Chapter 93

Zhang Han smiled and said, "Of course, once we make money and have profits, we should eat even better."

Sun Anle solemnly said, "I hope Master Zhang will not forget these words today."

Zhang Han replied, "Of course I won't forget. Everyone needs to be well-fed to have strength, and well-rested to have energy. With strength and energy, there will be fewer mistakes, and no complaints or disloyalty. I've heard that every year, accidents happen at the blast furnaces of other families, and several people die in the mines. Isn't that true? Not to mention, the compensation costs a lot of silver. Instead of using silver for compensation, why not treat everyone better, ensuring they are well-fed and well-rested? It's the simplest thing to do."

Li Dayong first pondered, then said with a sense of shame, "Because the profit from iron is thin, I really can't afford to spend more silver on these things at the ironworks. After I return, I will discuss with the manager at home and add several dozen taels of silver each month to improve the food."

Sun Anle nodded at Li Dayong, and the conversation became more relaxed. Everyone ate and drank. The dishes were ordinary, but the wine was indeed good. Zhang Han, accustomed to socializing in his past life, did not change his habits in the Ming Dynasty. He insisted on fine utensils and good wine, and often prepared some exquisite gifts to give away. These were small details, and the gifts didn't have to be expensive, but if given appropriately, they were more effective than money.

Zhang Han always believed that a successful businessman must be skilled in the art of bribery. It doesn't necessarily mean giving houses or money. Some officials indeed don't accept gifts, so it's better to cater to their interests. For example, if someone loves fishing, invite them to fish on a yacht several times, and a friendship will naturally form. People are social animals, and no official can completely isolate themselves from reality.

Before it got dark, everyone returned with high spirits. Zhang Han saw them off at the door. Zhang Xueceng, who had drunk too much, stayed overnight at the ironworks. Li Dayong and the Sun family uncles and nephews were also tipsy. At the door, they mounted their horses. Sun Jingtong leaned down and whispered to Zhang Han, "Master Zhang, be careful of the Hens. They might play some tricks."

Zhang Han smiled slightly and said, "Don't worry, brother."

Sun Jingtong thought for a moment and said, "Your ironworks still lacks many miners. Our Dongshan Guild has a lot of surplus personnel. After I return, my second uncle and I will introduce more people to your ironworks. I believe Master Zhang will need them, right?"

Zhang Han had been waiting for this. The Sun family uncles and nephews had been here for a long time, and it couldn't be that they were just idle. Li Dayong and the others were here to observe the scale and development of the Heyusheng Ironworks, considering their future business strategies. The Dongshan Guild must have had similar considerations, but the most important thing was what Sun Jingtong was saying now.

The Dongshan Guild had too many people, with dispersed shares and thin profits. If there was a suitable ironworks, they would definitely want to cooperate. Previously, whether Heyusheng could stand firm and make money was uncertain, and they didn't know Zhang Han well. They would naturally choose to cooperate with local owners, stirring up conflicts between Zhang Han and the Hens, hoping for a win-win situation. Now that their plan had failed, the Sun family had to change their strategy, and cooperation with Heyusheng became inevitable.

"I need at least three thousand more people. I'll take as many as the Dongshan Guild can provide," Zhang Han said slowly, looking at Sun Jingtong. "But there is one condition: once they are here, they must follow my rules and not be under the control of the Dongshan Guild."

Sun Jingtong nodded and said, "We need to discuss this further. Once we reach an agreement, I will come back to you."

Zhang Han nodded with a smile, not in a hurry.

Sun Jingtong looked at Zhang Han and suddenly added, "Personally, I am very willing to cooperate with Master Zhang."

The two smiled at each other, bowed, and Sun Jingtong rode forward, catching up with Sun Anle and the others in the darkness. They had already lit torches, and the horses neighed and hooves clattered, forming a fiery dragon as they moved down the winding mountain path.

...

"Nearly five thousand pounds of iron water, with very few impurities, and the iron water is very bright?"

In the evening, just as Zhang Han's guests were about to leave, in the study of the Han family, Han Lao Liu was telling Han Tong about the day's furnace opening.

Han Tong sat with his legs crossed, a bowl of bird's nest soup in his hand, which had almost gone cold, but he forgot to drink it. His face, usually stubborn and self-willed, was full of surprise.

"Indeed," Han Lao Liu said, spitting out his words. "Master, I saw it with my own eyes. The iron water kept flowing, so bright it hurt to look at. After it solidified, I checked it. The iron, oh, I've been in the mines for over twenty years, and I've never seen better pig iron."

"Did they use coke?"

"Yes, and they used thirty percent less."

Han Tong sneered, "He must be saving a lot!"

"They said that with enough charcoal and high enough temperature, they can produce steel."

"What?"

Han Tong couldn't sit still and stood up abruptly.

The profit from steel is enormous, at least ten times that of pig iron. If every furnace could produce steel, the Han family's profits would increase several times over. His life as the head of the family would be much better, and the Han family could expand beyond Lingqiu to Taiyuan and Datong. With enough capital, they could build a strong network of connections, and with connections and capital, they could gain even more profits.

Han Tong himself didn't want to stay in the poor and remote Lingqiu. If he could lead the Han family to expand, why not?

The profit from pig iron was too low. Although the Han family had several blast furnaces, as Li Shenming had told Zhang Han, the profit from a million pounds of iron was only a few ten thousand. Accidents like furnace collapses and iron water injuries were common, and bribes to officials were also necessary. The actual annual profit was very limited, and with the income from land, the family's wealth was only around ten thousand taels, making them a large family in Shanxi, but far from the top tier.

"Can they really produce steel..." Han Lao Liu muttered. "The owner said that at 1200 degrees, they get iron water, and at 1600 degrees, they get steel water. They first smelt iron water, then steel water, step by step, trying slowly."

"Old Six, what do you want in return?"

Han Tong's two triangular eyes stared at Han Lao Liu like a venomous snake eyeing a frog.

"Master, to be honest, I have grievances with the clan. No one has ever cared about my life or death, and I've even been beaten by clan members. I've never seen you stand up for me... I want silver, and I'm afraid of retaliation. I can't stay in Lingqiu, so I'll go to Pingyang to settle down."

Han Tong chuckled and asked, "How much?"

"At least five hundred taels!"

"Good grief, you have a big appetite, don't you? Afraid of choking?"

"If Master is willing, I'll do it. If not, consider this visit never happened..."

Han Lao Liu, looking like a tough guy, got up, patted his buttocks, and was about to leave.

"Don't be hasty." Han Tong stopped him, asking, "Are you really confident?"

"Master, I know you have people in the ironworks, but honestly, just watching won't reveal much. How to build the furnace, how to ventilate, the fan alone is a big deal. It's made by carpenters with gears, using less force to produce more wind. The heat storage chamber and the furnace pipes, the ventilation ports, these things I, an old hand, can't fully understand. Relying on others to learn by watching is a joke. My method is to try to bribe a few furnace operators and bring one to our ironworks. Then we'll know everything."

Han Tong had indeed sent people to the Heyusheng Ironworks. It was easy to infiltrate since they were always recruiting, but the reports back were that they couldn't get close to the blast furnaces or do core tasks. They were either assigned to quarrying, washing stones, or driving mule teams to buy supplies in Lingqiu. Relying on these people to steal the technology would take a long time, and every day Zhang Han was making a fortune, which made Han Tong feel very uncomfortable.

"Alright, Old Six, I trust you this time." Han Tong said darkly. "You know my methods. If you deceive me, think about the consequences."

Han Lao Liu felt a chill and shivered. Han Tong had many people, but they weren't scary. The Dongshan Guild had many people too. The most dangerous were the dozens of loyal and capable fighters Han Tong had cultivated over the years, like the private guards of border army commanders. The Han family relied on these fighters to dominate Lingqiu. Han Lao Liu knew that many who had opposed the Han family had disappeared, likely killed by Han Tong's guards and buried in the wilderness, where they would rot and be unrecognizable. Who would investigate such cases? Even if the victims' families reported to the county magistrate, would he seriously investigate?

In the end, Han Lao Liu said, "Master, don't worry, I don't have the courage."

Han Tong looked at Han Lao Liu for a long time and finally said, "We'll do it your way. I'll send half the silver to your family first, and the rest after the job is done. I won't go back on my word."

...

The Dongshan Guild's ironworks was on the east side of the Heyusheng Ironworks. From the Heyusheng Ironworks, it was about five to six miles down the mountain path, then a turn east, and less than ten miles away.

As they approached the ironworks, Sun Anle, Sun Jingtong, and the others dismounted and walked through the mud.

It had been two days since the rain stopped, but the roads were still not dry. People and carts had churned the mud, especially near the mountain path, where it was particularly muddy.

After walking a few steps, Sun Anle sat on a rock, and everyone stopped to wait.

Sun Anle's shoes had split, and mud had seeped in. He crossed his legs, lifted his foot, took off his shoes and socks, dried his feet, and put on a clean pair of boots from his bag.

"Wasn't the ground less muddy when we left the Heyusheng Ironworks?"

No one expected Sun Anle to start with this, and they were momentarily stunned. Sun Jingtong, the quickest to react, thought for a moment and smiled, "Second Uncle, I remember now. They used charcoal and wood chips to pave the path from the entrance to the inside, which absorbs water and prevents the wheels from damaging the road, so it wasn't muddy at all."

"Look at their attention to detail and care," Sun Anle said, putting on his boots and walking through the ankle-deep mud. "How can such a person not become wealthy?"