Chapter 102
Pingxiang, Qingquan County.
The weather is clear and cool in autumn. After the busy farming season, many villagers planted more vegetables, hoping to grow more food for the winter before winter comes.
A woman was coming back from the vegetable field with a basket, and she bumped into her youngest son, who had come out of nowhere, sweating profusely. "Ah Man, where have you been? The grass in the field is almost as tall as a person, and you're running around everywhere."
"Mother, Brother Chu Xu was ordered by the county magistrate to gather the young and strong men nearby to practice archery. Those who shoot well will be rewarded. Look, I performed well today and got ten coins." He took out a small bag of silver from his arms and handed it to his mother.
The woman took the bag, opened it and saw that it was indeed the one.
"Tell me the truth, why do you suddenly want to practice all this?"
A'man remembered what Chu Xu had told them, that the news must not be leaked to anyone to avoid causing panic, so he just said that the county government was short of people and wanted to choose someone from among them.
The woman said happily: "Then you must work hard, maybe my son can even eat government food."
Ah Man smiled and nodded, "Mom, I have to go over now. I came back to tell you, please don't tell anyone else."
"Got it, let's go now."
Aman trotted to an open field and saw a number of straw targets piled up on the field. Some people were practicing archery at the targets with crossbows.
The other place was a straw stake, specially used for practicing fighting. Yang Yan and Chu Xu were demonstrating to them. Yang Yan held a knife in his hand and slashed at Chu Xu. The tips of the knives collided, making a sharp sound. Yang Yan slashed with the knife, and Chu Xu retreated several steps and drew his knife to block.
Yang Yan was in great momentum, and Chu Xu dodged to the side and stabbed him from the side. In a flash, the two of them exchanged more than ten moves. The villagers around them watched with shining eyes, rubbing their hands, and they couldn't wait to pick up knives and fight with everyone.
There was a clang, the sound of a knife falling to the ground. Everyone saw Chu Xu's knife being picked up and fell to the ground. A long knife was lying across his neck. The winner was decided.
Ah Man cheered along with the villagers. Yang Yan said, "We two have demonstrated it to you just now. You can practice with wooden swords first, in pairs. The winner will go over there to register. If you win ten times, you will get a reward."
These villagers were all young and energetic. They were already excited by the fight between the two men just now. In addition, Yang Yan said that there would be rewards for the winner. They had already seen those who were good at archery get money today, so how could they not be tempted?
After Yang Yan finished speaking, he asked them to start practicing. Chu Xu walked over and said, "You were so cruel. My hands are still numb." He was just shaken by Yang Yan's long sword.
"The adults told us to practice with real swords and guns, so why don't I try my best? After today's training, we will give them some physical training tomorrow. The adults said that each person should run five miles with a load of 50 kilograms, and then increase the load later." Yang Yan said.
"What are you going to practice, sir? The same as Wei Wuzu?" Chu Xu asked in surprise.
"There is no news from the Duwei Mansion yet. Your Excellency can only make preparations first. It is better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. By the way, your Excellency asked the two of us to meet him after training." After Yang Yan finished speaking, he walked to the archery field and raised A'man's wrist a little higher.
Ah Man blushed and thanked Yang Yan. Yang Yan waved his hand, picked up the crossbow and shot an arrow. "The posture is wrong. You have good talent. Practice more."
Aman nodded quickly, adjusted his posture, swung the hanging knife and shot it out, hitting the center of the bull's eye.
"Good, just practice like this." After saying this, Yang Yan went to the side to give instructions.
Ah Man's face flushed with excitement. Someone nearby came up and said, "Ah Man, please teach me why I always miss the target."
A'man stepped forward and pointed out the mistakes one by one. People around gathered around him and asked him for guidance. After all, A'man grew up with them. Although they admired Lord Yang, they were always nervous when being instructed by Lord Yang alone.
When Yang Yan and the other returned to the county government office, Lin Shuge was talking with Xiang Li Gu, with Lu Yuechuan sitting next to him with a smile on his face. The county wanted to build a brick kiln, so they had to discuss it with Xiang Li Gu.
"Sir, we have trained the people as you said." Yang Yan said after entering the hall.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work." Lin Shuge said.
He looked at Xiangli Gu again and said, "Starting tomorrow, we will issue a notice to recruit common people to work here. We will pay them enough wages every day, and then we will ask all the craftsmen to come to the county government office to learn the technology of making kangs."
Although the magistrate of Ganzhou presented it to the envoy of Wei at that time, and this technology had spread to the entire Dingyuan County, Lin Shuge saw that Qingquan was not popular.
Xiang Li Gu: "Yes, sir."
"Envoy Wei has already known about the Qingquan incident. The Commandery will send troops here soon. But before they come, we'd better find out the origins of this Qiang people." Lin Shuge said to them.
The Qiang tribe did not have a complete hierarchical administrative relationship like the Xiongnu. Although they were also a nomadic people who lived by following water and grass, their internal structure was loose, with each tribe often living on its own. There were also struggles and killings between the tribes.
But this Qiang tribe actually conspired with the Han people, it seems that it cannot be underestimated.
"Sir, next time we go there, let's see if they can bring big fish. If they can really catch big fish, it will be much more beneficial to us." Lu Yuechuan put down the teacup in his hand and said.
Lin Shuge was silent for a moment, "We'll make some arrangements there when the time comes."
No matter if it's coercion or inducement, you have to get something out of it.
The next day.
Lin Shuge took Lu Yuechuan and others to see the firing conditions of the brick kiln.
The county planned to build two brick kilns first, one in the west of the city, where there were fewer people living, which was just right.
When Lin Shuge arrived, Xiangli Gu was leading the craftsmen to seal the kiln roof. Several common people nearby were using wooden molds to make mud bricks. At a glance, the surroundings were full of mud bricks drying in the shade.
After seeing Lin Shuge, Xiang Ligu hurried over and said, "Sir, you can try it after sealing the roof and building the chimney. Let me burn a batch first to test the quality."
Lin Shuge watched as everyone built the chimney, put the dried mud bricks into the brick kiln, filled it with firewood, and sealed the fire outlet. During this time, someone had to keep watching the fire, which was also a hard job. Sometimes the fire was too small and they had to blow air inside.
When Xiang Ligu came over with a clown face, Lu Yuechuan laughed out loud, but Lin Shuge was silent for a moment.
"Xiangli, didn't we make a blowing machine when we harvested wheat in Ganzhou? Maybe you can try a hand-cranked blower." Lin Shuge briefly explained the principle and structure, and Xiangli Gu naturally understood what he meant.
"Sir, wait a moment, I'll go and try it." After he said that, he called two craftsmen and went to chop down the tree with axes.
Lin Shuge had nothing to do, so he helped the workers make clay molds. It just involved mixing water and mud, and anyone could do it.
Mix the mud with water and then put it into the mold, and a mud brick is ready. Lin Shuge is fine, Lu Yuechuan and Chu Xu are busy and happy, doing it quickly and well.
When Xiang Ligu came over with the hand blower, he was speechless for a long time when he saw the county officials playing in the mud.
"Sir, it's done." Xiangli Gu said.
Lin Shuge took a look and saw that it was a blower made entirely of wood and bamboo strips. Just by turning the handle, it would blow out air.
Xiang Li Gu aimed the blower outlet at the fire outlet, only to see the fire in the brick kiln grow bigger and thick smoke billow out of the chimney.
"It's actually done." Lin Shuge said happily.
The workers nearby were a little bit incredulous and quietly asked Xiang Ligu if he could teach them this technology so that they could pay for it.
Xiang Li Gu looked at Lin Shu Ge, and Lin Shu Ge smiled and said, "You made it yourself, why are you looking at me?"
Xiang Ligu understood that Lin Shuge wanted him to do as he pleased, so he simply explained the production method. Seeing that the workers were still confused, he started making another one.
The workers and the people who were making clay bricks in the surrounding area were slightly moved. This blower can not only be used for firing kilns, but also for cooking at home. Moreover, they had just seen Li Gu making it. It would not take much effort or money, and one could make one quickly. Once they learned how to make it, they could not only use it at home, but could even sell it for money.
The workers expressed their sincere gratitude to Xiang Ligu, and happily repeated the previous process in their minds. Some of them even looked at the trees nearby silently, thinking about trying to make one themselves.
Anyway, the bricks were already being burned and Xiangli Gu didn't need to work for the time being, so he simply chopped down a batch of wood and made several blowers. Lin Shuge and others each got one, and the craftsmen also learned how to make them.
The next morning, Lin Shuge had not even had breakfast when he was dragged by Xiangli Gu to see the baked bricks.
Xiang Li Gu's face flushed with excitement. He pointed at the pile of blue bricks and said, "Sir, it's really done."
Lin Shuge smiled and praised a few words. Building a few more brick kilns would not only make life easier for the people in winter, but many of the county's city walls were damaged and should be repaired.
He patted Xiangli Gu on the shoulder and was about to ask Yang Yan to transport the bricks back to try it out first, but he accidentally stepped on a stone and almost tripped over it.
"Sir, sir, be careful, are you okay?" Xiang Ligu immediately reached out to support him, and Lu Yuechuan and others also hurried over.
"I'm fine, I just tripped over a stone." Lin Shuge said with a smile while looking at the stone under his feet.
Stone?
Seeing Lin Shuge staring at the stone in a daze, everyone thought he was injured. Lu Yuechuan said directly: "Sir, is your foot okay? If it is injured, I will help you back, or let Yang Yan carry you."
Lin Shuge suddenly laughed. He bent over to pick up the stone and handed it to Xiangli Gu. "Xiangli, try to burn the stone today."
Everyone was confused, and Xiangli Gu was even more puzzled. Did the master become stupid after falling?
"I'm fine. Have someone move more stones into the cave and burn them. After they're burned, grind them into powder. I have a wonderful use for it." Seeing the puzzled expressions on their faces, Lin Shuge kept them in suspense.
After the limestone is burned, it is ground into powder and mixed with clay in a ratio of three to one and water is added to make simple cement. Although it is not as good as the industrial cement of later generations, it is better than the clay and wheat straw used to build walls and houses now.
In later generations, there was mortar made of glutinous rice, but it was expensive to make. Given the financial situation of Qingquan County, it was impossible. You could try simple cement first.
With bricks and cement, we can build more fortifications, at least to defend against the Huns and Qiang people.
Although Lu Yuechuan and others still had doubts, they knew that whatever Lin Shuge said must be good stuff, so they stopped asking and thought that they would know the effect after it was made.
Xiang Li Gu thought for a while and asked Lin Shu Ge some questions. Lin Shu Ge naturally told him what he was going to do. Xiang Li Gu was amazed and said that this was a good thing.
The two of them were playing guessing games. Lu Yuechuan shook his head and went with the others to see the fired blue bricks.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
