Chapter 89

Wei Ming was very concerned about the brick and tile factory. On that day, he immediately sent someone on a fast horse to Taiyuan to inform them of the news. The four major families had a vast influence in Shanxi and Mongolia, and in most of the small towns, there were establishments similar to relay stations. With the help of these stations, a distance of over a thousand kilometers could be covered in just two days. Many of the messages Yang Yuanzhao received from the outside world were conveyed through this method.

About five days later, a group of people arrived in Baotou. Wei Ming did not stop but directly found Yang Yuanzhao and told him that he had dispatched 70 people from Taiyuan, including 12 master craftsmen.

Master craftsmen were a special presence in factories during this era, usually being those with better skills or higher prestige. They could be considered the core and backbone of a factory, playing a significant role within it.

This large batch of labor quickly moved the brick and tile factory from the preparatory stage to the actual implementation phase. On the way to Shanghai, Yang Yuanzhao spent his free time working on the machinery for the brick and tile factory.

He replicated the brick-making machines of this era and made some modifications to them. The key to brick-making machines was the speed of forming, and in this aspect, the efficiency of the brick-making machines of this era was far inferior to those of later times. There was no way to solve this problem. Electricity was out of the question; the electricity generated by his generator was far from enough for industrial use. Moreover, changing from ordinary steam power to electric drive would require many modifications. Yang Yuanzhao was only a power engineer, and while he could understand steam engines, he was almost a layman when it came to electric machinery.

Yang Yuanzhao took out the dimensions of the brick-making machine and the things to pay attention to during brick-making, such as the space that must be left. The rest was about setting up the kilns.

The setup of the kilns followed the advice of the master craftsmen. He only provided some refractory bricks, which came from the Hanyang Iron Works. These refractory bricks, used for steelmaking, were somewhat overqualified for brick-making, but they could accommodate more bricks in a unit area and provide a stronger fire.

There were certain temperature limits for brick-making; it could not be too high or too low. Within the appropriate range, the higher the temperature, the higher the efficiency of brick-making, and the less time it would take.

The master craftsmen personally tested the refractory bricks from Yang Yuanzhao and were amazed. In general, the temperature in a kiln could not be raised too high in a short time and had to be increased gradually. This gradual increase was not only detrimental to the quality of the bricks but also reduced efficiency. In this era, it took more than 33 days to fire a kiln of bricks. If refractory bricks were used to increase the kiln's temperature, the firing time could be reduced to 28 days, a full 5 days shorter.

One important indicator of a kiln was how long it took to fire a kiln of bricks. This small improvement could increase the kiln's efficiency by 20%.

Wei Family's kilns were very famous in Taiyuan, almost all the red and blue bricks in Shanxi were fired in these kilns. They even produced some special bricks. The master craftsmen's skills were very exquisite. Wei Ming had mentioned that the efficiency could be increased several times and the number of workers reduced several times, but this seemed almost impossible to them. They had already done their best to reduce the number of workers, but the reduction was limited.

When they arrived in Baotou and met Yang Yuanzhao, the master craftsmen were initially skeptical due to his young age. Only when they saw the refractory bricks did they realize they had underestimated this young man. A single refractory brick increased the kiln's efficiency by 20%. Could he have even better methods?

The construction of the kilns was mostly carried out according to the master craftsmen's suggestions, with some modifications based on Yang Yuanzhao's ideas. The overall design was improved to increase the capacity, allowing each kiln to produce more.

Yang Yuanzhao's extensive knowledge and capabilities thoroughly convinced the master craftsmen. The construction of the kilns began, and with cement and refractory bricks, the work progressed quickly. In just over three days, the entire kiln structure was basically complete. Once the kiln dried, a thorough firing would be done, and it would be ready for use.

In mid-June, the weather in Baotou started to get hot. In the open fields, the sun was scorching, and people were drenched in sweat.

A large convoy arrived in Baotou, and Wei Ming and Yang Yuanzhao welcomed it together. This was the machinery that Yang Yuanzhao had arranged for Habi to send from Shanghai, including five sets of kilns and two sets of cement production equipment. After his trip to Shanghai, Yang Yuanzhao felt that time was of the essence. Without more investors, he decided to start the business, especially the kilns. Once they were in operation, more factories would be established in Baotou, and building materials needed to be addressed as soon as possible.

The continuous convoy stretched for several miles. Since it was using the Yang family's fleet, Wei Ming did not expect so many. A quick count showed over 150 vehicles, which was a massive convoy in Baotou and the northwest. He was slightly surprised and asked, "Why so many?"

"I also brought some other equipment, 12 brick-making machines for the kilns," Yang Yuanzhao replied.

"Twelve machines!" Wei Ming was stunned. Previously, he and Yang Yuanzhao had discussed adding one more machine to the existing one. He had calculated the speed of the brick-making machines Yang Yuanzhao mentioned, and two machines would be enough to support the operation of 3-4 kilns. This would not waste time and would allow the kilns to operate at full capacity. However, Yang Yuanzhao had brought 12 machines, and even in all of Shanxi and Mongolia, no one could consume so many bricks.

"Two sets are for our cooperation, and the rest are for expanding production or establishing more factories," Yang Yuanzhao said calmly.

Wei Ming opened his mouth to say something but ultimately did not. After a long moment of thought, he said, "Yuanzhao, do you think a small city like Baotou can accommodate so many brick and tile factories?"

"Of course it can!" Yang Yuanzhao smiled. A city is built on a foundation of steel, concrete, and red bricks. The 12 brick-making machines, while far less efficient than large-scale machines of the future, would not produce more than 3 million bricks per month even if all were operational. 3 million bricks might seem like a lot, but in the future, a large-scale project could use them all.

In Yang Yuanzhao's plan, Baotou was to be developed into a massive industrial park. In this park, various factories and main projects would use steel structures for speed and spaciousness. However, ordinary buildings like residences, office buildings, and the infill for steel structures would require a large number of bricks. The 12 machines were a precaution for the future. As the industrial park expanded and attracted more factories and workers, the brick and tile factory would continue to grow.

Wei Ming had intended to persuade Yang Yuanzhao but found that he did not take it seriously. Seeing Wei Ming's somewhat dejected expression, Yang Yuanzhao smiled and said, "Don't worry. If Brother Wenju is concerned, we can sign an agreement. I will be responsible for purchasing all the bricks and tiles you produce!"

"Really?"

Yang Yuanzhao nodded and said, "Yes, to be honest, if it weren't for the need to win over the four major families, I wouldn't choose to cooperate with them. This would mean sharing profits and creating some constraints. Now, I have enough benefits to attract them. The gold mine in northern Baotou can provide at least 700 to 800 tons of gold. Just relying on this gold, I won't lack money for at least 10 years. What I lack is enough time, skilled workers, and a vast industry built with substantial capital. If these can be solved with money, why not? Wei Ming has good insight, but he only sees the present. Baotou's demand for bricks and tiles is high, but it can only accommodate one brick and tile factory. However, I see the future. When Baotou establishes one factory after another, attracting more and more workers, and even develops into a megacity with millions of people, the demand for bricks and tiles will be astronomical. Even more than three or four brick and tile factories would not be enough."