A few days later, the official hall of hundreds of households in Wangjiazhuang.
"What! Your Excellency isn't here?"
Tan Xiaoda, head of the Firearms Manufacturing Department, and Xu Le, head of the Bingjia Supervision Department, were dumbfounded. They looked at Xu Ming, the flag officer in front of them, and quickly asked about Liu Yan's whereabouts.
Xu Ming spread his hands and said, "Your Excellency, you went out early yesterday morning with a group of troops from General Miao Banner and Gao Yunshan with your head. I don't know where exactly they went."
"Gao Yunshan with a headband?"
Tan Xiaoda asked: "Who is that?"
Xu Ming smiled and took a selfie of his chest, and said: "I found this talent among the refugees. The adults were full of praise after seeing him. No, I'm taking Gao Yunshan to find a mine."
Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le looked at each other. They came together today to report the matter to Liu Yan.
Now, whether it is the Firearms Manufacturing Department or the Armor Manufacturing Department, the required iron materials are no longer in supply.
Previously, the iron materials needed by Wangjiazhuang Hundred Households Office were purchased in large quantities from Xiahezhai Qianhu Office, the Ancient Town Inspection Department, etc.
Defense officer Zhang Hailin and inspector Song Gongming both turned a blind eye to this. After all, they both valued Liu Yan. The former had to rely on Liu Yan's force, and he himself had to offset his merits and demerits because of Liu Yan's military exploits. , the latter has a deep interest relationship with Liu Yan, and relies on Liu Yan to make a fortune, so the two of them will naturally not do anything to Liu Yan.
However, the output of refined iron around Qianhu Station in Xiahezhai is limited. Even if Liu Yan purchased some iron materials from other places in Lingshan Guard through merchants, he still could not buy enough refined iron. After all, the current military output of Baihu Station in Wangjiazhuang too big.
Today, Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le came to ask Liu Yan for instructions on the shortage of iron materials. If there is no longer enough iron materials, the production of flint-haired bird guns and armors will be limited.
The flint-haired bird cannons are relatively easy to say, and the quantity produced now can basically meet the needs. But armor is not enough. Now the armor coverage rate of each sentry is only more than 40%, less than 50%. Although it is already very high among the Ming army at this time, it is even better than the elites of the Jingying and Jiubian in the capital. Both are high, but still cannot meet Liu Yan's requirements.
So Tan Xiaoda asked: "What kind of mine are you looking for, sir?"
"Iron mine, my lord has taken Gao Yunshan to look for iron mine."
Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le were immediately overjoyed, but then they became worried again. Now that there is a shortage of iron materials, they are temporarily looking for ore mining. When will enough iron materials be supplied?
Xu Le was relatively optimistic, and said to Tan Xiaoda who couldn't help sighing: "Well, maybe you have a longer-term vision than us. Although it takes a long time and requires a lot of investment to mine an iron mine, we may not even be able to find iron." The mine is located, but once this is done, the problem of iron materials for our military equipment will be solved."
Tan Xiaoda nodded and said, "I hope so."
Xu Le said: "I think we should go back first and discuss whether we can improve the yield of finished products in order to save some iron materials, or find ways to buy more from elsewhere. How about thinking of a way?"
Tan Xiaoda nodded and said, "What Chief Xu said is absolutely true. Let's go back now."
After saying that, the two said goodbye to Xu Ming.
The words are divided into two parts, each expressing one branch.
Just when Tan Xiaoda and Xu Le were trying to solve the problem of insufficient iron materials, Liu Yan had already brought Gao Yunshan, chief flag officer Miao Shao, and small flag officer Lu Ying to the Tiexu Mountain area.
"Sir, please see, the mountains over there are the remnants of Tiegu Mountain. The mountains stretch for more than ten miles from north to south. The mountains are gentle, and the trees on the mountains are not dense. They are mostly made of rocks. I thought there might be some mineral."
Liu Yan nodded with a smile and said: "I have already said that you, Gao Xiantou, are the one in charge when we go out to look for iron ore this time. You have the final say where to go and what to do. Since the mountains ahead are There may be mineral deposits, so let’s go there.”
Gao Yunshan was a little overwhelmed by Liu Yan's words, but looking at Liu Yan's trusting eyes, he felt a surge of excitement in his heart, so he clasped his fists and said: "Since you trust me so much, please move aside, let's go Look for it in the mountains."
"Okay, let's go!"
An hour later, Liu Yan and the others came to the mountain. This side was a gentle hillside, and in front of them was a not too steep mountain peak, surrounded by scattered vegetation and many rocks dotted among them. Not far away on the left side of the crowd, a very clear stream meandered through, flowing to the south.
Liu Yan observed the scene here and saw that although there was not much vegetation here, it was hidden enough. It was at the end of a valley. If Gao Yunshan hadn't been observing the mountain topography while looking for mineral veins, everyone would have really found it. Don't come here.
"Will there be iron ore here?"
Liu Yan asked subconsciously, but Gao Yunshan did not answer. Instead, he ran quickly to the other side. There was a relatively undulating slope, and some rocks were exposed from the soil, showing a grey-brown color.
Gao Yunshan took out a strange-looking hammer from his baggage, then took out a chisel with a thick base and a pointed end, and started hammering hard on a rock.
When Liu Yan saw this, he led everyone to follow him, and just watched around Gao Yunshan, not daring to say a word for fear of disturbing Gao Yunshan who was concentrating on chipping away at the rock.
With a crisp sound, a piece of rock was chiseled off. Gao Yunshan picked up the stone and observed it carefully for a while. Then he looked up at Liu Yan with a happy face, lifted the stone, and said loudly: "Sir, please take a look. , this is iron ore, this is iron ore!”
Liu Yan was overjoyed, and quickly stepped forward to take the stone. He saw that there was indeed an iron-brown color in the stone, which should be due to the high iron content.
"What's the quality of this iron ore?"
This is Liu Yan's biggest concern. If the quality of the iron ore is not good, or the smelting cost is high and the output is small, then there is no need to mine here.
Gao Yunshan said with excitement: "Sir, please see, this ore contains a large proportion of iron. I estimate that one thousand kilograms of this color of ore can produce more than four hundred kilograms of crude iron."
Liu Yan was very surprised. This place turned out to be a rich iron mine, with an iron content of more than 40%. This trip was so worth it!
However, Liu Yan still asked cautiously: "Can you tell the size of this iron mine?"
Gao Yunshan said to wait a moment, and then ran forward with a few apprentices, slowly groping north along the place where the ore was cut, Liu Yan and others followed behind.
He saw that the exposed rocks on the surface were gradually introduced into the mountain and disappeared. Liu Yan was secretly worried. He must know that the deeper the ore is buried, the more difficult it will be to mine it.
In this way, after everyone walked north for half an hour, they came to the bottom of a cliff. Before Gao Yunshan came back to report, Liu Yan and Miao Shao were already surprised.
Some ruins could be seen vaguely on the cliff ahead, which was the former lair of the Tiechu Mountain bandits. The traces of the original fire could still be seen, and many dark dead trees could be seen around.
"I didn't expect to find this place!"
Liu Yan sighed for a while, but Gao Yunshan ran over at this moment: "Sir, the direction of this iron mine extends all the way to this side. Wherever under the cliff is the gathering place of the iron ore. The distance we walked along the way , it’s just a branch of the iron ore.”
"So, this iron mine is huge?"
Gao Yunshan gave an affirmative reply: "It's very big! I estimate that this iron mine can produce at least hundreds of thousands of kilograms of crude iron!"
"A hundred thousand catties?"
Although this number does not shock Liu Yan, it is still a considerable number. It can at least provide the Firearms Supervision Department and the Armor Supervision Department with a stable supply of iron materials.
"Okay! Gao Xiangtou now takes a rest."
Gao Yunshan agreed and walked away. Liu Yan immediately said to Miao Shao, "This is God's will! The ruins of the bandit camp on the cliff can be used as the location of the iron smelting plant and mine."
Miao Shao echoed: "Your Excellency, you have thought carefully. The ruins of the bandit camp are in a dangerous terrain and are well hidden. We can mine and smelt iron here, which will save us a lot of trouble. The officials from Qianhusuo and Lingshan Guard will not be able to find this place." Come."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "After you return, you will immediately lead your troops to station here. I will ask General Yue Qi and Director Zhao to recruit craftsmen and mobilize money and food to build mines and smelters here immediately."
Miao Shao looked at the desolate surroundings and said with a wry smile: "You must be too anxious, sir. Why are there people living here?"
"With enough money and food input, the ruins of the bandit camp can be rebuilt in a month at most. You just have to work hard here for a month to ensure the safety of this place."
Liu Yan said with a smile: "Don't worry, your outpost officers will receive subsidies and double pay every month. How about that?"
Miao Shao suddenly beamed, nodded and said, "Your Majesty has an order, how dare I disobey it."
"Sir, what about the high headband?"
"Come here together. Gao Yunshan will be in charge of the mining and iron smelting matters. Although Gao Yunshan's main business is headdressing, I have talked with him in detail and he is also a good iron smelter."
After saying that, Liu Yan let everyone rest where they were, and he and Miao Shao sat under a big tree, and continued: "Gao Yunshan is responsible for all the mining and iron smelting here. The use of money and food, and the deployment of manpower are also all up to him. Yes. You are only responsible for the safety here, and at the same time, you have to ensure that the craftsmen in the mines and smelters cannot go out at will. I want this place to be isolated from the outside world, do you understand?"
Miao Shao naturally knew the stakes and said, "Don't worry, sir, I know how to do it."
"Um."
Liu Yan planned and said: "When iron materials start to be produced here, you will send a group of Dunjun troops to escort them back to Wangjiazhuang every month."
Miao Shao nodded and agreed.
Then Liu Yan called Gao Yunshan and several apprentices over and said, "I'm going to start mining here. Are you willing to stay?"
Gao Yunshan has been well entertained by Liu Yan in the past few days, and even came out to prospect for mines. Liu Yan also paid wages to Gao Yunshan and his apprentices, which made Gao Yunshan and others burst into tears of gratitude.
Facing Liu Yan's demand at this time, Gao Yunshan would not refuse, and immediately said: "My lord is driven by worries, how dare I and these disciples disobey me!"
"good!"
Liu Yan immediately appointed Gao Yunshan as the director of the Tieyu Mountain Iron Material Yard, and pointed out that the iron material yard is divided into two parts: an iron mine and an iron smelting yard. Gao Yunshan is responsible for all production matters, and the safety here is decided by the general flag officer Miao. Shao is responsible.
"You calculate your monthly salary according to the level of the supervisor. For your apprentices, report them to a few of my supervisors, and the rest will each receive three taels of silver per month. How about they stay with me, with all food and accommodation included?" 33
"Okay, okay, okay!"
This kind of treatment is already like heaven to Gao Yunshan and others, and they naturally agree with it.
"Don't worry, sir. As long as this iron yard is built, I will do my best to make iron and live up to your trust!"
Some people died, but not completely...
