Tibet

At noon the next day, in Shuixiantang of Wude Restaurant, Yang Shaoan had already ordered a table of food and drinks and was drinking tea and waiting.

At this time, the door opened, and Huang Yaoqi came in with a middle-aged man, who was Cao Agen, a first-level craftsman.

"I've kept you waiting for a long time, sir."

Huang Yaoqi nodded and bowed, and then introduced the craftsman behind him, "This is Cao Agen, a first-class craftsman from the Firearms and Gunpowder Administration!"

Yang Shaoan stood up and said with a smile: "It turns out to be Master Yang. You're welcome. Please sit down!"

"Thank you Mr. Yang!"

Cao Agen heard from Huang Yaoqi on the way that the other party's surname was Yang and he was from the Jianghuai area.

Cao Agen sat down a little cautiously. Yang Shaoan knew how to read people. He was indeed a very simple craftsman, not a slick liar, so it shouldn't be a big problem.

He quickly waved his hands and said, "Let's eat first. If you have anything to say, we'll talk about it after dinner."

The three of them chatted while eating, and their relationship gradually became more lively.

After dinner, Yang Shaoan served tea again, and the relationship between them became closer. Yang Shaoan then got down to the topic, "I heard just now that my brother is the Firearms and Gunpowder Department. I know about firearms, but what is gunpowder?"

Cao Agen said with a smile: "Gunpowder is a kind of powder invented by alchemists. It is just like an oil lamp. Gunpowder is oil. It must be put into a container before it is called an oil lamp. In the same way, gunpowder must be put into various containers before it can be called a firearm."

"I understand, iron fire thunder is called iron fire thunder when gunpowder is put into an iron can. That's the truth, right?"

"That's right!"

"There is also a kind of arrow that explodes after hitting a ship and sinks the ship. What is that?"

"That's a rocket. You tie a firearm to an arrow and it explodes when it hits the boat."

Yang Shaoan pondered for a moment and then asked: "Does Master Cao know how to make gunpowder?"

"I am responsible for making firearms. If Mr. Yang needs it, I can also help you find a gunpowder maker."

Yang Shaoan was overjoyed and said quickly: "I am actually the staff of Li Xilie, the king of Huaixi County. If Master Cao is willing to go to Huaixi with me, we will give you three thousand taels of silver first, and give Master Cao three hundred taels of silver every month, and then give us a building." Zhaizi, how about being treated like a gunpowder craftsman found by Master Cao?”

Cao Agen pondered for a while and said: "I would very much like it, but I still have a family! What should I do with my family?"

"It doesn't matter. I have rented a big boat and my family will leave together. Anyway, we can go out of the city at night. We can just go out quietly at night."

Cao Agen nodded, "If you want to leave, you have to leave tonight. Tomorrow we will be closed for manufacturing. We will be closed for two months."

"ah!"

Yang Shaoan was shocked. When the day lilies were cold for two months, he hurriedly asked: "Can the gunpowder maker find it today?"

"Why don't Mr. Yang wait for a moment? I'll go find someone now. It's my cousin. He will also start to be closed tomorrow."

Yang Shaoan winked at Huang Yaoqi, and Huang Yaoqi stood up and said: "Without further delay, I will accompany my brother to find someone!"

Cao Agen took Cao Agen and left in a hurry. Yang Shaoan breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, it went smoothly. Both the firearms maker and the gunpowder maker were found. Now the lord should be happy.

At this time, the door suddenly opened, and five or six big men walked in. Yang Shaoan was startled and asked nervously: "Who are you?"

"We are the inner guards!"

The big man at the head showed a silver medal and said coldly: "Mr. Yang, please come with us!"

Yang Shaoan was so frightened that he almost urinated and stammered: "I don't understand what you are talking about?"

Several big men stepped forward, grabbed his hands, and twisted them behind him. Just as Yang Shaoan was about to shout, a ball of rags was stuffed into his mouth, and then a black bag covered his head, and Yang Shaoan fell into endless darkness. .

After an unknown amount of time, Yang Shaoan's eyes lit up. Before he could react, he was pushed to sit down and the rag in his mouth was immediately torn off.

Yang Shaoan gasped for breath, and his eyes slowly adapted. He found himself in a room, surrounded by burly men. There was a table in front of him, and someone was sitting behind the table, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Wait a minute!"

Yang Shaoan immediately recognized the person behind the table. Isn't it Cao Agen who was eating with him just now?

"Ah! You are -"

Cao Agen smiled slightly, his expression still so honest and honest, his eyes full of shrewdness and wisdom.

"I am Cao Gen, deputy commander of the internal defense. Mr. Yang, please come and be safe!"

Yang Shaoan couldn't say a word for a long time. He sighed and asked, "Is Huang Yaoqi one of yours too?"

Caogen shook his head, "He is a Yaman, but he has committed espionage and will be severely punished!"

"I just came to Chang'an to recruit a few craftsmen. Is this also a crime?"

"If you come to recruit a few brewers and weavers, I won't care about you, but if you want to recruit firearms and gunpowder makers, this is against the law. Mr. Yang, you should know it well!"

Yang Shaoan was so frightened that he trembled all over, "Are you trying to kill me?"

Cao Gen nodded, "We always execute spies to avoid future trouble. According to the rules, we want to kill you, but you are Li Xilie's staff. If you can make atonement and provide some valuable information, maybe we will be spared. "

Yang Shaoan knelt down and said: "I said, I am willing to explain everything. Please don't kill me, my young children and old mother at home!"

Li Ye's official residence was no longer in the Qi Palace, but moved to the Daming Palace. After the merger of the two courts, everyone moved to the Daming Palace, and the Qi Palace completely became Li Ye's palace.

Of course, their family will move into Daming Palace sooner or later, but not now.

Jianguo Hall is located in Yanying Hall to the west of Zichen Hall. In front of Xuanzheng Hall is the government office area, including Zhengshi Hall in Zhongshu Province, and Baihu Hall is located in Menxia Province.

Usually, the seven assistant ministers are in the Sixth Ministry and the Privy Council. When Li Dai convenes the political hall to discuss matters, he will send someone to invite them.

As the right prime minister, Li Dai had six ministers under him, Zhongshu Sheren and so on.

Of course, the same is true for Li Ye, the supervisor of the country. First, he established the supervisor's office, which consisted of secretary office, Shangshu office, menxiafang, library bureau, intelligence bureau and left and right guards, with more than a hundred officials.

At this time, Li Ye was in the new official room listening to the latest report from Li Chenghua, the commander of the internal defense.

"Your Highness, the person here is Yang Shaoan, who is Li Xilie's staff. Li Xilie witnessed the power of iron fire thunder and explosive arrows on the north bank of the Yangtze River. He was very shocked, so he ordered Yang Shaoan to bring a thousand taels of gold to Chang'an to recruit craftsmen. This Yang Shaoan He has surrendered and is willing to explain everything and do everything for us.”

Li Ye took a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked again: "Are all Li Xilie's men willing to serve him?"

"Yang Shao'an said that Li Xilie's men were panic-stricken, especially after they could not cross the Yangtze River. However, the army was relatively stable. The main reason was that the civilian officials and some generals who later surrendered were mentally unstable."

Li Ye nodded, "Is this Yang Shaoan willing to serve us?"

"Of course he does!"

"Where is he from?"

"Reporting to your highness, he is from Lujiang, and his father was once a Lujiang County captain."

"Let him write a letter of allegiance, let him go back, and tell him that after killing Li Xilie, I will make him the magistrate of Lujiang County and let him serve me well."

After thinking about it, Li Ye said again: "Bring him five porcelain fire thunders back and let him have an explanation."

"Your Highness, isn't it good to ask him to bring the porcelain fire thunder back? What if Li Xilie imitates it?"

Li Ye laughed, "Give Li Xilie ten years, he won't be able to imitate it, not to mention he won't survive this year."