Chapter 411: Reforms

Just shares and personnel systems as incentives weren’t enough to completely reform the weaponsmiths quarter into Yan Liqiang’s ideal manufacturing bureau. Further changes needed to be made to the internal standard operating procedures.

The weaponsmiths quarter used to undertake very complicated tasks. They manufactured or repaired more than ten kinds of military armaments and other supplies which ranged from spears, blades, arrows, shields, soldier belts, and harnesses in addition to the crossbow trigger mechanisms and stirrups. Not only that, but they also worked with horse bridles, saddles, and horseshoes for the military steeds. As long as the military needed anything, the higher-ups would dump all the work on the weaponsmiths quarter and order the craftsmen to get it done. This was advantageous to the higher-ups because as long as they had the weaponsmiths quarter, everything could easily be solved. At the same time, the malpractice was also very obvious because the work efficiency of the weaponsmiths quarter was extremely low. From the perspective of ensuring military supplies, this arrangement was extremely inefficient.

As someone with advanced knowledge in management, Yan Liqiang definitely wouldn’t allow his manufacturing bureau to become a slow-moving business giant. Hence, on the second day since his arrival at the weaponsmiths quarter, he boldly and decisively simplified and reformed the manufacturing bureau.

Among all the weapons forged by the weaponsmiths quarter, Yan Liqiang kept only two types — spears and arrows.

The reason for keeping spears was because of the huge white ash forest on the mountain around this place. They were the signature products of the weaponsmiths quarter for over a few decades, so there was no need to give them up. The spears forged by the manufacturing bureau was of reliable quality and they were durable, hence making them the most standard military armaments in the Great Han Empire. Apart from personal use, they could also be sold to the martial practitioners and garrisons stationed in Pingxi Prefecture at a decent price. Since the market wasn’t a concern, Yan Liqiang decided to keep it.

Similarly, the arrows forged by the weaponsmiths quarter were also of excellent quality as military supplies. Arrows were considered consumables that were rapidly used up during wars. Therefore, Yan Liqiang kept the arrows too.

Apart from these two, Yan Liqiang eliminated everything else the weaponsmiths quarter was tasked to manufacture in the past. The manufacturing bureau would have nothing to do with those trinkets from now on.

Even so, the manufacturing method that Yan Liqiang adopted to produce these spears and arrows still shocked everyone.

Yan Liqiang never planned to produce these two weapons in the manufacturing bureau in the first place. Instead, he was going to let the villagers from the two neighboring villages forge them.

When Yan Liqiang shared his plan during a meeting with a group of supervisors and chief weaponsmiths, everyone was stupefied.

“If that’s the case, then what will the weapons-… manufacturing bureau do? Besides, how can we possibly guarantee the quality of the military armaments forged by the villagers from the villages out there?” One of the chief weaponsmiths immediately stood up and frankly spoke his mind.

In Yan Liqiang’s previous life, this was a typical ‘company plus farmers’ production model. When applied in this era, it was only natural that this model greatly challenged the notion of most people in the manufacturing bureau. That was because no one had ever thought of producing military armaments through this kind of method.

Yan Liqiang neither provided further explanation nor did he share the advantages of this model to everyone. He merely summarized the operation process. “Of course the manufacturing bureau will still have something to do. The entire process will be supervised and managed by us. As the first step, we shall send out the weaponsmiths and craftsmen to teach the villagers how to forge arrows and spears. These weapons aren’t that challenging to make, and they’re not that much more difficult than weaving mats. As long as they put their hearts into it, they will be able to pick it up in no time. After they learn how to make them, we can give things like the white ashwood or arrowheads to the villagers in town that are collaborating with us and have them refine them on their own time for starters. When they’re done with them, we shall be responsible for collecting the weapons and rewarding the villagers reasonably.

“Of course, there will be basic requirements on the quality. Collect only those that meet the standards and reject those that don’t. They will have to cover the material losses. That way, we will be able to increase the production volume of arrows and spears without spending even a cent. Not only that, we can even lower the production cost. Our job is to sell the items out. With guaranteed profits, it will be a win-win situation for both parties!”

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Everyone in the group exchanged glances with each other and they were at a loss for words when they heard Yan Liqiang’s explanation. Upon careful consideration, it seemed like Yan Liqiang’s method might just work…

After pondering for a moment, Qian Su finally said, “Well… I guess we can give it a try! I shall send someone to get the chiefs from the two neighboring villages to come for a discussion and get their opinions!”

Yan Liqiang smiled. This would definitely be an irresistible offer to those villagers who basically had no additional source of income other than selling eggs for money in the markets. As long as people from the manufacturing bureau spread the word, Yan Liqiang believed that the villagers’ enthusiasm would definitely shock everyone. He had only used arrows and spears to test the waters this time. Yan Liqiang had bigger plans once things settled down, especially after the people from the manufacturing bureau raked up some experience and the villagers reaped the benefits.

“Alright, we’ll do as Uncle Qian suggested. Call the village chiefs for a discussion and let them spread the word when they go back. If they accept the offer, we’ll send people to transfer the knowledge. As long as we can put price tags on the arrows and spears and control the quality of the collected items, there will be nothing else for us to be worried about. If those villagers are still concerned, we can sign contracts with them!” said Yan Liqiang.

“There’s no need to worry about quality. Our rule in manufacturing military armaments before was that the weaponsmith would have to engrave their names on the weapons they made. Should anything happen to the weapon, it can be traced back to the weaponsmiths quarter and the weaponsmith. The worst case scenario was losing your head. Even if our weaponsmiths quarter has been reformed into a manufacturing bureau, this is still a much-needed rule. Anyone who buys the goods from villagers will have to leave their name on the goods upon collecting and inspecting them. If anything happens, we’ll be able to find the person who was responsible for collecting the goods!”

“Alright, let’s do that. The manufacturing bureau will form a Military Armaments Manufacturing Division to undertake this task. Uncle Qian will pick the members in this division!”

“Alright!”

“Apart from the Military Armaments Manufacturing Division, the manufacturing bureau will also form a Vehicle Manufacturing Division. For the time being, those will be the two divisions within our Gan Province Manufacturing Bureau. Uncle Qian will further advise everyone on the arrangements and changes involved!”

Qian Su nodded and didn’t say much. He only handed over the few sketches of a four-wheeled carriage that Yan Liqiang drew last night to one of the chief weaponsmiths and supervisors for them have a look…

In just a split second, the atmosphere in the meeting room immediately became rowdy.

Qian Su then began announcing the arrangements on constructing the four-wheeled carriage and the human resources. On the very same day, the members of the two divisions and task allocations were finalized. The manufacturing bureau got to work. The Vehicle Manufacturing Division also immediately started assigning every workshop and courtyard their tasks and proceeded with material preparation.

There were many stages in a carriage’s production cycle. Yan Liqiang assigned nearly all the craftsmen and workshops some work. Everyone, including the carpenters, painters, leatherworkers, coppersmiths, and silversmiths all had their own roles to play and were kept busy.

Yan Liqiang was busy too. On the same day, he and Qian Su picked out a few reliable and skilled old craftsmen. They went into the secret workshop they reserved in the manufacturing bureau and started making the spring.

Yan Liqiang knew how to make the springs. It involved bending an iron wire into a spiral, then quenching it at a high temperature before tempering it at a medium temperature.

However, his knowledge was merely theoretical. The operation, control of the flame, and choosing the best material for these springs would still require some trial and error in the blacksmith workshop…