Chapter 78

At this moment, the miners' eyes showed a sense of relief. They had also inquired about Cai Jiu before, but words were not enough; they needed to see things for themselves.

The miners at the time were the most free and independent group of people, as mining and iron smelting were among the most specialized professions, requiring strong and skilled individuals. With such high demands, it wasn't possible for farmers from a single village to fill these roles. A single iron mine could have miners from over a dozen prefectures, and even many miners from other provinces would come.

Including the mine owners, the various iron mines in the south were not necessarily owned by locals. Instead, they were run by powerful figures who possessed the technology for mining and iron smelting and could also control and suppress the miners.

As recorded in the "Qingliu County Annals": "The rise of iron furnaces is led by powerful and influential figures. The profits are substantial, but so are the grievances. Why? Factories are built in the mountains, gathering laborers to transport iron sand continuously. The water used to wash the sand is as thick as grease, causing the land to deteriorate and villages to become impoverished. One person monopolizes the benefits while thousands suffer. If the furnace is not fanned for ten days, thieves and gamblers gather to cause trouble..."

From this record, it is clear that the iron mining industry caused significant damage to the local natural environment and economy. The mine owners benefited, but the miners were a mixed group of strong and bold individuals who had left their homes. They often gambled and caused trouble, severely disrupting local security and livelihoods.

Controlling such a group required powerful figures, and the miners also feared overly domineering owners who would suppress them.

This was a game of strategy between both sides. At least from the current situation, this young owner was not the type to speak with a haughty attitude, which genuinely put people at ease.

"Owner, please look. There is a small stream over there with a considerable flow, sufficient for washing the iron sand," Cai Jiu pointed out enthusiastically to Zhang Han as they reached a flat area. "There are about three to four acres here, and there are already many opened veins around. Building the mine and factory would be very convenient... This is where the furnace will be, close to the veins and the stream. There is some open space where we can build houses for living and storage..."

Cai Jiu had been working in the mines since he was a teenager, for over a decade, and was familiar with almost every process. However, he had never been in charge, so his voice still trembled a bit as he spoke.

"The furnace will be 24 feet high. With sufficient ore, fuel, and labor, it can produce 4,000 pounds of iron daily," Cai Jiu explained.

Li Shenming interjected, "How much iron can be produced in a year?"

Cai Jiu, knowing Li Shenming's identity, replied respectfully, "Mr. Li, it's hard to say exactly. The furnace's operation depends on the weather. Continuous rain or snow, mountain floods, and other factors can halt production. Normally, the furnace can operate for more than half a year, but to be safe, we can expect around a million pounds of iron annually."

Li Shenming calculated in his mind. According to Zhang Han's plan, a single furnace needed to produce over a million pounds of iron annually. He wondered what methods Zhang Han had to increase production.

Moreover, Zhang Han planned to produce not just ordinary pig iron and wrought iron but also steel.

Steel was extremely rare at the time, priced ten times higher than pig iron, and its production was severely limited. The process was complex, and it was used only in a few areas, such as for making high-quality weapons.

Zhang Han remained silent for a moment before saying, "This place is too small, too small."

Cai Jiu stammered, "Owner, there are already dozens of iron furnaces on East Mountain, with streams and ample space near the veins. They are all in other people's hands. Unless we use force, we can't buy them even with silver."

When Cai Jiu left Xinping Fort, Zhang Han had given him a large sum of silver to prepare for the initial work. Cai Jiu had indeed been diligent. Two rows of high-standard tile-roofed houses had been built, with the kitchen and latrines far apart, providing good living and hygiene conditions. The ordinary bricks and refractory bricks for the furnace were already prepared, and a large pile of salt was stored. Other forging tools were covered with grass to prevent rain and dampness.

The preliminary work had been done well.

"Have you only prepared one large furnace, Cai Jiu? Isn't that too small?" Zhang Han laughed and scolded. "I have plenty of silver. I won't just sell the iron from one furnace. How much iron does our Shanxi provincial administration produce annually? Less than ten million pounds. But the entire north, where we are, is the largest iron-producing area. Most of the iron-producing areas in Hebei are abandoned, and Liaodong produces little. The court doesn't have enough high-quality iron for making armor and weapons. The plows and iron pots in the civilian sector need to be replaced every few years. With over a hundred million people in the north, how much iron is needed annually? Besides..."

Zhang Han paused, not yet ready to mention the smuggling of pig iron to Cai Jiu.

According to the various books Zhang Han had read, the iron production in the Ming Dynasty was inconsistent. In the early Ming, during the Hongwu period, it was between 18 million and 20 million pounds, but by the Wanli period, it was recorded as over 9,000 tons. Zhang Han wasn't sure if this figure was accurate, given the significant population difference between the Hongwu and Wanli periods. After the private production of pig iron was allowed, many small furnaces might not have been included in the statistics.

"Employ more laborers..."

Zhang Han was about to continue when a large group of several hundred people appeared at the valley entrance, a dark mass coming from the other side of the mountain path, looking menacing and hostile from a distance.

Li Shenming was initially startled but then laughed, "What's this all about?"

Zhang Han laughed and scolded Cai Jiu, "Cai Jiu, did you arrange this? Are these the miners you found?"

"Owner, they might be here to cause trouble," Cai Jiu said, his face pale.

Finding miners wasn't easy. It wasn't a job for just any group of farmers. Only a few positions could be filled by new hands, such as washing the ore or buying supplies. Tasks like fanning the furnace, setting up the furnace, and extracting iron required specialized skills and couldn't be done by just anyone.

"Let's go and see," Zhang Han said, looking at Cai Jiu and smiling. "Don't be afraid; Liang Xing and the others aren't just here for show."

This time, Zhang Han had brought Liang Xing and the Jiang brothers, who in turn brought a team of bodyguards. About twenty skilled and well-armed bodyguards, experienced in combat and many of whom had fought bandits, were ready. If they were intimidated by a random group, it would be better for He Yusheng to close down.

The group dismounted and walked over, covering the distance in a few steps.

At the valley entrance, they found a group of mountain villagers, men and women, old and young. There were over a hundred men, most of them carrying pitchforks and other tools, and a few had rusty knives. However, these people were hiding deeper and hadn't come forward.

These people had likely intended to charge directly, but they were stopped at the valley entrance by Liang Xing and his team.

"Wait here," Liang Xing said, smiling and drawing a line on the ground with his knife. "Whoever crosses this line will get a cut."

"I don't believe you dare," a muscular villager holding a shiny iron pitchfork said, glaring. "Is there no law?"

"You can try if you want," Liang Xing replied, still smiling, but his face was full of menace, and his eyes were cold. This aura, which could only be cultivated through countless fights and evil deeds, made the villagers wary.

"Everyone, charge together," an old man with white hair shouted. "They are so few; we can't lose."

At this, the miners retreated far back, showing that they were not involved. They had just been hired and hadn't received any pay yet. They needed to see if the job would go through before risking their lives for a new owner. If the new owner couldn't protect them and they were caught by the authorities or killed by the villagers, it wouldn't be worth it. They would wait and see if the owner was as good as he claimed before fighting for him.

The old man's call was answered by a dozen young and strong villagers who charged forward, shouting. Liang Xing and his team didn't hesitate, drawing their weapons to meet them.

The bodyguards were trained in martial arts and battle formations. In an instant, they formed two small battle arrays, coordinating their knives, spears, and long swords. The sound of metal clashing was followed by continuous cries of pain. Five or six young and strong villagers were already lying on the ground, cut with long wounds, blood gushing from their bodies. They were screaming in pain, terrified.

Zhang Han watched and smiled inwardly. Liang Xing and his team had a good sense of control; the injuries were superficial, and with proper treatment, the wounds would heal in a few days, or at most a week or two.

The villagers suffered many injuries, but the bodyguards were unharmed, not even scratched. Zhang Han nodded in approval. Wang Changfu's training wasn't in vain. The daily hard work had paid off. From the current situation, the bodyguards, originally porters, had become a formidable force. La Hu, due to his background and nature, didn't train as hard and was more likely to be timid in battle. This was a common trait of those who were brave in private fights but cowardly in public battles. Zhang Han knew this couldn't be changed, so he brought mostly those who had fought bandits. Liang Xing performed excellently, but Wang Yikui and Li Laibin were the real stabilizers in the team. They were responsible for direct command during the battle, ensuring that the formations and attacks were well-organized and effective. After the initial attack, they maintained their formation and continued to exert pressure, which was a rare and commendable skill.