Chapter 53

"Here they come... here they come..."

Seeing a carriage rushing from afar, Li Si, who was on lookout, quickly turned back and shouted loudly after confirming that the driver was indeed Jiang Zhipeng.

The people waiting here heard the commotion. Before the carriage had even come to a stop, Xu Ning jumped onto it, impatiently pulled back the curtain, and peered inside, suddenly saying, "My lady, it's all my fault for dragging you down..."

A woman's voice came from inside, "My lord! It's good that you're safe! We are one, so who is dragging whom? This time, fortunately, Uncle came to take me out of the city. Otherwise, how could I have stayed alone in this vast city of Tokyo!"

"Where are the two maids? Why are you alone at home!?" Xu Ning hurriedly asked.

The woman shook her head with a sigh, not answering, but tried to get up. Xu Ning quickly went forward to help her. When his wife got down to the ground, Xu Ning noticed her belly was even bigger, and he couldn't help but, as he usually did at home, squat down and put his ear to his wife Ruan's belly, smiling warmly and saying, "It's been eight months, hasn't it? I think it's almost time to be born. I thought I wouldn't see it!"

Seeing so many people watching, the woman quickly pulled Xu Ning up, her face flushed, and said, "What silly talk!"

Wang Lun, seeing this good man, smiled and said, "Brother, let's make a bet! Your wife looks so well, I bet it will be a fat little boy!"

Xu Ning, with a smile, turned to look at Wang Lun and said, "Then I'll take your good words!"

Wang Lun looked around at the people around him and said to Xu Ning with a smile, "There are so many witnesses here. If it's not a boy, I'll give you this seat!"

Everyone burst into laughter, even Ruan couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. Xu Ning laughed even more, saying, "If you say so, it must be a boy. Please give our child a name, Brother!"

Wang Lun was taken aback for a moment, thinking that this good man hadn't thought of a name for his child yet. He then thought of a prank, wondering if he should name the child Zheng, but decided against it. He said seriously, "Head held high, crowned by three mountains, looking down on the rising sun. I think we should call him Xu Sheng!"

Ruan, upon hearing this, said happily, "This uncle has written such a good poem. I think the character 'Sheng' is very good. What do you think, my lord?"

Xu Ning was also delighted and, hearing his wife ask, said with a smile, "Sheng means bright and radiant, it's good, it's good..."

Everyone, seeing his reaction, came forward to congratulate him on his unborn child being named by Wang Lun. After a while of laughter, Tang Long led a lean man to Wang Lun and said, "Brother, this is an old acquaintance of mine, a descendant of the Mohists from the Warring States period. Although his family has declined by his generation, this brother is very skilled in machinery. He now works as a craftsman in the imperial workshop, but he is unwilling to stay and wants to join you on the mountain!"

Wang Lun, hearing this, looked at the lean man and asked, "What is your name, brother?"

The man quickly replied, "I am Mo Shisan, currently working in the Grand Arsenal. I heard from Brother Tang Long about the great name of Leader Wang, so I have the desire to join!"

Wang Lun asked, puzzled, "The Grand Arsenal? What is its relationship with the Military Equipment Supervision?"

Before the man could speak, Xu Ning, who had just returned after settling his wife, interjected, "The full name of the Grand Arsenal is the Grand Arsenal for the Manufacture of Military Equipment Inside and Outside. Although it is similar to the Military Equipment Supervision in making weapons and armor, it is managed by eunuchs and does not belong to the Ministry of Works. Its production does not go to the Weiwei Temple but is stored in the inner treasury!"

Zhang San, hearing this, laughed and said, "So it's the emperor's own blacksmith shop! Brother Shisan, why are you unhappy with serving under the Zhao family?"

Mo Shisan, hearing this, shook his head and said, "I won't even mention the hard work we craftsmen do every day. The supervising eunuchs are just too despicable. Besides the regular work, they also force us to do private jobs for them, and all the finished products are stolen and sold by them. This has led to thousands of craftsmen in the workshops, but very few are willing to stay!"

Wang Lun listened to Mo Shisan's complaints, and his thoughts were in turmoil. What does our mountain stronghold lack now? Isn't it craftsmen! If we had a group of craftsmen who could make armor, Du Qian and Ruan Xiaoqi wouldn't have been hit by arrows.

Now, hearing Mo Shisan's words, it was like finding a pillow when you're sleepy. Since this person is recommended by Tang Long, he must be skilled, and it would be good to have him as a leader on the mountain! He then said to Mo Shisan, "Brother, since you are determined to join the mountain, you can be a leader under Brother Tang Long! Our mountain is currently short of craftsmen. If there are people in your workshop who don't want to stay, they can all come with me to the mountain. The stronghold will not treat them poorly!" After thinking for a moment, he added, "Anyone willing to join will receive fifty guan as a settlement fee and a monthly allowance. What do you think?"

Mo Shisan was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Being able to follow Brother Tang Long is my good fortune! Leader, I have a few brothers who are also worried about their future. Since Leader Wang is willing to take them in, I will go and call them!"

Just as he finished speaking, he sighed, "Unfortunately, most people have families and can't easily leave. Otherwise, it would be good to escape this suffering together. Now, there are very few like me who can eat alone and not worry about their families."

Tang Long, hearing this, thought for a moment and said, "Brother, I will go back to the city again and try to bring a few more colleagues!"

Wang Lun nodded, although he was a bit disappointed, he knew that having some was better than having none. He still had time to wait for these seeds to sprout.

Wang Lun suddenly remembered that Mo Shisan had mentioned that the eunuchs were stealing and selling weapons, so he asked, "If I want to buy some bows, crossbows, and armor, can you help me with that?"

Mo Shisan, seeing Wang Lun ask, thought for a moment and said, "The workshop I work in specializes in making armor. If you want to buy some armor, it's not a problem, but bows and crossbows are too sensitive and might be difficult!"

Wang Lun, seeing Mo Shisan's hesitation, laughed heartily and said, "I'm putting you in a difficult position! No problem, we'll just buy some armor. What are the types of armor?"

He knew that the Song Dynasty's armor was renowned, with many types, each with its own advantages and uses.

Mo Shisan, seeing Wang Lun's easy-going and gentle nature, was pleased and began to explain in detail, "The armor we make is divided into three types: iron, leather, and paper. The iron armor is the heaviest, using 1,825 pieces of armor, with 504 pieces for the shoulders, weighing 8 catties and 3.4 ounces, 332 pieces for the body, weighing 9 catties and 11.4 ounces, 679 pieces for the skirt and tail, weighing 19 catties and 1.55 ounces, and 310 pieces for the helmet, weighing 4 catties and 13.5 ounces. The total weight, including the helmet, is 49 catties. More pieces can be added, but the soldiers might not be able to move. Making such a set of armor costs 38 guan."

Mo Shisan, seeing Wang Lun and the others listening intently, continued, "Next is the leather armor. There are three types: rhinoceros leather armor, which uses seven rows of armor pieces, water buffalo leather armor, which uses six rows, and combined leather armor, which uses five rows. Currently, the combined leather armor is the most produced, and each piece costs 18 guan."

"Finally, there is the paper armor. This armor uses extremely soft paper mixed with silk, processed and hammered to a thickness of three inches. It is fixed with four nails per square inch. If it gets wet, arrows cannot penetrate. Each piece costs about 10 guan."

After Mo Shisan finished, Wang Lun thought for a moment and asked, "If I buy nearly a thousand sets of armor, will the eunuchs suspect anything?"

Mo Shisan was greatly surprised, not expecting Wang Lun to have such a large appetite. After thinking for a moment, he said, "If the quantity is not large, there's no need to go through them. I can find someone to handle it! But if the quantity is large, it will definitely draw their attention. These eunuchs are very cautious and usually only deal with regular customers! However, I am well-known in the workshop, so I can go and feel out the situation for Leader Wang!"