The chief clerk replied: "It can't be considered a success, nor can it be considered a defeat."
The young prisoner raised his eyebrows and looked at him.
The chief clerk sighed and said: "The sword made is indeed a bit stronger than the one currently used by the Iron Battalion, but it is only a few points. It cannot be compared with the pig-killing knife brought by Deputy General Qin."
He was also sighing when he said it, "It would be great if a knife like that could be made..."
Shaojian Wei stroked his long beard and said thoughtfully, "Could it be that he did it by chance?"
"That's not true." The chief clerk shook his head, "I heard that he learned a special forging method from a female guest, and under her guidance he made a set of extremely good knives, but this forging method But I have learned half of it, but I know nothing about it, alas..."
Wei Shaojian said: "In that case, go find the female guest!"
The head clerk shook his head and said in a heavy tone, "I've been looking for it! Blacksmith Liu said that the female guest's surname was Hua. Our people searched the entire Panshui City and found only one family with the surname Hua. She was a matchmaker! She didn't know anything about blacksmithing. I'm afraid that the guest is a foreigner and has already left Panshui."
The rising hopes were dashed again. The young eunuch and the chief clerk of the Ordnance Supervisor stared at each other and sighed in unison.
After a moment of silence, Young Inspector Wei stood up while stroking his beard, "It seems that we can only hope that Blacksmith Liu can develop a new forging method as soon as possible."
The chief clerk also stood up and said, "Let's go take a look."
…
The Ordnance Supervision is in charge of weapons manufacturing, and is divided into several military workshops such as the Crossbow Camp, the Iron War Camp, and the Royal Armor Camp. It is responsible for the production of weapons, flags, and military tents, which is equivalent to the ancient military supplies manufacturing factory.
As its name suggests, the Iron Battalion is responsible for all swords, spears, halberds and other iron weapons.
The young eunuch and the chief clerk arrived at the iron camp together. From a distance, they saw Blacksmith Liu smoking a pipe outside the workshop with a gloomy look on his face.
The chief clerk complained to the young eunuch in a low voice: "Did you see it? It's probably not done yet..."
The young supervisor looked solemn, "Although it failed, it is indeed better than the original knives in the iron camp. This blacksmith Liu still has some real skills."
The two of them were getting closer while they were talking.
When Liu Tiejiang saw someone coming, he hurriedly put down his pipe and saluted the two of them fearfully, "I have seen the Young Supervisor and the Chief Registrar before."
"How's the progress?" Wei Shaojian asked.
Just as Blacksmith Liu was about to speak, a person happened to walk out of the workshop, and he was the supervisor of the ironware camp.
When the supervisor saw the young eunuch and the chief clerk, he immediately greeted him with a smile and said: "Master Wei, Master Xu, you two have come at the right time! Come and take a look at our new long sword!"
Looking at him looking so happy, it seemed like he was done, so why was Tiejiang Liu still frowning
Shaojian Wei and Master Xu looked at each other and followed the supervisor in doubtfully.
The supervisor presented a large long knife.
The blade is slightly curved and the edge is sharp.
Wei Shaojian stretched out his hand to hold it and tried waving it a few times.
The weight is just right, not too heavy or too light.
"What a knife!" Wei Shaojian couldn't help but praise it!
His previous dissatisfaction with Fu Tingye for crowding people into the weapons prison immediately faded away. If every folk craftsman has such skills, why would he not do it
The supervisor praised Blacksmith Liu without sparing any effort, "Thanks to Uncle Liu who worked day and night by the fire forging such a good knife!"
Wei Shaojian nodded, "In that case, immediately recruit other craftsmen to teach this method! Next time the Liao soldiers invade, we can catch them off guard!"
When everyone heard this, they all applauded.
Only Tiejiang Liu remained silent and looked gloomy.
Wei Shaojian couldn't help but ask: "Is there anything else Liu Tiejiang is worried about?"
"I don't dare to deceive you, sir..." Liu Tiejiang sighed depressedly and said, "I still feel that this sword has not yet been completed, and I hope you will give me some more time. I want to... I want to try it a few more times."
The craftsmen's pursuit of excellence is a very good quality.
After listening to Liu Tiejiang's words, Mr. Wei was very pleased and said with a smile: "Okay, then try it a few more times. You don't have to regret it. This sword is enough to kill the Liao people. When you succeed, I will definitely do it." Ask the general for a reward for you!"
"Thank you, sir!"
Suddenly there was a sound of shouting and shouting outside.
People in the workshop came out after hearing the sound and saw a group of soldiers carrying various furniture and other items towards the crossbow camp. There were also people holding basins and buckets. It looked like someone was moving. of.
The chief clerk went over and stopped one person and asked, "What are you doing, you mighty people?"
"The general said that a Chinese girl will live in Gongnu Camp, and the house is being decorated now."
Wei Shaojian's expression changed drastically and he hurried towards the crossbow camp!
There was no movement in the row of houses originally built for the craftsmen to live in, but a tent appeared out of thin air in the open space not far away! At this moment, the soldiers are carrying furniture to the tent!
"Absurd! Ridiculous! Ridiculous!" Wei Shaojian was furious and shouted "ridiculous" three times in a row!
When he saw two soldiers carrying an Arhat bed that was obviously too luxurious, he finally couldn't bear it anymore! Turn around and walk towards the general's tent!
The chief clerk looked at the angry back of Young Inspector Wei, shook his head and sighed: "Oh, we're going to have another quarrel..."
…
In the camp, Fu Tingye was discussing investigation strategies with several capable generals.
Last time, the Liao soldiers only sent a small group of troops to roam nearby. Although they were all wiped out, their purpose was unknown, which was very unusual.
Someone reported from outside: "General! The young warden of the Ordnance Supervisor, Sir Wei Han, wants to see you."
Fu Tingye: "It's just the right time, let him come in."
Realizing that someone had lifted the curtain and come in, Fu Tingye marked a few places on the sand table in front of him and said without raising his head: "Master Wei, come and see if these places are suitable for installing traps? Liao soldiers will be lingering here. , I’m afraid they have another purpose, I suspect they have set a trap.”
Wei Shaojian walked over with a sullen face, held back his anger and carefully observed the position on the sand table, and replied: "It is indeed an excellent place to set up a mechanism cleverly."
Fu Tingye thought for a moment and said: "Master Wei will select a few craftsmen and follow the team to inspect these places during the day tomorrow. If any traps are found, they will be dismantled immediately."
Wei Shaojian bowed and said yes.
Fu Tingye ordered another soldier to arrange the troops and told everyone to disperse.
The soldiers went out one after another, but Wei Shaojian stubbornly remained motionless.
Fu Tingye couldn't help but frown deeply when he saw Young Inspector Wei acting like this...
He has always had a headache for this Young Supervisor of the Arms Supervisor.
Because this is an extremely difficult old guy!
He came to him every now and then, making various requests in the name of petitioning for the people!
Last month, he said that the craftsmen were working so hard that their New Year's holiday should be extended by one day and their wages should be paid in advance.
Last month, he said that military officers did not cherish their weapons and that weapons were damaged everywhere. Military regulations should be increased and those who damaged weapons would be punished with rods!
Last month, he said the food at the Ordnance Supervisor was terrible! The craftsmen don’t have enough to eat and have no energy to work!
…
In short, as long as it is related to weapons supervisors, craftsmen, and weapons, his presence is indispensable!
If you ignore him, he will never be able to kneel down and resort to the trick of remonstrating civil servants to death! Just like a fly, if you can't kill it, it will disgust you to death.
Fu Tingye really had nothing to do with him.
Beat him up with a stick? He was sixty or seventy years old, and Fu Tingye was really afraid that he would be beaten to death with a stick.
Although the young eunuch was only an eighth-grade official, he was in charge of the craftsmen. Wei Han had been a young eunuch for nearly twenty years and was very prestigious among the folk craftsmen.
That's all, I'm going to retire and return home, so I'll just tolerate him for another two years.
Fu Tingye asked: "What's the matter, Mr. Wei?"
Wei Han remained hunched over without raising his head and replied: "I dare to ask the general why he called women into the camp!"
Fu Tingye had expected it and replied calmly: "Miss Hua is the person I invited to assist Liang Wensheng in making the bow."
Wei Shaojian was stunned, "Liang Wensheng?... I have already seen Liang Wensheng's drawing! It won't work at all! He is so ambitious all day long, it's just nonsense!"
"It really didn't work before, but Miss Jinghua can improve the shortcomings and give it a try."
When Wei Shaojian heard this, he became even more excited, "How can the general listen to a woman?! If it spreads, what will happen to the face of all the craftsmen in our weapons inspection department?!"
Fu Tingye's eyes were slightly cold, "I didn't know that the face of the weapons supervisors was more important than improved crossbows?"
Wei Shaojian's face changed greatly, "I don't dare! I just think that the general's move is too ridiculous! Let a woman make weapons, I'm afraid it will end up with the most ridiculous consequences! General! Think again! -"
By the end, I was almost hoarse!
Fu Tingye glanced at him in disgust, turned around and sat down, and said expressionlessly: "I have made up my mind, no need to say more."
"General, are you really determined to do this?!" Wei Han said sadly, "Even if the Qingzhou Camp becomes a laughing stock?"
Fu Tingye: "Why did Mr. Wei decide that he would become a laughing stock instead of a famous official with a discerning eye?"
"It is ridiculous for a woman to make soldiers, and it is even more fantastic to want to make a bow with a range of 400 paces! The general asked this woman to join the camp, what did the soldiers in the camp think? What did the craftsmen in the weapons supervisor think? ! "
Fu Tingye sneered, "What if a woman enters the camp? Mr. Wei, whenever there is a slight possibility, I will try it. Let alone a woman, even a dog, come to me and tell me that I can make this bow. I will I’ll let him try it too!”
Wei Han looked at Fu Tingye dumbfounded and was speechless for a long time.
After a while, Young Inspector Wei swept his sleeves and bowed, his gray beard hanging down, adding to his old look.
He said sadly: "Since the general insists on this, I have nothing to say, but the weapons made by the military weapons supervisor are all masculine and fierce things. Women are naturally gloomy. It is not suitable to enter our military weapons supervisor, so as not to damage our army." The masculine spirit of a soldier.”
Fu Tingye stared at Wei Han coldly, and his tone was extremely cold: "Master Wei, do you want to threaten me?"
"I don't dare to lower my rank. I am only an eighth-rank petty official. Everything I say and do is for the sake of our army and people in Qi. As the saying goes, loyal words are harsh to the ears. I hope the general will think deeply about it." Wei Han bowed, " I am resigning."
…