The place where the imperial court made iron was actually relatively simple. After all, in the Han Dynasty, iron-making technology was not very good.
In addition, it is a government-run institution.
All kinds of circumstances add up, and these iron-making things are actually just like that.
When Huo Guangyi asked for the slag produced by iron smelting, Yan Yi, the great farmer, couldn't help but be a little curious and asked: "Huo Yilang, what do you want these slags for?"
"Ahem, let's fill the road. I dug some clay recently and set up a blast furnace to bake some things. I dug a big hole in some land, so I have to fill it in!" Huo Guang said.
only.
It’s okay if this doesn’t explain it.
Once explained, Yan Yi became even more confused.
He asked incomprehensibly: "Dig clay? Just dig it now. Do you need to fill the holes left behind?"
"Isn't it necessary?"
Huo Guang shrugged and asked, pretending not to understand.
However, Yan Yi said: "Of course it is not necessary. If the pit you dig is smaller, as time goes by and washed by rain, the mud flow will naturally replenish it."
"If you dig a big hole."
"The rain from God will also fill it into a pond. Over time, fish, loaches and other things will grow in the pond."
"If we can't store water, it's just a low-lying journey!"
"so."
"Why do we have to fill it in artificially?"
"Um..." Huo Guang was a little confused by Yan Yi, an honest man, so he had to change the subject and said: "That's all I'm saying, it's not as much as you think. By the way, the Great Farming Order, here at the iron smelting field , is the slag produced after iron smelting usually thrown away so casually?"
"Is it too much?"
"It seems to me that you all have no one to clean and transport them away!"
Hearing Huo Guang's question, Yan Yi nodded and replied, "Yes, there is too much slag. There are requirements for the amount of iron produced every day. They are all busy producing iron. How can they have time to take care of the slag."
The iron-making technology of the Han Dynasty was not good enough.
The imperial court also had requirements for the weight of iron produced every day.
This caused a problem in the ironworks.
In order for the iron production volume to meet the standard, the mining of iron ore must be increased every day, and a larger amount of iron ore must be used to refine the required amount.
And those in power took a look.
Yo?
Isn’t this an easy way to accomplish your goal?
OK!
Increase production next month!
So...
A vicious cycle begins.
The imperial court gave production weight requirements. In order to achieve the target, the iron smelting field was too lazy to improve the iron smelting technology and directly and roughly increased the mining of iron ore to produce the set target in greater quantities.
Those in power looked at the weight of completed production and continued to increase iron production.
Back and forth.
Since the official establishment of the Salt and Iron Company, the amount of slag has been increasing day by day.
This is for the ironworks.
Not to mention cleaning it up, as long as the slag doesn't block the road, it can be thrown anywhere.
It’s been a long time.
Someone will always be sent to clean it up.
And this so-called top is the great farmer, Yan Yi.
only.
He also has a headache about these iron ore slag. If he had a way to clean it up, wouldn't he have cleaned it up long ago?
Why are you still here?
then.
Hearing Huo Guang ask him, Yan Yi immediately sighed and said: "To be honest, I am also thinking of a way! I was planning to clean it up in a few days, but how can such a large amount of iron ore slag be so easy to clean up? .”
Huo Guang was very satisfied after seeing Yan Yi's distressed look.
But on his face, he showed a look of worry for the big farmer, and said: "Well, no matter whether you need to fill the pit or not, I will share part of the slag cleaning work for you within my ability. Yes."
Yan Yi immediately no longer doubted Huo Guang and said with a smile, "I couldn't be more grateful!"
But speaking.
The big farmer, Yan Yi, suddenly changed the topic and warned: "Huo Yilang, thank you very much, but I can warn you, don't even think about using these iron slags to make iron again."
"If this is known to Your Majesty."
"Both your heads and mine have to be moved."
Ironmaking?
Huo Guang had thought about this before, but he hadn't thought about it since the official camp of Yantie.
Now is not the time.
As for these slags?
Ah!
Although a lot of iron can be smelted from it, who cares about what these people use leftover?
immediately.
Huo Guang then laughed and said, "Don't be ridiculous, Lord Nong. Why do I want to smelt iron privately? Using this kind of slag to smelt iron is just looking for trouble. Don't you think I am too busy?"
"Sorry, sorry." Upon hearing this, Yan Yi felt that Huo Guang was right, and immediately said with shame, "I used the heart of a villain to judge the belly of a gentleman."
Huo Guang smiled and waved his hand, saying: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. It is right for Da Nong to be cautious."
"How about this!"
"A few days later, I sent people to clean up some of the slag for Da Nong Ling. This can help reduce some of the burden on Da Nong Ling and allow him to concentrate on dealing with matters related to Bai Diezi."
As soon as these words came out.
Yan Yi "understood" Huo Guang's true intentions even more.
he thinks.
Huo Guang mistakenly thought that he was distracted by the Yantie official camp and was negligent about the planting of Bai Diezi.
It was precisely because of this worry that he came to help ease his burden.
The thought of this.
Yan Yi was even more convinced that his guess was correct, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Huo Yilang. Although human energy is limited. But since Your Majesty has arranged for me to plant Baidianzi with you, I will not Delayed."
"That's very good."
Seeing that Yan Yi believed his words, Huo Guang smiled and nodded.
Now that the goal has been achieved.
later time.
He and the big farmer Ling Yanyi didn't chat for long before he said goodbye and left.
only.
Although he is gone, Sang Hongyang is still here.
Seeing Huo Guang leave, Sang Hongyang immediately walked to Yan Yi and asked, "May I ask Da Nong Ling, why is Huo Yilang coming to the ironworks?"
Yan Yi waved his hand and said with a smile: "Huo Yilang is a good man. He saw that there was too much slag in the iron smelting plant, so he decided to send someone to help me clean up part of the slag."
Cleaning up slag?
Sang Hongyang didn't believe it, so he said directly: "Da Nong, please be careful. I have checked these slags beforehand. If you smelt the iron carefully, you can extract a lot of iron from it!"
But Da Nong Ling said: "Don't you know how serious a crime it is to smelt iron privately?"
"rest assured!"
"Huo Yilang is a smart man, he would not do such a thing."
"As for why you helped me clean up the slag?"
"I read."
"I guess I heard someone say it. Recently, I have been focusing most of my time on the Yantie official camp."
"He's afraid that because of this, I'll delay the planting of Bai Diezi!"
"People all have some selfish motives."
When Sang Hongyang saw Yan Yi talking like this, he immediately said nothing and could only nodded slightly and said no more words.
only.
His eyes were still staring at the direction Huo Guang left, seeming to be thinking about something.
the other side.
After Huo Guang persuaded Da Nong Lingna to transport away the iron ore slag, he began to greet servants when he came back, recruiting a large number of working farmers and disaster victims who fled from the northwest.
That is to say, recruiting!
As the autumn harvest season approaches, farmers are not easy to recruit, but refugees are still easy to recruit.
of.
There are workers.
Huo Guang began to survey areas with limestone and began to excavate large amounts of clay, gypsum stone and other materials.
After the iron ore slag is transported back.
He ordered people to crush the three materials of iron slag, clay, and limestone evenly and mix them together in a certain proportion to form what is called raw meal.
after.
Put it into the earthen furnace and calcine it. When it is almost cooked, you will have clinker.
What follows.
Just add gypsum stone, grind it into fine powder, and mix it together according to the proportion.
This is the making of cement.
It looks simple.
However, the experimental process was extremely difficult. During the steps, the calcining temperature had to reach at least more than 1,400 degrees. It was impossible for the small earth furnace designed by Huo Guang to reach such a high temperature.
no way.
The calcining temperature was not enough, so Huo Guang could only change the earth furnace first.
gradually.
The original low earth furnace was modified again and again, and became taller and taller, becoming a blast furnace.
The calcining temperature is sufficient.
The next step is to try the mixing ratio of several cement materials, which is also very important. If the proportions are wrong, it will not be strong when solidified when used later.
For example, Huo Guang produced the first batch of cement.
After solidification!
He can even break it open with his hands like hard clods of soil. Some of them won't even solidify and turn into powder with a kick.
Such cement?
It's not as good as glutinous rice juice and grass ash. What's the use?
then.
Without knowing the mixing ratio, Huo Guang could only lead the workers to try blindly. But the experiments cost him a lot of time, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During this month, I gradually figured out something about the cement mixing ratio. When the cement was refined later, he used it to build a wall.
Looking at the wall made of cement, Huo Guang was stunned and arranged for the workers to take turns to kick it, but they did not collapse the wall.
Only then did Huo Guang feel satisfied.
certainly.
After figuring out the cement formula, Huo Guang did not rush to build houses immediately. Instead, he led the workers to move the cement factory, the brick kiln and the land in the northern circle outside Chang'an City. Build a cement road.
The purpose!
The first step is to let the workers learn to use cement skillfully.
at the same time.
Having access roads can also reduce the workload in the future.
There is a way.
He is not worried that the houses he will build in the future will not be sold. Even if they are outside the city, Huo Guang firmly believes that the new houses built of cement and red bricks will definitely attract attention.
There is this house after all.
The effect of keeping out the cold is more direct than that of simple cotton-padded clothes and quilts. No matter how cold the cold wave is next year, the people living in this house can withstand the winter.
Wait until these are cleared up.
The money Huo Guang wants to make is not just as simple as selling a house.
Businessmen make huge profits.
When they see Huo Guang making money like this, will they not learn from it?
definitely will!
But if they want to build a house like Huo Guang's, they first need materials.
Such as cement, red bricks, etc.!
Where there is desire, there will be demand. If there is demand, Huo Guang can make money, the money of those businessmen.
As long as others need it, Huo Guang can sell it to them.
certainly.
The recipe is not for sale!
If they can steal it, that's their fault.
But all this is just a bud in Huo Guang's mind. Who knows what the outcome of everything that will happen next will be?
It’s still early!
One thing is certain, a month later, the road was completed.
Stepping on the cement road that was two meters wide and more than ten centimeters thick, Huo Guang was quite excited.
No matter the workers’ surprised looks!
He lay directly on the cement road. After feeling the long-lost intimacy, he couldn't help shouting: "Haha, I built the first cement road in the Han Dynasty!"
The paid workers around him all looked at him with curious eyes after hearing the sound.
seem.
In the eyes of these ancients.
Huo Guang is a weirdo, a person who speaks and behaves very strangely.
In the eyes of the workers, Huo Guangming was obviously the son of a prince, general, and prime minister, but he seemed so out of tune with the surrounding affairs.
As he lay on the cement floor.
I don't know who it was, but he suddenly clapped his hands and praised, "Huo Yilang is really a strange person. He can actually make such a magical thing to pave the road, making the road smooth and smooth, just like the surface of a windless lake."
"only..."
"Huo Yilang, don't you think it's a bit of a waste to use such a magical thing for road construction?"
Suddenly I heard someone talking to me in such a tone, and I couldn't help but feel curious. I raised my head slightly, and saw that the person who came was actually a wealthy businessman from Chang'an City, so I didn't bother to stand up, and continued to lie on the cement road, saying calmly: "Who did I think it was? It turns out to be Mr. Zhang's retainer, Tian Jia!"
This person Huo Guang is not unfamiliar.
During the last time we raised funds for disaster relief, Tian Jia was one of the few businessmen who took the initiative to donate money.
He was once one of Zhang Tang's retainers before he became the imperial censor.
What a pity.
As Zhang Tang began to attack the merchant business, the two began to have conflicts. If they have different paths and do not work together, they can be regarded as parting ways.
Now.
When Tian Jia heard that Huo Guang said this deliberately, his expression changed for a moment, but soon he regained his composure and said with a smile, "Tian doesn't have any ill intentions, why would Huo Yilang try to bully people like this?"
"Running people? Huh!" Huo Guang sneered, which seemed to indicate that you are not worthy of my running, but after thinking about it, he still said: "You just accused me of using this thing to build roads and waste it, then it is what you mean. , what should I practice?”
Tian Jia immediately said: "Floods often occur in the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin. Once the river banks burst, the wealth and lives of the Han people on both sides will be threatened."
"Why don't Huo Yilang use this magical thing to prevent and strengthen embankments on the two rivers?"
"If it's done."
"It can be considered a great merit!"
Listening to Tian Jia's talk, Huo Guang smiled contemptuously and said, "What a great merit? Haha, Brother Tian stands on the commanding heights of morality. He doesn't do anything himself, but he instructs me to build flood-damaged embankment projects. That's true. It’s so easy and comfortable to say!”
Tian Jia frowned slightly and said, "Why did Huo Yilang say this?"
Huo Guang smiled and said nothing.
With his head resting on his arms, he looked particularly comfortable and comfortable under the scorching sun.
When Tian Jia saw this, he immediately smiled and said, "It seems that Huo Yilang is dissatisfied with what Tian just said, so he will treat it as nonsense."
"but."
"It is said that Huo Yilang wants to build four cities near Chang'an City to protect Chang'an."
"Tian is very curious."
"Has Huo Yilang prepared this magical thing to use it in the four cities he built?"
When Tian Jia said this, Huo Guang stood up suddenly, looked directly at this loyal and upright wealthy businessman, and asked curiously: "Your Majesty and I are responsible for enclosing the land and building four cities." The plan to tell the story was never mentioned in front of outsiders.”
"Tianjia!"
"How does someone like you know about the affairs of the imperial court?"
