Time flies, another month has passed. The cold winds in Aoshanwei in November are gusty. Because it is close to the seaside, the winter wind here is not only cold, but also carries thick moisture, making the already cold temperature even more biting.
However, no matter how cold the weather is, the cement workshop outside Aoshan Acropolis is still in full swing. The craftsmen are working overtime, constantly improving the cement production process, and adding more than 20 calcining blast furnaces, allowing the cement workshop to have large-scale output. Ability.
In mid-to-late November, the first batch of finished cement from the cement workshop was finally produced. Han Feng excitedly rushed to Jimo Yingcheng to report the good news to Liu Yan.
Liu Yan is very happy. It seems that if everything goes well, the cement workshop will be able to make a lot of money by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
So Liu Yan ordered Miao Shao to take a banner of guards battalion soldiers and set off with Han Feng to the cement workshop north of Aoshan Acropolis.
"Sir, I have just arrived at Jimo Yingcheng. Can't you let me rest for one night? Can we rush there tomorrow?"
Liu Yan looked at Han Feng, who had red cheeks and was a little tired, and said with a smile: "If you set up the cement industry earlier, you can make money earlier, and you and the craftsmen in the workshop can also have a good year. You Aren't you in a hurry?"
When Han Feng heard that there was money to be made, he nodded with a smile and followed Liu Yan to Aoshan Acropolis.
Liu Yan and others rushed to the cement workshop north of Aoshan Acropolis. At this time, in the warehouse of the cement workshop, cement packed in cloth bags had piled up like a mountain.
At this time, Han Feng pointed to the piled cement bags and introduced: "Master Qi, this is the first batch of cement produced by the workshop. It has passed the inspection and fully meets the standards."
Liu Yan patted the cloth bag containing cement and asked, "How much cement is in this batch?"
"This batch of cement weighs about 120,000 kilograms, almost 4,000 bags."
Liu Yan calculated in his mind: converted from 120,000 kilograms, it is about six tons. Such an output is not considered large in later generations. At best, it is equivalent to the output of a small factory in a certain township, or even worse.
But now we are in the troubled times of the late Ming Dynasty. The first batch of output of the cement workshop is so much, which is considered good news.
Liu Yan said: "That's good! Remember, this cement must be stored well. The Aoshan Acropolis is close to the sea. The cement must not get damp, let alone be flooded. This warehouse must be waterproof and moisture-proof. It’s better to spend some money to get some quicklime and sprinkle some around the cement.”
"yes!"
"If the cement factory is operating at full capacity, how much cement can be produced in a month?"
Han Feng said: "Sir, this first batch of cement is produced on the basis of continuous improvement of the formula, and the quantity is not the entire output. Starting next month, all 28 calciners in the cement workshop will be in operation. Each calciner can produce more than 24,000 kilograms of cement, and the cement workshop can produce about 670,000 to 80,000 kilograms of cement a month."
"If you calculate it this way, it's more than 300,000 tons a month, which is pretty good."
"As for the selling price of cement, do you, the head of the cement workshop, have any specific opinions?"
Han Feng said: "Sir, I have made an accounting with the workshop's accountant. After taking into account the cost and labor, plus a certain profit, a bag of 30 kilograms of cement is tentatively priced at 240 yuan."
"Two hundred and forty?"
Liu Yan asked doubtfully: "Can I make money at this price?"
This thirty kilograms of cement is not a large amount, but the amount of cement used in this era should not be much, at least not like in later generations, where a building often requires dozens, even hundreds or thousands of tons of cement.
Therefore, the price of cement should be very high now. After all, the output cannot be compared with the industrial cement of later generations, and the cost will be correspondingly much higher.
Han Feng said: "Don't worry, sir. Including labor, the cost of a thirty kilogram bag of cement is about eighty cents. At this price, the remaining eighty cents are profits."
Liu Yan shook his head and said, "Let's see. The price of a bag of cement is set at 400 yuan."
"Four hundred coins?"
Han Feng said worriedly: "Sir, I am worried that the price is too high."
Liu Yan said: "No problem. Only by making cement more profitable can we attract businessmen to enter the cement industry, and cement production can increase dramatically."
Of course, Liu Yan is not worried that cement will not be sold at this price. As long as the benefits and uses of cement are publicized, there will be no worries about sales. Those gentry and merchants have a lot of money, and a bag of cement with a mere four hundred coins is not worth it. For wealthy families, it is not a big deal, and even some ordinary people from well-off families can buy some for use.
And based on the current output and cost of the cement workshop, even if it sells 400 taels per bag, the net profit of the cement workshop in a month will only be 6,000 to 7,000 taels. Compared with the net profits of the other workshops, it is still lagging behind. Quite a few.
Seeing Liu Yan's persistence, Han Feng agreed.
Then Liu Yan and Han Feng came to the office of the workshop and said: "I am going to do something. I will invite the merchants and gentry from Lingshanwei, Aoshanwei, and Jimo Yingcheng to sell cement to them. Send out. I will let Commercial Officer Song Qianhu be responsible for the invitation and publicity, but you also have tasks."
"Please show me, sir."
"The workshop will prepare some samples and deliver them to the cement house in the north of Aoshan Acropolis in ten days. I will use them."
"yes!"
A few days later, as Song Gongming sent a large number of people to distribute invitations to various places, the news that guerrilla general Liu Yan was going to entertain merchants and gentry from all over the Aoshan Acropolis spread, and merchants and gentry from all over the place received invitations one after another.
Immediately afterwards, merchants and gentry from all over the country sent people to the appointment. After all, there were profitable commodities such as soap, Shaoguo wine, sea salt, and glass in front of them. Everyone knew that Liu Yan would definitely have an opportunity to make money, so they all happily went to the appointment.
Moreover, everyone who received the invitation has already concluded that Liu Yan must have some new profitable industry. This is to attract everyone to invest and make money together. Who wouldn't want to go with such a good thing?
In the past few days, merchants and gentry from all over the country have been rushing to the Aoshan Acropolis. They were then received by the New Army officers and soldiers guarding various city gates, and were directly arranged to enter various inns in the city.
At this time, Liu Yan, Song Gongming, and Han Feng had all arrived at Aoshan Acropolis. The three of them were living in the conduct residence in the city. The conduct officer Shen Tuo had also been busy these days and was extremely tired.
Han Feng was then sent by Liu Yan to the cement house in the north of the city to supervise the people in the cement workshop to prepare for the banquet.
Three days later, this day was the time Liu Yan set for a banquet. Early in the morning, Liu Yan took Song Gongming and Han Feng to the outside of the cement house in the north of the city.
At this time, the cement house was still covered by a circle of tall wooden boards. A group of merchants and gentry who had arrived early were discussing in groups. From time to time, someone pointed at the wooden boards in front of them and made gestures. Everyone was guessing what happened. What is behind a circle of wooden boards?
When everyone saw Liu Yan arriving, they rushed over to salute. Liu Yan smiled and greeted everyone back.
Liu Yan also saw a thin man in the crowd. This man just cupped his fists and saluted Liu Yan. He did not come over to flatter him like the others. Instead, he looked at the cement house and frowned in thought.
"Who is that person?"
Han Feng knew this person and said in a low voice: "Sir, this person's name is Gao Chengming. He is a famous merchant in Aoshanwei. He is considered the most powerful merchant in Aoshanwei. He has industries in Aoshanwei and surrounding areas."
Liu Yan nodded and asked, "How is this person?"
Han Feng thought for a while and said: "My subordinates have not had much contact with this person, and they only heard about it through hearsay. It is said that Gao Chengming is very courageous and adaptable. He is willing to use small things to make big things when doing business. He dares to be the first. He is very popular in the Aoshanwei area. It’s to be famous.”
"It seems like this Gao Chengming is also considered a number one figure."
Liu Yan then remembered Gao Chengming and came back to chat with the merchants and gentry.
After a while, Liu Yan said to the surrounding New Army officers: "Okay, take down the barrier, I want to show you something good!"
Miao Shao immediately took the order, led dozens of soldiers from the guard camp forward, and demolished a circle of wooden boards three times.
A strange gray-white house appeared in front of everyone. Everyone who was invited was stunned. What was this kind of house built with?
This is not a house built of wood at all, and this house is not built of stone. Even though the material of the house is very similar to stone, how can there be such smooth, regular, and uniformly sized stones in the world? impossible!
In the blink of an eye, dozens of family heads started buzzing with discussion. Gao Chengming was discussing with several family heads beside him for a while, and then looked at Liu Yan. During this time, Gao Chengming heard that Liu Yan had opened a workshop outside the city. It was a major construction project. He even sent soldiers from the New Army to guard it. Is it just because of this weird house?
Gao Chengming looked at Liu Yan with a puzzled look on his face. Liu Yan was smiling and explaining something to Song Gongming and Han Feng beside him. The two of them immediately entered the courtyard where the strange house was located.
After a moment, Liu Yan said with a smile: "Everyone, everyone! Please listen to me!"
Hundreds of merchants and gentry suddenly became quiet, and all looked at Liu Yan.
Liu Yan pointed to the house in front of him and said to everyone: "I invited you here today and held this banquet to promote a new industry to you: the cement industry!"
"cement?"
"What is cement?"
"How can water and mud be put together!"
Gao Chengming was thoughtful. Although he still didn't understand what Liu Yan was going to do, his intuition as a businessman told Gao Chengming that this so-called cement was very profitable. Otherwise, Liu Yan, a dignified guerrilla general, wouldn't have gone through so much trouble!
Liu Yan pointed to the house and said: "The house in front of you was built with cement. It only took ten or twenty days. It not only saves labor, materials and time, but it is also very strong. After completion, it will look like It is built of rock, so even if it catches fire unfortunately, it can still stand firm in the fire!"
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Is there such a magical thing in the world?
Gao Chengming was secretly happy and hurriedly asked loudly: "May I ask, sir, what exactly is this so-called cement? How much is it worth? And how to use it?"
Several questions in a row immediately attracted a lot of questioning from the surrounding merchants, but Liu Yan said with a smile: "I know you have many questions in your mind, and please come with me. Let's watch and chat at the same time, how about it?" "
Everyone agreed with a roar and followed Liu Yan into the cement house.
Some people died, but not completely...
