Chapter 270: Sudden Wealth

"I can."

Dong Jian'an said affirmatively.

Come to think of it, the construction of this Workshop District has been going on for nearly three months, employing over eight thousand people.

And these were just the craftsmen for construction; those firing the green bricks and transporting the cement were not included.

Most importantly, the structure of the Workshop buildings is not very complex, consisting of only one floor.

It is basically four walls with a tiled roof structure on top.

It is just a bit wider than the houses used for living.

"That is good. The Nanfang District is of great importance and cannot be delayed any further," Zhao Xu said while walking toward the Nanfang District.

Now, the buildings in the Nanfang District were all coated with a layer of white plaster, appearing very clean.

Moreover, the roads in the Workshop District were no longer the dirt roads seen everywhere in the Great Song, but were paved with spacious and sturdy cement roads.

If he did not know he was in the Great Song, at a glance, he would certainly have thought he had arrived at some modern rural compound.

On the east side of the central cement main road were long and wide factory buildings.

These factory buildings varied in size, and their functions were naturally different.

According to his requirements, the four largest ones, which were a hundred meters long and side-by-side, were for iron smelting and steelmaking.

In two of these factory buildings were Blast Furnaces, which craftsmen from the Armaments Bureau had come to guide the construction of.

As long as the materials were transported over, production could begin here immediately.

And in the two adjacent factory buildings, there were many stove-like Boilers.

These were for Crucible Steel.

Compared to the scale of iron smelting and steelmaking at the Armaments Bureau, this place would be fifty times larger.

If it could be put into operation, the shortage of steel caused by the need to manufacture too many things would no longer be a problem.

Besides the four large factory buildings, there was a row of factory buildings along the river; these were naturally for hydraulic equipment.

Whether it was a Hydraulic Drill or anything else in the future, they could be placed there.

After inspecting the factory buildings,

Zhao Xu went to the craftsmen's living area on the west side.

Here, there were water tanks built by the young and strong using cement.

Usually, someone would be specifically assigned to keep the tanks full for the craftsmen's daily use.

There were two types of houses for the craftsmen to live in.

One type was for single craftsmen; the space was small, and inside there would be wooden beds like bunk beds.

One room could house ten people, similar to a contemporary dormitory.

After all, there were many craftsmen in the Workshop District, and he had to think of ways to save space.

Besides this, there were the craftsmen with families.

The area where these craftsmen lived was separated from the single craftsmen.

The rooms they lived in were about the same size as those of the single craftsmen, but they were for a whole family.

As for meals, the Workshop District would have a dedicated canteen, so the craftsmen would not need to cook for themselves.

At the same time, there would also be public restrooms.

Such a design was already very modern.

Although in the eyes of contemporary people, the conditions here were as harsh as a sweatshop.

But in ancient times, where such living conditions were quite harsh, the craftsmen's houses could basically be considered luxury homes.

After all, except for those with power and influence who lived in exquisite pavilions and towers within the city, the vast majority of people could only live in thatched huts.

Seeing that the facilities within the Workshop District were all complete,

Zhao Xu said to Dong Jian'an, "Ten days from now, you will coordinate with the Armaments Bureau to move the site; there must be no errors."

"Yes, Your Highness," Dong Jian'an said, bowing.

Leaving the Chengde Workshop, Zhao Xu returned to the Prince's Mansion.

At the entrance of the Prince's Mansion,

He saw a very luxuriously decorated carriage.

The wooden windows of the carriage were inlaid with golden patterns, which seemed to be made of pure gold.

And hanging under the carriage curtains were circular pieces of mutton-fat jade.

"Which wealthy merchant is this? A single carriage is so extravagant," Xu Lie clicked his tongue. "I haven't even seen many like this in Jingshi."

Hearing Xu Lie's voice, the carriage curtain was lifted.

A young man in green clothes poked his head out.

Seeing Zhao Xu, the young man in green smiled lightly and stepped off the carriage.

Coming before Zhao Xu, he bowed and saluted, "Your Highness, it has been a long time. Do you still remember me?"

"Isn't this Liang Feng?" Zhao Xu said.

This person was none other than the eldest son of the Liang Family, Liang Feng.

"It is a great honor that Your Highness still remembers me," Liang Feng bowed again, his attitude respectful.

At this time, Feng'er came out. Seeing that Zhao Xu had returned, she said, "Your Highness, it was he who requested to see Your Highness."

Zhao Xu already had a fair idea in his heart.

The Han Family had just left, and the Liang Family arrived right on their heels.

Naturally, there was no other business than the Artillery.

"Please, Young Master Liang," Zhao Xu gestured with his hand and jumped off his horse.

【Zhao Xu】 invited 【Liang Feng】 into the 【Hui Ke Tang】 and ordered tea to be served.

【Zhao Xu】 got straight to the point, saying, "Since 【Viscount】 【Liang】 has come this time, could it be for the sake of the 【Artillery】?"

【Liang Feng】 had originally prepared to exchange pleasantries with 【Yan Wang】 for a while, but seeing 【Zhao Xu】 be so direct, he smiled awkwardly, "Exactly. According to what Your Highness said, are there others who have also come to Your Highness to request 【Artillery】?"

"【Hanzhou Governor】 just left; he ordered the first batch of 【Artillery】," 【Zhao Xu】 said leisurely while taking a sip of tea.

A flash of displeasure crossed 【Liang Feng】's eyes.

He had hurried as fast as he could, yet he still hadn't been faster than the 【Han Family】.

He had let the 【Han Family】 get the advantage of being close to the water.

However, this also proved one thing: the 【Han Family】's attempt to replicate the 【Artillery】 had also failed, or the 【Artillery】 they produced was not satisfactory.

It was the same for his 【Liang Family】; although they had replicated the 【Artillery】, it was not as durable as 【Yan Wang】's 【Artillery】.

If the firing rate was the same as 【Yan Wang】's 【Artillery】, it would basically explode within ten consecutive shots.

Because of this, dozens of 【Liang Family】 soldiers had even died.

While 【Yan Wang】's 【Artillery】 would also explode, it could at least fire more than sixty shots consecutively.

If it was cooled down after that, it could still be used next time, as long as one didn't fire rapidly in succession.

And sixty shots were likely enough to end a battle.

"【Hanzhou Governor】's legs are truly fast, but no matter how fast he is, he doesn't have as many orders for Your Highness as our 【Liang Family】," 【Liang Feng】 rubbed his hands together.

Although winter in 【Yanzhou】 was about to pass, it was still cold here.

Moreover, the dry cold of the 【North Territory】 was even harder to endure than the damp cold of the south.

"Oh? I wonder how many that is?" 【Zhao Xu】 felt a stir in his heart upon hearing this.

The destruction of the 【Shipbuilding Bureau】 had caused him to lose quite a bit of 【Silver】.

He was counting on earning it back through this 【Artillery】.

Even though these powerful clans were at odds with him.

He could not cut off commercial dealings just because of personal likes or dislikes.

Because while that might make him feel better, it would affect the development of 【Yanzhou】.

Therefore, from the moment he started this 【Artillery】 business, he automatically became a profit-seeking merchant.

As long as the 【Silver】 was in hand and it was beneficial to the development of 【Yanzhou】, he could trade with anyone.

Once he obtained the funds and the accumulated capital upgraded the industry of 【Yanzhou】, he would crush everything.

"One thousand!" 【Liang Feng】 held up a finger.

【Zhao Xu】 almost dropped the teacup in his hand; he said, "What does your 【Liang Family】 need so many 【Artillery】 for? To rebel?"

【Liang Feng】 spat out a mouthful of tea upon hearing this, "Your Highness, you cannot say such things recklessly. These cannons are merely for dealing with sea pirates, because they need to be installed on ships..."

Because he was too agitated, he almost let it slip.

Realizing this, he immediately shut his mouth.

【Zhao Xu】's eyes narrowed; this was not surprising.

Even for ordinary 【Da Song】 cargo ships, one could be equipped with over a dozen 【Artillery】.

The 【Liang Family】 possessed the largest fleet in 【Da Song】, so these one thousand pieces would only be enough for less than one hundred ships.

He laughed twice and said, "A slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. One thousand, that is fine."

Then, he told 【Liang Feng】 the requirements he had given the 【Han Family】.

"That is naturally no problem," 【Liang Feng】 said with the air of someone wealthy and imposing.

In truth, he did not want to buy so many 【Artillery】 either.

But no one had a solution for the 【Artillery】 exploding.

Perhaps in three to five years, these one thousand 【Artillery】 would be consumed.

Hearing this, 【Zhao Xu】 was secretly delighted.

Military supplies were still the most profitable; with the 【Han Family】 and 【Liang Family】 together, after deducting costs, he could earn at least eight million 【Silver】.