Chapter 572

(it's Friday today, so don't let your monthly ticket pass the weekend, okay? Look here, look here, vote for the monthly ticket!)

If it had not been arranged a long time ago, the good terrain of Zhuque mountain would have fallen into Fang Xie's hands. Zhuque mountain, which stretches for hundreds of miles, divides Huangyang road into two. A large area in the west is blocked by the semicircular Zhuque mountain, and to the west is the North-South wolf milk mountain, which is almost enclosed. Although it is a fertile land with thousands of miles, it can be too closed, so the Aborigines have basically moved out. It is also the only place in the big Sui Dynasty where there is no official road.

During the Taiping period, this place seemed a little remote. There were many beautiful tourists, but no one wanted to live for a long time. When the world was in chaos, it became the most suitable place for garrison troops. There is Zhuque mountain in front, which is a natural barrier. Although the wasteland behind the mountain has not been cultivated for many years, it is good land as long as it is opened.

Before Fang Xie went south, Wu Yidao had already arranged for people to recruit troops on Huangyang road. About seven or eight thousand people were building mountain strongholds and working in full swing.

The branch of huangniu river passes at the foot of Zhuque mountain. Although the river channel becomes narrower, large ships can barely pass through. Fang Xie's first big move after coming here is to broaden the river channel connecting a lake with dozens of miles around and the branch of huangniu river. Tens of thousands of people are busy with this in the next two months. After the six or seven mile long river channel is widened, large ships can enter the lake to stay. The branch large ships of huangniu River are feasible, but they can't turn around. After opening up the small lake, the lake becomes a water stronghold, and the scheduling of large ships is much more convenient.

After the project of widening the river channel, another channel will be opened on the other side of the lake, so that the water flow forms a cycle, just like the island ring of modern roads. The fleet enters the lake from the far entrance and takes another channel at the exit, so as to avoid the risk of River congestion.

If the waterway is open, it is like a convenient door for the black flag army. With the ability of goods connecting the sky and descending, the needed house materials can be sent continuously by water.

Artisan recruits built a stronghold on Zhuque mountain, while black flag soldiers were opening the river.

In the first three months, Fang Xie had no plans to send troops. At this point, there is no need to hide, and the recruitment of new soldiers can be done in the open. The people of Huangyang road hate Luo Yao's left avant-garde, so there are not many people who come to take refuge. Fang Xie's recruitment principle is to stay on the basis of the best. The young and the old will give five kilograms of grain and fifty copper coins, and then let them go home. Of course, in this way, many people sign up for the money and food, but Fang Xie doesn't let people break it. As long as they don't receive it repeatedly, they will be distributed.

Wu Yidao and others privately praised this practice.

Now that the foundation is not stable, grasping the hearts of the people is indeed a major event. As Fang Xie said during the discussion, don't let the people think that there are a group of mountain bandits and robbers living in the Zhuque mountain camp of the black flag army, but an army that loves and protects the people. Only by allowing the local people to recognize, can we really stabilize the foundation.

These days, Fang Xie has been staring at the river. The soldiers are full of energy, so the progress is very fast. After the early diversion and other preparations are ready, the speed of widening the river is relatively fast.

Standing on the high embankment, Fang Xie looked at the soldiers working in full swing below with thousands of miles' eyes, smiled and said, "after the river is widened, you can build a water stronghold in the lake. General Duan, this is what you are best at, and I'll leave it to you."

Duan Zheng smiled and said, "general, in my opinion, this is not a long-term place... And our fleet has only more than 200 warships, most of which are merchant ships, so we need to build more trestles in the lake to load and unload goods immediately. As for the water stronghold, it doesn't have to be too large and strong."

The solution nodded. "Yes, this is only temporary residence. But we can go back to the right place and stay here. We can't abandon it. How to build a water village has the final say, you need to have money for your hands, you just have to ask Hou ye to ask for it."

Wu Yidao said on one side, "I've almost done enough business that can't get in and out."

Fang Xie laughed and suddenly saw a tall figure walking along the river with his head down in the distance, as if thinking about something. Fang Xie pointed to the man and told the soldier, "go and invite Andrew. Why did this guy come so far?"

Andrew came from a place called the Principality of Ross in the east of the sea. He was a firearm craftsman invited by businessmen from the eastern Chu state entrusted by Wu Yi. This man was a criminal in the Principality of Ross. He was framed and his family property was robbed. In his anger, he killed people and was arrested in prison. The merchant of Dongchu bought him with one hundred Liang silver and a big Sui porcelain. Then he asked him to recruit several craftsmen to make firearms, all of whom were poor people at the bottom of life, and sent them to the big Sui Dynasty.

He has typical blonde curly hair and blue eyes of foreigners. He is very strong, but he can't fight at all. He once had the experience of being interrupted by someone in a tavern, and his opponent is a 60 year old man.

The soldiers hurried over and invited Andrew. Andrew heard that general Fang asked him to trot here. After he arrived in the great Sui Dynasty, he was fascinated by the culture of this country. According to his understanding, Fang Xie was a big man equivalent to the Duke in the Duchy of Ross.

"Dear Sir, what can I do for you?"

Andrew stooped down to salute with the understanding of the rose people, and he could barely express his meaning in Chinese.

"How did you come all the way out so far?"

Fang Xie pointed to the direction of the stronghold.

Andrew replied with some sadness: "I miss my family, dear sir. If you have a way, can you bring my family here? I'm a criminal. I'll be caught and shot again as soon as I return to the Principality of Ross, but I still have a sister and a brother to take care of. If I'm not with them, they must live a hard life. Old Engel's Coyote has long been indifferent to my sister Well intentioned, I'm worried about them. "

"Oh?"

Fang Xie looked back at Wu and said, "Lord Hou, if you can, you can ask businessmen from Dongchu to pick up Andrew's family, as well as the families of several other craftsmen, so that they can do things safely."

Wu said, "I've sent someone to do it, but it's not easy to bring dozens of people out of Russia."

Fang Xie nodded: "it's hard to do well... Andrew"

Fang Xie said to Andrew, "don't worry, I will bring all your family. Besides, I have something to ask you."

Fang Xie thought for a moment and said, "now we buy all the things that make long guns from businessmen in the East Chu at a high price, such as gun barrels. These things can't be made in the big Sui Dynasty. Do you think there's any way to transport all the machines and equipment we need from the Principality of Ross?"

"My dear Lord!"

Andrew exclaimed, "it's too difficult... It's military controlled. It's too difficult to transport it. If it weren't for the greedy guys in charge of the warehouse, they wouldn't be able to buy these parts."

"There will always be a way."

Fang Xie patted him on the shoulder and said, "as long as you can find a way to transport the machine from the Principality of Ross, I will meet your request again. You know, I have this ability."

Andrew looked back at the scene of tens of thousands of soldiers working on the river. The other party believed in what he said: "I know you have this ability... OK! I'll try my best to find a way, but... Can you really meet my wish?"

Fang Xie nodded: "unless you want to be an emperor."

Andrew quickly shook his head: "no, no, no, I don't want to be an emperor. I just want... Just... To make miss Yinyu my wife. She is an angel. I'm deeply fascinated by her. If I can make her my wife, I'm willing to give everything I have in exchange!"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and the wine, color and wealth behind him burst out laughing. The muscles on Wu Yi's face couldn't help twitching a few times, and then looked at Fang Xie.

Fang Xie was obviously stunned. He was silent for a moment. He stretched out his hand to hold Andrew's shoulder and asked seriously, "Andrew, in your hometown, if two men like a girl at the same time, how can we solve it?"

Andrew replied, "duel!"

Fang Xie gave a sound, stopped to look at Andrew and said more seriously, "what's the relationship between the medical officer in the stronghold and you“

"Good, that's a good man! We often drink together. He always invites me to drink your big Sui shaodao. The wine is too spicy. I still like the beer of the Principality of Ross. It tastes great. I'll buy you a drink with sausage when I have the chance. It's delicious in the world. I also told the medical officer that I'll give him a bucket of beer in the future!"

Andrew said.

Fang Xie said very seriously, "he may have to take care of you for some time..."

……

……

Fang Xie would not really beat Andrew. Of course, if Andrew challenged him, he wouldn't mind doing so. Wu Yidao was not joking when he said that he would marry Wu Yinyu to Fang Xie. If Fang Xie hadn't half joked and pulled Andrew aside, San jinhou might have thrown this big fool into the mud at the bottom of the river.

"This is really difficult!"

In the workshop laboratory, Andrew could hardly understand the whimsical interpretation of each other: "I have simplified the loading of the long gun as much as possible, so that the firing and loading speed is at least one-third higher than before. My dear sir, although the continuous firing you said is a genius idea, I really can't do it. With my existing ability, I don't think it's just me and no one can do it."

Fang Xie nodded and knew that the continuous firing of firearms was indeed too advanced for this era. In terms of lethality, the musket of the Principality of Ross was not as good as the crossbow. Even if the army was equipped, if the enemy had an arrow array of tens of thousands of people, the musket would have no advantage. The range was not longer than the hard bow, and the power of the lead bullet was also small. Now, this thing can only be regarded as the advantage of medium-distance combat We need a lot of equipment.

The reason why Fang Xie keeps Andrew studying is that he firmly believes that the times are progressing and science and technology are also progressing. Although the current firearms are still very weak, Fang Xie will not forget how heavy the losses were in the war between cold weapons and hot weapons. Fang Xie will not forget how much the motherland of previous generations suffered in this regard.

"Put this first."

Fang Xie asked, "is it possible to build artillery in the great Sui Dynasty?"

Andrew shook his head again. "It's impossible. There are only a few of us and those apprentices. It's impossible to cast artillery without a factory."

Fang Xie couldn't help sighing. Although he already knew the answer, he was still a little disappointed. There is no mature casting technology in the big Sui Dynasty. If you want to make artillery, you can only think about it.

"If..."

Fang Xie made a gesture and said, "if the artillery can be installed on the warship, our fleet can easily control the living river."

Andrew looked at Fang Xie like a monster: "I can't believe you haven't left this country. Your thoughts are completely different from others. They are surprised and suspicious when they see these things, but you seem to know many things. It's not surprising at all."

Fang Xie smiled and said that just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard someone outside saying coldly: "because he is the chosen one. The chosen one has known many things that others don't know since he was born. That's innate knowledge, not learned the day after tomorrow."

Fang Xie was shocked. Looking back, he saw that he didn't know when Mengyuan Grand Master sang Sasa appeared at the door.