Start Being a Vassal King Today - Chapter 350

[Chapter 350]

season is near summer and the weather is hot.

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

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

Smiling lightly, he said: “Don’t worry, it’s not that 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 were just an incident of the Ma family. After contacting more

, Ma Han is the head of the Ma family after all, and the first thing to consider is the interests of the Ma family.

Moreover, due to the existence of the Ma family’s old system, Ma Han can’t do whatever he wants, and the two families only temporarily share similar interests and come together.

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

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

After all, maybe in the future the two companies will turn against each other because of their interests.

“I have not forgotten.” Ma Han shook his head, last time he made a promise to King Yan.

“This king understands your difficulties, so I don’t want your silver, so I turn it into a human being.” Zhao Xu said in a deep voice.

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

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

Ma Yuan and Ma Han negotiated to lead these millions of people to Jinzhou, and at the same time prepared to ask the court for relief.

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

How could he let him flow into Jinzhou under his nose.

“Your Highness wants a million people?” Ma Han asked, last time King Yan asked him for population.

Zhao Xu nodded, “To tell you the truth, both cannons and muskets require a large number of craftsmen to participate in the research and development. The number of households in the four northern counties was already scarce under the chaos of Yuan’s family, and there is a shortage of people in my king’s hands, 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 couldn’t afford to support such a sudden increase in population.

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

However, Jinzhou has long been corrupted during the war, and its own food has problems. How can it support a million people?

Although he can ask the court for relief, he knows Da Song’s officialdom very well.

However, how much food can be allocated by the imperial court? These grains are exploited layer by layer from the capital to Jinzhou, and I am afraid that there will not be much left in the end.

At that time, the lives of the people were still miserable.

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

Moreover, the Ma family seemed to have nothing else to tempt King Yan.

Zhao Xu said, “In addition to the common people, this king also wants craftsmen from your Ma family. One craftsman will give you thirty taels of silver, and these craftsmen can be exchanged for cannons. The common people are only paid for borrowing soldiers.”

Ma Han thought that the King of Yan really did not suffer the Lord.

At the same time, he silently calculated in his mind that if a craftsman was thirty taels, he could at least make up one hundred thousand craftsmen of various kinds, which was three million taels, enough to buy hundreds of cannons.

“I understand, Your Highness, please rest assured, these people and craftsmen will arrive in Yanzhou smoothly.” Ma Han was resolute.

Since the Ma family is now relying on King Yan, as the head of the Ma family, he should be more straightforward.

Otherwise, if they lost King Yan’s trust, they would have nothing.

Taking back Qinzhou and Yongzhou would also be a dream.

“Refreshing.” Zhao Xu was overjoyed upon hearing 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 the guard of Feihu Gate, when he was in Jinzhou, his policy of giving preferential treatment to prisoners of war against his son showed results.

Compared with his kindness, Xiliang people cruelly treated the captives who returned after the war.

During this period of time, a large number of Song people from Xiliang territory fled to the four northern counties.

He believes that it will not be a problem for the population of the four counties to exceed 3 million in a short time.

And these demographic dividends will greatly benefit the handicraft industry in the four counties.

As for the 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 procurement points in various counties.

The money was paid by the government government, and the surplus grain was directly purchased from the people and stored.

Coupled with the grain bought from Jiangnan, it is enough.

“This king will provide you with two hundred cannons, how about it?” Zhao Xu said to Ma Han again after a burst of excitement.

“Two hundred cannons are more than enough to defend Qin Pass, but I still want His Highness’s guns, and I hope His Highness can send generals to teach.” When Ma Han made this request, he felt a little guilty.

He felt like a bit of a lion.

Zhao Xu smiled.

In this battle, Mahan saw the power of the flintlock with his own eyes.

It is normal for him to have this idea.

But he is currently not selling flintlock guns.

But he can sell the matchlock gun.

Although Jingshi’s Shenji Camp has this thing, he is very confident that the quality he made is absolutely high.

So he said: “This king can provide you with firearms, but it will be slightly different from this king’s, and you have to buy this firearm with silver, one thirty taels of silver, but it only costs twenty taels for you. ”

From Wang Ying’s mouth, he learned that the cost of making a cannon for export is currently 500 taels.

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

He doesn’t think the selling price is high. After all, it’s not an arms trade without huge profits.

Hearing the thirty taels, Ma Han was a little bit pained, but King Yan told him that it was ten taels less, and he was overjoyed immediately, and quickly agreed, “Thank you for your kindness, so I will need 20,000 for the time being.”

” Yes, after two days, the King will ask Bing Zangsi to make one and send it to you, and if you are satisfied, I will order Bing Zangsi to make 20,000 for you.” Zhao Xu said.

Although Ma Han agreed, he was still a little uneasy when he thought that the muskets in King Yan’s words were different from those used by King Yan’s soldiers.

While nodding, he said, “But can I see how powerful this musket is?”

“It’s certainly not a problem.” Zhao Xu expected that Ma Han would ask this question.

If you don’t even know how to look at the goods when you buy them, Mahan is really useless.

“In a few days, I’m afraid I’ll send someone to Sizhou to test shoot for you.” Zhao Xu said.

Ma Han felt at ease now, this trip to Yancheng was not in vain after all.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Since this is the case, I will return to Sizhou and lead the people into Yan.” Ma Han saluted Zhao Xu, took his leave and left.

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

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

First, the Ma family with firearms can better defend Qinguan and maintain stability in the northwest.

The second is a trap in the arms trade.

If he uses 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.

After all, artillery and muskets will continue to wear out during the war.

Not being replenished will sooner or later wear you out.

(end of this chapter)