Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

Chapter 69 60 Jin
"Guo Xianzun can think clearly, this is the armor and weapons needed by an army of [-]!"

Zhu Fu said solemnly.

Zhu Di also looked straight at Guo An, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes that he didn't realize.

"Guo An, I'm telling you that in our standing army of the Ming Dynasty, the weapons and equipment of a hundred households are ten fires, twenty knives, thirty bows and arrows, and forty guns! As for the armor, the three guards of Yanshan Every soldier has a pair.

Not to mention other large and small muskets, large and small general barrels, large and small iron cannons, chariots, and gunpowder. It is just the standing weapons that the king said. A 60-strong army needs at least more than [-] catties of pig iron. "

"60 catties?"

Guo An frowned slightly, and quickly calculated in his mind, 20 catties a month, and more than 6000 catties a day, if...

That's it!
Thinking about it, Guo An nodded slightly, and replied with a sure face: "Your Highness, the iron smelting is more than 6000 catties a day, as long as we add more blacksmiths to the iron smelting plant in Shangzhuang Village, it can still be completed!"

Zhu Fu covered his face a little, although he could not get used to this little magistrate, dare to be so close to his highness, and might cause his highness to be disgusted by the prince and the emperor.

But the armor needed for a [-]-strong army is a matter of great importance to the country, and the matter is of great importance, so there can be no mistakes.

So, subconsciously reminded each word: "Master Guo can think clearly, this is 60 catties of pig iron, not [-] catties, let alone sixty catties..."

Guo An smiled sincerely at Zhu Fu, "Thank you Zhu Changshi for your concern. I am sure that I will be able to smelt 60 catties of pig iron within three months. If there are enough craftsmen, I can also produce the iron needed by an army of [-]." Arms and armor!"

Seeing Guo An's certainty, Zhu Fu's words of persuasion that he had already thought up disappeared immediately, and he had nothing to say.

However, my heart is still full of panic.

Is 60 catties of pig iron so easy to refine?He is the Chief History Officer of the Palace of Yan, and he understands the government affairs of the Palace of Yan clearly.

Even the iron mine in Shangzhuang Village has nearly a hundred blacksmiths. After a year, it can smelt 15 catties of pig iron, which can already make Yanwang Palace rich for a long time.

And now, within three months, 60 catties?
Thinking about it, Zhu Fu's expression became a little complicated.

Above, Zhu Di's eyes lit up, he actually felt that the thief officer Guo An was not lying!

"Guo An, this matter is of great importance. I will confirm it one last time. Can you really guarantee that 60 catties of pig iron will be smelted within three months?"

A trace of helplessness flashed in Guo An's eyes, "Did your Highness not pay attention to the situation of the Iron Smelter in Shangzhuang Village for several days?"

Hearing this, Zhu Di seemed to think of something, his eyes lit up, and he said quickly: "You mean, those strange furnaces that you and those old craftsmen made can produce iron?"

"Naturally! What's the point of smelting some iron..."

As he said that, Guo An thought of something, and slightly cupped his hands towards Zhu Di, "Please forgive me for your boldness. If your Highness has time, you might as well go to the Tieye Factory in Shangzhuang Village with you to have a look."

"Ok?"

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, and then looked at Zhu Liang who was beside him: "Zhu Liang, what is the situation of the iron mine in Shangzhuang Village now?"

"This……"

Zhu Liang's expression changed, and he felt a little ashamed.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. The last two days have been helping Guo Zhixian carry some iron blocks and furnaces, but I didn't realize how fast the iron furnace forged by Guo Xianzun is."

Zhu Di looked at Guo An again with some doubts.

Guo An smiled slightly, "Forgive me, Your Highness, it is really that the lower officials are understaffed in the Tieye Institute, and even the lower officials' personal guards are sent to work.

As for a strong man like Zhu Baihu, the lower officials are even more reluctant to let him go! "

Zhu Di rolled his eyes at Guo An, and directed to Zhu Liang, "Hurry up and get the car ready, I'm going to take a look at the Tieye Institute in Shangzhuang Village!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhu Liang responded and hurried out.

"Zhu Baihu, bring some cold ice for the carriage..."

Guo An shouted from behind.

Zhu Di said unhappily: "You enjoy it more than I do!"

Guo An sneered, "I'm afraid that Zhu Baihu won't think of this, and there is still a long way to go to the Iron Smelter in Shangzhuang Village from here."

"Hmph, let's go..."

This month, when the sun is scorching, even sitting in a carriage is like sitting in a steamer. Just out of the city, everyone is sweating profusely.

And when he arrived at the iron smelting factory in Shangzhuang Village, Guo An felt that his whole body was soaked. As soon as the carriage stopped, he got into the nearest room very skillfully.

"call……"

Immediately, I felt that I had entered the cold cellar, and my whole body was chilly, which was very comfortable.

Zhu Di also frowned when he entered the room.

However, after cooling off, he looked at Guo An, "Is this what you asked to prepare?"

Guo An replied with a flattering smile: "Your Highness, there may not be many other items in Tieye, but clear water and saltpeter are absolutely indispensable.

These cold ices were produced along with them. "

"Ok!"

Zhu Di nodded expressionlessly, and urged directly: "This king is here, where is the iron-making furnace you want to show me?"

"Your Highness, this way please!"

Guo An hurriedly led the way and walked out.

A group of people walked directly through several houses and came to the place where the iron smelting furnace was located behind.

"Ok?"

Suddenly, Zhu Di, Zhu Fu and the others subconsciously stopped in their tracks and looked forward with astonishment.

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Guo An stopped and asked with some doubts.

Zhu Di pointed to the huge furnace leaning against the mountain wall in front of him, and asked in surprise, "Is that an iron-making furnace?"

"Exactly!"

Guo An nodded slightly, and introduced: "Your Highness, for more than a month, the officials and the ten old craftsmen have been working hard to forge this iron furnace."

Zhu Di was surprised: "How big is this?"

Guo An replied: "Your Highness, this iron-making furnace is two feet high, the furnace is one foot and five feet deep, the front width is four feet two inches, the rear width is four feet, and the left and right sides are four feet and one inch each. The furnace can hold 800 ore. What a catty!"

Zhu Di asked curiously: "Such a high iron-making furnace? How much iron can be produced in a day?"

Guo An said: "Your Highness, you should be able to refine seven hundred catties of iron!"

Zhu Di asked again: "Why isn't iron smelting started now?"

Guo An was stunned, and then quickly explained: "Your Highness, forgive me, this iron furnace was just forged the day before yesterday. The official has been busy with county government affairs for the past two days, so he didn't come here.

Therefore, trials have not yet begun. "

Zhu Di scolded angrily directly, "Such a big matter, you, a bandit official, left it alone and went to work on the government affairs of your county government?

Now that the king has come, what are you waiting for, why don't you start quickly? "

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Guo An responded quickly.

Then, he began to shout towards the front, a group of old craftsmen who were busy around the iron smelting furnace, "Blacksmiths."

……

(End of this chapter)