Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 809 Ignition
Direct development of Hongji means a large investment.In terms of military alone, at least one full infantry battalion must be sent to Hongji.The Northern Dynasty of Vietnam is different from the barren Sanya and Hong Kong Island, which can rely on the protection of the navy. It is to directly face the army of the Northern Dynasty, which has a considerable advantage in army strength.The army of the Northern Dynasty was armed with the help of the Portuguese and the Dutch. In terms of professionalism, ability to use firearms and combat experience, it was much higher than that of the Ming army in Guangdong.

If our own side builds a port in Hongji and excavates coal, it will inevitably be driven out by force from the Northern Dynasty. Without an infantry battalion plus a part of artillery and navy, it is impossible to ensure the safety of the mining area.The General Staff worked out a plan for occupying and defending the Honji Mine: more than three battalions of permanent troops were stationed.This is simply a fantasy for the army and navy, which are already in short supply.

The five battalions of the army are currently distributed in the entire northern part of Hainan Island from Danzhou in the west to Wenchang in the east to carry out large-scale security operations.All the troops were dispatched, except a battalion which remained at Maniao to serve as the general reserve of the whole army.Any further mobilization of troops will seriously affect industrial and agricultural production.

Wu De thought over and over again, and decided to proceed with caution in this matter.Start with the expansion of trade - strive to adopt the model of a large armed trading station, and use local forces to mine.This also requires an increase in basic investment. At least the establishment of the Vietnam Trading Company can no longer be placed under the Leizhou Station, and must be directly invested and managed by the Senate.

The hoarding of raw materials in the iron and steel plant was faster than Ji Wusheng and Wang Luobin expected. The Planning Institute organized a surprise shipment of ships. Iron ore fine powder from Sanya, coking lignite from Qiongshan and lignite from Leizhou were continuously transported to Bopu and Ma Niao.Although the Navy temporarily lost a lot of cargo tons because one-third of its ships were dragged ashore for repairs, there were many more idle sailors. It exacerbates the loss of ships, but for the navy that is about to get new toys, it is worth paying this sacrifice-Storm steel is good for both the army and the navy, but in the long run it must be more beneficial to the navy: after all, manufacturing The steel consumed by 1857 rifles is not equal to that of an ironclad ship, and the steel consumed by one large-caliber naval gun is equal to ten M[-]s.

Under the full force of the navy, the raw material reserves of Lingao Iron and Steel Company met the basic reserve of 7 days in advance. Ji Wusheng decided that it was not too late and started smelting steel immediately.The process of the second oven takes about 48 hours before it can be formally fed, which can increase the reserve for several days.

The iron and steel company has trained the first generation of steel workers in Lingao in the converter workshop in the past. Some of them came from various smelting plants or blacksmiths in Guangdong, and have certain working experience in iron making.The foreman in charge, surnamed Li, was originally the only blacksmith in Lingao City—traditional blacksmiths are actually similar to manufacturing workers, who are not familiar with metallurgy.Therefore, most of the blacksmiths recruited by Lingao were assigned to the mechanical department.But this person's craftsmanship is really not that good, even Lu Youtian shook his head when he saw it.In the end, he was sent directly to the metallurgical department to work as a furnace worker in an iron melting furnace.

However, blacksmith Li finally has a little bit of smelting and casting skills, which is somewhat better than others.During his work, Ji Wusheng found that this person is quite diligent and studious, but he is eager to learn with a brilliant master and a competitive environment, both of which are lacking in Hainan.

No one in this time and space has ever seen blast furnaces and flat furnaces, and the only production experience of iron workers with modern steel technology comes from iron melting furnaces and converters.For this season, Wu Sheng personally went out to train future steel workers.Specially built models of small blast furnaces and flat furnaces to teach smelting knowledge.Theoretically, workers only need to know what to do, but Ji Wusheng felt that it is still necessary to give them some theoretical knowledge to promote their mastery.

These workers came to the steel company to work and study every day, and participated in the construction of the steel plant. Especially when they saw the magnificent blast furnace and hearth furnace that they had never dreamed of rising from the ground, the excitement of the workers was beyond words.For them, the small converter and the iron furnace are already a miracle, not to mention this huge tower!
"Can this blast furnace really produce good steel?" Every day Ji Wusheng answered the workers' similar questions affirmatively more than a dozen times.

Now, the blast furnace has been completely completed, and the workers have carried out the work of baking the furnace for the first time, and have a certain understanding of charging the furnace charge.Ji Wusheng decided to formally ignite the blast furnace on February 2.

He personally went into battle to supervise the workers' loading-the workers had already gained some experience after the last loading.However, you need to be more careful in the second oven, because the second oven is actually in the formal production operation, and any problems will have a major impact on the production of the blast furnace.

Silently Ji inspected the processed coke powder.This is coke powder made from the best coke sent from Bopu Coal Coking Plant.The workers add some tar to the coke powder and stir well.Then add an appropriate amount of water to make the coke powder have a certain humidity.Coke powder is used as the lining material of the oven. It must have a certain humidity, otherwise it will not be able to stick to the furnace wall, but if it is too humid, it will affect the furnace temperature.

After finishing the lining, Ji Wusheng personally drilled into the furnace to check the thickness and humidity meter by meter to ensure that every link is accurate. If the thickness is less than 20mm or the humidity is problematic, all of them will be dismantled and reprinted.

After the lining was finished, shavings were sent from the wood processing factory-shavings are a good kind of ignition material, dry and easy to burn.Dozens of large bales of shavings were loaded into the lowest layer of the blast furnace, and then firewood was piled up in a well-shaped pattern.Add some more wood shavings to the firewood near each tuyere.Coke is piled on top of the wood.The coke is placed in layers, each layer is 300mm, and some limestone is added to the upper layers, and the coke is placed loosely between them, which is good for ventilation.The charging should always fill up the whole furnace body, until the furnace throat.

After the filling is completed, the furnace is officially opened.The ignition of a blast furnace was a major event even in the old time and space. In the past, the ignition and commissioning of large and extra-large blast furnaces were qualified to be broadcast on the news network.For the Timer Group, the ignition of the blast furnace is an important step in the development of "our business".

On February 2, a simple and grand blast furnace ignition ceremony was held under the tall ceiling of the blast furnace workshop.The workers of the steel factory, construction workers, students and soldiers from the army and navy who participated in the construction of the steel factory gathered in groups under the roof of the steel truss factory building. Although they built the giant building in front of them brick by brick, the real Standing in complete shape in front of their eyes, everyone is still amazed-this giant can actually forge iron!This is really something that you can't even dream of.

The scene in front of them amazed not only the naturalized people, but most of the veterans had never seen a blast furnace before. When they came to the foot of the blast furnace which was nearly ten meters away, they were surprised and filled with great pride in their hearts—they were about to own a blast furnace. The "artifact" of this time and space.The raging fire ignited by the blast furnace and the molten iron flowing out will clean up the old world and leave a new world that belongs to them.

The main figures of the Executive Committee and the active members of the Senate of course could not give up this good opportunity to show their faces, and they all showed up.Fang Fei, who specializes in preparing large-scale events, is also the main planner of this event. He asked Ji Wusheng if he wanted to hold a reception or something.

"The industrial port doesn't have a budget for entertainment expenses."

According to the expense reimbursement system formulated by the Cheka, only a few foreign-related departments have the right to keep accounts and reimburse entertainment expenses, and other departments are not even eligible to appear in the accounts.

Fang Fei said: "This expense can be paid by the general office, you just need to make an application."

"No, the ignition of the blast furnace is very meaningful, so there is a ceremony. But if you use this meaning to eat and drink, you don't need it." Ji Wusheng couldn't see the reception commemorating Pavlov's birthday in the old time and space.Therefore, for this ceremony, only announcements were issued, no invitations were sent out, and there were no other decorations except for hanging placards, and no drinks, cigarettes, and food were prepared—the announcement stated that you must bring your own food.

Although the steel mills were not very enthusiastic about the elders, the elders were very enthusiastic.In addition to the main leaders of the executive committee, many veterans from the industrial and military departments also came.Both are big consumers of steel.

The elders were discussing excitedly under the blast furnace about the production capacity and usage of steel.Of course, it is unavoidable to be mixed with a lot of militaristic ideas of building iron-clad ships, and the construction of railways has also become the focus of discussion.There was also a small debate over whether to build meter gauge, standard gauge, wide gauge or extra wide gauge.The maids looked curiously at the blast furnace and the underside of the blast furnace, gesticulating, and the excitedly flushed masters.

Some people took advantage of the privileges of the elders to get close to the blast furnace, and carefully looked at the furnace body, base, and tuyere... From time to time, some people excitedly pointed out: This part was designed and manufactured by our department and workshop, or the materials were found.For the veterans of the chemical industry, they contributed the most in the project-it took a lot of brains for the chemical industry to solve the blast furnace refractory.

The blast furnace workshop has become very "modern".Not only is the structure of the entire workshop made of steel, but there are cranes on the ceiling, tracks on the ground, stairs, corridors, overpasses, etc. Most of the internal structure is also made of industrial-style wrought iron fence panels.It looks rough and powerful.

Wen Desi and Ma Qianju both came to the scene by coincidence. Wen Desi walked around the blast furnace a few times, and suddenly said to Ma Qianju who was with him: "Ma Gong, I heard that the ancient furnaces were opened A living sacrifice."

(End of this chapter)