In fact, Liu Yu coveted the Tianzhu continent, in addition to technologies such as refining sucrose, and also the locally produced iron ore.
The iron ore used in Damascus steel knives, which became famous in later generations, was actually mined from Tianzhu.
However, due to cost issues, transporting it all the way to the Central Plains would be too luxurious.
Liu Yu could only place his hope on localized iron and steel smelting.
Thinking of this, Liu Yu asked the attendants on his left and right.
"You haven't visited the iron factory outside Luoyang City for a few days, right?"
"Your Majesty, I haven't been there for more than two months," said the chamberlain responsible for recording the itinerary.
Liu Yu nodded and then said.
"In that case, let's arrange a ride. I'm going to the iron factory outside the city to inspect it."
The chamberlain has just been busy setting up and getting ready.
Outside Luoyang City.
On a wasteland near Luoshui, tall iron-making furnaces stood darkly.
This is the Luoyang Iron Works in the capital, where Liu Yu has high hopes.
The scale of this iron factory is huge, with almost three to four thousand people including craftsmen and apprentices under its direct supervision.
To be honest, this scale seems large now, but it is actually not as big as the scale of the large ironworks in the Western Han Dynasty.
It's just that the smelting technology of today's iron factories is a bit higher.
When Liu Yu arrived at the iron factory, he didn't care about whether it was dirty or hot.
Directly entering the core location of the iron factory.
This is the most advanced place in Luoyang Iron Works.
It is the final place for weapons preparation.
The sound of "ding-ding-ding-ding-ding" is heard all the time.
When the noisy sound reached his ears, Liu Yu felt that these were the most beautiful sounds in the world.
As soon as Liu Yu arrived at the iron factory, Ge Hong, the salt and iron operations manager, greeted him.
"Your Majesty, Ge Hong, comes to see you!"
Because of his super ability to collect money, Liu Yu naturally maintained a government-owned monopoly policy on salt and iron.
However, the tax collection and operation of Salt and Iron are separated.
A special salt and iron operation envoy was set up to supervise the development of salt and iron production.
The official in his thirties in front of him is Ge Hong, the eye patch operating officer appointed by Liu Yu not long ago.
As a famous person in history, Ge Hong should have been disappointed with the chaotic situation and retreated to Taoism.
However, as a famous person that Liu Yu had already remembered in his heart, there was no way he could escape from it.
Three consecutive edicts brought Ge Hong, who was living in seclusion in Kuaiji Mountain in Jiangdong, to Luoyang.
Now Ge Hong not only serves as the salt and iron operations envoy, but also serves as the military preparation envoy and many other official positions.
Specifically, it was for Liu to pre-test new smelting and chemical technologies.
After all, Ge Hong, who is a cultivator of immortality, is the best person in the world when it comes to playing with water and fire potions.
If Ge Hong can't play well, then Liu Yu can't rely on others.
"I have already said that this is an important military and national territory, so there is no need to adhere to formalities."
Liu Yu stopped Ge Hong and asked him to walk forward with him.
"Ge Hong!"
"I'm here!"
"How did you complete the task of cold forging armor that I gave you?" Liu Yu asked.
He remembered that the Song, Liao, and Jin Dynasties were the peak era of iron-can armored soldiers. Among them, the cold-forged armor of Xixia was famous, which was not only strong but also lighter and more durable.
For armor that weighs dozens of kilograms, even reducing the weight by a few kilograms is a remarkable achievement.
Therefore, Liu Yu had already assigned Ge Hong the task of preparing cold-forged armor plates.
"Your Majesty, I have been studying with a group of craftsmen for a long time, but they have never mastered the key points. The armor pieces produced are either too brittle and break without being beaten many times, or the iron pieces are too thin and soft. Although there are Its luggage is not as strong as its strength."
Ge Hong honestly gave Liu Yu a 'disappointing answer'.
Liu Yu didn't pay much attention to this.
He didn't know how many times he had heard this 'disappointing answer'.
Especially in this iron smelting, Liu Yu heard more sighs and regrets.
"There is no need to be too anxious about this matter. Anyway, we don't know the key to cold forging armor, so we can only fumble around." Liu Yu said softly.
"However, your Majesty came here today just in time to catch up with a batch of new swords. You can try the quenching method that your Majesty left behind!" Ge Hong said immediately.
Liu Yu became interested as soon as he heard it.
Nowadays, the cost of Han Dynasty iron weapons is getting lower and lower. After all, a large amount of charcoal has begun to be used in iron smelting, and the cost is much lower than that of burning charcoal.
How to keep these weapons as sharp and durable as ever is also a big problem.
Therefore, Liu Yu told Ge Hong the two quenching water methods in his memory and asked him to test them himself.
When Liu Yu came to the quenching yard of the iron factory, he happened to catch up with Yi Lianhu's sword for quenching.
I saw Ge Hong taking action himself, holding a red-hot iron sword with an iron clamp, and quenching it in two barrels of different liquids.
"Zi la!"
Then there were several sounds of boiling water, and the quenching part of an iron sword was quickly completed.
When all the processes were completed, Ge Hong held the first iron sword in his hand and presented it to Liu Yu.
"when!"
Liu Yu flicked the sword blade, and it immediately made a sweet sound.
"It is indeed a good sword!"
After Liu Yu said this, he tested it in his hands, which was a chance to verify the results.
After a while, Liu Yu happily handed it back to Ge Hong.
"What a sword! It's tough on the outside and tough on the inside. It can be considered a magic weapon."
Hearing Liu Yu's praise, Ge Hong and others expressed their gratitude.
They failed many times these days, and finally mastered all the details and essence of the double quenching method.
"Your Majesty, I feel that the biggest advantage of this sword is that it is cheap. The sword that could have been sold for tens of thousands of dollars can now be sold for half the price!"
Ge Hong told Liu Yu from the perspective of cost operation.
"Swords, guns, swords and halberds, almost all weapons can be replaced."
Liu Yu was already prepared for the results of these iron juices.
"Your Majesty, I got some new things from the Fire and Thunder Arms Preparation Department.
"Swords, guns, swords and halberds, almost all weapons can be replaced."
Liu Yu has already thought about the results of these iron juices, that is, they are cheap. The sword that could have been sold for tens of thousands of dollars can now be sold for half the price! "
Ge Hong told Liu Yu from the perspective of cost operation.
"Swords, guns, swords and halberds, all weapons can be replaced if you know the law and abide by the law."
Liu Yu was already prepared for the results of these iron juices.
"
There is preparation.
"Your Majesty, I got a gift from the Fire and Thunder Arms Preparation Department.
The discovery! "
