May 1st.

"This is Xiping County, and the iron ore is not inferior to that of Yangcheng. The palace master can place craftsmen and surrendered soldiers to forge military weapons here."

Guo Jia, who knew Runan's terrain, pointed to the county town ahead and introduced it to Chen Fei.

"Very good. This place is only a few dozen miles away from Yingchuan, and it is very convenient to supply both counties."

Of course, Chen Fei was very happy to get such resources and pointed to the county town again:

"Who is the magistrate of Xiping County?"

Guo Jia replied:

"Chen Teng, a native of Runan, is a local clan. It is said that he is the same clan as Chen Wen, the former governor of Yangzhou. Although his reputation among the gentry is not prominent, his reputation among the people is quite good. This time our army went south, he was also the first county magistrate to join and provide food and grass."

Chen Fei nodded and smiled and joked:

"Since his surname is Chen, I want to praise him a few words."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Xiping city gate opened with a bang, dozens of figures walked out quickly, and then lined up on both sides.

The first person bowed to Chen Fei to the ground:

"Xiping Order Chen Teng, pay homage to the Lord of the House! He has not been able to welcome him from afar, so I hope to forgive him!"

Chen Fei turned over and dismounted and helped him up:

"No need for so much courtesy. Since you and I have the same surname, maybe they were one family a hundred years ago. We entered the city to talk."

-

"I have heard that Chen Fujun is a handsome young man who is rare in a century. Today I see that he is indeed well-known."

After entering the county hall, Chen Teng first flattered.

Chen Fei waved his hand with a smile:

"To be fair, I have neither learned classics and history books nor Ben Yu, and I have the courage of Xinbu. I can sit in front of you by chance. Chen County, can you briefly introduce the recent situation of Xiping?"

Chen Teng signaled his maid to pour wine for everyone, and then said:

"Two years ago, when I was the new county magistrate, I had a rough count of the number of households, with about 13,000 households and 68,000 households. In Runan, I can only be considered a medium-sized one.

To be ashamed, Xiping is located at the junction of Runan and Yingchuan. It was robbed by the Yellow Turban Army many times within several years. The people were unwilling to cultivate. Whether it was the government’s money and grain or the people’s storage of grain, they were only enough to survive. Fortunately, the Duke defeated the main forces of the four Yellow Turban Divisions one after another. This year, the people’s lives will at least be better!"

Chen Fei nodded slightly:

"If there is not enough grain storage, you can inform me at any time. Although Yingchuan is not rich, you can still find some surplus grain. I heard that Xiping has always had iron ore, but I don't know what the business conditions are?"

Chen Teng's face was full of shame:

"I dare not deceive. Chen is really incompetent. The largest iron ore in Xiping... is not under the control of the county government..."

Chen Fei raised his eyebrows:

"oh?"

Chen Teng lowered his eyes. The county magistrate, who was about forty years, was obviously hesitant at this time:

"The family is unfortunate. Chen's third brother is free and stubborn. He has always relied on his courage and fighting. Two years ago, he gathered hundreds of wanderers in the rivers and lakes to occupy the iron ore and surrounding mountains. As the eldest brother, Chen wrote several letters to persuade him to return to the road, but he beat the messenger out of the sticks..."

Chen Fei took a sip of wine and asked with a smile:

"Mr. Chen, you were the new county magistrate two years ago, and Lingdi happened to occupy the official mine two years ago. If you say that these two things have nothing to do with each other, it would be difficult to convince people, right?"

His meaning was already very explicit, almost accusing Chen Teng of using his position to unite his brothers to embezzle state-owned property!

Chen Teng sighed and took out his official seal from the desk:

"Chen knows that his personality is weak and his brothers cannot persuade him. What kind of face does he have to serve as the head of a county and govern tens of thousands of people? I beg the emperor of the palace to choose another talent. Chen will say goodbye now."

Chen Fei glanced at the official seal in his hand and shook his head:

"You don't have to be busy resigning. Let me ask you, how many people does he have?"

Chen Teng hesitated for a moment:

"At least five or six hundred people."

Chen Fei asked again:

"How many soldiers do you have?"

"…The total number of Bugong is more than 800 people."

Chen Teng swallowed and understood:

"The Lord of the Mansion wants..."

Chen Fei gently patted the table:

"Even if you want to resign, you have to solve this problem before leaving!"

-

Xiping City is more than ten miles west, and there is an official forging farm covering an area of ​​more than ten acres on the south bank of the water.

At this moment, a stream of black and white smoke was rising from the chimney, somewhat strange.

Someone came up:

"Sanlang, isn't this cigarette right?"

The one who was called "Sanlang" was naturally Chen Teng's third brother.

Chen Laosan, who was naked, frowned, looked at the iron sword mold in front of him, shook his head and threw away the hammer in his hand:

"A piece of good iron was scrapped."

The other party picked up the scrap iron, threw it back to the iron smelting furnace, and then asked with a smile:

"What's wrong today? Since you started your army two years ago, you have never made such a mistake. Could it be... Is it because I fell in love with someone's girl? Hahaha!"

Chen Laosan was not polite and kicked his butt:

"You dare to talk nonsense again, believe it or not and stuff you into the stove next time!"

But the man didn't care at all, patted the dust on his butt, and continued to joke with him:

"It's not me that you, a real man is a serious business to start a family and start a career. You are not a child anymore. You have already won the championship last year. You always have to take care of one's head when starting a family and starting a career. You can't just make a sword every day!"

This was obviously not the first time he persuaded him. Chen Laosan ignored him and washed his face and hands by the bucket, and then changed into clean clothes.

"You are right. My elder brother told me two days ago that the prefect of Yingchuan had surrendered Huang Shao, Liu Pi, and He Yi were also expelled to Nanyang by him. He wanted me..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a hurrying footsteps:

"Sanlang! The big thing is wrong! The prefect of Yingchuan and your elder brother come to attack us!"

-

"This, this..."

Chen Teng regrets it very much now.

【Why do you need to tell the truth?】

[Chen Fei might just ask casually, but he wouldn't really inspect the forging site... He should have stabilized him first and then slowly persuaded his third brother?]

[Although Chen Fei showed mercy to the Yellow Turban Army, he was a devil who killed people without blinking in the local tribe! If he really started killing here, how could I explain to me after I got home?! She is the most doting of the third child!]

He was worried, but heard Guo Jia ask:

"Mr. Chen, is this the famous Tangxi sword furnace in the world?"

Chen Teng could only cheer up and nodded and replied:

“That’s right.”

Guo Jia turned his head and explained to Chen Fei:

"Do you know this place?"

Chen Fei snorted from his nose:

"I am from Sili, how do you know about a small sword furnace in Yuzhou?"

Guo Jia quickly explained with a smile:

"The Duke said the most is that Guo Jia is not considering Zhou. Xiping has always been a holy place for sword-making in the Central Plains. Here, the Spring and Autumn Period belongs to Chu, and the Warring States Period belongs to Han. "Records of the Grand Historian of Taishigong" records that the world's powerful bows and crossbows all came from Han, and Han's swords and halberds all came from Mingshan, Tangxi, Moyang, Hehuan, Deng Shi, Wanfeng, Longyuan, Tai'a, all cut cattle and horses on the land, and cut swans and geese on the water. Most of these sword-making places are in Xiping."

Chen Fei pretended to understand and nodded reservedly:

"Since it has been a sword-making holy land in the Central Plains since ancient times, I naturally cannot abandon it and give it to the thief. Today, I will take back this place myself!"

This is not a mine, but a site for making swords. Therefore, the terrain is flat. Although there are courtyard barriers, it is impossible to create too many obstacles to the advance of the army. Chen Fei is of course confident to lead an army of 500 cavalry and 500 infantrymen.

"Be careful!"

Yang Zhi suddenly reminded him, and the soldiers around him subconsciously pulled out their swords.

I saw a flashing figure on the whistle opposite.

Chen Teng drove his horse forward and shouted with anger:
To be continued...