(I wish everyone a happy May Day. I am still fighting on the front line of the fight against the epidemic. My hometown is the only prefecture-level city in the province that does not have an epidemic. I am really lucky!)

Fifty tons equals one hundred thousand kilograms. Guangdong was a major pig iron province in the Ming Dynasty. During the Jiajing period, the annual pig iron production was 2.7 million kilograms, accounting for more than half of the country's pig iron production. It was almost the same as Europe's production during the same period.

Although Guangdong produced a lot of pig iron, it supplied the entire southern China at that time. Tens of millions of people in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces needed Guangdong to supply iron for production and daily use. Qiongzhou has a population of more than 400,000, and the amount of pig iron used every year

It's only 200,000 kilograms, and now you, Zhao Zhikuan, want half of it with just one mouthful. You really treat your son, Zhao Fuxiang, as an omnipotent god who can transform pig iron with just a hand.

Although Zhao Fuxiang knew that my request was a bit unrealistic, he still cautiously advised: "Dad, our steps are a bit too big. We have to eat one bite at a time. You haven't mass-produced bricks yet, and you are thinking of going big."

Isn’t the industry a little too fast?”

Zhao Fuxiang said it tactfully, but Zhao Zhikuan glared and cursed: "You kid turned around and scolded me for being ridiculous? Do you know how much pig iron was used to build this steam turbine? A total of 1,200 kilograms, the ones you brought back in the first half of the month

The pig iron is all used up, you still need steam engines and steel plants, Zhao Heng needs weapons, your mother needs ferrous sulfate as fertilizer, and your wife needs experimental equipment to produce anti-inflammatory drugs. Which of these does not require steel?"

Zhao Fuxiang didn't say a word when he was being trained by Zhao Zhikuan. That's right! Now that the shelves are basically spread out, there are more places where iron is needed.

"Dad, that fifty tons is too much. Even if we can buy spot goods in Guangzhou, it will take a while to transport it. How about we transport two thousand kilograms back for you to use first? The rest will be shipped slowly later?"

Zhao Zhikuan made a total calculation and found that the projects he currently needs to start include a second steam turbine and a test reciprocating steam engine, which should be about three to four thousand kilograms.

"Two thousand kilograms is too little, at least five thousand kilograms is needed, and the pig iron is only enough for two months. Fifty thousand kilograms must be shipped before June! There is also a hundred kilograms for steelmaking, which is needed

Used for making bearings!”

Zhao Fuxiang sighed and replied that he would complete the supply, and then Zhao Zhikuan let Zhao Fuxiang leave.

Zhao Fuxiang added up as he walked, five thousand kilograms! You must know that there is a war in the north, and pig iron is a strategic material. The original price of five cents of silver per kilogram has already increased several times, and now it is three cents of silver per kilogram.

It is extremely expensive. It seems that the Shilu Iron Mine should really be developed.

Zhao Fuxiang remembered that the book said that the Shilu Iron Mine had been mined in the Song Dynasty. It should not be a big problem to expand production now. There is also coal. The Qimingli Jiazi Coal Mine in Lingao is located on the upper reaches of the Nandu River. It should be able to provide him with the initial supply of coal. Of course, in the later stage

After the industrial scale expands, the quality of coal will of course still be the best from Vietnam's Hong Kei coal mine, but that will have to wait until the military scale develops to a certain extent.

Thinking of the pile of things waiting for him to deal with, Zhao Fuxiang sighed deeply. He did not have the ambition of his father, son, family, country, and world. A stable life with a wife and children on the hot bed was the life he yearned for, but now everyone in his family was full of confidence.

Everyone, especially me, Zhao Zhikuan, saw that he was already seventy years old and still lived and ate on the construction site every day. How embarrassed was Zhao Fuxiang to lie down?

After Zhao Fuxiang returned home, he arranged for several of his bosses to start production step by step. He changed his clothes and left Haidian Island and went to Haikou Port. Li Zhengdao was still waiting for him at the shop in Haikou Port.

More than 2,000 stones of sugar produced by Zhao Fuxiang have been shipped to Haikou Port. Li Zhengdao was very happy to see so much high-quality sugar. This time, the profit could make back his investment.

When Li Zhengdao was counting the goods, his subordinates notified Zhao Fuxiang that he was coming. Li Zhengdao hurried out to greet him. Now he did not dare to offend the God of Wealth.

As soon as he arrived at the gate, he saw Zhao Fuxiang walking in with a solemn face. Li Zhengdao hurried forward to greet him and asked: "Brother Zhao, what happened? Why are you so solemn?"

Zhao Fuxiang sighed and said nothing. He walked into the second hall of the shop, sat down and asked, "Brother Li, how is the quality of the sugar?"

Li Zhengdao said happily: "Brother Zhao, this batch of frosted candies is of very high quality and can be sold at a high price in Guangzhou!"

Nonsense, of course Zhao Fuxiang knows that the quality of the sugar he produces is the best. What he cares about is how much money he can sell.

“How much can I buy per stone in Guangzhou?”

Li Zhengdao totaled it up and said: "If you want cash, it will be thirty-five taels and one stone, but if you exchange it for other goods, it can reach thirty-five taels and one stone!"

In retail terms, white sugar costs five cents per catty, or fifty taels of silver per stone, but the wholesale price is much lower, especially if you need cash.

Zhao Fuxiang nodded and said, "What's the price of pig iron in Guangzhou?"

Guangzhou has always been a big province of pig iron. Li Zhengdao knew the market very well. When Zhao Fuxiang asked about pig iron, he quickly replied: "Pig iron costs three cents of silver per catty, wrought iron costs five cents of silver per catty, and steelmaking is the most expensive, costing ten taels of silver per catty."

Jin! Now that there is a war in the north, the price of pig iron has skyrocketed, and the price of wrought iron has also risen a lot!"

Zhao Fuxiang calculated it and found that the old man wanted to transport 50,000 kilograms of pig iron, which is fifteen thousand taels of silver, before the end of June. Even if he paid a high price for the sugar, he would not be able to afford the pig iron.

"Brother Li, where does the iron ore in Guangzhou come from?"

Li Zhengdao didn't understand why Zhao Fuxiang asked this, but he still replied: "The raw materials for Guangzhou Iron Furnace come from Luoding, Dong'an, Nanxiong, Shaozhou, Lianzhou, Huaiji, Yangjiang and other places, and are transported to Foshan via waterways.

Smelt it into crude iron and transport it to Guangzhou for sale!”

"Is there any iron ore in Qiongzhou?"

"Brother is from Guangfu. I don't know if there are any iron ore brothers in Qiongzhou, but I can send someone to find out!"

Zhao Fuxiang nodded and said: "Okay, you send people to Changhua Fort. There is a large iron mine not far from their city. However, no one is developing it now. I heard that there are also copper mines. You can send people to take a look.

If possible, we can mine and produce iron ourselves!”

On the way back, Zhao Fuxiang tried hard to recall the process of developing the Shilu Iron Mine in the book. He remembered that the iron mine was less than ten miles away from the city. It was basically an open-pit vein and was very easy to mine. It is not cost-effective to rely on buying pig iron now, so it is better to mine it yourself.

.

Pig iron is a good thing now. When Li Zhengdao heard that Zhao Fuxiang knew the location of the iron mine, he nodded happily and asked, "I'll take note of it. I'll send someone there this afternoon!"

In addition to iron mines, there are also coal mines. Zhao Fuxiang continued: "There should be a Jiazi Town in the upper reaches of the Nandu River. There should be coal mines there. You should also send people to check. If no one is mining, we will buy the land and do it ourselves!"

The Jiazi Coal Mine in Lingao Qiming is fictional. The prototype is the Changchang Coal Mine in Qiongshan. This coal mine was mined in the Tang Dynasty, but the scale was very small. A small part of the coal purchased by Zhao Fuxiang was produced by the Changchang Coal Mine. However,

Li Zhengdao just didn't know.

Li Zhengdao heard that Zhao Fuxiang asked about coal mines and iron mines. Does this guy want to build his own iron furnace to produce iron? Nowadays, iron furnaces are all government-run, and private individuals can't do it without official power at the back.

Smelting pig iron is not a high-tech industry. Everyone is jealous of the hugely profitable industry that can make money just by digging it out of the ground.

Li Zhengdao asked worriedly: "Brother Zhao, it's okay if we just mine and sell raw materials, but if we want to produce pig iron ourselves, it will be a bit troublesome!"

Zhao Fuxiang knew what Li Zhengdao was worried about, so he waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, brother, I have already taken care of the official matters. You just have to go mining, brother! There is also the matter of sugar. I will have to transport it every month from now on."

For ten thousand shi of raw materials, I will give my brother six thousand shi of sugar. This time, half of the sugar will be replaced with pig iron, and the rest will be replaced with grain and shipped back!"

Now Zhao Fuxiang has nearly 2,000 people eating, which is not a small number. Although non-staple food can be purchased locally, staple food such as grain still needs to be purchased outside the island.

Li Zhengdao nodded and took note. Zhao Fuxiang gave a few more instructions and asked him to ensure the supply of other industrial raw materials, such as clay, lime, coal ash, etc. After all arrangements were made, Zhao Fuxiang got up and left back to Fucheng. Tomorrow, Zhao Fuxiang will meet with Fucheng

The day when the gentry met, this meeting was related to whether Zhao Fuxiang could tie the local gentry to his chariot. If successful, Zhao Fuxiang's development would reduce a lot of resistance, so Zhao Fuxiang attached great importance to this meeting.

It was already dark when we returned to Fucheng, and Zhao Fuxiang was now considered a prominent figure in Fucheng. Although the city gate had been closed long ago, the ambassador guarding the gate still gave Mr. Zhao face and opened the door to let Zhao Fuxiang in.

Back home, Kong Shouzhen, who had stayed in Fucheng to take charge of the work these days, was relieved to see Zhao Fuxiang back. Tomorrow was the day for the meeting. If the person in charge did not come back, Kong Shouzhen alone would not be able to control the situation.

Zhao Fuxiang didn't even eat, so he asked directly: "Lao Kong, how are you? The invitations have been delivered?"

Kong Shouzhen nodded and said: "They have all been delivered. Except for the Haijia Qiu family, all other families will definitely send people to participate!"

Mentioning the Hai family, Zhao Fuxiang scolded: "These hypocrites who are just fishing for fame are stinky. I give them benefits, and they all pretend to be 25,800,000 yuan. If you don't come, it will be just right. They are 58, but they are 40."

Without Zhang butcher, will we still eat pigs with hair on them?"

The contemporary head of the Hai family is called Hai Shuzu. This guy claims to be Hai Rui's grandson, but in fact he has no blood relationship with Hai Rui.

Hai Rui only had two daughters in his life, and no sons. Hai Rui had a cousin named Haier, and Haier's second son was named Hai Zhongshi. At the time of Hai Rui, Hai Zhongshi became his stepson. For this reason, Hai Zhongshi

His son Hai Shuzu naturally became Hai Rui's step-grandson.

Generally speaking, although Hai Zhongshi has the reputation of being a clean and honest family, the Hai family did not have much outstanding performance in the imperial examination and official career. On the contrary, Hai Zhongshi's family is located in Haikou, Guangzhou City.

However, he relied on his influence to get everything going and started "maritime trade". By the generation of Zhongshi's son Shuzu, he was doing shipping and being a maritime businessman, and his family capital was already quite strong. It can be said that Haishuzu was "as rich as a man".

, in Qiongzhou at that time, it was difficult for anyone to control the wind and rain.

Although there is currently no Jinshi in the Hai family, there is only Hai Mai, Hai Rui's nephew, who was born in Juren and served as an official in the state. However, because of the title of descendant of Hai Rui, the Hai family is actually the number one wealthy family in Qiongzhou Prefecture. Zhao Fuxiang listened to Hai
Chapter completed!