Become a feudal king from today

Chapter 357: Population for Artillery

It's almost summer and the weather is hot. ReadМ

Zhao Xu wore a thin gown and had a paper fan in his hand.

While fanning himself, Zhao Xu looked at Ma Han who looked anxious.

Smiling softly, he said: "Don't be anxious, it's not like I won't sell it to you, but you should give me the reward you promised me."

He didn't help Ma Han out of friendship. After all, the two of them had only had more contact with each other after the Ma family incident.

Furthermore, Ma Han is the head of the Ma family after all, and his first priority is the interests of the Ma family.

And due to the old system of the Ma family, Ma Han can't do whatever he wants. The two families just have temporary interests and come together.

Therefore, the accounts that should be settled between them still need to be settled clearly.

Business is business, and your Ma family has to pay for it.

After all, maybe the two families will fall out due to interests in the future.

"I have not forgotten it." Ma Han shook his head. He made a promise to King Yan last time.

"I understand your difficulties, so I don't want your money, so I will convert it into an adult." Zhao Xu said thoughtfully.

According to Chang Wei, there are now nearly a million Dasong people who have fled into Sizhou from Qinzhou and Yongzhou.

The influx of so many people who had lost their land was a disaster for Sizhou.

Ma Yuan and Ma Han negotiated to lure these millions of people to Jinzhou, and at the same time prepared to request relief from the court.

But these millions of people are simply fat in his eyes.

How could he be willing to let him flow into Jinzhou under his own eyes?

"Your Highness wants millions of people?" Ma Han asked. Last time King Yan asked him for population.

Zhao Xu nodded, "To tell you the truth, both artillery and muskets require a large number of craftsmen to participate in the research and development. Due to the chaos of the Yuan family, the number of households in the four northern counties was sparse, and I am short of people, so naturally the more the better."

"That's what I wish for." Ma Han said happily.

The current population of one million is a heavy burden for Sizhou.

After all, Sizhou cannot afford to support such a sudden increase in population.

Even his uncle relieved his worries and proposed to introduce the population into Jinzhou.

But Jinzhou has long been ruined by the war, and its own food has problems. How can it support a population of millions?

Although he could request relief from the court, he knew the officialdom of Dasong very well.

However, how much food can the imperial court allocate? This food is exploited at all levels from the capital to Jinzhou, and in the end I am afraid that not much will be left.

At that time, people's lives will still be miserable.

Letting people go to Yanzhou is undoubtedly a choice that benefits them.

And there seemed to be nothing else from the Ma family that could tempt King Yan.

Zhao Xu said, "In addition to the people, I also want the craftsmen of your Ma family. Each craftsman will give you thirty taels of silver. Only these craftsmen can exchange for the artillery. The people are just payment for borrowing troops."

Ma Han thought to himself that King Yan is indeed a master who will not suffer losses.

At the same time, he silently calculated in his mind that for a craftsman of thirty taels, he could at least collect 100,000 craftsmen of various types. This is three million taels, which is enough to buy hundreds of cannons.

"I understand, Your Highness, please rest assured that these people and craftsmen will arrive in Yanzhou smoothly." Ma Han said firmly.

Since the Ma family now relies on King Yan, as the head of the Ma family, he must be more decisive.

Otherwise, if they lose King Yan's trust again, they will have nothing.

Taking back Qinzhou and Yongzhou will also be a dream.

"Refreshing." Zhao Xu was overjoyed when he heard this.

In this way, the population of the four northern counties will reach more than 2.5 million.

In the history of Dasong, the peak period of Yanzhou's population cannot be compared.

In addition, according to the news sent by Feihu Gatekeeper, his policy of preferential treatment of prisoners of war against Prince Chong when he was in Jinzhou showed results.

In contrast to his gentleness, the Xiliang people treated the captives who returned home cruelly after the war, and this was passed down to others.

During this period, a large number of Song people from Xiliang continued to flee to the four northern counties.

He believes that it will not be a problem for the population of the four counties to exceed three million in the near future.

These demographic dividends will greatly benefit the handicraft industries in the four counties.

As for the issue of food to feed these people, he is not very worried now.

Because the four counties are harvesting in summer.

He has ordered Liu Fu to set up public grain purchasing points in various counties.

The government government used money to buy surplus grain directly from the people and store it.

Plus the grain bought from Jiangnan, it is enough.

"How about I provide you with two hundred artillery pieces?" Zhao Xu said to Ma Han again with excitement.

"Two hundred artillery pieces are more than enough to defend Qinguan, but I still want His Highness's muskets, and I hope His Highness can send generals to teach you." When Ma Han made this request, he felt a little guilty.

He felt a bit like a lion.

Zhao Xu smiled.

In this battle, Ma Han saw the power of the flintlock gun with his own eyes.

It's normal for him to have this idea.

But he won't be selling flintlock guns at the moment.

But he can sell matchlocks.

Although the Shenji Camp in the capital had this thing, he was very confident that the quality he made was absolutely high.

So he said: "I can provide you with a musket, but it will be slightly different from my own, and you have to buy this musket with silver. One is thirty taels of silver, but it only costs you twenty taels." "

From Wang Ying's mouth, he learned that the current cost of making an export artillery piece for the War Department was 500 taels.

The cost of a flintlock gun is eight taels. If it is a matchlock gun, the cost will be lower. It is estimated that five taels will be enough.

He didn't think the price was high. After all, it wouldn't be an arms trade without huge profits.

Hearing the thirty taels, Ma Han felt a little sick at first, but King Yan told him that there were ten taels less. He was immediately overjoyed and hurriedly agreed, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness, so I will give you 20,000 for the time being."

"Okay, in two days, I will ask the Bingzhan Division to make one for you. If you are satisfied, I will ask the Bingzhan Division to make 20,000 for you." Zhao Xu said.

Although Ma Han agreed, he was still a little uneasy when he thought about King Yan's words that this kind of musket was different from the ones used by King Yan's soldiers.

While nodding, he said: "But can I first see how powerful this musket is?"

"That's no problem." Zhao Xu expected that Ma Han would ask this question.

If you don't even know how to look at the goods when buying things, this Mahan is really of no use.

"In a few days, I will send someone to Sizhou to test fire for you personally." Zhao Xu said.

Ma Han felt relieved now. After all, his trip to Yancheng was not in vain.

"Thank you, Your Highness. In that case, I will go back to Sizhou and lead the people to Yan." Ma Han saluted Zhao Xu, said goodbye and left.

Ma Han's figure disappeared, and Zhao Xu was slightly proud.

Selling firearms to the Ma family has two benefits for him.

First, with firearms, the Ma family can better guard the Qin Pass and maintain stability in the northwest.

The second one is a trap in the arms trade.

By using his firearm, the Ma family will become dependent on him.

If you want to stab him in the back, you have to weigh the consequences of being cut off from the supply of firearms.