Coal mining has a long history in the Hebi area of Tangyin County, Zhangde Prefecture, Henan Province. Since the Song Dynasty, a complete set of scientific coal mining methods has been developed, which can use two shafts and two main tunnels for mining at the same time. The vertical shaft is as deep as three meters.
More than ten feet, there are good ventilation, lighting, support and drainage measures to be improved in stages.
There is a lot of coal here, and a large mining site can dig 20 to 30 mines. When there is rich ore, each mine is divided into several or dozens of mining roads. In this era, according to the needs of production and technology, miners have
With the division of labor, the ability to use full-jointed bamboo tubes to remove underground gas was advanced in the world's mining technology at that time.
Zhaolichen Coal Mine is not the largest mine in Hebi, but it has more than ten mines. Zhaolichen, as its name implies, was jointly founded by three businessmen surnamed Zhao, Li and Chen.
Since Emperor Guangwu lifted the mining ban, except for gold, silver, copper and other mines related to financial affairs, private mining is allowed, and various private mining companies have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. Zhao Li Chen Coal Mining Company, led by Zhao, Li and Chen
Each of the three companies contributed 60,000 taels of silver to jointly build the company, each holding 33% of the shares. Zhao Bingyi of the Zhao family is the chairman, Li Xiang of the Li family is the supervisor, and Chen Conghui of the Chen family is the director. From the time the first mine was drilled, life has been smooth.
The situation is booming, and the sales of coal are very good, so there is no need to worry about selling.
"Everyone should be more energetic, pile up more firewood, and light the fire more vigorously. If you work more, your boss will reward you; if anyone is lazy, your skin and flesh will suffer." Boss Wu waved his whip fiercely. He was the captain of the mine protection team and his subordinates.
There are more than twenty thugs, all armed with whips, wooden sticks, swords and guns, so majestic!
A group of bare-chested miners began to pile firewood along the mine deposit. With the strength of the people and their strength, one side of the mine deposit was soon filled with layers of firewood piled up into a hill.
Not far away, Zhao Bingyi and Li Xiang asked Chen Conghui, "Brother Chen Xian, is this method effective?"
Chen Conghui is full of confidence, "This is the 'fire and water dripping method'. First, use fire to heat the ore deposit, and then pour cold water on it. The ore will explode due to thermal expansion and contraction. It is better than using a hammer or drill bit by bit.
It’s much more convenient to tap on the ground. I’ve tried this method before, don’t worry.”
"Master, the firewood is piled up, do you want to light the fire?" Boss Wu ran over with a flattering look on his face.
"Here, give me the torch." Chen Conghui laughed loudly, took the torch, and walked towards the pyre. Then, he threw the torch on the pyre.
The fire ignited, and the flames shot into the sky, burning the mineral deposit red.
After burning for more than half an hour, Chen Conghui estimated that it was almost done and shouted: "Water!"
Dozens of miners carried buckets of water and poured it on the fire. The ore deposit had just been roasted, and when it was hit by water under the high temperature, it made a "sizzling" sound. The sudden heat returned to cold, and the heat expanded and contracted, causing the ore to burst and ooze.
The sound of "bang bang" echoed in the mineral deposit.
"It's done!"
Chen Conghui was overjoyed and ordered: "Excavate!"
Teams of miners, armed with hammers, drills, and picks, struggled to dig downwards. Experienced masters used wooden piles to prop up the supports at regular intervals. Because this section of the mineral deposit had exploded, the digging speed was very fast.
A new mine tunnel was quickly formed.
"Brother Xian, this method is indeed ingenious. It saves both time and effort." Zhao Bingyi happily praised Chen Conghui.
"Yes, with this method, we will soon be able to dig a few more new wells," Li Xiang was also overjoyed.
Chen Conghui was also full of joy, but then became a little worried, "It's easy to dig a new well, but it's not easy to recruit miners!"
Emperor Guangwu encouraged industry and commerce, and various companies and factories sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain, recruiting workers everywhere. As a result, the number of workers was insufficient, and coal miners were extremely hard, making it increasingly difficult to recruit. Although the Zhaolichen Coal Mine opened
Despite the higher salary, there are still some shortcomings.
"Don't worry, dear brother, the worst case scenario is to buy some 'dead work' from 'nianzi'. These people don't have to pay wages, they just have to eat. It's cheap and durable, haha." Zhao Bingyi smiled darkly.
"Nianzi" are human traffickers who specialize in abducting people to work in the mines. They often stay in restaurants at major intersections and see unemployed workers with foreign accents. If they can't move due to insufficient travel expenses, they will use their sharp tongue.
, pretending to them that they can introduce jobs to them, and if the other party expresses willingness, they will immediately pay them with wine and meat, give them money (ranging from ten to twenty coins), and then take them to work in the black coal kiln. Some "millers" are not only
They defraud hard laborers from other places, even businessmen and underage children.
The "dead class" are outsiders who are deceived into working in the mines as slaves. Once they are deceived into working in the kilns, they are not paid a penny and are driven like cattle and horses until they die. They are called "dead class". p>
Money is evil. In the face of huge economic interests, the phenomenon of using slave labor exists in many Ming Dynasty mines. Crazy human traffickers especially like to kidnap outsiders and minors, and have formed alliances with some black-hearted mine owners.
Chain of interests.
Half of the miners in the Zhaolichen Coal Mine are slave laborers. The "dead shift" workers are separated from the local workers in different mines. They usually work in the mines and are imprisoned in earthen caves near the coal mines during breaks.
Thieves with swords and guns are responsible for guarding. Unlike local workers, they not only have no salary, but also no personal freedom. They have to work until they die before they can be released.
Chen Conghui frowned and murmured: "Using 'death class' is too harmful to moral integrity, and now half of the miners in this mine are 'dead classes'. We have committed the crime of 'selling out a husband'. According to Ming law,
: Any strategy devised to seduce a good man into slavery can be carried out with a hundred sticks and a flight of three thousand miles. Therefore, those who hurt others will be hanged; those who kill will be beheaded. In our mine, we have injured several lives over the years. There is no such thing in the world.
A ventilated wall, once something leaks out, you and I, brothers, may not be able to save our lives. I feel uneasy after all."
"Haha, dear brother, you are too worried. We are not the only ones in Hebi who use the 'death shift' to work in the wells. It is very difficult to recruit workers nowadays. Without the 'death shift', how can there be so many workers to work for us? If you think this
It hurts one's virtue, just make the food better and let them have enough to eat." Zhao Bingyi stroked his beard and smiled, as if he was laughing at Chen Conghui's kindness as a woman.
"Yes, dear brother, you are really worrying too much! Our mine has an excellent relationship with Zhang Zhixian. Even if someone reports to the government, Zhang Zhixian will not accept the case, but will arrest the person for us. In this way, we are afraid of someone
What's wrong?" Li Xiang also didn't care.
"Hey! I hope so! If we can recruit enough workers, according to my wishes, we should let go of these 'dead workers', so as not to leak out in the future and everyone will not be able to bear the consequences!" Chen Conghui sighed heavily.
.
Zhao Bingyi and Li Xiang looked at each other, looking at each other, secretly laughing at Chen Conghui's pedantry. However, out of face, they still said in unison: "Brother Yiyi!"
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A green sedan chair and three attendants headed to the Zhangde government office. The new Zhangde magistrate Shao Tingcai took office.