Cao Wenzhao stood up swiftly and said with a smile, "Before His Majesty, I had hoped to complete it within a year. Now it seems that it is very possible."
"I will continue to work hard and strive to live up to your expectations." Jin Riguan was inspired and made the promise generously.
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It would be better if it can be learned quickly in one year, but I can also wait for two or three years.
In the imperial study, Zhu Youjiao was summoning Sun Yuanhua and Zhang Tao.
This was an unusual summons, announcing the birth of a new mode of production - the coal and steel consortium, which can also be seen as the beginning of industrialization.
The scale and output of crucible steelmaking are constantly expanding, but the cost of transporting and purchasing raw materials is difficult to reduce.
The advent of coke allowed traditional charcoal fuel to be replaced, laying the foundation for the establishment of a coal and steel consortium in Yongping Prefecture and Zunhua (now Tangshan).
Zunhua Iron Smelting has been operating since the Tang Dynasty, and has accumulated a wealth of technical experience during its long production process.
In the Ming Dynasty, the Zunhua Iron Smelting Factory was built around the beginning of the Yongle period, and was stopped and closed during the Wanli period, lasting more than two hundred years.
At its peak, the ironworks had 2,560 workers and craftsmen, with an annual iron production quota of 200,000 catties, and a peak of 300,000 catties, making it the largest ironworks in northern China during the Ming Dynasty.
Not only is there a large amount of iron ore in Zunhua, but there is also fluorite, a flux for iron smelting, produced at Shuimenkou, which provides the necessary raw materials for iron smelting.
There are three main reasons for the suspension of work: first, the organization is too complicated and the cost is too high; second, the excessive deforestation over the past century has led to a shortage of firewood and charcoal; third, the development of the iron smelting industry in other regions has provided more iron materials to the market.
Having discussed iron, let's move on to coal. Still located within the territory of Tangshan in later times, the Kaiping Zhongtunwei during the Ming Dynasty was located there. Based on its geographical location, Zhu Youxiao believed it belonged to the later, renowned Kailuan Coal Mine.
The mining of the Kaiping coalfield also flourished during the Ming Dynasty. From Kaiping to the foot of Changshan Mountain in the north of Zhaogezhuang, coal can be found just a dozen meters below the ground.
As a result, the number of coal miners increased day by day, and there were hundreds and thousands of small coal mines. Lights were lit day and night within dozens of miles, gathering coal miners from all over the country to make a living.
During his time as a garrison commander in Beijing, Yu Qian, a renowned official of the Ming Dynasty, traveled back and forth between Kaiping and Beijing. Seeing the coal mines stretching for dozens of miles and the hardships of the coal miners, he was deeply moved and left behind a poem titled "Ode to Coal":
"Black gold is found by chiseling away the chaos, and its hidden yang and warmth hold the deepest meaning. The fire of the hearth burns to bring back the spring, and the light of the oven breaks the darkness of the night. The tripods and vessels rely on the power of life, and even iron and stone retain a heart after death. I hope that all people will be well fed and warm, and will not hesitate to leave the mountains and forests."
Zhu Youxiao read the memorial submitted by Sun Yuanhua and was very satisfied with the plan and arrangement, which was basically in line with his ideas. He ordered the palace servants to fetch his suggestions and the imperial calligraphy "Tangshan Coal and Steel Joint Plant" that had been prepared long ago.
"I am very pleased that Minister Zhang knows the reason why the Zunhua Iron Smelter stopped working and has proposed a solution to promote benefits and eliminate disadvantages."
Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Tao with a warm smile and explained, "The purpose of reopening the joint factory this time is, first, to produce more steel for military use; second, to recruit workers and resettle the people; and third, to diversify operations, combining production with research to improve scientific and technological levels."
Zhang Tao bowed and took the documents and imperial calligraphy passed to him by the palace servant, then bowed to the emperor and said, "I understand. I will do my utmost to live up to your expectations."
Zhu Youxiao smiled and nodded, without further ado. "It was all written down in the document anyway, and Zhang Tao would do it himself." The Joint Factory would also send a small number of soldiers from Zunhua for security, which would be safer and more confidential.
Turning to Sun Yuanhua, Zhu Youxiao said slowly, "The production of the Eagle Cannon must be accelerated. Even if we temporarily halt the work on the Wansheng Cannon, we must ensure that the quantity can be delivered to the Liao and Dongjiang garrisons before the end of the year."
Sun Yuanhua quickly bowed and replied, "I have already ordered the Ordnance and Gunpowder Bureau to implement a three-shift system, and they are working day and night. Based on current production estimates, we can not only guarantee the required amount, but we will also exceed it."
"That's good. Thank you for your hard work, Sun Qing." Zhu Youxiao let out a long sigh and said, "When the river freezes over in winter, the Jiannu will probably start another war. Without sufficient weapons and equipment, how can we guarantee victory?"
Although they won the battles of Lushun Fort, Manpu and Changcheng, this would not prevent the Jiannu from launching a winter war, at least that was Zhu Youxiao's analysis and judgment.
Not only Ningyuan and Juehua, but also the occupied territories of Dongjiang Town and even the offshore islands are likely to be attacked.
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