Da Wei Chun

Chapter 622
The Luojing imperial treasury is so clean that it can run away mice, so where did the 50 gold come from?
But there are in Xihai, and more than 50.Now it has been circulated in the world, plus the copper ingots in the copper factory that have not been forged into money, at least four or five times, that is, 200 million catties or more.

It sounds like a lot, but if you calculate carefully, it is only about a thousand tons.Stacked together, it is almost a hundred cubic meters, roughly the size of a living room of more than 30 square meters in later generations.

Hearing the number of 200 million, Daxi opened his mouth wide and looked at Li Chengzhi in a daze.

He found that other than scolding his mother, he really couldn't express his feelings at this time.

This is 200 million catties, Li Chengzhi picked up a copper mountain?
The city is as deep as Zhang Jingzhi, and he couldn't control the expression on his face: "Why are there so many? Could it be that you found a big mine in Hexi?"

"I found a mine, not far from here, about a hundred miles away, but it's not a big mine, but a small mine!"

"How small?" Da Xi interjected.

Li Chengzhi recalled: "It's only two or three thousand acres in size, I don't know the depth for now!"

Da Xi sneered: "You and I don't know how much stone green (copper ore, also refers to malachite) can be produced from an acre of mine, and how much copper can be produced from a thousand catties of stone green? Besides, do you know how to find ore, It will take a lot of people and a lot of time to open a mountain, dig it, grind it, go to the furnace, smelt it, and finally produce copper.”

Seeing Daxi's expression of "Don't fool me for a fool", Li Chengzhi was surprised: "Is copper ever smelted in Guanzhong?"

Otherwise, how could Daxi know so clearly?

Zhang Jingzhi nodded: "In the first year of Zhengshi (Yuan Ke's second reign, 504), because the court was short of money, the first emperor issued an edict ordering Zhuzhou counties to search for mines and make money.

Until the first year of Yongping (508), it took four years to close the five prefectures in Guanzhong. A total of more than 12 peasants were recruited before and after, and nearly 24 mu of large and small copper mines were found, and more than one million catties of quarrying were carried out, but only three yuan was paid. More than sixteen million coins, [-] gold..."

When he heard the data of more than 12 people, 24 acres of mining, [-] million catties of quarrying, and [-] copper, Li Chengzhi had an extremely strange look on his face.

Daxi didn't know, but he was very clear: Guanzhong's copper resources were extremely scarce, and the few concentrated ores were buried in deep layers. It is absolutely impossible to dig out.

Those that can be dug by manpower and that can be mined are all poor mines that are too poor. In later generations, no matter who opens them, they will have to pay for their underpants.Therefore, it is not surprising that Xi Kangsheng consumed so much manpower and took four years to produce only 24 catties of copper...

To be more precise, China's copper mines are relatively concentrated, mostly in the northwest and southwest, such as Tibet, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Anhui, Heilongjiang, and Gansu.

Not only does it not include Guanzhong.Moreover, in the Yuan and Wei Dynasties, apart from Hexi, there is no state or county with shallow copper mines that can be mined by manpower.

And it just so happened that Hexi was like a chicken rib to Yuan Wei, completely in a state of laissez-faire, otherwise it would not be so short of copper...

Seeing is believing, hearing is believing, Li Chengzhi is too lazy to argue with Daxi here.He pondered for a while, then pointed to the copper factory by the Ruoshui River: "No matter how much I tell you, you won't believe me, just let me go and see..."

Daxi was skeptical, clamping his horse's belly: "It's exactly what I want!"

It was not far away, only three or four miles away, and within two minutes, Li Chengzhi went and returned, and returned to the copper factory.

It is true that the copper factory was built late. Li Chengzhi started to build it after he arrived in Xihai, and it has not been half a year yet.

But mining started three years ago.

That was the time when Li Chengzhi rescued Gao Wenjun and Wei Yu on the way home under the guise of going to Hexi to explore the road.

He pointed Li Song to the salt pond, iron mine, coal mine, fluorite mine, and crucible mountain, and naturally he would not miss the copper mine.

It is about ninety miles east of the fluorite mine and about 170 miles away from Zhenyi Town.There are two places in total, one is called Daqingshan in later generations, which belongs to Biaoshi County, and the other is called Xiaoqingshan, which belongs to Linze County.At this time, it is naturally still an unknown place, so Li Chengzhi simply named it after it.

Both are in the shallow layer of the surface, but the reserves are not much, only about one million tons.Fortunately, they are all concentrates. Li Chengzhi estimates that only these two mines can produce at least six or seven thousand tons of copper, which is more than ten million catties.

200 million is just a fraction.

It was also three years ago that Li Chengzhi ordered Li Song to dig up bile soil (weathered copper ore) and transport it to Zhenyi.When Li Chengzhi came, the ore soil in the north of Heli Mountain was really piled up like a mountain.

Daxi asked again: "Since we have found the mine and dug out the gall, why not let Master Li smelt it?"

This question was a bit embarrassing, Li Chengzhi couldn't answer, but kept silent.

Li Song knew it early, and his face twitched unnaturally, but he said vaguely: "At that time, the people of Xihai were less than [-] households, and all the young and old needed to cultivate the fields. It is really flawless..."

As soon as I heard it, I knew that Li Song was not telling the truth.

I've just heard something from Li Shiliang, so both Daxi and Zhang Jingzhi know that today's Xihai pretends to be Hu merchants, and the business with Tuyuhun and even Nanliang is flourishing.I also know that Li Chengzhi set up a store in Beizhen three years ago to buy grain for Xihai.

So as long as copper is smelted, are you afraid that you won't be able to buy grain?
There must be some reason, but whether you see Li Chengzhi, Li Shiliang and Li Song, they are all secretive, how can they ask?

Daxi could only be patient, and followed Li Chengzhi into the copper factory.

Walking all the way in, Li Chengzhi stopped before a dirt mountain.

Looking at the scene in front of them, Zhang Jingzhi and Da Xi were both amazed, and immediately got off their horses and approached.

Looking closely, the eyeballs almost fell to the ground.

Never knew that copper smelting does not use fire, but water?
Don't say that you have seen it with your own eyes, but you have never heard of it...

The site is huge, covering [-] to [-] acres, with ore soil piled up in the middle, and a large pond is built on the high side of the earth mountain, which should be drawn from the Ruoshui River and filled with water.

Then there are two big canals extending from the edge of the pool, each nearly half a mile long.The walls and bottom of the ditch are covered with straw mats, and the bottom is covered with gravel-like things.

Looking at the pool, there are nearly a hundred people around. Some people open the gate to release water, and some people move ore soil into the pool.

And the strange thing is, after the water and the ore soil flowed down, it turned blue-green?

But the further you go, the lighter the color of the water becomes, until it becomes clear and transparent...

After watching for a while, Daxi stared at the bottom of the canal with his two big eyes fluttering.

The canal water at his feet was already very clear, and Yi Daxi could see it very clearly: from scratch, there were many yellow things on the straw mat at the bottom of the canal, visible to the naked eye.

He bent down suddenly, pulled up a piece of the straw mat, picked up a few copper particles, and threw them into his mouth without thinking.

Hearing him chewing loudly, Li Chengzhi felt his teeth sour.

Brother, this is copper, aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth?
With a "poof", Da Xi spat out the copper particles in his mouth, and said dumbly: "Is it really copper?"

"And iron?"

Zhang Jingzhi also leaned over and picked up a few pieces of yellow and black debris from the straw mat.

Da Xi leaned over and took a look, his tongue seemed to be unable to straighten his tongue in shock: "There is nothing more amazing in the world than this, just rinsing with water can wash out gold and iron from the soil? Is it true that what I just said, you are looking for Arrived at a golden mountain?"

Wouldn't it be more beautiful if I really had such a fate, and I would rebel and just lie on the golden palace and wait to be emperor?
"That's not the case, but the gallstones and gallstones will melt when they meet water, and then put iron filings in the gallbladder water to replace the copper..."

Da Xi took a sharp breath: "Turn a stone into gold?"

Some hair?
Li Chengzhi couldn't laugh or cry: "Why are you surprised? This is all the wisdom of the predecessors, and I am just picking up the wisdom of others..."

How could Daxi believe it, he almost lost his composure, staring at Li Chengzhi with bared teeth and sneered:
"Don't you think that I'm rough and crazy, and you think that I don't study much, so it's easy to hide it. After all, Xi also went to Guozi Academy...

Furthermore, my father has been a Zhonglang for nearly ten years, regardless of military affairs, civil affairs, and all kinds of crafts.You can tell me, which predecessor mentioned that copper can be washed out with water? "

It's not just Daxi, even Li Shiliang and Li Song are curious.It was also because Li Chengzhi was so busy all day that he didn't have time to explain.

What's more, Li Chengzhi has done more than this one. His cronies have long regarded him as a fairy. Don't say that he can really touch stones into gold by washing copper with water. At most, Li Song and others admired him , not as shocked as Daxi, who was like seeing a ghost.

Zhang Jingzhi, on the other hand, was thinking hard, his brows frowning into the word "Chuan".

Even famous Confucian figures such as Cui Guang, Liu Fang, and You Zhao were full of praise for Li Chengzhi's profound knowledge and extensive research, and the late emperor Yuan Ke was even more amazed.

Therefore, he dared to say such a thing, and it must not be nonsense.But why can't I find the source when I recall the works of the predecessors?
"Uncle should have seen it!"

Seeing his distress, Li Chengzhi reminded him calmly, "If Zeng Qing gets iron, it will turn into copper..."

Zhang Jingzhi blurted out, ""Huainan Technique"?"

Li Chengzhi struck with both hands: "Of course!"

Really?
Daxi was as stupid as he was.

However, Li Song and the others just laughed and said nothing, because they had experienced this scene today so many times.

Just like when Mr. Lang saved Hu Baozong with spirits and garlic at the beginning of his enlightenment, it came from Ge Hong's "Baopuzi Golden Prescription" in the later Jin Dynasty.

Another example is building a city with ice to resist monk rebellion, which comes from "Annotation to the Three Kingdoms" written by Pei Songzhi, a historian of the Liu Song Dynasty.

Another example is the method of dedicating to the former emperor Yuan Kesu iron knife and turning pig iron into steel, which comes from the "Ji Jin Dan Huang Bai Fang" written by Tao Hongjing, a Nanliang alchemist who is still alive today.

But whether it is the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Liu Song Dynasty, or the Southern Liang Dynasty, why didn't they develop medicinal wine that can save wounded soldiers, and a method of building a city that can be used to defend against enemies in winter?

But in Nanliang today, the soldiers still wear soft iron armor and use pig iron spearheads...

So all of Li's cronies have already seen through, and these are just the words of Mr. Lang.Otherwise, why didn't he explain, where did the steel cannon come from, and where did the method of using crucible iron and steel come from?

Not to mention that Mr. Lang has never been to Hexi, but he can clearly point out where every mine is located...

Da Xi scratched his head and scratched his head, feeling very excited, he held onto Zhang Jingzhi's sleeve tightly, and asked whether there was such a magic technique similar to turning stone into gold in "Huainan Shu".

Zhang Jingzhi perfunctory casually, seemingly inadvertently, glanced at Li Chengzhi and Li Song.

He finally understood why Li Chengzhi only asked Li Song to dig and transport the gall, instead of giving Li Song this method early on to make him smelt copper.

Just because it is too simple, you can see it at a glance.

At that time, Li Song was already in charge of Xihai, and he ruled nearly [-] households. If he was more ruthless, he could get [-] warriors if he conscripted one person from each household.

At that time, he had already been instructed by Li Chengzhi, and he knew that the watch was where the iron mine and the crucible mountain were, and he also knew the art of making steel in the crucible furnace, so he did not lack weapons.

After crossing Heli Mountain, it is the boundary of the West Sea, where there are often miscellaneous beards grazing.Further south, at the northern foot of Qilian Mountain, is the land where Lushui Hu lived for generations, so if Li Song wanted to slaughter these Hu tribes, he could easily rob tens of thousands of war horses.

In this way, firstly, there is no shortage of soldiers, secondly, secondly, and thirdly, there is no shortage of horses. If he is given the teaching of copper smelting, the money and food will also be settled.
At that time, no matter how loyal Li Song is, he might have evil thoughts.What's more, he is not a person who follows the rules and keeps his own position. Otherwise, why would Li Chengzhi be implicated in his narrow escape?
Subconsciously, he thought of the two words that Li Chengzhi often said:
The human heart is the most vulnerable to temptation...

The reason why he is loyal is because he doesn't have enough chips for betrayal...

If he knows the method of smelting copper, and let him get the secret firearm recipe that only Li Liang knows besides Li Chengzhi, how should Li Song choose?

The more I thought about it, the more afraid I became. Unknowingly, Zhang Jingzhi saw traces of sweat on his forehead, and he admired Li Chengzhi even more in his heart: when the old Baijia tribe was sent to Jingzhou three years ago, Li Chengzhi would rather be with Li Chengzhi. Song Lilide should also act in front of him, give advice to Li Liang, Huangfu, Li Feng, Li Shi and others, and ask his confidants to always mention Li Song.

At that time, those who knew the matter did not dare to speak out, but they all disapproved, thinking that Li Chengzhi was not broad-minded and had no tolerance for others.

But at this moment, I realized that Li Chengzhi had far-sighted eyes and deep thoughts...

……

The setting sun is getting farther and farther away, and the sky is getting darker.

No matter how curious Da Xi and Zhang Jingzhi were, Yu Yeli couldn't see why.Li Chengzhi invited them back to the city.

Daxi was still very excited, as if he was a child, and he felt novelty everywhere he looked.

Just after leaving the copper factory, when work was over, the side roads were full of pedestrians.He took a closer look and found that there were many women and old people?

"If such a weak woman can also work in the workshop?"

Li Chengzhi nodded: "Of course it is possible. Although there is no gravity, you can do some simple and labor-saving processes. For example, in a paper factory, old and weak women can boil the pulp and stick the paper skin...

If it is in a copper factory, when the ditches are to be drained, women and weak people pick copper particles from straw mats.And in factories such as textiles and clothing and boots, women are the main ones, and young adults are the assistants..."

Da Xi was puzzled, "If that's the case, who will cultivate the land?"

"How can there be so many lands?"

Li Chengzhi sighed sadly, "At the time of Li Song, there were only [-] households in Xihai, and they had to mine, smelt iron, forge armor, pave roads, repair canals, build houses, etc., but these are not enough for all the young people. Therefore, only Able to conscript wives and old people to cultivate fields. In three years, there are only more than [-] hectares of farmland, and if more than [-] mu are distributed to each household, it will only be less than [-] mu...

Last year, [-] to [-] households suddenly moved to Xihai. Although there were more people, there were not so many barren fields to cultivate.Fortunately, there were a lot of livestock plundered from Dulun's tribe, and the pasture in Xihai was large enough, so the new people had to change farming to pasture.

But even so, there are idlers in every family, idle around all day, making a lot of trouble.That's why I suggested to my uncle to recruit soldiers, so that there will be more soldiers of the Three Guards... and the redundant women, old and weak will all be called into the factory..."

No wonder his intention to plan the four counties in Hexi is clearly revealed. It turns out that relying on the West Sea alone cannot support more than [-] households.

After thinking about it again, in less than four years, how much grain did Li Chengzhi smuggle to Hexi, enough to feed 60 or [-] people for three years?
It's incredible to think about it...

Both Daxi and Zhang Jingzhi are people who know the soldiers, and have acted as civil affairs agents, so they naturally understand why Li Chengzhi spends more money and food to recruit soldiers, and he doesn't want the people to spend money.

Just because the more idle you are, the more troublemakers you will have...

With a secret sigh, Zhang Jingzhi said warmly: "Farming and mulberry are the foundation of the country, and food is the most important thing for the people. If there is no land, the common people will have no food and clothing, states and counties will have no taxes, officials will have no salaries, and soldiers will have no armor... This is not a long way..."

As soon as Daxi heard it, he knew that Zhang Jingzhi was trying to persuade Li Chengzhi: If you want to plot Hexi, it is better to do it as soon as possible... Are you really not polite at all?

He raised his head instinctively, just in time to meet Li Chengzhi's gaze, and subconsciously hummed.

What are you humming?

Starting today, I will be stirring a spoon in a pot, and become a grasshopper on a rope. If I, Li Chengzhi, can't escape, can I still escape you Daxi?

In the past two or three years, maybe your father Xi Kangsheng will be added...

At most, it will be the beginning of next spring, and troops will definitely be dispatched to Zhangye and Wuwei counties.Otherwise, the townspeople who have recently returned from the six towns will not be able to resettle.At that time, let Da Xi see, even if Dunhuang Town General Yuan Zhi has an army of [-], so what?

If it weren't for the concern that Yuan Wei's emaciated camels were bigger than horses, it wouldn't be difficult to swallow Yuan's bird of prey in one gulp...

"What uncle said is true!"

Li Chengzhi replied, then glared at Daxi: "How about letting you lead the army when the time comes?"

"I?"

Daxi's tailbone trembled, startled, "You trust me?"

"It's a joke, how can I not believe it? Besides, I never support idlers. Could it be that you still want to hang around in Xihai and wait to die?"

Li Chengzhi sneered and said, "It just so happens that many refugees and rebels have escaped from the Six Towns recently. I am worried that no one can be used, so I will give you full power to deal with it. It is also a good time to pick some soldiers from them and form another army... "

He was worried about how to deal with the refugees and rebels who escaped from Beizhen, as well as many tycoons and tribes, so Xi Kangsheng sent Daxi to his door?
Most of the powerful men, tribesmen, troops and townspeople in Beizhen are from the former tribe of Xianbei, and it just so happens that Xi Kangsheng is at the height of his power.As long as Daxihu pretends to be a tiger and erects this golden signboard, it will naturally get twice the result with half the effort.

It is true that no one under Li Chengzhi is available, such as Li Song, Li Liang, and Huangfu all hold several positions, but they are still too busy to touch the ground.In addition, Daxi, the so-called middle man, is actually Xi Kangsheng's assistant, secretary and captain of the guard, and there is no work he should not do, and he can't do it, so Li Chengzhi will never let him idle...

Li Chengzhi taunted him so much, but Daxi was not dissatisfied.Although he was silent, he had mixed feelings in his heart.

Xi Kangsheng wrote clearly in the letter, Daxi naturally knew why he was sent to Xihai.I only thought that Li Chengzhi would at most make him a casual official and move him to a idle position.But he didn't expect that he would be entrusted with an important task as soon as he arrived?

After feeling emotional for a while, he arched his hands again, and replied in a low voice: "I will definitely try my best!"

Hehe... As long as you take office, it will be difficult for you not to try your best...

……

After a while, several people returned to Guancheng.When they arrived at the back garden, Zhang Jingzhi and Daxi realized that Guancheng was not just where the Zhongya was located, and Li Chengzhi's Xingyuan was also here.

The Zhangs, old and young, gathered together, and the banquet could begin only after Li Chengzhi and others entered.

As soon as several people entered the garden, they were greeted by attendants Tong Bing, who only heard a murmur, no matter men, women or children.

Zhang Wei is already in his sixties, and although his beard and hair are white, his body is still in good shape.Without waiting for Li Chengzhi to salute, he held back his arms, his eyes were full of smiles, and he repeatedly said "OK" a few times!
For this old man, Li Chengzhi still admires him very much.

Back then, Zhang Jingzhi's elder brother Zhang Jianzhi failed Li Chengzhi, and then committed suicide in shame and indignation. The two families had already become enemies.And if it wasn't for Zhang Wei's hard work and final decision, Aneng would have promised Zhang's eldest daughter, Jing Mo, to Li Chengzhi as a concubine?
After that, there will be no more Zhang Jingzhi braving the world's disapproval and helping Li Song lead the old Baijia troops to escape to the West Sea, and there will be no [-] or [-] refugees who were smuggled to the West Sea later.

Therefore, in terms of hard work, the father and son of Zhang Wei and Zhang Jing deserve the greatest credit...

The two chatted a little, Gao Wenjun and Wei Yu, Zhang Jingmo and Zhang Jingzhi and Daxi greeted each other.

When he saw that both Gao Wenjun and Zhang Jingmo were pregnant, and that Jingmo's body seemed to be more bloated, Zhang Jingzhi was taken aback.

Immediately, he felt all the energy and blood in his body rushing to his forehead, and his eyes were dizzy, as if he was drunk, and he seemed to be unable to stand still.

Only now did he know why his father was so happy when he saw Chengzhi.

Even if it is a concubine, as long as it is one day earlier, it will have an advantage...

The thought flashed in his mind, Zhang Jingzhi hurriedly turned serious, and asked Gao Wenjun and Wei Yu to salute.

I thought that now that the Gao and Li families are deadly enemies, and the Li family is even more rebellious, Gao Wenjun must be sad and depressed.But upon closer inspection, there was joy in the eyebrows and eyes, which made Zhang Jingzhi secretly surprised.

Looking at Wei Yu again, he was dressed up again, and ashes could be seen between his temples, as if he had just returned not long ago.

"It's really rude to come to see guests like this!"

Li Chengzhi reprimanded him warmly, but his face was full of doting.

"I'm going now!" Wei Yu stuck out her tongue, blessed Zhang Jingzhi and Daxi, and then went to the backyard.

Li Chengzhi raised his hand to invite everyone to the table, and then explained to Zhang Jingzhi and Daxi in a low voice: "Yu'er is teaching in a children's school now, so no one should know about it, and I don't know that there are distinguished guests coming from afar. It's late..."

Teaching?

Daxi asked suspiciously: "Women can also give lectures?"

"Why not?"

Ask a question instead, seeing that Da Xi hesitated to speak, nine out of ten he was suffocating a sentence like "what's the proper way", Li Chengzhi sneered: "If you don't want to force me to fight with you, so as to cheer up the grandpa, then it's best Don't open your mouth..."

Da Xi was so angry that his eyes popped: Good thief, don't you claim to have always persuaded people with reason?
(End of this chapter)