Sulfur and saltpeter were both medicinal materials in this era, and they could be bought at any pharmacy.
However, due to the war, there weren't many pharmacies operating in Puzhou City. Furthermore, although these two items were medicinal herbs, they weren't commonly used medicines, so pharmacies didn't keep large quantities on hand.
Jiang Tangtang and Lu Shiyan searched through all the pharmacies in the county town, but they didn't manage to buy much sulfur and saltpeter.
Although Jiang Tangtang knew the formula for making gunpowder, it was just theoretical knowledge.
We definitely need to prepare more materials so that we can try more things out.
Jiang Tangtang immediately purchased a book on metallurgy from the system, pondering the feasibility of mining ore and smelting metals in the mountains.
Just as Jiang Tangtang was frowning, wondering how to solve the problems of manpower and technology, Lu Shiyan suggested that they go and look elsewhere.
Jiang Tangtang looked up at him and said, "Other places?" Given the current situation, it's probably not easy to buy elsewhere!
Lu Shiyan took out a map from his pocket and pointed to a place, saying, "Do you know where this is?"
Jiang Tangtang had a map of the Great Zhou Dynasty, so she naturally knew where Lu Shiyan was referring to. She even let Lu Shiyan know about the spatial aspect, and she didn't deliberately hide it from him.
"The Baiyue region? Do you know the situation there? Has it been unaffected by drought and war?"
Lu Shiyan nodded. "As far as I know, this is the territory of Prince Duan's power. This year, the drought has not been too severe, and local businesses have not been greatly affected by the war."
Although the kings fought each other all day long for power, they completely disregarded the lives of the common people.
But that applies to the land they didn't get their hands on.
They still cherish the land under their jurisdiction.
After all, this is the source of their tax revenue and military funds, and an important source of capital supporting their struggle for unification.
Jiang Tangtang asked, "Shall we go to Baiyue now?"
"Let me prepare first." Lu Shiyan paused for a moment and said, "It will probably take two days. Do you want me to go back to the valley first, or wait for me in the city?"
Jiang Tangtang thought for a moment and said, "You go ahead and do your work. I'll just wander around the city by myself."
Lu Shiyan was naturally worried about letting him wander around the city alone, so just like last time, she had Lin Erzhu accompany her and protect her safety.
Since Lu Shiyan recruited soldiers, the security situation in Puzhou has actually improved a lot compared to before.
Firstly, troops were sent to patrol the city. Secondly, many desperate refugees joined the army, which naturally reduced the number of robberies and thefts that used to occur frequently.
Although the security situation has improved somewhat, the city's economy remains depressed, and refugees can be seen everywhere hiding under the eaves.
Jiang Tangtang had been pondering the manpower issue in mining, and looking at these refugees, that same thought resurfaced.
However, how to ensure the safety of the valley while recruiting manpower is a question that needs careful consideration.
Jiang Tangtang was lost in thought and unknowingly arrived at the ironware shop in the west of the city.
Upon seeing Jiang Tangtang, Li Jun happily came out to greet her, "Jiang, how are the farm tools you made last time?"
Last time Jiang Tangtang asked them to make those farm tools, they gave her a large sum of grain when they settled the accounts.
This made them even happier than if they had been given money.
With the food provided by Jiang Tangtang, they don't have to worry about going hungry this year.
Jiang Tangtang is not only beautiful and knowledgeable, but she also doesn't have the airs of an official's wife.
She often came to the Li family to make farm tools, and her mother and younger sister especially liked her.
He felt a sense of familiarity when he saw Jiang Tangtang, and before she could answer, he asked, "Jiang, are you planning to get something else this time?"
“Those farm tools are all very useful,” Jiang Tangtang said with a smile. “There’s nothing I want to fight right now, I just came to take a look.”
The Li family, including the blacksmith, were not only skilled blacksmiths but also upright people. The valley naturally needed to attract talent from outside, and the Li family was no exception.
Jiang Tangtang came here this time to talk to the Li family about this matter in advance.
"I just came to see if Aunt Li is home."
Li Jun laughed and said, "My mother was talking about you just a couple of days ago. She said she made a jar of fermented soybeans and wanted to give it to you. She wanted to ask Commander Lu for help, but she was afraid of bothering him, so she didn't dare to go over."
Although Jiang Tangtang often visited the Li family while making farm tools, and the Li family got along very well with her, even changing their initial unfamiliar address of "Madam Lu" to "Jiang Meizi," the Li family still treated Lu Shiyan with the nervousness and helplessness of ordinary people meeting a high-ranking official.
Jiang Tangtang quickly refused, saying, "I couldn't possibly accept that."
As the two were talking, Aunt Li heard the commotion in the backyard, smiled and came out, taking Jiang Tangtang's arm and saying, "What's there to be embarrassed about? We're family members who need to eat too, so we made an extra jar. Jiang, please don't be shy with us. Come on, let's sit in the backyard."
That being said, making fermented soybeans is not only troublesome, but also requires a lot of spices.
The Li family usually doesn't do this, but this time they were only doing it out of gratitude to Jiang Tangtang for giving them grain when settling the bill, which helped them out of their predicament. They were also grateful for Jiang Tangtang's generosity in giving them an extra half-bag of grain at the time of payment.
Aunt Li spent time finding spices and making fermented soybeans, intending to give them to Jiang Tangtang.
Having been in this world for so long, Jiang Tangtang is no longer the naive and carefree child she once was. She naturally knows that Aunt Li only said that to get her to accept the fermented soybeans.
She went to the backyard with Aunt Li and didn't refuse again.
Relationships between people grow closer through reciprocity. Today, she accepted the fermented soybeans made by Aunt Li; she'll return the favor by bringing something else to the Li family the next day.
The Li family's backyard wasn't large, but it was very tidy. Li Jun's youngest sister, Li Ran, was fourteen years old and a very shy girl.
Upon seeing Jiang Tangtang, he quietly called out "Sister Jiang," then quickly poured a bowl of water and brought it over for Jiang Tangtang to drink.
After helping her mother greet the guests, she sat back down on the small stool and began embroidering again.
Looking at the lifelike butterflies on her embroidered awning, Jiang Tangtang sincerely praised, "Ran-meimei's embroidery is truly excellent."
Aunt Li laughed and said, "She's been shy since she was little. She can do everything else, but this embroidery skill is the only one she can barely show off."
After she finished speaking, a look of sorrow appeared on her face again.
As if remembering that Jiang Tangtang was there, she quickly put away her worries, took out the jar she had prepared earlier, and handed it to Jiang Tangtang, "I made this fermented soybeans myself. I don't know if they taste good or not, so please don't mind, Jiang sister."
Jiang Tangtang smiled and said, "Aunt Li's cooking is sure to be delicious."
The two talked for a while longer, but Aunt Li kept showing a worried look. Jiang Tangtang hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Aunt Li, has something difficult happened?"
Aunt Li was a little embarrassed, but seeing Jiang Tangtang's sincere eyes, and thinking that she was smart, she thought that if she told her, she might be able to help come up with some ideas. So she said, "Actually, it's not a big deal. It's just that my eldest daughter is going to give birth in a few days. If we run away, it will be really inconvenient for her with such a big belly. But if we stay, I'm really worried about her in the current situation."
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