Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 26 Longxiang Army and Arsenal

Chai Zongxun sat in the palace and pondered for a long time, thinking:
"At present, the wealth effect of the "night market" has begun to appear, and presumably the aristocratic, bureaucratic, gentry, and military top interest groups everywhere will also begin to be alarmed.

These profit-seekers who control the commerce of various states and impose all kinds of exorbitant taxes and miscellaneous taxes will definitely want to interfere with and undermine my New Deal.

Judging from the research and development progress of the craftsmen in the past few days, my improved "God Arm Bow" should be successfully launched in the near future.

It seems that the New Deal is about to enter deep water, and it will soon be time for me to come into direct contact with the immediate interest groups!
Although I can forcibly suppress Han Tong's Forbidden Army Division and Zhang Yongde's Guard and Military Division, I am afraid that the people in these two armies are closely related to the interest groups in various places in the Zhou Dynasty.

If one of them is not good, they will give me another "Chenqiao Mutiny" and launch a soldier to safeguard the interests of these powerful and gentry soldiers.

It seems that I must re-establish an invincible army that is absolutely loyal to me! "

Chai Zongxun thought again:
“It’s not enough to have the Divine Arm Bow as a super weapon, we also have to find ways to find breakthroughs in smelting technology.

I have too many things to consider and I am too busy to handle it, so why not find reliable craftsmen from the War Bureau to continue research and development? "

Chai Zongxun and the craftsmen worked together to develop an improved "God's Arm Bow". Compared with the "God's Arm Bow" in the previous life and space, it was smaller and easier to operate. An individual soldier could use it skillfully after ten days of training.

There are only a few design details left to polish.

Chai Zongxun immediately summoned the craftsmen from the Imperial Palace Gongzheng Institute and the Military Warfare Bureau of the Ministry of War. After some discussion, the "Weapons Research and Development Institute" was formally established, with Gongzheng Ding Luban as the dean, and a monthly salary of 50 taels. There were 20 people with flexible minds and Craftsmen with outstanding skills are regarded as research and development engineers, and are given a high monthly salary of twenty taels. They do not engage in production and specialize in the research and development of various new weapons.

The current task Chai Zongxun set for the "Weapons Research and Development Institute" is: after completing the research and development of the "God's Arm Bow" as soon as possible, he will devote all his efforts to researching the iron smelting technology to create better weapons.

Ding Luban and others were overjoyed. They were originally technical talents. However, the previous craftsman system only focused on weapon production and set extremely heavy weapons production tasks. These people worked hard every day.

Although Emperor Chai Zongxun was young, he arranged for them to engage in research and development work that they liked, so that they no longer had to work hard, and he also greatly increased everyone's monthly salary.

For a moment, Ding Luban and others were extremely grateful, thinking in their hearts: "Although His Majesty is young, he is so well versed in production techniques and treats us so favorably. Everyone says that the late Emperor is a wise king. From what I see, at such a young age, Your Majesty will have a bright future." The achievements must be better than those of the late emperor..."

On the afternoon of March 5, the first year of Kaixi, in the "Battle of Xingzhou", Ma Renyu, the Marquis of Yu, and Cao Bin, the Superintendent of Military and Horses, who had made great contributions, accompanied by Han Hui, the deputy commander of the bodyguards, fought in The Jiying Hall of the Imperial Palace was summoned by Emperor Chai Zongxun.

After the ceremony, Chai Zongxun chatted with the three of them for a while. The three of them could not help but admire the emperor more and more when they saw that although the emperor was young, he was thoughtful and wise.

Ma Renyu and Cao Bin withdrew from the rear, and Han Hui began to report the details of the expedition to Chai Zongxun.

After hearing this, Chai Zongxun was quite satisfied with Zhang Yongde's ability to stick to his duties, organize the army in an orderly manner, and make appropriate strategic choices during this trip.

However, for Chai Zongxun, it is more important to understand the discipline and mental outlook of the current Zhou army.

Chai Zongxun said: "Han Aiqing, during your trip to the Guards and Pro-Army Division, have you observed the daily behavior of generals at all levels?
What is the overall condition of the sergeants today? "

Han Hui said:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I followed your Majesty's order to march with the army from Bianjing. I observed that the officers at all levels in the army have the following characteristics:
One: The middle and lower-level officers are basically all warriors, most of them are illiterate and have rude personalities.

Second: The work style in the army is rough, with superior officers beating and scolding subordinates, and lynchings are common.

Third: Most of the sergeants come from poor backgrounds and dare not speak out against the actions of the officers.

Since His Majesty raised the salary of the sergeants of the Forbidden Army two years ago, the sergeants have been very grateful because the salary increase has ensured that their families can live a worry-free life. After hearing this, Chai Zongxun sighed:

"We are a country of civilization and etiquette. These military leaders and generals are used to fighting in troubled times. They speak with force and have no idea what justice, law and etiquette are.

However, in a short time, I will teach them how to be law-abiding and polite people! "

Chai Zongxun took a few sips of the tea and continued:
“In general, I am satisfied with Zhang Yongde’s performance in this expedition to Han.

Han Aiqing, if you are only asked to supervise the military affairs department for me, you will be overqualified.

I entrust you with an important task:
Nowadays, due to years of war, there are many orphans in my country. These orphans live in poverty and precarity.

I decided to set up a personal army, named "Dragon Xiang Army". Han Aiqing, Zhang Aiqing and six other people led the soldiers to the capitals of our states in the Zhou Dynasty to specially recruit orphans over ten years old and train them from their youth. He will also teach them personally from time to time. "

In the palace, Han Hui and Zhang Yong, who was standing around Chai Zongxun, and other six Du Yuhous saluted and accepted the promise.

Zhang Yong said: "Your Majesty, when I traveled around the Jianghu, I saw many orphans who lost their families after the war in various parts of the Zhou Dynasty.

There are a large number of these orphans, both male and female. Some pretty girls or boys with nimble hands and feet are often bought or taken as maids or servants by wealthy families. However, there are still many orphans living on the streets, which is very pitiful.

I beg that your majesty can also take pity on them. "

Chai Zongxun was moved and knew that Zhang Yong had a chivalrous heart and was worthy of the name of a knight-errant.

After pondering for a moment, Chai Zongxun said:

"That's the case. This time, you and I will go to various places in our Zhou Dynasty to bring all the orphans back to the capital, regardless of gender. I will arrange a way for them to make a living.

Dear friends, please start preparations. Tomorrow, I will carry out my imperial edict and go to various places to look for orphans. "

After Han Hui, Zhang Yong and others bowed, they left the palace to prepare for their trip.

After everyone left, Chai Zongxun looked at Tang Qi, the eunuch chief eunuch standing beside him, and said:

"Mr. Tang, I have a big thing to tell you:
Now the "God's Arm Bow" that I asked the craftsmen to develop is about to be successful. This is my secret weapon.

I want you to build a Forbidden Army barracks and an arsenal for the production of divine arm bows and other weapons in the capital. They will be supervised by the eunuchs of the palace, and the outside world will be under martial law. You will also build a living and living camp for the workers in it.

For specific construction matters, you can just contact Ding Gongzheng.

At that time, the orphans brought back by Zhang Yong, Han Tong and others who cannot be selected into the "Longxiang Army" will be arranged to enter the arsenal and do what they can. "

On the second day, Han Hui, Zhang Yong and others set out according to the order to recruit orphans in various places.

After Tang Qi received 2 taels of silver from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, under the guidance of Gongzheng Ding Luban, he began to purchase a large amount of materials and equipment needed to build the Forbidden Army barracks and arsenal from Bianjing, and set them up in Bianjing City. In the arsenal in the southeast corner, construction of the workers' living area began.

(End of this chapter)