Jizhou, Zunhua County.
Even when the entire north is plunged into ice and snow, this place is still bustling and bustling, with carriages coming and going in an endless stream, and people rush here regardless of the snow.
Nothing else, because this is the iron smelting center in the north.
Since the Yongle period, Zunhua's steel has become the heart of the Ministry of War. It is the iron factory with the longest official operation in the Ming Dynasty, and hundreds of thousands of kilograms are imported into Beijing every year.
With the development of the commodity economy, government-owned industries gradually withered. In the ninth year of Wanli, officials and craftsmen were completely abolished, and all iron ore and firewood mountains were leased to private operations, thus adopting a procurement model.
This phenomenon of people advancing and officials retreating was spread throughout the Ming Dynasty. For example, there were no official kilns in Jingdezhen, but only private kilns.
However, as the imperial court moved north, Zunhua, as the most important iron smelting center in the north, was once again taken seriously.
With the gathering of iron tools, a large number of arsenals were set up here.
When Zhu Jing came here, she accepted the hospitality of Wei Sheng, the director of the Ordnance Department.
Wei Sheng is one of Wang Yishou's three apprentices. Although he is only thirty years old, he is very skilled and has impressive management skills.
The emperor had met with Wang Jing quite a lot before, so Wei Sheng naturally saw Zhu Jing often, and since he was busy with official duties, he was very enthusiastic.
"Brother Zhu, you came quite early this time."
Outside the county town, Wei Sheng led a few guards. From a distance, he saw Zhu Jing coming on horseback and greeted him with a smile.
"Mr. Wei!"
He turned over and dismounted beautifully, and Zhu Jing returned the favor with a little respect.
"Come on, a banquet has been held in the city, just in time to warm up."
"Thank you for your kindness. It's just that I have official duties now and it's really urgent. I'd better go to Tie Ye first!"
Zhu Jing declined with a look of sincerity on her face.
"It's better to take a rest for the night!" Wei Sheng shook his head and said: "Tie Zhi is located eighty miles west of Zunhua City, and we can't get there in this snowy day."
"Oh well!"
Zhu Jing could only compromise and rest in the county town.
However, he said that this Zunhua County is different from the north where everything is quiet in winter. The county town is overcrowded, the inns are full, the carriages and horses are noisy, and it is extremely lively.
"This is a merchant from Northern Zhili who comes here to buy and sell ironware."
Wei Sheng pointed to the rows of houses with thick smoke and said: "Thanks to the large amount of pig iron, there are more than a hundred blacksmith shops in Zunhua alone, most of them are located in the east of the city, and there are more than a thousand craftsmen and apprentices. , the huge county town is shrouded in smoke and hammering all day long, which makes people irritated."
"But those businessmen like it. There are two or three streets of inns and restaurants alone, but they are far away from the west of the city."
"I heard that there is a town in Guangdong called Foshan, which produces millions of kilograms of iron every year. It is considered exquisite in the vast south and sells very well."
Zhu Jing was very surprised when he heard this and couldn't help but speak.
"Foshan!" Wei Sheng shook his head and said disdainfully: "Although Zunhua can't compare with that place now, it's just been in chaos for too long. In another year and a half, it will be enough to recover as before."
Foshan is today’s steel city.
The next day, a group of people went west and arrived at Zunhua Tieye.
After a few miles, Zhu Jing smelled the thick smell of smoke.
Everyone was shocked when they saw it with their own eyes.
They saw a two-foot-high wall standing straight in front of everyone's eyes, and they couldn't even see the side.
Inside the wall, blast furnaces several feet high stood like benchmarks. They were countless at once. The monthly output of the government-owned and private ironworks was incalculable.
A large number of iron ingots were loaded onto the car and drove away slowly.
It covers an area of more than 3,000 acres, with arrow towers, moats, and Wengcheng. It is equivalent to a tightly guarded city.
And more than a thousand soldiers from the Beijing camp guarded the area every step of the way, regardless of the slightest slack.
"You can call it Craftsman City or Jiangzuo City, but I like to call it Steel City."
However, Zhu Jing has a unique vision.
"Why is this snow black?"
"Because many of the factories of the Ordnance Department, which has many iron factories, are also located here..."
Wei Sheng smiled: "Burning coal is cheaper than burning wood. The smoke rising into the sky matches the snowflakes, so it is naturally black."
"From ordinary iron nails to horseshoes, saddles, gun heads, muskets, artillery, armor, etc., as long as it involves iron tools, the Ordnance Department has placed its workshops here."
"There are more than 100 workshops with about 8,000 craftsmen. They can supply the entire capital. If they double in size, they can supply the whole country..."
"And such as military robes, military tents, clothing and socks, etc., are placed in Tianjin Mansion and Shuntian Mansion. The Ordnance Department definitely has more than 10,000 people."
Having said this, Wei Sheng proudly raised his chest and stretched out his right hand to clasp it. This was the result of his efforts to expand over the past few years.
The craftsman camp that had hundreds of people back then has now grown to such a huge scale, which is a very conspicuous achievement.
Zhu Jing praised it, but she didn't care in her heart. Ninety percent of such achievements were the result of Wang Xi and the emperor. They were just checking for deficiencies and implementing them.
"By the way, how is the research on new weapons going?"
"this way please--"
Wei Sheng finally came to his senses and invited a few people inside.
This city of craftsmen and steel is extremely lively. There is a workshop every few dozen steps, and a large number of naked upper body men gather together. A steady stream of coal gives them countless sources of heat.
The heat wave hit my face, and the snowflakes had melted three feet above the ground, and the black snow outside the city before was gone.
Seeing the carloads of black charcoal being delivered, Zhu Jing learned a little more about this city of steel.
Coal from Shuntian Prefecture, grain from Beijing, and various materials from all over the world made them achieve such achievements.
Just like Shaowu's three-year budget, the amount spent on the Ordnance Department exceeded one million. Over time, this is such a huge number.
And now, something that satisfied him was born - a musket suitable for cavalry.
"This is based on the imperial court's three-eye fire gun. The match rope has been turned into flint to ignite the fire, and the length is up to five feet. Even without gunpowder, it can also be used as a mace——"
As he spoke, a slender three-eyed fire gun was placed in front of him.
The style is much more pleasing to the eye than before, but the shortcomings of the three-eyed fire gun are also obvious. The range is short and the accuracy is low. This is a flaw.
However, after removing the match rope, it is much more convenient and can be called a good weapon.
When Wei Sheng saw its appearance, he immediately waved his hand again, and a new firearm appeared.
It's a foot long and looks exquisite.
"This is a spring wheel pistol passed down from the Xiyi people. It is shorter in style and highly concealable. As long as you load the chamber before fighting and tighten the spring wheel, it will be ready for use at any time."
Wei Sheng sighed: "This thing has obvious shortcomings, it is easy to break, and it is extremely precise inside. It is like a Western clock. If it is slightly damaged, it will be difficult to use again..."
Hearing that he could prepare in advance, Zhu Jing's eyes instantly lit up: This is a good thing for a sneak attack.
7017k
