A small soldier of the frontier army in the late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 160
The silver mine reserves are nearly [-] tons, which means the total amount of silver is several million taels.However, compared with later generations, Daming's mining capacity at this time is low, the mining technology is complicated, and a large amount of labor is required. It is not so easy to mine and smelt.

Especially in the current situation, if Wang Dou wants to smelt silver, he needs to take a lot of risks. Daming's control over iron and coal mines is relatively lax, but the control over gold, silver, copper and other mines is very strict.When mining gold and silver mines, the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Metropolitan Procuratorate have always sent people to specialize in the silver department. If you have a mere ethics officer, if you mine gold and silver mines privately, if someone knows about it and reports it to you, you will be charged with a serious crime. .

Therefore, even though Wang Dou knew that there were these silver mines in Baoan Prefecture, he did not dare to do it until he was promoted to a moral integrity officer. If you don't take a risk, you have to take a risk.

Wang Dou remembers that some rich mines in Daming can mine about 3 taels of silver every year. If he manages well, he should be able to mine 1 to [-] taels of silver in Shangjinggou in a year.Even if there is a steady stream of [-] taels of silver per year, it is still a huge wealth, which can solve many difficulties for Wang Dou. This risk is worth taking.

After hearing Wang Dou's words, Han Chao was also taken aback: "Silver mine?"

His voice trembled a little. Of course, Han Chao knew what it meant to mine silver mines privately. Although he didn't know how Wang Dou knew that there were silver mines in Xiangguang, Shangjinggou and other places, but Mr. Morality entrusted such an important matter to himself Handling it showed Wang Dou's trust in him. He cupped his fists and saluted and said, "Don't worry, my lord. Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire, I will also handle this matter well for you."

Looking at Han Chao, Wang Dou nodded with satisfaction. Han Chao was the first to follow him, and he was also calm and calm. Entrusting this matter to him, he really chose the right person.If it was Han Zhong, Gao Shiyin and the others, they would have jumped up long ago when they heard the news. Wang Dou did not doubt their loyalty, but their temperament was such that they could not handle such an important matter.

Wang Dou explained to him in detail: "Go to Shun Township Castle and find Li Maosen, the head craftsman, and ask him to bring some people to go with you to investigate."

……

Han Chao led the way and went there for more than ten days. He did not return to Baoanzhou City until the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month. He was accompanied by the craftsman Li Maosen, the old craftsman Wu Shihuan and others. Black and thin, full of openings from wind and snow, which shows their hard work in investigation.

Han reported to Wang Dou that he had led people to investigate that there were indeed several silver mines distributed in Xiangguang of Huiyaobao in Baoan Prefecture, and Shangjinggou in Luanzhuang of Wubao. These places were desolate enough to mine quietly without attracting attention.

Then the old craftsman Wu Shihuan explained the situation of the mine search these days. Counting, Wu Shihuan has followed Wang Dou since the eighth year of Chongzhen, and his interests are now closely connected with Wang Dou. He led the craftsmen to make irrigation water tankers and other things. After two years, he has a considerable net worth, even richer than some military officers. He is the first group of craftsmen to get rich first. Seeing his example, All the craftsmen are full of confidence, as the craftsman can live a good life, so can he himself.

Two years later, Wu Shihuan's hair became even grayer, but he still had a loud voice and a hale and hearty spirit.He is considered all-rounder, he is proficient in making weapons, civil engineering work, ore mining, etc. When Han and North Korea secretly found Li Maosen, Li Maosen found Wu Shihuan. The two knew that the matter was important, and they both chose craftsmen. Zhong's most trusted confidant nephew, together with Han Chao, went to Xiangguang and other places to search for mines and survey, and the matter finally came to fruition.

Wang Dou rewarded Li Maosen and Wu Shihuan to sit on the same chair, which made the two feel grateful. The lord of integrity gradually became more powerful, and he was still as kind to them as in Jingbian Fort and Shunxiang Fort. Now It is even more important to entrust them with a heavy responsibility, and both of them have the idea of ​​dying for their confidants.

Wu Shihuan said: "My lord, the younger ones went with Han Qianhu to investigate the Xiangguang, Shangjinggou and other places that the lord said. There are indeed silver mines there, but the ore veins in this place are slanting like branches, and they are mined for silver refining. I'm afraid it's not Such an easy task may require a lot of manpower.”

According to Wu Shihuan, the silver mines in Xiangguang and other places are not open-pit rich mines, and can only be mined in pits, and the shafts are developed along the direction of the ore body.

He estimated that after mining some wells, the vertical depth can reach [-] feet, and the horizontal length can reach [-] feet. Even some small wells may be as deep as [-] feet.Moreover, this silver mine is also mixed with a large number of concurrent substances, such as lead and zinc, etc., and it takes a lot of effort to smelt it into silver.

Li Maosen also said: "I have seen it. The silver mine in this place is not of high quality. It is estimated that eight stones can get seven taels of silver. To make silver, you need to pound the ore into crumbs, and then throw lead into the furnace." , Silver dissolves in lead to separate the silver, and it takes a lot of work.”

A look of worry appeared on his face: "Xiangguang and other places are desolate and uninhabited. Although it can deceive people's eyes and ears, the local accommodation is poor. The most fearful thing is that there will be mudslides on the surrounding highlands."

Li Maosen is in charge of making all kinds of weapons in Shunxiang Fort. He and Wu Shihuan divide the labor, one is in charge of weapons and the other is in charge of civil weapons. Among the craftsmen of Shunxiang Fort, he is richer than Wu Shihuan, and he has already built a building in Shunxiang Fort. A big mansion is very enviable, and his interests are also closely connected with Wang Dou.

He expressed his worries, Wang Dou pondered for a long time, and said: "The mining of silver mines is imperative!"

He said to Wu Shihuan: "Master Wu, you are responsible for the silver mine. You choose the miners and workers, and their food, clothing and rations will be generously provided by the official. They only need to work for a few years, and they can live comfortably all their lives. .In order for the miners to work with peace of mind, all their households are concentrated in Xiangguang and other places.”

He looked at Wu Shihuan and smiled: "I heard that Master Wu has four sons, all of whom are outstanding in skills. Congratulations."

Speaking of his sons, Wu Shihuan also laughed from ear to ear.

Wang Doudao: "From next year, Shunxiang Fort will open wood factories, logging yards, stone factories, lime factories and other workshops. Your sons can completely take charge of the operation of these factories and mines."

Wu Shihuan was even more overjoyed, and quickly thanked Wang Dou.

Wang Dou said to Li Maosen: "Next year Shun Township Castle will also set up workshops such as gun factory, gunpowder factory, and iron factory. Master Li, I have also decided to hand over the operation of these factories and mines to you."

Li Maosen was also overjoyed, knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Dou again and again.

After seeing off Wu Shihuan and Li Maosen, Wang Dou said to Xie Yike, "Go to Shun Township Castle and call Zhong Tiaoyang."

……

Soon it will be New Years Eve, and the new year will begin.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month in the tenth year of Chongzhen, Han and Chao finally got married, and the bride was Mrs. Zheng from Wansheng and Midian in Baoanzhou City.Compared with two years ago, the current Wanshenghe rice store is much larger than before. The reason is that after Wang Dou led the army to Zhoucheng, all the rice grains needed were purchased from Wanshenghe.

Under Guangguang Wangdou's command, nearly a thousand soldiers and horses eat and drink, which is not a small amount. Such a large source of customers makes the scale of Wanshenghe Midian inflate like a balloon. Now Wanshenghe, in the state Several branches have been opened in the city.In order to solve the food and rice supply for these soldiers, Wan Sheng and the rice shop guys went around to buy food, and also brought a lot of foreign intelligence to Wang Dou.

Han Chao's mansion in Zhoucheng is located in Cheng'enfang, Xunyu City, not far from the mansion of Guan Tuen Guan Zhang Gui. This mansion is not small, but Han Chao can afford the money.Like the thousands of households around Wang Dou, the Han Dynasty only allocated 150 mu of land, relying on the income from the land alone, I am afraid that it will not be so easy to buy this house.

Han Dynasty’s income mainly comes from the rewards for killing the enemy. Wang Dou’s rewards are quite generous. In the past two years, he has not paid a penny of food and salary. The money is equivalent to the food and salary of ordinary Ming soldiers for a year, and the rewards for officers are even thicker. This makes the soldiers of Shunxiangbao different from other Ming troops, they are all looking forward to going into battle to kill the enemy.Relying on these rewards, Han and North Korea were able to buy a house in Zhoucheng.

At this time, his mansion was decorated with lights and festoons, and it was full of joy. Since the early morning, people from Hexi had been coming.Han Chao, Han Zhong brothers are the confidantes of Lord Wang, the integrity officer of the state city, and they are all officials of thousands of households. Now that Han Chao is married, who would not want to take this opportunity to come and make friends?
Zhang Gui, the prefectural urban management officer, Tian Changguo, the battalion officer, Wen Fangliang, the general manager, and Chi Dacheng, the town governor, came.There are also old acquaintances in Shun Xiangbao, the defense officer Lin Daofu, the deputy Qianhu Sun Sanjie, and the deputy Qianhu Gao Shiyin.There are also military officers from various forts in Bao'an Prefecture, gentry and merchants from all over the place, all sent congratulatory gifts one after another, and the Han Mansion was packed to the brim.

Especially Gao Shiyin, he is now married to Han Chao. He married Zheng Xiaoyun, the third sister of Mrs. Zheng, and Han Chao married his wife's older sister. I can't tell the difference.

But as soon as he entered the room, he laughed loudly, and said loudly: "Brother Han, my son is going to run away, you just got married now... Well, it's not too late now."

Seeing Han Chao's official groom's attire, he commented old-fashionedly: "That's right, this looks like a man with a family."

Han Zhong stood beside his elder brother, and he was also very festively dressed. He has been busy these few days, and his head is battered.

He lived with his elder brother, and the elder brother got married. As the younger brother, he naturally had the duty to help. At this moment, he glared and said, "Gao Manzi, you just got married a year earlier than my brother, just to teach you this lesson?"

Gao Shiyin shouted: "Second Brother Han, you are not young anymore, it's time to start a family."

While everyone was laughing, Gao Xun stood quietly aside. Mr. Han was overjoyed to get married, and he was kind enough to introduce him. He discussed with his wife, Tian Shi, and gritted his teeth to prepare a gift. Although it was not heavy, it was also his Mind.

Seeing Han Chao's happy face at this time, while Gao Xun was envious, he also secretly vowed that one day, he would be like Mr. Han, so proud of his spring breeze, and finally conferred his wife and son, and honored his ancestors.

(End of this chapter)