Chapter 117 Sword and Horse

The transaction that Malan was about to lead was to exchange weapons for horses, grain, and large livestock, and the object of the transaction was a subordinate of Fang Guoan, the commander-in-chief of the army.

This subordinate of Fang Guoan can also be regarded as an acquaintance of Li Ping.

This man was none other than Huang Chengdong, the boss Li Ping met when he went to Xiangyang to rescue people. He was blocking streets, smashing and looting in the name of catching spies. Li Ping had met him once and had a brief exchange with him.

This guy is brave and dares to do random things, but he probably doesn't have a strong background, otherwise he wouldn't have been used as a pawn to test by Fang Guoan.

But his experience as a chess piece has obviously made him successful, and Huang Chengdong's reputation as a chess player is also said to be quite good.

Later, Hu Zhongshan exchanged things with Huang Chengdong's subordinates several times. Although the things were very small, they could be regarded as forming a "friendship", and at least they had more trust between each other.

Of course, Fang Guoan probably doesn't know about these things, and he doesn't bother to take care of such trivial matters.

The weapons Malan used to exchange were not all kinds of weapons, but only lancets, and the number was not large, only one hundred and twenty. In addition, there was some coarse salt.

The reason why I chose the lancet is because this kind of weapon has a large circulation and is used a lot. Especially the high-quality ones imported from Japan are expensive and can be sold quickly.

And Li Ping had a sophisticated lancet because he had an open-hearth furnace that could produce real steel.

The lancet appeared in the middle and late Ming Dynasty. It is the standard shape of the curved knife and a waist knife widely equipped by the army in the late Ming Dynasty.

It is usually about 1 meter in length, with a straight handle about 20 centimeters long. The blade is curved from the root, shaped like a willow leaf, with a large arc and a wide tip.

The gentle curve along the blade reduces the reversal ability of the lancet and effectively increases the cutting force. However, compared to Japanese knives with similar curvature, the blade width of the lancet is much wider.

However, the curvature of the lancet is moderate, and even though the stabbing accuracy is slightly inferior, the overall impact is not great.

Because of these characteristics, the lancet quickly defeated the long sword and the straight-backed sword after its appearance, and was widely loved by the cavalry and infantry of the Ming Dynasty.

The gradual fading out of Yan Ling Dao should also be related to this. Because in the fierce close combat, cutting is a more instinctive action than stabbing. Especially at this time in China, the heavy armor coverage rate of all armies is generally low.

In this case, the damage caused by slashing is often fatal, and the advantageous effect of assassination is not obvious.

According to statistics made by the British author George Farmer in his 1844 book "Light Dragoons", the French, who are accustomed to using relatively straight swords for assassination, and the British, who are accustomed to using more curved knives for chopping, are more

There is actually not much difference in the proportion of serious injuries.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the lancet, which is more conducive to cutting, became more and more popular in the late Ming Dynasty.

However, due to the fall of the Song Dynasty, China experienced a major setback in weapon casting production technology and the loss and demise of some technologies. The level of weapon production in the Ming Dynasty has always been low, so the quality of most lancets cannot be complimented.

At this time, Japanese swords that retained a relatively comprehensive sword-making process entered China in large numbers and were highly praised for their quality advantages.

The main reason why the Japanese sell knives is profit, which is five times the profit at home.

"History of the Maritime Silk Road in Guangdong" says: "A Japanese sword is only worth 800 to 1,000 coins in Japan, but the price in the Ming Dynasty was as high as 5,000 coins. Therefore, in the name of tribute, Japan imported a large number of knives into Guangdong and even

All over China, making huge profits."

After 1432, the Japanese brought in about 200,000 tribute knives through only eleven formal tribute trades, and smuggling was of course inevitable. However, during the war in the late Ming Dynasty, demand increased so much that smuggling also

What's more, of course profits have also declined.

In order to keep pace with the times, many Japanese swords smuggled into China in the late Ming Dynasty were lancets, not samurai swords as many people usually think.

And in order to expand production capacity, many lancets produced in Japan are also quick-turn products, and the quality is even more uneven. After all, good knives require time and good craftsmen, and tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands are not available.

Legally guaranteed quality.

Li Ping sells knives for profit, for huge profits, just like refined salt.

The Japanese have a huge advantage in sword-making technology, and Li Ping has a huge advantage in materials. Since good steel makes good knives, Li Ping can naturally produce knives with much better quality and generate huge profits.

The main reason for choosing Lancet for production and trading was that it would be easier to confuse the public and make nonsense. It would be too risky for Li Ping's current status to expose his steel production capacity.

The only thing that is difficult to explain is that the number of these good knives is a bit large, but fortunately in the war, it is the last word to have good products without asking where they came from.

However, merchants cannot be the first choice for selling knives. It is easier to make a profit by selling them to the army and the army that is preparing for battle.

The place where Ma Lan and Huang Ba conducted their transactions was not in the wilderness, but directly in a residential building south of Xiangyang City.

This place is close to Xiangyang City, so it is very convenient for both sides to support each other, and there will be many concerns, so you don't have to worry too much about each other trying to trick the other.

In the wilderness, it is easy to be confused and have accidents.

In a courtyard, Malan asked his men to place 12 bundles of lancets (10 in each bundle) on the ground in the courtyard. He himself sat cross-legged on the stone millstone in the middle of the courtyard and watched the boss Huang Chengdong put one there.

A test knife.

Malan's own knife was placed by his leg and still in the scabbard, so he wasn't too worried.

Most of the people on both sides were outside the courtyard and there was a larger courtyard next door. In that large courtyard, there were large livestock and grain brought by Huang Chengdong, as well as coarse salt brought by Malan. Malan's subordinate Zhao Dongdong was leading people to inspect there.

and inventory.

Relying on the city, the people are spread out, and no one can surround the other, and no one has an absolute advantage in terms of numbers. It is simply impossible to kill each other without attracting attention. Only the insane will have other thoughts.

.

Moreover, there were only a few people in the courtyard. Malan observed carefully several times and found no one who could pose a threat to him, so he relaxed even more.

The owner of this batch of knives, Huang Chengdong, obviously didn't want more of his own people to see it.

"Sure enough, they are all good knives. Although they are not the best, they are rare! I heard that your family has received many rewards, but you are really willing to give them up." Huang Chengdong looked at all the knives carefully while touching them gently.

While holding the blade of a new knife, he admired it and glanced at Malan casually.

"As long as Mr. Huang knows the goods, I hope your stuff is good." Ma Lan didn't answer Huang Chengdong's words at all, but looked at him with a sullen face.

Malan had no interest in Huang Chengdong, and she also despised this guy who looked like a consumptive man in colorful clothes, so he was very rude.

Malan's indifference made General Huang Chengdong's expression change slightly, but he quickly put on a smile and said, "Brother Ma, are you kidding me? I, Mr. Huang, always talk about credibility. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten to know your general!"

You should also rest assured about my goods."

Huang Chengdong originally wanted to give more attention to this black guy who didn't understand the rules, but seeing the guy's nonchalant look, he still suppressed the anger in his heart.

Old Hu is easy to talk to and knows the rules, but this big deal has such a guy in charge. This shows that this person should be Guerrilla Li Ping's true confidant and the most trustworthy person.

Moreover, this guy doesn't seem to be easy to mess with, and he doesn't seem like someone who is afraid of causing trouble.

"Brother Huang, you don't have enough horses!" He stretched out his hand to avoid hitting the smiling man. After all, Huang Chengdong had a higher military position than him. Malan also softened his tone, but was still unwilling to say more to this guy.

What to exchange for what and how much to exchange for has actually been agreed upon long ago.

But Huang Chengdong, who figured it out in an instant, saw that this black killing was getting a little more serious, so he smiled and explained more without mind: "Brother Ma, it's not easy to get 12 horses together. Everything else is easy to say,

It's difficult to deal with horses. Of course, I also know that with 7 knives and a horse, I have taken advantage of it. Your family has given me enough respect. But I have not missed the horses and big animals, and I have enough food.

.”

In the Ming Dynasty, the price for buying a horse generally fluctuated between 10 and 15 taels of silver. At its peak in the late Ming Dynasty, it reached 50 taels per horse, but most high prices were only between 30 and 40 taels.

In the late Ming Dynasty, the exchange ratio of 1 tael of silver to copper coins was mostly between 800 and 1,200 taels of silver. However, the price of a good-quality knife imported from Japan in the late Ming Dynasty was at least 5,000 taels of silver, which is at least 5 taels of silver.

To the mainland, the price is higher, sometimes even double.

The value of silver at the end of the Ming Dynasty was not as high as expected, mainly because the trade surplus between the Ming Dynasty and Europe led to a large inflow of silver, and the price of silver could not rise. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, factors such as war reparations led to a large outflow of silver, which led to the exchange of 1 tael of silver and copper coins.

Rising to 5000-7000 Wen.

Since many people take it for granted that Li Ping's knives are imported from Japan, Li Ping's price of 7 knives per horse is actually giving Huang Chengdong a huge profit. Huang Chengdong will have a huge profit as long as he changes hands.

Make money.

This is also to make Huang Chengdong carefully and proactively keep his mouth shut.

"The price of the knife my general gave you is not high, and the salt I gave you is also cheap. This means that he trusts you. You should use more snacks. My general likes horses." Malan said angrily.

The salt that Malan mentioned is of course not refined salt, but coarse salt. It is not normal for everything to be the best.

In fact, this strategy of selling knives, salt and even other small items is also to create the impression that Li Ping is changing hands and doing business, so as to reduce the attention of others.

"That is, that is."

Huang Chengdong said with a smile, but it was obviously just polite. But he thought in his heart that after this deal, your guerrilla fund will probably be empty, and we will go our separate ways from now on.

"After a while, my general will be able to get another batch of these knives, but there won't be so many." Malan continued to lay the groundwork, completely imitating Song Baolai's appetizing method yesterday.

"And there are swords? Brother Ma is serious about it." Huang Chengdong immediately became energetic again when he heard this, and he rushed to Ma Lan's side.

Glancing at Huang Chengdong, who was so close and his eyes were shining, Malan raised his head and shook his head, then tilted his head and stared at Huang Chengdong again and said: "You don't have any horses, what are you thinking about! My general will only ask for it next time

We have enough horses and food. My general also wants to have a team of cavalry like Vice Admiral Jin. That is majestic."

"There is a horse, there is a horse. Brother Ma, leave it to me. I will find a way to ensure that I can't miss the majesty of your master." Huang Chengdong said anxiously.

Seeing Ma Lan's disbelieving expression, Huang Chengdong rolled his eyes again, and then said with a smile: "I still have many beauties on my hands, including Yan, fat, ring, and thin. Your adults might like her too!"

"We can rob it ourselves. If you want me, I can sell you some." Malan said sarcastically.

"Haha! Meng Lang, Meng Lang." Huang Chengdong smiled awkwardly without minding it, obviously thinking of the past.

Then, he touched the back of his head and suddenly woke up and said: "Look at my memory, it's better to come early than to come by chance. I just got a few new beauties and a baby yesterday, and I didn't even have time to taste them! Brother, you can't wait for a while.

Take them away together. This is free of charge and is just my personal preference. I will definitely ensure that your family will be satisfied. Regarding the horse matter, I will give you accurate information within ten days. If my method fails, I will not delay you from contacting other families.

.Is that possible?”

Malan rolled his eyes a few times and pretended to think, and then said as if he had made a lot of determination: "Okay, I will trust Brother Huang first. I will report it to my family when I get back. With your beauty, it shouldn't be a big problem."

.”

After saying that, Ma Lan picked up the knife and jumped off the millstone, then shouted to the other side of the house at the top of her lungs: "Zhao Dongdong, you bastard, have you finished inspecting everything?"

Note:

The lancets of the Ming Dynasty were all straight-handled knives. The lancets with curved handles only appeared after the Qing Dynasty, around the late 18th century.

The lancet replaced the Yanling knife as the mainstream knife and the development of the two-handed light knife also began in the Qing Dynasty. The emergence of the two-handed light knife was more due to the needs of martial arts performances, which should not be confused with the need for the army to maintain sufficient strength and durability.
Chapter completed!