Two huge furnaces emitted green smoke, and if you looked closely, flames spewed out, like two erupting volcanoes.
Rurik came quietly and did not attract anyone's attention.
But I saw shirtless men everywhere, many of them had scars on their bodies, and many had gray beards.
It is obviously a cold period, why are they dressed so coolly?
Not only them, Rurik stood here, and even his entourage took off their cold coats.
Because there are not only two earthen blast furnaces, but also a number of traditional small furnaces. This is the blazing core of the Roseburg Industrial Zone.
He soon saw a familiar figure.
It’s Kawei!
A young man covered in tendons shouted a chant, while a group of men lined up with clay grinding tools.
Kawei personally held a regular iron rod. Seeing that many people had gathered in line, he suddenly shouted: "The slag is coming!"
He pierced the slag channel at the bottom of the blast furnace , the hot and viscous silicate material flows out rapidly. As fertilizer, they flowed to the side along the preset groove made of iron ore, and soon someone was carrying water from the melted snow to splash it.
Suddenly, the pungent steam exploded...
The strong steam even hit Rurik in the face. He squinted and held his breath, watching the steam gradually dissipate. . He saw that the slag had turned into a pile of cracked black matter, which was still steaming. It was quickly beaten by the servants with shovels and hammers, and a large amount of broken slag was shoveled aside and thrown to the ground. Mountains of slag forming hillocks.
Obviously even slag has great uses, and Rurik guessed its role almost instantly - serving as filling stones for making original concrete with cement. Indeed, the main component of these silicate slags is silica. What's even better is that they do not contain sea salt and are indeed good concrete fillers. In other words, if everything is a historical necessity, the cement industry of Soviet Russia in history was particularly good at using water and slag, which are metallurgical wastes. Now, the scale of the Rus Principality that is suddenly interested in using water and slag is very limited. The cement industry uses water and slag to make concrete. Materials are actually a beautiful destiny.
After the initial treatment of the slag, Kawei shouted again: "The molten iron is coming! Brothers, get ready!"
Those who operate the rotary blowers are covered in blood. It's sweaty. Each stove has three air inlets and three blowers, and each blower can be operated by two people.
They are blast furnaces, not those of extreme size. The amount of molten ore that can be placed inside is limited, so the air intake requirements for the blower are not extreme.
With the current technical level of the Russian people, both blast furnaces can operate reasonably. Oxygen was poured in at high intensity, and a belly of molten iron accumulated at its bottom. As Kawei pierced the tap hole, bright yellow molten pig iron quickly gushes out and poured into the prepared mold with flames.
Kawei hasNow that the amount of iron being tapped can be controlled more accurately, the number of people waiting with the mold can also be quantitatively controlled.
When one mold is filled, it is pulled aside by the iron drill to wait for natural cooling. As many as fifty molds line up to be filled one after another.
What is this being cast? Rurik is probably the most common iron axe. After all, the cast iron was all pig iron, and it was precisely because of the high carbon content that Ross was able to melt the ore with such a crude technology. As a price for the simplicity, don't expect to use it as a knife. But as a tool such as a hammer and ax that can be used in a variety of environments, it is quite suitable. Of course, it is not as good as a magical thing made of chromium iron. The advantage is its low cost. Even if it is shipped to the Birka Market in Mälaren, it can be easily relied on. Taking advantage of their cost advantage, they beat up the fellow blacksmiths of the Granites.
The fact is that the traditional tool iron tools of the Russians have already monopolized the Birka Market in an instant due to their cost-effectiveness advantage. This is equivalent to occupying the Swedish market during this period. In fact, it also made the new Swedish king Bjorn was speechless and helpless.
Rurik just watched them complete the casting of a furnace of iron, and he even felt that Kawei had made preparations and gave a demonstration to himself at the time of casting the iron. This is what is called To please?
Maybe it's just a coincidence.
Kawei did not notice Rurik. He and his people have been busy smelting metal for the past year. Looking at the two blast furnaces, they are of course a normal activity for smelting molten iron. Bronze smelting was also done. Even using this furnace to smelt pure copper water and bronze is more efficient, but copper ore is not as good as iron ore.
"Well done! Brothers, let's keep up our efforts, put in the ore and charcoal, and let's continue!"
Kawei gave the order, and in a moment someone came up to the hot earth platform with the materials and took it. One after another, they were thrown into the mouth of the cupola that roasted people to ashes in almost a minute.
"They continue to smelt? It's amazing. Our Rus is so great. People in my hometown should really see it." Jevro said with emotion.
This statement reminded Rurik: "Those hundred Suomi shooters haven't gone home yet. Maybe we shouldn't just let them cut trees. Send them here to work? In my opinion, they are too thin. ”
“Then let them carry the ore. Sir, I know what you think. You see, these two furnaces are monsters that eat ore. If Kawei and the others work hard, the ore supply will be guaranteed. No..."
"You?" Rurik turned his head and glared at Jevro with a smile: "You actually see that the furnace's ore supply is insufficient? You are much smarter than many people. , Just being a martial artist is the right thing to do, you are my favorite! I already know your idea, it may be feasible, I agree! Let’s see Brother Kawei.”
Liu Li. Kawei was not too surprised by Ke's visit. He had come quietly before.
Kawei answered questions fluently, but even if it was an inspection, it would be too uncomfortable to continue to stay in this hell like the Flame Mountain.
"Kawei, wipe all the sweat from your bodyclean. We meet in your council chambers. You! Smelting metal, you are such a hero! ”
Kawei was very happy to be praised. It was because of this praise that he also understood that Rurik was about to issue a new important decree.
Will he make a lot of money? Indeed, He and his friends worked together to run the now-large-scale "blacksmith shop". All the blacksmith families made a fortune, and the servants also made good profits.
But Kawei's brain has long been obsessed with "Atomic Theory". Infected by the dream. He no longer felt that he was just smelting iron and copper, but was understanding and using the power of God Thor, even...
Kawei, he often stared at Rurik. The wooden board that guided the carving was a rough version of the periodic table of elements.
He stared at the gold marked with the Roman letters AU, eager to create it! In the continuous operation of blast furnaces and ordinary furnaces, he became the number one metallurgist in Russia.
This is what Rurik hopes to see most. Kawei has clearly far surpassed his father.
However, Ross's metallurgical industry cannot be based on a few super craftsmen. The metallurgical industry needs a whole, a group of people to do this full-time and expand production immediately.
Kawei. After changing into fur clothes, the smell of coke and rust still lingered on his body.
Kawei tried his best to suppress his excitement and asked casually: "If you don't mind, can you tell me what you want to order... ”
“It doesn’t matter. Rurik pointed at the stove casually, "I want to further expand production capacity. Even if we don't rely on war and plunder, we can make a lot of money just by selling iron." ”
“That’s a great thing! Aren’t we already doing this? Maybe you feel it's not enough. But..."
"Yes! Lots of questions! Don't worry, I will make arrangements and I will try my best to solve the problem. "
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" That's great. ”
The blacksmiths have built an industrial alliance a few years ago. At first, it was just a network of “professional blacksmiths”. Now they are an organization that advances and retreats together, relying on the contract with Rurik. Carry out activities. Their production activities have always been endorsed by the Duke of Ross, and the development of the industry has always been smooth.
Due to the demand for infrastructure within the Principality of Ross, an unprecedented domestic demand market is forming. If there is a market, there will be profits.
All blacksmith families will spontaneously become the leaders of Ross industry. Even if they do not need Rurik's administrative order and succumb to the power of capital, they will inevitably do so. Start developing.
The heavy industry of smelting metal is not just about melting ore into liquid and then processing it into tools. It actually drives various supporting industries, directly or indirectly involving a group of relatively unemployed people. new production, thus sharing toindustrial dividends.
The state machinery of the Principality of Ross is in operation!
What Rurik saw was that many people were accumulating wealth around the heavy industry of the primary industry. Many people did not need to participate in wars and plunders, or even did fishing. They stayed in their hometowns and did the work. People who work on metallurgy can share the benefits.
He has nothing to lament about. After all, the metallurgical industry of heavy industry is the foundation of a country's rise.
No, the heads of all five blacksmith families gathered in their shared forum.
Not only them, Kamne and Lilica are also here. It seems strange that the two of them appear among the white-bearded old men. It just so happens that they have now become a small and small branch of Ross's industrial power. important pillar.
If the people engaged in light and heavy industry in Rossburg are forced to gather together, hundreds of craftsmen with various skills gather together, the "Ross Duma" hall of the Principality of Ross will become extremely important.
The old guys gathered looked at each other happily, and when Rurik entered the room, pairs of eyes came to him again.
Rurik also smiled, casually sitting cross-legged on the leather cushion, and ordered his entourage to stand guard at the door.
"This room is quite warm, and the flames in the fireplace may be a little brighter." He was polite casually.
With a smile, Klavason casually put in new charcoal blocks and claimed: "It is easy to make charcoal, and we are not short of charcoal."
From this, their Negotiations began.
Everyone is very familiar with each other, and Rurik will undoubtedly make meaningless greetings, starting with a few polite greetings, which is the main body of the picture book.
What he wants to know most is exactly how many people are currently engaged in smelting metals. To be more specific, how many laborers have been employed by this group of senior blacksmiths.
Here, even if old Klavasen suddenly ages greatly, he is too senior and has the greatest say.
“We employ two hundred workers of all kinds, who provide all kinds of labor for the operation of our various stoves. In addition, there are at least twenty clay craftsmen who supply us with molds to make charcoal. There are even more people. We have no employment relationship with them. They sell molds and charcoal, and several of our families give them money. The supply of molds and charcoal is very stable, and there is no problem until now. You are the best one. It's a matter of understanding. My lord, our ore supply is not stable..."
Rurik listened with all his heart, Klavason said, analyzing in his mind.
Indeed, although the clay mold is a disposable device, it can be discarded after the metal casting is completed. The broken mold is ground into powder and recharacterized, and it can be shaped again after being fired anew. Clay mines are not a rare thing here in Roseburg, and the molds can be reused. The craftsmen who make the molds can indeed be busy working every day to make money. After all, Rurik personally saw that when the blast furnace produces molten iron, it will be used immediately. Lots of molds.
As for charcoal, the only fuel, the woods near Roseburg are still lush. Although the tall oaks and pine trees were cut down for ship materials a long time ago, and other trees were cut down to make charcoal, no one felt sorry for them. In fact, people are happy to see the nearby forests disappear, so that the people of Roseburg can successfully obtain land for production and living from nature.
"Ore supply problem? Let me guess, you just have a serious shortage of labor force!" Rurik's words were unequivocal. He expected that this was the crux that would restrict future development.
Old Klavasen poked his head in, and the other old guys all poked their heads in.
"Exactly. Sir! As for how many men and women there are in mining, we brothers have really not calculated it carefully. There are even women who carry rattan baskets and carry tools to dig rocks in the mountains themselves. , we don’t care whether the miners are male or female, as long as they bring the ore, we will pay the same labor fee. Even so, the supply of iron ore is not enough, so your dozens of small blacksmiths, on average... …It takes five days to go mining together in the mountains,” Klavasen described.
"Is that so? I really don't understand. You do need a lot of ore?" Rurik asked almost knowingly.
Kawei puffed out his chest and grabbed the lead: "Of course we need ore in particular. You said that we can make a fortune selling Russian ironware, and this is indeed the case. For the prosperity of our Rus, I have to bear the responsibility. I tried my best to ask the brothers to stop production. You know, the blast furnace flames never went out despite the freezing weather. "Kawei spoke very energetically, and Rurik felt relieved. After thinking about it for a moment, Kawei's description was very scientific. After all, even an earthen blast furnace burned at full power with the help of a blower. The work of using fine charcoal blocks to heat the furnace is costly. A smart person would keep it smelting ore at a high temperature to avoid spending a lot of time and resources on the furnace.
Since dozens of blacksmith apprentices wanted to dig mines themselves, Rurik certainly knew whether their digging operation would evolve into a collective mining operation of four or five days. He immediately asked Kamne who was present.
"Sir." The young man's attitude was extremely complimentary: "It is true. We mine frequently and can finally ensure that the furnace keeps producing iron. It is an honor for me to serve Ross, and I am willing to do it no matter how tired I am." ”
Rurik laughed loudly: “You boy, your words are all flattering. You are much stronger than the boys in your hometown. Work hard and I will find you a woman next year.” , I will find more women for you in the future, and give birth to a large group of highly skilled blacksmiths." Hearing this, Kamne immediately blushed, which also made others laugh. The voice became more and more wild.
Old Kravalson slapped his chest and laughed: "This boy will indeed reach his age next year, and according to tradition, he should get married. Sir, you have married more than ten wives and concubines. I think you value this boy so much.We brothers also feel that this kid Kamne is trustworthy. It's really not enough to find one woman for him, at least three or four. "
"Okay, I'll write this down first. "After that, Rurik stretched out his foot to kick the shy Kamne, and shouted: "Brother, do your best, I have more important things to give you. ”
After asking about substantive issues, Rurik got to know the exact production capacity of iron and bronze ware in the Roseburg corner. Its quantity is not actually large, but compared with other places in Europe. Among the feudal kingdoms, the only force with a higher production capacity than Roseburg is the Eastern Roman Empire.
This is of course not only the fact that Roseburg's furnace has been producing iron frequently, but its greatest advantage is. The Principality of Uros now guards the best-quality iron ore veins in Europe. It is indeed the only ore with iron oxide and even magnet content exceeding 70% or even 80%. What is even crazier is that it guards the only chromite ore in the north. Ailenburg is still producing amazing stainless steel.