Aztec Eternals

"3600 jin per day?"

Shiloh suddenly paled. He looked at Nekali in shock. As the most important copper mining area in Fengguo, the daily output of a thousand miners is only 3,600 catties of copper, and only 30% of them can actually participate in the excavation. This production efficiency is far lower than he expected. You must know that the copper material produced here not only supplies the entire Fengguo, but also almost half of the world!

Seeing the shock of the king, Nekali was proud.

"Yes, Marshal. Under my management, the miners did not slack off, and they all used their strength! The amount of mining per digger has reached the highest level in the Tarasco Kingdom in the past ten years! "

Hearing this, Shilot looked at Ezpan, who had been following him but seldom spoke.

"His Royal Highness, the management of the mine is very good, and the output is indeed very high."

Ezpan sighed, recalling his past memories. He stayed in this mine for a long time, and many things were deeply imprinted in his mind like instinct.

"In this mining area, it is impossible to excavate in July and August when the rainy season is the heaviest. In June and September, when the rainfall is heavier, at least half of the manpower is required to drain water, while in April, May, October and November, at least 30% of the manpower is required for drainage. Only in December, January, February, and March of the dry season can we fully exploit, and we must also take into account the underground spring water. At that time, the output should be at the highest level of 6,000 catties of copper per thousand people per day. And the average of the rainy season and dry season of the year is basically 4,000 catties per day for thousands of people."

Shirot did not speak. He lowered his eyes slightly, thinking of the efficiency of mining in modern Europe, and suddenly felt dissatisfied.

"How can the output be so low? How can the efficiency be so low!"

In fact, this time, it was Shulot who misunderstood. Mining is a highly cooperative group work, which requires high technology and management. It is also far more time-consuming and labor-intensive to dig hard copper mines than coal mining. In the classical era when there was a lack of machinery, the number of diggers who could actually participate in excavation in the mines was usually less than half of the total number of miners.

In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Yunnan copper of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, even if it had high-quality ironware and mature technology, the daily output of each miner was 20-30 kilograms of copper ore. Of course, this is also due to the fact that there are many poor copper mines in Yunnan, which are difficult to excavate and have low quality.

In fact, eight of the top ten copper mines in the world are located in the western part of the Americas on the Pacific Rim, and Chile and Peru in South America account for six. Compared with them, the reserves and quality of the copper mines in the Celestial Dynasty almost made the emperors who were short of money weep.

Shiroute looked serious and did not speak, and the surroundings were silent. He looked up at the sky, pondered over the films and texts in his memory, and was determined to make improvements to the mine's production facilities. After a while, he stretched out his hand, and the samurai commander sent a pen and paper to him.

Nekali bowed respectfully and stood aside, staring wide-eyed, looking at His Highness's "God Revelation" in awe.

"The first is to go down a straight vertical shaft, and then according to the direction of the rock formation, the inclined shafts and flat lanes are extended at different heights. At intervals, or in unstable rock formations, wooden derricks should be used to ensure the stability of the mine structure. . The wooden frames are riveted to each other, and sometimes the tips are driven into the stone walls..."

Shilot first drew a sketch of the well lane, and then focused on the supporting wooden frame of the well lane. He thought about the underground caves he once traveled to, and emphasized again.

"The reinforced wooden frame should be neat and uniform. In the inclined shaft, the wooden frame must be nailed into the stone wall to prevent slippage. In the broken mine belt, stones often fall, and the wooden frame must be kept closed..."

Nekali looked at the picture and nodded blankly, obviously not understanding.

Seeing this, the king pondered for a while and said sternly.

"My samurai, these pictures contain the truth of the gods! The **** of plants and trees is the child of the earth mother goddess, bearing his mercy and blessing the miners' lives. The wooden frame can stabilize the underground world, is The most important foundation in the excavation. You have to follow the diagram I gave you, as carefully as building an altar, and make sure the support is strong!"

Only then did the samurai captain look solemn and solemnly assured.

"Follow your orders, Marshal! You are the priest of Shen Qi, and I will do as you say!"

Shirot smiled faintly. He then drew another vertical ventilation shaft above the extended alley.

"Only the powerful **** of wind and rain, Tlaloc, can restrain the evil underground and bring life to the underground mines... With the extension of the mine, there must be a special shaft hanging from the surface for access to the **** of wind. You can dig multiple ventilation shafts at different heights to form convection under different wind pressures. You can also light torches, charcoal, and sacrifice plants and trees under the ventilation shafts to artificially heat the underground air to create convection..."

"What, you ask what is convection? Convection is the wind that connects the underground and the surface, and it is the flow of divine power that brings the vitality of the surface into the ground..."

After thinking about it for a while, Xiulote drew a mine bellows again, similar to the bellows of iron smelting, but larger.

"It's not easy to dig ventilation shafts in some places. You can use this to inflate the air... Infusing the power of Fengshen, it just takes some manpower."

Nekali nodded heavily, and kept these mysterious knowledge rigidly in his mind and implemented it as a commandment of faith.

"The next step is the improvement of lighting. In each group of miners, someone must wear a special wooden helmet, and a half-opened pottery oil lamp is hung on the wooden helmet. This is to pray to the eyes of the Lord God, bless the miners' work, and let them not Fear. If the oil lamp dims or goes out quickly, it proves that there is evil in front of you. You have to step back quickly and let the power of Fengshen go forward..."

"As ordered, Marshal! But there are so many religious ceremonies. Are there two priests for the mine? The miners are afraid that they do not have the ability to communicate with the gods."

Hearing this, Shulot's expression changed and he said with a smile.

"Okay! I will send a few priests here to preside over these important ceremonies. The number of miners is huge, and priests are indeed needed to guide their beliefs and soothe their souls. With the prayers of the priests, the miners can better overcome going down the mine. fear. Sometimes it's the fear itself that really scares you..."

"Then, it is necessary to build a labor-saving lifting system at certain heights in the mine. Simply relying on the miners to carry the ore is slow and small. A lot of manpower is wasted on transportation."

While talking, Shirlot drew a reel for drawing water.

"The reel is built in the mine, which is responsible for transportation from the bottom to the top. The depth of the current mine is more than ten meters, and a single reel is enough. As the mine becomes deeper and longer, graded reels will be built later, layer by layer. Transporting ore, saving manpower to the greatest extent.”

Seeing this, Nekali finally had a sudden look on his face. The reel saves effort, he naturally knows it.

"Finally, the most important thing is the improvement of drainage. Remember to balance the power of the **** of wind and rain to drain the water and convert it into wind. The reels responsible for lifting the ore can also add buckets to draw water. In the low-lying areas of the mines where water accumulates , and additional drainage wells can be built. Of course, there is another good drainage device for you..."

Having said that, Xiuluo paused. He recalled the pressurized water wells in the rural areas of later generations, that is, simple manual reciprocating pumps, or hand-cranked pumps. The principle of this thing is the reciprocating motion of the piston, creating a negative pressure to absorb water, and then pressing it out from the water outlet at the upper end. Using the principle of the pump, a similar water diversion device is made of a bamboo tube, which is the "Bamboo Dragon".

Nekali picked himself up and watched carefully. He watched as His Highness first drew an irregular bamboo tube and opened it on the upper side of the bamboo tube. Then I drew a nested movable round stick inside the bamboo tube, and finally drew a strange hand crank. The whole picture is simple and abstract, like a sacred and mysterious priest symbol.

"It's roughly the same shape."

Shirott looked at his rough sketches and pursed his lips, his painting skills really needed to be improved.

"The nested bamboo tube is easier to get, and this labor-saving hand crank is also fine. The operation is also very simple, just lift and press to pump the water up. If there is any damage or loose place, you can use the rubber for kicking the ball. Just stick to it..."

"Okay, reinforcement, ventilation, lighting, lifting, drainage, a total of five, do as I say! Nekali, there will be priests to help you calm people's hearts. What you have to do is to improve facilities and equipment, dig deep We will do our best to increase the output of the rich mines here! Let me give you a small goal, first increase the average monthly output by one-half to 6,000 jins per thousand people!”

"Ah, 6,000 jins per thousand people?...As ordered, Marshal! Following your will, I am willing to die for you!"

Nekali gave orders loudly and bowed to the ground, as if receiving military orders on the battlefield.

Shirot nodded with satisfaction, reached out and shook the other's hair again. The advantage of using loyal officers as managers is that you can follow the orders of your superiors and execute them without hesitation. Their disadvantage is that they are not proficient enough professionally, and it is difficult to think for themselves.

"Well, when I go back, I will summon Chalape and send miners from two metal families to assist."

Shulot's thoughts turned, and he looked at the samurai captain again. The facilities of the mine need to be improved, and the size of the mine must be further expanded.

"Bottard, how many working Ding Zhuang can the nearby villages supply?"

Bertard pondered for a while. There were too many villages in the Lake District, but he couldn't remember them for a while. He took out a roll of the picture book that he carried with him and flipped through it.

"His Royal Highness, within a radius of more than 20 miles, there are seven or eight civilian settlements, with a total of more than 15,000 populations. If the village's Qiu Fu is transported to the mine nearby, it can supply three or four thousand populations for labor. This distance The mountain roads are rugged, and laborers must be recruited from the villages to transport grain.”

Shirot pondered for a while and ordered.

"Collect taxes and labor from nearby villages to support the Chingambat mining area! Contact the village priests to reduce or exempt part of the tribute. Then, from the rested troops on the southern route, 2,000 people will be sent to the mining area. By the end of October, the mine will have three Thousands of people are digging, and by the end of December, the output of copper in the mining area will triple! ... Nekali, do you have any confidence?"

"As ordered, Marshal! The main mine has a limited capacity and needs to be improved. There are several small mines around, and I will develop them all!"

Nekali loudly should be. Then, he whispered.

"Marshal, mining has always been regarded as a dangerous way, and the status of miners is very low. The descendants have held weapons, formed battalions, and some have blood on their hands. Forcing them to be miners may be difficult to manage. There is a risk of rebellion, and there is the ability to rebel... Can it be replaced by an easily enslaved slave?"

Hearing this, Shulot thought for a while and shook his head.

"Nekali, what you said is right, but the people of the Fengguo have already set up Mintons, and I have no slaves for you. Well, there will be officers and priests close to the alliance to help appease... wait for a while. In a few months, the legion will be dispatched, and all the dogs captured from the north will be sent here!"

The king thought about the organization of the army. There may be some warriors who are good at fighting in it. It is indeed a big risk.

"Well, I'll give you two more brigades, four hundred samurai! Six hundred samurai manage three thousand miners, which is exactly the limit of the nearby village's supply... Nekali, work hard! From today, I will promote you as a samurai Battalion commander, these people are entrusted to you to lead!

"Marshal Xie! I would like to be your wing!..."

Overjoyed, Nekali fell to the ground again. The king also smiled. The two talked and agreed, and set down the rules and requirements of the mine.

The sun was setting in the west, leaving a golden-red afterglow on the rolling hills. The curling smoke rises from the mountains, intertwined with the red clouds lightly, like the ties of the gods. Before I knew it, it was time for dinner.

Bertard had no time to watch the magnificent sunset over the mountains. He just watched vigilantly at the miners who gathered and started cooking. Soon, thick smoke rose from the corner of the rear camp. The smoke is very thick, and if you follow the common sense of samurai, it is like preparing meals for three or four thousand people.

The samurai chief frowned. He said to His Royal Highness, pulled out the battle stick, and went to check with more than a dozen personal guards. Hundreds of cooks are busy in the back camp, preparing fragrant tortillas for the warriors, and preparing enough grains for the miners~www.readwn.com~ There are also several guarding warriors who are supervising.

Bertard checked slightly. In order to ensure safety, His Highness's food was brought from the palace by his personal guards, and these cakes were mainly supplied to some of the accompanying soldiers. He looked at it for a moment, nodded, and then his attention was drawn to the cooking stove.

"Come here, what is this?"

The samurai chief asked curiously. What was burning under the stove was not firewood, but black stones. The fire was very strong, and there was a lot of smoke. And the cook in front of him is still adding this kind of fuel to it.

Facing the question, the cook took a step back and fell on the ground in awe. Blackstone's flames raised thick smoke, which had already blackened his face.

"My lord, this is what we dug up... The blood of the underground demon contains the dead fire of the world of the dead... Although it is regarded as unclean by the priests, it can burn... My lord."

Hearing this, Bertard took out a black stone and examined it carefully in his hand. The texture of this kind of black stone is soft, and when you pinch it a little, the powder will fall off. Soon, Blackstone stained his hands black as well. The samurai chief frowned, then took the black stone and walked towards His Highness Shen Qi.