After Yu Xinzhi and Chen Jia and others left, the craftsmen began a day's work, and the iron-smelting yard returned to its former busyness.

In the days that followed, Yu Xinzhi and Chen Jia really didn't come back to the iron-smelting field, and even some of the harassment that Zhang Song had before he arrived at the iron-smelting field was gone. Without the two of them, the efficiency of the ironworks has increased a lot, and the craftsmen feel more at ease than ever.

Zhang Song has led the iron-striking guy to optimize the process of iron smelting in the past few days, and has taken many safety measures in dangerous places to minimize the risk of iron smelting.

Zhang Song also renovated all the bellows, the speed of iron ore melting was more than doubled compared with before, and the steel output was nearly twice as much as before, and the iron smelting task assigned by Qingsong Valley could be easily completed.

The changes that Zhang Song brought to the iron-smelting field were real, and the two boulders that had been pressed on the hearts of the craftsmen, steel production and harassment, were removed, and the faces of the craftsmen gradually became vivid, and their words became much more lively.

Among them, the most significant change is the attitude of the craftsmen towards Zhang Song, the craftsmen's friendship with Zhang Song was seen in the face of the ironsmith, but now the craftsmen are sincerely satisfied with Zhang Song, and Zhang Song has become the leader of the ironworks.

Although the output of the iron-smelting yard has increased significantly, but at the request of Zhang Song, the craftsmen of the iron-smelting yard have unified the caliber and claimed that the steel output has doubled, while the rest is hidden.

The improvement of work efficiency makes it very easy to complete work tasks, and Zhang Song is free to do other things.

In the past few days, in addition to improving the bellows to increase steel production, Zhang Song asked the blacksmith to take a few craftsmen to build a furnace according to his own requirements.

After several revisions, several demolitions and reconstructions, the construction of the furnace is coming to an end today.

Zhang Song and the blacksmith went to the stove to make the final improvements. After careful inspection, Zhang Song and the iron man did not find any obvious omissions.

The stove in front of me is not very large, about two meters square. But the shape of the stove is very strange, it is enclosed on all sides, except for a large opening directly above it, which acts as a chimney, and there are some small pores around it. The furnace was full of coal, densely packed, this was the coal secretly hidden in the ironworks.

The craftsmen who built with Zhang Song were full of curiosity about the stove in front of them, but out of trust in Zhang Song, they didn't ask much.

"Engong, it should be like this, we have fulfilled the requirements you mentioned." The iron guy said to Zhang Song with a smile.

"Hmm." Zhang Song was very happy, "It's been hard work for everyone these days. ”

"It's hard work, thanks to the blessings of Duke Thorn, these days are the happiest days since we arrived at the ironworks." The iron guy said, "It's just, Engong, what's the use of you repairing this furnace?" ”

After listening to the iron man's words, several other craftsmen also looked at Zhang Song curiously, waiting for his answer.

"This is called a coke oven, and it is used for coking." Zhang Song groaned for a while, but still told the iron guy truthfully about them.

"Coke ovens? Coking? "It's not just the other craftsmen, but the blacksmith is also confused.

Zhang Song did not explain, although the craftsmen of the ironworks are currently of the same mind as him, but there are many people who are mixed and know, it is inevitable that there will be a situation of leaking their mouths, which will bring unnecessary trouble to themselves.

If you have learned the knowledge of modern steelmaking, you will immediately understand that coke is used to make steel.

After knowing that there was an iron smelting yard in Qingsong Valley, Zhang Song made up his mind that if he had the opportunity, he would find a way to improve the quality of steel.

Under the circumstance that iron tools have not yet been fully popularized, the advanced iron-smelting industry, especially the smelting of high-quality iron and steel, means the improvement of social productive forces, and even more advanced weapons, which further means the enhancement of the strength of the army and the attainment of a dominant position in war.

Zhang Song was a liberal arts student in his previous life, and some of his limited high school physics and chemistry knowledge was almost forgotten after work, and the only thing he still remembered clearly was the basic steelmaking knowledge of modern iron and steel enterprises, even this knowledge was re-learned in a lawsuit.

Zhang Song remembers very well that coke is an indispensable substance to smelt high-quality steel, and if there is no coke, it will take a lot of effort to smelt good steel.

However, Zhang Song is not particularly clear about how coke is refined, only that coal is formed in a closed environment at high temperatures.

Fortunately, Zhang Song didn't plan to refine coke soon, as long as he could refine it after he captured the Green Pine Valley, before that, Zhang Song didn't want anyone to know that he had a way to make good steel.

Of course, coking also had to start experiments, so Zhang Song asked the blacksmith to lead several craftsmen to build a coke oven according to his own requirements in the past few days.

"Seal the stove and light the fire!" Zhang Song said to the iron guy standing aside.

"Okay, Eun Gong." The iron guy agreed, and at the same time lit the stove under the guidance of Zhang Song.

Due to unskill, it took half a day to finally set the stove on fire.

Zhang Song looked at the burning fire, his heart was much more relaxed, everything that should be done had been done, as for the result, he could only know in a few days.

"Engong, if you burn like this, won't all the coal be burned? Isn't this a waste? Although the iron guy did everything in strict accordance with Zhang Song's requirements, he couldn't help but ask when he looked at the vigorous fire.

"No, it won't." Zhang Song was not disgusted by the iron-striker's questioning, on the contrary, he was very happy that the iron-striker could raise the question, because he had the intention of cultivating the iron-striker to become his own iron-smelting family.

"Won't?" The iron guy was a little puzzled, "But obviously the coal will be burned into ashes?" ”

Zhang Song did not answer the question of the iron man, he said to the other craftsmen: "You go back to rest first, there is only one iron man here." ”

The other craftsmen said yes and turned to leave.

After the other craftsmen walked away, Zhang Song lowered his voice and said to the iron striker: "Coal is in a closed environment, and the high temperature will cause it to produce another substance, that is, coke. ”

Seeing that the iron man was still a little puzzled, Zhang Song then explained: "When coke is burned, it can produce a much higher temperature than ordinary furnace fire. ”

Hearing this, the iron-striking guy suddenly came to his senses and exclaimed, "Coke is a better iron-smelting fuel than coal!" ”

Zhang Song smiled and nodded, stretched out his hand and patted the stunned iron guy, but did not speak.

"Zhang Jun, you can make it easy for us to find!"

Zhang Song looked up, and it turned out that Zhong Lei and Fang Tao were coming here.

"Long time no see, Zhong Jun, Fang Jun, it's always been good!"

Zhang Song greeted him with a laugh.

Before leaving, Zhang Song whispered to the iron beater: "Take care of the furnace according to my requirements, and pay attention to confidentiality!" ”

After the ironman agreed, Zhang Song took Zhong Lei and Fang Tao to the shed of the iron-smelting yard.

In the past few days, under the guidance of Zhang Song, the craftsmen have added a simple table to the shed, plus a few tree stumps, and also added a teapot and a few wooden bowls.

Zhang Song, Zhong Lei and Fang Tao sat down as the guest of honor.

"Well, no one has come to make trouble in the past few days, right?" Zhong Lei asked.

"It's all thanks to the help of the two of you, and this time is a lot more stable, and no one comes to make trouble." Zhang Song smiled and thanked the two.

"Hey, don't be so polite between us, besides, we didn't help much, it's all your own idea." Fang Tao waved his hand and said, "Only Zhang Jun can force Yu Xinzhi and Chen Jia to be helpless in a disadvantaged situation." ”

"yes. You don't know, Yu Xinzhi left here that day, but he roared in the room all day, and it is said that several of his treasured utensils were beaten, and many of his followers were angry and beaten. Zhong Lei said excitedly, his tone full of admiration.

Zhang Song smiled, took a sip of tea, and did not speak.

"It's just one thing, you are still valuable to Zhou Mingshu at present, and he can protect you well for the time being, once you lose your value, as long as you are still in Qingsong Valley, Yu Xinzhi and Chen Jia will probably not let you go." Fang Tao was happy but faintly worried.

"Don't worry, there must be a road before the car reaches the mountain!" Zhang Song thought in his heart, when the time comes, Qingsong Valley should have changed hands.

Looking at Zhong Lei and Fang Tao's surprised looks, Zhang Song's heart moved, and said, "It's Zhong Jun and Fang Jun, Chen Jia knows that you two are delivering news for me, so you didn't embarrass you, right?" ”

Zhong Lei said contemptuously: "Just him, dare?" ”

Zhang Song was stunned for a moment and asked, "Isn't he the boss of the two of you?" ”

"It's our boss, but he only recently became our boss, and our subordinates have always been our subordinates! There is no way he can change that! Fang Tao replied, "What's more, we have long seen that Yu Xinzhi and Chen Jia are not pleasing to the eye." ”

After Fang Tao finished speaking, he stared at Zhang Song with Zhong Lei.

"In the Green Pine Valley, I have the same interests as Zhong Jun and Fang Jun, and I don't like the others." Zhang Song met the eyes of Zhong Lei and Fang Tao and said unhurriedly.

When Zhong Lei and Fang Tao heard this, their eyes lit up suddenly, and they were about to say something.

"Zhong Jun, Fang Jun, Zhou Mingshu and Zhou Jun have an order, let you go to the council hall immediately to discuss matters."

An entourage ran panting from the road, and said loudly to Zhong Lei and Fang Tao before he could run to him.

"What's the matter, so urgent?" Zhong Lei asked.

"I heard that it is a matter of resisting the Flying Dragon Thieves, the situation is urgent, let the two of you go immediately!" The attendant said anxiously.

"Zhang Jun, it seems that we have to talk about it later, I'm sorry!" Zhong Lei said to Zhang Song.

"Zhong Jun, Fang Jun, it's okay for you to go!"

Zhong Lei and Fang Tao saluted and said goodbye to Zhang Song, and Zhang Song saw the two leave.