Chapter 199 Raw Materials

The components and equipment involved in Jinyuan Alloy's smelting production line are currently manufactured by Ying Yi himself and no one else.

Of course, Ying Yi does not need to do the preparatory work personally.

Iron materials from Kaifeng, iron materials purchased from merchants, and a newly discovered iron mine in Fangcheng Mountain. A steady stream of materials are transported in from outside the mountain, and refined and refined through the Huozihao and Jinzihao workshops in Bibo Valley and Crescent Valley. Forging, and finally becoming a fan of steelmaking.

Ying Yi plans to locate the production line in Crescent Valley - Bibo Valley has a narrow space, and ten workshops, warehouses and accommodation for related personnel have taken up almost all the space. Only Crescent Valley is not small in area.

The equipment for smelting Jinyuan alloy is not a toy, it is very bulky. A valley of ten acres can accommodate a production line and related facilities.

Moreover, the smelting of Jinyuan alloy is based on the Bafang Pagoda. The Bafang Pagoda is in Crescent Valley. Although the power of the first defective Bafang Pagoda can activate the equipment in Bibo Valley ten miles away, it will cause a certain amount of loss and is not cost-effective.

Taken together, the smelting plant of Jinyuan Alloy must be established in Crescent Valley.

"Jinyuan alloy is a high-grade material whose quality far exceeds all metal materials today." Ying Yi and Jiang Xi walked slowly in the valley. Some of the slave workers in the slave labor camp were collecting debris in the valley, and some were moving stones. Stones, trenches dug trenches.

"Once a production line is established and a large amount of gold and yuan alloys are smelted, the swords and guns created will be extremely sharp, the armor created will be strong and strong, and the firecrackers and cannons created will be durable and powerful. The enemy's armor In front of weapons made of Jinyuan alloy, no matter how thick it is, it is just a piece of paper. In front of the armor made of Jinyuan alloy, the enemy's swords, guns and firebolts have no chance of breaking through the armor, no matter how sharp it is."

Jiang Xi's eyes were filled with brilliance when he heard this.

Ying Yi smiled and said: "This first production line is made of hundreds of steel. It is the same as the previous Bafang Pagoda and Diji Yi. They are all defective products. After the gold and yuan alloy is refined, it will be cast. Genuine Bafang Pagoda, Diji Instrument and production equipment. This forms a virtuous cycle. However, the smelting of Jinyuan alloy involves some troubles. Not to mention the components and equipment of the production line, there is only one kind of raw material required for smelting. Consider as appropriate.”

"silver."

Ying Yi said: "For every two thousand kilograms of gold yuan alloy smelted, one hundred kilograms of silver is needed. That is one thousand six hundred taels of silver."

When Jiang Xi heard this, he was surprised and said: "Master, isn't the cost too high?"

Ying Yi nodded slightly: "Silver is a currency in circulation and is of high value. For example, in the Ming Dynasty, during peacetime, a family of three lived for two or three months, and they probably only used one tael of silver if they lived frugally. Two thousand kilograms of gold yuan alloy, because It is light in weight. According to my estimation, it takes about twenty kilograms of alloy to make a set of full-body armor. Two thousand kilograms is one hundred sets. Excluding the value of other raw materials such as iron and labor, and the loss of silver as raw material alone, each The set is sixteen taels, which is one pound of silver."

Jiang Xi calculated silently: "In this case, if other raw materials and labor are included, the cost will be at least thirty taels of silver."

Ying Yi said: "That's right. Thirty taels is not a small amount. In terms of armor alone, a whole army of 27,000 people requires 800,000 taels of silver. If all kinds of weapons are included, it will have to be doubled. , 15.6 million taels of silver is certain."

He added: "The key is that once the money is used up, it cannot be brought back. Unlike business activities, when the money is spent, it actually still exists, but it is just transferred from the hands of some people to the hands of others. But using silver for When materials are used to make objects, they are used up and cannot be circulated. This is the biggest problem."

Said: "Moreover, the scale of gold-dollar alloy smelting will become larger and larger over time, and the demand for silver will become higher and higher. Although I have tens of millions of taels of silver in my hands now, it is indeed not enough. Once the silver is exhausted, , will cause a huge chain reaction, not only that the gold and yuan alloy cannot be smelted, but also the lack of currency among the people is the top priority."

After Jiang Xi heard this, he was speechless for a moment. He just felt it was difficult and couldn't think of any way. Finally, he said: "Unless silver is no longer currency."

Ying Yi laughed: "That's right."

He paused: "It is necessary to abolish the currency status of silver to reduce production costs and avoid the serious consequences of the lack of private currency."

Just like in later generations, when silver is no longer currency and exists as an industrial raw material, its value is greatly reduced, which can also achieve the effect of reducing costs.

However, Jiang Xi knew very well that silver as currency had been popular in this land for many years. I'm afraid it won't be easy to abolish silver's monetary status in the near future.

In fact, the starting cost of a set of full body armor is thirty taels of silver, which is not high. With the productivity of current society, making a set of armor in the past required a lot of manpower and a lot of time to carve. Even if a set of good treasure armor costs just a few hundred taels, you may not be able to buy it.

The key here is that silver is no longer just a measure of value, but also a raw material for gold and yuan alloys.

Once you use it, it's gone. There is no problem of wealth transfer.

Ying Yi has been thinking about this issue for a long time. The formula of gold-yuan alloy is obtained when opening the element item. Ying Yi knew exactly what raw materials were needed. The reason why he did not speak out before and did not seek solutions from his subordinates was mainly because the governing framework had not been established.

This involves a major issue in the economic system, which cannot be solved by one or two people. The problem must be solved only if the strict governance machinery cooperates with each other.

There is only one core thing, which is to abolish the monetary status of silver.

Not only silver, but also copper, gold and other metals that exist as currencies will probably be banned from their currency status one after another.

Because they are likely to become industrial raw materials in great demand.

As for the specific solution, Ying Yi actually already has a clue.

"Let's not talk about the silver issue for now."

Ying Yi smiled and changed his voice: "Although this problem is not small, it is not unsolvable. The biggest problem before us is how to quickly increase the production of Jinyuan alloy. Silver is very important, but in Jinyuan alloy In terms of proportion, iron comes first.”

Jiang Xi suppressed his doubts and said: "My lord is wise."

Ying Yi waved his hand: "Therefore, the source of iron materials must be solved. Since ancient times, Nanyang has been the iron smelting center of various Xia dynasties. Nanyang will all fall into my hands. The iron mines and ironworks in various counties must be Get hold of it as soon as possible. As the verger of the Moshi Department, this is within your scope of responsibilities. The Moshi Department has been set up, and Crescent Valley and Bibo Valley must be managed well, but the iron mines in various places must not be ignored."

Jiang Xi bowed and said, "My lord, please rest assured."

Ying Yi helped him up: "Solve the problem of self-production of raw materials as soon as possible."