Chapter 20: The Wu Clan's Military Industry (Part 1)

  The birth of Wu's military industry is a very significant event, which can be said to have milestone significance. Wu's military industry changed the history of weapons, and from then on, a new type of weapon emerged - firearms!

  Since the emergence of gunpowder, skilled craftsmen have been studying firearms. By the Song Dynasty, there had been significant progress, and cannons and rockets had already appeared. However, it was the Wu family's military industry that truly put firearms into practical use in battle.

  The Wu family's military industry manufactured a large number of firearms, breaking bows and knives... These sharp weapons. The Song Dynasty army used these sharp tools to conquer the four sides, win glory in distant lands thousands of miles away, and write the splendor of China!

  "Great Song Dynasty Arsenal Catalogue: Lu You"

  A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; a mighty river is formed by many small streams.

  Wu Ji wanted to go to Xiong State to set up an ammunition factory, but that was not something he could do at the moment. If he first made explosives in Guishen County, he could make money and accumulate resources, and when the time was ripe, going to Xiong State to set up an ammunition factory would be much more convenient.

  Big things are accumulated from small ones. To make the munitions factory prosperous, we must start from scratch and accumulate step by step!

  "It's settled then!" Wu Ji finally made up his mind and decided to take action first.

  Just as Wu Ji was thinking, the shopkeeper Qiao shook his head, with a look of anxiety on his face, and turned back. He walked very slowly, one step at a time, as if he couldn't bear to leave the blacksmith's shop, as if it were a great sin.

  "Qiao Zhanggui, please stay!" Wu Ji quickly caught up with him.

  "This is... Please forgive me for being rude, I don't recognize your face." Qiao Zhang stopped and took a closer look at Wu Ji, feeling very unfamiliar and puzzled.

  "Wu Jie bowed with a fist and got straight to the point: "Is Old Qiao planning on selling the blacksmith shop?"

  "Alas!" Old Master Qiao sighed and said, "This ironwork shop is my many years of hard work. Although it can't compare to the big ironwork shops, it's still making ends meet. A whole family's livelihood depends on this. But, heaven has unpredictable winds and clouds, people have unexpected disasters and blessings. My old father's chronic illness has flared up again, I need money for his treatment, but I couldn't scrape together the funds. I had no choice but to grit my teeth and prepare to sell the shop."

  Qiao Zhanggui said with a sigh, his face full of discontent.

  "Qiao Zhanggui is truly a filial son, I apologize for the disrespect!" Wu Ji's good impression of Qiao Zhanggui increased, and he bowed again, saying: "I don't know how much silver Qiao Zhanggui plans to sell?"

  "Th...this..." Old Qiao hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth: "Five taels of silver, this is the lowest price! Is Mr. Wu willing?"

  "Exactly! May I take a look, Mr. Qiao?" Wu Jie asked straightforwardly.

  Qiao Zhanggui looked Wu Ji up and down, then hesitated for a moment before saying: "Wu Da Guanren has made his intentions clear, and I should follow orders. However, this concerns the old man's life, and we can't afford to make any mistakes. Does Wu Da Guanren..."

  He saw Wu Jie weak and worried that Wu Jie couldn't afford the money. If Wu Jie couldn't afford the money, his father's illness would have no hope, as a filial son, he couldn't help but be anxious.

  "Manager Qiao needn't worry, as long as I'm satisfied, I'll pay you the silver on the spot." Wu Jie understood his intention and was very understanding.

  "That's great! That's great! Mr. Wu, this way please!" Suddenly, Old Master Qiao's spirit lifted greatly, and he hastily led the way forward.

  Wu Ji followed him and asked some questions. From Qiao Dayuan's mouth, he learned that this ironwork shop was quite famous in Guishen County and had a good reputation. There are currently two blacksmiths in the ironwork shop, one is Qiao Dayuan and the other is Zhang Daniu, an old blacksmith invited by him.

  They soon arrived at the blacksmith's shop, which was not large and in a suitable location, a place for doing business.

  A man in his forties, stout and sturdy, with bulging muscles like iron clumps, had iron filings and oil stains on his clothes, was looking around in front of the blacksmith's shop, at a glance it was clear that he was another blacksmith, Zhang Dacow.

  As soon as Mr. Qiao came over, Zhang Daniu hurried to welcome him and said with a worried face: "Boss, are you really going to sell out? If you sell out, what will I do? Changing to a new boss doesn't necessarily mean it's me!"

  He is afraid of losing his rice bowl. In a small place like Guishan County, jobs are especially precious. If he loses this job, his days will be very difficult, and he can't help but worry.

  "Alas! What can I do if I don't pawn it out? My old father is urgently waiting for money to treat his illness! Brother Zhang, I owe you, and I really have no way to repay you." Qiao Dayuan looked at Zhang Daniu with a helpless expression, full of apology.

  Upon hearing this, Zhang Daniu fell silent, letting out a helpless sigh. It was him, if he were in Qiao Dayuan's shoes, he would do the same thing too.

  "This is Mr. Wu, who has come to discuss the shop's affairs. Brother Zhang, please give him a warm welcome." Qiao Dajun said, giving Zhang Dawu a hint with his eyes, creating an opportunity for Zhang Dawu to show his diligence. If he could let Zhang Dawu continue working here, he would have one less thing to feel guilty about.

  Zhang Daniu understood, and hastily welcomed him, rushing to Wu Jie and singing a fat note: "I am Zhang Daniu, I have met Mr. Wu! Mr. Wu, your esteemed presence is like a radiant cloud, please give me more guidance."

  Wu Jie heard it in his ears, somewhat amused, and not going to your home as a guest, where did the canopy of glory come from?

  Seemingly aware that there was something wrong with what he said, Zhang Daniu looked embarrassed and red-faced, unable to utter another word.

  Qiao Dayuan hastily took over the conversation to help Zhang Daniu out: "Director Wu, Brother Zhang is not eloquent, but he has a good heart. He's honest, diligent, down-to-earth and hardworking, just like his name suggests - like an indefatigable yellow cow."

  "Yes, yes, I'm Zhang the cow!" Zhang's grateful smile to Qiao was like adding a weight, and getting a job opportunity became much easier.

  "Your skills are pretty good!" Wu Ji picked up a kitchen knife, shining brightly and dazzling to the eyes.

  "That's it! That's it!" Zhang Daniu puffed out his chest, somewhat pleased with himself, and then became curious: "How did you know my skills are not bad? You haven't even seen me forge iron?"

  "That's enough!" Wu Ji put down the kitchen knife in his hand.

  The shop sells either vegetable knives or firewood knives, farm tools, and nothing else. Whether it's a vegetable knife or a firewood knife, they're all shiny and very sharp, and at first glance, you can tell that the blacksmith is quite skilled.

  "You're quite skilled, I can let you stay. However, I have some conditions, as long as you can follow them, then you can be one of us. Can you cast?" Wu Jie appreciated Zhang Daniu's skills very much.

  "Good! Good! Good!" Zhang Daniu hastily nodded, and then hesitated: "But it's not as good as Old Qiao's! Old Qiao's casting is the real deal! The thickness and size are almost identical, making it hard to tell them apart."

  He's really an honest man, he even said that, and isn't afraid of losing his rice bowl. Qiao Dayuan hurriedly nudged him, and only then did Zhang Daniu unexpectedly shut up.

  "Boss Qiao, I've taken a look, your knives, farm tools, iron bars, materials, and the shop itself, all together, I'll give you five taels of silver, it's a bit..." Wu Ji's words were cut off halfway by Qiao Dajun, who hastily interrupted him.

  "Wu Da Guan Ren, five taels of silver is the lowest price. If it weren't for my old father's serious illness, I wouldn't sell it no matter what." Qiao Da Yuan was very anxious and kept rubbing his hands.

  "I mean, five taels of silver is too little for you. I think you're a decent person with good intentions and a filial son, so I won't take advantage of you. Here are seven taels of silver instead." Wu Ji had a lot of goodwill towards Qiao Dajun.

  Qiao Dayuan's filial piety has won Wu Ji's appreciation. Thinking of Wu Ji, in another time and space, his parents died unjustly, even if he wanted to be filial, it was impossible. Wu Ji can cheat others, but he will never cheat Qiao Dayuan, such a filial son.

  "Seven taels of silver?" Qiao Dajun's eyes widened in shock, his mouth agape, and he was speechless.

  It's always been a matter of lowering prices, who has ever dared to raise them on their own?

  "..." Zhang Daniu was also shocked and couldn't say a word.

  "I follow the principle: if people respect me by one inch, I will respect them by ten feet! If people oppress me by one inch, I will repay them by ten feet!" Wu Ji looked at Qiao Da Yuan and said: "I can tell that you are a straightforward person, I won't cheat you out of your due. How about this, Qiao Da Yuan? I need skilled craftsmen here, and your casting skills are quite good, just what I need. After your father's illness is cured, you can come back and continue to manage the shop."

  This is a way out!

  The shop was closed, and the family's livelihood was in trouble. Qiao Dajun was worried about this, but unexpectedly, Wu Ji gave him a way out. For a moment, he didn't react and couldn't speak.

  "Really?" It wasn't until half a day had passed that Qiao Dajun finally came to.

  "That's right! If you agree, I'll pay you the silver now. You go and cure your father's illness first!" Wu Ji was always considerate of Qiao Dayuan, with filial piety being the most important virtue.

  "Thank you, Lord Wu! Thank you, Lord Wu!" Qiao Dajun thumped his head on the ground and kowtowed to Wu Ji, using great force, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud.

  Wu Jie not only gave him a fair price, solving his urgent need, but also left him a way out. He was deeply grateful to Wu Jie and could only express his gratitude by knocking his head heavily.

  "Get up!" Wu Jie helped Qiao Dayuan up and took out some silver coins to pay him.

  Qiao Dayuan hastily signed a sales contract with Wu Ji and received the silver, thanked him profusely, and then left in a hurry.

  "Wu Da Guan Ren, you are indeed a good man! Good man!" Zhang Da Niu looked at everything that had happened, somewhat hard to believe, and sincerely praised Wu Jie. A good person like Wu Jie is really hard to come by.

  "Master Zhang, help me get a new signboard. This shop needs to be renamed." Wu Ji ordered while inspecting the shop.

  "Change name?" Zhang Daniu was stunned, still hadn't reacted, and after a moment of confusion, he finally understood. He had been hired by Wu Ji, and was overjoyed: "Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master! What kind of name do you want to change it to?"

  "Hmm! Let's call it Wu's Military Industry!" Wu Ji thought for a moment and immediately came up with the result.

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