Bai Minzhong, the governor of Jingnan, is also a large Jingnan clan. He has been intimate with the Ding family for generations. Each generation of the two clans has had major marriages. Over the years, the two families have been closely intertwined, and it is difficult to distinguish them. The Ding and Bai families have firmly controlled the power of Jingnan for nearly twenty years and have almost turned Jingnan into the industry of the two families. The position of Jingnan Jiedushi has always been in the Bai family and the Ding family.

Ding Xiang, the second wife of the Ding family, is currently the Duke of Yuhou of Jingnan Jiedu Town. He controls nearly half of the Jingnan army. Although he has an independent door, he is the brother of the eldest wife Ding Ci's father and mother.

Ding Feng, the third wife of Ding family, was born of Ding Ci's half-brother. He was a concubine's food and mainly controlled the Ding family's external business.

Among the two and three bedrooms, almost all those who were successful in studying were working in Jingnan, while those who liked to play with swords and guns entered the army. Those who were not as good as martial arts could either learn to do business or take charge of land and farms.

The most outstanding person in this generation was the eldest son Ding Jian. He became famous at a young age. He learned from Zhang Hui, a great scholar in the world. Later, he returned to Jingnan to work in the area, governing the jurisdiction so that he would not pick up the remains and not close his house at night. Later, he heard that Zhang had gone back to the north, so he left his comfortable life and followed him all the way. After seven years of hard work, when he came back, it was even more different from the past.

Even if his father-in-law Bai Minzhong and his relatives Ding Ci would not dare to regard Ding Jian as a simple junior.

Ding Jian, who once served as the governor of Yizhou and the governor of Hezhong, was actually no less political influence than them.

There were several glass lamps nodding in the house, illuminating the entire room. These glass lamps produced in the north are still luxurious items in the south.

"I've been gone for seven years, and I've lost weight, but I've looked much stronger than before. I've suffered a lot, right? Is it hard to be a Li Ze's official? " Bai Minzhong looked at his son-in-law and laughed. Although he was a little dissatisfied with the boy leaving his wife and son for many years, he has always valued Ding Jian's talent and ability. Ding Jian's ability to achieve today also made him feel that he didn't choose the wrong son-in-law back then.

"It's very hard and tiring." Ding Jian didn't hide it, "Where is it, it's very common for a person to do a few people's work alone. Li Xiang is a person who only looks at the results and not the process. When my father-in-law was appointed as the governor of Hezhong, the total number of officials under his command was not as high as half of our Jingnan."

Bai Minzhong was surprised, "How can you control such a small amount?"

Ding Jian smiled and said, "We have formed some rules and regulations. There are very few things to do. We each take responsibility, act according to the rules and regulations, and work together, so we don't need many people. Administration is the top priority of the court. Many officials are introduced every year, but many officials will be denied."

"Are you not afraid of these repulsed people being resentful?" Bai Minzhong asked.

"The court's assessment of officials is all-round. In Li Xiang's words, it is quantification. When my son-in-law was appointed as the governor of Hezhong, there were as many as hundreds of items to evaluate me, involving all aspects, and each item had corresponding scores. The same is true for other officials at all levels, but there are fewer items. Once the assessment fails, the first thing is to be demoted. If an official fails the assessment for three consecutive years, how can he have the face to stay there?" Ding Jian smiled. "Everything is spoken with data, and the person being assessed has nothing to say."

"This is too inhumane. Without credit, there is also hard work!" Ding Xiang, the second wife, shook his head and said.

"Uncle Second, I am an official, but I can't judge this way. Some people are not capable of doing hard work, and sometimes it's worse." Ding Jian said: "Where are we, hard work is the basic quality, but how can we manage a good party with just brute force? The north is now like the scorching sun in the air, and the light shines in the eyes, which is not unreasonable."

"Li Ze is indeed a great man of his generation. He has made such a big career in just a few years. Zhang Zhongwu, who was once arrogant, can only bow his knees to him, which is even more fascinating. However, he beat Tocharo to a slump. Now there are civil strife in Tubo and wars. Not only does Tocharo fight with Delhi Chinan, but there are even riots in the country. Are you also doing this here?" Bai Min said.

"This is natural." Ding Jian said: "Although we have severely damaged Tubo in Lingzhou and Yinzhou, in terms of overall strength, they are not weaker than us. They are not allowed to kill each other and have constant civil strife. How can we have the intention to do anything else? Tubo is no longer a problem. For at least ten years, we can't imagine any threat to us, but we will wait until we solve the domestic affairs and then slowly deal with them."

Several people in the room looked at each other, but they all fell silent at the same time.

Ding Jian smiled slightly, stood up, picked up a carved small box from the table behind him and handed it to Bai Minzhong.

"Father-in-law, this is a small gift I brought back to you from Wuyi. You have a bad look. This thing makes it more convenient for you to read books and things."

"Oh, there are such objects?" Bai Minzhong opened the box with great interest.

"This is a pair of glasses. The son-in-law specially asked the craftsman to make it with gold wire." Ding Jian said: "I don't know the specific situation of my father-in-law's eyes, so I asked the craftsman to polish a few pairs of glasses of different specifications. Try it and see which one is the most suitable?"

As he spoke, Ding Jian skillfully installed two of the lenses on the frame and handed them to Bai Minzhong.

After looking at the object on his hand for a few glances, Bai Minzhong put his glasses on his head.

"Hey, I'm really clear!" He exclaimed.

"Try changing another pair!" Ding Jian installed another pair for Bai Minzhong again.

After trying several times, he finally found the most suitable one. This made Bai Minzhong, who was suffering from eye disease, excited. He looked up at the words on the wall behind Ding Ci's opposite side, and smiled and said, "It's wonderful, it was so wonderful. In the past, I could only see a ball of ink traces, but now it's a tiny bit of it. Good things, good things."

"It's indeed a good thing." Ding Jian smiled and picked up another tube and said, "Father-in-law, such glasses are just accessories to the things in my hand. The glasses are for civilian purposes, but the ones in my hand are for military purposes. Look at this."

He handed the tube in his hand to Bai Minzhong and briefly explained the usage, "Father-in-law, go to the window and look at the lights outside."

Bai Minzhong walked to the window as he spoke, raised the thinner end of the tube in his hand, and pointed it out the window. It was a blurred ball. As his hand adjusted the outside of the tube, his eyes suddenly became clear. A large ball of light seemed to come to his face, which scared him. He immediately put it down and turned to look at Ding Jian, with a look of confusion on his face.

"This thing is called a telescope where we are. Although it is several miles away, it can be seen clearly." Ding Jian said: "Now, it has been widely used in the army."

After playing with this thing called a telescope, Ding Ci, Ding Feng one by one, he was amazed.

"With this thing, on the battlefield, you can see the enemy's state at all." Ding Xiang, as a military general, is naturally the most sensitive. "Dalang, can you get more for us?"

"This is just some inconspicuous little things." Ding Jian said: "In Wuyi, it's really not worth mentioning. Father-in-law, do you know how much steel production the imperial court has in a year?"

Bai Minzhong straightened up and the output of steel can actually be directly quantified into the armed strength of a place.

"How many?"

"Last year, our steel production was 10 million kilograms, and this year it is expected to exceed 20 million kilograms." Ding Jian said: "And next year, it is expected to reach 30 million kilograms."

In an instant, the room fell into shock.

"Twenty million jin?" Bai Minzhong murmured.

"Yes, although these 20 million kilograms are iron, they are twice as high as those in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. More importantly, we are now occupying only a corner of the north." Ding Jian said proudly: "Father-in-law naturally knows what this means. The iron output added in all other places is probably less than half of ours."

Steel is naturally a reflection of combat effectiveness. Only with enough steel can more weapons be built and soldiers can more armor.

"Not mentioning quality, just quantity, we have already crushed all forces." Ding Jian smiled and said, "In terms of quality, there is even more no comparison. Now, Texas produces tens of thousands of sets of armor annually. The quality of the armor is rising steadily, but the weight is decreasing year by year. Ding Xiong and Ding Wei brought a few sets back and will be sent to your mansion tomorrow. You can compare with the ones produced in Jingnan. Oh, and there are some swords and spears, etc., which will be sent together at that time."

"Okay, I'm just about to see it." Bai Minzhong breathed.

"The standard configuration of each 12 guards in the Tang Dynasty is 30,000. Of course, some guards will be a little more or less based on the actual situation, but in general, everyone is wearing armor. Father-in-law, father, second uncle and third uncle, these 30,000 soldiers are all serious soldiers." Ding Jian said: "The arsenals of various places are full of people. As long as Li Xiang is willing, a 12 guards can be formed in a short period of time."

"Our annual income was 70 million guan last year." Ding Jian continued: "Although we suffered a drought this year, it depends on the prosperity of business and overseas trade. It is estimated that the annual income will still be 10% higher than last year, reaching 80 million guan. There was hope that it would exceed 100 million guan. Unfortunately, a natural disaster and the loss was quite large!"
Chapter completed!