Song Dynasty Cannon Fodder Counterattack Record

Chapter 168 Steelmaking Methods
The craftsman said: "Steel made by ordinary methods is easy to be brittle. With this method, I only need to add some cheap things to the molten iron to make the steel tough."

Li Buqi already guessed in his mind what he was adding to the molten iron, and he couldn't help being surprised: "This method has been invented in this era? The wisdom of the ancients is really unfathomable."

Seeing the officials and craftsmen all stretching their necks to look at it, Li Buqi naturally would not let go of this opportunity to buy a horse bone with a thousand dollars, and immediately said: "If this method is really useful, it means that the imperial court's reward is not satisfactory. I will also ask for rewards from the officials again. This is not a place to talk, you can talk about it when you go back with me."

Li Buqi's reputation has always been guaranteed, and the old craftsman cheerfully followed Li Buqi to Li Buqi's office.Li Buqi asked the old craftsman what to do after he sent someone to bring tea.Exactly as Li Buqi's conjecture, the old craftsman's method was to add lime to the iron-smelting furnace.

Li Buqi was engaged in chemistry before crossing over. Of course, he knew that adding lime to the blast furnace could remove the sulfur and phosphorus brought in by the iron ore, which not only improved the quality of the steel, but also had a great benefit.Coal contains sulfur, so the use of coal to make iron will result in high sulfur impurities in the steel, resulting in very brittle steel. Adding lime and sulfur to form a precipitate, you can use coal to make steel directly, no need to cut down trees and burn charcoal up.

It's not that Li Buqi has never thought about using this method to develop the steel industry in the future, but he doesn't want people to be seen as an omniscient god, so he has been thinking about how to naturally introduce this method.I didn't expect it to come without any effort!

However, the old craftsman's method is still very primitive and rough, and there will be many problems.For example, the nature of the slag will change after lime is added. How to get out the slag is a problem, so Li Buqi asked why it was not dedicated to the court before.Under Li Buqi's repeated questioning and insinuation, the old craftsman finally said that he had offered this method before, but the official at that time thought that adding lime to molten iron would increase waste, which was pure nonsense, so he dismissed the matter. I got stuck.

Of course, Li Buqi couldn't complain about the civil officials' assumptions. He just wrote a document asking for a reward for the old man on the spot, and promised the old man that he would get a satisfactory result for him.In the end, Li Buqi told the old craftsman that if he went to the Royal Proving Ground to improve this method, he could get more rewards.The old craftsman's face was full of joy, and he left after thanking him again and again.

There are masters in the folk, and they don't know when they will be able to pick up the treasure.Li Buqi wrote another notice for the scribes to copy, and posted one in each workshop, telling the craftsmen and officials in each workshop that whoever proposes developments that can improve production efficiency and product quality will be rewarded. Even if the method of tying knots on the armor is better than other methods, you can ask for rewards.

Liu Shi, as the supervisor of Yantie Division and Li Buqi's immediate boss, was reported to him every move of Li Buqi every day, but there was nothing of value.The second exam that Li Buqi said was carried out as scheduled, and as a result, another principal and two minor officials were suspended.These people went to Liu Shi to file a complaint, which made Zhang Yaozuo a little worried, but unexpectedly, Liu Shi calmed down and said hello to Wang Gongchen and arranged these people to other departments to settle the matter.

After two exams in a row, Li Buqi won several people, and his authority in the case was established at once.But Zhang Yaozuo became even more worried, and when San Ya returned home, he called Master Huang over.

Master Huang walked into Zhang Yaozuo's study and asked, "The official is back, is there something wrong?"

Zhang Yaozuo asked Master Huang to sit down and said: "Today Li Buqi dismissed several people from the case. Liu Yushi and Wang Jixiang did not take the opportunity to make trouble, but calmed down. This is probably playing hard to get, and it is not what we expected. One situation is similar, it seems that Wang Jixiang is more than just driving Li Buqi out of the third division."

Master Huang thought for a while, and said confidently: "Actually, I don't think officials need to worry too much now. How much did we calculate Li Buqi's actions after he became the master? But who would have thought of Li Buqi's actions?" There will be an exam, and now he dismisses those who want to be dismissed, and promotes whoever he wants to promote, and no one can say anything. We didn't think of it at the time, even if they didn't expect to pass the exam twice. After the Zhou case has been settled, the authority has been firmly grasped, and Ji Xiang can't say anything."

"Looking at this matter, Li Buqi may have thought it over for a long time, and he will definitely make a decision on what to do next. According to the situation described by the officials, Li Buqi has just established his power in the case, and there are officials. As a backer, if you think about it, it will be difficult for Ji Xiang to find Li Buqi's troubles in his job. If you want to catch Li Buqi again, you can only make decisions about money. I'm afraid this is also the reason why Ji Xiang doesn't act now. But there are The officials are watching from the side, and it is not easy to succeed in planning."

Zhang Yaozuo thought for a while and said: "Sir, what you said is reasonable. It just seems that the old man wants to mention Li Buqi a few more words. Few people can escape if the censor wants to check the envoy's money. Li Buqi has a wealth of money. Naturally, it is impossible to be greedy for a few small coins. But I still have to tell him to manage the envoy's money clearly, and don't talk about it."

Master Huang smiled slightly and said, "It's fine to be a little bit more involved, as long as he doesn't get the officials involved."

Zhang Yaozuo shook his head and said: "Although Li Buqi is cautious, but young people tend to be complacent and can't see the depth after all. Even if he makes mistakes in small things, we still have to watch him carefully."

Master Huang said: "The officials probably don't know what Li Buqi said in the Royal Public Library yesterday when he was resting?"

Zhang Yaozuo hurriedly asked, "What did he say?"

"Yesterday Li Buqi went to the public library and talked about learning with famous scholars Shao Yong, Zhang Zai and others. Wan Shi Kai Tai Ping'. What do the officials think of this sentence?"

Zhang Yaozuo smashed it for a long time before he slapped his thigh: "It's the best words! The responsibility of my generation of scholars has been exhausted by this one sentence! Thanks to Li Buqi for being able to figure it out."

Master Huang said: "Li Buqi first derogated the Six Classics as a Mongolian book, and now he says this sentence, which shows that Li Buqi is quietly engaged in learning, and he is very thoughtful about learning. Hehe The officials see that Li Buqi is running a library, and he is asking people to discuss topics. If Li Buqi can't be an official, I'm afraid he will go to study. Li Buqi has already made a lot of things. If he really went to study, I'm afraid it would be even more dreadful than being an official, wouldn't this be more in line with the official's intention? Wouldn't it be better to save the official from keeping him?"

Zhang Yaozuo thought for a long time and nodded, "Sir, that's right. I'm just afraid that Li Buqi will go to be Tao Zhugong, and he won't be a scholar, so it's better to let him go up in the official position, so that nothing will happen. just in case."

"Ah, I'm just making a suggestion, and the officials naturally understand it better than I do." Master Huang knew that he only had the right to make suggestions. As for how to make the final decision, it was Zhang Yaozuo's business, but as long as the matter came to fruition, he would Wealth and honor are indispensable for half a lifetime.

PS: Resuming the double update, in order to thank you for your love, there will be three updates today.

(End of this chapter)