The wind from the willows is not cold in the face, and the Zheng's iron workshop in the west mountain of Kuaiji is in full swing.
The red hot metal flowed out, and all the craftsmen in the ironworks were smiling and cheering.
Such high-quality and pure molten iron is probably the only one in the entire Song Dynasty.
Since the regenerator was built, craftsmen have made many attempts, such as how much limestone and fluorite powder to add, and how long to fry the iron. But the most important solution to the iron smelting temperature and the removal of impurities in molten iron are the basis of their various attempts.
"Are you so shocked that your crotch almost split?"
Zhao Hong laughed and picked up a piece of condensed iron ingot and looked at it. The surface was smooth and there was no honeycomb shape. Although it is not as good as those cast irons of later generations, it is already far ahead of its time.
This molten iron is quite pure!
"Your Highness, you are really a master!"
"Your Highness, a man of God!"
The craftsmen smiled flatteringly and complimented Zhao Hong.
The guards were even more happy, with their heads held high, as if they had eaten bee dung.
"Your Highness, you are so tall!"
Zheng Hao was smiling, his face trembling.
This attempt opened his eyes. Not to mention saving money, such pure molten iron is unbelievable.
"Your Highness, you have saved coke and made high-quality iron. Your Highness is really an eye-opener for me!"
The Kuaiji Magistrate County Board of Directors also joined the worship process.
Flattery is a flattery, but the shock in their little eyes is real.
I thought this royal dandy was a loser, but who knew he actually had some brushes and could actually smelt good iron.
Could this really be the experience gained from alchemy?
"Xiangong Dong, everyone, you have made good iron. I will definitely report it to the court and commend you for your achievements!"
Zhao Hong was smiling proudly.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The board of directors and the craftsmen saluted and thanked each other with a more humble attitude.
"Are you really good at smelting iron?"
Tian Yi looked at Zhao Hong with a look of surprise.
Growing up, he had never heard that Zhao Hong knew how to smelt iron.
Also, he can ride a horse, is agile, and seems to have some kung fu. He is a famous poet and lyricist throughout the country.
He really wanted to know what else Zhao Hong couldn't do.
"Brother has many advantages, you will slowly see them in the future."
Zhao Hong smiled softly, feeling happy in his heart.
This is common knowledge for later generations, and it is everywhere on the Internet. Speaking of which, he is just talking, and his wisdom and works belong to the working people.
Masters among the people, working people, will never disappoint.
"Tian Yi, remember, what is smelted from iron is pig iron, and what is stir-fried in a wok is wrought iron. As for me, I plan to make firearms, and I need wrought iron, and cast iron is used for casting. You must remember Living!"
Zhao Hong solemnly warned Tian Yi.
Pig iron is an iron-carbon alloy with a carbon content greater than 2%. The carbon content of smelted pig iron is generally around 2%-4%. It is hard, wear-resistant and has good castability. However, pig iron is too brittle and cannot be forged.
Wrought iron is pure iron refined from pig iron. The carbon content is less than 0.02%, and it is also called wrought iron and pure iron. Wrought iron is very soft, has good plasticity and ductility, can be drawn into wire, has low strength and hardness, and is easy to forge and weld.
Pig iron has too many impurities, so wrought iron is naturally a better metal for casting cannons.
"Why are you telling me this? I'm a pig butcher, and I don't know how to smelt iron!"
Tian Yi was frightened. Zhao Hong asked him to come and smelt iron. Isn't this a joke?
"You have to learn it even if you don't know how! Are you born to kill pigs?"
Zhao Hong looked around and lowered his voice to avoid embarrassment to Tian Yi.
This boy is from a middle-class family, possessing both civil and military skills, but a very good reputation.
The most important thing is that you can use it with confidence.
If Xu Liang's wife hadn't been pregnant and had to take care of the family, he would have brought Xu Liang here.
"Brother, I want to make firearms. Without you here to control me, I won't feel at ease!"
Good iron smelting is just the beginning, firearms are the right way.
As for firearms, the ministers of the DPRK and the Central Government do not know how powerful firearms are, which reduces the constraints and difficulties in the development of firearms. It is estimated that in the eyes of Shi Miyuan and others, he is just messing around. In this way, he can develop firearms with peace of mind.
This is an important weapon of the country. He is really worried if there are no reliable people watching here.
Tian Yi's head grew bigger and his lips began to tremble.
"Fire... weapon? What kind of firearm?"
Forget about smelting iron, what about firearms? Wouldn’t this kill people?
"I don't know how to make it either. I'll just make it while I'm thinking about it!"
Zhao Hong's truth immediately made Tian Yi feel relaxed and furious.
"You don't know how to do it, and you're making a fool of yourself! I'd better go back and sell meat!"
Compared with smelting iron to make firearms, selling meat is simpler and more pure.
"No one will come to you when you sell meat! By the way, find five or six little girls from Kuaiji here to solve your personal problems!"
Zhao Hong made a joke and muttered to himself.
The formula of gunpowder comes from later generations and has been proven. Should we try again?
The propellant formula of artillery seems to have more nitrate and less sulfur, with different ratios of 75%, 10%, and 15% of nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal.
"Five or six little... wives! Can I afford them?"
Tian Yi glared angrily at Zhao Hong, who was frowning and thinking hard.
There were five or six little girls who really thought they were his prince.
"Don't stare at me, you really think of yourself as a pig butcher!"
Zhao Hong smiled and put his arms around Tian Yi's shoulders.
"The pattern determines the outcome. People have ambitions to reach the sky, and it cannot be achieved without luck. You and I are brothers together, this is your luck, and it is also my trend. You and I are destined to do great things, and I want to be a wolf. , Ma Ta Yanran, I need you to charge into battle for me, and I also need the help of others, I can't do it alone."
He told the truth. He can never do these things alone. If he was stuck on these trivial matters all day long, how could he have the energy to fight with Shi Miyuan and the others.
"I can't defeat you, so it seems I can only stay!"
Tian Yi had a headache and quickly raised his hands to surrender.
What this guy says always touches people's hearts.
"Commissioner Zheng, could you please come over here?"
Even though you pay, you still have to be polite on someone else's territory.
As for Tian Yi, he still had to ask for an imperial edict from the imperial court to give him an official status and make him look upright, so as not to attract public criticism.
Zheng Hao came over, smiling playfully, nodding and bowing.
"Your Highness, you are truly a man of great admiration and admiration for me!"
"Executive member Zheng, forget about flattering me. I want to make some iron pipes and some round shells. Take a look."
Zhao Hong took out the drawings he drew, which were sketches of artillery and later grenade shapes.
No need to ask, these are all crude products based on the wisdom of others.
To his regret, since he didn't have a pencil, he used a brush when drawing, and the lines were too rough.
"Your Highness, this is not difficult to make. You just need to make some molds, make them more precise, and pour them into shape."
Zheng Hao is an expert in iron casting.
Just these iron pipes and round iron shells are much easier to make than the iron pots and iron furnaces in his iron workshop.
I don’t know what is the use of these iron lumps that are not even as good as swords and guns?
"Commissioner Zheng, don't be happy yet!"
Zhao Hong gave his instructions seriously.
"This iron pipe must be made with a straight and smooth inner bore, and the four walls must be of the same thickness. To tell you the truth, this is a military weapon. To be used on the battlefield, it must be meticulous and cannot leak. Once it is done, I There is a big reward!”
Zhao Hong was serious, Zheng Hao also put away his smile, picked up the drawings, and solemnly agreed.
Of course, a military weapon must be made with care and attention.
If you are careless and neglect your duties, you may lose your life.
If someone else told him, he might shirk it. But in front of Zhao Hong, a "master craftsman", it was difficult for him to refuse.
He also wanted to see what kind of thing was created?
"Tian Yi, you have to pay close attention to the casting of firearms. From now on, the casting of firearms in the army will all depend on you!"
Zhao Hong carefully warned Tian Yi, who had a bitter look on his face.
"I have promised you, so don't worry!"
Although he didn't know what these iron things were for, seeing how serious Zhao Hong was, Tian Yi immediately agreed.
From now on, he is no longer Zhao Hong's friend, but his subordinate. This must be clearly distinguished.
Seeing the pile of pitch-black coal placed alone in front of him, Zhao Hong's heart moved. He stopped and picked up a piece. His hands were full of pitch black and smooth.
The structure is so fine it looks like it should be graphite.
"Executive member Zheng, are these all dug-out stone... charcoal?"
Zhao Hong put down the charcoal. Although he had never seen graphite ore, the feeling of pencil lead was unmistakable.
"Your Highness, this is high-quality charcoal dug out. It can be used for drawing and writing. Why, is it useful to Your Highness?"
Zheng Hao was confused.
Does your Highness have any other ideas?
"Your Highness, this kind of ink mine is the most abundant in Hunan, and the Ministry of Industry should have a lot of it. If your Highness really needs it, you can go to Lin'an City and get it from the treasury of the Ministry of Industry. You can get as much as you need."
The board of directors also introduced it.
"Ms. Dong, I just want to give it a try!"
Zhao Hong laughed. Since the imperial court also has graphite, it will be much more convenient to make pencils in the future.
However, it is convenient here and you can do both at the same time, just pay a little money.
"Commissioner Zheng, help me call the two carpenters over. I have something to explain."
The efficiency of the court's affairs was too trivial, and we had to wait until we returned to Lin'an City to handle it.
He couldn't wait any longer.
However, he may have to return to Lin'an City to study the most critical element of firearms: gunpowder at the Ordnance Institute.
"Mr. Dong, is there any gunpowder in Kuaiji County?"
Thinking of this, Zhao Hong couldn't help but ask.
The Song Dynasty invented gunpowder, which was widely used in war and civil affairs, such as muskets and firecrackers. Since firecrackers can be manufactured privately, gunpowder can also be privately produced.
"Your Highness, the county government has gunpowder. If it is not enough, you can collect it from the private sector. I wonder what your Highness needs gunpowder for?"
The board of directors stepped forward to report suspiciously.
Gunpowder can only burn to make firecrackers. Zhao Hong doesn't know how to use gunpowder to smelt iron, right?
If that were the case, that would be such a luxury!
"Dong Xianggong, please help me get some gunpowder ingredients. You can skip the others, but you must get charcoal powder, sulfur powder, and fire saltpeter!"
Zhao Hong gave instructions to the board of directors carefully, his little heart beating loudly.
What I have learned on paper is ultimately shallow, and I know that I have to do it in detail.
75% potassium nitrate, 10% sulfur powder, 15% charcoal powder, who doesn't know who doesn't know.
However, that was a new era of explosion of knowledge in later generations.
From combustion to explosion, another new era of gunpowder is likely to come.
"Your Highness, leave these matters to us. Don't do these tricks all day long. You should think carefully about how to deal with Shi Miyuan and those people."
Seeing that there was no one around, Tian Yi couldn't help but remind him.
"Your Highness, Tian Dalang is right. Just let the villains and craftsmen do these little things. You should just sit in Lin'an City and deal with those monsters and monsters."
Li Tang also persuaded in a low voice.
It's been so long, and I don't even know if the prince's position can be kept, and he still comes here to do things. It's so disrespectful.
"Don't worry! I know what to do."
Zhao Hong nodded and laughed.
This is his assignment, his job. If he can't even do this well, how can he go out to meet people?
Whoever controls the "coal and iron" industry controls the future. Coal and iron are the basis of industry. It has slowly opened the door to industry and will continue to develop. The power of industry will slowly manifest itself in the future, and one day it will change the times.
