The World Online

Black Snake continued to report, ”Deputy team leader Yi Zhangqing is a strategist; he is a really low profile person and is the genius behind the mercenary group. Deputy team leader Zhang Ziyue is a chivalrous expert and basically does not participate in guild activities normally”.

Ouyang Shuo nodded; the three of them were not too different from the last life. Even in the last life, Ouyang Shuo did not have much understanding of second brother Yi Zhangqing as he was simply too low profile.

Apart from talking about guild matters, he was like an invisible man. Ouyang Shuo also spent a lot of time doing quests outside, so they spent very little time together.

In the last life, Zhang Ziyue treated Bing’er really nicely and basically treated her like a little sister. The two of them often did quests together outside, and their relationship could be considered close.

However, they became total strangers in this life.

”I understand their situation; let Number 55 continue to lay in wait.” Ouyang Shuo was down-hearted.

”Understood.”

”If there’s nothing more, you can leave.”

Ouyang Shuo waved his hand as there were still many matters that were waiting for him to handle.

Black Snake did not leave right away and said, ”Monarch, there’s still one more matter. Last time, you ordered us to check if there were any other Lords in the north who have come into contact with the Mongol Tribe. From the current situation, apart from Fengxiang City, no other territory has come into contact with the Mongols. It just seems like a total coincidence.”

Ouyang Shuo remained silent.

Ouyang Shuo was extremely vigilant towards the Mongol Tribes.

”Even so, let’s not put down our guards and tell the Jingdu Intel Station to keep watch. The moment something occurs, immediately report.” Ouyang Shuo instructed.

”Understood!”

Following which, Black Snake left; he also knew that the Monarch’s time was extremely precious.

...

After Black Snake left, Ouyang Shuo sent an imperial decree to the Civil Affairs Department to ask Director Pei Mo to allow Liangshan Mercenary Group to enter Shanhai City through the normal process.

As long as Liangshan Mercenary Group came over to Shanhai City, they would not be able to escape from his clutches.

After a short while, Combat Logistics Director Xiahou Dun, who had come in the morning, brought Armory Division Secretary Wang Gao, Bow and Crossbow Division Secretary Wu Peng, and Grandmaster Ou Zhizi into the reading room.

This meeting had been planned in advance.

Along with the merger with Consonance City, Shanhai City now had many equipment making technologies. Not mentioning warships, in terms of armor, they had the Ming Dynasty Mingguang Armor and the Song Dynasty Buren Armor, and for weapons, they had the Tang Blade, the Horse Lance, and the Song Dynasty bow and crossbows as well as shields. Apart from that, they also have a full range of siege weapons.

All of these technologies were basically purchased by Ouyang Shuo through the system auctions. In the recent year and a half, the territory equipment and weapons had started to become stale.

The only big breakthrough was the Ming Dynasty Cannon.

In terms of cold weapons, due to the advancement in steelmaking technology, the crafting process had been renewed, raising the toughness and sharpness of the weapons.

Logically speaking, the huge technological accumulation of Shanhai City could help them get away from the restrictions of technical manuals, and they should be able to have one or two breakthroughs on the original base to come up with items more advanced than the era the weapons had come from.

However, that did not happen.

The reason had both objective elements and problems of cooperation between departments. The four military workshops each had their own responsibilities, so they did not think about improving a stage and reaching another level.

They really could not keep going on like this.

After witnessing the strength and power of the P1 Type Cannons, Ouyang Shuo realized that he needed to have an overall upgrade of the territory military industry, especially in terms of the cold weapons region.

Before returning to Shanhai City, Ouyang Shuo had already revealed his thoughts to Xiahou Dun.

Now, it was time to see what kind of answer this Combat Logistics Director could give him.

”Speak. What are the thoughts of the Combat Logistics Department?” Ouyang Shuo went right to the topic.

Xiahou Dun said, ”The criticism of the Monarch regarding the Combat Logistics Department truly makes me ashamed.”

The letter from the Monarch was extremely direct. If Xiahou Dun was not just appointed and did not have much to do with the mess, he would have probably been scolded pretty badly.

Ouyang Shuo waved his hand, ”You do not need to apologize; talk about your specific plans.”

”Yes.” Xiahou Dun nodded. ”The Combat Logistics Department is considering taking five to six master level craftsmen from the Armory Division and the Bow and Crossbow Division to put them all together to research and develop new crafting technology. Apart from that, we would like grandmaster Ou Zhizi to lead this team.”

When Ouyang Shuo heard this suggestion, he said, ”Ou Zhizi is a God Rank swordsmith, and he is very experienced. Having him lead the team is a really good experience. But this is far from enough. Moving so few people might cause conflict and not bear many results. We must do much more to revolutionize this.”

”How about we set up an Equipment Development Hub under the Combat Logistics Department with Ou Zhizi in charge? This place will gather all the grandmasters in the territory. In weaker areas like heavy swords, war horse equipment, and similar equipment, we will spend money to hire grandmasters from the imperial cities. Hence, we will form a stellar lineup to be in charge of equipment research and development.”

”On the other side, we will also borrow people from the No.7 Research Institute, asking them to send one or two steel experts to the Equipment Development Hub. Magnus’s experimental lab can also be merged into the hub. All in all, in the future, the Equipment Development Hub would become the brains of the cold weapons of the territory.”

”One more point, the hub should not lock itself up and must not do things alone. They must regularly communicate with the shipbuilding departments, No.7 Research Institute, and Xinan University to increase the hub’s knowledge and broaden their horizons. Only then can they improve further.”

After saying so much so quickly, Ouyang Shuo was really thirsty, so he took up the teacup and drank a large mouthful of tea.

Xiahou Dun and the others were sitting there like students. Each of them was holding a book and recording diligently, afraid of missing out on any information.

After checking and checking and confirming that he did not miss out on anything, Xiahou Dun raised his head and said solemnly, ”Monarch’s words have opened my eyes; we have been too conservative. I will make a specific plan regarding the Equipment Development Hub for the Lord to read over.”

”That could not be better.” Ouyang Shuo nodded. Then he turned around to look at Ou Zhizi and said, ”Regarding the hub, I’ll depend on you, grandmaster.”

Ou Zhizi was incredibly engrossed in the Monarch’s words. Ouyang Shuo’s foresight was truly deep and vast. If his plan was followed, their prospects would truly be endless.

”Do not worry Monarch, I will do all I can.” Ou Zhizi said.

Ouyang Shuo smiled and nodded, ”If there’s anything you need, grandmaster can directly report to me in the manor.” Ouyang Shuo was really determined to make this plan of raising the standards of the cold weapon in the territory work.

”Yes Monarch!”

With that, the matter of establishing the Equipment Development Hub was set.