Chapter 444: Where Zhuge Went
Shanglin Garden in the morning, inside the Sijin Duwei's office.

Black Bear was standing in front of the fish scale armor stamping machine in casual clothes. It was hydraulically powered.

In order to utilize water power in winter, stone embankments were built to store water and river channels were built to confine water and enhance water power.

Even if the ice was frozen in winter, slaves affiliated with the Sijin Duwei's office would use tools to break and chisel the ice.

Looking at the armor plates made of red-hot wrought iron, Black Bear frowned slightly.

He would rather use large armor plates to make armor... But this is a matter of thinking barrier. If this thinking barrier is broken, Hebei, Youzhou and Liaodong, which have developed iron smelting areas, can quickly produce excellent steel armor.

There is no point in engaging in an arms race, at least not now.

It would be better to wait until the puppet Taoist soldiers reach a scale of a thousand before engaging in an arms race, so that you will not suffer losses.

Therefore, a majestic-looking armor like fish scale armor must be created. In order to deify the fish scale armor, all parties must be forced to abandon the already mature iron-clad Mingguang armor form and conduct research in the direction of fish scale armor.

Without a stamping machine, this is much more difficult to forge than long or square nail plates, and it is not something that an apprentice blacksmith or a novice blacksmith can forge.

Good fish scale armor can be rolled up and down like iron armor, and can also be rolled up and down.

Especially for the upper and lower rolls, ordinary iron armor will adopt the methods of overlapping, virtual tying and hanging in order to increase the activity of the upper and lower connecting parts.

This structure is not an obvious disadvantage when infantry is fighting, but when cavalry uses it, they are afraid that the short infantry will stab from the lower direction... As long as the gap between the upper and lower armor plates is stabbed, under the impact of horsepower, there are two armor plates that fix the spear blades into the points, which will inevitably penetrate and cause fatal injuries.

Therefore, the cavalry's iron armor is dense and not as flexible as the infantry armor.

The disadvantage of the Miza is that it is heavy, and after dismounting, it cannot easily perform tactical movements such as rolling like infantry.

If the cavalry used fish-scale armor, they would instinctively feel that the fish scales were dense and fine, and it would be difficult for spears and halberds to penetrate the gaps in the armor from below.

In the future, using fish-scale armored knights to achieve more impressive results will force all parties to upgrade and develop fish-scale armor, which in turn will force all parties to improve their technical strength and technical population.

It's good that it's improved, and it's chewy when you eat it.

Therefore, looking at the machine successfully made by Zhuge Liang, he could not help but feel happy: "Although it is an imitation and improvement, it also has merits. Later, Kong Ming will summarize the whole process and commend those who have made contributions and efforts. No craftsman should be forgotten."

"Yes."

Zhuge Liang was wearing a plain black official uniform, and at this moment he looked neither sad nor happy.

Black Bear thought for a moment and said, "You put me in a difficult position. I originally wanted to let Kong Ming supervise metallurgy and coinage, and if he can make achievements in two or three years, I will appoint him. Now that he has made achievements, I wonder if Kong Ming wants to make new achievements while in office, or if he wants to govern the people?"

Sheriff?

Zhuge Liang immediately ruled out this possible promotion. Since the title law was leaked in Guanzhong, but there was no in-depth investigation by the shogunate, he knew that this was a test.

During the Han Dynasty and even before the Qin Dynasty, the county magistrate was a real nobleman just like the general. Only some small counties and border counties had a sub-noble position.

As the commander of the Sijin Army, he knew his own business. Although he received a salary of less than 2,000 dan, according to his merits, he could only be rated as a colonel at most.

If the negative influence of the Huang and Cai families was investigated, Zhuge Liang would have to suffer together with his cousin-in-law Cui Zhouping.

Based on Zhuge Liang's understanding of black bears, he also realized that this way of asking questions had a trap.

He immediately bowed and said: "I am willing to obey your orders, but I have great ambitions and would like to start from the prefecture and county."

"In that case, I will appoint you as the county magistrate of Jiang and help me restore the people's strength in Hedong."

Black Bear smiled and asked, "Can you recommend someone to take over the coin minting business? I don't ask for a smart and capable person, but if he can follow the rules, I will tolerate him."

Zhuge Liang fell into deep thought. He wanted to recommend Ma Liang, but was worried about harming Ma Liang. After thinking for a while, he said, "Meng Gongwei of Runan is on good terms with me. He is honest and upright, and he has talent. If you want to continue my plan, you must have Ma Liang and Ma Jichang."

"What is Ma Liang's current position?"

"I made copying books my job at university, and it was also my daily pleasure."

Zhuge Liang bowed again and said that if possible, he would also like to let Ma Liang enter the officialdom based on his own abilities.

But given their friendship and affection, if one of them caused trouble, how could it be possible that the other was unaware and not implicated?
Since they are in such a relationship of sharing weal and woe, it would be better to seize the opportunity to recommend Ma Liang directly and send him to a key position in one fell swoop.

Only Ma Liang could keep the secrets of the Sijin Yamen.

This is truly a sharp sword that can kill himself, and the hilt is in Ma Liang's hand.

If Ma Liang could not resist the temptation of huge profits, or was instigated by others to rebel, the first person to suffer the consequences would definitely be Zhuge Liang.

Black Bear was not surprised to hear this and nodded: "Let's talk about him. Has he contacted Pang Tong recently?"

"Now Shi Yuan and I belong to different factions, and we are not on the same side, so we have no contact. But my brother-in-law Pang Shanmin fled the persecution in Jingzhou and had to lead his family to Guanzhong. He is now staying at my brother's house."

Zhuge Liang reported honestly. Although this matter was not a secret, it would be better for everyone if he could tell it earlier.

Black Bear silently memorized Pang Shanmin and prepared to write it down in the little black book to ban this person from officialdom for life.

Still nodding, "I understand your situation, so go to Jiang County and make some achievements. Shang Yao, the governor of Hedong County, also knows that his ability is limited, so he focuses on military affairs and implements a relaxed management of civil affairs within the territory. He will not interfere with Jiang County, nor will he share additional military service, corvée or taxes."

"Yes, I understand. I will make it clear to Ji Chang."

Zhuge Liang bowed solemnly, and Black Bear just looked away and suddenly said, "My wife praised Kong Ming's wife in her letter. Now I am going to Hedong to take up my post, and I will allow Kong Ming and his wife to go with me."

"Thank you, Madam, for your kindness."

Zhuge Liang was also anxious to have a child, so this time he bowed even more deeply.

But he was also worried about how to deal with his brother-in-law Pang Shanmin's family. Putting himself in the above perspective, he also felt hopeless about Pang Shanmin's future.

It would be hopeless to stay here, but if I flee to another place, I would implicate many officials from Jingxiang, and I might suffer even more misfortune in the future.

After chatting for a few more words, Black Bear said goodbye to Zhuge Liang and returned to the team that was about to set off.

He boarded the chariot and led the triumphant army towards Ganquan Mountain, carrying with him a large amount of wealth.

And last night, the gold collected in Yizhou was stored in the warehouse... The amount of gold was so large that Black Bear was uneasy about entrusting it to ordinary troops for escort, so he chose to escort it personally.

If it were minted into gold coins, it would be worth about 3 billion coins.

On the second floor of the car, after Black Bear sat down, he turned around and told Fa Zheng: "Get the map of Hedong."

"Here."

Fa Zheng turned around and walked down the stairs, passed through the connecting passage between the front of the train and the carriages, and with the help of Yang Xiu, he found the cowhide map and was about to return.

Yang Xiu then took out another scroll and handed it over: "Master, this is a map of Taiyuan. I think your Majesty is planning something in Hedong. This place is adjacent to Taiyuan, so you may ask for it later."

Fa Zheng also reached out to take it and looked at Yang Xiu deeply.

Yang Xiu smiled and bowed slightly to Fa Zheng.

(End of this chapter)