Just when Feng Yunshan and the cabinet members were talking about the upcoming second industrial revolution and the revitalization of the empire's industry, Zeng Yuheng hurried to the Royal Academy of Sciences.

"Your Majesty, Weichen has an urgent report!" Zeng Yuheng's face was full of exhaustion, he dared to rush back to Shengjing from Zhili, although he did not take a horse by boat and arrived at Shengjing by train, but he was still tired in a hurry, however, thinking of the urgency of the matter, he struggled to support it, and after arriving at Shengjing and getting off the train, he immediately inquired and went straight to the Royal Academy of Sciences to find the emperor.

Feng Yunshan saw that it was Zeng Yuheng and said, "Shouldn't Zeng Aiqing be in Fengtian Mansion?" What's the big deal with to rush back to Shengjing in such a hurry? ”

"Your Majesty, Weichen was very happy to hear that the imperial court was going to carry out a large-scale steel-making campaign in Zhili Province. However, after carefully reading the resolution, I found that this great steelmaking was to abandon all other industries and ignore all the other industries, and threw all the people on steel, so I was afraid that it would cause a disaster, so I hurried back and reacted to His Majesty. At the same time, Weichen also has good news to report to His Majesty and the court! Zeng Yuheng said eagerly.

After listening to Zeng Yuheng's words, Vice Premier Li Hongzhang blushed, you must know that this large-scale steel-making movement was mainly carried out by him, and after some judgment by the emperor, this matter has been determined as a decision-making error, and finally the matter has been settled, and now it has been brought up again, which is very embarrassing.

The other cabinet members, with the exception of Luo Zenan, were also a little ashamed.

Feng Yunshan said: "Zeng Aiqing don't worry, I have already made arrangements!" Although the imperial court will continue to promote the large-scale steel smelting movement, it will not carry out the original purpose of everything for steel, but will implement the new steel policy in all provinces and localities. As for this new iron and steel deal, it is no longer a swarm of small blast furnaces for iron smelting, but from the policy support of the imperial court, the development of iron and steel smelting technology, financial and tax support, the cultivation of iron and steel talents, and the advantages of raw material origins, etc., select key iron mines or ports to concentrate on the development of the iron and steel industry, and take the road of refinement, large and centralized!

By the way, Aiqing said just now that there is good news, what is the good news, let's hear it. ”

After listening to the emperor's words, Zeng Yuheng was stunned, and only came back to his senses after half a ring, and said with great joy: "Your Majesty Shengming!" On the way back to Shengjing, Weichen just knew that he couldn't engage in large-scale steel smelting for the whole people, but he had a headache and didn't know how to do a good job in the steel industry. Wechen just thought of concentrating on the land of iron ore to build a steel plant, but he didn't think so comprehensively and properly like His Majesty!

His Majesty's strategy for the development of steel is really good. The strong support of technology, talents, and policies, coupled with the vast land and resources of our Chinese Empire, have found major iron ore everywhere, and resources are not a problem, and Your Majesty is such a wise emperor to guide us, there are such good conditions, the empire has developed into the first steel power, just around the corner! ”

Zeng Yuheng was really not a sycophant, he was so excited that he forgot the emperor's question, so much so that he didn't even answer the good news he just said.

Until Zhou Shengkun next to him couldn't help but remind him: "Lord Zeng, you haven't answered what good things Your Majesty has." ”

Zeng Yuheng reacted at this time, and hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty forgives me, Weichen is too excited." This time to go to Zhili, it is indeed a great thing!

In Luanzhou, Yongping Prefecture, Zhili, a huge shallow rich iron ore was discovered, which the locals called Sijiaying Iron Mine. The iron ore mine is divided into two major mining areas, north and south, with a length of tens of miles. According to the on-site investigation of the survey technicians of the Ministry of Public Works and the Public Works Department of Zhili in the early stage, it is estimated that the resource reserves in the south mining area are more than 200 million tons, and the iron ore resource reserves in the north area are more than 150 million tons.

Today, Tan Tingxiang, the governor of Zhili, has established an iron mine and an iron-making plant in the local area, called the Zhili Iron Works. The iron ore will be able to mine about 300,000 tons of iron ore this year, and 100,000 tons of pig iron can be smelted. ”

When Feng Yunshan heard this, he was overjoyed and said, "Not bad! For such a large iron ore, the key is to be able to mine it in the open pit. Nowadays, the most important thing for us is that the mining of iron ore should be convenient, followed by the convenience of transportation. As I mentioned, there's also an iron mill in the area, right? ”

"Yes, Your Majesty! However, according to Wechen's understanding, the smelting scale of the local iron plant is insufficient, and it has not been well planned, resulting in only pig iron smelting! Zeng Yuheng replied: "Your Majesty, because the iron ore conditions here are too superior, and there is a large coal mine nearby, and it is not far from the Luanhe River, Weichen suggested that the Zhili Iron Works established locally funded by the imperial court should expand a large iron and steel plant, which can be jointly established with Zhili Province." At the same time, we will increase the mining efforts to speed up the Sijiaying iron ore, standardize and protect the mining, and after reasonable planning, in this way, this Zhili Iron and Steel Plant should be able to produce about 150,000 tons of iron per year, just 20,000 tons! ”

In addition, when Weichen was about to return to Shengjing from Zhili, he also received detailed news from Fengtianfu. In Liaoyang Prefecture, Fengtian Prefecture, Shengjing, next to a post station called Anshan Station, a large reserve of iron ore has also been discovered, and the local local government has organized mining. After careful investigation by the iron ore exploration personnel of the Ministry of Public Works and local mining personnel, it is preliminarily estimated that the iron ore here is a super-large iron ore with reserves of more than 1 billion tons. It's just that the grade of iron ore is not too high, but it can also be smelted, the key is that the reserves are very huge, and the burial depth is very shallow, and it can also be directly mined in the open pit, and almost after digging the surface soil layer, it is iron ore. ”

Feng Yunshan was shocked inexplicably: "What!?" Anshan Station? Are you sure that place is called Anshan Station? ”

Zeng Yuheng thought that he had said something wrong, but Li Hongzhang next to him had already checked the map when he heard Zeng Yuheng talk about Liaoyang Prefecture in Fengtian Mansion at the beginning, and hurriedly answered the emperor's doubts at this moment, and said: "Your Majesty, there is indeed a post station in Liaoyang Prefecture of Fengtian Prefecture, which was originally an official road of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and now it has been expanded into a concrete official road of the empire. ”

"I see! Anshan Iron Mine, later, this big iron mine was named Anshan Iron Mine! Feng Yunshan said a little excitedly: "Great! With such a huge reserve of super iron ore, the empire's steel industry hardly has to worry anymore! ”

After speaking, Feng Yunshan turned his head to look at Li Hongzhang and said: "Li Aiqing, you are so anxious to develop the steel industry, and even do not hesitate to mobilize all your labor to engage in large-scale steel smelting, now that you have this large iron mine, you can rest assured." I dare to conclude that the iron ore mined in this place is almost equal to the output of the large-scale steel smelting in the ten or so provinces of the entire empire.

I don't have to say, Zeng Aiqing, I forgot to tell you, the imperial court is preparing to establish a new Ministry of Minerals and Metallurgy, and I intend to transfer you to the minister, and transfer the original functions and personnel of the Ministry of Works in minerals and metallurgy. This Anshan iron mine must be built immediately, and the railway line must be built as soon as possible to improve the traffic here. Pick a centralized site and plan to build a large steel company here. I am going to build this Anshan Post into an Anshan Iron and Steel City that is famous throughout the empire.

Zeng Aiqing, the two pieces of news you brought are indeed great joy! In this way, I am already half assured about the development of the empire's steel industry! Now, the main focus of steel is on how to make more steel, especially the conversion of molten iron into steel. It is no longer possible to simply rely on pig iron as production, but to increase the production of steel, at least so that the railways to be built by the empire in the near future will no longer lack rails! ”