He ignored Cai Laoliu, who had a dark face, eyes that were almost on fire, and was mumbling something incomprehensible.
Gao Zhang continued to walk through the workshop with a sense of accomplishment, although he didn't come here often.
But this workshop has put a lot of effort into using waterwheels for forging, which is naturally his own work.
There is also the grinding wheel. This thing is not complicated. You just need to get some corundum, grind it into fine pieces, mix it with clay, then press it into shape, and it can be done by burning it.
Although Gao Zhang didn't know where corundum was found, he couldn't resist the fact that there were so many talented people in the Song Dynasty. Think about it, the Chinese nation has been making jade since ancient times.
Regardless of whether nephrite or jadeite, cutting tools are definitely needed, and corundum, a more common hard and fire-resistant treasure, is very suitable.
As for the pedal-type machine, it only requires a few metal parts and a wooden table.
For Gao Zhang, an art student studying science, this is not a difficult task.
It was precisely with the emergence of these various machines that the Kaifeng Metal Workshop, with less than three thousand craftsmen, was able to produce enough hand knives for the court in such a short period of time.
After a long tour, Gao Zhang stood in the workshop and looked at everything here with a sense of accomplishment.
Lao Gao's family invested a lot of money here, and he also put in countless efforts and sweat.
Even though he had sold out his shares in order to lick the faint king, even if it was three hundred thousand hand knives, the profit of a copper plate would not fall into his pocket.
But when I think of the long-standing disadvantages of the Song Dynasty, I am torn apart by myself. No amount of money can buy such a feeling of relief.
What's more, as the fuel supplier and iron material supplier of Kaifeng Metal Workshop, I also make a lot of money, okay?
Yes, the iron materials and fuel for the Kaifeng Metal Workshop are supplied by Xue Ji Glass Workshop.
Fortunately, whether it is coking or iron ore smelting, there is a supply of raw materials, and the output is quite abundant. For example, one furnace of coke can produce almost two thousand kilograms.
Coupled with the hand knives made nowadays, the weight of a hand knife is less than two kilograms.
Therefore, the raw materials are fully available.
#####
"Master Zhu, how long will it take for the last batch of hand knives?"
"Xiao Gao Zhuangyuan can deliver all the goods within seven days at most."
"Seven days, right? Okay, let's wait seven days. We will meet at the weapons monitoring. I hope you will continue to ensure the quality. I don't want the last batch of goods to have problems."
Hearing the implicit warning in Gao Zhang's tone, Shopkeeper Zhu quickly swore to God that he would never cheat and ruin the reputation of the Kaifeng Metal Workshop.
There are three hundred thousand hand knives, and the agreement signed between Kaifeng Metal Workshop and the imperial court is 500 yuan each.
This figure is almost a dollar lower than the cost of official workshops. The cost of official workshops is generally between two hundred and three hundred dollars.
It is precisely because the negotiated price given by the Kaifeng Metal Workshop is so low that the ministers and workers who oppose the outsourcing of ordnance can only shut up in anger.
Coupled with repeated random inspections, the quality is better than that of official workshops, which further strengthens the determination of the officials.
As for the powerful eunuchs and traitorous prime ministers, their sons are in charge of this project, and Tong Guan is happy to see that the soldiers have better weapons and fight more bravely.
The treacherous prime minister Cai Jing is the leader of the reformist group, so he is naturally happy to see the results.
This is also the reason why after the conflict in Zhao Ji's workshop, no one dared to jump out and cause trouble.
Three hundred thousand handles have already reduced the cost of hand knives to around the same level.
In other words, the profit gained from 300,000 hand knives amounted to 150,000 knives.
No wonder, in addition to drugs, the most profitable business in later generations is arms. This is really true.
Gao Zhang was very pleased with his calculations in his heart.
As for what kind of arms business can be undertaken after the hand knife, haha, there are too many.
However, Gao Zhang had already conducted detailed inspections when the first batch of hand knives was delivered.
The conclusion reached is that Kaifeng Metal Workshop has two choices for its next target, one is a bow and the other is a helmet.
There were many types of bows in the Song Dynasty. It was precisely because of the large number that they seemed too complicated, which was not conducive to the equipment, repair and replenishment of ordnance.
From ancient times to modern times, in the eyes of military strategists, all weapons are as simple as possible. Simplicity is easier to maintain and repair.
Anyway, Gao Zhang really wanted to pursue these two projects. After all, helmets are so diverse in today's Song Dynasty.
Especially the helmets of ordinary soldiers are really terrible, but this thing is the most important piece of armor.
Thinking about later generations, during World War I and World War II, even if the armor was cancelled, such a good treasure as a helmet is still popular in the world and continues to be used into the 21st century.
After all, if the limbs are injured, even if they are broken, the person can survive anyway, but if the brain is damaged, there is no other way out except to go under the Nine Springs.
The word "brainless" here does not refer to weird people with broken brains like Wolong Fengxiao, but refers to being damaged by physical attacks.
Of course, magic attacks that damage the brain are another matter, and are outside the scope of discussion in the historical plane.
#####
Gao Zhang wandered to the palace again. He came here today to tell the official Zhao Ji the good news that the hand-sword outsourcing was about to be completed.
The second news was that he wanted to hand over the samples from his workshop to the official Zhao Ji to check first. As long as he can deal with this faint master, the next step will be easy.
Seeing that the newly popular favorite Xiao Gao Zhuangyuan entered the palace, the eunuch respectfully led him straight to the palace.
But at this moment, the official Zhao Ji did not stay in the study, but in a pavilion.
In an open space not far from the pavilion, there were more than ten hounds brought in. However, these hounds were obviously very unfriendly to each other.
Either they are flirting with each other, or they are flirting with each other, wanting to fall in love for the first time.
This made Zhao Ji, the talentless master of the Song Dynasty, roll up his sleeves and prepare for a big fight, ah no... prepare to draw dogs with ink, very painful.
After all, I want to create art, and you are either grinning, or you are arching your waist, and some of you just collapsed on the ground to rest.
I really can't inspire the creative inspiration of the official Zhao Ji, and I always feel that I can't capture the charm of the divine dog that ascends to the sky.
At this moment, official Zhao Ji couldn't help but miss the sight of Xiao Tian, who squinted his eyes, stretched his neck, and shook his tail so hard that it almost left an afterimage...
Thinking of this, official Zhao Ji couldn't help but turn his head and glance at Yang Jian beside him.
"???"
(End of chapter)
