Ming Dynasty: Evolution from snake to national guardian beast

Chapter 45 Big chimney?
  This is an excellent iron ore producing area, tens of millions of pounds, which is a bit underestimated.

Zhu Gaoxu couldn't bear it anymore and said eagerly:

"Father, why don't you take action?"

"Hurry up and get someone to dig!"

The old monk suggested:

"My lord, you can invite all the craftsmen we have trained here and let them forge weapons here."

“With these materials, we don’t have to worry about running out of materials.”

Originally, he was still worried about whether he would be found out.

Now, not only has this matter been solved, but a huge mineral vein has also been discovered. This is simply God helping King Yan.

Zhu Di came back to his senses and said to Bai Chu:

"What do you think, Mr. Bai?"

Bai Chu thought for a while and said:
  "No problem, but iron ore is different from coal, and we have to keep it confidential."

"My lord, I hope you can buy this mansion as soon as possible and send a few attendants to guard it. No one can be allowed to enter."

"Even if you are refining weapons, you cannot put them here. It is best to put them in a safe place to avoid being found."

Zhu Di nodded with a serious look on his face.

Iron ore is different from coal. The iron ore mined in the past has basically been confiscated by the government, and few people can occupy it.

What's more, all the major vassal kings hold high positions and hold military power. If it is known that they also occupy an iron ore vein, their ambitions will be obvious.

In the end, Zhu Di decided that this was the place for blacksmithing, and as for the forging of weapons, he should stay in Peiping.

When the time comes, Zhu Di can use this stove to prove his innocence.

You must know that this iron-making furnace requires a large amount of metal materials, and the Royal Charcoal Industry sells millions of kilograms of coal every day, so the demand for furnaces naturally exceeds supply.

Fortunately, except for the coal sold in Peiping, the stoves sold in other places are no longer free. Otherwise, just one stove would consume a large amount of metal.

When Zhu Gaoxu heard Zhu Di's intention, he wanted to build this place into a smelting base. He felt disappointed and felt that Zhu Di was really timid.

In Zhu Gaoxu's view, if you want to rebel, you have to move forward bravely. There is no use in playing it safe.

However, Zhu Di still reprimanded Zhu Gaoxu. This was a matter of rebellion. How could everyone know about it?

Things must be done by hand, words must be missed.

If you want to rebel, you must be careful and wait for the best opportunity.

Zhu Gaoxu was scolded by Zhu Gaoxu, but he didn't even dare to raise his head. He just whispered a few words, but no one could hear clearly what Zhu Di was saying.

Bai Chu heard that Zhu Di wanted to make iron here, so he gave Zhu Di a design drawing.

This design drawing is like a huge chimney, but the height is much higher than an ordinary chimney.

If we go by what is said on the drawing, this chimney will probably reach straight into the sky. Its height is simply terrifying.

The old monk also came over with a curious look on his face. He knew that what Bai Chu took out must be extraordinary.

Last time, King Yan relied on a design drawing to earn 400,000 taels of silver, which solved his urgent need for rebellion.

Now when he took out another copy, he felt like he had found a treasure. Holding the picture, he began to study what those chimneys were for.

However, Zhu Di and the old monk looked at it for a long time, but they were also confused and had no idea what it meant.

Zhu Gaoxu, on the other hand, said directly:

"With so many chimneys, they must be used for cooking. How could they be used for blacksmithing?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di winked at Zhu Gaoxu, meaning to tell him to stop talking.

Bai Chu, on the other hand, laughed and said:

"The second young master is wise and what he said is absolutely correct!"

When Zhu Gaoxu heard this, he immediately puffed up his chest and said loudly:
  "Father, did you hear that?" "I'm just telling you, this thing is for cooking, and you still treat it as a treasure!"

Zhu Di did not answer, but after Bai Chu's reminder, Zhu Di finally knew what it was.

"Mr. Bai, you mean, this thing can be used to smelt metal?"

"But I have never seen such a smelting method. Did Mr. Bai make a mistake?"

When Zhu Gaoxu heard that this thing was made of iron, his eyes widened in disbelief. Just as he was about to say something, Zhu Di gave him a sharp look.

Bai Chu picked up the piece of paper and said:

"This thing is called a furnace."

"I heard that this material can be used to make steel, not iron!!"

"Steel? How could this happen?"

The old monk was the first to become unable to sit still.

Even with the best steel, if you want to forge a small steel ingot, you have to go through thousands of forgings.

But now, Bai Chu said that this big chimney can smelt steel, which is simply incredible.

Bai Chu smiled slightly:
  "Why not?"

"This thing can not only be used to smelt steel, but can also be manufactured in large quantities. One hundred kilograms of steel can be smelted at a time."

"I just need help with one thing!"

"What's going on? Mr. Bai, stop showing off and let us see it!"

When Zhu Di heard that this thing could actually make steel in large quantities, he couldn't hold it back, waiting to see what Bai Chu was going to do with such a big chimney to smelt steel.

【Miyun County】

Bai Chu explained to Zhu Di the working principle of the blast furnace, the most important of which is temperature.

Only at high temperatures will iron ore be completely oxidized.

When the iron ore is completely oxidized, it can be reduced.

This is the basic principle of all blast furnace ironmaking.

The only thing that needs to be solved is how to raise the temperature in the furnace to the specified temperature.

Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu, and the old monk all set their sights on Bai Chu, wanting to see what Bai Chu could do.

Bai Chu smiled and purchased a new design drawing from the system.

Of course, the blast furnace design drawing he gave himself was redeemed in the system.

With the new blueprints in hand, the furnace was complete.

Zhu Di took a map handed over by Bai Chuxin and found that on the map was a huge wooden box with a very strange shape.

"What's going on? It's not the blower box, is it?"

The old monk observed it carefully and recognized it at a glance. It was a bellows similar to that of forging.

The only difference is that the size is several times larger.

"That's right!"

Bai Chu pointed at the drawing:
  "This is a big bellows, and with it, more oxygen can be delivered into the furnace."

"This is to make the coal burn better and keep the temperature in the furnace higher."

"Moreover, when there is sufficient oxygen, the oxidation rate of iron ore will be greatly improved, and the smelting efficiency will also be greatly improved."

"Such a furnace can produce more than 400 kilograms a day."

"If the prince thinks there are too few, then build a few more furnaces like this to increase production."

(End of this chapter)