Chapter 48: Continuous Mines (Part 2) Update
The system's notification sounded, a full six hundred points!
It feels so good to have my health restored.
However, she was a little confused. Even if the reserves of this iron mine were only medium, wouldn't 600 points be too little?
It seems the system means that she has only discovered the mineral deposits, and has not yet been able to conduct surveys, mining, or subsequent smelting and machinery manufacturing, so she was only given a preliminary settlement of part?
"System, explain."
After many days, Liu Ziye took the initiative to put the system online for the first time.
"Host, long time no see!"
The system's obviously excited and enthusiastic voice appeared quickly in the next moment.
"Congratulations, host, on achieving another remarkable and outstanding achievement! The discovery of the iron ore mine will be a crucial step in your imperial achievements! I have led many hosts..."
"Okay, stop it. I don't need your flattery." Liu Ziye said mercilessly.
She continued, "My question is, if the iron ore mine is so important, why is it only 600 points?"
"Um...it's like this, host. The iron mine has only been discovered at this point, and no excavation or utilization has yet taken place. The subsequent merit points it generates will depend on how well and how you utilize the mine's resources. Furthermore, another important point is that you currently lack the authority to properly develop the iron mine, which will significantly reduce the effectiveness of all your actions."
"Okay, I understand. You can leave now."
"Um...I'll take my leave."
Liu Ziye stood up and followed the traces of minerals at the bottom of the vegetation, and walked one mile in each of the four directions: east, west, south and north.
Wherever he went, he used his dagger to scratch the surface of the rock, observing the color of the ore inside and the depth of the scratch. Aside from the darker magnetite in the east, the other three directions were mostly red iron ore.
She had a rough idea of the proportions of the mine's mineral reserves.
To develop and utilize this mine, the first step is to conduct a comprehensive geological survey of the mine, and formulate a detailed mining plan based on the terrain, as well as their existing manpower, tools and other conditions.
After the exploration and preliminary design are completed, the entire process of mining, mineral processing and smelting will begin.
The primary purpose of accompanying her this time was to cross the uninhabited area that no one had ever been to, and arrive here to confirm the existence of the iron ore deposits. Therefore, they were mainly private guards of the Marquis' Mansion, and no professional iron ore processing personnel had been arranged for the time being.
Over the past spring, she has been studying the set of "Complete Book of Mining and Metallurgy" that she exchanged from the system every day. She often finds excuses to go to Fu's blacksmith workshop and the blacksmith workshop that she asked Mr. Du to build in the corner of the back garden of the Marquis' Mansion, combining it with the actual process of smelting and ironmaking to digest the knowledge in the book.
So at this moment she believed that in the entire Great Zhou, there would be no one else who knew better how to do this entire process of surveying, mining, mineral processing and smelting.
No one else will be able to design a better plan to make full use of the resources of this mine.
After she made some preliminary explorations, she already had an idea of what to do next.
The place to camp is currently very good. It is not far from here and is convenient for observing the environment on the south side of the mine.
From then on, you will have to go in and out of this mining area frequently every day.
The first priority is to develop mountain roads to facilitate the entry and exit of people and goods.
She chose a flat stone and sat down.
Then he took out paper and charcoal and began to sketch the first two or three paths, centered around his own location. Xiying stayed at the camp, and Jin Jie stayed two or three steps behind Liu Ziye the entire time, just in case anything unexpected happened in the wild forest.
When Liu Ziye had almost finished his planning, he waved to Jin Jie to come over and take a look.
Jin Jie immediately squatted down and looked at her paper at a height almost the same as Liu Ziye's hair-binding jade crown.
Liu Ziye pointed to the center of the map. "This is our location. From here, head south along the path we took into the mountains. We'll clear the vegetation along the way and initially level the ground. We need to get from our camp to here, and first pave a road that can accommodate wheeled vehicles."
It's just some physical work, not difficult at all.
Jin Jie nodded immediately: "Okay."
Liu Ziye then slid her finger along the center point where the two were, heading westward towards the area away from the magnetite deposits, until she arrived at a place she had just surveyed where the ground was looser and had a higher soil content.
She said, "We'll set up another camp here, but it won't be primarily for living. We'll build a blast furnace there, and it'll serve as the first site for smelting the ore. The blast furnace will be the same model as the one we've just built in our mansion. We'll also need to level the ground and create passageways leading to all four sides of this area."
The site of this smelter is only temporary, and according to Liu Ziye's plan, it will not be a formal large-scale smelter.
It was just first developed and built as her initial smelting test laboratory and smelting process teaching center.
Jin Jie looked at the map. He had been to this place with Liu Ziye just now. He reviewed the terrain and ground vegetation in this area and found no problem, so he nodded immediately.
"Okay, that's all for now!"
Liu Ziye handed the drawing to Jin Jie and stood up from the stone.
Her emotions were high, her mind racing with thoughts about the mine's planning and potential utilization. She was so absorbed in her own world that she didn't notice the strange state she was in.
Jin Jie didn't know how to describe it.
It's not like he hasn't seen people being ambitious before, nor has he seen some people being overwhelmed with surprise when they first see huge amounts of gold and silver.
However, Liu Ziye gave him a different feeling.
She looked focused and enthusiastic.
She was obviously equally ambitious and planning something big.
However, she had no ambition to conquer or enslave others, or to establish power. She seemed simply happy for the future she had planned. At the same time, she maintained a deep calm. When faced with sudden wealth, she remained calm and methodically planned her mining plan step by step.
Next, they will be stationed here for a long time. The person sent back to Yucheng Hou Mansion to deliver a letter to Mr. Du has already set off. Du Hui knows clearly how to arrange the subsequent replenishment of manpower, supplies, tools, etc.
The weeds in the mountain forests that had been unvisited for many years were cleared bit by bit, and the smoke from the burning mugwort dissipated in the forest, driving away the original inhabitants of this place - all kinds of hidden snakes, insects, ants and beasts.
The mountains in this area were mostly made of stone. Besides the hematite and magnetite they had learned to identify, there was also a large amount of ordinary stone. These stones were pried apart one by one with axes and chisels, becoming the main material for building smelters and paving roads.
Liu Ziye was accompanied by either Xiying or Jin Jie throughout the journey, crossing mountains and crossing countries, and trekking through almost all human-accessible places in the entire mountainous area.
It is difficult to find the existence of minerals on the surface of some ground. Liu Ziye continued to use the magnetic compass he carried with him to confirm the depth of the underground mineral deposits by the rotation amplitude of the pointer.
She recorded the entire detection process in detail and made annotations on the drawings.
The mineral survey drawing was gradually filled with her drawings and identification symbols, and Liu Ziye's inner sense of fulfillment grew day by day.
Based on her preliminary survey, the iron ore reserves here should not be underestimated.
·
On the other side, there is a salt lake outside the pine forest on the north bank of Yansai Lake.
At this time, another wave of people gathered on the shore of the salt lake.
There are no less than a hundred people in total, busy building a camp and setting up a brine workshop on the gravel ground beside the lake.
Wang Yanpeng, the governor of Xiguan, and Gu Liangzhi, the private army leader from last time, were among this group of people, acting as commanders and mediators.
After the confrontation with the young marquis of Xiguan that day, Wang Yanpeng and Gu Liangzhi returned and discussed with each other, and then sent a secret letter to Yanjing for instructions.
To their surprise, less than twenty days after their secret letter was sent, they received the latest instructions from the Prince of Yanjing.
The letter said that the prince had already informed the young marquis of Xiguan, telling them not to hide their tracks if they met him, and that he had sent another team of salt workers and craftsmen to support them, and asked the other people to take advantage of the situation on the spot to ensure that the matter was not leaked.
Upon receiving the letter, Wang Yanpeng asked Gu Liangzhi in surprise, "Your Highness...it's obvious that you've already decided to inform the young Marquis of Xiguan about this matter."
Gu Liangzhi also found it strange. After all, they had just entered Xiguan County and had been hiding their tracks while exploring for mineral veins. They had been deliberately avoiding the issue and did not dare to disclose it to anyone else.
He thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps the young Marquis of Xiguan has already discovered our whereabouts, even before our first encounter at the Salt Lake... and guessed our identities at that time, and immediately contacted the Crown Prince."
Wang Yanpeng's expression shuddered. "We'd already revealed our whereabouts at that moment? But how did this young Marquis of Xiguan know in advance that we were related to the Crown Prince?"
Gu Liangzhi couldn't figure out the reason and shook his head.
But he quickly said with certainty: "Although I don't know the specific reason, there must be an expert in the Xiguan Marquis Mansion."
Wang Yanpeng, after all, was from the prominent Wang family of Fanyang and had served in officialdom for many years. He calmly analyzed the situation and said, "Although the young Marquis of Xiguan is down and out and the Emperor dislikes him greatly, Your Highness hasn't risked completely silencing this young Marquis, also a direct descendant of the Holy Ancestor, just for the sake of Xiguan County's undiscovered mineral deposits and vein reserves. Since he can't silence him, he might as well make him an accomplice and alleviate their concerns. However, judging by the Crown Prince's decree, there's no arrangement for the young Marquis of Xiguan to participate in the salt lake mining and receive a share of the profits. Presumably, the young Marquis of Xiguan is using this as a bargaining chip to gain some other benefits from Your Highness."
Gu Liangzhi agreed, "That's right. The young Marquis of Xiguan deserves to be a marquis, but he has no fiefdom and no title. He is forced to do business with others for a living. If there is an opportunity to make some money like this, he will definitely not let it go!"
"In that case, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has already made arrangements to remove the young marquis's hindrance for us. Now, it's time for you and me to show our skills!"
When Wang Yanpeng thought of the endless, snow-white salt lake, he seemed to see his future career as an official.
Gu Liangzhi was also in a good mood, as he was spared a lot of restrictions.
Not to mention whether there are other abundant mineral resources in Xiguan County, this salt lake alone is enough for him to add luster to his resume!
Who says that the Western Frontier is a desolate, barren and dilapidated place?
Ask him to come and see, it is truly a place of splendor and treasures!
Open a salt mine and create a bright future!
At the same time, in the Xiguan Marquis Mansion, Du Hui received a private letter from the Prince of Yanjing.
In the letter, the prince briefly inquired about the daily life of the young Marquis of Xiguan after he was punished by his father.
Finally, he said, "You and I are blood relatives, but Father has also taught you with great care, and as your elder brother, I cannot be overly protective of you. However, I am well aware of your current difficulties in life, so I have asked Father for permission, and he has granted you the marquisate you requested. It is within the boundaries of Xiguan County, and an imperial decree from Yanjing will arrive in Xiguan soon."
And I hope he will control himself and reform himself, and look forward to meeting him in Yanjing one day.
After reading it, Du Hui was refreshed.
——Done!
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