After a moment of pause, Hou Meng continued to add: "But, isn't sulfur controlled in the hands of the Beiyang Affairs Bureau now? Gunpowder is a large amount of consumables. Without Japan's production, outsiders may be powerless to obtain a large amount of sulfur.

In addition, there is also nitrate. At present, only Xiaoliuqiu is produced in saltpeter, and then Chengdu Yield Cave. Shaanxi Nitrogen Factory produces a small amount for Taoist priests to make elixirs. I heard that Taoist priests used to extract elixir from human feces and bird feces when they were refining nitrite... But as long as we keep Xiaoliuqiu firmly in our hands, even if others get the formula, they will inevitably scrape the nitrite soil on the toilet wall...

I think about it carefully. I have never heard of a large amount of nitrate ore production in the north. As long as we control the origin of nitrate, I think even if one or two guns leak out, it will be a waste to others."

Who said there is no nitrate mine in the north?

Zhao Xing remembers that the largest nitrate mine in China was in Inner Mongolia, and after the power of Song Huizong was weakened, the Taoist priests were the ones who suffered the greatest benefits. Originally, all the Song Dynasty respected Taoism as the national religion and especially favored those Taoists, but there were Taoists who went north to present maps to the Hu people and seduced the Mongolians to massacre. Now this situation is even harder to say.

Taoists are not laymen about sulfur and salt. Gunpowder is originally a by-product of Taoist alchemy. At this time, if an exiled Taoist priest fled privately and sold the formula to Liao, Jin, or Xixia people, Zhao Xing's history of change will return to its original trajectory. However, in this way, the Hu people's destruction of Chinese civilization may be even greater.

"There are more than one Japanese in the world, and more than one small Liuqiu. Japanese Ryukyu has minerals, which does not mean there are no other places. These guns are strictly controlled by the Nanyang Affairs Bureau, because my army has an order. I can register each gun and strictly prohibit them from taking them home, but I think the Beiyang Affairs Bureau cannot do it."

Hou Meng thought for a moment and instead attacked from other aspects: "The Taiwei already knew that the Westerners had obtained the recipe, so why didn't he detain those Westerners - I remember the Taiwei had done similar things."

Zhao Xing nodded gently: "Cost and benefits - I calculated this at the time: When we trade with the West, we can get at least 100 million yuan in profits every year, and we can deduct these Westerners. What can we get? Of course, deducting them will not cost them, but the chain benefits brought by this will greatly affect our trade.

I have carefully measured that making such guns is not something that personal power can do. It requires completing the entire 137 sets of processes in a huge workshop. My Song Dynasty has a vast territory. It has a large population and can rely on our national strength and economic strength to build such a huge workshop to complete a complete set of operations, but the West cannot.

The West is all small countries, and one of their countries is not as good as ours. Some countries are not even as good as our trade territory and population. Even if such a small country is still launching a sacred religious war on the outside world, there are still internal conflicts between countries on their continent. Such small countries are few inhabitants. They want to gather enough human and material resources to produce such new weapons that consume huge amounts of money... I guess few countries can afford it.

Moreover, I have also said before that these small countries are constantly attacking each other. In this case, no one wants their enemies to obtain such weapons that transcend the times, so they will inevitably clamp down and destroy each other. It is impossible to work together. Therefore, even if they get the formula and make this gunpowder, the quantity and power are limited.

The most important thing is that our Song army is going to fight Africa. According to my plan, they will occupy a sulfur mine with a huge reserve in Africa. They have lost the support of the sulfur mine in Africa. I think the amount of gunpowder they produce is limited, at most they can engage in a civil war. And our Song Dynasty's national strength is beyond their imagination. One day, if we have a conflict with them, as long as we remain strong now, I believe that small European countries cannot compete with us by their own power.

So, I thought about it, instead of blocking them and delaying their time to get gunpowder, it is better to let them go back and trade with them, and we mainly devote our energy to maintaining the prosperity of our Song Dynasty - to maintain the current prosperity with the money we have obtained from them, so that the right way is. Small destruction of conspiracy and tricks cannot become a great cause."

When Hou Meng heard Zhao Xing tell the truth, he took advantage of the victory to pursue: "In this way, you are going to sell gunpowder to the Arabs? You sell gunpowder to both sides, won't you make money?

In other words, you are not afraid of Westerners. Arabs obtain gunpowder. Why are you afraid of our Beiyang Affairs Bureau obtaining new weapons? You also say that you have no suspicion of separatist power? We are also Song people, and you are Song officials. Why are you willing to sell weapons to Westerners, and Nanyang people, but you are unwilling to sell them to us?"

Zhao Xing raised a finger: "You are wrong. I sell gunpowder, not muskets, especially new muskets? This new musket process is complicated. We are making ground muskets now, and the barrel life is limited. Although the craftsmen are trying their best, the cost rate of the muskets produced now is not even half. But I have 50,000 troops in Nanyang who are hungry, so how can I take into account the Beiyang Affairs Bureau?"

Hou Meng was surprised: "Fifty thousand, where did you get so many troops? I heard that you only have 30,000 people? Among these 30,000 people, the firearm army is only 6,000. Why is your power expanding so quickly in the blink of an eye?"

"Not stop!" Shuai Fan pushed the door and came in at this time. He was not at ease with Zhao Xing's negotiations here. Anyway, he always played the role of a black man. He ran over to play his role. While pushing the door, he replied lazily: "Fifty thousand soldiers are the number ten days ago. Yesterday, our Qinglong and White Tiger Legion officially formed an army. The two armies had a total of 6,000 people, and the auxiliary soldiers were about 50,000. In addition to the Zhuque and Xuanwu Army, we had a total of 110,000 troops."

Hou Meng stammered: "Not counting the demon army, the Nanyang Affairs Bureau already has 110,000 troops?...Why do you want so many troops?"

Shuai Fan immediately replied: "The demon and ghost army is now not enough except for the Ping Yao army stationed in Dali and monitoring Tubo, the other three armies stationed overseas. Naturally, they must strive to expand their troops to deal with unexpected changes."

Hou Meng blinked and quickly replied: "The Iron Cavalry cannot make a big wave. The Privy Council has secretly written the Beiyang Affairs Bureau. Let us not assist them. A few days ago, the Iron Cavalry asked to go south along the Beijing East Road, but we have refused. Mr. Han told Zhao Liangfu that after Huashigang, the Beijing East Road was full of sorrow and hatred. Now the Beiyang Affairs Bureau is busy pacifying the local area. I am afraid that the Iron Cavalry will not be able to supply the Iron Cavalry food and fodder. Once the Iron Cavalry advances from the Beijing East Road, I am afraid that the people will not be able to withstand it, so they will attack the army.

Zhao Liangfu received a rejection from us and had already diverted to the south through Lu Road. I heard that because the local area was unwilling to supply food and grass, the Iron Cavalry marched only twenty or thirty miles a day."

Hou Meng was talking about the Iron Cavalry going south. It seems that the Privy Council was also dissatisfied with the Iron Cavalry going south. They knew that at this sensitive moment, threatening Zhao Laohu might have a chance to get out of fire. So although the royal family's request was notified to the south by the request of the royal family, the Iron Cavalry going south to "change clothes", they had notified the counties in private. I hope they would not cooperate.

Of course, they did not dare to notify Zhao Xing, for fear that Zhao Xing would know that this Iron Cavalry would first deal with the precious and only cavalry among the imperial guards.

They didn't know that the four divine beast troops here in Zhao Xing had already achieved semi-cavalry transformation.

Hou Meng said this to Zhao Xing to show that he supported Zhao Xing's support for the last time to warn him. In this regard, even if he was not an ally of Zhao Xing, he was definitely not an opponent, so he did not have to worry about arming the Northern Affairs Bureau to target Zhao Xing himself after the gun leaked.

Zhao Xinghan smiled: "Iron Cavalry, I never thought it was targeting us. This broiler army is just another collection of the official family. It is not used for war, but for performance and dance. I never worry that broiler will turn into a phoenix.

However, when you say this, I feel embarrassed to not assign you some new muskets, so..."

Zhao Xing stretched out three fingers, but he didn't say the number. The handsome fan was determined and said in an unquestionable tone: "Three hundred shots. We can only squeeze out three hundred shots. This gun is powerful. Three hundred shots are enough to equip the personal soldiers of the generals of the Beiyang Affairs Bureau. There are not many. Do you want it?"

Zhao Xing stammered at Shuai Fan and said, "I originally wanted to say thirty feet!"

The handsome guy is angry.

Hou Meng endured it again and again, and was furious: "Three hundred shots, are you sending beggars? Zhao Liren, do you think I am here to beg for? I have the official document from the Privy Council, asking you to allocate the weapons to us according to the number of numbers. I will not agree to one shot less."

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Don't be anxious. I didn't say I won't give it to you, but our daily production volume is limited. If you ask me for it with this attitude, I have to tell you that when we have enough production, we will definitely give it to you!"

Hou Meng sat down slowly: "We are friends, we used to be friends, right? To be honest, how long do I need to wait?"

Before Zhao Xing could answer, he was still handsome and rushing to say: "Three thousand new guns will take five years no matter how you say it, maybe ten years may not be necessary."

Hou Meng is about to attack, and Zhao Xing said first: "We are friends. You would rather take back a part of the guns in the soldier's hands and give them to you. But you also know that this kind of gun requires special bullets. Three hundred guns, I can give you enough bullets - 10,000 rounds per gun, three spare barrels, but you want three thousand, and I can only 100 rounds per gun, and one spare barrel is useless."

Hou turned his eyes and immediately smiled: "I remember that Xiao Liuqiu should be managed by the Beiyang Affairs Bureau, but the Nanyang Affairs Bureau handed over Japan to us, but continued to delay returning Xiao Liuqiu. Zhao Xianggong, should we continue to talk about when to return Xiao Liuqiu?"

Zhao Xing, who was pinched and hurt his feet, said with a smirk: "Mr. Hou, Brother Yuangong, Xiao Liuqiu has no big production. It is just a group of fugitives from the Jin Dynasty who established several tribes there. They made a living by fishing. The items they paid tribute were just coral shells. The Beiyang Affairs Bureau started and took over Xiao Liuqiu. Not only did they have no income, but they also had to pay a lot of money to patrol the sea. The gain was not worth the loss. It was better than the Nanyang Affairs Bureau, which was rich and powerful, and could maintain the normal operation of this route. So don't fight with me. If you lose money, just throw it to me."

Hou Meng several times, and the liquidation said: "Last Yang Affairs Bureau transported 300 ships of saltpeter from Xiao Liuqiu last year, which is equivalent to sending a ship of saltpeter from Nanyang every day. Now the earlier the ship of your Nanyang Affairs Bureau is, the bigger it is. Each ship is afraid of loading a thousand pieces of cargo... What is the price of saltpeter now? Even if Xiao Liuqiu does not produce anything else, the transaction of saltpeter alone is enough to maintain this route, so don't say anything fooling people."

When it comes to shipbuilding, Zhao Xing laughed even more honest: "What kind of ships does the Beiyang Affairs Bureau build now? Is the wood enough?"

Speaking of this, Hou Meng was a little guilty. Historically, there was not much hardwood produced in the north, but there was still land. It was not until the Mongols attacked Japan and cut off the hardwood resources in Liaodong that there was no longer a large-scale shipbuilding industry in the north.

It is not the time for the Mongols to rise. But even so, the northern shipbuilding wood is not produced much. According to Shen Kuo's records, Shandong had already been cut down at this time, and even the stones did not grow grass. The shipbuilding industry known to the Song Dynasty was south of Quanzhou because the south had abundant hardwood resources and could supply the needs of shipbuilding.

In other words, the current Northern Affairs Bureau is unable to develop independently. The hardwood resources smuggled from the Liao Kingdom are far from meeting the needs of shipbuilding. The locations of a large number of hardwood resources in the south are all under the control of Zhao Xing.

Hou Meng thought for a long time and said with difficulty: "We don't want Ryukyu anymore, but the wood is needed for shipbuilding..."

Zhao Xing laughed more and more like an honest man: "Why bother? Why bother to start a new shipbuilding stall? As long as you have money, my Nanyang shipyard will sell you ready-made ships, which will be exactly the same as the Nanyang Affairs Bureau. Look, we each take the needs. You give us the shipbuilding volume of land you need every year. I promise to give priority to supplying it. Xiao Liuqiu. You might as well turn a blind eye."

Hou Meng then woke up: "What we just talked about seems to be the issue of new guns. How did you get around Xiao Liuqiu? This code is the same. Han Xiang still needs to discuss with you personally. What I agree to do is not count."

Just now, the two sides of the confrontation were actually showing their trump cards. Hou Meng told Zhao Xing that he had the work Zhao Xing needed and could jammed Zhao Xing's neck; and Zhao Xing counterattacked: The life and death of the Beiyang Affairs Bureau is in my palm. I would not supply wood or ships. Your Beiyang Affairs Bureau is just a navy army on the road.

Speaking of this, Hou Meng first surrendered. He put aside the topic just now and returned to the gun, and at the same time he hidingly told the other party: We all have our own concerns and needs in official business, this gun...

Zhao Xing glanced at Shuai Fan, and Shuai Fan suddenly interrupted: "You mentioned Hua Shigang just now, I want to ask you, has Hua Shigang robbed occurred in Jingdong Road? How is it now?"

Zhao Xing seemed to be worried by Shuai Fan's words, and he immediately asked: "How is Zhang Shuye? I heard that he is now the governor of Yunzhou?"

Hou Meng was stunned for a moment, and his face remained unchanged, "I heard that the Nanyang Affairs Bureau is training Yin-Yang Taoist soldiers. There is this rumor among the lieutenant generals in the capital. They said that the government had stopped the court and a secret spy from the Guangnan Yin-Yang Taoist Department was inciting it. General Xiaoshi also vaguely talked about such a thing - now it seems that this matter is indeed true.

The robbery of Hua Shigang in Yunzhou happened to be in a turmoil in the court. It was probably the last batch of Hua Shigang in the official family. You should know that it was a treasure of wealthy merchants in Suzhong collected by Tong Guan. It was quietly transported to the capital by land. Unexpectedly, it was robbed in Yunzhou.

After the robbery, the local officials were worried that the court would hold the responsibility and were busy solving the case. The incident happened to be aborting the court. After that, the local officials thought of hiding the matter and did not report it to the court. This matter was only recently exposed. I only got news from the Beiyang Affairs Bureau a few days ago that a local tycoon named Chao Gai gathered a villager and robbed the group of Hua Shigang. Afterwards, the government sent troops to encircle and suppress the case. Chao Gai had already rushed to Liangshanpo - this matter is under the jurisdiction of Zhang Shuye. He also hopes to transfer a few quick guns from you and enter Ludang to suppress the bandits."

Zhao Xing immediately remembered the official betting official he met in Huanqing, Cai Jing's son-in-law Liang Zimei. He asked tightly: "Who is in charge of Daming Mansion now?"

Hou Meng replied: "Liang Zimei, the clan of the Secretariat. This guy is Cai Jing's son-in-law and was about to be cleaned up, but I heard that Lord Huang Luzhi stopped him and said that Liang Zimei had dated you, and you once praised Liang Zimei for being diligent and meticulous. Besides, the government and the country are in turmoil, and it is difficult for the border generals to be replaced easily."

This is right. Liang Zimei, the Secretary of the Central Secretariat of Liang was in Daming Mansion. If Liang Zimei wanted to send Cai Jing's birthday gift, she should send it to Bianliang in the west. It would be impossible to send it to Shandong in the east. Therefore, Chao Gai could not rob Cai Jing's birthday gift in Shandong. He could only rob the Huashi Gang.

Zhao Xing did not expect that he accelerated the process of history and made Hua Shigang die in a short life. But Chao Gai still appeared.

It seems that destiny is sometimes incredible. People who are destined to leave names in history can never suppress their desire to show up.

Chao Gai appeared, so where is the local La? This Fang La would appear in central Zhejiang, and eventually the army was directed to Hangzhou. The religious believers in the city conquered Hangzhou with the cooperation between the inside and outside, and then used Hangzhou as the capital to establish their own religious regime and implement armed separatist rule?

Perhaps, Fang La is currently one of the many small armed forces in Zhejiang, and has not had time to attract the attention of the Song Dynasty court.

"Check it out quickly to check whether there are bandits in Suzhong, how many bandits are there, and who are the leaders?" Zhao Xing jumped up in a hurry.
Chapter completed!