Zhao Liang went to the first coal mine.

The coal mine in Ruzhou, which is the Pingdingshan Coal Mine in later generations, is considered an important production area of ​​coal mines in the central region. The most important thing is that there are iron ore here, and the reserves are not small.

Zhao Liang wants to start a coal-iron joint venture, so no matter how you look at it, it is most suitable for southwest Henan.

There are iron ore and coal mines, which are close to each other, and are connected to external transportation and waterways, and they happen to be connected to Chenzhou.

So Zhao Liang took action to settle three mines in Ruzhou, which was just the beginning, a terrible test!

The output of the Zhao family's coal mine was not very large. Its sales were good before because the owner had a deep relationship with the local government and did not have to worry about sales of the coal dug out.

But since the coal mine changed hands, those customers have cut off their contacts.

Logically speaking, this coal mine cannot be opened and there is no sales channel. The more coal you dug out, the more you lose money, right?

However, while the Zhao family took over a coal mine, they also bought two iron ores and increased their capital by more than 3,000 taels of silver to rest the iron smelting workshops configured with the two iron ore, and also bought a coking plant. After the coal produced in the coal mine was coking, all the coal produced in the coke factory was sent to the iron smelting workshop.

In this way, two iron ore - two iron smelting workshops - one coking plant - and one coal mine - form a perfect closed-circuit cycle between each other.

The iron ingots they eventually produced, together with a part of the coke, were transported to Zhoujiakou by water, and became the raw material source for the blacksmith shop that has grown increasingly in the past two years.

(It was not uncommon to use coke metallurgical cast iron in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. However, the quality of coal iron in China is too poor, not only low iron ore, but also not very good after coking in coal. Of course, coke iron is not seldom in any technical content, and it cannot be replaced by coal easily. At the same time, there are still a large number of iron smelting furnaces in China that are directly used for coal, which is not without reason.)

Even if the Zhao family has no big relationship with the local business district of Ruzhou, they can't even talk about losing money after they paid for it.

On the contrary, in Zhao Liang's eyes, he made a lot of money.

Think about how much labor is wrapped in two iron ore and one coal mine? With two iron smelting workshops and a coking plant, the Zhao family entered Ruzhou only after they were not careful, and the number of employees of all kinds under their command exceeded 500.

Moreover, the matter on the waterway further provided sufficient reasons for the development of the "carriage and horse carriage" run by my uncle to the water transportation.

Liang Pin, the manager who received the news, hurried to the gate of the mine to greet him.

He is the clan nephew of Zhao Liang's grandfather, and Zhao Liang even called him cousin.

Earlier, he built a small grocery store in Fucheng, and after the Zhao family became rich, he dug him over.

This person has an average ability. Although his "qualification" is very old, he is still in charge of this coal mine.

"I've seen the uncle." Liang Pin bowed.

The uncle is already a respectful title for Zhao Liang by a member of the Zhao family. Everyone calls him that!

"Cousin, you are polite, why do you and I need these false polite rituals?" Zhao Liang also spoke very modestly.

The Zhao family has been in Ruzhou for several months. For such a long time, nothing happened to the coal mine. This is Liang Pin's credit.

Moreover, judging from Liang Pin's current appearance, he is obviously much thinner than before, which is a proof of his hard work.

However, Liang Pinren has lost weight, but is very energetic, and his eyes are particularly energetic.

After staying in the Zhao family for several years, he was finally able to come out and stand alone, which made him feel very accomplished.

Moreover, Zhao Liang told him to pay more attention to collecting some ointments produced during coking when he was in charge of the coking plant. He also collected a lot of them. But he didn't know what it was for!

In fact, Zhao Liang didn't know much about coal tar. He knew that asphalt could be produced in this coal tar and a lighter mixed oil could be obtained. As for the others, he didn't know anything.

Anyway, before modern chemistry has made great progress, coal tar is of little use.

Therefore, neither the coal mine nor the coking plant is the center of Zhao's industry in Ruzhou.

The real focus of Ruzhou's industry is the iron smelting workshop, which is where Zhao Liang pays most attention to it.

Because before they were acquired by the Zhao family, their technology was low-burning coal ironmaking.

China's iron ore is originally of poor quality, so if you use coal to deal with it (the sulfur contained in coal will cause the heat brittleness of pig iron, making it impossible to forge and form a shape), that is, the difference is even worse.

Moreover, small iron furnaces fueled by coal are not easy to change coke.

Coke is not easy to catch fire.

The thing is made of bituminous coal by washing and crushing into pulverized coal, and then refined by a high temperature of 1,000 degrees from the air. After the high temperature, the particles of the pulverized coal melt and connect to each other, which is the final coke.

How could it be lit casually?

Charcoal or large amounts of wood must be used to ignite the coke, and in the process of refining iron ore, sufficient air is needed to help the ignition.

Of course oxygen is the best.

But now Zhao Liang obviously did not meet this condition, so he could only instruct the masters of the iron smelting workshop to tentatively improve the blowing facilities and adjust the structure of the furnace to obtain more sufficient air.

Therefore, the two iron smelting workshops are the focus of Zhao Liang's real attention in Ruzhou.

The first thing I came to the coal mine was because it was closest to Ruzhou, and because he and Liang Pin had some relatives.

“How is the current construction progress of the new well?”

"Don't worry, it's very good. We have enough money and good conditions. No matter how unsatisfied the local snakes are, they can't stop the people from coming to the door. Now there are 130 to 40 people working, and the project has been accelerated a lot. It is expected that by the end of the year, the first new well will be able to produce coal."

The coal mines in later generations were all one mine and one well. Of course, the main well and the secondary well, and the return air well must be equipped. But when is it now?

How could coal wells be compared with the mechanized coal mines in later generations? No matter in depth or the expansion of the coal wells, they are not at the same level in later generations.

However, the previous owner was struggling with the pressure of funds, and only two wells were drilled in a mine. In order to save funds, in addition to the necessary flat lanes, inclined lanes, inclined lanes, and palm surfaces in the mine, there were also many auxiliary projects. At the same time, the equipment in the mine included oil lamps and stairs, but there were no bellows, wind hoods, dragons, etc., and the operating environment was harsh. After the Zhao family took over, they strengthened the safety structure of the mine, and on the other hand, they also pursued the maximization of interests, so they naturally needed to open a few more eyes.

And this will take quite a while.

Find someone to check the location, then dig holes, and continuously strengthen them along the way.

In this case, Liangpin is still sure to produce coal at the end of the year, and this efficiency is already very satisfying to Zhao Liang.

After entering the gate, Zhao Liang went straight to the workers' dormitory area, from the accommodation environment to the sanitary environment, and the bathhouse, Zhao Liang was satisfied.

These miners have gathered together well, but they will be a sharp weapon in his hand.
Chapter completed!