The First Army finally returned to Beijing after suppressing bandits in Shandong Road.
Upon hearing the news, Zhang Shixun immediately invited Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, He Ji and others to the paradise on earth.
As soon as these people entered this paradise on earth, they were all stunned, looking around here and there, as if Granny Liu had entered the Grand View Garden.
Zhang Shixun hosted a banquet for them in a private room on the second floor.
He Ji looked at Zhang Shixun, then at Gao Yanei, and sighed, "We are out there suppressing bandits, while you are making a fortune in the capital. It's really frustrating to compare yourself to others."
"It's time, it's fate!" Gao Yanei shook his head. "Our restaurant has become the best in Tokyo, making a fortune every day."
He Ji looked him up and down and said sarcastically, "People are different when they have money. Even their words change."
Zhang Shixun personally poured them wine and said with a smile, "Ever since leaving the First Army, I have been thinking about you all the time, hoping that you would return to the capital soon. Today, I finally have you back."
He Ji said, "With you gone, the First Army felt like its backbone had been pulled out. It's hard to lead. If it weren't for the assistance of Han Shizhong and Yue Fei, I, the acting commander, would have no power to command those ruffians."
Han Shizhong said casually, "You are too polite, Commander."
Yue Fei just smiled and said nothing.
Zhang Shixun looked at Yue Fei and said, "I have taken my aunt to my farm. She and Yue Yun are both living well."
Yue Fei stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Commander, for taking care of my mother. I am deeply grateful."
"Now that you're back, you can spend more time with them... Oh, and your brother Yue Fan is here too. I'll put him in charge of the farm staff for now, and I'll make other arrangements based on his wishes. What do you think?"
"Thank you, Military Lord!"
Yue Fan was not well-known in history and was rather unlucky.
The History of the Song Dynasty records that Yang Zaixing was a general under the bandit Cao Cheng. In the second year of the Shaoxing reign, Yue Fei defeated Cheng and entered Moye Pass. The fifth general, Han Shunfu, removed his saddle and armor and drank with captured women. Zaixing led his men directly into the enemy camp, but the government troops retreated, killing Shunfu and also killing Fei's brother Fan.
He was killed by Yang Zaixing.
After Yue Fei captured Yang Zaixing, the history books recorded it like this: When Yue Fei saw Zaixing, he was surprised by his appearance, and released him, saying: "I will not kill you. You should repay the country with loyalty and righteousness." Zaixing thanked him.
Yue Fan's death was meaningless.
Zhang Shixun originally wanted to use Gao Qiu to get Yue Fan a position in the imperial guards, but after reading the records in history books, he gave up the idea.
Yue Fan's ability is far inferior to that of his brother, so he should be a village head first.
During the banquet, Zhang Shixun was enthusiastic and kept urging people to drink.
Everyone ate and drank, and enjoyed it very much.
Han Shizhong had been forbidden to drink alcohol in the army, and had been suffering from this for a long time. Now that he could drink to his heart's content, he drank one cup after another.
As the wine flowed, Zhang Shixun said, "You've been out of the capital suppressing bandits for over a year. You've worked really hard. Now that you're back, spend more time with your families and have a good rest. In addition, as your former military commander, I have a gift for you."
As he said this, he clapped his hands.
Qiuju responded and walked in from outside. She is now the head waiter in the restaurant.
"Qiuju, are all the gifts ready?"
"Master, everything is ready."
“Don’t forget to let them take it with them when they leave.”
"Okay, I'll remember that."
Han Shizhong couldn't help but be curious and asked, "What gift did you prepare for us?"
Han Shizhong was in high spirits after drinking and pulled He Ji to play finger-guessing games.
Zhang Shixun called Gao Yanei out on the pretext of going to the bathroom.
"Yanei, how are you doing with the things I asked you to do?"
"It's all done." Gao Yanei patted his chest. "Last night, I invited that guy to have a meal here. After he had enough, I took him to Chunfeng Tower and made him crazy. He looked as strong as an ox, but he was just a silver-plated spear head, all show and no use. When I woke him up this morning to go home, his legs were so weak that he could hardly walk..."
Zhang Shixun interrupted him, "Don't talk about these nonsense, just say whether he agreed or not."
"Of course he agreed... Humph! If he doesn't agree, I'll cut him."
"When did he ask me to go?"
"It's up to you. He'll go with you anytime you're free."
Zhang Shixun nodded with satisfaction, "Then let's go tomorrow. You can come with us then."
"Brother, I really don't understand. What's so interesting about the South and North workshops?"
"Young Master, the Jin Kingdom will invade the Song Dynasty in two months. A great war is imminent, and the court is indifferent to both civil and military affairs. Everything is going its own way. I am deeply worried."
"That……"
Zhang Shixun said vaguely, "I want to visit the southern and northern workshops to learn about the Song Dynasty's ability to manufacture weapons."
"oh!"
The reason why Zhang Shixun went to the workshops in the north and south was not to understand the Song Dynasty's ability to manufacture weapons, but to find raw materials and people.
"If you want homemade grenades or land mines, go find some iron and craftsmen. Otherwise, forget it."
These are Wang Dong’s original words.
After hearing this, Zhang Shixun felt a pain in his head.
He specifically checked the literature and found that the highest iron production in the Song Dynasty was during the Yuanfeng period of Emperor Shenzong, ranging from about 17,000 to 20,000 tons. This figure seems very high.
In fact, due to the large number of the Song Dynasty army, the imperial guards and the wing troops together numbered nearly one million, and the amount of weapons needed can be imagined.
Coupled with other demands, such as cast iron coins, agricultural tools and other production tools, iron production became even more stretched.
The iron in the Song Dynasty was mainly produced in Cizhou, Xingzhou, Yanzhou and Xuzhou, which were too far away from Kaifeng, and distant water could not quench immediate thirst.
If you want to find iron, you can only go to the Arsenal in the capital, where there must be iron stored.
Back in the private room, Zhang Shixun sat there, looking a little absent-minded, and didn't even hear He Ji talking to him.
He Ji pushed him again, "Military Commander!"
"Hmm!" Zhang Shixun came back to reality from his contemplation.
"Military Commander, you seem to be worried. You didn't respond even after I called you several times."
"Oh! I'm thinking about something." Zhang Shixun looked at He Ji and asked, "Old He, do you know anything about the Arms Supervisor?"
"I know a little bit. What do you want to know?"
"Does the Arms Depot have a lot of materials stored?"
"The Armory has a material warehouse that stores anything related to weapons, such as iron, tin, feathers, paint, and other raw materials. In addition, the Armory also has a leather and horn field, which mainly stores leather, tendons, horns, and other materials."
After He Ji finished explaining all this, he asked, "Why are you asking about this?"
Zhang Shixun glanced at the people present and said worriedly, "The current situation is worrying. All signs indicate that the Jin Kingdom is about to take action against the Song Dynasty. According to my estimate, they will launch a large-scale attack on the Song Dynasty by October at the latest."
When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked.
He Ji looked incredulous, "Shi Xun, this is serious."
Zhang Shixun asked back, "What do you think?"
Han Shizhong picked up the wine glass and brought it to his lips, but then put it back on the table.
Yue Fei sat up straight and said, "If what the commander said is true, then we only have two months to prepare for war."
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