Ming Zuo

Chapter 481
Anyone who knows a little about the military understands how important bristles are.

Especially in the era of thermal weapons, this is an indispensable strategic material.

Zuo Menggeng was very annoyed, why didn't he think of this earlier.

In fact, he has too many things to do, and it is impossible to cover everything.

Although the troops below had already started to encounter problems when cleaning up their weapons, it was impossible for this kind of problem to be reflected on him.

Until today, when he saw the slaughter of pigs and the need to shed the pigs, he didn't realize it.

Zuo Maodi didn't expect him to attach so much importance to the humble pig hair, and he was very curious.

"Commander, is this important?"

Zuo Menggeng nodded, and said very solemnly: "This is a matter of military and national importance."

He also knew that Zuo Maodi didn't understand, so he simply asked Fu Yijian to bring a pen and paper and write about the treatment of bristles himself.

"Many weapons are painted to prevent rust. However, the brushes currently used are always unsatisfactory for weapons. Brushes made of pig bristles can solve this problem very well. In addition, muskets and artillery use Afterwards, a large amount of gunpowder residue will be left in the gun barrel and gun barrel. If it is not cleaned up, it will have serious consequences. The brush made of this material will definitely have a miraculous effect.”

As soon as he said that, Zuo Maodi understood.

Zuo Maodi had guarded the city in Laiyang, and was injured by artillery.

At that time, the artillery at the top of the city exploded because there were too many residues in the barrel, which affected the firing of the shells.

Cannons of this era also needed to be cleaned, but the tools used were long wooden poles wrapped in cotton cloth.Obviously, there is no way to clean it up.

In the era of hot weapons, China has been the world's largest bristle exporter for a long time.

Especially in World War II, the United States spent a lot of effort in order to allow China's bristles to be shipped out.

Zuo Menggeng wrote in detail the method of making brushes from bristles on paper, and then handed it over to Zuo Maodi.

"Within one month, the brush factory must be established. I want to see the output by April at the latest. This is a military mission and must not be neglected."

Zuo Maodi also knew that the matter was serious, so he didn't dare to be negligent, so he hurriedly ordered the people below to find a site, recruit workers, and collect raw materials.

Because of Zuo Menggeng's arrival, the people here in Anshan Lake are very enthusiastic.Not only did he kill the pig, Li Qingshan also went to the lake to bring back ducks and geese.

"We followed the command of the commander-in-chief and set up a poultry farm. At present, there are tens of thousands of ducks and geese, and the monthly production of eggs can reach [-]. By the end of the year, the eliminated ducks and geese will be sold for another sum of money. . This breeding company alone has supported thousands of families.”

While talking, Li Qingshan plucked the feathers of the ducks and geese himself.

But after the bristle incident, Zuo Menggeng is now very sensitive to animal fur.

Looking at the white and gray duck feathers, duck down, goose feathers and goose down that were plucked and disposed of at will, he discovered his blind spot again.

"You really don't know how to be lucky if you guard the golden mountain, and you missed the opportunity for nothing. Don't dare to throw these fluffs around, they are all treasures."

Zuo Maodi thought that the commander had lost his mind.

"You are joking, besides making arrow feathers for the cavalry brigade, and Dean Deng Yuhan needs some writing, what else can they be used for?"

Zuo Menggeng was angry.

"Then have you ever thought about whether the down will be warm to wear after being processed and stuffed into the fabric?"

Zuo Menggeng thought of down jackets.

I even thought of the northward advance detachment that was frozen in Liaodong.

According to the military report sent back by Huang Sanhu, as of now, more than [-] people in the advance detachment have been frostbitten, seriously affecting the combat effectiveness.

Zuo Menggeng has handed over the problem of shoes to the Artistry Factory.The brand-new leather winter military boots are still in the process of being developed, and the real ones are almost ready.

But the lack of cotton clothes, he had no idea.

Seeing the down of these ducks and geese today, he felt that he was trying to make down jackets.

What he said surprised Zuo Maodi and Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan also deliberately grabbed a handful of duck feathers and brought them closer to his eyes, wanting to take a closer look.

"Ugh...cough cough, Commander, no, this thing smells too bad."

Zuo Menggeng patted his head depressedly.

"Don't you know you need to clean and wash?"

Li Qingshan's face was embarrassing, and he realized that he was really stupid.

What kind of down jacket is, only Zuo Menggeng knows.No way, he had to write it out again.

"Not all feathers and down are useful. You have to select them. You also need to cut off the feather shafts that are too hard. In addition, ordinary cotton cloth is not good. The garment factory has obtained a new type of fabric. You can contact Minister Wang and have a look. Is it suitable? If it still doesn’t work, report to me and I will find a way.”

There is no nylon in this era, so it is impossible to make down jackets like later generations.

But Zuo Menggeng felt that the back fabric used in the new military uniform should be fine.

Hard enough not to be afraid of feathers and down rags coming out.

If down jackets can really be made, then at least they will not be so afraid of the cold when they march into Liaodong in the future.

Moreover, it can also open up financial resources for the breeding company, so it may become popular in the world in the future.

Zuo Maodi and Li Qingshan didn't think too far, they did what Zuo Menggeng told them to do.

The current prosperity of Anshan Lake proved that Zuo Menggeng was right.

That day, Zuo Menggeng ate a very sumptuous pig-killing feast here.It is a rare enjoyment for him to feast on all kinds of meat.

The next day, Zuo Menggeng continued to go south to inspect the industrial parks and mining areas in Liangshan and Wenhe.

The Liangshan area has now become devastated, with scary tunnels everywhere.In the dusty environment, the environment is worrying.

But no one cares about these.

Because the unearthed coal and iron are in short supply, there is no idle time.

Standing on a high place, looking at the countless shambling figures in the mine, Jiang Wei did not show any mercy.

"After these captives came over, they actually caused troubles a few times. I didn't show mercy, killed many of them, and now I have resigned to my fate. It's just that the efficiency of these things is not high. I calculated that compared with normal miners, their mining volume is only [-]%. one third."

Of course Zuo Menggeng knew why.

The captives who were sent here to mine were all diehard members of the White Lotus Sect and the Dongjiang rebels, and they were all criminals.

Letting them come here to mine is to let them forgive their sins.

However, this kind of place is always high-intensity labor.Before and after, many of these people have died of exhaustion.

Those who are still alive are actually desperate.Knowing that no matter what you do, the end result is death, so you are so lazy at work.

It's a big deal to be killed, anyway, it's a death.

Zuo Menggeng knew how to deal with these people's psychology.

"We can announce a new policy for them later, and evaluate them for their labor. Those who work hard and excellently, after five years, they will be given normal status and allowed to be free."

As a human, it doesn't matter if you are a little bit bitter or tired, the most important thing is to have hope and thoughts.

Zuo Menggeng lit this lamp of hope, believing that these people will change soon.

Compared with the darkness of the mining area, the industrial area is much more vibrant.

The most ordinary workers here are well paid, so they naturally work hard and regard this place as their home.

Walking in it, seeing countless chimneys spewing white, gray, and black smoke and dust, wantonly polluting the sky, Zuo Menggeng was in a beautiful mood.

Because he knew that under such destruction, a powerful industrial entity was born.

"At present, the industrial zone has three machine tool factories, five foundry factories, five raw material factories, ten civil appliance factories, four gun factories, four artillery factories, four gunpowder factories, one armor factory, one engineering equipment factory, craft The research institute and the science and technology research institute have a total of more than [-] workers, and their annual output value is around [-] million taels of silver."

Speaking of the field under his jurisdiction, Jiang Wei is extremely proud.

Back in the day, he was a scholar who fled with his family, and survived a narrow escape.

Who would have thought that the hundreds of thousands of people under his command now created more value than the entire Ming Dynasty.

Life is like this, no regrets.

(End of this chapter)