The fifty-ninth chapter touches the stone into gold
The Luojing imperial treasury is so clean that rats can run away from it, so where did the five hundred thousand gold come from?
But there are in the West Sea, and there are more than 500,000 of them. Now in circulation in the world, plus the copper ingots in the copper factories that have not yet been forged into money, the amount must be at least four or five times higher, that is, more than two million catties.
It sounds like a lot, but if you calculate it carefully, it's only about a thousand tons. Stacked together, it's almost a hundred cubic meters, roughly the size of a living room of more than thirty square meters in later generations.
Upon hearing the number two million, Da Xi opened his mouth and looked at Li Chengzhi blankly.
He found that other than scolding his mother, he could not express his feelings at this moment.
This is two million kilograms. Did Li Chengzhi pick up a mountain of copper?
The city is as deep as Zhang Jingzhi, and he can no longer control the expression on his face: "Why are there so many? Could it be that you have found a big mine in Hexi?"
"I did find a mine. It's not far from here, more than a hundred miles away. But it's not a big mine, but a small mine!"
"How small?" Da Xi asked.
Li Chengzhi recalled: "It's only two to three thousand acres in size, I don't know how deep it is!"
Da sneered: "You think I don't know how much quartzite (copper ore, also referred to as malachite) can be produced from an acre of mine, and how much copper can be produced from a thousand pounds of quartzite? Furthermore, do you know how to look for ore?
How long does it take to open a mountain, excavate, grind and grind, set up a furnace, smelt until copper is produced, how many people are needed, and how long does it take?"
Seeing the expression on Da Xi's face that said "Don't fool me like a fool", Li Chengzhi was surprised: "Has copper been smelted in Guanzhong?"
Otherwise, how could Da Xi know so clearly?
Zhang Jingzhi nodded: "In the first year of Zhengshi (the second year of Yuan Ke, that is, 504), because the imperial court was short of money, the late emperor issued an edict to order all prefectures and counties to search for minerals and smelt money.
By the first year of Yongping (508), it lasted four years, and the five prefectures in Guanzhong were recruited. A total of more than 120,000 civilians were recruited, nearly 100,000 acres of large and small copper mines were found, and more than one million catties of stone were quarried, but only money was obtained.
More than 36 million yuan, totaling 240,000 gold..."
When he heard the data that there were more than 120,000 people, 10,000 acres of ore prospecting, 1 million jins of stone quarried, and 240,000 copper obtained, the look on Li Chengzhi's face was extremely strange.
Daxi didn't know, but he knew very well: Guanzhong's copper mine resources were extremely scarce, and the few concentrates were buried in deep layers. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, even if all the millions of people in Guanzhong were recruited for mining,
There is absolutely no way to dig it out.
Those that can be dug by manpower and can be mined are all extremely poor ores that can no longer be poor. In future generations, no matter who mines it, they will have to pay for their pants. That's why Xi Kangsheng spent so much manpower.
, it took four years and it was not surprising that only 240,000 kilograms of copper was produced...
To be more precise, China's copper mines are relatively concentrated, mostly in the northwest and southwest, such as Tibet, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Anhui, Heilongjiang, and Gansu.
Not only does it not include Guanzhong, but besides Hexi, there is no prefecture or county in the Yuan and Wei Dynasties that has shallow copper mines that can be mined by humans.
As it happened, Hexi was already worthless to the Yuan and Wei dynasties, and was completely left to its own devices, otherwise it would not be so short of copper...
Seeing is believing and hearing is false. Li Chengzhi was too lazy to argue with Da Xi here. He pondered for a moment and pointed to the copper factory by the Ruoshui River: "No matter how much I say, you won't believe it. Just let me go."
Just look…”
Da Xi was doubtful and held his hand in the horse's belly: "It's just what I want!"
Not far away, only three or four miles away, less than two minutes later, Li Chengzhi left and returned, returning to the copper factory.
The copper factory was indeed built late. It was only after Li Chengzhi arrived in Xihai that he started to prepare for its construction. It has not yet been half a year.
But mining started three years ago.
That was the time when Li Chengzhi went to Hexi to explore the road under the pretense and rescued Gao Wenjun and Wei Yu on the way back.
He pointed out salt ponds, iron mines, coal mines, fluorite mines, and crucible mountains to Li Song. Naturally, there would be no copper mines left.
It is about ninety miles east of the fluorite mine and about one hundred and seventy miles away from Zhenyi Town. There are two places. In later generations, one was called Daqingshan, which belonged to Biao County, and the other was called Xiaoqingshan, which belonged to Linze County.
.At this time, it was naturally an unknown place, so Li Chengzhi simply named it after it.
Both are located in the shallow layer of the earth's surface, but the reserves are not much, only about one million tons. Fortunately, they are all concentrates. Li Chengzhi estimates that these two mines alone can produce at least six to seven thousand tons of copper, which is one million tons.
More than ten thousand kilograms.
Two million is just a fraction.
Also starting three years ago, Li Chengzhi had ordered Li Song to dig for gall soil (weathered copper ore) and transport it to Zhenyi. When Li Chengzhi arrived, the mining soil in the north of Heli Mountain was really piled up like a mountain.
Da Xi asked again: "Since we have found the mine and dug out the gallbladder, why don't you let Mr. Li smelt it?"
This question was a bit heart-wrenching, and Li Chengzhi couldn't answer it, so he just kept silent.
Li Song had known this for a long time, and his face twitched unnaturally, but he just said vaguely: "At that time, there were less than 20,000 households in Xihai, and all the young and strong people needed to cultivate the fields. It was really flawless and he took care of it..."
Upon hearing this, I knew that Li Song was not telling the truth.
We had just heard Li Shiliang say something, so both Daxi and Zhang Jingzhi knew that the fake Hu merchants in Xihai were now doing prosperous business with Tuguhun and even Nanliang. They also knew that Li Chengzhiyu established a business in Beizhen three years ago.
He went to the merchant house to buy grain for the West Sea.
So as long as copper is smelted, are you still worried about not being able to buy food?
There must be some reason, but Li Chengzhi, Li Shiliang and Li Song all kept secrets, so how could they ask?
Da Xi could only be patient and followed Li Chengzhi into the copper factory.
Li Chengzhi walked straight in until he reached a mountain of earth before he stopped.
Looking at the scene in front of them, Zhang Jingzhi and Da Xi were both amazed and immediately dismounted and approached.
When I took a closer look, my eyes almost dropped to the ground.
Didn’t you know that copper is smelted not with fire but with water?
Not to mention seeing it with my own eyes, I have never heard it...
The site is huge, covering thirty to forty acres, with mineral soil piled up in the middle. There is also a large pool on the high side of the earth mountain, which should be diverted from the Weishui River and filled with water.
Then there are two large ditches extending from the edge of the pond, each nearly half a mile long. The ditch walls and bottom are covered with straw mats, and the bottom is pressed with something like gravel.
Looking towards the edge of the pool, we can see nearly a hundred people surrounding it. Some people are opening the gate to release water, while others are moving mining soil into the pool.
What's weird is that after the water and mineral soil flow down, it turns blue-green?
But the further you go, the lighter the color of the water becomes, until it becomes clear and transparent...
After watching for a while, Da Xi stared at the bottom of the ditch with his two big eyes.
The water in the canal at his feet was already extremely clear, so Da Xi could see very clearly: something came from nothing, visible to the naked eye, and there were many yellow and clear things on the straw mat at the bottom of the canal.
He leaned down suddenly, pulled up a piece of straw mat, picked up a few copper grains, and threw them into his mouth without thinking.
Hearing the sound of his chewing, Li Chengzhi felt his teeth sore.
Brother, this is copper, aren't you afraid of chipping your big teeth?
With a "pop" sound, Da Xi spit out the copper particles in his mouth and said numbly: "Is it really copper?"
"And iron?"
Zhang Jingzhi also leaned over and picked up a few pieces of yellow and black debris from the straw mat.
Da Xi came over and took a look, he was so shocked that he seemed to be unable to hold his tongue straight: "There is nothing more amazing in the world than this. Just washing it with water can wash out gold and iron from the soil? Isn't it true as I just said, you are looking for
Arrived at a golden mountain?"
If I really had such a fate, why would I rebel? Wouldn't it be more beautiful to just lie down in the Jinluan Palace and wait to become emperor?
"That's not the case, but the gallbladder and gallstones dissolve when exposed to water, and then iron filings are placed in the gallbladder water to replace the copper..."
Da Xi took a deep breath and said, "Midas turns stone into gold?"
Give me some hair?
Li Chengzhi couldn't laugh or cry: "Why are you so surprised? This is all the wisdom of the past, and I am just picking up others' wisdom..."
How could Da Xi believe it? He almost lost his temper, stared at Li Chengzhi and sneered with bared teeth:
"Don't think that I'm rough and arrogant, just because I don't study well enough to hide it from others. After all, Xi also attended the Guozi School...
Furthermore, my father has been working as a doctor for nearly ten years. I have been involved in military affairs, civil affairs, and all kinds of industries. Over the years, I am not as knowledgeable as my father and Zhang Biejiang, but I can say that I am very familiar with it. You can tell me
Tell me, which predecessor mentioned that copper can be washed out with water?"
Not only Da Xi, but also Li Shiliang and Li Song looked strange. It was also because Li Chengzhi was so busy all day that he had no time to explain.
Moreover, this is not the only strange thing Li Chengzhi has done. A group of confidants have long regarded him as a divine figure. Not only can he wash copper with water, but he can also turn stone into gold. At most, Li Song and others can only admire him.
, unlike Da Xi who was as shocked as if he had seen a ghost.
Zhang Jingzhi was thinking hard, his brows furrowed into the character "Chuan".
Li Chengzhi's profound knowledge and extensive knowledge even made famous Confucian scholars such as Cui Guang, Liu Fang, and You Zhao praise him, and the late emperor Yuan Ke was even more amazed.
Therefore, what he dared to say was definitely not nonsense. But why could he not find the source even after recalling the works of previous sages?
"My uncle must have seen it!"
Seeing his distress, Li Chengzhi reminded him calmly, "When Zeng Qing obtained iron, he turned it into copper..."
Zhang Jingzhi blurted out: ""Huainan Shu"?"
Li Chengzhi struck with both hands: "Yes!"
Really?
Daxi looked as if he was stupid.
But Li Song and others smiled and said nothing, because they had experienced this scene today countless times.
Just as Lang Jun saved Hu Baozong with strong wine and garlic at the beginning of his wisdom, this is from "Baopuzi Golden Prescription" written by Ge Hong of the later Jin Dynasty.
Another example of building a city with ice to resist monks' rebellion comes from "Notes on the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms" written by Pei Songzhi, a historian of the Liu Song Dynasty.
For example, the Su Iron Sword presented to the late Emperor Yuan Ke, and the method of making steel from pig iron, comes from the "Ji Jin Dan Huang Bai Fang" written by Tao Hongjing, a Nanliang alchemist who is still alive today.
But whether it was the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the Liu Song Dynasty, or the Southern Liang Dynasty, why didn't they develop medicinal wine that could save wounded soldiers and help them build cities against enemies in winter?
But today in Nanliang, soldiers still wear soft iron armor and use pig iron spearheads...
Therefore, Li's cronies have long seen through that these are just Lang Jun's words. Otherwise, why didn't he explain where the steel cannon came from, and where did the crucible iron and steel method come from?
Not to mention that Lang Jun has never been to Hexi, but he can clearly point out the location of every mineral deposit...
Da Xi scratched his head and scratched his head, feeling very excited. He grabbed Zhang Jingzhi's sleeve tightly and asked if "Huainan Shu" contained such a magical technique that was close to turning stone into gold.
Zhang Jingzhi said casually, glancing at Li Chengzhi and Li Song as if casually.
He finally understood why Li Chengzhi only asked Li Song to dig out gallbladder, instead of teaching Li Song this method early and asking him to smelt copper.
It's just because it's so simple, you can figure it out at a glance.
At that time, Li Song was already in charge of Xihai, with nearly 20,000 households under his rule. If he was more ruthless, he could levy one soldier per household, and he could get 20,000 soldiers.
At that time, he had been instructed by Li Chengzhi and knew that Biao was an iron mine and the location of the Crucible Mountain. He also knew the art of steelmaking in a crucible, so he had no shortage of weapons.
Across the Heli Mountain, we reach the boundary of the West Sea, where there are often grazing animals. Further south, at the northern foot of the Qilian Mountains, is the place where Lushui Hus have lived for generations. Therefore, if Li Song wanted to, he could just kill these Hus.
With his troops, he could easily capture tens of thousands of war horses.
In this way, there is no shortage of soldiers, armor, and horses. If you give him the teachings on smelting copper, you will also be able to solve the problem of money and food. What is the difference between holding Tai'a in reverse and giving someone a handle?
At that time, no matter how loyal Li Song is, he may have evil thoughts. What's more, he is not a person who follows the rules and keeps his own rules. Otherwise, how could he implicate Li Chengzhi's narrow escape?
Subconsciously, he thought of the two words Li Chengzhi often said:
The human heart is most unable to withstand temptation...
The reason why I am loyal is because I don’t have enough leverage for betrayal...
If he knew how to smelt copper, and he was allowed to obtain the secret recipe for firearms that only Li Liang besides Li Chengzhi knew, how would Li Song choose?
The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. Unknowingly, Zhang Jingzhi saw traces of sweat on his forehead, and he admired Li Chengzhi even more in his heart: when he sent the old Baijia troops to Jingzhou to flee west three years ago, Li Chengzhi would rather go with him.
Li Song was disloyal, so he had to show his face to Li Liang, Huangfu, Li Feng, Li Shi and others, and asked his confidants to always bring trouble to Li Song.
Although people who knew about it at the time did not dare to comment, they all disagreed, thinking that Li Chengzhi was not broad-minded and could not tolerate others.
But looking at it now, I realized that Li Chengzhi's vision was far-reaching and his thoughts were deep...
…
The sun sets away and the sky becomes dark.
No matter how curious Da Xi and Zhang Jingzhi were, they couldn't figure it out at night. Li Chengzhi invited them back to the city.
Da Xi was still very excited, like a child, finding everything new and strange wherever he looked.
Just after leaving the copper factory, when work was about to end, the sidewalk was full of pedestrians. When he took a closer look, he found that there were many women and old people?
"How can such a weak woman work in the workshop?"
Li Chengzhi nodded: "Of course it is possible. Although you cannot escape gravity, you can do some simple and labor-saving processes. For example, in a paper factory, old and weak women can cook the pulp and paste the paper to dry...
If in a copper factory, when the ditches are being drained, the weak women will pick copper particles from the straw mats. But in factories such as textiles, clothing and boots, women are the main ones, and the strong men are the supplements..."
Da Xi asked in confusion: "If that's the case, who will cultivate the land?"
"How can there be so much land?"
Li Chengzhi sighed sadly, "At the time of Li Song, there were only 20,000 households in Xihai. They had to mine, smelt iron, forge armor, pave roads, build canals, build houses, etc. However, even if all the men were recruited, it would not be enough. So only
If you can recruit women, you can always cultivate land. In three years, you can only farm more than 10,000 hectares. If you divide more than 700,000 acres into each household, it will only be less than 40 acres...
Last year, 70,000 to 80,000 households suddenly moved to Xihai. Although there were more people, there was not so much wasteland to cultivate. Fortunately, there were so many livestock taken from the Dulun tribe, and the pastures in Xihai were large enough, so we had to let them
The new people changed farming to pastoralism.
But even so, there are idle men in every house, idle all day long, causing trouble. That's why I suggested to my uncle to recruit soldiers, so there were three more soldiers... and all the extra women, old and weak, were recruited.
factory……"
No wonder his plot to conquer the four counties in Hexi was clearly revealed. It turned out that he could not feed more than 100,000 households by relying solely on the West Sea.
Then I thought about it again, in less than four years, how much grain did Li Chengzhi smuggled to Hexi, enough to feed five to six million people for three years?
It’s incredible to think about it…
Both Da Xi and Zhang Jingzhi were knowledgeable about military matters and had also been in charge of civil affairs. They naturally understood why Li Chengzhi spent more money on food and recruiting soldiers and did not want the people to be idle.
Just because the more leisure you have, the more people will cause trouble...
Sighing secretly, Zhang Jingzhi said warmly: "Farming and mulberry trees are the foundation of the country, and the people rely on food as their fields. Without fields, the people will have no food and clothing, the prefectures and counties will have no taxes, the officials will have no salaries, and the soldiers will have no armor...
This is not a long-term solution..."
Da Xi knew as soon as he heard this that Zhang Jingzhi was trying to persuade Li Chengzhi: Even if he wants to plot in Hexi, he might as well do it as soon as possible... Are you really not polite at all?
He instinctively raised his head, met Li Chengzhi's gaze, and subconsciously snorted.
Are you humiliating?
From today on, I have to stir the pot and become a grasshopper on a rope. If I, Li Chengzhi, can't escape, how can I escape your ridicule?
In the next two or three years, maybe your father Xi Kangsheng will be added...
At most, in the spring of next year, troops will definitely be sent to Zhangye and Wuwei counties. Otherwise, the townspeople who have recently surrendered from the six towns will not be able to be resettled. Then let Daxi see, even if Dunhuang Town General Yuan Zhi has an army of 20,000, what can he do?
If we had not worried that the lean camels of the Yuan and Wei Dynasties were bigger than horses, it would not be difficult to swallow the Yuan Dynasty and Dunhuang Town in one go...
"What my uncle said is true!"
Li Chengzhi replied and glared at Da Xi: "I'll let you lead the army when the time comes. How about that?"
"I?"
Da Xi's tailbone trembled and he was startled, "Can you trust me?"
"What a joke. How can I not believe it? Besides, I have never raised idle people. Could it be that you still want to hang out in the West Sea and wait until death?"
Li Chengzhi laughed coldly and said, "It just so happens that many refugees and rebels have fled from the six towns recently. I am worried that there is no one available, so I will leave it to you to deal with it. It also happens that you can select some soldiers from them to form a new army...
"
He was worried about how to deal with the refugees, rebels, and many powerful people and tribes who had fled from Beizhen, so Xi Kangsheng sent Da Xi to his door?
Most of the powerful people, tribes, soldiers and townspeople in Fanbei Town were from the old Xianbei tribe, and Xi Kangsheng happened to be at the height of his power. As long as Da Xihu faked his power and erected this gold-lettered signboard, he would get twice the result with half the effort.
It is true that Li Chengzhi has no one available to him. For example, Li Song, Li Liang, and Huangfu all hold multiple positions, but they are still busy. Moreover, Da Xi, the so-called middleman, is actually Xi Kangsheng's assistant.
As a secretary and captain of the guard, there is no job that he should not do and cannot do, so Li Chengzhi will never let him idle...
Li Chengzhi ridiculed him in this way, but Da Xi was not dissatisfied at all. Although he remained silent, there were mixed feelings in his heart.
What Xi Kangsheng wrote in the letter was very clear. Da Xi naturally knew why he was sent to Xihai. He only thought that Li Chengzhi would at best make him a casual official and move him to a casual position. But he didn't expect that he would be entrusted with important tasks as soon as he came?
After sighing for a while, he cupped his hands again and replied with a loud voice: "I will definitely try my best!"
Haha... As long as you take office, it will be hard for you not to try your best...
…
Not long after, several people returned to Guancheng. When they arrived at the back garden, Zhang Jingzhi and Da Xi realized that Guancheng was not just the place where the central government office was located, but also the residence of Li Chengzhi.
The young and old of the Zhang family gathered together, and the banquet could begin as soon as Li Chengzhi and others entered.
As soon as a few people entered the garden, they were greeted by attendants. They heard a faint clatter and were greeted by men, women, old and young.
Zhang Wei was already sixty-seven years old. Although his beard and hair were all white, his body was still strong. Before Li Chengzhi could salute, he grabbed his arm to help him, with smiles in his eyes, and he shouted "Okay" several times!
Li Chengzhi still admired this old man very much.
Back then, Zhang Jingzhi's eldest brother Zhang Jian failed to harm Li Chengzhi, and then committed suicide in shame and anger. The two families originally wanted to become enemies. But if Zhang Wei had not fought against all opinions and made the final decision, would An An have allowed Jingmo, the Zhang family's eldest daughter, to be Li Chengzhi's concubine?
After that, there would be no Zhang Jingzhi who would defy the world and help Li Song lead Baijia's old troops to escape through the West Sea, and there would be no more 15,600 households of refugees smuggled to the West Sea.
Therefore, in terms of merit and hard work, Zhang Wei and Zhang Jingzhi’s father and son deserve the greatest credit...
The two chatted for a while, Gao Wenjun joined Wei Yu, Zhang Jingmo and Zhang Jingzhi exchanged greetings with each other.
Zhang Jingzhi was startled when he saw that both Gao Wenjun and Zhang Jingmo were already pregnant, and Jingmo's figure seemed to be more bloated.
Then he felt that all the energy and blood in his body were rushing to his forehead, his eyes were dizzy, as if he was drunk, and he seemed to be unable to stand still.
Only then did he realize why his father was so happy when he saw Chengzhi.
Even if you are a concubine, as long as you are early, you can have an advantage...
The thought flashed in his mind, Zhang Jingzhi quickly straightened his face, and asked Gao Wenjun and Wei Yu to greet him.
I thought that now that the Gao and Li families were mortal enemies, and the Li family was even more rebellious, Gao Wenjun would definitely feel sad and depressed. But upon closer inspection, Zhang Jingzhi was secretly surprised by the joy between his brows and eyes.
Looking at Wei Yu again, he was dressed in smart clothes, and there was a faint trace of dust on his temples, as if he had just returned.
"It's really rude to come to see guests like this!"
Li Chengzhi scolded him warmly, but his face was full of doting.
"Concubine, let's go now!" Wei Yu stuck out his tongue, blessed Zhang Jingzhi and Da Xi, and left towards the backyard.
Li Chengzhi raised his hand to invite everyone to sit down, and then explained in a low voice to Zhang Jingzhi and Da Xi: "Yu'er is now teaching in a children's school. No one knows that she is here. She doesn't know that there are distinguished guests coming from far away. It's because of this." It’s a little late…”
Teaching?
Da Xi asked suspiciously: "Can women also give lectures?"
"Why not?"
When he asked a rhetorical question, seeing that Da Xi was about to speak but hesitated, and most likely muttered something like "What kind of behavior is this?", Li Chengzhi sneered: "If you don't want to force me to fight with you so that I can help the grandpa, then finally Don't open your mouth..."
Da Xi's eyes bulged with anger: Good thief, don't you claim that you always convince people with reason?