With this little interlude, the maids turned into Guan Yu with a flushed face the moment they saw Fang Er.
After resting for a day in his new home, Fang Er drove to the mine, accompanied by Zhao Gang.
The distance from the Duke's mansion to the mine was only ninety li, and there was already a cement road, so it took about an hour to drive.
When they were still seven or eight li away from the mine, Zhao Gang pointed ahead.
"My Lord, the workshops are up ahead."
As expected, after walking a bit further, a cement building appeared by the roadside.
Parking the car, the two got out and walked towards the workshop.
The workshop was also under construction, and inside, the sounds of hammering and banging were everywhere.
As they walked, Zhao Gang explained the overall layout.
In general, once completed, each process such as forging, stamping, cutting, boring, and milling would have its own independent factory building.
The overall workshop was much larger than the workshop in Fangjiazhuang before, with a planned area of two hundred mu, but only a small part was currently under construction.
According to Zhao Gang, it would take at least five years or more to complete the entire construction.
Therefore, the construction sequence was done step by step, building one part and then moving to the next.
This way, it could ensure that the normal use of the workshop would not be affected.
After leaving the workshop and heading to the mine, before arriving, Fang Er saw a small mountain by the roadside from afar.
"What is that mountain-like thing? I didn't see it when I came last time?"
"My Lord, those are mine tailings. They are useless, so they were piled up here."
"Nonsense!"
Fang Er was immediately displeased, but after calming down, he realized it was his own fault for not giving clear instructions.
With so many mine tailings piled up here, let alone the pollution issue, it was at least a waste of resources.
Upon arriving at the mine, as soon as they got out of the car, they heard the rumbling sound of blasting.
Tan Zong, who was in charge of mining and smelting here, was quickly notified by the craftsmen and came out to greet them, bringing along Mo Ming, the 99th-generation successor of the Mohist school.
"Greetings, My Lord."
"Mo Ming greets My Lord."
The two stood to the side, bowing their heads.
Fang Er nodded, hands behind his back, and began to wander around the mine.
After just one round, he found the problem.
Tan Zong and the others were still smelting steel with charcoal!
The trees around the iron mine were almost all cut down, yet they didn't feel anything was wrong.
Fang Er stopped and turned to look at Zhao Gang.
"Zhao Gang, is there any charcoal for sale in the city?"
Zhao Gang thought for a moment and then replied, "Yes, but not much. Few people use that stuff."
"That's good. Tan Zong, no more cutting down trees from now on."
"All of you remember, we cannot ruin things for future generations. If you keep cutting like this, in a few more years, the mountains will be bald!"
"Then, with heavy rain, landslides and mudslides will come, which are deadly!"
"Yes, My Lord, you are right!"
Zhao Gang and Tan Zong simultaneously bowed their heads and admitted their mistake.
"Zhao Gang, have the coke ovens at the workshop made first. Any problems?"
"Reporting to My Lord, no problems. It will take at most ten days to complete."
Zhao Gang replied confidently, as it was something they had done before.
Fang Er looked at the piles of mine tailings and continued.
"Also, during the workshop construction, use as little wood as possible. Use concrete wherever possible."
This will not only speed up construction but also improve the fire resistance and sturdiness of the workshop.
"Therefore, besides the coke ovens, get a set of rolling mill equipment. I will personally handle this."
After saying this, he glanced at Mo Ming.
"Mo Ming, from now on, you will follow me. How much you can learn depends on your comprehension."
"My Lord, you, you, you are willing to accept me as your disciple?"
Mo Ming was instantly extremely excited upon hearing Fang Er's words, his eyes reddened, and he even stammered.
Fang Er nodded at him. The fact that he came out with Tan Zong showed that he had earned Tan Zong's approval.
Fang Er's style was not to hoard his knowledge. Otherwise, he wouldn't have taught Zhao Gang and the others personally.
"Disciple pays respects to Master!"
Mo Ming made to kneel and pay his respects, but Fang Er stopped him.
"You are a successor of the Mohist school. Don't call me Master, just 'Teacher'."
"In the future, I hope you can re-establish the Mohist school and make it prosperous."
"I hope that in many years to come, the miraculous skills of the Mohists will reappear in the world!"
"Master not only represents inheritance; for a day as a teacher, you are a father for life. Once one enters the sect, they can no longer call themselves Mohists."
"But as a teacher, it's just about learning skills, without such strict constraints."
"Disciple Mo Ming, greets Teacher!"
"Thank you for not abandoning me, Teacher. I will definitely serve by your side from now on!"
"Disciple will study diligently and make the Mohist school prosperous, so as not to disappoint Teacher!"
"Remember what you said. I will give you four words: 'Do not forget your original intention!'"
Fang Er patted Mo Ming's shoulder.
"Yes, Teacher, disciple has noted it."
Seeing this scene, Tan Zong and Zhao Gang felt a bit envious. They cupped their fists and said to Mo Ming.
"Congratulations, Mo Ming!"
Although Zhao Gang had been taught by Fang Er, he had never officially become his disciple.
Tan Zong rarely even had the chance to be personally guided by Fang Er.
But this fellow! He actually became the Duke's disciple!
"Alright, it's getting late. Tan Zong, you continue with your work. I'll take Mo Ming with me."
"Zhao Gang, drive the car."
"Yes, My Lord."
The pickup truck drove over. Fang Er got into the passenger seat, and Mo Ming sat in the back, looking at everything inside with great excitement.
He had also helped assemble parts for the armored vehicle at the time, but he hadn't had the chance to experience it.
Now, sitting in the pickup truck, he felt like he was dreaming!
This car was the only one in the entire Tang Dynasty!
Seeing Mo Ming's expression in the rearview mirror, Fang Er smiled slightly. With humility and the ability to calm down and learn skills, Mo Ming's future would surely not be bad.
The car passed by the Duke's mansion, but Fang Er did not stop there. Instead, they went directly to Shenyang City.
He had only obtained the ten-year exclusive rights to the iron mine, so it would be better to let Liu Dacheng handle the coal.
Although he could dig it himself, how much was too much money?
When money is spent, the market can move. He had many ways to make money, but letting the court and some of the people become rich was the most important thing.
At the Prefectural Office, Liu Dacheng, upon learning of Fang Er's arrival, immediately led his subordinates to greet him.
"Your subordinate greets the County Duke!"
"Alright, everyone, do what you should do. Why such a grand display?"
Fang Er waved his hand and pulled Liu Dacheng inside.
Liu Dacheng looked bewildered: "My Lord, do you need something from this subordinate?"
"Let's talk in your study."
"Oh, yes, yes, My Lord, please come with me."
Liu Dacheng led the way, taking Fang Er to his study.
"My Lord, please have a seat."
Fang Er pulled over a chair and sat down, looking at Liu Dacheng: "Prefect Liu, I have a business deal here. I wonder if the Prefectural Office is willing to take it on?"
Hearing this, Liu Dacheng's spirit immediately lifted.
Were there any businesses done with Fang Er that lost money? They were all making piles of silver!
"My Lord, please speak. As long as it doesn't violate criminal law, this subordinate will definitely do as you say!"
Seeing his eagerness but also a bit of caution, Fang Er smiled.
"Hahahaha, don't worry, it's nothing like that."
"My iron mine needs a large amount of coal."
"I heard that there are merchants selling coal in the city. If I buy from them in large quantities, these merchants will inevitably resort to any means to hire people to mine, for the sake of profit."
"But mining is risky. From a profit perspective, these merchants will not provide too much safety assurance to the miners, and it will be troublesome if accidents occur."
"Therefore, what I mean is, the Prefectural Office should take over the coal mines, and compensation should be made where necessary."
"Then, organize the people to mine, and the government will supervise, which can reduce some unnecessary accidents."
"This way, the Prefectural Office can increase a large amount of revenue to be submitted to the national treasury, and it will add a credit to Prefect Liu's record."
"And I can use this coal with peace of mind for my work."
"Such a win-win business, what do you think, Prefect Liu?"
ps: Roar roar roar, a million words!