Chapter 498 Muchuan's Crisis
"Qianqian, your grandfather is here. It's not difficult to make bricks for the city. Your second uncle is at the iron shop. Those are not a big deal for him. Don't worry."
Old Master Jiang raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face, took a sip of water and said.
"It doesn't matter if the people don't understand it for the time being. They will eventually understand the truth. Let's just do it first." Jiang Nian, who was repairing the brick kiln there, added.
"It's time for dinner!" He and several servants of the Qin family pushed a wheelbarrow loaded with wooden barrels to the brick kiln.
Everyone put down their work, came over to get some porridge and bread, and gathered together to eat breakfast with pickled vegetables.
"Where did grandma and aunt go?" Su Qianqian looked around and asked He.
"Grandmother and mother are in the blacksmith shop, watching the blacksmiths forging arrows, spears and caltrops. The food has just been delivered to them," said He.
Su Qianqian also served herself some porridge: "After eating the porridge, I will go back. Since Muchuan is short of manpower, we will go to Huizhou to hire workers. This city wall must be built."
Everyone was talking about how long it would take to produce bricks in the kiln. As they were talking, a group of people came over here, and the one walking in front was the innkeeper.
"Miss Su, we are here to build a brick kiln to burn bricks. The inn has a wife and no fields to farm. We can earn money by working as a helper. We can't miss such a good opportunity!"
The innkeeper brought his sons with him. The youngest son patted his chest and said, "I can do the work, too. I don't want any wages. Just make sure I have enough food!"
Everyone laughed.
Old Master Jiang put down his bowl and said, "I'm sure you'll be well fed. We've built the walls of Muchuan City high to prevent villains from coveting our land. Only then can we keep our bowl for a long time!"
"Mr. Jiang is right. Building the city wall is our own business. With Wuning Marquisate and Mr. Jiang planning for us, can't we also contribute?
It is true that life has been peaceful in recent years, but have we forgotten the tragic situation when the State of Chen invaded decades ago? If it weren't for the old marquis, we would have been dead in Muchuan long ago, and there would be no you and I here to stay with our wives and children! ”
The innkeeper touched his youngest son's head. When the old Marquis Wuning defended Muchuan that year, he was about the same age as his youngest son. He still could not forget the panic of his family.
"Manager Zhou is right! Let's all listen to Mr. Jiang's arrangements, get up early and work late, and raise the city wall as soon as possible!" the people followed.
"Okay, everyone follow me!" Old Master Jiang led everyone towards the abandoned brick kiln.
Su Qianqian returned to the county town. There were two Muchuan blacksmith shops. One mainly made farm tools, and the other was more sophisticated, making knives, axes and iron saws. Now both blacksmith shops were making city defense weapons.
Madam Qin instructed the master who made farm tools on the shape of the arrows and the weight and length ratio of the javelin.
Jiang He, the owner of another blacksmith shop, took action himself. He designed a repeating crossbow and a spear-throwing machine, which saved manpower and had a longer range.
Su Qianqian made a video of these.
{How come such a video is not blocked? The entire process of manufacturing high-end cold weapons! }
{This video is suitable for the training of certain crossers, and the skill values are maxed out! }
{Am I the only one who has fallen in love with my hard-working second uncle? I don’t care, I just want to be a spiritual couple with the charming uncle! }
{Brother Niannian is my type, the warm-hearted male god is my love! Uncle, you are the most handsome. Young lady Qin Sanjiang pays homage to you! }
{Where has Brother Hanzhang gone? I haven’t seen him for a long time. The protagonist in my dream is about to change! }
…
The video received over three million likes, and there were countless comments requesting a live broadcast. Su Qianqian felt complicated as she watched the merit power continue to rise.
[Tongzi, why did I come here? Can you tell me the truth? 】
Su Qianqian asked solemnly that night.
[My dear, you are getting closer to the answer. I can't say more. If I say something I shouldn't, both of us and the world will be destroyed together. 】
The system was silent for a long time before answering.
[That is to say, if I say something that I shouldn't, I will be destroyed and will never be able to return to the previous world, right? 】Su Qianqian continued to ask.
[Yes, everything we know cannot be revealed to the people of this world in a direct way, otherwise the world will collapse. 】The system answered very seriously.
[I understand. So the power of merit is the power of vows…]
[Shh...I can’t tell you that either.] 】The system stopped Su Qianqian from speaking.
[I didn’t say that!] 】Su Qianqian was dissatisfied in her heart.
[It won’t work even if you say it in your heart.] 】The system appears to be very cautious.
【roll! 】Su Qianqian had no choice but to vent her anger on the system.
In the following days, every day the people of Muchuan joined in building brick kilns, firing bricks and forging iron tools. After the Grain Rain and spring ploughing, almost all the people of Muchuan, young and old, joined in. Muchuan seemed to have awakened from a deep sleep.
In April, the first batch of city wall bricks were delivered to the foot of the city wall. Old Man Jiang directed the people to set up scaffolding and begin to raise and reinforce the city wall.
After the Dragon Boat Festival, by June, the main body of the city wall of Muchuan County was basically completed, and the height of the wall with the parapet increased from three meters to eight meters.
Although there is no barbican, there are positions for launching javelins and catapults on the corner towers. The horse faces are protected by wire fences, and the horse path can accommodate an ox cart.
Spear-throwing machines, catapults and multi-shot crossbows have all been tested and set up directly on the city walls. Only a few dozen soldiers guarding the city have come to learn how to use these new weapons.
A stone egg was thrown more than 400 meters outside the city gate, and at the same time the stone egg exploded and flew up into the air.
The people cheered loudly, Jiang He laughed, and County Magistrate Zhou praised: "Even if a heavenly soldier or general came with such a weapon, they would never be able to harm Muchuan at all."
Su Qianqian said nothing.
Although Muchuan County is small, it is the gateway for southern Xinjiang to enter Da Qi. However, this gateway is tiny and has low production capacity. The weapons and supplies produced are limited. If the enemy really invades, it may not be able to hold out for long.
Qin Hanzhang only came back to Muchuan twice in the past few months, and each time he came and went in a hurry, his expression becoming more and more solemn. Jiang Baipin would still go to Huizhou, and each time he came back he was more solemn than before.
The people of Muchuan were unaware that the world outside had changed and were still immersed in the happiness of having enough food and clothing. Only the Qin family often urged the people to learn how to use weapons such as javelins in order to protect themselves in time of war.
Thousands of miles away in Xijing, the emperor has not attended court for many days and has been enjoying himself with Concubine Yun. Prince Yi is trusted by the emperor and most of the decisions on state affairs are made by him.
After nearly a year of confrontation, the Marquis of Jinyang had not achieved any success. Although Prince Xiang and Duke Xu mobilized the four garrisons to assist in the battle, the Ministry of Revenue could not provide enough food and fodder for supplies.
Prince Xiang was trapped in Jining, but received news from the capital that the emperor wanted to make Prince Jing the crown prince and to confer Xue Wanning as the crown princess.
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