Chapter 624 Furnace Town Plan

Everyone is waiting for Rurik to announce new important things, and they can probably guess what the important things are.

Rurik solemnly declared: "Rosberg and other northern lands are too cold to grow wheat, but our people need wheat to fill their stomachs. We must rely on smelting iron and copper to make metalware for sale. , in exchange for the wheat we need. So, I want you to double the current production capacity! This must be implemented next year!”

This is really a bold decision, and people are surprised and subconsciously realize it. Start thinking about the beautiful scenery if the plan is completed successfully.

A large amount of metalware is produced. In addition to the fact that the Russians and allies can enjoy it immediately, selling it will definitely make a fortune.

The idea is always good, but in order to complete this task, the difficulties must be overcome.

Old Klavason's face darkened: "Rurik, we just discussed it. We don't have enough labor. If we have enough slaves, we should be able to do it. But..."

Rurik stretched out his right hand and his face darkened: "Yes. I know all the problems in this! If I say that I want to force you to mine frequently, that is very ridiculous. Time is very precious. Your work is also very cumbersome. Lack of labor? I have thought of some solutions to this problem." Kawei immediately echoed: "The labor problem is very serious. If there were enough workers, we would have expanded our production capacity. . With increased production capacity, our profits will also increase. Who will complain about too much money?”

“Yes. I will start to deal with this matter this winter, and there is one more thing I must tell you.”

Rurik cleared his throat again, leaned his head and said: "A large number of Balmoks are about to migrate to the British Island. Their leaders have abandoned their homeland, but many people are not willing to leave. They Abandoning the homeland is equivalent to giving it to us. I will recruit those who stayed behind to become our Ross people, and a new batch of labor will soon arrive in Ross."

"Oh?" This is what Klavasen said. He also has his own opinions on the issue of labor force: "Those Balmoks are allies after all. Can I tell you what I stand for?"

"Please speak."

"Maybe you can go to the east and recruit another group of young men from Novgorod. I don't know the Balmoks, but I know the Slavs best."

"That's a way." Rurik nodded, "The Balmoks, Slavs, and the group of Finns in the East. Of course these labor forces can be used, but not in a short time. So, I Plan to use some female workers."

"Female workers?"

"Exactly? Klavason, you..." Rurik was slightly surprised. .

The old guy was indeed not surprised. He said slowly: "Of course women can mine, but they are not as strong as men. My guys and I are all fair. We only follow the weight of the ore shipped. Pay remuneration, don’tNo matter whether the ore was dug by a child or a hot girl, even if the ore was dug by a monster and can only be brought to us, I am still willing to pay. "After saying that, all the blacksmiths sneered.

Rurik shrugged, thinking that these guys really talk about contracts and have a simple principle.

"Okay Bar. Let me tell you frankly, I plan to make use of female workers on a large scale. Remember those Tavastian women locked up in the barn? "

Rurik reminded them of this, and saw that both of them looked strange.

After a while of silence, Kawei patted his thigh: "oh! Are you talking about those people? I remember that someone was carrying corpses before. Aren't all the prisoners dead? ”

“Most of them are living well. "Rurik was also surprised.

"Oh? My old friend, are you going to command these women? "

"Not only the Tavastian women, but also the female captives I captured from Britain in the west. Give them tools and organize them to dig for ore. I will order them to do things, laziness will be punished, and refusal to work will be punished by execution! I won't be merciful in this matter. The captives must be worthy of the food and leather clothing I provide! ”

Many people felt a murderous aura, and then trembled all over.

Rurik looked like a wolf baring its teeth, giving people a dangerous feeling.

“It’s not a problem to let women do it. "Rurik followed the words and said: "Since you think that the method of thermal expansion and contraction is the most suitable for strong men to deal with ores. Coincidentally, my mercenaries also have the one hundred Suomi archers, who can contribute labor force. At present, I intend to arrange it this way to gain motivation, but those Tavastia women will eventually be given to the Balmok people. They are all trophies of the coalition forces in the Summer War, and I am not qualified to embezzle the trophies of my allies. ”

“It’s better to have more strong men. Kawei pouted and said, "I never think highly of those women." Even a thousand words of praise cannot cover up their shortcomings. "

"Exactly, this is a temporary expedient. Rurik continued: "After Hanukkah, I will escort these women to Balmok. Don't worry, I will definitely bring back a group of Balmok men when I come back." These Balmok men are usually miners and lumberjacks, but once there is a war, they are soldiers. I plan to create and organize a Balmok flag team that will obey my orders and establish meritorious service for me. On weekdays, I am responsible for their food, clothing, and housing, but they will dig ore and supply it to you. You only need to pay the market price. "

Clavason understood the meaning instantly: "Isn't it five hundred professional miners? No! They actually, regarded as your personal mercenary. ”

“You can also say the same. Rurik nodded deeply: "Currently, I have exactly fifty Balmok mercenaries under my command. Another five hundred is not a problem." Oh no! I'm afraid there will no longer be the concept of Balmok in the future. They are the new Rus' people. The Balmoks who immigrated to Britain were the people of the Kingdom of York. "

The heads of the blacksmith families looked at each other and exchanged opinions in low voices.

It was Klavasen who took the lead: "Rurik, your decisions are always wise. , I support it. ”

Others followed one after another, and there was no objection in this chamber.

In fact, they had no choice at all, because the Principality of Ross, whether it was Rossburg or Currently, only these two places have metallurgical industries in Ellenborough, and the Duke family is almost the only buyer. The Gould family, which is a servant of the Duke family, and the old Harald family, which later surrendered, have a monopoly on the Swedish iron market. Although the latter has not been in the business for a long time, it also has a monopoly on the ironware distribution rights to the Eastern Slavs.

A trade route of mining → transportation → smelting → distribution has been completed, and the blacksmiths of Russia have been established. The Alliance currently has a monopoly on metal smelting, which is also the most critical aspect.

They are just craftsmen, and many young craftsmen are essentially servants of the Duke's family. The Blacksmith Alliance has no relationship with the Duke at all. Although Rick has accumulated a lot of capital due to his bargaining power, he is unable to change anything in the face of the Duke. They must develop the metallurgical industry according to the Duke's orders. The so-called conscious will does not exist at all. But in the long future, the blacksmith. The alliance and the duke family have a strong community of interests.

Since the adults want production capacity, the duke will definitely pay for it afterwards, and after deducting the material cost and labor fee, everyone will do it. You can still earn a lot easily.

This is probably the end of the labor plan. At least Rurik is confident in his arrangement. Many people mine, but if the furnace cannot digest the ore, all they will get is a mine standing in Fort Ross.

Another plan for industrial upgrading was made by Rurik.

Compared with the labor issue just mentioned, his new arrangement is very simple and enlightening.

Rurik’s request is extremely simple: “Concentrate all the blacksmith shops. It's not suitable here in the city, even if it's close to the city wall. What I'm most afraid of is that something might happen and cause a fire, causing unnecessary losses to Roseburg. Therefore, we should build a new city, which was born for smelting. "

A new city? All the blacksmiths cheered up.

"Is it necessary? "Klavasen was the first to ask cautiously.

"It is necessary. "

"It's not just... it's for fire prevention. ”

“Of course! for many reasons, the mostThe important thing is to control costs. "

Clavason had no intention of arguing. He knew that he had to agree, and asked again: "Where is the new city of blacksmiths? ”

Just west of Roseburg, deep in the fjord, adjacent to the stream! The key is that the city of blacksmiths is close to the mountains, so the newly excavated ore does not have to be transported far.

If this is the case, there is really no need for rational blacksmiths to question it. Indeed, one of the major problems in transporting ore now is that the distance between the ore origin and the smelting center cannot be moved. If the distance is eliminated. The disadvantage is that placing the blacksmith shop in a mountainous area is also very difficult - the lack of fresh water.

The depths of the fjord are also at the foot of the mountains, although there is a lack of flat land and vegetation. , but building a small town that also has metallurgy as its reason for existence does not require a large area.

Rurik pointed out his plan in detail: "A small town is necessary. We explore an area and clear wood. Above the trees, a group of houses will be built after the land is leveled. We will build at least four more blast furnaces, a warehouse for storing fuel and a mold warehouse. The rest of the buildings and facilities must be built around these four blast furnaces, and you are all familiar with these facilities. ”

“This is really a big construction project. After all, we are building a small town. "Obviously, Klavasen meant what he said.

Rurik nodded, he guessed the old guy's hint.

Yes! It's about money.

But the Duke, who controls the military power of the entire Principality of Ross, is here, who has the power to bargain?

Rurik does not want to use his power to order the blacksmiths to build a mountain by themselves? It is a blacksmith city by the water, but it is really painful to pay for it yourself. As the Duke of Ross, he does have a huge wealth, but many aspects of construction investment are all gold-swallowing monsters. If there is no desperate plunder from the outside world, especially for the How can the targeted raids in Northumbria and Mercia provide funds for the development of Ross's primary industry?

After years of fighting, Rurik has intuitively understood that the wise saying is the truth? ——The foundation of primitive capital was accompanied by blood and tears.

But in this era of great strife, the Russians could either survive in the Northern Fjords and eventually be annexed by the Kingdom of Sweden, or go out and become a new Rome, or even go out. Because there is no third way.

So, for the rise of Ross, some people must make sacrifices. Even if they make sacrifices, they are also part of the Ross people. One condition is met, the so-called blacksmith alliance should also pay the taxes of the past year at the end of winter. Since the blacksmiths have to spend money to build the blacksmith city, this tax is exempted, or in other words, all the money from the tax is exempted. It is used to purchase the labor of local people, whether they are men, women or children. They should be paid for participating in the construction of the Blacksmith City.

Do you have any opinions? Not too youngWoolen cloth.

But Klavason understood the overall situation and expressed his support, and others had no choice but to follow suit. As the most senior blacksmith, Klavasen can say that he started to grow a beard after watching Rurik grow up to what he is today. He knows that this boy will never cheat him. It seems that the blacksmiths will suffer a big loss for the time being, but in fact it is for the future. Smart investments that lead to vast wealth and glory.

"Then give the town a name." Clavarson said.

Rurik scratched his head. When it came to naming, he was too lazy to think of a pretentious and elegant name, so he would just be upright.

"It's called Strofnstadt."

The name is concise, concise and extremely upright, and no one has any objection.

A new question comes again, when will the construction of Blast Furnace Town begin? When the town is built, where will the old blacksmith workshops go?

Rurik has made arrangements. Adhering to his usual ability to take action, he made a plan today and will start promoting the construction of blast furnace town in the entire Roseburg tomorrow. The election will be about the day after tomorrow. Site logging and construction has begun.

As for the fate of the old blacksmith shop after the completion of the project, it is natural to retain part of the already very mature traditional furnaces and blacksmithing workshops. The old blast furnace used for rough processing will be demolished, and the old inventory warehouse will also be demolished. The only purpose of the old blacksmith shop is to refine iron tools, which relies on the steel frying method and the steel-making method to make low-carbon steel tools and weapons. But it was still a long transition, and eventually there were no more blacksmith workshops within the walls of Roseburg.

Living areas and industrial areas are separated, which is how Rurik wanted to arrange a city. Especially now, the city is built with wood, and a large number of blacksmith shops are placed in the city. If a fire breaks out, won't it be a disaster for the whole city? Even the existence of a large number of wooden buildings in Fort Ross and other settlements in the Principality itself is a temporary measure. When the cost of cement drops in the future and the manufacturing capacity of stone and clay bricks increases, it will be necessary to completely replace the settlements with masonry buildings.

The rise of a country should first begin with exhausting financial resources to develop the primary industry, especially the metallurgical industry and the manufacturing of heavy equipment. Rurik felt that he was actually engaged in real estate in Roseburg and other territories, and eventually built a new town, which would objectively provide job opportunities to all kinds of people in Roseburg. Because not everyone is qualified to participate in the war of invading other forces to plunder the spoils. If no one creates a large number of jobs, many people will inevitably waste their time in confusion. This is no wonder for them. In the cold and long winter, only the strongest have been brave enough to go out to catch wild animals and sell their hides to make money. The majority of the people are like hibernating black bears hiding in their own homes for a virtual hibernation.

Human beings don’t really want to hibernate, they are just forced to do so due to the harsh environment. Unless an opportunity to make huge wealth is presented to them, they will take the risk.

Simple work such as building towns, mining, logging, etc. can make many people money, and also allow them to have money to buy as much as they want.Wheat for meal.

Is this enough? Not enough!

Rurik was under great pressure, and he realized that he was actually running his principality carefully due to tight financial pressure. The wealth gained by various means in the past year will be consumed a lot this winter. Although selling steel products is very profitable, it is also necessary to rely on other high value-added goods to gain more wealth.

Regarding the steel industry, Rurik felt that he had made very detailed arrangements, and he also made other arrangements.

This time, Lilia became the protagonist.

Without him, the Klavasen family are all talented people, and the married daughter-in-law has also become a new talent. Lilia has become a master at making glassware through continuous practice. She does not dare to risk scalding her lungs to engage in glass blowing, but her skills in die-casting glass are getting better and better. She knew how to mix the glass raw materials herself and figured out how to control the heat of the furnace, but the key to success lies in excellent bronze molds.

But she is pregnant again. It would be foolish to expect a pregnant woman to work hard.

Glassware is crystal clear, and anyone who owns it will regard it as a treasure. Its added value is very high, but Roseburg's glassware output is too low unless it really becomes an industry.

As the sister-in-law of the Duke of Ross, the eldest lady of the White Tree Manor, a natural and respectable doer, Lilia has her own opinion, which is to call on Ross to launch a new Sorgon voyage, and then start from there. A group of young women were obtained from the hometown of Novgorod, preferably girls from the White Tree Manor. Not only were women workers recruited to make glassware, but also workers who used new glassware to distill ale and make spirits.

This is a very constructive suggestion!

Rurik nodded, fully agreeing and keeping it in mind.

Indeed, he also plans to take Svetlana to Novgorod to visit relatives. Besides, he and she still lacked an Ilmenslav-style wedding. Such a public wedding would also have strong political implications, which would be an invitation to all the Novgorodians living around Lake Ilmen. The Slavs of the region demonstrated the monarch's goodwill gestures, which was beneficial to their rule.