Chapter 731 Wuzijuan Coal and Iron Complex

"Mr. Zhuang, it is better to teach a man to fish than to teach him to fish. We, the Zhou Dynasty, are a huge country. If we are not as good as the Xiyi people in these aspects, or even surpassed by our neighbors such as the Japanese and even the Koreans and Annan people, then we Where is the face of the Celestial Kingdom? Moreover, these technologies are even used to make important weapons of the country. The Xiyi people are thousands of miles away, which is okay, but like the Japanese and Annan are around us, the Japanese rebellion has passed in the Imchen period. In just ten years, Annan and Dongwu are still harassing our border areas. If they can use their own fire cannons to deal with us, but we can only use ordinary fire cannons, what should we do? Are we, the soldiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty, allowed to die? ?”

Feng Ziying's voice became a little heavier, "Japanese, Annan, and Dongwu are all scabies. What if the Jurchens also master these things? What should we do?"

Zhuang Limin didn't seem to believe it, "Master Feng, this is a bit alarmist. Are those savages who can't even make armor also trying to make firecrackers?"

"Mr. Zhuang, what age are you in? The Jianzhou Jurchens are not Mongolians. They are barbaric and rough, but they are also cunning and good at fighting. They are especially good at learning and absorbing. They are not inferior to us in the Zhou Dynasty. If we don't pay attention to it, then I will only pay a higher price, and I don't want to see my father's loyal followers suffer heavy losses under the Jurchens' crossbows,..." Feng Ziying said coldly.

Zhuang Limin then thought that since the other party's father had assumed the post of governor of Jiliao, he must have a deep enough understanding of the biggest enemy in Liaodong, and naturally he could not be alarmist.

"Master Feng, I came here this time because I have some ideas to discuss with you." Of course Zhuang Limin would not just come here for the firecrackers matter. Since the last time Feng Ziying proposed that the imperial court hopes to promote the development of the iron smelting industry in the North, After introducing a group of Shanxi merchants to him, Zhuang Limin understood.

 As the leader of Foshan's iron smelting industry and arms manufacturing industry, Zhuang Limin is certainly not a simple businessman.

He had established a relationship with Xiao Daheng many years ago, but what disappointed him was that the important officials of the court, including Xiao Daheng, seriously did not pay enough attention to weapons such as firecrackers. The manufacturing and production of cold weapons such as swords were basically ignored. The imperial court's own military monopoly and insufficient demand for gunfire made it difficult for Lao Zhuang Ji to make a big breakthrough in this area.

When Xiao Daheng stepped down and left, Zhuang Limin thought that his business would probably come to an end. Without Xiao Daheng's care, he would not even be able to get the follow-up payment for the thousands of firecrackers that he had invested in the production. However, Unexpectedly, this group of people from the capital gave him an unexpected gain.

The new governor of Jiliao, Feng Tang, a new dark horse, has suddenly emerged. The key is that Liaodong Dong pays more attention to firearms than anyone else in the Zhou Dynasty. He ordered such a large number of firecrackers from him in one go. This made Zhuang Limin find it incredible.

Of course Zhuang Limin wanted to hold on to such a big pillar, so at first he approached the Feng family with the same intention of making friends with Xiao Daheng.

However, with the contact with Feng Ziying, Zhuang Limin discovered that his initial judgment was biased. He originally thought that Governor Ji Liao was the leader, but after contact with him, he realized that the real trader was actually Feng Tang's son, Xiao Written by Feng Xiu.

But for him, it doesn’t matter who is in charge, the key is whether he has the ability or not.

Zhuang Limin was soon impressed by Feng Ziying's vision, knowledge and decisiveness. When the muskets he purchased from Japan were delivered to Liaodong, he received an invitation to join forces with Shanxi merchants to participate in Beidi Coal. Iron Development Consortium Project.

Only then did he know that the purchase of Japanese gunshots was an inspection. Only if it was successfully completed and satisfied with the Liaodong side could he be able to participate in such a development project that was said to be quite large. Although this project is still in a rather loose early stage of preparations. stage, but with Haitong Yinzhuang, Shanxi Merchants and himself joining in, Zhuang Limin estimated that such a strange and bizarre mixture would be released soon.

"Please tell me." Feng Ziying actually already had a rough idea of ​​Zhuang Limin's intentions. If he was not here for the firepower, he was here for the coal-iron complex project.

 This is also a major event that Feng Ziying has been working on.

Haitong Yinzhuang has capital, Shanxi merchants have strong connections and basic manpower in Beidi, and Zhuang Limin has technology, talents and sales. If they join forces, it seems that this should be a perfect partner.

Of course, Feng Ziying also knows that in order to accomplish such a thing, it is not enough to just say a few words or write a plan. It also requires complicated and complicated preliminary preparations, and besides Haitong Bank, these people Shanxi merchants also have many problems, and Zhuang Limin should also be hesitant and have to go through repeated discussions.

He originally planned to sort out this matter after getting married while there was nothing to do in the Imperial Academy.

 Unexpectedly, Zhuang Limin was so eager and came first.

"Mr. Feng, originally today is your big happy event, so I shouldn't say more about it, but you will be very busy in the next few days, so I think it's better to say it now." Seeing Feng Ziying nod, Zhuang Limin didn't hesitate. Politely, "How is the progress of the site selection in Beidi that you told me about last time? I am very interested. I have already prepared the people, property and materials that you said we need to prepare, but it seems that Shanxi merchants There’s not much movement.”

Feng Ziying said calmly without much hesitation: "Indeed, their progress is a little slower, but it is expected that there should be a result after the beginning of the new year. The main reason is that there are some disputes over the site selection. Some people hope to settle in Shanxi. It is close to their hometown, has stronger connections and sufficient manpower, and can be built faster. However, I don't agree with it. First, the quality of the ore there is not very good, and transportation is difficult in Shanxi, so I suggest that they put it in the north. Here in Beizhi, they have basically agreed with my opinion and are stepping up their efforts to select a site here in Beizhi..."

If Northland wants to build a coal-iron complex project, it can only be in Beizhi, and other places are not suitable. To be honest, Shuntian and Yongping Prefecture, which is later known as Tangshan, are the most suitable areas. There is no shortage of coal to make up for the lack of iron. The ore is easy to mine, and it is close to Jiliao, Xuanda and Jingshi City. It can be said that the raw material production areas and consumer markets are all covered, so there is no reason to choose Shanxi.

 As for other reasons, they are not important.

"Master Feng, the use of coal to make iron is not popular in the south. However, there is a lot of coal in the north. This is not a difficult technology. However, it is said that the quality of the iron made from coal in the north is very poor. I don't know what Mr. Feng can do about it. Did you ever know?"

What Zhuang Limin is most worried about is that Xiao Feng Xiuzuan just slapped his head and just thought it could be done, so he just wanted to do it. If he interfered too much, then this kind of thing might end up in a mess.

"This is something you, Mr. Zhuang, need to discuss in detail, but as far as I know, there is already some experience in the Northland, which is to roast the coal first to improve its quality and turn it into processed coal. Some people in the Northland also call it It is coke, and coke is used to smelt iron, and it is said that it is especially effective than charcoal..."

There is indeed coking in the North, but Feng Ziying has carefully studied it and found that there is basically no standardized or systematic coking system technology, or that it is all scattered and there is no real use of coal coking as a breakthrough technology. Summary and processing, let alone popularization.

This is what Feng Ziying regrets the most. Of course, now he has the opportunity to change everything, so coal coking is no longer a problem, and the technology itself exists, but it just needs some technical improvements and optimizations.

"Oh?" Zhuang Limin obviously didn't know much about this. He was very excited after hearing this. The biggest problem in Beidi's iron smelting is the shortage of charcoal. If Beidi wants to make charcoal, the cost will increase significantly. If As Feng Ziying said, this coal can be roasted and converted into "coke", and "coke" can greatly improve the iron smelting effect, which would be great.

“I wonder if Master Feng’s charcoal roasting and refining technology can be applied on a large scale?”

“Of course, but there may be some experiments to explore the quality of coal in various places to achieve the best results, but these should be details.” Feng Ziying is still very sure about this.

This local coking method is indeed not a difficult technology. The main thing is to understand the principle. Basically everyone can know it. The key is that many people are specious about the principle, and this coking method can be produced under different types of coal. The quality of coke is also inconsistent, so a correct system has never been formed.

"Well, today is Mr. Feng's happy day, so I won't delay Mr. Feng. Well, I don't know if Mr. Feng has considered this. Once this matter is started, who will be responsible for integrating the various parties here? ?" This is also what Zhuang Limin is most concerned about.

"Okay, I originally said that I would wait until after my wedding to invite you all to meet together. Since Mr. Zhuang is also here, and several Shanxi merchants are here, why not let you meet first and get familiar with me. This person Bian has already been contacted by representatives and Shanxi merchants in the early stage..." Feng Ziying shouted: "Baoxiang, go and call Mr. Gu Dengfeng and Gu for me."

 Gu Dengfeng was chosen by Feng Ziying to represent himself, and to a certain extent, he also wanted to represent Haitong Bank.

In the future, Haitong Yinzhuang will play a big role in the entire industrial chain of coal coking, coke iron smelting, and iron products, and the loans issued will be hundreds of thousands or even millions. However, currently, Haitong Yinzhuang still has There are enough talents to supervise such an investment project, so Gu Dengfeng will be responsible for it to a certain extent.

In the early stage, Gu Dengfeng maintained and handled some official follow-up relations with Nanzhili. He came to Beijing in October, and then was sent by Feng Ziying to get acquainted with Haitong Bank first, and then to negotiate with Shanxi merchants. Matters concerning mining and building factories in Northland.

At first, Feng Ziying wanted not to participate in such matters and let Shanxi Merchants, Zhuangji and Haitong Yinzhuang cooperate on their own. However, he soon found that his thinking was too simple.

Without his own intervention, no one among the three parties would trust anyone else. There were many mistakes in the cooperation between Haitong Yinzhuang and Shanxi merchants.

Although Shanxi merchants all agreed to open accounts with Haitong Bank, the distrust is still deep-rooted in their bones, and now they have to cooperate in mining and building factories, which involves not only Shanxi merchants having to contribute capital, but also subsequent loans from the bank, so it is quite complex.

It would be even more complicated if Zhuang Ji, who has talents and skills, is brought in. Without a role with strong coordination ability and down-to-earth work, Feng Ziying herself is not at ease, so Gu Dengfeng is the most suitable candidate.

 (End of this chapter)