Chapter 39: The Jet-Black Stone

  Although it's winter, the temperature in Jiangnan is still around 10 degrees above zero. Inside the ironwork workshop, three iron furnaces are burning brightly, with more than thirty young men stripped to the waist, sweating profusely as they work. At this moment, the sounds of shouting and clanging metal rise and fall together. Wang Tiechui stands on the side, watching his apprentices, occasionally yelling loudly.

  Deng Zixuan crouched in front of a pile of black stones, carefully examining the black stone in his hand. Although Deng Zixuan was very familiar with the physical characteristics of tungsten ore, he was completely ignorant of smelting. The reason was that there was a huge gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Deng Zixuan searched his memory almost in vain, and now he truly felt how big the gap was between theory and practice. Holding the black ore in his hand, Deng Zixuan knew clearly that this ore came from Dayu, Jiangxi. This type of tungsten ore is basically found on the surface in Dayu, and it's very easy to mine.

  Tungsten alloy after heat treatment is the best material for making gun barrels, with high melting point, high hardness, corrosion resistance and low deformation. These characteristics make it an ideal material for manufacturing gun barrels, especially in terms of barrel lifespan. Currently, Western countries have widely adopted this material in industrial production, but not yet on a large scale in the military industry, particularly in firearms manufacturing.

  Deng Zixuan knew that if he could create tungsten steel, it would mean that advanced weaponry would be available decades ahead of Western countries. Especially for Deng Zixuan's strategic planning, its role was immeasurable. Due to the high melting point of tungsten alloy, existing crucibles were unable to melt tungsten ore, so Deng Zixuan had to participate in the trial production throughout the entire process. After all, he had advanced theories and so-called "experience", while Wang Tiejiang had practical experience with modern ironworkshops.

  "Mr. Deng, this is the black stone you mentioned, can it be used to make good iron?" Wang Tiechui asked as he walked over. "To be precise, it's smelted into alloy steel, but I've never seen how it's done before. Foreigners do it this way, and I saw it in their books, so we'll have to research together." "Mr. Deng, with you at the helm, I feel secure, just give us orders!" Wang Tiechui was somewhat excited. "Master Wang, you have experience too, we should also take charge. As the saying goes, 'many people gathering firewood makes a high flame'?" "But we're completely in the dark, what's this alloy steel you mentioned? I've never heard of it before!"

  Deng Zixuan smiled and said, "Just because you haven't said it doesn't mean it's not true. Look at this foreign book, it has the principles of steelmaking inside. You have rich experience, can you make good steel? Let's take a look." Like magic, Deng Zixuan pulled out a British Empire Steelmaking Method book from his pocket. Wang Tiejiang took the book and was surprised, saying, "Mr. Deng, this is all in foreign language, do you understand it?" "If I didn't understand the foreign language, what would I be doing with this foreign book? The foreigners have summarized many experiences of steelmaking and recorded them in books!" "Mr. Deng, the foreigners are too generous!" Wang Tiejiang exclaimed.

  Deng Zixuan smiled and said, "At present, the techniques of refining iron and steel are open secrets in the Western world. Their schools teach these things, and there's nothing surprising about it. However, producing good iron and steel is not an easy task. Just like your blacksmiths forging iron, how to forge a good piece of iron involves subtleties that I don't need to explain, Master Wang should be well aware of them!" "Yes, we are all passing down our skills from our ancestors, and we won't easily tell others about them." Wang Tiechui replied truthfully.

  Deng Zixuan smiled and said, "The key to learning from foreigners is right here. Our steel-making techniques are all secretly transmitted, one family at a time, single-handedly, even if your craftsmanship is high, the amount of good iron you can make is limited. But Western iron and steel production can produce thousands of catties or even tens of tons at once." "Thousands of catties, what size furnace would that require? And what does 'ton' mean?" Wang Tiechui was shocked. "A ton is a Western unit of measurement, 1 ton equals 2,000 catties! The foreigners' steel is produced in steel mills, with tens of thousands of people working in one mill, sometimes even hundreds of thousands," Wang Tiechui was almost stunned into silence.

  Deng Zixuan smiled and said, "Everything starts with difficulty. Later on, we will also have a steel mill. For now, we can't reach the level of foreigners, so we can only make small moves. However, even if it's just small moves, we must produce the best steel and create conditions for building a steel mill in the future. How about you? Do you have confidence?" "Hehe! Mr. Deng can even read foreign books, I believe it will definitely work!" Wang Tiejiang rubbed his hands full of calluses with joy.

  "Master Wang, select some skilled workers. First, crush these black stones into sand-sized particles. Then we need to rebuild two crucibles that can smelt at least a hundred kilograms of steel at one time. Also, use the charcoal you've been storing, both good and bad, and put them all in the furnace. This way, there won't be any problem with forging iron, but there will be a problem with melting iron water if the charcoal is not qualified, many impurities will appear." Wang Tiechu was perplexed: "Mr. Deng, what should we do?" "Recently I've transported a batch of high-quality coal from Shanxi, you make it into charcoal. Then select the best charcoal to smelt alloy steel. As for how to make the new crucible, I'll give you the drawings tomorrow. Also, have the carpenter make two large bellows, especially when melting tungsten ore, if the temperature is not enough, it's fundamentally impossible."

  Deng Zixuan returned to the manor and instructed Shu Tong to study on his own, as there would be no lessons tonight. To be honest, Deng Zixuan was extremely busy, having to teach Shu Tong while also going to the school to assist with lessons every now and then, and spending most of his time in the ironwork workshop. After dinner, Deng Zixuan lit a large candle and worked late into the night. Wan'er, who wasn't feeling well, sat down beside Deng Zixuan with the support of a maid. Seeing her husband's focused expression and pale face, Wan'er felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She instructed the maid to serve tea to Deng Zixuan.

  Deng Zixuan subconsciously picked up the tea and took a sip, then continued to focus on his work. Wan'er sympathetically asked: "Husband, you've been busy all day and night, can your body take it?" Deng Zixuan was too focused and barely reacted to Wan'er's concern. After an unknown amount of time, Deng Zixuan looked up to see Wan'er staring at him intently, slightly surprised, saying: "It's late, why aren't you sleeping? You don't need to keep me company!" Wan'er's nose stung as tears flowed out.

  "Look at you! So sentimental. I know you're worried about my body, don't worry, your husband is young and can withstand the wind and rain." Deng Zixuan smiled mischievously. Yuanyu looked puzzled: "What's 'your husband'?" Deng Zixuan chuckled and said: "This is a Western way of calling one's husband, okay, go to sleep quickly! After I'm done with this busy period, I'll accompany you properly!" Then Deng Zixuan ordered the maid to help Yuanyu down. Yuanyu was somewhat unwilling, but she couldn't disobey her husband in front of the maid!

  To be honest, drawing the blueprint for a small steel furnace was beyond Deng Zixuan's expertise. He had no choice but to study English books while combining his own impressions to draw the design. Perhaps the blueprint he created was unprofessional and the manufactured crucible was full of defects. However, Deng Zixuan firmly believed that as long as he could successfully produce tungsten alloy steel, it would be a victory. Even if the tungsten alloy steel only reached 70% of the standard, it would still be an outstanding achievement.

  Refining tungsten alloy steel, why did Deng Zixuan want to close the door and make a car, and why not use the power of foreigners? In fact, what Deng Zixuan was most worried about was foreigners. Once foreigners knew the wonderful use of tungsten alloys, considering their strong scientific research and manufacturing capabilities, the foreigners' weapons industry would achieve a qualitative leap ahead of time. If the foreigners' weapons were updated and replaced, and if they were purchased in large quantities by the imperial court, Deng Zixuan's troubles would be great later on.

  Deng Zixuan's plan was to use advanced military equipment, combined with elite troops, to overthrow the Qing dynasty at minimal cost. Just like foreigners' guns and cannons against the Qing's swords and spears, he aimed to defeat the Qing court in a short time. Therefore, Deng Zixuan had to be extremely careful in creating his advanced military equipment, which was also why he chose to focus on self-reliance. Fortunately, he had ample time, so he could take it slow. After successfully developing tungsten alloy, Deng Zixuan mainly used it to manufacture guns and cannons, with no other purposes. As for industrialized production, that would come later. This move would also accumulate a large number of professional talents.

  Half a month later, two new-type crucibles were made, and the outside of the crucible was wrapped with an iron plate. Although a miniature version of the steel furnace appeared in front of him, it was already very impressive. Deng Zixuan admired Wang Tiechui and his apprentices for using their large hammers to forge the iron plates piece by piece, and then assembling them together, which was extremely difficult with current technical levels, showing off their exceptional skills.

  The experiment started immediately, but the difficulty of melting tungsten ore was too great. The melting point of tungsten ore is 3400 degrees, and it's extremely difficult to reach such a high temperature. To be honest, Deng Zixuan didn't know how to do it either, and could only repeatedly study and experiment with Wang Tiechui. Failure after failure, setback after setback. Especially when the blast furnace was enlarged time and again, and finally replaced with a wind box. During this period, the quality of charcoal production also made a leap.

  The temperature of the furnace rose again and again, hoping to get closer bit by bit. To be honest, if it weren't for Wang Tiechui and his apprentices' clever ideas, Deng Zixuan would have been at a loss. Two months had passed in the blink of an eye, and on this day, the newly renovated bellows were lit, with a large windbox being pulled by horses running in circles. The windbox alone had been modified countless times, initially relying on manual operation. Even with the frequent replacement of strong young men, it was difficult to sustain. Later, as the windbox grew larger and larger, human power simply could not keep up, and finally, Wang Tiechui suggested using horses instead.

  Using Ma La's creativity was easy to implement, but Wang Tie Chui and his apprentices repeatedly pondered and finally solved the problem of Ma La's wind box. Deng Zi Xuan witnessed their ingenuity and it was not difficult to see that this was a group with creative power. Seeing the flames burning fiercely, seeing the furnace fire getting stronger and stronger. Deng Zi Xuan closed his eyes and prayed silently. "Mr. Deng, the tungsten ore has started to melt!" someone shouted loudly, Deng Zi Xuan opened his eyes and stared nervously at the exit. Before long, a shallow gray liquid flowed out, gradually gathering into a stream...

  Wang Tiechui was so excited that he knelt on the ground and cried with joy, while his apprentices hugged each other and jumped up and down. Deng Zixuan sighed deeply, thinking about how difficult it had been to achieve this breakthrough. Three months had passed, and there were only a few days left before the old calendar year ended. Finally, a tungsten alloy block appeared in front of Deng Zixuan. Deng Zixuan held the heavy tungsten alloy block in his hands, his face trembling with excitement. Having made a good start meant that a brilliant future was within reach, and success was no longer far away. Next, Deng Zixuan asked Wang Tiechui to repeatedly test and refine the tungsten alloy steel to make it the best it could be.

  Perhaps it was a double happiness, the old calendar had just passed, and on the 15th of the first month, Yuanner gave birth to a baby girl, Deng Zixuan was overjoyed. According to the rules of marrying into the husband's family, the daughter must take the surname Gao. Deng Zixuan didn't feel any injustice in his heart, but Gao Juren and Mrs. Gao were extremely disappointed, they had hoped for a boy to continue the incense of the Gao family. After finishing the full moon wine, Yuanner suddenly became restless.