Chapter 61: Fujii

Although the stream passing through the Crescent Valley comes from the convergence of many large and small mountain streams at the northern foot of Fangcheng Mountain, if it doesn't rain, the water will have no roots. In addition to the daily consumption of more than 20,000 people, even though dams were built to block the water early in the morning and pools were dug along the streams to store water, it is still showing signs of drying up.

"There has been little sunshine in the past few days, and there are occasional dark clouds. The rain should not be far away." When Ying Yi said this, he didn't know whether he was comforting himself or the scholar.

The scholar looked at the sky and said, "What you said makes sense."

Manpower is sometimes poor. Unless you are a god who can control the wind and rain at will, you will inevitably be controlled by God. Although Xiucai was also worried, it was useless to worry about this kind of thing. It's better to comfort yourself. Zuo Yingyi is right. The sky has indeed changed in the past few days.

"It's not that there are no other ways..." Ying Yi said expressionlessly, remembering what he had said to Zhou Li before, and thinking of those big rivers: "As long as the thieves are leveled..."

The scholar laughed.

"Zhou E, Zhou E!"

When the scholar came closer, he called twice. Zhou E looked up, threw the wooden fork and ran towards him. She bowed solemnly and said, "Master Sun."

While secretly looking at Ying Yi.

The scholar smiled and said, "This is Lord Ying Yi."

Then he said to Ying Yi: "This is the Zhou E that my subordinates mentioned."

Zhou E is of medium build and looks to be in her mid-twenties. Although her face is thin, she is in good spirits.

After hearing what the scholar said, Zhou E looked shocked and hurriedly bowed: "My little lady has seen Mr. Ying!"

Ying Yi's name is known to everyone in Crescent Valley. But not many people know what Ying Yi looks like. Scholars were in charge of Crescent Valley and did a lot in all aspects. Just like when he told the soldiers how powerful Ying Yi was, he spared no effort to publicize it in Crescent Valley.

Adults and children, who doesn’t know that Ying Yi has the final say in Crescent Valley now?

But after all, few people have seen Ying Yi. Although Ying Yi had known about Crescent Valley and had gone around a few times, he had not yet seized power at that time. People will not remember the appearance of a passerby.

"No need to be polite." Ying Yi smiled, gave him a little support, and said, "Master Sun said that you are good at weaving and tailoring, and it was you who proposed the rattan garment. I will come over today to have a look and try the effect. If the rattan garment meets the requirements, There will definitely be great rewards.”

"Thank you, sir!" Zhou E was overjoyed and rubbed her hands nervously.

"Let's go." Ying Yi said with a gentle smile: "Let's take a look first. I hope it can give me a surprise."

All the way to Zhou E's house - a narrow cave.

Two skinny children, one eleven or twelve years old, one five or six years old, and an old woman. As for Zhou E's husband, Sun Xiucai said that he was recruited to log wood, leaving early and returning late.

When we arrived at Zhou E's house, the old woman, Zhou E's mother-in-law, was shaking an old loom by the cave. Amidst the clicking sound, a piece of slightly gray-yellow linen was being formed.

"Is this the cloth made of thorn vine?"

Ying Yi asked.

Zhou E hurriedly said: "Sir, this is rattan cloth. This is the color of the twine after soaking the thorn rattan in water and oil."

The old woman recognized Sun Xiucai, and when she saw Ying Yi and his entourage arriving, she hurriedly stood up to salute.

Ying Yi quickly stopped: "Old madam, there is no need to be polite."

The old woman was submissive.

Ying Yi smiled and said: "Where is Teng Yi? Let's try the effect first."

Zhou E then took out some clothes from the cave, unfolded them and revealed them in front of Ying Yi.

As far as the style is concerned, it is a very simple style worn by ordinary people, with clothes and trousers, gray and yellow, and unremarkable. Ying Yi took it and touched it with his hand, and he noticed the difference. He originally thought that the cloth woven from the fibers of this thorn vine would be rough, but when he held it in his hand, it felt dense. It is more delicate than linen, and although not as good as silk, it is not much worse than cotton.

The scholar on the side spoke: "Sir, this kind of rattan clothing is more delicate than linen and very tough. It takes a lot of effort to cut it. I tried it with Lian Baihu and found that this kind of cloth has better defense against swords than cotton and linen, but It has extremely strong defense against arrows. Beyond thirty steps, it is difficult for arrows to penetrate rattan clothing, which is similar to silk and the arrows will be stuck."

"oh?!"

Ying Yi couldn't help but look surprised when he heard this. He pinched a corner of the clothes with both hands and slowly applied force. The strength increased to three to four hundred kilograms. The clothes were stretched out of shape, from one inch to four or five inches, but there was no sign of tearing. , as soon as the hand was loosened, it bounced back.

This toughness and elasticity were beyond Ying Yi's expectations!

"good!"

Ying Yi was overjoyed: "Good stuff, I didn't disappoint!"

He caressed the rattan garment, looking very precious, and said to the scholar: "If the rattan garment is used as lining and covered with iron armor, it will not only protect against knives and guns, but also arrows. It is suitable for both near and far! I just don't know how to protect against firearms."

The scholar smiled when he heard this: "Although the defense against firearms is not amazing, it is comparable to half an inch of cotton armor."

Cotton armor is the armor with the strongest defense against fire guns in this era. It is soaked in cotton and pressed layer by layer. They often wear a set of cotton armor and a set of iron armor on top, which cannot be penetrated by ordinary firearms. It seems that the elite troops of the Tatars are all equipped with this kind of equipment.

Half an inch thick cotton armor is already very good. And this rattan clothing is only a thin layer, and its defensive capabilities can be imagined.

This really gave Ying Yi a big surprise.

"Try it."

Hearing was false, seeing was believing. Ying Yi took a breath and hurriedly asked people to bring swords, guns, bows, arrows and firecrackers. He put the vine clothes on a straw man and let them test them one by one.

Not to mention swords, guns, bows and arrows, there are also firecrackers. It was seized from Dongchang Fanzi. Firearms in Ye County are now in Xiaowangzhuang.

After some experiments, from a hundred steps away to within thirty steps, Ying Yi was extremely satisfied with the results.

Use swords to chop, spears to stab, and also to cut off the silk threads. Fifty steps away, the arrow was shot upwards. The arrowhead was entangled in the twine, and only half of the arrow tip could be penetrated, which had just broken through the skin. If the arrow is thirty steps away, it will be half entangled, and if it is within thirty steps, it can be shot through. When a firearm is fired, a large part of its power will be removed, and a black spot will form, as if it had been burned by fire.

"good, very good."

Ying Yi was very satisfied and said with a smile: "With Teng Yi, I don't know how many lives can be saved."

"Xiucai, the thorn vine is a treasure and must be planted on a large scale. You organize a group of people to find a suitable place to plant it." As he said, his eyes fell on Zhou E: "Zhou E must be rewarded for his great contributions. I There are two options here. First, you will be responsible for planting the thorn vines, and the monthly silver is tentatively set at twelve taels. Second, after the first batch, the rattan clothes will be concentrated and a direct workshop will be established, and you will be the owner. , the moon silver is also twelve taels for the time being."

Ying Yi's reward is not a heavy reward. After hearing this, Zhou E's face flushed with excitement and she said without thinking: "Sir, this little lady chooses the workshop!"

Ying Yi laughed and said, "Okay, from now on, you will be Master Zhou."

"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!" Zhou E fell to the ground and cried with joy.