"Guo County Lord, please think clearly. This is the armor and weapons needed by an army of 10,000 people!"
Zhu Fu said solemnly.
Zhu Di also looked directly at Guo An, with a trace of expectation in his eyes that he was not aware of.
"Guo An, I would like to inform you that among the standing army of the Ming Dynasty, the weapons and equipment of a hundred households are ten fires, twenty swords, thirty bows and arrows, and forty spears! As for the equipment and armor, I, the three guards of Yanshan
Every soldier has one.
Not to mention other large and small muskets, large and small general barrels, large and small iron cannons, chariots, and gunpowder, just the standing weapons mentioned by the king, an army of 10,000 will require at least more than 600,000 kilograms of pig iron."
"Six hundred thousand catties?"
Guo An frowned slightly and made a quick calculation in his mind. Two hundred thousand kilograms a month would be more than six thousand kilograms a day. If...
That’s it!
Thinking about it, Guo An nodded slightly and replied with an affirmative look: "Your Highness, more than six thousand kilograms of iron are smelted a day. As long as we add more blacksmiths to the Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works, it can still be completed!"
Zhu Fu covered his face a little. Although he couldn't bear to see this little magistrate, he dared to be so close to His Highness, and it might cause His Highness to be disgusted and disliked by the Crown Prince and the Emperor.
However, the armor required for an army of ten thousand is an important matter for the country. It is a matter of great importance and there cannot be any mistakes.
So, he subconsciously reminded him word for word: "Guo County Master, please think clearly, this is 600,000 kilograms of pig iron, not 60,000 kilograms, let alone 60 kilograms..."
Guo An smiled sincerely at Zhu Fu and said, "Thank you Zhu Changshi for your concern. I am really confident that within three months, 600,000 kilograms of pig iron will be smelted. If there are enough craftsmen, we can also build the 10,000-kilogram army we need."
weapons and armor!"
Seeing that Guo An was so sure, Zhu Fu's plan of persuasion suddenly disappeared and he had nothing to say.
However, my heart is still filled with panic.
Is 600,000 kilograms of pig iron so easy to smelt? He is the chief historian of the Yan Palace, and he has a clear understanding of all the government affairs in the Yan Palace.
Even the Shangzhuangcun Iron Mine has nearly a hundred blacksmiths. In one year, they can smelt 150,000 kilograms of pig iron, which can already make the Yan Palace rich for a long time.
And now, within three months, six hundred thousand catties?
Thinking about it, Zhu Fu's expression became a little complicated.
Above, Zhu Di's eyes lit up. He actually felt that Guo An, the thief officer, was not lying!
"Guo An, this matter is of great importance. I would like to confirm one last time. Can you really guarantee that 600,000 kilograms of pig iron will be smelted within three months?"
A trace of helplessness flashed in Guo An's eyes, "Has Your Highness not paid attention to the situation of the Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works for several days?"
Hearing this, Zhu Di seemed to remember something, his eyes lit up, and he said quickly: "You mean, those strange furnaces you and those old craftsmen made can smelt iron?"
"Of course! Smelting some iron is nothing..."
As he said that, Guo An thought of something and slightly cupped his hands towards Zhu Di, "Your Highness, please forgive me for being bold. If Your Highness has time, you might as well go to Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works with me to take a look."
"Um?"
Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, and then looked at Zhu Liang aside: "Zhu Liang, what is the situation at the Shangzhuangcun Iron Mine now?"
"this……"
Zhu Liang's face changed, and he felt a little ashamed.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I have been helping Magistrate Guo carry some iron blocks and furnaces for the past two days, and I did not realize how fast the iron-making furnace forged by Magistrate Guo is."
Zhu Di looked at Guo An with some confusion again.
Guo An smiled slightly, "Your Highness, I forgive you, but it is true that Xiaguan is short of manpower at the Iron Smelting Institute, and even Xiaguan's personal bodyguard is assigned to work.
As for a strong man like Zhu Baihu, the official is reluctant to let him go!"
Zhu Di rolled his eyes at Guo An, and then directly told Zhu Liang: "Hurry and prepare the car, I am going to Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works to take a look!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Zhu Liang responded and hurried out.
"Zhu Baihu, please bring some ice for the carriage..."
Guo An shouted from behind.
Zhu Di said angrily: "You enjoy this more than I do!"
Guo An had a sneer on his face, "I am afraid that Zhu Baihu will not think of this. There is still a long distance from here to the Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works."
"Hum, let's go..."
This month, when the sun is scorching, even sitting in a carriage feels like sitting in a steamer. Just after leaving the city, everyone is sweating profusely.
When he arrived at the Shangzhuang Village Iron Smelting Works, Guo An felt that he was already soaked to the skin. As soon as the carriage stopped, he got into the nearest room very skillfully.
"call……"
Immediately, I felt like I had entered a cold cellar. My whole body was chilled and very comfortable.
Zhu Di also frowned when he entered the room.
However, after it cooled down, he looked at Guo An and said, "Is this what you asked me to prepare?"
Guo An replied with a flattering smile: "Your Highness, the iron smelting plant may not have many other items, but water and saltpeter are absolutely indispensable.
These cold ices were created along with them.”
"Um!"
Zhu Di nodded expressionlessly and urged directly: "I am already here. Where is the iron-making furnace that you want me to see?"
"Your Highness, please come this way!"
Guo An quickly led the way and walked out.
A group of people walked directly through several houses and came to the place where the iron furnace was located at the back.
"Um?"
Suddenly, Zhu Di, Zhu Fu and others subconsciously stopped and looked ahead with astonishment on their faces.
"Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Guo An stopped and asked with some doubts.
Zhu Di pointed to the huge furnace in front of him against the mountain wall and asked in surprise: "Is that an iron-making furnace?"
"Exactly!"
Guo An nodded slightly and introduced: "Your Highness, for more than a month, I and the ten old craftsmen have been working hard to forge this iron furnace."
Zhu Di was surprised and said: "How big is this?"
Guo An replied: "Your Highness, this iron-making furnace is two feet high, one foot and five feet deep inside, four feet two inches wide in front, four feet wide in the back, four feet one inch on the left and right, and can hold 2,800 ore ores."
More than a hundred kilograms!”
Zhu Di asked curiously: "Such a high iron-making furnace? How many kilograms of iron can be produced in a day?"
Guo Andao: "Your Highness, you should be able to refine seven hundred kilograms of iron!"
Zhu Di asked again: "Why isn't iron smelting started now?"
Guo An was startled, and then quickly explained: "Your Highness, forgive me, this iron-making furnace was just forged the day before yesterday. The official has been busy with county government affairs for the past two days and has not come here.
Therefore, trials have not yet begun.”
Zhu Di scolded angrily, "How could you, a thief official, ignore such a big matter and go busy with the government affairs of your county government?
Now that I am here, why are you waiting for me and why don’t you start quickly?”
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Guo An responded quickly.
Then, he began to shout to a group of old craftsmen who were busy around the iron-making furnace in front of him: "Blacksmith."