Direct development of Hongji would mean a large investment. In terms of military matters alone, at least one full infantry battalion must be sent to Hongji. Unlike the desolate Sanya and Hong Kong Island, which could rely on naval protection, Vietnam and the Northern Dynasties had to directly face the Northern Korea army, which had a considerable advantage in military strength. The Northern Dynasty army was armed with the help of the Portuguese and the Dutch. In terms of professionalism, firearms use capabilities and combat experience, it was much higher than the level of the Guangdong Ming army.
If we build a port in Hongji and excavate coal, we will inevitably be expelled by the Northern Dynasty. Without an infantry battalion plus a part of the artillery and navy, we cannot ensure the safety of the mining area. The General Staff prepared a plan to occupy and defend the Hongji mining area: the permanent troops would exceed three battalions. This is simply a fantasy for the 6th Navy, which is already short of troops.
The five battalions of the Sixth Army are currently distributed in the entire northern Hainan Island from Danzhou in the west to Wenchang in the east to conduct large-scale public security operations. All the troops were dispatched except for one battalion that stayed in Ma Niao to serve as the general reserve of the entire army. Any further mobilization of troops will seriously affect industrial and agricultural production.
Wu De thought about it again and again and decided to act as cautiously as possible on this matter. Start by expanding trade - strive to adopt the large-scale armed trading station model and use local forces for mining. This also requires an expansion of basic investment. At least the establishment of the Vietnam Trading Company can no longer be placed under Leizhou Station. It must be directly invested and managed by the Senate.
The steel plant was hoarding raw materials faster than Ji Wusheng and Wang Luobin expected. The Planning Institute organized a ship raid to transport iron ore powder from Sanya, coking lignite from Qiongshan, and lignite from Leizhou to Bopu in a steady stream. And Ma Niao. Although the Navy temporarily lost a lot of cargo tons because one-third of its ships were towed ashore for repairs, it had a lot more idle sailors. The Navy adopted the practice of replacing people without changing ships to keep some ships operating continuously. Despite this, It has increased the loss of ships, but for the navy that is about to get a new toy, it is still worth the sacrifice - Storm Steel is good for both navies, but in the long run it will definitely be more beneficial for the navy: after all, manufacturing One hundred thousand rifles consume no more steel than an armored ship, and one large-caliber naval gun consumes as much steel as ten M1857s.
With the navy's full rush to transport raw materials, Lingao Steel Company's raw material reserves met the basic reserve for 7 days ahead of schedule. Ji Wusheng decided to start smelting steel without further delay. The second oven process takes about 48 hours before the materials can be officially put in, which can increase the reserve for a few days.
The steel company has trained the first generation of steel workers in Lingao in the converter workshop in the past. Some of them came from various smelting sites or blacksmiths in Guangdong and have certain experience in ironmaking. The foreman who led the shift was named Li, and he was originally the only blacksmith in Lingao City - traditional blacksmiths are actually similar to manufacturing workers and are not familiar with metallurgy. Therefore, most of the blacksmiths recruited by Lingao are assigned to the machinery department. However, this person's craftsmanship was really not that good. Even Lu Youtian shook his head when he saw it. In the end, I went directly to the metallurgical department to work as a foreman in the iron furnace.
However, Tiejiang Li finally has some smelting and casting skills, which is somewhat better than others. While working, Ji Wusheng felt that he was quite diligent and studious, but that he needed a good master and a competitive environment, both of which were lacking in Hainan.
No one in this time and space has ever seen a blast furnace or an open hearth, and the only experience steelworkers have with modern steel production technology comes from iron smelting furnaces and converters. For this reason, Ji Wusheng personally took action and was responsible for training future steel workers. Models of small blast furnaces and open hearths were specially built to teach smelting knowledge. Theoretically, workers only need to know what to do, but Ji Wusheng felt that it was still necessary to give them some theoretical knowledge to promote their integration.
This group of workers came to the steel company every day to study and participate in the construction project of the steel plant. Especially when they saw the majestic blast furnaces and open hearths rising from the ground that they had never dreamed of, the workers' excitement was palpable. To them, the small converter and iron furnace were already a miracle, not to mention this huge tower.
"Can this blast furnace really produce good steel?" Ji Wusheng would definitely answer similar questions from the workers more than a dozen times every day.
Now that the blast furnace has been completely completed, the workers have carried out the first oven work and have a certain understanding of loading furnace materials. Ji Wusheng decided to officially conduct the blast furnace ignition on February 6.
He personally went into battle to supervise the workers' loading - the workers already had some experience after the last loading. However, you need to be more careful with the second oven, because the second oven actually enters formal production operation, and any problems will have a major impact on blast furnace production.
Ji Wusheng inspected the processed coke powder. This is coke powder made from the best coke sent from Bopu Coal Coking Complex Plant. Workers add some tar to the coke powder and stir it evenly. Then add an appropriate amount of water to give the coke powder a certain humidity. Coke powder is used as lining material in ovens. It must have a certain humidity, otherwise it will not stick to the furnace wall. However, if it is too wet, it will affect the furnace temperature.
After finishing the lining, Ji Wusheng personally went into the furnace and checked the thickness and humidity meter by meter to ensure that every link was accurate. If the thickness was less than 20mm or there was a problem with the humidity, all of them would be dismantled and remade.
After the lining was made, wood shavings were sent from the wood processing factory - shavings are a good ignition material, dry and easy to burn. Dozens of large bags of wood shavings were loaded into the lowest level of the blast furnace, and then the firewood began to be stacked in a tic-tac-shape pattern. Add some more shavings to the firewood near each vent. Coke is then piled on top of the wood. The coke is placed in layers, each layer is 3oomm, and some limestone is added to the upper layers. The coke is placed relatively loosely to facilitate ventilation. The filling should always fill the entire furnace body to the furnace throat.
After the filling is completed, the furnace is officially started. The ignition of a blast furnace was a major event even in the old days. The ignition of a large or extra-large blast furnace was enough to be broadcast on the news network in the past. For Chuanchuan Group, the ignition of the blast furnace is an important step in the development of "Our Business".
On February 6, a simple and grand blast furnace lighting ceremony was held under the tall ceiling of the blast furnace workshop. Workers at the steel plant, construction workers, students and 6 navy soldiers who participated in the construction of the steel plant, gathered in groups under the roof of the steel truss factory building. Although they built the behemoth in front of them brick by brick, it was really Standing fully formed in front of them, everyone was still amazed - this behemoth could actually smelt iron. This was something that was never imagined in their dreams.
The sight in front of them not only amazed the naturalized people, but also the elders, most of whom had never seen a blast furnace in person. When they came to the foot of the blast furnace, which was nearly ten meters tall, they were surprised and felt extremely proud in their hearts - they were about to own it. This "artifact" of time and space. The raging fires ignited in the blast furnaces and the rolling molten iron flowing out will sweep away the old world and leave them with a new world.
Of course, the main figures of the Executive Committee and the active members of the Senate could not give up this good opportunity to show their faces and came to the scene one after another. Fang Fei, who specializes in preparing large-scale events, is also the main planner of this event. He asked Ji Wusheng if he wanted to hold a reception or something.
"Industrial Port doesn't have the budget for hospitality expenses."
According to the expense reimbursement system established by the Cheka, only a few foreign-related departments have the right to record and reimburse entertainment expenses, and other departments are not even qualified to appear in the accounts.
Fang Fei said: "This expense can be paid by the general office, you just need to apply."
"No, no. The lighting of the blast furnace has great significance, so we need to hold a ceremony. But for this purpose, there is no need to eat and drink." Ji Wusheng couldn't see the reception in commemoration of Pavlov's birthday in the old time. Therefore, this ceremony only included announcements and no invitations. There were no other decorations except placards, and no drinks, cigarettes or food were prepared - the notice stated that you need to bring your own food.
Although the steel plant was not very enthusiastic about the elders, the elders were very enthusiastic. In addition to the main leaders of the executive committee, many senior figures from the industrial and military sectors also came. Both are large consumers of steel.
The elders were discussing excitedly under the blast furnace about the production capacity and uses of steel. Of course, there are inevitably a lot of militaristic ideas about building ironclads, and building railways has also become the focus of discussion. There was a minor debate over whether to build meter gauge, standard gauge, broad gauge or broad gauge. The maids looked curiously at the blast furnace and the masters who were gesticulating and blushing with excitement below the blast furnace.
Some people took advantage of their privileges as elders to get closer to the blast furnace and carefully looked at the furnace body, base, and tuyere... From time to time, some people excitedly pointed out: This part was designed and manufactured by our department and workshop or was sourced from materials. For the veterans of the chemical industry, they contributed the most in the project - just solving the blast furnace refractory materials took a lot of brains from the chemical industry.
The blast furnace workshop already looks very "modern". Not only is the structure of the entire factory made of steel, there are cranes on the ceiling, tracks on the ground, stairs, corridors, overpasses... Most of the internal structures are also made of industrial-style wrought iron fence panels. It looks rough and powerful.
Wen Desi and Ma Qianzhu both came to the scene at the same time. Wen Desi walked around the blast furnace several times, and suddenly said to Ma Qianzhu who was with him: "Ma Gong, I heard that in ancient times, it was the time to open a furnace. Using human sacrifices." ..
