Chapter 44 Steel Cement

"Of course go, prepare your horse." Xiao Ming shouted loudly when he regained his senses.

Graphite mines have been found, and limestone mines have also been found. Although the mines have not yet been established to form systematic production, it is still possible to mine some in advance.

However, only a part of it was mined, and Xiao Ming also spent a lot of money. The people who mined and transported it back and forth needed to give money.

That's why Xiao Ming is so urgent to cooperate with Liang Dahai this time. As long as there are a large number of slaves, mines, and workshops can there be enough manpower, and then he will select some young adults from the slaves to transmit various technologies, and gradually build Qingzhou's industrial base.

One master and one servant, the two went out of the Qi Wang Mansion to the Equipment Department. Now Xiao Ming went to the Governor's Mansion to supervise the implementation of various decrees. The most important thing is to go to the Equipment Department.

In the equipment department, Chen Qi is correcting the production of the crucible steelmaking line. The technology is available, but there will be deviations in the specific production practice.

During this period of time, Xiao Ming focused on cultivating Chen Qi, and Chen Qi got the most from the technology transmission in this technology spar.

While other craftsmen often master a specific technical step, they cannot fully grasp the entire process. The reason Xiao Ming does this is very simple, to prevent the leakage of the craftsman's technology.

Ten people mastering ten parts of a set of technology is more secure than ten people mastering all technical processes.

Moreover, the equipment department has also formulated strict technical confidentiality measures. If one person leaks the secret, the craftsman on a production line will be punished.

In Dayu, the craftsmen belonged to the lowly households and had a very low status. In order to prevent the craftsmen from making weapons privately, the household registration of these craftsmen was separately made into the craftsman's registration, which was under the supervision of the government.

Controlling these people entering and leaving Qingzhou is a very simple matter.

"Your Highness, these are limestones." There was a pile of gray-white stones stacked in the backyard of the Equipment Division, and these were limestones.

In contemporary times, limestone is not only a necessity for producing cement, but also a necessary solvent in blast furnace ironmaking. Limestone can effectively remove sulfur and silicon impurities, improve the quality of iron, and prevent the subsequent refining of steel from becoming brittle.

Xiao Ming went over to take a look. These limestones were piled up into a two-meter-high hill. The limestones were also relatively large and of good quality.

Two blast furnaces are working at the same time. Four workers take turns using blowers to blow the blast furnaces. Some craftsmen pour iron ore, coke and limestone blocks into the blast furnaces.

The red molten iron flows from one blast furnace to another, and finally the wrought iron flows into crucibles that are supposed to be on a one-meter-high rack. When one crucible is full, the other crucible will be replaced by another crucible.

This efficiency is still 108,000 miles away from modern times, but compared to the previous method of pouring steel, this is already mass production.

And high-quality molten steel will be used by different craftsmen to make farming tools, machine tool parts, and coal ball furnaces.

Chen Qi was instructing the workers to collect the slag, which Xiao Ming taught him.

Seeing Xiao Ming observing the steel-making process, he wiped the sweat on his forehead and said, "Your Highness, you said that after adding limestone, I will collect this slag. Now there is a lot of slag, but what's the use? "

"This slag is a good thing. It can be used to produce a very powerful material." Xiao Ming smiled.

Xiao Ming hadn't told Chen Qi about this knowledge, but Chen Qi curiously said, "Your Highness, all the slag has come out, just tell me, otherwise I probably won't be able to sleep again at night."

Xiao Ming laughed twice, "Actually, besides iron making, this limestone can also be calcined into a material—cement! Because the slag contains a lot of cement, these slags can also be used to calcine cement, allowing you to collect them. It is to not waste it, otherwise it would be a pity to discard this slag."

"Cement." Chen Qi and Qian Dafu looked at each other.

Now they are no stranger to the strange words that came out of Xiao Ming's mouth, and they don't know where this prince learned all these strange knowledge.

Xiao Ming and the two stood aside, the knowledge in the technology spar was instilled in their minds, and after explaining it once, the two knew exactly what cement was and what its function was.

"Your Highness, if this cement is used to build city walls and pave roads, wouldn't it be invulnerable." Chen Qi said in surprise.

"No, cement is only the most basic thing, and what is made of concrete is really invulnerable." Then Xiao Ming told Chen Qi about the concept of concrete.

"..." Chen Qi could no longer describe his shock in words. He said, "Your Highness, if the city walls of the Great Yu Kingdom are all made of concrete, then the barbarians can only slaughter outside the city walls."

Xiao Ming smiled and said, "Now you're thinking a bit more. Although this concrete and cement are amazing, at our current production speed, it's good to be able to meet our own needs."

After being excited for a while, Chen Qi suddenly became a little decadent, and he said, "Your Highness, now you have taught me too much, but look at this equipment department, there are too few craftsmen, it's just that this work is too busy. Things, it is estimated that there are no people."

During this time, the Equipment Division has recruited some craftsmen. The number of craftsmen in the Equipment Division has reached 50, but it is obviously not enough. He can't help but feel a little helpless, "I will find a way for this, take your time, how many things can be produced, Just make as much as you want."

Chen Qi nodded helplessly.

This time Xiao Ming came over to check the application of limestone and graphite in ironmaking, and the other was to let Chen Qi know about cement and prepare for subsequent production.

As the saying goes, if you want to get rich, you must build roads first. Smooth traffic can greatly promote production. Because of the characteristics of people living in cities in this era, building roads does not need to be hundreds of miles like modern times.

The application of crucible ironmaking has matured, and now graphite and limestone mines are only in the hands of Xiao Ming, which means that he has monopolized the technology of crucible steelmaking.

However, the lack of labor is still his shortcoming, and the current equipment department is generally a small business.

Thinking of this, he can only increase his investment in Liang Dahai. Every year, the barbarians rob the Da Yu country of many people, and these people become the goods traded by the barbarians and the Da Yu country. Many smugglers are active in the Da Yu country and the country. The barbarians engaged in the slave trade.

As for slaves, his first choice is naturally the people of Dayu country. As for slaves outside the territory, they can basically only do some hard work. After all, language communication is also very difficult.

After staying in the equipment department for a while, and instructing the craftsmen on the details of steelmaking, Xiao Ming and Qian Dafu went back.

Halfway through the road, a man riding a horse suddenly came out of an alley and blocked in front of him, but it was Wang Shijie.