Chapter 223: To Seize Their Elite Soldiers, First Seize Their Craftsmen and Tools

Inside the Eastern Capital's Directorate for Military Equipment, with the imperial guards standing sentinel, Emperor Liu Chengyou and Chancellor Wang Zhang personally conducted an inspection. Yan Jinqing, who had been transferred to serve in the Directorate, accompanied them in person. The inspection was meticulous, covering the Armor Workshop, Crossbow Workshop, Materials Depot, Hides and Horns Yard, Supply Depot, and all other offices under the Directorate — not a single one was omitted.

The Great Han honored the Water Virtue, so all military equipment, banners, and ceremonial weapons were made predominantly in black, giving everything a deep, somber tone that exuded solemnity and gravity.

In the Eastern Workshop, where short weapons were forged, the office director directed the workshop hands to lay out a batch of newly made swords and blades for inspection.

Weapons are instruments of slaughter, so everyone spread out, keeping a good distance. Yan Jinqing respectfully pointed to two rows among them and introduced: "Your Majesty, Chancellor, these are the hand sabers newly made by the weapons workshop, and behind them are the dropping sabers."

After decades of continuous warfare, the weapons used by the armies had become chaotic and mixed. These two were the more representative types. The hand saber has a single edge on one side, with a short hilt like a sword. The dropping saber is a long weapon, with a double-edged blade, the upper part of the blade widened in the shape of the character "mountain," fitted with a long shaft ending in a ferrule, its form resembling an oar.

The development of weapons changes with the times. By now, the Great Tang's hengdao saber, once a weapon for close combat, could no longer keep up with the era — not because the blade was no longer sharp, but because the state could no longer afford to produce it, and moreover, the forms of warfare were also undergoing changes.

Weapons like the hand saber were convenient to use and offered good value for money.

Liu Chengyou stepped forward alone, picked one up, weighed it in his hand, and swung it a few times on a whim. Before anyone could offer flattery, he said: "This is what fierce soldiers in the army use — their lives depend on it, their safety rests on it. I am not in a position to judge it!"

Then he casually summoned one of the imperial guards and handed it to him: "Try it!"

The imperial guards of the palace were naturally veterans of a hundred battles, rich in combat experience. Ordered to test the blade, their movements had nothing flashy about them — all were the most concise, direct, and lethal motions. Though not elegant, the killing intent was hidden within their plainness.

Weapons that could be presented for the Emperor's inspection were naturally finished products that had already been tested by soldiers and continuously improved beforehand, so the results of the blade test were naturally without fault. The only reaction was that the blade felt somewhat light — but soldiers varied in strength, great and small, and this was not a major problem. As long as it could serve the majority of soldiers, that was sufficient...

After testing the sabers, they tested the spears. The spears were divided into those for cavalry and those for infantry. The cavalry spears had hooks and rings fitted at the head, while the infantry spears came in plain wood and crow-neck varieties. There were other minor distinctions as well, with quite a number of types.

The swords were even simpler, without so many variations — all had thick spines and short bodies, with not a trace of "gentlemanly" style, but they were convenient for soldiers to use.

The rest — shields, bucklers, axes, whips, clubs — were all inspected as well.

Overall, Liu Chengyou was quite satisfied with the operation of the Directorate for Military Equipment. He summoned Yan Jinqing to sit and speak with him, saying: "Minister Yan, in administering the Directorate for Military Equipment, you have been loyal to your duties, and I am very satisfied. However, the types of weapons being produced are too miscellaneous — there should be some focus!"

Yan Jinqing was pleased at first, but upon hearing the latter part, he immediately asked cautiously: "May Your Majesty instruct me."

"Crossbows and armor as before; for sabers, focus on making hand sabers and dropping sabers; for spears, temporarily eliminate the minor distinctions; for shields, banners, and flags, strive for simplicity and practicality!" Liu Chengyou said after thinking it over.

"As you command!" Yan Jinqing agreed quickly.

"But! The premise of all this is to guarantee the quality of military equipment. The system of rewards and punishments must be implemented at every level — if there is any error, responsibility must be traced to the individual!" Liu Chengyou added sternly.

"Yes!" Still without the slightest hesitation.

"Furthermore, before the autumn harvest this year, I want military equipment sufficient for an army of fifty thousand!"

To this final requirement, Yan Jinqing's answer was not so quick, and could not be. Seeing his hesitant expression, Liu Chengyou could not help asking: "Is there a problem?"

Upon being asked, Yan Jinqing responded to Liu Chengyou with some trepidation: "I report to Your Majesty, the Directorate for Military Equipment currently faces two difficulties. First, there is a shortage of materials — iron, tin, leather, feathers, wood, sinew, and bone. Second, there is a shortage of craftsmen. With these two problems, I fear it will be difficult for me to meet Your Majesty's expectations."

Saying this, Yan Jinqing then gave Liu Chengyou a somewhat more detailed explanation.

The shortage of materials was to be expected — no surprise there. As for craftsmen, from what he said, there were indeed not many. Adding up all the various types of craftsmen under the entire Directorate for Military Equipment, there were only about two thousand or so, and among them, those with skilled technique made up an even smaller proportion.

Taking the Crossbow Workshop as an example, it had over five hundred craftsmen. For an ordinary yellow birch bow, even with sinew, bone, bark, and wood in ample supply, an ordinary craftsman would still need two days to complete one, and could make about twenty arrows in the same time. Most of the rest were in similar situations...

Listening to his words, Liu Chengyou knitted his brows tightly and pondered for a long while. Looking up, he saw Yan Jinqing's anxious and uncertain expression, and could not help waving his hand gently to reassure him: "I was not thoughtful enough in my consideration. You were also being practical and truthful, speaking loyally — there is no need to be nervous."

After thinking a while longer, Liu Chengyou glanced at Wang Zhang and said to Yan Jinqing: "For the materials problem, have the Salt and Iron Department discuss and decide on a course of action. Allocate funds and grain, and step up the collection of leather, timber, sinew, bone, and lacquer from among the people — but be careful with the methods. Do not let me hear of excessive extortion!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang's face twitched slightly, and he somewhat helplessly acknowledged with a "Yes."

"As for the craftsmen..." Liu Chengyou murmured, but said nothing more, as if still considering.

He quickly snapped back to attention and said to Yan Jinqing: "You only need to coordinate the various workshops and offices, forging military equipment for the court and for the imperial army!"

"Yes!"

After the inspection ended, on the way back to the palace, Liu Chengyou had Wang Zhang ride in the imperial carriage with him to converse.

"Minister Wang, the various circuits and prefectural governments across the realm each have their own weapons workshops, producing military equipment to be transported to the Eastern Capital. I have heard that every year, of the tax revenues retained by the prefectures and garrisons, this item consumes a great deal, and moreover they levy special taxes on top of it, plundering wealth and resources. There are also many who, in the name of paying tribute, privately manufacture armor and weapons, extorting the people harshly!" Liu Chengyou said to Wang Zhang.

Reading the meaning between the lines, a look of sudden understanding appeared on Wang Zhang's face, and he asked: "Does Your Majesty wish to reorganize the local workshops?"

"Reorganize" — Wang Zhang had chosen his word well.

Since the matter had been raised, Liu Chengyou did not delay, and nodded directly: "The armor and weapons of the various prefectures are poorly made, and moreover they occupy and harass the people excessively. Since they are a corrupt practice, they naturally ought to be abolished."

Upon grasping the sovereign's intent, a gleam of interest could not help but flash in Wang Zhang's eyes. After pondering privately for a moment, he cupped his hands to Liu Chengyou and said: "If they can be abolished, we may select their skilled craftsmen to come to the capital for service, and also collect their weapon-making materials to be transported to the Eastern Capital. In this way, we can both resolve the Directorate's difficulties and improve the manufacture of armor and weapons, while also abolishing corrupt practices and lightening the burden on the people — killing two birds with one stone. Your Majesty is wise!"

Of course, the more important point, Wang Zhang did not mention. Abolishing the local workshops and gathering the realm's skilled craftsmen in the central government — as one side declined and the other grew — would weaken the local regions' strength in weapons and equipment, reducing the threat of the localities to the central government. This was also a means of reducing the power of the feudal lords.

By now, no matter what the matter, what policy or measure, everything could be linked to the contradiction and conflict between the central court and the localities.

"After I return to my office, I will discuss with the various officials and ministers, draft a plan, and issue an edict to all circuits and prefectures across the realm, abolishing the weapons workshops!" Wang Zhang said on his own initiative.

Liu Chengyou, however, shook his head very firmly. Tapping his knee with his fingers, his expression cold and detached, he said lightly: "Begin with the prefectures and garrisons of the capital region; the rest shall be pursued gradually!"

Wang Zhang was startled at first, then slowly nodded, cupped his hands, and sighed: "Your Majesty's deliberations are thorough and complete. I understand!"

"Next Xuzhou and Yanzhou, then Hebei, then the Guanzhong region, then Hedong..." Liu Chengyou said in a voice barely audible.

This policy would certainly not be easy to implement — even more difficult than Liu Chengyou's previous people-benefiting new policies. Touching the military equipment industry was equivalent to touching their "rice bowl," and the resistance from the prefectures and garrisons would surely be considerable.

However, starting from the prefectures and counties directly under the central court and the garrisons near the capital, it would always be easier to resolve. Step by step, Liu Chengyou always remembered — take it slowly.

Of course, this policy aimed to have the Eastern Capital's workshops supply the entire realm's armies. If that step were truly achieved, new problems would certainly arise at that time — for instance, the costs of forging and transportation involved...

But policies can change according to the circumstances of the times.