Fang Er recounted one item, and Fang Xuanling noted it down.
After waiting for a while with no further remarks, Fang Xuanling looked up and asked.
Was there anything else?
Fang Er thought for a moment.
Yes!
Various military flags are a must!
But those are trivial matters, considered a gift from this young man.
Come, let me calculate the total for you.
With that, Fang Er took the list from Fang Xuanling's hand.
He began adding unit prices to the back.
As he wrote, he spoke in a tone of deep affection for the items.
Using the same prices as for the Mie Lu Army.
Yun-style rifles, three guan each, totaling thirty thousand guan.
Bullets, five wen per round, totaling ten thousand guan.
Dragon Fang sniper rifles, five guan two hundred fifty wen, totaling two thousand six hundred twenty-five guan.
Bullets, thirty wen per round, totaling fifteen thousand guan.
Mortars, ten guan each, totaling five thousand guan.
Cannonballs, four guan each, totaling two hundred thousand guan.
Military uniforms, summer wear, two hundred wen per set, winter wear, five hundred wen per set, totaling twenty-five thousand guan.
After finishing these, Fang Er picked up the list and examined it carefully.
Mm, that's correct, that's all. Duke Fang, please calculate the total yourself.
He magnanimously placed the list on the table, pushing it towards Fang Xuanling.
Fang Xuanling was stunned!
Setting aside everything else, the two hundred thousand guan for the cannonballs alone had shocked him.
Damn it!
Is this what they call firing cannons?
This mouth is spewing out money!
He took the list and pointed at the cannonball entry.
These cannonballs are four guan each?
Aren't you robbing us!
Fang Er spread his hands.
Duke Fang, your words are rather unfair.
Despite our good relationship, you can't just speak so carelessly!
Perhaps, I can have one of those cannonballs delivered, and you can send it to the Ministry of Works for the artisans to see if they can replicate it?
I can even teach them hands-on!
Fang Xuanling looked at Fang Er in disbelief.
Are you sure you want to teach them?
Fang Er nodded.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
He looked at Fang Xuanling with a mischievous smile and said.
Well, there's no rush anyway. Let's wait until the Ministry of Works has swapped out all their personnel, and then I'll teach them, how about that?
Let Duke Fang witness how such cannonballs are made.
Fang Xuanling was a bit perplexed, but seeing Fang Er's expression, and considering Fang Er's specific mention of waiting for Du Yiyang to swap out all the personnel before teaching.
It was clear this fellow was plotting something devious.
In any case, the prices are as they are.
He could accept everything else, the only thing he couldn't accept was the price of the cannonballs.
Let's wait until the Ministry of Works has tested them then.
Alright, the prices will be calculated as per this list for now.
With that, he picked up paper and pen and began to calculate the total.
The grand total comes to two hundred fifty-one thousand six hundred twenty-five guan!
This list will remain with me for now. We'll discuss it further after the Ministry of Works has conducted their tests.
Fang Er stood up and nodded.
Very well, this young man will take his leave then.
With that, he turned to look at Cheng Yaojin.
Cheng Yaojin had just finished popping the last peanut into his mouth.
Brother Cheng, this brother is heading back to the manor, what about you?
Cheng Yaojin stood up and patted his backside.
He had merely come to show face, to prevent Old Fang from bullying his brother.
Seeing that the matter was concluded, he said with a swagger.
I'm returning to the camp to drill those brats.
With that, he was the first to leave the door.
Fang Er followed behind him.
They parted ways at the entrance of the Ministry of Revenue.
Returning to Fang Family Manor.
Fang Er rewrote the list he had just written at the Ministry of Revenue.
Looking at the military uniform item, Fang Er became worried.
There are no tailors at the manor!
Ah, I have an idea!
He went directly to the workshop and handed the list to Zhao Gang.
He was to produce the arms according to the quantities specified on the list.
Fang Er, on the other hand, disappeared into his studio.
With such a large order for military uniforms, relying on manual sewing, he had no idea how long it would take.
In his previous life, Fang Er had seen sewing machines powered by foot pedals.
Therefore, he wanted to try and build one.
He locked himself in the studio, instructing them to bring him meals on time, and began his intensive work.
He had only seen them, but had never operated one himself, let alone taken one apart to examine its internal structure.
Therefore, at this point, he could only rely on the principles he could roughly estimate.
He began crafting individual parts.
The pedal, the transmission mechanism.
But then Fang Er was completely baffled.
What should be done next?
It seemed the principle of this machine was that the power was divided into two directions?
Feeding the cloth? The needle's vertical reciprocating piston-like motion?
This part was relatively easy.
It was completed in just one day.
He had people bring him fabric and thread.
After some preparation, Fang Er, full of anticipation, placed the fabric under the needle.
With a push of his feet on the pedal, as expected, the needle, along with the thread, began to pierce up and down continuously.
A long, toothed feed dog, along with the up and down movement of the needle, performed corresponding actions.
When the needle descended, the feed dog also descended.
When the needle was lifted, the feed dog was also lifted and moved the cloth forward.
And when the needle descended again, the feed dog would descend again and retract to its original position.
But an embarrassing situation arose.
The fabric was pierced with holes, but the thread was not sewn at all!
As the saying goes, one person's wisdom is limited, but two people's wisdom is greater.
Fang Er called Zhao Gang and a group of artisans over.
He demonstrated this half-finished sewing machine to them.
Pointing to the fine holes pierced in the fabric.
This needs to be a machine for sewing clothes. Think, what method can be used to improve it?
Zhao Gang stepped forward, took a look, and then shook his head.
My Lord, we are all rough fellows here. We truly don't understand sewing clothes.
The others also shook their heads.
Suddenly, someone said.
Why don't we find a woman who knows how to sew to take a look?
Fang Er slapped his forehead.
Right!
We just need to find a woman to see what's missing from this machine!
He quickly ordered someone to summon Hua Niang from the manor.
Hua Niang looked at this half-finished sewing machine in confusion.
My Lord, this servant doesn't understand this either!
Fang Er waved his hand.
Don't talk about whether you understand it or not. I'll demonstrate it to you, and you tell me what's missing from this machine.
Hua Niang walked over to the sewing machine with some curiosity.
Fang Er sat down and started pedaling again.
The piece of fabric was once again pierced with fine needle holes.
Fang Er stopped his movements and looked at Hua Niang expectantly.
So? Have you thought of anything missing?
Hua Niang looked at the needle holes, and the fine thread being pierced by the needle and then pulled back.
My Lord, isn't there a shuttle missing?
When weaving cloth, a shuttle is used, isn't it? Otherwise, the threads cannot interlock.
Fang Er fell into thought upon hearing Hua Niang's words.
Interlock.
Yes, only by creating an interlock between the threads in front of and behind the two needle holes can the sewing action be completed!
Therefore, beneath the feed dog, a shuttle is needed to complete this action.