The Empress came ashore and beheaded the meritorious officials, forcing me to wear the yellow robe

"I have already..."

"Hey!"

Li Jize was about to answer subconsciously, but Wang Yuanya raised her hand first to stop him from saying anything else.

Li Jize: “???”

"Your Highness, Prince Qin! I beg you to reconsider this carefully. If our army falls, yours will be next! Furthermore, if the price the Prince Qin asks for the muskets is too high, and our army can't afford it, the cost will also be passed on to the people."

After Wang Yuanya finished speaking, Li Jize was confused.

He didn't understand, what did the high price of muskets have to do with the people?

After a brief thought, he finally understood.

This shameless bandit is trying to put the blame on Li Jize just like he did in the previous robbery!

The subtext is that if they collect money from the people and the rich, they will definitely say that it is because Li Jize sells arms at a high price.

Li Jize was really a little angry. He looked at Wang Yuanya in front of him and seemed to think of the most classic line.

"Why are there so many people pointing guns at me alone?"

"Because you're a good person!"

……

Li Jize looked at Wang Yuanya unhappily, and his tone became a little flat and cold, just like a business matter.

"My people have to eat too! Crafting firearms also costs money, including materials and craftsmen."

"It's not like we, the rebel army, haven't seen firearms made before, but the price is nowhere near as high as the King of Qin wants!"

Wang Yuanya is telling you clearly, don’t treat everyone as fools, we all know that you took kickbacks in this deal!

Li Jize: "..."

He looked at Wang Yuanya strangely, then rolled his eyes and said unhappily, "Don't you understand the current situation? If you can really make firearms for your rebel army, why don't you just make them yourselves? Why bother buying them from me? It makes me feel like I want to sell them to you."

Having said that, Li Jize shouted directly, "Someone come!"

After a while, a servant came running in hurriedly, bowing his head and smiling.

"Haha, Your Majesty!"

"see a visitor out!"

Li Jize put down the tea bowl directly, which meant that he could leave and there was nothing more to talk about.

"this……"

"Wait a minute!"

The servant was about to drive Wang Yuanya away, but she raised her hand and said shamelessly, "Li Jize! Considering we are husband and wife, can't you show some mercy?"

Li Jize: "Okay! I'll pay for the shipping!"

Wang Yuanya: “…”

"I'll give you two more cannons at most!"

"..."

"Hey, that's enough! I've already made the biggest concession I can. If you keep asking me to take out more, then there's really no room for negotiation."

"Good! Deal!"

In this way, with the efforts of Wang Yuanya, the "Princess of Qin" who was in a rather awkward position, Li Jize was responsible for sending out ships to help them transport muskets, gunpowder, and bullets, and also gave them two "red cannons".

Don’t underestimate these two red cannons!

It can be said that this period is the highest manifestation of science and technology.

At least after the barbarians seized the Da Qi's musket factory, they had no way of producing cannons!

Because cannons are not simply enlarged muskets, their casting technology is very difficult to master.

When these people were still unable to manufacture artillery, Li Jize's team had already begun researching "shrapnel bombs".

The artillery shells of this period were like lead bullets, a single piece that could only hit people. The technology wasn't advanced enough to blow people up.

The simplest shrapnel bomb is actually a hollow shell with gunpowder inside, which is ignited with a matchlock. After being fired, it explodes and causes shrapnel to injure people.

This thing is called "Poison Fire Cannon"!

Made of wrought iron, it resembles a cup-shaped general. It holds over ten liang of gunpowder. Inside the cup-shaped mouth lies the cast iron cannon barrel, filled with five liang of sulfur poison, with the cord tied together. When ignited, the cannon fires first, sending the cannon flying 200 steps away, exploding and injuring.

To put it simply, it's like a grenade that needs to be ignited, which is then ignited and stuffed into a cannon, which then fires it. Then, after hitting the ground, it explodes in two stages, causing widespread casualties from the metal fragments inside.

Don't underestimate a mere shrapnel bomb. Just casting the hollow shell is a very difficult technology.

Molten iron is poured into the mold to form!

What kind of mold can withstand the heat of molten iron?

To put it bluntly, it’s steel!

How to make steel during this period was naturally the "dual method" of coking coal, animal power and hydraulic blowers, iron smelting and iron frying in one line!

Anyway, at present, this technology is only available in Li Jize.

Since he has already given two red cannons (solid bullets) to the rebels, if he wants to be one generation ahead in technology, he must produce shrapnel bullets immediately.

Therefore, Li Jize ordered his military factory to upgrade comprehensively!

Qingzhou is a good place. It is not only close to the seaport, but also has convenient water conservancy because of the Tianjiang River.

Not only various hydraulic machinery, but also steelmaking and steel production are very convenient.

The only inconvenience is...

Lack of iron ore!

This stuff basically has to be purchased from the south or the north.

Yes, the north! The north that has been ruled by barbarians.

Before, merchants from the Great Qi secretly sold ironware and grain to the barbarians, and this continued despite repeated bans. Now that the barbarians have entered, they can also sell these things to Li Jize for money.

These unscrupulous merchants in the north sell everything, but the prices are not low.

Now that Li Jize has the opportunity to become a bandit, things will be easy!

You sell me cheap raw materials, and I provide the technology to turn them into high-tech muskets and cannons, and then sell them to you at a high price.

Quite reasonable, right?

This is the most primitive capital accumulation!

Therefore, whether it is an agricultural nation or a nomadic nation, they cannot defeat the "industrial nation".

Without industry, you can only be passively exploited; without industry, you can only fall behind and be beaten.

While Li Jize was busy inspecting his factory and making money...

Near Tianjiang on the other side.

Wang Yuanya and Zhang Xiaolan stood on the shore, looking at the huge merchant ships loaded with countless firearms and gunpowder going upstream, they were all filled with emotion!

After spending so much time in Qingzhou, I finally completed the task successfully!

With this batch of firearms, they not only cooperated with the Qin army alliance, but also had hope of fighting against the barbarians.

"Yuan Ya, what do you think...with these weapons, can our rebel army defeat the barbarians?"

Wang Yuanya watched the boats sail away, the setting sun casting a magnificent light on the Tianjiang River. She nodded firmly and said, "Yes! I definitely will! I believe in the people of Qi, and I believe this is a beautiful beginning for both of us! In the future, we will definitely be able to work together to drive the barbarians out of Great Qi."

Zhang Xiaolan: “…”

Looking at her expectant face, Zhang Xiaolan couldn't help laughing, because she was thinking, if that day really came! Who would be the leader between Li Jize and Li Zhenbei? Who would be the deputy?