"Please look, everyone," the wicked man said, unfurling a huge map. "This is a map of the mountains and rivers of the six kingdoms that I had the Black Ice Guard draw. The areas marked in red are the limestone veins that have already been discovered."
Han Fei and Meng Can stepped forward to examine it closely. They saw dozens of red dots dotted across the map, scattered across the mountainous regions of Qi, Wei, and Zhao.
"Good heavens!" Meng Can couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "There are seven or eight such places in Qi alone?"
"This is only what we know," the wicked man said, pointing to the map. "Based on the terrain analysis, there should be quite a few similar veins, especially along these mountain ranges..."
His finger traced across the map, outlining areas where mineral deposits might exist.
"So..." Han Fei mused, "Is the Grand Commandant planning to build workshops in various places?"
"That's right!" The wicked man's eyes gleamed. "With these mineral veins as our base, we can establish production bases in various places. Come, let me give you a detailed analysis."
"Take a close look at these mineral veins in Qi," the wicked man said, pointing to the map and analyzing in detail. "The northern mine is in Mount Tai; the limestone there is of the highest quality, extremely pure, producing top-grade material. However, mining it is difficult due to the rugged mountain roads and inconvenient transportation. The southern mine is closer to waterways, making transportation convenient, but the ore layer isn't thick enough, limiting production. The ones in the middle, on the other hand, are more balanced in all aspects..."
"The best part is here," he said, pointing to a red dot. "This place not only has high-quality ore veins, but also a ready-made iron smelting workshop. The workshop has over a dozen kilns that can be easily modified. The surrounding area is densely forested, so there's no shortage of fuel for the kilns. Most importantly, it's right next to a large river, allowing for direct transportation by boat."
Han Fei carefully examined the terrain: "The Grand Commandant is right, this place is indeed excellent. However, these mines in Wei seem quite suitable as well?"
"Over in Wei..." the wicked man explained, "While the two northern veins are of superior quality, the roads are too difficult, making transportation costs too high. The southern one is more conveniently located, but the ore layer is too thin, so it probably won't last long. As for the eastern one..."
He pointed to a remote red dot: "Although this place is desolate now, the terrain is flat, suitable for building large workshops. Moreover, it's not far from the Yellow River, so a waterway can be planned. Once the workshops are built, this one mine alone can supply most of the Wei region."
"Grand Commandant, what about the mines in Zhao?" Meng Can interjected.
"The situation in Zhao is rather unique," the wicked man said, unfolding another detailed map. "Look at these mines; they're all in mountainous areas. The limestone quality is quite good, but mining them is difficult. However, there are advantages..."
He smiled mysteriously: "These mines are all close to former military strongholds. If we build workshops in these places, we can provide materials for border fortifications."
"Brilliant!" Han Fei's eyes lit up. "This way, not only will the transportation problem be solved, but we can also use local materials to strengthen our defenses."
"That's why," the wicked man said smugly, "I carefully selected the locations of these mining sites. Come on, let's take a look at how to build the workshop..."
He took out a stack of drawings and spread them out on the table: "These are the standard workshop designs I created. Please take a look. The entire workshop is divided into three main areas: the raw material area, the production area, and the storage area."
"The raw material area should be built upwind so that the kiln fumes won't affect other areas. The ground should be paved entirely with modern bricks and stones to prevent rainwater from soaking the raw materials. Drainage ditches should be built around it to form a reservoir, which can both store water for fire prevention and be used for production."
"The production area is of paramount importance." He pointed to an area in the center of the blueprint, "The main structure consists of six large kilns, each equipped with a dedicated elevator for easy material loading. The kiln roofs are designed in an arched shape, which distributes the stress evenly and also increases the temperature. Most importantly, this..."
He pointed to a detail of the kiln: "The design of the ventilation openings is very meticulous. Their size and angle are crucial; even a slight deviation will affect the firing temperature. I spent a long time figuring out this design."
"The storage area should be built on a raised platform, three feet higher than the surrounding ground," the wicked man continued, "to prevent dampness. Covered walkways should be built around it to shelter from the wind and rain. The ground should be sloped for drainage. Materials should be stored separately, each with its own dedicated warehouse..."
"Wait a minute!" Meng Can was dizzy from listening. "Grand Commandant, just remembering these details is enough. Who will be in charge of the construction then?"
"That gets to the heart of the matter!" the wicked man said confidently. "I've already come up with a training plan."
He pulled a roster from his sleeve: "These are my selected top talents, all skilled workers trained here. Each workshop will send five people, carrying blueprints to build the workshops and simultaneously training local artisans."
"There's a proper way to train people," the wicked man said, pulling out another instruction manual. "We'll start with the most basic thing: selecting materials. Limestone should be white with a bluish tinge, and it should make a crisp sound when tapped. Clay should be yellowish with a reddish tinge, and it should be fine and free of sand when mixed with water."
"The most crucial aspect of firing the kiln is controlling the temperature. The fire must be started slowly, the temperature rise steadily, and the materials used must be precise. Every critical moment must be strictly controlled. Craftsmen also need to learn to observe the color of the fire and smell its aroma; experience alone is not enough..."
He spoke with great enthusiasm, and Han Fei and Meng Can listened with rapt attention.
"Alright!" the wicked man finally stopped. "That's the plan. We'll build three workshops in Qi first to test the waters and see how it goes. Once things are on track there, we'll expand to other areas."
"Brother Han will oversee the process to ensure it doesn't leak out. Brother Meng will assist, helping to solve various problems. I'll oversee the core technology and manage the overall situation."
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