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The shot hit the bull's eye a ten-step away. Such accurate shooting skills couldn't help but surprise those people. In ancient times, there were archers who could shoot through the target within a ten-step distance. Now Tang Tong's shooting skills were so accurate that he should be called a sharpshooter in the eyes of everyone.
Zhang Niujiao watched Tang Tong with a strange look in his eyes and thought to himself that this Lord Tang had really changed completely since he came back that time. It was impossible to regard the Lord Tang in front of him as the same person as before. In these days, there were surprising things every day. Not only had he become more generous and approachable, but his martial arts skills had also improved. He also came up with so many strange things every day. Those things were not only things he had never seen before, but he had never even heard of them. He didn't know many words before, and those scholars now were not as educated as this Lord Tang. Today was even more amazing. He made such a strange musket and hit the bull's eye with one shot.
This Lord Tang, is he still the Lord Tang? Zhang Niujiao thought secretly, not noticing that Tang Tongxian shook his head in dissatisfaction.
The accuracy of this gun is quite good, but unfortunately its power is too small. It could not even penetrate a half-inch thick wooden board at a thousand steps away, which is about the same range as an ordinary bow and arrow. It may be a problem with the gunpowder. Another point is that this gun is too small. The barrel is a bit ridiculously thicker than the barrels of later generations. It seems that it cannot be made of good steel. This kind of gun cannot be equipped with a bayonet for close combat.
Tang Tong thought about it secretly for a while, but unfortunately there was not enough time to improve these areas in this operation to eliminate the Japanese pirates, so he could only wait until next time.
Tang Tong tried a few more shots before handing the gun to Zhang Niujiao and the others, asking them to try it as well. He talked to the craftsmen about the gun's shortcomings and told them what needed improvement. As for the steel and gunpowder, Tang Tong did not mention it. He planned to come back and deal with this issue after he had dealt with the Japanese pirates.
Tang Tong asked the craftsmen to make 10,000 of these guns and 10,000 bullets in advance. This was a considerable expense, requiring eight or nine thousand taels of silver. Tang Tong had exchanged the gold for silver during this period, and most of the money had been spent on the various matters. If he had to spend so much money on this batch of guns and bullets, his family fortune would be drained.
Tang Tong originally wanted to see if Han Zhifu could provide some supplies, but Zhang Niujiao told him that there was no need to even think about it, because the money for purchasing military supplies and military salaries every year would be deducted through layers of deductions, and there would be very little left at the lower levels. It was impossible for the prefect to take the money that went into his own pocket. If there was a war, each thousand households would have to find a way out with the little money left. Everyone would fight if they could win, and run away if they couldn't. Those who had some conscience would kill a few thieves to make up for it, and those who were unscrupulous would chop off the heads of some old people to get what they wanted.
After Zhang Niujiao said this, Tang Tong also understood. He couldn't help but think in his heart that the biggest reason for the demise of the Ming Dynasty was probably not the Tartars and the Jiannu, but the hands of these corrupt officials. It was just that the Jiannu got a huge advantage in the end. Otherwise, that group of Tungus savages would not be a match for the Ming Dynasty.
Tang Tong didn't dare to use up all his capital, so he had to change to producing only fifty guns and two thousand bullets. With such a small amount of weapons, Tang Tong no longer had the intention to fight the Japanese pirates, but instead thought about how to make some money.
Tang Tong thought that he had not visited the business in the store for a long time, and had never asked about the affairs of the match factory. He didn't know how the business was doing now. He threw the training matters to Zhang Yiheng and others, and went to Yueyang to inquire about the production situation.
Yueyang had been feeling worried these past few days. Seeing Tang Tong coming to the factory, he couldn't help but pull Tang Tong aside and said, "Sir, you finally have time to come and take a look. I thought you were looking here."
"Oh, what's the matter?" Tang Tongyi knew it was nothing good when he saw Yue Yang's expression, but he still asked.
"Sir, you don't know, we haven't sold many matches lately, and there's a lot of inventory left." Yue Yang rubbed his hands and continued, "The salespeople said that the shop owners aren't willing to buy these matches from their stores. They say they're so expensive, few people would buy them, and everyone's better off using flint."
"So, how much have you sold now?" Tang Tong asked after a moment of hesitation. After all, he had never done business in his previous life. He had absolutely no problem using a sword to chop people or using a gun to kill people, but doing business was just like watching a pig walk.
"Sir, we haven't even sold one tenth of what we produced." Yue Yang sighed.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll go to the warehouse and take a look." Tang Tong patted Yue Yang's shoulder and said comfortingly.
Tang Tong said goodbye to Yueyang and took Yuan'er to the merchant's shop in the city. Chen Yuxian saw Tang Tong coming and stood up to greet him and said, "Sir, how did you find time to come here, and Yuan'er, don't you want to study?"
"It's okay, I just came to take a look. Yuan'er hasn't been to the city to play for a long time, so I brought her here. Also, how many times have I told you not to call me 'sir', but you just wouldn't listen? Can't you just call me brother? Why make such a fuss?" Tang Tong put Yuan'er down and said.
"Sir, the master and the maid have a quarrel, how can I be rude?" Chen Yuxian lowered her head and said in a low voice. She knew how good Tang Tong was to her, but Tang Tong didn't understand her heart at all. She knew that Tang Tong would not understand her heart, so she didn't dare to reveal her feelings in front of Tang Tong. She thought that it was impossible for him and her, so she wanted to let this strangeness and distance prevent her heart from sinking deeper and deeper.
But Chen Yuxian didn't understand that if a person deliberately kept a distance from someone because of love, that kind of deliberate knot would only make oneself sink deeper and deeper, and eventually destroy oneself.
"Okay, if you insist on doing this, then I can only follow your lead. But your body is not in good condition, so be careful not to tire yourself out." Because Chen Yuxian subconsciously turned the intact side of her face towards Tang Tong, Tang Tong felt a little regretful when he looked at her. It's just that he has had too many things to do recently and has no time to restore Chen Yuxian's appearance.
Some people are insatiable, while others are easily satisfied. Tang Tong's ordinary words of concern warmed Chen Yuxian's heart. She looked elsewhere, not wanting Tang Tong to see the thin mist rising in her heart.
"This store was established not long ago, so there are always more things to do. Besides, the match business has been bad recently, so naturally I have to pay more attention. When there are fewer things to do in the future, I don't think it will be possible to be so busy." Chen Yuxian changed the subject. Although she wanted to hear Tang Tong say a few more words about his concern for her, she was afraid that if she listened too much, her heart would be more immersed in it.
This feeling is contradictory, just because she has a kind heart, just because she has suffered more torture in her life than others, so when facing the feelings in her heart, she doesn't want to make Tang Tong embarrassed, nor does she want to be wishful thinking.
She thought that her feelings were a kind of wishful thinking, but she didn't know that Tang Tong also had a growing feeling for her. When people are together for a long time, there will always be some feelings, but people often don't know about this feeling when they are together. Only when they are apart will they think of this relationship.
"Oh, what's the current situation?" Tang Tong came here to understand the situation. When he heard Chen Yuxian mention it, he couldn't help but ask.
"The situation has been much better in the past two days. I called over those idle women and children among the military households and asked them to take the matches and sell them throughout Changzhou city. After these two days, many people in the city have heard about our matches, and we have sold tens of thousands of boxes of matches." Chen Yuxian spoke of this with a slight smile on her face. Her family background was actually not bad. She was the daughter of a scholar, literate, and had some knowledge in her mind. It was only because of the ugly black scar on her face that she had to marry into the declining Xing family. She was truly a beauty with a tragic fate.
"Well, that's good. From now on, we will organize some people like this and promote the product in each city. Also, I will have people make some promotional slogans and pictures, and let those salesmen promote the product in each city." Because Chen Yuxian always showed her intact side to Tang Tong, when that smile appeared on her face, it was like a flower blooming in spring, which made Tang Tong's heart move. He had an urge to heal Chen Yuxian's face as soon as possible.
Chen Yuxian found that Tang Tong was staring at her, and there was a burning feeling in his eyes. Her heart could not help but flutter, and she blushed a little. She said hesitantly: "This, this..."
Before Chen Yuxian could finish her words, several women rushed in, looking panicked.
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