Today, the Ming Dynasty is said to have been in war. In fact, the wars in this era were not as fierce as those in later generations. For example, in the northwest, there are only dozens of actual battles. On average, one battle per month is considered high-intensity. This is limited by communication, transportation and other technologies, so there is no need to worry about the intensity being too high. Even though the Japanese feudal lords have been actively preparing for and starting war with the help of the Ming Dynasty, it has been five years since the first Maori work was carried out, and the conditions for a real grand war have not yet been formed. However, the Ming army used Kuwu as a springboard to occupy the entire Hokkaido, which could be considered a good sub-base for the Pacific Fleet. "Now the people are basically numb to war, and there is no obvious disgust." Zhu Cixiang flipped through newspapers from various places and found that the Ming Dynasty had entered a benign war track, that is, the front was fighting, but the rear seemed to be fine. Live your life when you need to, and do business when you need to do business, so that you can not only expand your territory, but also maintain domestic stability. From the perspective of society as a whole, because the front line is fighting, there is still a fixed goal to strive for, and the overall morale is like a rainbow. Frontline battle losses have always been strictly controlled, and the distribution of new recruits pays great attention to their place of origin, so as to prevent villages and towns from being filled with martyrs after the First World War. After such dilution, even if a death notice is sent to a certain village, it will not have much negative impact. Zhang Youquan walked out from the pier carrying a military backpack half as tall as a man and as wide as his body. He found the carriage at the door with ease, bought a ticket and got on the carriage, and put his luggage between his legs, saving him the trouble of throwing it on the roof of the carriage. The coachman wanted to come over and get angry. But when he saw the gun Zhang Youquan was carrying, he instantly suppressed his anger and said in the most polite tone: "Brother, all luggage must be put on the roof of the car. This is the rule." Zhang Youquan was a little embarrassed. After moving, he had to say: "Then I will follow your rules." After saying that, he picked up his luggage, bent down and got out of the car, and threw it on the roof of the car, when he heard a heavy muffled sound. The coachman was a little worried about his canopy, but he held back and said nothing. He just muttered: "Yeah, it's convenient for everyone if you follow the rules." Zhang Youquan ignored it and returned to his seat again, waiting for a long time before the car was full of people. The coachman would not set off until the seats were full. Zhang Youquan returned from retirement this time. The first feeling is that there seem to be fewer people along the way. Many of the acres in my memory have been left uncultivated, and even trees have been planted. "Where have all these people gone?" Zhang Youquan murmured to himself. "America, Hetao, Annan, Taiwanthere are too many people going out. In many places, whole villages are walking." A man dressed as a businessman next to Zhang Youquan said very naturally. "Why are so many people leaving their homes?" Zhang Youquan asked. "People who go to America go for gold. They go to Hetao because there are many fertile fields and the government also provides horses, sheep and farm tools." The businessman smiled and said: "You can grow sugar cane in Annan, Taiwan, Luzon and Sriwijaya. , rubber, the income is several times that of farming in Shandong, why don¡¯t you leave?¡± Zhang Youquan expressed his understanding and stopped talking. The businessman asked: "Which battalion did my brother come back from?" "The First Guards Army. The First Division." Zhang Youquan said. The merchant was in awe and said, "He is General Xiao's soldier." "Have you ever been a soldier?" Zhang Youquan was a little surprised, and felt that this man did not look like he had been a soldier. "I have never had such an honor." Xing Shang was slightly embarrassed. Then he said excitedly: "I often talk about your heroic deeds in the newspaper. I heard that the territory of the Tang Dynasty has been restored?" "Almost." Zhang Youquan actually didn't know where the territory of the Tang Dynasty was. That being said, I just responded casually and chatted. The businessman became interested and asked many questions about the customs and customs of the Western Regions. "Actually, our main force is only stationed near Luntai. Those who fought against Kazakhs were all native soldiers from the Mongolian Dusi and Uszang Dusi." Zhang Youquan finally couldn't help but tell the truth, hoping that this businessman could stop. "The North and South Roads of Tianshan Mountain! That's amazing. Are there any local products there?" Xingshang asked. Zhang Youquan thought for a moment and said, "Cotton. There are acres and acres of cotton planted there." Xing Shang was stunned. "Can you really make a living by farming?" "Why not? You are living well. It is said that you are living better than those in Jiangnan." Zhang Youquan asked. The merchant thought thoughtfully and said: "It seems that the price of cloth in the south of the Yangtze River is going to change." "Can you control the south of the Yangtze River?" Zhang Youquan was a little surprised: "It takes three or four months to go from Tianshan to Shandong!" "Goods and people It¡¯s different. Once you start walking, you don¡¯t care if it lasts three or four years.The merchant added: "Look at the Silk Road in the past, which went from Xi'an to Taixi. Did anyone take it? Only a batch of goods going to Japan took place a year. Did anyone take it? The key is, It¡¯s just to make a profit.¡± ¡°How much is consumed on the road, it¡¯s better to grow it yourself in Jiangnan,¡± Zhang Youquan said. "What's the price of an acre of land in the south of the Yangtze River? What's the price in the Tianshan Mountains? If it can be grown in the Tianshan Mountains, who will still plant it in the south of the Yangtze River? And now the court is very strict, and more taxes and fees are charged for planting mulberry and cotton. There are already Many cotton farmers have switched to other crops,¡± said Xing Shang. "The cost of transporting that car is also extremely high." Zhang Youquan couldn't help but shake his head. "Little brother, I think it's wrong." The businessman suddenly laughed and said: "Brother Yu said that the price of Jiangnan cloth will be moved, but it doesn't mean that Tianshan cotton will go to Jiangnan. Since Tianshan produces cotton, it can also be weaved! If Tianshan cloth is distributed all over the country, Jiangnan cloth will be distributed all over the country. Aren¡¯t prices going to plummet?¡± Zhang Youquan was stunned, smiled shyly, and looked out the window. The road outside the window is smooth, and you can't feel too much bumps on the carriage. It is much more comfortable than the carriage in Zhang Youquan's memory. This is the benefit of rubber wheels. They are also found in the military, but they are only used on artillery vehicles. It is said that the effect is remarkable. Zhang Youquan is a fire gunner and has not been affected by this new material. "Brother, what are your plans for returning home from the army this time?" The businessman had a familiar temperament, and he seemed like a brother after saying a few words. "I don't have any plans, it just depends on how the government will arrange it at that time." Zhang Youquan said: "Maybe I can become a teacher in Mengxue." He smiled awkwardly and said: "Brother, I have no future. I have been in the army for five years and have not made any achievements in martial arts. "Hey, I don't blame my brother." Xing Shang actually said with relief: "Brother Yu, I have heard that the army emphasizes teamwork, and it is very difficult to make meritorious deeds." Zhang Youquan was indeed relieved, and his guard suddenly disappeared. , said: "That's right. I originally thought that when I joined the army, I would be able to gain merit by relying on my skills. Who knew that now even the killer teams in the army have been reduced, and they are implementing large and small phalanxes. Do you know this phalanx? ? The small square formation has only three rows of thirty-six people. The large square formation has one hundred people and five rows. No one can move without orders. Although it is powerful, even fierce generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei can't get ahead. "Xingshang listened very seriously and asked: "Do the soldiers still wear armor now?" "It depends." Zhang Youquan has indeed been in battle: "The general wears leather armor, and soldiers like me only wear upper body armor. Breastplate. "Skin is the armor, gold is the armor. "The soldiers are better dressed than the generals?" The businessman was very different. "Actually, it's because the enemies we encounter now can't get close to the square formation." Zhang Youquan scratched his head: "And there are artillery and cavalry horizontal formations between the various formations to support. Anyway, I have been a soldier for five years, and four In the Western Regions, we have never encountered a situation of close combat. Soldiers wear armor just for precaution. In any case, it is impossible for the general to stand in the front and fight." "I'm still thinking wrong." "What is this brother thinking?" "You know rubber," Xing Shang said, "It's what these wheels are for." "This kind of thing came out only a few years ago, and it became popular all over the country all of a sudden. It can be thick or thin, and it is durable and wear-resistant. It carries good stuff!" Xing Shang said: "The key is that this thing comes out of the tree. Iron is much more convenient, and women and children can pick glue. This means" "The price is cheap." Zhang Youquan had already figured out the businessman's idea and took a bite. "That's right!" Xing Shang was greatly impressed and patted his thigh and said, "And it's also light! I just thought, if I could use this thing to make armor, wouldn't it be lighter than iron armor?" "How about making armor?" Zhang Youquan He frowned and said, "I don't know anything else, but if I were to wear this thing into battle, I would inevitably feel embarrassed. Unless I really see that this thing can prevent knife stabs, arrows, and bullets." Xing Shang looked ashamed: "I'm really not sure about this. This time Brother Yu traveled thousands of miles south from Gyeonggi Province just to go to Nanyang to see with his own eyes how this thing is made." "Although it may not be possible to make armor, there is something that can be done now. If you make it, the army will definitely want it," Zhang Youquan said. "What is it?" The businessman was very interested. "Shoes!" Zhang Youquan raised his foot and said, "Even if you are not fighting in the army, it is easy to run thirty or fifty miles a day. A pair of good shoes will be worn out after a few days. We all say that these shoes are not as durable as socks. If you tear off a piece of the rubber from the wheel and tie it to the bottom of your feet, wouldn't it stop it from being worn? Capital, just do this rubber shoe business! " "This" "No more words, business opportunities are like war opportunities! Let's go now!" The merchant hit the car board and shouted: "Stop, stop." Zhang Youquan was stunned and said: "Brother, I have already mailed it to my family. Letter" "A man, what do you care about!" "I have never done business" "A man, why do you care about that!" "I don't have the capital" "A man, what do you care about!" " Brother, what's your surname" "A man, don't care about that!" (To be continued)