What the two were talking about was actually the position issue of the local aristocratic families and wealthy families in Jizhou.

In today's Jizhou, all knowledgeable people can predict the future trend. Although Hebei is a large area, it is difficult for two tigers to live in one mountain, let alone four tigers?

Therefore, the four princes will eventually have to fight for the position of overlord.

Gongsun Du was trapped in Liaodong, like a local tiger, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Liu Yu's administration in Youzhou was like a paper tiger, strong on the outside but weak on the inside.

Neither of them has the ability to compete for hegemony over Jizhou. The real overlord of Hebei must be decided from the two heroes Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao.

Therefore, any smart person will definitely choose to take sides early on.

Although the Yuan family had three dukes in four generations and Yuan Shao was also famous, Gongsun Zan was better in terms of military strength and reputation in the entire north.

It can be said that both sides have their own strengths and weaknesses. The situation on the surface is evenly matched and the outcome is unpredictable. However, in general, most local nobles who pass down martial arts from generation to generation are more optimistic about Gongsun Zan.

As for the aristocratic families whose core heritage is Confucianism, they placed huge bets on Yuan Shao. The choices of both sides were very clear-cut, forming a jagged situation on the chessboard.

Guo Jia and Xun You were talking to each other, and they analyzed the situation in the entire Jizhou clearly.

Wang Jing showed an expression of sudden enlightenment: "So that's how it is, no wonder..."

"What's the wonder?"

"My lord, have you thought of something again?"

Seeing that Wang Jing seemed to have suddenly figured something out, the people present all showed curious expressions.

Wang Jing did not answer their doubts, but said: "It seems that I must go back to my hometown in Jinyang, Bingzhou in person."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this. The battle of Yanzhou had just ended, and the small-scale rebellion had not yet been completely quelled. Why did Wang Jing go to Jinyang instead of staying in Changyi in person or returning to Luoyang?
"I wonder why the lord is going to Bingzhou?"

Facing the questions from his subordinates, Wang Jing smiled and explained: "For one person."

"For one person?"

Wang Jing's answer made everyone even more curious.

Who on earth has such great ability and status that he actually needs Wang Jing's help and has to go there in person to recruit him?

…………

Changshan Kingdom, Zhending County.

At Sanliting outside the city, a young general in his twenties, dressed in a white robe, was bidding farewell to his family with dozens of his clan members.

"Father, brother, Yun Quye."

"Cherish it all the way!"

"Yun understands."

After bidding farewell to his family, Zhao Yun immediately waved his hand and ordered: "Let's go!"

They are all members of the Zhao clan of Zhending. Zhao is a big surname. Zhao, Qian, Sun and Li are ranked first among the Hundred Family Surnames. This is quite evident.

As early as the Zhao State period, the Zhao family had already spread out and established clans and settled in Zhaocheng, Geng, Yuan, Jinyang, Dai, Handan, Wucheng, Zhending, and in present-day Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and other places.

The family that Zhao Yun belonged to was a branch of the Zhao family of Zhending in Hengshan. It was by no means an ordinary surname. Its ancestors were a powerful family that produced Zhao Tuo, the King of Nanyue.

Although the lineage to which Zhao Yun belonged was not a direct descendant of Zhao Tuo, it still inherited some military strategies and was able to barely join the ranks of generals and become a local tyrant.

Zhao Yun's fellow tribesmen were seen riding horses, holding spears in their hands, with strong build and agile movements. It was obvious at a glance that they were people who had practiced martial arts for many years, and their courage and strength were beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Among all the people, Zhao Yun's martial arts were the most extraordinary. He had once studied under the spear prodigy Tong Yuan, and his spear skills were unrivaled in all of Hengshan. Therefore, everyone who went out here to fight only followed his lead: "Zilong, who are we going to join?"

Zhao Yun obviously had a target in mind, so he made his choice without hesitation: "The world is in chaos now, and I don't know who is the real wise leader, but the people of Jizhou are in danger. Yuan Shao comes from a noble family and is assisted by many Confucian scholars. I'm afraid he won't think too highly of us, who are good families with martial arts skills."

In the Han Dynasty, children of good families mostly referred to those who served in the army and were not subject to the seven categories of exile, or the children of doctors, witches, merchants, or craftsmen.

In ancient times, productivity was low, and knowledge and skills were often treasured and not easily passed on to others. Most of them were passed on only to children. The children of carpenters were mostly carpenters, and the descendants of doctors were mostly doctors.

This is also the origin of the folk proverb that a dragon gives birth to a dragon, a phoenix gives birth to a phoenix, and a mouse's son will dig holes.

In the era of cold weapons, practicing martial arts to strengthen the body was enough capital for a family to make a living. Therefore, not only did the aristocratic families monopolize Confucianism and lock the precious knowledge related to the power of thought in their hands, but many powerful families who relied on force to dominate the local area also regarded martial arts as a family heirloom, in order to maintain the interests and survival of the family.

This is the case with the Zhao family of Zhending. Neither the art of war nor the ancestral "Lingxu Yufeng" technique are passed on to outsiders. Only people with the surname Zhao can practice it.

Although local noble families like the Zhao family of Zhending were often regarded as the same class by Wang Jing, in fact, the relationship between the noble families and the noble families was not harmonious. For example, the Zhao family of Zhending was not accepted by the Confucian families of Jizhou, and the Zhao family was far inferior to the noble families with generations of officials in politics. Therefore, "warriors" like Zhao Yun were often discriminated against by civil servants and Confucian scholars.

Another point is the relationship with the Hu people. The Zhao family of Zhending had many business dealings with the foreign ethnic groups in the north and outside the Great Wall, so they were more inclined to cooperate with Gongsun Zan to avoid having their trade routes cut off and having no one to appeal when their business was suppressed.

In this regard, Yuan Shao's attitude towards the Hu forces such as Wuhuan and Xianbei was to make friends with them. When the interests of the Han merchant caravans were infringed, Yuan Shao basically would not intervene.

But Gongsun Zan was different. He always advocated a tough attitude towards the Hu people, believing that tooth for tooth and blood for blood. Instead, he gained the respect and fear of the Hu people, and they dared not act too recklessly.

With this comparison, it is understandable why the Zhao family of Zhending chose to bet on Gongsun Zan.

Therefore, before setting off, Zhao Yun had already secretly discussed with the elders of the clan that joining Gongsun Zan was the only option that was in line with the family's interests.

At the same time, the Zhao family also hoped to get close to Gongsun Zan. In the future, when Gongsun Zan took control of Jizhou, the Zhao family of Zhending could also gain the merit of following the dragon and rise to the top in one step.

But one must have a legitimate reason to fight. It would be unpleasant to say that he was talking about money. As a last resort, Zhao Yun could only use the tiger's skin and raise the banner, saying that he was doing it for the country and the people.

As long as your tone is passionate, you can always fool people.

The Zhao family members around Zhao Yun were indeed inspired by his words. They were filled with passion and high morale, and they all shouted that they wanted to join Gongsun Zan, kill the enemies, make meritorious deeds, and become famous.

"Zilong, are we going to Youzhou now?"

"No hurry, let's go to Jinyang first."

"Ah? Why is this?"

"As the saying goes, if you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools. Now, although we have the courage and strength, we don't have the right weapons. I heard that Jinyang is rich in meteorite iron. Recently, there is a shop called Qiqiao Pavilion. The weapons it produces are famous for their sturdiness and sharpness. Let's go buy some first, and then go to General Fenwu."

When Zhao Yun said this, everyone agreed.

Then, amid the sound of horse hooves, Zhao Yun's figure gradually disappeared into the distant horizon.

At the same time, Wang Jing also brought twelve sword guards and traveled through states and counties and returned to Jinyang.

Along the way, Luoyang and Hedong areas were fine, but the road between Jizhou and Bingzhou was really not peaceful.

The Yellow Turban rebels, horse bandits and mountain robbers, and even various local armies that robbed under the banner of the government, the scene of the chaotic times brought disorder and chaos to the extreme.

Wang Jing killed his way forward, his clothes and armor stained with blood, but his fighting spirit became even sharper.

Wang Jing hadn't been back to Jinyang County for a long time. Seeing the familiar city wall, which had completely changed its appearance, Wang Jing was filled with emotion.

"Lord!"

Qian Zhao, who had received a pigeon message in advance and was waiting outside the city, was very excited when he saw Wang Jing and hurried forward to pay his respects.

Wang Jing jumped off his horse, helped him up, and asked with a smile: "Zijing, long time no see, how are you?" Seeing Qian Zhao, Wang Jing remembered their first meeting.

At that time, Qian Zhao was escorting the body of his teacher Le Yin back to his hometown for burial. Afterwards, Qian Zhao came to Wang Jing as agreed, and at that time Zhang Liao was appointed as the governor of Bingzhou by Dong Zhuo through a strategy of sowing discord.

Wang Jing took advantage of the situation and let Zhang Liao take Bingzhou. He also specially appointed Qian Zhao as the prefect of Yanmen to assist Zhang Liao and to guard the northern border together.

Recalling the past, Qian Zhao was also filled with emotion. When he looked at Wang Jing, he was even more amazed: "I haven't seen you for a few years. My lord has changed a lot. Your power is really getting stronger and stronger. You already have the aura of a hegemon."

Wang Jing also smiled and patted Qian Zhao's shoulder: "It seems that being in charge of a place is really a test for a person. Compared with before, you are much calmer and more capable."

"This is all thanks to the great fortune of my lord. Otherwise, how could I have such an opportunity at such a young age?"

Qian Zhao was glad that he had made the choice he did at the time, as he had met a wise leader. If he had not joined Wang Jing, how could he have become a prefect at such a young age?

Moreover, he is a prefect who holds real power. Now, he can even stand on equal footing with some famous Confucian scholars in the states and counties, and is not inferior to them.

This kind of power is rare in the world.

As he walked toward the city gate, Wang Jing asked Qian Zhao, "Have you found the person I'm looking for?"

Qian Zhao was about to answer when a group of knights suddenly came galloping from afar. The leader was riding a white horse with a silver spear, looking very majestic. Although he had a handsome face, there was a sense of heroism between his brows.

With just one look, Wang Jing knew that the person he was waiting for had finally arrived.

"Is this Jinyang?"

Zhao Yun and the descendants of the Zhending Zhao family behind him were shocked by the prosperity of the frontier county town before them.

There are rows of shops on both sides of the wide and straight streets, and the items on the shelves come from all over the world, which makes them dazzled and overwhelmed.

The streets are crowded with cars and pedestrians. If you are not careful, you may easily get lost in the crowd.

"Everyone, pay attention and don't get separated."

Zhao Yun led the horse and gave a few instructions, then looked around curiously. He was amazed by the great changes in Jinyang.

Cousin Zhao Xing was a little excited. He walked up to Zhao Yun and said, "Isn't Jinyang County a border county? It seems that it was attacked by the Baibo Army a few years ago. Why does it feel richer than Yuanshi?"

Yuanshi County, the seat of Changshan Kingdom, is also the largest city in the county with the largest economy.

Since the First Emperor conquered Zhao, it has been developing for more than four hundred years, but in the eyes of Zhao Xing and others, both the population and prosperity are far inferior to the Jinyang County in front of them.

The fact that all the roads in the city were smooth and clean was unbelievable to Zhao Xing.

Behind Zhao Xing, the brothers Zhao Qi and Zhao Li stamped their feet hard and stepped on the flat ground beneath their feet: "It's so hard, is it stone?"

"How is that possible? It's not like we haven't seen cobblestone roads before."

"It is so seamless, with no gaps between them, and it is harder than rammed earth. If it's not stone, then what is it?"

Among the four brothers, Zhao Shi also joined the argument. The four of them kept arguing but couldn't come to any conclusion.

Zhao Yun, however, often traveled on the border between Youzhou and Jizhou and knew a lot of information. Seeing that the four were still arguing, he smiled and explained to Zhao Xing and the others, "Stop arguing. It is said that the road under our feet is made of a material called cement."

"What kind of mud is cement!?"

Zhao Yun’s words made the four people even more curious.

Because they had never heard of cement before.

Zhao Yun shrugged. "I don't know either. I just heard that this cement was made with a formula provided by Marquis Qi, and Taoist Shi Zimiao gathered a large number of Qigong practitioners to use the secret alchemy technique to make it. It looks like mud, and after mixing with water and drying, it can become as hard as bricks and stones. It is really magical."

Zhao Xing was shocked when he heard this: "How can there be such a magical thing in the world?"

Zhao Qi shook his head and sighed, "Letting a Qi Refiner refine it? That's really extravagant. Cement has so many uses, how can we use it to pave roads? Isn't it a waste? Wouldn't it be better to use it to build a city?"

Zhao Yun didn't have so many feelings. He led his clansmen to the battle this time and went to Jinyang first to purchase equipment.

Under Wang Jing's planning and Qian Zhao's operation, Jinyang County is no longer the small northern border town with a sparse population and a dilapidated economy a few years ago.

After taking over a large number of refugees from Hedong, the population of Jinyang County has now exceeded 500,000. It also has a large number of workshops and craftsmen, and its production capacity has been greatly improved.

Among them, coal and ironware are the main products that are exported to all parts of the country.

Especially in iron production, thanks to the increasingly mature blast furnace technology, the quality of the wrought iron produced was very good, and gradually it gained the reputation of "Jinyang ironware, the best in the world".

Throughout the northern territory of the entire empire, whether it was Gongsun Du in Liaodong, Gongsun Zan in Liaoxi, Liu Yu in Youzhou, and Yuan Shao in Jizhou, they all sent people to Jinyang County to purchase weapons and build a strong army.

In addition to these warlord forces, even local nobles who wanted to form caravans to do business with the Hu people liked to come to Jinyang County to purchase equipment. Whether it was salt from Hedong and woolen coats to keep out the cold, or Jinyang's local well-crafted swords and weapons, they were all in great demand.

Zhao Yun also came here because of his admiration for the emperor and wanted to arm his people in Jinyang County first.

In order to meet the needs of traveling merchants and facilitate foreign customers to purchase ironware locally, a market has been built in Jinyang County today, which is specifically used to sell ironware.

Zhao Yun and his clansmen walked into the iron market and were immediately shocked by the spectacular scene before them.

The endless long street was dotted with blacksmith shops with swords hanging everywhere, and the rhythmic sound of hammering filled the air.

Suddenly a cool breeze blew, and the hanging swords collided with each other, making a tinkling sound like wind chimes.

This sound is so intoxicating.

Zhao Yun first booked an inn near the market to stay, and then arranged for Zhao Xing and others to inquire about the price of ironware.

Almost without any effort, Zhao Xing and his brothers came back to report: "Zilong, the ironware of Jinyang County is really amazing, not only is the quality high, but the price is also not expensive."

Zhao Qi observed more carefully, so he got more detailed information: "There are many famous blacksmith shops in the city. Some of them are refugees who originally fled from Hedong, and some are craftsmen who were rescued from the Xianbei by Zhang Wenyuan in recent years. I heard that Jinyang County even opened a special academy to study how to improve the forging process."

"In just a few years, Jinyang has changed so much."

Several brothers had come to Jinyang several years ago, but they never thought that under Wang Jing's governance, this place had undergone such great changes.

Zhao Qi said, "I have already asked. Jinyang is now encouraging the development of the iron smelting industry, so a large number of blacksmiths have gathered here. But if we have to say which one has the best quality ironware, it is probably Qiqiao Pavilion."

Hearing this, even Zhao Yun was surprised: "There is also a Qiqiao Pavilion in Jinyang?"

Qiqiao Pavilion was founded by Lu Fang in Luoyang. Jizhou is only separated from it by a river, so its reputation quickly spread throughout Hebei. Even Zhao Yun, who was far away in Changshan, had heard of the name of Qiqiao Pavilion. After all, the equipment of the Bingzhou soldiers who had recently become famous were all made by Qiqiao Pavilion.

"I heard that the Mohist School originally had a lot of businesses here and secretly owned a lot of Mohists. After the establishment of Qiqiao Pavilion, many workshops here were merged into it and became branches. It is said that they used the same craftsmanship and technology as the Luoyang headquarters. The forged swords are shining silver and can cut gold and jade, and cut iron like mud."

Zhao Qi only knew the facts but not the reasons. He did not know that the method used inside Qiqiao Pavilion was actually the steel pouring method that was popular in the Tang Dynasty. This greatly improved the quality of the metal and made it easier to produce the hundred-fold tempered steel that originally required a lot of time and manpower.

It is also because of this that the weapons produced by Qiqiao Pavilion in this era are no different from the legendary magic weapons.

In the era of cold weapons, a good weapon can often greatly enhance the combat effectiveness of a general.

Therefore, as a warrior, who doesn’t want to own a top-grade weapon?
So when Zhao Yun hurriedly asked Zhao Qi where he could buy a weapon made of 100% refined steel, Zhao Qi replied with embarrassment: "It's not available. It is said that the 100% refined steel produced by Qiqiao Pavilion is always consumed internally and rarely flows out."

Zhao Yun couldn't help but feel disappointed when he heard this: "Do I have to return empty-handed?"

Just when Zhao Yun was frowning, a deep and sonorous voice sounded in his ears: "Zilong, what is bothering you? Why not speak frankly, maybe I can help." (End of this chapter)