"In addition, after the technical improvement of gunpowder, it can also be used in Hongwu iron cannons." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Let the Gunpowder Bureau configure a large number of new black powders." Let's look at the ratio of the two gunpowder formulas just now, the amount of saltpeter increases, and the amount of sulfur and charcoal decreases. In terms of material mining, there should be a new emphasis and increase the intensity of saltpeter mining in the country. ”

"Yes!" Shan Anren said, "But the emperor, if you make three thousand divine machine guns, the amount of iron will be greatly increased." ”

"If the official metallurgy is not enough, it will be purchased from the Minye." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

During the Ming Dynasty, private smelting was not prohibited, and there were not only official smelting but also private smelters.

As a result, the iron in the official possession is not sufficient, and the people have a large amount of iron.

"Now we are making 3,000 magic machine guns, and we will make more tens of thousands or even 100,000 in the future, so we need more iron. Therefore, we will issue an order and call on the whole people to make iron on a large scale. Zhu Yuanzhang said, "In addition, the mining of iron ore should also be increased." ”

"Alright, you can go down and do it first."

At this time, he frowned, if the Ministry of Industry purchased iron on a large scale, then in a short period of time, the iron of the people may not be enough.

There are more than 200 iron ores discovered in Daming, which is not a few.

However, although many pits have been discovered, the intensity of mining is very small, and the amount of iron used in ancient times is much lower than in modern times.

Therefore, increasing the mining of iron ore is the top priority.

"Wechen retired." Shan Anren said.

"Wait." Shan Anren was about to leave, but Zhu Biao stopped him.

"Is there anything else going on with Biao'er?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

……

"Mr. Qin also taught Erchen the method of blast furnace ironmaking." Zhu Biaodao, "The use of blast furnace ironmaking is much more advanced than the traditional shaft furnace ironmaking. Not only can more pig iron be smelted, but it is also purer and more efficient. ”

After speaking, he took out an album: "This is Erchen's class record." ”

Mr. Qin also taught more advanced iron-making methods!? Zhu Yuanzhang was even more pleasantly surprised when he heard it, not only teaching him to improve the fire gun, but also changing it to a more powerful magic machine gun, and also teaching him to smelt iron, which was simply a nanny-style service.

Together with Shan Anren, the two hurriedly opened Zhu Biao's class records.

I was stunned when I saw it: this blast furnace for iron-making is actually seventy meters!

That is, more than 20 zhang!

"It's a behemoth! How many catties of iron can be practiced in a day in this furnace!? Zhu Yuanzhang asked with his mouth wide open.

"It's very difficult to build such a blast furnace." Shan Anren came over and said in shock after seeing it. "With such a large furnace space, I'm afraid that the amount of iron produced in one day will catch up with the amount of iron produced in a year in the Ming Dynasty."

"We Daming, do we have so much iron ore? Is there so much fuel? Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Mr. Qin said that the blast furnace with a height of 24 zhang has a daily output of more than 10,000 tons, that is, 20 million catties of iron!" Zhu Biaodao.

"Twenty million pounds of iron!?" Zhu Yuanzhang and Shan Anren were stunned when they heard this, "I don't have so much iron in Daming, it is estimated that even if I add all the iron of the people, it is not as much iron as the blast furnace in a day, right?" ”

"Such a large blast furnace, with the current iron ore mining capacity of my Ming Dynasty, is not worthy of it."

"Yes, I can't afford it." Shan Anren said.

"At that time, Erchen also asked this question, whether the blast furnace used for ironmaking can be made smaller." Zhu Biao said, "Mr. Qin said that it is okay to change it to a small size, but it can't be too small, if the space in the furnace is too small, the iron practiced is not pure." ”

"In other words, the bigger the blast furnace ironmaking, the bigger the better. And once the ignition is smelted, it can't be stopped, because once stopped, the cost is too great. ”

"And you have to make iron every day and night?" The two were stunned, they didn't dare to imagine what kind of number the amount of iron smelted in the blast furnace of twenty-four zhang was smelted day and night every day.

Previously, they all felt that Daming had more than 200 iron mines, which were completely sufficient, and there was even a surplus.

But from the current point of view, if it is smelted in a blast furnace of 24 zhang, it is estimated that 200 iron ore will not last long.

"Mr. Qin didn't say anything, how big does the smallest blast furnace need to be?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

"Five zhang high, no matter how small it is, it won't work." Zhu Biaodao.

"The five-zhang blast furnace is also a behemoth to us! Whether it is to build, or to heat it is a difficult thing. Shan Anren sighed.

"No matter how big the difficulty is, we have to overcome it, and everything is done according to the more advanced blast furnace standards taught by Mr. Qin." Zhu Yuanzhang said, "After all, as long as Mr. Qin teaches it, it is all god-like knowledge, and there has never been a mistake." ”

"In addition, Mr. Qin said......," Zhu Biao said, "pig iron is too brittle because of its high carbon content." As soon as the pig iron comes out of the blast furnace, it must be sent to the steel mill to make steel. ”

"The so-called 100 refining into steel is the process of craftsmen in ancient times beating out the carbon in pig iron."

"Steel is harder than iron and is used in more places, and pig iron with too much carbon content is too small to use."

"Steel is a harder metal than iron, and if you can control the carbon between 0.6% and 2.0%, you can use it to make guns, and such steel, no matter how powerful the gunpowder is, will not explode." Zhu Biaodao popularized knowledge to the two,

"You haven't studied Mr. Qin's course, you may not understand the percentage, 0.6% is only six out of a thousand, and 2.0% is only two out of a hundred."

"As for the technology of steelmaking, the technology of decarbonization is recorded in the book. Erchen didn't understand much at that time, and if he had a specialization in the art industry, he would leave it to the craftsmen of the Ordnance Bureau to study. ”

"Good!" Shan Anren said.

"You built the blast furnace of steelmaking next to the blast furnace of ironmaking, so that it would be easy to transport." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Obey the order!" After Shan Anren finished speaking, he retreated.

"Whew!" After seeing Shan Anren leave, Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long breath, as if he had just recovered from a huge surprise, "Today, we are so happy!" ”

"Such a powerful firearm, coupled with iron-making and steel-making technology, is completely enough to change the national fortunes of my Ming Dynasty!"

"It's a complete change!"

"Father is absolutely right." Zhu Biao also said with some excitement, "Therefore, when the ministers listened to Mr. Qin's lecture, they didn't dare to be distracted at all, not only recorded all the graphics he drawn, but even every word he said was afraid of missing it." ”

"You're doing the right thing!" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "These skills are too important to my Daming. ”

"What I said before about the Ming Dynasty as a rooster pattern, and the occupation of Yingzhou Xiandao can change the fortunes of the country, etc., are all illusory. And this time, it is the process that really changed the fortunes of my Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang said, "Steel and technology change the fortunes of the country, far more reliable than the miraculous change of the fortunes of the country." ”