In the study room of the Xu family, Xu Youcai straightened up, took a satisfied look at the words he had just written on the rice paper, put down his pen, and walked to the Taishi chair beside him to sit down.
Butler Xu next to him handed over a bowl of tea and said at the same time: "Sir, Mr. Xu has returned from Dongshan and is waiting outside."
"Let him come in." Xu Youcai took a sip of tea from the tureen and put it aside.
The servant opened the study door and let Xu Laosi enter the study.
"Master, I'm so happy, so happy!" As soon as he entered the study, Mr. Xu said with a happy face.
Xu Youcai grabbed a piece of snack at hand, took a bite, put it back, and said to Butler Xu next to him: "There is too much sugar. Although our Xu family is not short of this little money, we can't waste it."
"I'll tell the people in the kitchen later to use less sugar in snacks from now on." Butler Xu responded.
"Where does happiness come from?" Xu Youcai looked at Xu Laosi.
Xu Laosi took two steps forward and whispered: "Sir, the iron yard run by the bandits in Hutou Village adopted a new iron-making technology. A regenerator was added next to the iron furnace, and coke was used to make it. Iron, the temperature of the iron furnace is high, and the molten iron that comes out not only has less impurities, but also has a larger quantity, and the profit is several times that of ours. Sir, do you think this is a happy event?"
"Not to mention, this is really a happy event." Xu Youcai asked with a smile, "Have you ever obtained this method?"
Jin Iron uses coal to make iron, and the molten iron that comes out has a lot of impurities. Forging fine iron is expensive, and the quality is not as good as that of Fujian Iron, and it does not have an advantage in price.
Since Jin Iron lost its supply from the Ministry of Industry, Jin Iron today is mainly used to make ironware such as iron pots and agricultural tools. The weapons and armor of the Ministry of Industry use better quality Fujian iron.
Jin Iron and Steel business is difficult to do, and many small ironworks owners have quit. The profits of those who persist are also much lower than before.
Xu Laosi shook his head slightly and said: "Their iron field is too well protected. There are hundreds of guards, all of whom are bandits from the Hutou Village. The miners we sent in were too short, and we couldn't contact them at all." iron-making technology."
After listening to his words, Xu Youcai frowned and said, "Are you sure that the molten iron in their iron furnaces has less impurities and a higher quantity?"
"OK." Xu Laosi nodded vigorously and said, "The news came from the Xujia Ironyard. On the day the furnace was opened, the manager of the Xujia Ironyard saw it with his own eyes. Afterwards, Xiao had someone steal a piece of pig iron. The quality was comparable to that of Fujian. Iron, if our Xu family iron yard can master this technology, no iron yard in Dongshan will be our opponent in the future."
In this era, Fujian Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. must outperform Jin Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. in all aspects. Jin Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. must be able to sell Fujian Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. at the price of Fujian Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., which will directly double the revenue of the iron yards. The price advantage is enough to overwhelm other iron yards in Dongshan.
Xu Youcai stood up, walked around the study several times with his hands behind his back, and finally stood in front of Xu Laosi, saying: "I don't care what method you use, whether it's stealing, robbing, or tying people up, you must take them." We have obtained the regenerator and coke ironmaking technology,"
Xu Laosi looked bitter. He came back to ask for help. It was precisely because he couldn't think of a way that he went back to the Xu family to make up his mind. Unexpectedly, the matter still fell on him.
In desperation, he said with a grimace: "Master, I have tried my best. It is true that the security of their iron yard is too tight. There are patrols day and night, and outsiders cannot get close at all, especially that Huang Huai, who is always following him. The two iron yard guards followed me wherever I went, and even when I went to the toilet, there were people watching me."
Xu Youcai thought for a moment and said, "What are the actions of the other iron yards?"
"Currently, only a few of our big iron yards know the news. It will be hard to say in a while." Xu Laosi said, "There is no movement at the Xujia Ironyard yet. The Yangjia Ironyard and the Lijia Ironyard are trying to bribe Huang Huaihe. Several leaders of the Iron Furnace, but none of them succeeded."
Xu Youcai frowned.
Butler Xu, who was standing next to him, interjected: "Master, I'm afraid we can't do this head-on. The thugs we keep in the iron farm may not be the opponents of those bandits, but we can use the hands of the magistrate to solve Hutou Village."
"What do you mean?" Xu Youcai looked at him doubtfully.
The last time the county government officials came back from Dongshan in disgrace, there was no news from the county government. Many squires in Lingqiu were guessing that the new county magistrate had already acquiesced in the existence of Hutou Village.
Butler Xu said: "As long as you spread the news that the bandits from Hutou Village robbed Chen Dafu, with the temperament of our magistrate, you will take the initiative to deal with the bandits from Hutou Village. At that time, you can take advantage of the opportunity." Capturing their iron-making technology can also eliminate the bandits in Hutou Village, killing two birds with one stone."
"Butler, this is a good idea." Xu Laosi agreed.
He didn't notice it himself, but now that someone had an idea, he was naturally happy to agree.
"It's a good idea." Xu Youcai said, "Our Mr. Guo just suffered a loss a few days ago and was so angry that he changed the arrest. After this lesson, I'm afraid he has already pretended to be a thief to those people in Hutou Village. I don’t know anymore.”
"So we should spread the news about Hutou Village's robbery of Chen Dafu Iron Yard." Xu Jiaguan said, "This Mr. Guo has a good eye but a low skill. He wants to save face. As long as the rumors spread, he will be forced to find a way to suppress the bandits. Otherwise, He keeps saying that he loves his people like his own children, and it all becomes a joke."
After hearing this, Xu Youcai nodded and said: "You should handle this matter yourself and don't let anyone doubt the Xu family. I'm not afraid of Guo Binchang. He's just a scholar who doesn't know shit. He got a fellow Jinshi with a few articles." , the key is that the governor is standing behind him, we have to be cautious."
"Understood, I will handle this matter myself and there will never be any mistakes." Butler Xu promised.
Xu Youcai nodded, then looked at Xu Laosi and said: "You go back to the iron field, and when the news of the government's suppression of bandits comes out, you must get their iron-making technology before anyone else."
"I understand, I will go back to the iron field right now." Xu Laosi excused himself.
After getting the desired result, he exited the study.
He knew for sure that even if he couldn't get the iron-smelting technology in the future, he wouldn't be blamed. If the bandits in Hutou Village really fell, he would naturally have a way to get the iron-smelting technology before other ironworks.
"I didn't expect that a few bandits and bandits were so capable, and they actually came up with a new iron-making technology." Xu Youcai took a sip of tea from the tureen, put it down and said, "The tea is cold."
The servant came over and took away the bowl on a wooden tray.
Butler Xu said: "Could it be that Chen Hongtao and Huang Huai came up with it and let these bandits from Hutou Village take advantage of it?"
Xu Youcai shook his head and sneered: "Who is Chen Hongtao? If he really has this ability, the iron field will not fall into my hands back then. As for the man named Huang Huai, it is possible. If the iron field falls in the future, this person can Receive it in our iron yard."
