Chapter 419: Only My Unique Method Chapter 419: Bidding Farewell to the Old Era (4)

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Yu Weichao, Naked Bear, Li Changning, Li Feng, Jin Douna, along with the 55 trainees of the newly formed Mineral Development Department, plus over 30 carefully selected West River natives, watched the bacterial metallurgy demonstration.

The usual method of bacterial metallurgy is leaching: pour solvent onto a pile of ore, and it will slowly eat the ore and excrete it; given the bacteria's clumping nature, this separates the metals from the ore, completing the metallurgical steps. This method can be used on already mined ore piles, or on unmined deposits; the latter's leaching cost is relatively higher, but it saves mining costs. The leaching time is extremely long, and every different deposit requires culturing a different strain—mainly selecting the robust ones, with strong digestive ability and fast reproduction rates; the selected strains are then mass-cultured before leaching.

"Iron Bacteria Zhou" is different; it is a reusable strain, because it applies to all kinds of metals. When Chen Yi poured 10 tons of solvent into a pool paved with ore, 500 meters long and 200 meters wide, it didn't even submerge one-tenth of it.

"A bit little?" She Lei wondered if a mistake had been made.

"It'll pile up the pool bottom soon enough. This is an accumulation process." Yu Weichao had once been a scholar, yet at this moment he spoke with an extremely envious tone: "Iron Bacteria Zhou will certainly change the world's metallurgical and mining industries; it renders many previously invented smelting methods useless. Once biological smelting finds that one suitable strain, it becomes like an industrial mother machine, producing enormous changes to the whole world's industry... although it's a bit slow."

Yu Weichao said with utmost seriousness: "Don't look at Iron Bacteria Zhou's current slow efficiency; as long as it's cultivated generation after generation, it's equivalent to the discovery of penicillin, completely transforming an industry. We have 10 tons of solvent now, who knows how many units; slowly there will be 100 tons, 1000 tons. The problem lies only in screening—filtering out mutated bad strains, and the fermented substrate, which is the bacteria's excrement... what will our output be like?"

Jin Douna received the data and read softly: "The first month can process 6000 tons of ore, roughly equivalent to 10,000 boxes of Iron Fang Divine Box, averaging 200 tons per day; by the second month, the strains in our solvent will have completed logarithmic reproduction, output will leap 10-fold to 200 tons per day, or 60,000 tons per month; the final target should average 20,000 tons per day, simultaneously operating 30 such pools, with daily output thereafter."

"The produced metal still needs re-smelting, right?" Yu Weichao recalled his knowledge of bacterial smelting and said: "If it's iron ore, what we produce should be pig iron, which still needs processing into crude steel, then using crude steel to process the steel we need. But pig iron can be sold to West Continent people."

"Divide it into several grades." Chen Yi gave a suggestion.

Several people were discussing development direction there when someone in the trainee team suddenly started shouting: "It's melting, it's melting"; looking at the ore in the pool, its surface indeed showed signs of melting.

"This is only the first step of bacteria eating ore; they still need a very long time to digest." Chen Yi had seen Professor Zhou Houyuan's demonstration, and now expressed dissatisfaction: "He said it takes a long time of screening and cultivation to get better strains; that guy... West Continent people spent thousands or even tens of thousands of years selecting and breeding strains, finally finding a super bacteria capable of devouring all known metals..."

The pentagram on his chest flashed once, probably influenced by Humility and Modesty, so he simply shut his mouth in a huff.

Yu Weichao laughed heartily: "He did indeed improve the bacteria's efficiency, even if not by much; let him handle it then."

Chen Yi shrugged: "The current Iron Bacteria Zhou bacteria perform better on non-ferrous metals but poorly on ferrous metals, so... you guys process the ore here first."

Unlike West Continent people who live hand-to-mouth, Chen Yi indeed doesn't need a full-metal-adaptable metal, at least not that many kinds.

"We might need a dedicated laboratory and technicians to screen bacteria." Yu Weichao suggested: "Only then can we gradually accumulate more bacterial solution, if these solutions can be reused."

"Do you know anyone?"

"How about Zhou Houyuan?" Yu Weichao played a bit of a trick; he genuinely didn't want Zhou Houyuan and his "Iron Bacteria Zhou" to receive cheers and praise from everyone on Earth.

Chen Yi actually nodded. He didn't care what Zhou Houyuan thought; as long as it served West Continent's interests, compensating Zhou Houyuan later would be fine. Moreover, this approach could prevent Zhou Houyuan from profiting off the strain—profiting, of course, only Chen Yi alone could do.

After watching the bacteria-eating-ore performance, the group proceeded to Shenqi Mountain.

After over two months of "Purification Jungle Warfare," not only was there a 5-kilometer standard highway connecting to the Ring City Highway, but a heavy-duty road leading straight to West River City Fortress was also established.

Actually, with experience, reclaiming jungle isn't that difficult; the core is to drain swamp water, guard against mosquito and insect attacks, and strictly control the numbers of various monsters. Additionally, the control and use of Mexicans is very important; they are all quite good labor; in a sense, these impoverished Mexicans who have tried countless livelihoods are more suited to the West Continent environment than Chinese people from Jiangbei worker backgrounds. It's just that their identities cannot gain recognition from the Rhombus Conference Hall, so they do more work than Chinese people, face greater dangers than Chinese people, yet still cannot get promotions or salary increases.

Their income is only one-tenth of an ordinary trainee's; their West Continent points subsidy is only slightly better than native officers; just this point alone makes them unable to gain the respect of native officers.

Shenqi Mountain can no longer be called a mountain; as a strange mine where gold, tin, and platinum coexist, its value is undeniable; therefore West River Water Fortress also tightly controls ore extraction; explosives are used quickly and in large quantities; now no lush trees can be seen on the mountain.

From their plan, in three months at most, this mountain will be gone.

"How much longer can it be mined?"

"A long time; we don't know how much reserve is below. But it's definitely very large." Yu Weichao's expression was excited; from West River Water Fortress's situation, just this one mine is enough for it to eat and drink without worry. He pointed at the excavators working below and said: "I checked data; on Earth, platinum is always associated, especially China's platinum, all obtained incidentally while mining other metals; roughly 10 tons of ore yields 30g of platinum, too little; we now process 10 tons of platinum ore and get 1 kilogram of platinum ore concentrate—can you imagine? It's simply..."

"6 tons of platinum per month; current world annual platinum production is around 140 tons; our annual output will soon reach that." Jin Douna had also gradually grown accustomed to West Continent life, brushing her hair and smiling.

Chen Yi only listened without speaking, specially observing the Mexicans' work.

Before the bacterial solution increases massively, he won't leach the entire mine. Thus, conventional mining methods become crucially important. Fortunately it's open-pit mining; what workers need to do is mainly two things: dig and haul. Just like early open-pit mining on Earth, scrape the ground twice and coal dust puffs out; pickaxes, iron bars, and wheelbarrows can mine coal.

The Mexicans work very hard.

To control them, Red Wolf simply sleeps at the mine. And his best method for dealing with Mexicans is whipping.

Using whips and iron rods, beat all the laziness unique to South Americans out of them.

Yu Weichao used to worry about problems, but Red Wolf proposed a good suggestion.

"Those who work are workers; those who disobey are slaves!"

This banner now hangs in the very center of the mine, and in multiple languages, painted all over the mine.

"You turned Mexicans into slaves?"

"Only a few." Yu Weichao said quietly: "We set grades for Mexicans; ordinary Mexicans are Level 3, with the same authority as native officers, mainly driving various engineering equipment, can command native soldiers and native workers present. Level 2 Mexicans have only native soldiers' authority, cannot command native soldiers and native workers, but are allowed to drive engineering machinery, can live in West River City Fortress, buses for transport, native service for meals. But if further disobedient and downgraded to Level 1 by the Overseer, they have only ordinary natives' authority, must ride trucks or tractors to and from the construction site, cannot drive engineering vehicles, only shoulder-carry and hand-lift, do miscellaneous work machines can't do. Level 0 is slave grade, assigned to Level 4 Mexican Overseers for use..."

"Is it useful?"

"Mexicans extremely, extremely like abusing their own compatriots; Brazilians and Hondurans, Ecuadorians like abusing Mexicans even more." Yu Weichao laughed darkly; West Continent has over 500 South Americans and counting; how to use them well is the Diamond Office's responsibility.

Chen Yi gazed into the distance at the construction site ahead, unknown what he was thinking.

Li Changning seized the opportunity and asked softly: "Whether to meet a few Mexicans?"

"Meet the Purification Jungle Warfare soldiers first, then decide." Chen Yi slowly turned his body, looked toward Ma La's direction, and asked: "How have they been recently?"

"Religious war, or what they call Temple War, is proceeding fiercely; more than half of Ma La's nobles have gone to the front line. The remaining old, weak, sick, and disabled rarely even go to Xima Market."

"How is the market's prosperity?"

"Middle-class citizens are there, but consumption quantity is still less."

Chen Yi straightened his shirt, returned to the Jeep, and said: "Call Yin Senchen; Jin Douna, you come with me to Ma La; we'll go see the Elders of Ma La."

Jin Douna happily agreed and asked: "What's the purpose? What to prepare?"

"Prepare documents; we're going to annex it."

Yu Weichao was startled and hurriedly said: "My Lord, Ma La's nobles... are the type with noble spirit; if forcibly annexed, they will resist to the death."

"Oh, that's true." Chen Yi glared at him: "Suggest it earlier next time; if I've said it out loud, it becomes a promise."

"Ah?"

"Mobilize a force; I want to see how they resist."

……(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to vote Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)