After Qin Huaidao sent Wang De away, he relaxed looking at the imperial edict and land deed in his hand. With coal, it would be much easier. The key is that it doesn't cost money. He only needs to pay for mining and transportation. One person can dig two large trucks a day, and one person can dig two trucks a day.
Strong laborers were paid about ten cents a day, but even if they were given twenty cents a day, it wouldn't be much.
It would take at most two days to transport two large carts over a hundred miles away. Each cart cost fifty cents, so people would rush to pull it like crazy. They even brought their own carriages. If they were more conscientious, they would take care of the meals. Two large carts would only cost a few cents, but refining them would cost less.
After the coke is produced, a large kiln of bricks can be fired.
Bricks are calculated on a piece-by-piece basis, and one thousand bricks costs one cent. The cost of burning coal into coke is even lower. Adding up all the miscellaneous items, one thousand bricks can be made at a total cost of less than three hundred cents, while Xue Rengui calculated that one thousand bricks can be burned with charcoal.
It only costs ten taels of silver, which is ten thousand Wen, and the difference is huge.
When the firing is completed in the future, selling a kiln not to mention 10,000 renminbi, but even 5,000 renminbi for takeout will trigger a mad rush, which is a huge profit. You can even build several small villas with different styles to live in, and serve as a model to attract orders.
, and then contracting labor and materials to help people build, it is even more profitable. Who said building a house is not profitable?
"Uncle!" Luo Zhang's voice came, interrupting Qin Huaidao's train of thought.
"came back?"
Luo Zhang responded: "Well, everything has been purchased and handed over to Miss Mingyue and the others."
"Follow me to a place." Qin Huaidao said excitedly.
"Where to go?"
"It will become clear when we get there. Brother Xue, you stay and take care of the house." Qin Huaidao said and got on his horse.
The so-called housekeeping actually means being optimistic about the silver, which is a hundred thousand taels. What kind of trust is this? Xue Rengui said solemnly: "Don't worry, young master, unless Xue dies, everything is guaranteed."
"No, I'm not here, you decide everything here." Qin Huaidao rode forward.
Luo Zhang hurriedly rode to catch up.
The two rushed out of Qinjiazhuang and met Jia Youcai coming back. Qin Huaidao warned: "Uncle Jia, I'm going to do something. I'll come back in the evening and pay homage to them early tomorrow morning."
"Let a few of them follow the escort so that they can be taken care of on the way." Jia Youcai said quickly.
"It doesn't matter, it's not far." Qin Huaidao hit his horse and galloped away.
The two galloped on horseback and arrived at the gate of Tongguan County Yamen at dusk. They showed the imperial edict. The county magistrate quickly cooperated and accompanied them to the front of a mountain. It was indeed deserted and overgrown with weeds, and there were not many tall trees in sight.
The county magistrate couldn't help but asked curiously: "Mr. Yi, this is the place mentioned in the imperial edict. However, it is completely barren and cannot be cultivated. It is said that the cattle and sheep do not come to graze. It is a waste land. I don't know what the Duke will do."
What?"
Qin Huaidao looked at a dark place and smiled. It was the coal he was looking for. He took out a piece of gold cake and stuffed it quietly. He laughed softly and said: "Master Lao Wei, please follow me. I will go back to my country's guild."
Arrange for someone to dig out the black soil inside and transport it away, and ask Mr. Wei to take care of it."
After all, it is someone else's territory, so trouble and worldliness are a must.
When County Magistrate Wei saw Qin Huaidao's generous move, he immediately felt good about him. It didn't matter whether it was money or not. The key was the respect. He was a majestic duke and had a distinguished status. Even if he didn't give anything, how dare he not cooperate? With a flick of his wrist, he skillfully
He accepted it and promised knowingly: "My lord, I am too polite to say anything else. As long as I stay in Tongguan County for one day, I will make sure that everything is safe here."
Qin Huaidao smiled. As long as he was willing to accept it, it meant that the other party was not hostile. It didn't matter whether he helped or not. Just don't do anything evil. He cupped his fists and said with a smile: "It's getting late, so I have to rush back. I'll see you later, Mr. Wei."
I came here just to confirm with my own eyes.
County Magistrate Wei quickly said: "It's rare for the Duke to come here. It's getting late. Why don't we have a meal together?"
"Next time, I'll invite you back to Chang'an when you have time." Qin Huaidao said politely, turned his horse's head, and rushed forward.
Luo Zhang chased after him and couldn't help but ask: "Uncle, did you come all this way just to see the mountain?"
"The black soil in the mountains is of great use." Qin Huaidao explained. He thought of something, slowed down a little, and said, "Luo Zhang, have you contacted all the people you asked to contact before?"
"We've already contacted each other, and we're just waiting for uncle's orders."
"Inform them to mine black soil. For every large truck they dig out, they will be given twenty copper coins, three meals a day, and a wooden house built on the spot to live in. What do you think?" Qin Huaidao asked.
Luo Zhang reminded: "A large truck can be dug in half a day. A whole day of work outside only costs less than ten coppers. Isn't that too much?"
Qin Huaidao felt that twenty coins were too little, but the outside salary was ten coins, and doubling it was the limit. Any more would cause trouble, and even cause other families to retaliate. Moreover, people's hearts are complicated when they are competing for rice, and they have to be on guard. See Luo Zhang
Not too little, I had confidence in my heart, and said: "They are all old brothers who have been with your father, so we can't treat them badly. It's only twenty coins, tools and materials are not included. Meat is required for three meals, and you have to find someone to cook."
Pay the wages and leave this matter to you. In addition, recruit two hundred people to protect the mountain."
Luo Zhang was a little surprised: "With this black soil that no one wants, why do you have to worry about someone causing trouble?"
"You will know later. Remember, manpower must be well trained and loyal. It is best to recruit refugees. They have no foundation. Treat them better and they will be more likely to be loyal."
"Uncle, don't you think so?" Luo Zhang's expression changed.
Qin Huaidao scolded angrily: "What are you thinking about? What can two hundred people do? Protecting the mountain is one and the most important. In addition, we must have some self-protection strength to prevent the death of the Five Surnames and Seven Watches."
"I'm scared. Uncle, don't worry. Leave this matter to me and I'll make sure it's foolproof." Luo Zhang promised. He had something to do, could take care of the elderly in the house, and train a team. It was his dream.
"Find more carriages to transport to Qinjiazhuang. Each large cart is fifty cents. Forget it, I'll give you one hundred cents for the carriage. Bring your own horse materials and provide meals. Remember, digging holes in mountains is easy to collapse. Safety must be ensured.
Okay, hard work is not easy, be nice to people, and they will treat you better. Don’t be afraid to spend money, mine it as soon as possible, transport it as soon as possible, and use it urgently.” Qin Huaidao warned uneasily, if you are in a hurry, you can only use more.
Spend money.
Only with money can you have motivation!
"Remember it and make arrangements when we get back." Luo Zhang solemnly promised.
The two of them galloped on horseback, covered in stars and moonlight, and returned to Qinjiazhuang late at night.
I was very tired from the journey and fell asleep.
The next morning, the two of them were awakened by the smell of food.
After breakfast, Luo Zhang drove away in a carriage. In the carriage was ten thousand taels of silver, a reserve fund for digging mountains and coal. He gave all the necessary instructions, including how to do it, who to hire, how to spend the money, etc.
Qin Huaidao didn't ask any more questions. He didn't care about people who were suspicious, and he didn't doubt people when he was employed.
Qin Huaidao asked the housekeeper Jia Youcai to arrange for the girls to sign employment documents and send them to the county government for filing. He came to the back of the ancestral hall and used other people's tricks after all. He saw Princess Jinyang getting off the carriage and chatting with Yu Zhang about something.
He came up looking good and saluted: "Good morning, princesses!"
Yu Zhang smiled and nodded as a return gift.
Princess Jinyang laughed and said: "It's so late, brother Qin won't wake up just now, right?"
"I can't help it. I have hundreds of people to feed. I'm tired. How do you feel, princess?"
"Much better. Thank you for your concern, Brother Qin. I heard that Brother Qin will help Jinyang find the Arhat Fruit in ten days. The road to Lingnan is far away, full of miasma, and full of tigers and wolves. The people there are not educated and it is very dangerous. Jinyang is very grateful.
, if the disease can be cured, how about marrying Brother Qin when you grow up?"