Chapter 61 Small profits but quick turnover can make money
Curious about the concrete wall, the civil servants stepped forward to push aside some military generals and went forward to knock on the concrete wall.
Liberal arts students who have read through the books of sages do not understand the romance of science students. They still cannot understand that sand and gravel become so solid with just some cement added, which is like a miracle.
As a leader of a country, Zhao Zhen must be concerned about some details, "Lu Yao, I don't know how much cement you are talking about costs? Although it is solid, if the cost is too high, it still cannot be used to build the city wall.
Material."
Zhao Zhen has been the emperor for decades and is more familiar with finance than any other court official, including the three envoys.
Every year, a memorial of tax revenue was presented to him. He had a figure in his mind about how much tax revenue he received every year. He also had a rough idea of the expenditures in other places every year. There was not much money left to build the city wall.
Lu Yao said that this method of building city walls was cheaper than the previous rammed earth method, but he didn't believe it.
A superior cannot fully listen to his ministers, he must make his own judgment.
How could a seemingly miraculous material be cheaper than clay dug from the ground to build a city?
If the price of cement is too high, no matter how good it is, Zhao Zhen still has to consider whether to use it.
A country cannot make its people complain just to build a stronger city wall, and the current city wall can also withstand the Liao army.
"If the officials don't believe it, how about you come with me to see how the cement is made? The officials will know at a glance how much the cement is worth." Lu Yao had long understood that trying to push the cement out was not a task.
Simple things, it is almost impossible to make a fortune silently.
Cement has many uses and requires a large amount. Small profits but quick turnover is its solution.
For example, if the price of cement is 500 yuan per ton, only the rich can afford it. There will be very few houses built, after all, the number of rich people is very small.
What if cement sells for 500 cents per ton?
This price is not a small amount for a poor family, but it is not out of reach either.
Including bricks, stones, river sand and other building materials, it doesn't cost much to build a small bungalow. It can be afforded after two years of hard work and savings.
A house is the root of a family. Everyone hopes that their family will have a strong root so that their parents and children can live more comfortably.
This is not an unattainable dream, but something that is very close to you. Just ask if you will build a new house.
This was Lu Yao's strategy. There were as many poor people as there were poor people in the entire Song Dynasty.
How much does it cost to build a house for one family? Isn’t it better to sell it to rich people at a higher price and make more money?
Besides, cement is cheap, so some roads need to be built with cement.
The official is also a smart man. He cannot give up the cheap and strong method and choose to use tens of thousands of people to pound earth to build roads.
And all this cement must be sold from Lu Yao. Even if he only earns 20 cents per ton of cement, he can still make a lot of money.
"I have had this idea for a long time. It is better to see it to believe it." Zhao Zhen ordered the officials to wait where they were. He only took a trusted servant and Lu Yao to the back mountain mine together.
Zhao Zhen did this mainly so that officials would not see the cement manufacturing process. He also knew the importance of this kind of secret, so naturally the fewer people knew about it, the better.
The lime mine was on the other side of the back mountain. Lu Yao took Zhao Zhen around the foot of the mountain. There were steps leading to the mountain built with cement, making it easier to walk.
For convenience, Lu Yao placed the cement processing plant halfway up the mountain. This not only made it easier to remove the limestone from the top of the mountain, but also made it easier for workers to transport the finished cement down the mountain.
At this time, there were no snakeskin bags, and there was no chemical basis to make polyester plastic, the raw material for snakeskin bags. Lu Yao could only weave ramie and flax into sacks to hold cement.
However, Lu Yao only sells the cement inside and not the sacks. After the cement is shipped to the buyer, Lu Yao will ask someone to remember the number of sacks. After some time has passed, he will have the sacks taken back. After all, the cost of the sacks is too high.
It's not low. He doesn't make much money to begin with, and if he puts a sack in there, it's really a loss-making business.
If the buyer lost the sack, he could only compensate Lu Yao for the loss, and the buyer would only receive five cents per sack, a fair price.
After arriving halfway up the mountain, Zhao Zhen saw two huge boiler-like things. Many workers added charcoal to them. The heat waves generated by the combustion spread to the surroundings. Even before spring, Zhao Zhen felt the heat of summer.
Some of the workers working were shirtless.
Lu Yao took a rattan hat and an iron umbrella from the hands of the foreman.
He wore the cane hat himself and gave the iron umbrella to the chamberlain.
Zhao Zhengui is the emperor and cannot wear other hats except the crown.
This iron umbrella is Lu Yao's idea, which can also have the effect of a safety helmet.
However, Zhao Zhen became interested in the novelty and immediately asked: "Lu Yao, what is the role of this vine hat and the iron umbrella on my head?"
Lu Yao told Zhao Zhen about the apple smashing that day.
Zhao Zhen laughed loudly after hearing this: "You are still smart! There are many mines in the Song Dynasty, and you are still the first person to do this."
Zhao Zhen pointed to the slogans on the red cloths and said: "The red cloths you hung have the same intention."
Lu Yao nodded and said: "The officials are aware of this, and that is exactly what I mean. The lives of workers like this are also life. Since they choose to come to my mine, Lu Yao, I will try my best to ensure their safety. 'People-oriented'
This concept is something I have always adhered to.”
"Wei Zheng once said, 'A king is a boat; a person is water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.' This is consistent with your 'people-oriented' idea. I didn't expect you, Lu Yao, to realize this at such a young age.
This kind of thinking is indeed surprising.”
"Putting people first, putting people first." Zhao Zhen read it carefully twice, feeling more and more that these four words contained the meaning of governing the world, "Very good, I will keep these four words in my heart, and I would like to thank Lu Yao today.
You took me up the mountain and I learned what it means to be truly people-oriented."
Zhao Zhen thought of another thing and asked: "Two people died in a landslide in your mine two days ago. Did you handle it according to your people-oriented concept?"
"This..." Lu Yao scratched his head helplessly, "The matter must have been settled. I don't know where the official got this news."
"The Bianliang Daily you created is very interesting. I must read it tomorrow. It was written in yesterday's newspaper. Do you, the owner, know about it?"
Lu Yao gritted his teeth. He had been so busy these days that he had forgotten about this matter. He had to have a good talk with the editors of the newspaper. Can his own affairs be written down like this?
You can write some good things, but whatever you write is always bad.
Zhao Zhen added: "It is a good thing to be able to tell things truthfully. There is no need to report good news or bad news. Not everything in this world is good. If the newspaper you founded is praising virtues all day long, I would consider whether to
Stop it. Seeing that you can publish this matter, you will know that this newspaper is a good thing, and you will work hard in the future."
Lu Yao was stunned!
The random operations of these editors can save the newspaper from crisis. Should I pay some bonuses to the editors later?
He thought about it but still couldn't do it. He couldn't encourage the editors' arrogance.
"Thank you, officials." Lu Yao bowed.
"It's getting late. I have to go back to the palace to deal with some matters. You first take me to see how you got the cement out. Then I'll go see the families of the two deceased people to see if
Just like you said."
Lu Yao took Zhao Zhen to the cement processing plant, but they were not very close to the furnace. They could see the processing steps clearly from a distance.
I saw those workers knocking the limestone into pieces, adding some clay and other materials to it, and then put it in the furnace to burn.
Lu Yao's furnace was specially built to be very large, capable of firing several thousand kilograms at a time.
After burning for half an hour, pour the powder out of the furnace to get the finished cement.
"Is cement that simple?" Zhao Zhen asked in disbelief.
Lu Yao nodded and said: "It is precisely because it is so simple that I dare to say that the cost of building the city wall is lower than before. Even if the transportation costs to the border are included, it is still lower than ramming the land."
"Is it possible to ensure that its quality is the same as that of cement roads?" Zhao Zhen asked again.
Lu Yao did not answer, but sent someone to get some sand and cooled cement.
In front of Zhao Zhen, they were mixed with water and finally placed in a rectangular mold.
This mold was originally used by Lu Yao to make cement bricks.
After placing it flat, he put the mold in the hands of the chamberlain and said: "This is caused by the cement that has just been baked. Official, please take this thing back to the palace and wait for the results to appear tomorrow."
"Okay, then I'll wait and see." Zhao Zhen felt a little relieved when he saw Lu Yao was so confident.
He added: "Now that we have finished looking at the cement, Lu Yao, please take me to those two houses to have a look."
In order to make it easier for these mine workers to go up the mountain, Lu Yao placed them nearby at the foot of the mountain.
Due to the different locations of the iron ore and lime mines, Lu Yao divided them at the foot of two different mountains.
Lu Yao wanted to take Zhao Zhen to the residential area under the iron mine.
Zhao Zhen looked at a continuous stretch of wooden sheds. These wooden sheds were very simple and could not be called residences. They could only protect against wind and rain, and some did not even have a door.
Zhao Zhen looked at Lu Yao and seemed to be saying, this is the people-oriented approach you showed me. What's the difference between these people's homes and those of cattle and horses? Is this a place where people can live?
