Iron Dynasty

The artillery training ground was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and the mud pits smashed by the shells were everywhere.

Zhao Yuanliang glanced at the artillery, which was basically indistinguishable from 400 paces away, and then looked at the clay sculpture that fell to the ground. He was extremely shocked.

He could already imagine how this incomparably powerful artillery killed dozens of charging cavalry in one shot in the Battle of Cangzhou.

Yuanliang, you have also seen the effect. You should know better than me whether it is worth 20,000 taels of silver. It's not that this king is laughing at the black armored cavalry. Four hundred cavalry is really not as good as this king's artillery. Xiao Ming deliberately Stimulate Zhao Yuanliang.

Zhao Yuanliang was silent for a while, then said, Your Highness, this artillery is really powerful for no reason, but the price of this artillery is too high, can we make it less?

There's nothing I can do about this. Xiao Ming shook his head, with a firm attitude, This king can't do business at a loss, not to mention that even the court was unwilling to give this artillery, let alone other vassal kings, don't think that this king does not Knowing that you stopped the father and emperor from sending troops to support Qingzhou, it is a righteousness that I am willing to sell artillery to you today.

In doing business, it is natural to raise the price first and then slowly lower it. As the saying goes, it is better to buy than to sell well. This is the truth. The buyer never knows where the bottom line of the seller's profit is.

Xiao Ming suddenly changed his face, which made Zhao Yuanliang a little embarrassed. He coughed and said, Your Highness has misunderstood. We really have nothing to do with this matter. It's all those courtiers who are making trouble.

The purpose of bringing up the old account is to raise the price. No matter how much Xiao Ming hates Zhao Wang and these people, he doesn't want to get along with Yin Zi at this time.

He said: Then the king has the right and trusts Yuanliang, and the price is also low. I wonder how much you want to buy this time?

Zhao Yuanliang looked at Zhao Kuan at this moment, only to see Zhao Kuan stretched out two fingers secretly.

Twenty guns, he said.

so little?

Xiao Ming frowned, he looked at Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan, and saw that the two of them looked a little different.

He sneered inwardly, he understood, this King Zhao probably had the idea of ​​imitating artillery, otherwise he would not have just purchased twenty artillery pieces. For the Liangzhou front line, at least three hundred artillery pieces would be needed.

Originally, if this number is enough, this king can sell you 15,000 taels. Since it's 20, it's really not worth it. 20,000 can't be less.

After that, Xiao Ming turned around and left.

Now artillery is the only one in his family, buy love or not.

When Xiao Ming walked away, Zhao Yuanliang said to Zhao Kuan, You really have the confidence to imitate this cannon.

His Royal Highness, I was not sure at first, but now I have seen the appearance of this artillery, and I already have a certain degree of certainty in my heart. We have mastered the technology of producing firecrackers. This artillery is just thicker and longer. Wait for the first one. When the batch of artillery arrives, we will let the craftsmen produce it like this. Zhao Kuan said.

Well, okay, what about this armor? Zhao Yuanliang asked.

The reason why he brought Zhao Kuan this time is because Zhao Kuan has an excellent memory and can remember things very quickly.

Don't worry, Shizi, it's all right, Zhao Kuan said.

Nodding their heads, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan followed Xiao Ming back to the palace, agreeing to buy 20 artillery pieces at a price of 20,000 taels.

Then let's pick up the goods in Qingzhou in two months. Xiao Ming said.

No matter how small a mosquito is, it is still meat. With twenty artillery pieces of 400,000 taels of silver, he made a net profit of more than 300,000 taels of silver, which is the monthly income of the Chamber of Commerce.

With this money, two more Galen ships can be built.

During this period of time, the construction of the Galen ship seemed to be silent, but in fact this Galen ship was the real big spender.

Yes, Your Highness. Zhao Yuanliang said, In that case, we will not disturb Your Highness.

After that, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan turned around and left the main hall.

Looking at the back of the two, Xiao Ming showed a thoughtful look, and then he sent someone to call Li San over.

Li San, you sent someone to stare at Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan. This king suspects that they have bad intentions, especially the equipment department and the military workshop. They must be watched. Besides, who did he contact in Qingzhou City? Report to me in detail.

Yes, Your Highness. Li San said solemnly: The number of businessmen traveling to and from Qingzhou has increased suddenly during this period of time. I have kept the secret guards vigilant, and found that some people are just under the guise of business, but they are actually spying. It seems that this artillery technology is being watched by many people.

It's strange that these people don't use some tricks behind their backs. If they can get the artillery technology for nothing, why should they spend money to buy artillery from this king. Xiao Ming said.

After the artillery became famous in Chang'an, he knew that there would be many more spies in Qingzhou City.

The purpose of these spies is one for artillery skills, and the other is to monitor him. Among them, other vassal kings, princes, and even his cheap father Xiao Wenxuan are indispensable.

Xiao Wenxuan was indeed very happy in this Cangzhou battle, but as a decisive emperor, he would also be afraid of Xiao Ming at this time.

Li San nodded, Your Highness, if that's the case, why don't you arrest all the sneaky people.

No. Xiao Ming said, These spies come to Qingzhou in the name of businessmen. If they act so recklessly, I am afraid that some people will take the opportunity to spread rumors, which will affect Qingzhou's business at that time. Without concrete evidence, you must not take it lightly. Get your hands on it.

Yes. Li San nodded.

...

In the Wei Family Restaurant in Qingzhou City, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan went upstairs after ordering two rooms, and the guards who followed them stood at the door of the room.

Entering the room, Zhao Yuanliang slapped the table abruptly, This King Qi is so deceiving, my aunt heard news that the emperor had accidentally leaked his mouth, this artillery was sold to the Imperial Army for only 8,000 taels, but he had two If the door is sold to us, will we be fools?

His Royal Highness, rest your anger, this is King Qi's territory, and there must be no ears or eyes of King Qi in this inn, Zhao Kuan said.

Zhao Yuanliang snorted coldly, This time, the royal father told us to do everything possible to get the artillery technology, what do you say?

His Royal Highness, don't worry, there are quite a few merchants from our Zhao land in Qingzhou, some of them are your father's cronies. Your Highness remembers that before entering Qingzhou, I let His Highness enter Qingzhou two days later?

of course I remember.

Hey, I have already contacted them for the past two days. Outside the city, they will prepare a workshop for us. When the time comes, the craftsmen from Zhao Di will come over and secretly imitate artillery in Qingzhou. At the same time, our people will Try to buy the craftsmen of the Qingzhou Equipment Division. If it is successful, they will try to produce in the workshop. If they are successful, these craftsmen will return to Zhaodi, Your Highness, what do you think?