I founded a heavy industry group in the late Ming Dynasty.

Article 140: Seeking Peace and Looking to the Future

Article 140: Seeking Peace and Looking to the Future

Chapter 139 The capital city, the Chen residence, Chen Ying was in a very good mood.

After a period of continuous hard work, Chen Ying's efforts finally paid off. First, Song Yanniang became pregnant, and then Su Mei also became pregnant, which can be considered as double happiness.

More importantly, several groups of people have come to make large purchases, including Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, and French. This has resulted in Chen Ying's steel and cement orders being booked for two years in advance, with deposits alone amounting to more than two million taels of silver. In particular, a considerable amount of bank loans have been issued, which has allowed Chen Ying to earn even more.

However, the good news didn't end there. Song Yanniang discovered that both she and Su Mei were pregnant, and not wanting Chen Ying to go hungry, she offered to spend money to buy him a courtesan named Xue'er. The problem was, Chen Ying was terrified, because Xue'er was only fourteen years old, and he really didn't dare to. To avoid the pain of watching her go without being able to have her, he had no choice but to move out of the capital and come to Shahewei.

However, not long after, Chen Yongren said, "Godfather, a few old men have come outside. They claim to be Cheng Jiashi, the owner of Cheng's Restaurant, a business owned by Huizhou merchants!"

Chen Ying smiled and said, "Let them in!"

Although he did not see Cheng Jiashi, he could tell their intentions. The Huizhou merchants had a history of more than a thousand years and had always been a giant in the business world. Apart from the Shanxi merchants who only slowly rose to prominence in the Ming Dynasty, no other merchant group could compete with them.

One of the main reasons they have achieved their current status is their keen insight, their ability to discover business opportunities, and their boldness. Once they discover a business opportunity, they will bet all the money in their pockets like a gambler who has seen through the dealer's hand.

Not all Huizhou merchants were mediocre; otherwise, they wouldn't have achieved their current status and influence. It can be inferred that Cheng's company will inevitably have to admit defeat.

"Let them in!"

Not long after, Cheng Jiashi, the real head of the Huizhou merchant Cheng family, an old man in his sixties, entered with several dignified old men.

The leader was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a worn silk robe. He had a thin face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like two black agates just pulled from the water. Behind him sat several other elderly men of similar distinguished bearing, each with a solemn expression and ramrod straight back. Further back were Cheng Weishan and Cheng Yi, who were tightly bound with ropes and kneeling on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen, like wilted eggplants.

"Lord Chen!"

Cheng Jiashi bowed respectfully, his attitude very respectful, but his voice carried a calmness born of experience: "I am Cheng Jiashi, a native of Shexian County, Huizhou, and the head of Cheng's Trading Company. Today, I have brought several elders from my clan, as well as these two good-for-nothings, to apologize to you, sir."

Chen Ying put down his teacup and said calmly, "Mr. Cheng, I don't quite understand this commotion. If you're going to apologize, just apologize; why tie someone up?"

Cheng Jiashi sighed and pointed to Cheng Weishan and Cheng Yi behind him: "These two beasts acted arrogantly in front of the adults, disgracing the Cheng family. I've brought them here bound and will leave them to the adults to deal with as they see fit. Whether you beat them or kill them, I will have no objection."

Cheng Weishan and Cheng Yi trembled with fear, their foreheads pounding against the ground with a thud: "Lord Chen, spare our lives! Your Excellency, spare our lives!"

Chen Ying ignored them, his gaze fixed on Cheng Jiashi's face: "Mr. Cheng, what are you up to?"

Cheng Jiashi stood up, took out a thick document from his sleeve, and handed it to him with both hands: "Sir, this is Cheng's ink-making document..."

The formula for Xuan paper, along with a register of dozens of veteran craftsmen—the Cheng family has relied on these two things for generations. Today, I offer them to you, sir, hoping you will show mercy and spare the Cheng family's life.

Chen Ying took the document, flipped through it, and a slight thought crossed his mind. Huizhou ink and Xuan paper—those were unparalleled treasures. Cheng's ink was renowned for its "like lacquer on paper, its purity enduring for eternity"; Cheng's paper was a coveted item for scholars and artists. If these two items could be mass-produced in the workshops of Daning, it would be an incredibly profitable business. He put down the document and looked at Cheng Jiashi: "Mr. Cheng, are you here to do business with me?"

Cheng Jiashi shook his head and said with a wry smile, "It's not about doing business, it's about survival. My lord, I've lived for over sixty years and seen many storms, but I've never met anyone like you. In war, the Jurchens are no match for you; in business, the Huizhou merchants are no match for you either. I've figured it out. Rather than fighting to the death with you, my lord, it's better to cooperate. You have the technology, the production capacity, and the army; the Cheng family has the channels, the experience, and the craftsmen. With both of us combined, who in the world can stop us?"

Chen Ying was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Mr. Cheng, what you said has really piqued my interest. However, I have a rule: cooperation is possible, but we must first inspect the goods. Come on, I'll take you to the workshop area of ​​Shahewei."

Cheng Jiashi was taken aback, then overjoyed: "Thank you, sir!"

Shahewei, Gongfang District.

Cheng Jiashi followed Chen Ying into the first workshop. A wave of heat hit them. A dozen or so refining furnaces were lined up in a row, their flames roaring. Molten steel flowed from the furnace mouths like crimson snakes, meandering along the troughs. The workers were shirtless, sweating profusely, their iron tongs and steel spades gleaming coldly in the firelight.

"This—this is—the legendary refining furnace?"

Cheng Jiashi's eyes widened.

Chen Ying nodded: "Mr. Cheng has a good eye. The molten steel comes directly from the furnace and is cast into shape, saving the trouble of secondary heating, labor, and materials. Can you guess how much it costs to produce one batch of steel like this?"

Cheng Jiashi shook his head.

Chen Ying held up five fingers: "Five cents a pound, more than half the price of the best steel on the market."

The steel production cost of Chen's workshop is almost the same as that of ordinary pig iron production in the Ming Dynasty, only slightly higher. This is mainly because the principle of smelting pig iron and steel is the same. The only difference is that the "window paper" acts as an oxidant, bringing the carbon elements in the furnace into contact with oxygen in the air. The oxygen reacts with the carbon elements to form carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. As the carbon elements in the molten pig iron are diluted, it becomes high-carbon steel or low-carbon steel.

In later generations, this process could rely on sampling and analysis of the composition. While this technology doesn't exist now, sampling is still possible. Experienced blacksmiths, by listening to the sound and feeling the steel, could determine the carbon content and add more carbon or continue refining. (I've written a few more sentences; some readers have commented that it's too simplistic, so I've glossed over it. If any readers are interested, I can go back to my hometown and find my graduation thesis manuscript, on improving smelting efficiency and cost control.) This is from over twenty years ago, and it's handwritten; there's no electronic version.)

Cheng Jiashi gasped. Although he was a businessman and not an expert in steel, he knew what this price meant: it meant Chen Boying's steel could sweep the world. He could rely on technology to crush all his competitors. The price of steel was almost the same as pig iron; this was pure dimensional reduction.

The second workshop is the production line for iron shaft type and benefit-the-people seed drill. Molten steel is cast into various parts. On the assembly line, workers skillfully assemble, polish and oil them. In less than 15 minutes, a brand-new iron shaft type comes off the production line.

"How many can this production line produce in a day?" Cheng Jiashi couldn't help but ask.

Chen Ying laughed and said, "Three thousand nine hundred units a day, that adds up to more than a million units a year."

The current constraint on the production efficiency of iron shaft-type steel is not technology, but the market. It is an indisputable fact that steel is prone to rusting, and without a sales channel, there is nothing he can do.

Cheng Jiashi fell silent. He suddenly realized how ridiculous Wang Wende and his ilk's ideas were. Fight Chen Boying? What could they possibly have to fight with? Chen Boying's iron-shafted plow cost less than three or four taels of silver, yet he could sell it for fifteen taels and still make a profit. The wooden molds in the hands of Huizhou merchants cost six or seven taels to produce, and selling them for ten taels wouldn't even fill a tooth gap.

The third workshop is the assembly line for four-wheeled carriages. The wheels, axles, and carriages are all produced in a standardized manner, all from the same mold. They can be used on any carriage. The workers assemble the parts like building blocks, tighten the screws, and a brand-new four-wheeled carriage rolls off the production line.

"This—this is too fast!" Cheng Jiashi exclaimed in disbelief.

Chen Ying laughed and said, "This is called an assembly line. Everyone does only one thing, and once they're skilled at it, it's naturally fast. Mr. Cheng, just imagine what it would be like if your ink and paper were produced using this method?"

Cheng Jiashi's eyes lit up, then dimmed again: "But ink and paper are different from steel. Ink must be hammered by hand, and paper must be made by hand; you can't rush it."

Chen Ying shook his head: "It can't be rushed; we just haven't found the right method. Once you see my research project team, you'll understand what 'can't be rushed' really means."

The fourth workshop was the research and development project department. Unlike the previous workshops, which were bustling with activity, it was rather quiet. Craftsmen were gathered in twos and threes around the experimental tables, some drawing, some polishing parts, and some testing gunpowder. The walls were covered with blueprints, and the tables were piled high with samples. An indescribable tension permeated the air.

Cheng Jiashi walked to a lab bench and watched as a craftsman carefully engraved wire into an iron pipe. Curious, he asked, "What are you doing?"

The craftsman didn't even look up: "Building a fire ox. The commander-in-chief said that if he succeeds, he'll be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver and a thousand acres of land."

Cheng Jiashi gasped. He suddenly realized that Chen Boying wasn't fighting against the Huizhou merchants; he was fighting against time. He was racing against the clock to develop the technology so that the Ming Dynasty wouldn't fall behind.

After visiting all the workshops, Cheng Jiashi stood in the courtyard, silent for a long time.

Chen Ying walked to his side and said softly, "Mr. Cheng, do you understand now?"

Cheng Jiashi nodded, his voice a little hoarse: "I understand now. The lord is not fighting against the Huizhou merchants, he is fighting against his own life."

Chen Ying laughed: "Mr. Cheng, what you're saying is too far-fetched. I don't have such grand ambitions; I just want my people to live a better life. Mr. Cheng, please go back and tell Wang Wende and his men that I don't want to be enemies with the Huizhou merchants. Peace and harmony are more important than anything else. But if they insist on fighting me, I'm not afraid. You see, what I have is far superior to what they can match."

Cheng Jiashi bowed deeply: "Rest assured, sir, I will certainly convey your message."

Chen Ying helped him up and said with a smile, "Mr. Cheng, I'll accept your ink-making and Xuan paper-making techniques. However, I won't take them for nothing. I'll provide the silver, the workshop, and the manpower to partner with you. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty. What do you think?"

Cheng Jiashi was stunned. He had originally thought that Chen Ying would exploit him like he had exploited Jiang Chun. Unexpectedly, Chen Ying took the initiative to propose a partnership.

"My lord—" Cheng Jiashi's voice choked with emotion, "Aren't you afraid that I might play some trick on you?"

Chen Ying laughed: "Mr. Cheng, if you were trying to play tricks, you wouldn't have brought Cheng Weishan and Cheng Yi here. I'm the kind of person who treats others well. If you treat me with respect, I'll treat you with even greater respect."

Cheng Jiashi was moved to tears and nodded repeatedly.

Meanwhile, at the Huizhou Merchants General Association.

Wang Wende sat in the main seat, his face ashen. He held a secret report in his hand, which stated that Cheng Jiashi had led the clan elders to the Chen residence.

"That old bastard Cheng Jiashi! He's betraying the Huizhou merchants!"

Jiang Chun said cautiously, "Chief, Cheng Jiashi is, after all, the head of Chengji. If he cooperates with Chen Boying, we—"

"Us what?" Wang Wende stood up abruptly. "If Cheng Jiashi can cooperate with Chen Boying, so can we. Cheng Jiashi has ink and Xuan paper, we have salt, tea, and silk. If Chen Boying needs distribution channels, we'll provide them; if he needs markets, we'll provide them. As long as we can get the business going, what difference does cooperation make?"

Jiang Chun was stunned: "Chief, didn't you say—"

"What did I say?" Wang Wende said coldly. "I said I wanted to fight Chen Boying, that was before. Now the situation has changed. If we can't win, we have to accept it. If we accept it, we can still live; if we don't, we'll be the next Fan Yongdou."

He paused, then swept his gaze across the crowd: "Pass down the order to prepare generous gifts. The chief of our association will personally visit the Chen residence to pay a visit to Chen Boying."

The crowd looked at each other, but no one dared to object.

When Cheng Jiashi returned to the Huizhou Merchants Association, Wang Wende had already prepared a sedan chair.

"Mr. Cheng, what's wrong with you?!" Wang Wende looked at Cheng Jiashi, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

Cheng Jiashi laughed: "Wen De, I know you hate me. But think about it, what do we Huizhou merchants rely on?"

Wang Wende was taken aback.

"It's all about vision." Cheng Jiashi said slowly and deliberately, "Back then, our ancestors came out of Huizhou, and it was all about vision."

Wherever there are business opportunities, wherever there's money to be made, that's where we'll go. Right now, the business opportunity lies with Chen Boying, and you still want to fight him? That's not fighting, that's courting death.”

Wang Wende fell silent.

Cheng Jiashi patted him on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's go to the Chen residence together. Chen Boying is the kind of person who responds better to gentleness than force. If you lower your stance, he won't make things difficult for you."

Wang Wende gritted his teeth and finally nodded.

In the front hall of the Chen residence, Chen Ying looked at Cheng Jiashi, who had returned, and then at Wang Wende following behind him, and smiled.

"Mr. Cheng, what's wrong with you—"

Cheng Jiashi cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I have also brought Chief Wang with me. He has something he would like to say to you."

Wang Wende stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Lord Chen, I was blind and did not recognize your greatness. I have offended you. I have come today to apologize and will leave my punishment to you."

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