Today's first update is delivered!

Zhang Zhun's days on Sado Island were mainly to learn about the production of gold and silver mines. Accompanied by Shen Kunshan, he spent five days visiting the main gold and silver mines on Sado Island. For the mining industry, it can be regarded as a relatively deep understanding.

The gold and silver of Sado Island are placed in the ground, and as long as you have the ability to dig it out, it will belong to you. The problem is that it is not easy to dig it out of the ground, and it is even more difficult to refine it into gold or silver.

The method of silver smelting adopted at that time was mainly the "soot blowing method". In silver ore, the silver content is generally very low, and it is very difficult to refine it directly. Since lead and silver are completely miscible and have a low melting point, lead was added to silver smelting in ancient times, so that silver was dissolved in lead and silver enrichment was realized. Then air is blown to oxidize the lead and into the furnace ash, so that the silver is separated.

The basic principle of sootblowing is the same, but when it is actually made, the effect may be very different, which involves a lot of details. A skilled silver smelter may extract three coins of silver from a certain amount of silver ore. But for a silver smelter, in the same amount of silver ore from the same origin, it may only be refined to about two coins of silver. Even, it is possible to only have a little more than a penny.

Aside from the factors of silver ore itself, these details are seriously related to the production of gold and silver. Don't look at the difference between three coins of silver and two coins of silver, the difference is very xiao, and over time, the amount is very large. Zhang Zhun calculated that if all the skilled workers could reach a high level, the monthly silver output of Sado Island could increase by at least 30%. Therefore, it is very important to encourage the progress of refining technology.

Zhang Zhun was on Sado Island, and he still practiced the same system as the Tiger Army. The technology will be rewarded. The usual production is also very strictly calculated according to the output. At the same time, each refining worker is able to extract a certain proportion from the fruits of his labor. These measures have greatly improved the labor motivation of skilled workers.

Frankly speaking, the current Zhang Zhun is very, very eager for money. What lead poisoning and mining safety are basically not considered. The only thing he needed was yellow gold and white silver. He unabashedly told Shen Kunshan that he must do his best to hollow out all the gold and silver on Sado Island as quickly as possible.

The Tiger Army has enough manpower and material resources to expand more armies and produce more warships. The only thing missing at the moment is sufficient financial resources. Most of the original financial resources of the Tiger Ben Army were obtained by looting. Now, with the expansion of the area controlled by the Tiger Army, basically, the areas with money have been controlled. In the areas that will be entered in the future, even if you want to grab it, you won't be able to grab much money.

At this point, it is very important to establish a stable and proper fiscal system. In addition to paying a tax of 40 catties per mu of land and vigorously encouraging the exhibition of industry and commerce, the Tiger Benjun had to consider how to plunder the silver taels from overseas.

For the time being, it is not possible to gather the wealth of the world through business. The only way to do this is violence. This violent means is to control the world's major gold and silver mines in their own hands.

In its heyday, Sado Island could dig 10 million taels of silver every year, and Zhang Zhun certainly couldn't let go of such a cash cow. If it weren't for the fact that it was a bit difficult to control Iwami Yinshan, Zhang Zhun would have to do something to Iwami Yinshan.

"More manpower is going to be put in!"

"More equipment to install!"

"Know more technology!"

At the end of the inspection, Zhang Zhun said solemnly to Shen Kunshan.

Regarding Shen Kunshan's current work attitude, Zhang Zhun is basically satisfied. In the first month of the eleventh year of Chongzhen, the gold output of Sado Island reached more than 3,400 taels; The output of silver reached more than 48,000 taels. If you exchange gold for silver, it will be close to 100,000 taels. This kind of mining amount is already quite good for the Tiger Ben Army, which has not been in control of Sado Island for a long time.

However, the situation faced by the Tiger Army is quite complex, the opponent is getting stronger and stronger, and the challenges are becoming more and more arduous. Therefore, it is necessary to let Sado Island play a greater role. Zhang Zhun hopes that in the next few years, the monthly gold and silver output of Sado Island will increase to about 200,000 taels.

In particular, the Dutchman's blocking made Zhang Zhun feel a lot of pressure. It is indeed too difficult to defeat a behemoth like the Dutch. The only way to defeat the Dutch is to have a fleet stronger than the Dutch. There is no other way. However, how easy is it for the Dutch, who want to be at the peak of the combat effectiveness of the fleet?

As the Tiger Army Navy continued to move south, the area of control continued to expand, and more and more information about the Dutch began to come into contact. From the captured sailors of the Zheng family's fleet, the Huben Army Navy, a lot of valuable information about the Dutch was obtained. The more intelligence you have access to, and the more you know about the Dutch, the more you will feel the strength of the Dutch fleet.

The number of warships aside, just a few giants of the Dutch East India Company, with a displacement of more than 1,500 tons, gave the Tiger Army Navy a headache. It must be known that at present, the largest warship owned by the Tiger Navy, with a displacement of only more than 600 tons, is not at the same level as the other party. What's more, in the Netherlands, there are also giants with a displacement of more than 2,000 tons. When necessary, they will also come to the East to help.

Every time he thought of a decisive battle with the Dutch, Zhang Zhun wished that he could sit on 100 million taels of silver overnight, and then transform it into a steady stream of warships. Money! Money! Money! Zhang Zhun is full of thoughts, it's all a money word!

……

When Zhang Zhun inspected the gold and silver production on Sado Island, the Japanese army did not launch a second attack. The Marines of the Tiger Army were vigilantly watching the coastline every day, closely monitoring the movements of the Japanese army. However, the Japanese army did not move. After Ryota Maeda retreated, there was no news for the time being. Originally, Ryuta Sato, who was the second echelon, had no news. All the Japanese troops seem to have died down and stopped moving.

However, it is certain that the Japanese army will definitely launch a second large-scale attack. For the strategic location of Sado Island, Treasure Island, the Japanese shogunate will definitely not give up easily. It is estimated that Ryota Maeda, who went back after eating a nose of ash, will not give up easily. Therefore, the marines of the Tiger Ben Army did not dare to take it lightly in the slightest. They prepared more flying thunder guns, more mines, to welcome the arrival of the second wave of the Japanese attack.

This time Zhang Zhun arrived, did not bring troops, but only brought enough black sè fire yao. With his arrival, they were all large merchant ships converted from three-masted gunboats, and each merchant ship had a transportation capacity of more than 400 tons. There are a total of ten large merchant ships, and the black sè fire yao alone has transported more than 1,000 tons, which is more than 2 million catties.

One of the advantages of the Tiger Ben Army's control of Liaodong was that all kinds of raw materials for the black sè fire yao could be supplied sufficiently. Charcoal, needless to say, is full of wood. Miscanthus can be effectively gathered by a large number of farmers. Sulphur, around Quang Ninh city, there are a considerable number of sulphur mines.

With enough black sè fire yao, Fang He and Liu Dong and them, they have the capital to squander. A big killing weapon like a flying thunder cannon naturally has to be made desperately. No matter how many Japanese soldiers arrived, thousands of fried yao bags were thrown out, which was enough for the Japanese army to drink a pot.

"My lord, there is urgent information."

Wang Junyu suddenly arrived and whispered in Zhang Zhun's ear.

"Say."

Zhang Zhun responded silently.

"My lord, the Dutch fleet appears in Hiroshima."

Wang Junyu said in a low voice.

Zhang Zhun's face changed slightly.

The fleet of the Dutch actually sailed to Hiroshima? What did they do in Hiroshima?

"Is the message exact?"

After a moment, Zhang Zhun asked in a deep voice.

"Exactly."

Wang Junyu said obscurely.

Zhang Zhun subconsciously looked at the map of Japan on the wall, and his face was a little unsightly. As the governor of the Tiger Army, Zhang Zhun has developed the ability to be happy and angry in front of his subordinates. When something big falls, he won't panic. This is one of the basic psychological qualities of a superior person.

However, the news reported by Wang Junyu did make Zhang Zhun's expression change a little. For no other reason, the consequences of this news are serious. If you want to go deeper, you will find that all aspects involved in this matter are even more headaches. This may also have a significant impact on the future strategy of the Tiger Army.

The Dutch fleet actually sailed to Hiroshima, which was indeed a troublesome thing. The Tiger Army bullied Japan, and the bullying was that the Japanese did not have a strong sea power, and the Tiger Army and Navy could enjoy them. The shelling of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the Toranon Navy was a clear attempt to bully the Japanese for not having a strong enough navy.

However, the arrival of the Dutch greatly made up for the shortcomings of the Japanese. Even, this short board has become a sharp blade, which may pose a threat to the Tiger Ben Navy. Zhang Zhun himself is very clear. The current Tiger Navy, which does not have any qualifications, is directly arguing with the Dutch. If the two sides really fight a decisive battle, most of the Huben army and navy will suffer.

Why did the Dutch collude with the Japanese? What is the reason for this? What makes the two hook up? Did the Japanese take the initiative, or did the Dutch take the initiative? This series of questions lingered repeatedly in Zhang Zhun's mind. These are all critical issues that must be clarified as soon as possible, especially the last one.

It would not be surprising if the Japanese took the initiative. I was beaten myself, and I didn't have the ability to fight back, so I naturally had to find a helper. On the seas of East Asia, the only ones who could help the Japanese were the Dutch. As long as the Japanese were willing to pay a large enough price, they could still bring in the Dutch. You pay, I help, it's that simple.

However, if the Dutch took the initiative, the situation behind it is more complicated. The shelling of Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the Tiger Army was at the end of last year. Today, that's three or four months. If the Japanese took the initiative to ask the Dutch for help, then the Dutchman's reaction was really positive! So quickly, the fleet was mobilized and stationed in Hiroshima.

The anomaly of the Dutch is here. It stands to reason that such an important matter must be decided by the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company. The seventeen shareholders of the Dutch East India Company are all big names in the Netherlands, and they are usually very busy, basically discussing major events only once a quarter.

The East India Company had to feed back the situation to the Netherlands, and only after the Netherlands made a decision could it be implemented. Between East Asia and the Atlantic, three or four months alone is not enough for the time spent at sea. For such a major decision, when it comes to the Netherlands, the shareholders must also negotiate. Such a major event cannot be decided at all without half a year or even a year.

Why was the Dutch so quick to react? This can only be illustrated by one point - the Dutch East India Company had plans against Japan for a long time. The Japanese approached Mén, and they immediately carried out the plan. It may even be the top management of the Dutch East India Company, but now that the situation in Japan is changing, they take the initiative to find Mén.

So, why did the Dutch take the initiative to come to the Japanese? What did the Dutch want to achieve? It is preliminarily estimated that the Dutch are so proactive that they are afraid that they will also intervene in the Japanese battlefield. Damn, I didn't come early, but it was a bit of a challenge to come at this time!

"Order Dolgon, investigate as soon as possible."

Zhang Zhun said in a deep voice.

"Understood!"

Wang Junyu agreed.

"Fang He!"

Zhang Zhun suddenly shouted again.

"Here!"

Fang He hurriedly arrived.

"Things were a bit of a problem, the Dutch and the Japanese hooked up."

Zhang Zhun said with a smile.

"Huh?"

Fang He's face suddenly changed slightly.

The strength of the Dutch navy made him feel a strong pressure. The key to the landing of the Tiger Army in Japan was the navy. At the end of the day, the Marines still rely on the Navy to fight. Only with a strong navy can a strong Marine Corps be born. The battle on Sado Island fully proved this, and the Tiger Army Navy completely overwhelmed the Japanese Navy, allowing the Marines to fight without any worries.

At the beginning, the Tiger Ben Navy gave the Japanese a little bit of shame in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, and the original purpose was to deter the Japanese and make the morale of the Japanese even lower. Now it seems that this kind of deterrence seems to be a bit excessive. The frightened Japanese shogunate rushed to find the Dutch.