Steel Dynasty - Chapter 570

[Chapter 570 War of words]

Time flies into August.

After being busy for more than half a month, Zhan Xingchang conveyed Xiao Ming’s ideas to the four vassal kings, and King Zhao, King Yan, King Liang, and King Wei all sent envoys to Qingzhou to discuss the matter.

At the same time, after three failures, the steel workshop produced the first alkaline converter. This news made Xiao Ming extremely excited.

He is about to face negotiations. Now the success of the alkaline converter has given him more confidence to negotiate. Mass production of steel will allow him to realize the innovation of military equipment as soon as possible.

True to his plan, all he wanted was some time.

“Your Highness, this is the alkaline converter.”

In the hot steel workshop, Meng Kuo led Xiao Ming to a converter that was two meters high and 1.5 meters in diameter.

Xiao Ming looked at the converter with satisfaction. The converter made by Meng Kuo was composed of a truncated cone-shaped furnace cap, a cylindrical furnace body and a spherical furnace bottom. The overall look was like a top.

A trunnion is cast on the steelmaking furnace to allow the converter to rotate to meet the charging, steel tapping, slag pouring and other processes. There is also an upward-sloping cavity on the side of the converter, which is the blowing port.

The converter steelmaking method currently used in steel workshops belongs to the side-blown alkaline steelmaking method. This is the earliest method that appeared in the converter steelmaking period. However, the technical requirements for bottom blowing and top blowing are very high, and he was unable to achieve it.

But even so, this is enough to meet his current needs. The molten steel produced by this batch of converters is definitely much higher grade than the steel produced by the crucible.

It can be said that with the current intensity of gunpowder, he is no longer afraid of exploding the barrel.

In addition to the air outlet below the side, there is also a small pipe on the top of the converter, which is the molten steel inlet.

“Well, not bad, not bad.” Xiao Ming was very satisfied after checking the converter up and down.

In addition to the converter, the steel workshop also underwent a complete transformation. At this time, the converter was not placed on the ground, but on a support, the lower half of which was cast in concrete, and the upper part was a metal part.

The suspended converter can be rotated by the craftsman dragging the connected chain. There are two facilities on one side of the bracket, one of which is used to pour raw materials into the converter and the other is used to tap steel.

Generally speaking, the equipment of the Gang Iron Workshop is still a bit primitive. After all, it will take a long time before the equipment is automated.

Meng Kuo is quite satisfied with his results. This period of busyness has not been in vain. Now he is preparing to build a second converter production line. “Your Highness, we have tried steelmaking, and the quality of the steel is much better than before. The problem of phosphorus and sulfur in crucible steelmaking has finally been solved.”

“Really? Your speed is quite fast.” Xiao Ming smiled.

Meng Kuo said: “Your Highness, the troublesome thing is just the furnace lining. The other equipment is the simplest, so it is faster.”

“That said, it would not have been possible without your day and night efforts, but this is still possible. It’s just the beginning, you have to continue to work hard, I can count on you to reduce the cost of steel,” Xiao Ming said.

“Your Highness, if I still can’t significantly increase production with the converter steelmaking method, Your Highness will throw me into this furnace and make it together.” Meng Kuo promised with humor.

Showing a smile, Xiao Ming said, “If that’s the case, what’s the difference between me and the tyrant? But if I don’t do well, I’ll definitely replace him.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Meng Kuo said with a smile.

After wandering around the steel workshop for a while, Zhan Xingchang sent someone to look for him.

Originally, Xiao Ming was planning to slowly talk and sign a contract with the envoys from all directions today, but because he was happy, he put the matter aside and made a special trip.

When Zhan Xingchang found someone, he found that Xiao Ming was no longer in the palace, so he sent someone to find Xiao Ming.

After explaining a few more words to Meng Kuo, Xiao Ming slowly walked towards the Qingzhou government office. When he arrived, he found that Zhan Xingchang was having a messy quarrel with the four envoys.

“What’s going on? When did the government office become a bustling city?” Xiao Ming said as he walked in.

Zhan Xingchang saw Xiao Ming coming and said, “Your Highness, we were discussing this contract just now.”

Xiao Ming nodded. At this time, he looked at the other four people. The envoy of King Wei was none other than Xiao Qi. , and he also knew the envoy sent by King Zhao, who turned out to be Wang Xi who served Queen Zhao.

As for the envoys from King Yan and King Liang, he didn’t know them.

Noticing Xiao Ming’s expression, King Yan’s envoy called out and said, “Cui Zhang, the second son of King Yan, is here to see His Highness.”

“It turns out to be the crown prince. Please sit down, please sit down.” Xiao Ming said with a smile.

Cui Zhang sat down in response. Originally, he didn’t have to come in person this time, but because the skill of the matchlock gun was too important, King Yan had to send his second son to Qingzhou.

The envoy of King Liang always had a cold look on his face. After the envoy of King Yan introduced himself, he said lightly: “My Zheng Hao has met His Royal Highness King Qi.”

After Zheng Hao, Xiao Qi and Wang Xi pretended to be with Xiao Ming respectively. They exchanged pleasantries.

On the surface, the etiquette was over, and now it was time to get down to business. The most angry person this time was undoubtedly Xiao Qi. He ran around hard, but when he turned around, both King Yan and King Zhao actually put forward conditions for humiliating Wei. .

At this time, he had to change his view of Xiao Ming.

The real conditions have actually been reached under the negotiation table. Neither Cui Zhang nor Wang Xi wanted to waste time. They were silent for a while. Cui Zhang first said: “Your Highness, the purpose of our coming today is to ask Your Highness to stop the annexation of Wei. , Since His Highness has agreed to this matter, he has written it down in black and white and used the contract as proof.

“Yes, you all understand, so don’t waste any more time now,” Wang Xiye said.

Xiao Qi naturally knew that both King Yan and King Zhao had ulterior motives with Xiao Ming. He said: “Two envoys, what you promised to His Highness has nothing to do with us. Since His Highness wants a truce now, why not bring Pengzhou and We can discuss this matter after handing over Tongzhou.”

Zheng Hao also said: “What Messenger Xiao said is absolutely true. His Highness has captured two cities in Wei. There is no reason to truce without handing them over. Doesn’t this mean that His Highness has taken advantage of everything? “

Xiao Ming said lightly: “So you two come here to disagree with the ideas of King Yan, King Zhao and me?”

“Exactly, we will only have a truce if His Highness hands over Pengzhou City and Tongzhou City? .” Xiao Qi said firmly.

Xiao Ming looked at Xiao Qi unexpectedly, and suddenly showed a playful smile. Then he looked at Cui Zhang and Wang Xi, “You two, you also saw it. This is King Wei’s aggressiveness. It seems that the truce contract cannot be signed. .”

Cui Zhang and Wang Xi were immediately annoyed. Their purpose was to weaken King Wei and restrain Xiao Ming’s hands and feet. They did not want to ruin their good deeds because of King Wei’s two cities.

(End of chapter)