyard is near the barracks, and there is a pass called Longjiang Pass, from which the shipyard got its name.

In the past, it was a shipyard for building large treasure ships, but now it can only build some civilian ships for merchants.

The owner of the shipyard is a craftsman. This craftsman is very capable. Although he is a craftsman for generations like the Yang family, he is obviously more humane. He is very popular in the shipyard. The civil servants, or the supervising eunuchs, all entrusted him with everything. Of course, he is also very sensible, and the benefits he gets are indispensable to the Shangguan.

When they arrived at the shipyard, Yang Chao explained his purpose, and was soon invited in together with Lao Zhang.

"Carpenter Yao, I'm here to collect the boat!"

The craftsman's surname was Yao, and he was very polite in receiving people and things, but when it came to the price, he would haggle over pennies and baht, and would not give in a single cent.

Craftsman Yao chuckled, invited Yang Chao into a room, and then refilled Yang Chao with tea.

He said at the same time: "Haha, Mr. Yang has a good eye, that is a good boat."

Yang Chao shook his head and said, "It's been four or five years, who knows if the boat has rotted."

Yang Chao never forgot to give Yao Jiangtou a blow. The two met twice, and the price was never cut down from the beginning to the end. In the end, it was still 500 taels of silver, not even a penny less.

But what Yang Chao said was also true. The ship started to be built five years ago, but it has not been built yet, and it has been placed in the slipway.

Craftsman Yao said: "Our ships are all in the dock, and they won't see water until they are built. You can rest assured about this. If you don't believe me, Master Yang can go around and ask, whether my Longjiang shipyard has sold it badly or not. Boats. These boats are made of the best materials, to put it bluntly, even if they are soaked in water, they won’t rot.”

Yang Chao smiled and said, "In short, it's up to you."

Carpenter Yao said: "Actually, the longer the ship is built, the better it will be. The villain is a carpenter, and he knows that the wood needs to be placed for a long time, so that the texture inside will be smooth."

Yang Chao thought to himself, in fact, he can understand that he is studying architecture, and wood is also used in construction. The texture that Yao Jiangtou said is straight and straight actually refers to the stress problem in the wood, so the wood structure may not be newer. The better it is, the faster it is done, the better. Slowly building can release the stress to the greatest extent. Unexpectedly, people in the Ming Dynasty knew this truth.

But Yang Chao couldn't help wondering: "In this case, why can't I find a buyer?"

Carpenter Yao sighed, "These are warships, and no one is willing to take them. What can I do? I dare not throw them away. If I come to investigate, it will be another bad debt."

Yang Chao frowned and said, "Since it's the imperial court's ship, why doesn't anyone want it?"

Longjiang Shipyard is a government-run shipyard. The imperial court provides money and materials, and shipbuilding is free of wages, but the materials are all given, so the imperial court has no reason not to.

Carpenter Yao shook his head and sighed: "In the ninth year of Chongzhen, Zhang Xianzhong's army broke Fengyang, burned the imperial mausoleum, and moved to various places in Jiangbei. Ship materials are the best big materials to build the battlefield. But Zhang Xianzhong moved to Huguang before the ship was built, and these ships were gone. Some were almost finished, and no one wanted to take them. "

After finishing speaking, Craftsman Yao poured another cup of tea for Yang Chao.

What happened in the ninth year of Chongzhen has now been 14 years in Chongzhen, and Zhengzheng five years have passed.

Yang Chao asked again: "Don't you want the water camp? If it was allocated by the imperial court, I'm afraid no one would want it."

Yang Chao thought to himself, even though it was a warship, those military officers who were doing business would not refuse it.

Yao Jiangtou laughed, but did not answer, showing a look of 'you understand'.

Yang Chao also laughed. He really understood that according to the urgency of the government at all levels in the Ming Dynasty, even if they were transferred, if they had no money, they would not be able to get it. If they came to the shipyard to lead the ship, no one would pay extra fees. Can't take it away.

Moreover, even a lawsuit may not be won. This rule has been in operation for many years, and no one has challenged him, because there are too many interested parties involved.

"My lord Yang, do you think you can get the ships from the shipyard if you want? Although the ships don't cost money, the eunuchs in the supervision field and the civil servants in the field don't need to be filial. But if it costs money, who would want these warships? We need tank boats and shallow boats."

Yang Chao couldn't help but wry smile, what kind of system is this? These warships are well made and strong, but the army doesn't want them.

Just because according to the rules, such a ship needs more contribution, but it does not pull as much cargo as other cargo ships, so the army would rather spend money to buy merchant ships.

Yang Chao is also helpless about this, the corruption of the Ming Dynasty can be seen everywhere, and it is no surprise.

Then he said: "Jiangtou Yao, you are an iron rooster. If you want to bargain from you, I think there is no hope. Take me to get the boat."

Craftsman Yao raised his brows slightly, but he only poured Yang Chao a cup of tea, and tapped his hand on the table lightly, watching his nose, nose and heart, the old god was there.

"Virtue!"

Yang Chao couldn't help laughing and cursing, and took out a meeting ticket from his pocket.

"Look, Wang Yihe's from the grocery store, 500 taels, I can't do without yours!"

Seeing that the numbers on the meeting ticket were correct, Wang Yihe and the grocery store had also heard about it, Yao Jiangtou smiled, and he made another good deal. At the end of this year, all related parties will get an extra share.

Only then did Yang Chao walk towards the berth.

The Longjiang shipyard is very large, with hundreds of slipways, most of which are busy building ships, and many even dig a big hole in the sand beside the shipyard and start building.

"Master Yang, please!"

After receiving Yang Chao's money, Craftsman Yao was very professional, and his attitude was more than a little better. He led the way in front and let Yang Chao go up a long bluestone platform that was a foot high above the ground.

Board the slipway and look down.

The whole body of this slipway is made of bricks and stones, and its shape is a huge rectangular pit with thick sand on the bottom, and long strips of stones about a foot high are exposed around the ground.

There is a boat lying on the sand at the level of the slipway. This ship looks small in the slipway. It looks like a gift from later generations. It is very grand on the outside and compact in content, but it is actually a big ship because the slipway is the past. Treasure ships were built, so the ships appear smaller.

Yang Chao visited this ship last time, and it was the same ship last time, but when he came last time, one of the ship's masts was erected, and now both are erected, and the bottom of the ship has also been painted White paint.

It can be seen from the outside that the thick side of the ship, the heavy mast, and the whole give people a solid feeling. This is a good ship. Fortunately, there are civilian shipbuilding, so that the workers in the shipyard did not completely lose their craftsmanship. It is a pity that in those days The craft of building treasure ships has been lost.

"A total of ten large ships, thirty medium ships, and more than 100 small ships were built that year."

Yao Jiangtou also got on the berth and began to explain to Yang Chao.

"There are only three large ships under construction, and ten medium ships, and the small ships have not yet been built. To tell you the truth, Mr. Yang, the villain knows that you want to pull goods on the river, and you are afraid of Jiang bandits, so you want warships. I have to It is said that Mr. Yang has vision, and those centipede boats, building boats, and haicang boats all look down on them. He only values ​​this chasing boat, and my lord really makes villains admire him inexplicably."

Craftsman Yao kept praising him.

Yang Chao snorted coldly and said, "Okay, no matter how nice the words are, I don't give this official any less money."

Yao Jiangtou sneered and said: "Forgive me, the matter of the shipyard is not counted by the villain. Others look at the villain's prestige, but in fact he is just running errands. But if there is a penny missing, the villain will not be able to eat walking."

Yang Chao snorted, "Stop talking. You've been talking for so long, what's your plan?"

Craftsman Yao said with a chuckle: "Didn't the villain say that, a total of three such ships have been built, and they are all good ships."

Only then did Yang Chao realize that this guy was selling.

Yang Chao scolded with a smile: "Three such boats?"

The chasing boat is a large lucky boat, and the lucky boat is also a sea boat, so it can be said that this boat was converted from a sea boat.

But it can be used as a combat ship, as well as for fishing and cargo transportation.

Therefore, it is very suitable for Yang Chao.

These ships have been backlogged in the shipyard for several years, but no buyers can be found. It has always caused Yao Jiang a headache, occupying the berth that can make money for nothing, but he does not want to sell it cheaply. The cost of these ships is 5000 taels of silver. Forget it, I only want more than 1000 taels and no one is willing to take it. This is really annoying. If it is sold at a low price, Yao Jiangtou will not bear it.

I didn't expect to meet Yang Chao, so naturally I can retire a few more, that's a few.

Carpenter Yao looked at the show, and hurriedly said: "Of course they are all boats. The other impractical centipede boats and the like, villains dare not let adults buy them. These boats are absolutely cost-effective. They are all good boats. Not too expensive."

Yang Chao nodded. He also knew that these were good boats. Zhang Dawei was an expert. After seeing them, he praised them again and again.

But Yang Chao sighed and said: "It's a pity that there is only one person in the lower ranks, and it is enough to receive such a large ship. If there are too many, the higher-ups will not agree."

Craftsman Yao smiled mysteriously: "The amount of the boat is easy to say, as long as you pay a little money, there is nothing you can't buy."

Yang Chao was taken aback, this kind of quota can be used for trading.

According to Yang Chao's knowledge, quotas in the army are also a very precious resource, because only with quotas can supplies from the military bureau and shipyard be cheaper.

Unexpectedly, this kind of quota can be sold, and this kind of economic relationship has penetrated into the army.

Yang Chao couldn't help asking: "Does Craftsman Yao have connections?"

I have to admit that Yao Jiangtou is a person with a lot of connections, and he generously admits that he can indeed be a broker to buy and sell ships.

(End of this chapter)