Chapter 474: Valor and Martial Spirit

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The two inspected along the way. The present Laizhou Prefecture was completely suppressed by the Dengzhou Tunbao. This time coincided with the Eastern Depot coming to handle affairs, so the Intelligence Bureau tightened surveillance on Laizhou. Ruffians and street idlers roamed the city everywhere gathering news, and hidden dangers were all eliminated.

Outside Ye County a shrine commemorating Zhu Wannian had been built. Chen Xin hesitated at the door but still went in to pay his respects. Although this man had been at odds with him, he had died on the battlefield defending home and country after all. Compared to some civil officials who spout nothing but morality, the difference was already heaven and earth.

Three days later they reached Pingdu Department. The two went together to Pingdu's No. 2 Factory to inspect the situation of expanding musket production there.

Wang Huzi greeted the two and introduced things along the way. Since Chen Xin's visit last year, No. 2 Factory had continuously expanded its scale, mainly for muskets. Current output was three thousand flintlocks per month, five thousand under urgent orders.

Wang Huzi brought out a short-barreled rifle and said to Chen Xin, "This type is the National Rifle you spoke of, my lord. The barrel is five inches shorter than the infantry model. The quantity the army requested was completed in the first half of the year. In the second half we can make this type of musket, it's just the order..."

Chen Xin and Liu Minyou each took one. The lock was the same as the army's; only the barrel was shorter than the military model. Liu Minyou looked up and asked Chen Xin, "Shortening it a bit only reduces the range. It depends on what use you intend. If we use the gains from this economic war, we can expand the army again in the second half of the year. The Civil Affairs Department could also purchase this gun and issue it to those garrison protection teams."

Chen Xin asked Wang Huzi, "So tell me, what's the price?"

Wang Huzi scratched his head. "Still around six or seven taels, depending on quantity. If a single order is large, six taels will do. Also, I can't fit a bayonet to this gun. Otherwise it would add at least two or three taels of silver."

Chen Xin thought for a moment and said, "No bayonet, and no need for this short barrel. Make it exactly like the army's flintlock." He turned to Liu Minyou. "Any settler household that has been in the Deng-Lai Tunbao for over two years can buy one. Don't say it's for the garrison protection teams. We now have tens of thousands of reserve troops; the garrison protection teams aren't of much use. This is for ordinary commoners. For those who purchase a musket, the Civil Affairs Department will subsidize two taels of silver. Purchase is by settler household certificate. The Tunbao instructors will inspect the firearms once a month. Severe punishment for loss or improper storage."

Liu Minyou shook his head. "This subsidy alone probably isn't enough. Who would spend silver on a gun to keep at home for no reason, and face punishment if it's lost?"

Chen Xin frowned in thought and said, "Then what do you suggest?"

Wang Huzi said rapidly, "For any household that buys a gun, their sons and younger brothers get priority in joining the army and entering the workshops. That way, people will be willing."

Chen Xin and Liu Minyou said simultaneously, "That is feasible. As long as someone takes the lead, it'll be easy."

Liu Minyou immediately added, "Any Tunbao whose gun-purchase ratio reaches the standard can have priority in setting up a Tunbao workshop, and the bank will give priority in loans. Also, reserve troops who purchase guns can receive an extra tael of silver in annual military pay."

Chen Xin laughed heartily. "See, we figured out a solution."

It was already afternoon when the two emerged from No. 2 Factory. They still took that carriage toward Pingdu Department city. Liu Minyou looked at the shops built up on both sides of the road and suddenly said to Chen Xin, "Issuing so many guns out, it could intimidate the imperial court in the future, but the internal security here in Deng-Lai won't be so secure then."

The sun was blazing at that moment. Chen Xin fanned himself and said, "We have the guard force anyway. As the wicked grow stronger, the righteous grow taller. This crude musket can't compare to later eras either. America has so many guns, and you don't see presidents getting assassinated every day."

"I always feel it's a bit too radical. With over a million settler households now, there's no guarantee none bear a grudge against us. Aren't you the least bit afraid?"

"If we were only thinking of ourselves, why would we bother with that Wendeng Grand Academy? Just implement military-first politics. That set of methods for controlling the lower classes isn't hard; we both understand it. The Han people walked out from a place like the Loess Plateau and seized the richest land in the East. They relied on martial force, not those Four Books and Five Classics. Often in eras of internal warfare in China, a valorous martial spirit flourishes among the people. Even if the northern barbarians routed the government army, they could hardly withstand the people's resistance rising one after another. That's why Huaxia could often preserve a bloodline. In times of great unification, however, interests are unified in one place. As a ruler, regarding both external and internal enemies, he hopes the people under his rule will be weaker, the better to facilitate his rule. So he will suppress the people's martial spirit with all his might. That's why things like martial arts turning into routine performances happen."

Liu Minyou smiled faintly. "This matter of national character was formed over many years. It can't be solved by a single gun."

Chen Xin sighed. "In Zhu Yuanzhang's system, there are too many things suppressing the people's freedom. Even how they dress and eat had to follow his rules. Although my lust for power is strong, our origins are different. I won't believe nonsense about the throne lasting ten thousand years. Give the people freedom, restore the people's martial spirit, and no one can conquer this nation. That is the purpose of my million long guns. Compared to that, personal gains and losses don't matter. Although one gun can't solve it, let it start from here."

Liu Minyou was silent for a moment, then shook his head and smiled. "Lofty enough ideals. Tomorrow after seeing Pingdu, are you going directly to Qingzhou or stopping at Changyi?"

"Stop at Changyi now. They're holding the summer conscription there. I must go see."

"Lord Liu, look. This step in the process is the most laborious part of dyeing."

In a private dyeing workshop outside the Changyi Cotton Factory, the shopkeeper was explaining to Liu Minyou. Before them was a stone trough filled with bright red dye. A man with thick, sturdy legs was treading on a huge ingot-shaped stone, gripping wooden poles on both sides with his hands. His feet rapidly rocked the two ends of the ingot-shaped stone, making the roller beneath roll along.

"My lord, this is the cloth-pressing stone. The best are those cool in nature and fine in texture. A top-quality cloth-pressing stone costs over ten taels of silver."

Liu Minyou pointed at the stone and said, "Is this for smoothing and stretching the cloth?"

"Yes. After dyeing, the cloth shrinks. When selling, the cotton cloth dimensions are the standard, so the cloth-pressing stone is used to smooth and stretch it, to widen the cloth width. For this task, an ordinary man cannot do it. A single cloth-pressing stone often weighs several hundred jin. Only those with strong legs can manage it."

"Which means the speed of dyeing is also constrained by this."

"Yes. My humble workshop is considered large and has its own stone-pressing worker. Small dyeing workshops don't have one. The dyed cloth must be sent to a specialized pressing workshop. The stretching price per bolt is one fen and one li of silver."

Liu Minyou turned to look behind him. It was Zhou Laifu's promising son-in-law, Guan Xiaodi. This boy, just seventeen or eighteen, had already opened a machinery workshop, invested in by Zhou Laifu. This time Liu Minyou was inspecting...

Seeing Liu Minyou looking at him, he immediately bowed and said, "My lord, this thing is also easy to make. I have thought of a method in my mind: use two axles rotating in opposite directions, with bent wooden handles at both ends to assist the force. Even if we continue using the pressing stone, human or animal power can be used to turn it. Even wind power is possible."

Liu Minyou smiled. "Very well, then go and make it. But the Pingdu workshop is also making mechanical cloth-stretching devices. Whoever makes it better, theirs will be used."

Guan Xiaodi hastily agreed. Liu Minyou called him aside alone and said to him in a low voice, "When you left the workshop back then, this official was somewhat reluctant to let you go, but ultimately released you. It was also because the civilian sector needs this type of machinery workshop, to compete with the two workshops in Dengzhou and Pingdu. Currently, Tunbao in three places are jointly developing machinery. There is also one here in Changyi. You must use your brain more, abandon that experimental approach from your academy days, and focus more on practicality. If what you make is not good, the textile factory won't want it. And I will watch their procurement. If they use your workshop's products, I will personally inspect them. Because you are Zhou Laifu's son-in-law, the requirements must be even higher, to avoid idle talk from others."

"I understand. Everything I make is practical. The management methods Lord Liu taught me last time have benefited me greatly. I have not yet thanked you, my lord."

Liu Minyou waved his hand. "No need. Actually, the workshop largely follows these same routines. You stayed there so long, you should have understood. I merely gave a few pointers. Work hard from now on."

The two talked as they walked, a group of attendants following behind, and went to the nearby shipping agency.

The shopkeeper saw them to the door and returned. He said to the big man still treading the stone above, "Did you hear that? In the future there will be tools to use. If you lot refuse to put in the effort, later I'll just go buy a set of stone-pressing contraptions and won't need you anymore."

The big man above instead stopped, jumped down with a shout, and landed beside the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper looked up and glared at him. "Su Cutui, did you understand? In the future, this wage will also be reduced. And all that food you eat from me every day, that meal cost will be deducted too."

That Su Cutui stared at the shopkeeper for a long while. The shopkeeper also felt a bit alarmed and stepped back. "What are you doing? You want to hit someone or what?"

Su Cutui snorted, suddenly ran to the side, and kicked the large water vat. The vat shattered into pieces from his kick. The shopkeeper, furious, pointed at Su Cutui and raged, "You, you... your monthly wages for this month are gone."

"I've long not wanted to serve you. Today Dengzhou Garrison is recruiting. I was going to join the army anyway. Keep the monthly wages as your coffin money."

Su Cutui laughed loudly for a while and strode out the door.

When Liu Minyou emerged after inspecting the cotton factory, he had already arranged the shipment plan with Xiao Heling, who was accompanying him. Cotton cloth was Dengzhou's flagship product. The expansion momentum must be maintained. It was not advisable to continue stockpiling cotton cloth.

The conscription site this time was at Changyi's No. 1 Tunbao, not far from the cotton cloth factory. This conscription mainly targeted settler households near Changyi and laborers registered as military households, to free up some work positions for newly arrived refugees.

The conscription site was a sea of people. On the drill ground, physical fitness was being tested. Liu Minyou stood outside and watched for a while. They were all running. On the other side, strength was being tested.

Liu Minyou looked around at the soldier registration area. The officer was from the Mobilization Department and recognized Liu Minyou. He hurriedly stood up and saluted Liu Minyou. Liu Minyou waved at him to continue. Just as he was about to leave, someone suddenly called out, "Lord Liu."

Liu Minyou turned around. The fat man before him actually looked somewhat familiar.

The fat man's face was full of smiles. "Lord Liu! Do you still remember me?"

"You're that... no, your surname is Tang? From the propaganda team."

"Yes, I'm called Tang Wei. I've seen you several times."

"Right, right. Didn't you go to Huguang?"

"I've already come back. I want to join the combat troops. I even told you about it back then, my lord."

Liu Minyou suddenly recalled that this had indeed happened during the march in Yubei. He hurriedly said, "Yes, but you still have to meet the conscription standards."

The fat man nodded repeatedly. "Met them, met them."

Liu Minyou, a bit helpless, said in a low voice to the officer, "This one, if he meets the standards, well, let him be a new recruit and undergo training."

The officer hesitated a little. Liu Minyou also felt it was somewhat inappropriate and hurriedly waved at Tang Wei before walking out of the crowd. The officer turned to look at Tang Wei. This fat man met every standard, but only just barely. Given the pool of recruits this time, he might very well not be selected.

Tang Wei quickly leaned in and whispered, "My lord, you see, Lord Liu knew me from before. Actually, he's a distant relative of mine. He's always been instructing me. In fact, his coming over just now was also intentional, just not convenient to say openly. I am also qualified. Please, my lord, do me this small favor."

The officer stared at Tang Wei's smiling face for a moment, and finally stamped his conscription form.

Liu Minyou had no idea that Tang Wei had pulled his tiger skin and had long forgotten the matter. He walked to the command platform, saw Chen Xin seated high above, went over to find a seat and sat down, and said to Chen Xin, "Tomorrow I will first make a trip to Jiaozhou, so I won't go with you to Qingzhoufu. While you're there, help me inspect the civil administration of Qingzhou. Look closely — don't just give it a cursory glance."

Chen Xin chuckled and said, "Understood. After you finish looking at Jiaozhou, go to the Wendeng University Hall. That's the place I'm most uneasy about. You should also look closely there."