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The prime time for making salt is from October to January every year. During this period, almost all the people in Fanyang County will be mobilized to provide dry firewood for the salt field. In these three months, the salt produced by the salt field is almost
As much as half of the whole year.
In fact, this is not only the case in Fanyang County, but also in the entire five major salt-producing counties in the East China Sea. Because too much wood is consumed and has to be transported from far away, the price of sea salt is becoming more and more expensive.
Another salt worker followed Liu Yanlang and said, "Sir, my name is Lian Zhongtao. I believe that salt is owned by the government. After removing the capital and imposing heavy taxes, this is the official salt produced."
It is as expensive as silver, and this has also led to the proliferation of private salt!"
The same weight of salt is almost equal to the same weight of silver. Although it is a metaphor, it shows how expensive sea salt is. Of course, the reason why it is so expensive is that the salt worker named Lian Zhongtao is right. The heavy salt tax imposed by the court is indeed the source.
Using the same method, the price of private salt is one-third or even one-fifth of official salt. People are not stupid, so they naturally want to buy private salt that is much cheaper than official salt. The reason why the underground salt shop established by Lu
Being able to make huge profits is mainly because he has a market.
"Your name is Lian Zhongtao. Listening to your words, I feel like I have read a book." Although what Liu Yanlang said before is pertinent, anyone with rich experience and quick mind can figure it out. But at this time, this salt worker named Lian Zhongtao
What he said is beyond the imagination of ordinary experienced salt workers.
When Lian Zhongtao heard this, his body trembled and he said: "The villain is originally from Jiangdu. Three years ago, he was sent to Fanyang County Salt Farm as a salt slave because of a crime. Last year, the villain discovered the tide in advance and reported it.
, to avoid some losses in the salt field, he was taken into slavery by Mr. Dong at the time and became a salt worker."
Wang Junlin nodded without saying anything, and motioned for the other three to continue. This made Lian Zhongtao suddenly a little worried. Although he was imprisoned in the salt field, he also guessed that the new prefect was at odds with the Lu family, and that Dong
Kang was obviously a member of the Lu family, so he couldn't help but worry that the prefect would be displeased by mentioning Lord Dong.
Wait for the other three salt workers
After saying that, Wang Junlin nodded and said: "Yes, the five of you are somewhat knowledgeable and can be considered sensible people. Liu Yanlang, Zhang Qi, Wang Mazi, and Li Gouer, the four of you will be in charge from now on."
Craftsman, there is still a shortage of a master craftsman. Xu Xiaohu, you can choose one more, and then select fifty ordinary master craftsmen. Prepare yourself. I will arrange a study and assessment later. Only if you pass can you truly become a master craftsman.
Or a great craftsman."
The four salt workers who were called were overjoyed when they heard this. They quickly knelt down and kowtowed to Wang Junlin to thank him. After Xu Xiaohu accepted the order, he took them away. Next to him, Lian Zhongtao, who was in despair because he was not called, asked Wang Junlin.
After Jun Lin knelt down and kowtowed, he was about to leave, but Wang Junlin suddenly said: "Lian Zhongtao stays."
Lian Zhongtao's body trembled, he stopped quickly and said yes respectfully. At this moment, he almost cried. He thought that he had missed a great opportunity to ascend to heaven.
"Follow me." Wang Junlin seemed not to notice the stimulation of Lian Zhongtao by the ups and downs, and walked forward. Zhang Tiangang glanced at Lian Zhongtao and followed, and Lian Zhongtao also quickly followed.
The method of boiling salt that the master craftsmen treat as a treasure is actually very simple. Even with Wang Junlin's level of chemical knowledge, he would know what is going on at a glance, let alone let Nie Xiaoyu do it. Therefore, regarding the reduction of cost and improvement of salt production,
In terms of efficiency, Wang Junlin is waiting for Nie Xiaoyu to arrive. What he has to do now is to prepare in advance. On the basis of winning the hearts of all salt workers and salt slaves yesterday, he will further improve the efficiency by selecting the backbone among them.
These people are firmly in control.
However, Wang Junlin always had a question in his mind. In addition, he wanted to further test Lian Zhongtao at this time, so he asked: "I heard that there is a method of drying salt. This method does not require boiling, but directly exposes the sun to the sun and wind."
It is obtained by drying it, which greatly reduces the cost. Why don’t the salt farms use this method?”
Judging from Wang Junlin's poor knowledge of chemistry, salt is inherently soluble in water. Once the sea water dries up, wouldn't layers of salt precipitate out?
He hasn't brought it up in the past few days because he thought that salt has been boiled in salt fields for more than a thousand years. These people study this every day and are not fools. If the method of drying salt works, how could they not use it? After all, every stone boiled
salt requires wood
It costs 500 kilograms of firewood and requires too much manpower.
There was no unnecessary expression on Lian Zhongtao's face, and he answered honestly: "It is absolutely true what you said, the method of drying salt is theoretically feasible, but the method of boiling salt in the salt field is really a last resort. Because the salt of sea water
The temperature is far inferior to that of inland salt ponds and brine. It takes too long to dry the salt, and there is insufficient sunlight in winter, and it is useless on cloudy days. Compared with boiling salt, the efficiency is too poor."
Wang Junlin nodded, with no surprise on his face. Lian Zhongtao's answer was almost as he expected, but Lian Zhongtao actually knew about the salt ponds and brine in the interior. This was not something that just anyone could know.
I know that the channels for obtaining knowledge and information in this era are too scarce and narrow. In addition to traveling thousands of miles to see these things, I have read books on this subject. Of course, I may have heard other people say it, so I will remember it firmly.
, but no matter which one it is, it is far beyond what an ordinary salt worker in a seaside salt field can know.
Seeing Wang Junlin nodding his head with a look of appreciation on his face, Lian Zhongtao boldly said: "Sir, in fact, in summer and autumn, when the sun is strongest and the supply of wood is not urgent, the salt farm will also be half-dried and half-boiled.
The method of producing salt in France is to imitate the method of well salt in the Bashu region. After autumn, the brine is stored and dried in the sun to increase the concentration, and then boiled in winter to reduce fuel and costs."
Wang Junlin glanced at Lian Zhongtao thoughtfully, and suddenly said: "Have you mastered the method of boiling salt?"
Lian Zhongtao's body trembled and he said: "My lord, your eyes are like a torch. In the past three years, I have indeed figured out the method of boiling salt based on clues. If you give me a chance, I will demonstrate it now."
"That's fine." Wang Junlin glanced at the direction of the sea and then at the entrance to the salt field. He thought that Lu Han and Guan Xiaotong had been running around with more than 500 cavalry these days. They were exhausted and needed at least half a day's rest to recover.
Only when you are in a good state can you consider doing other things.
In addition, calculating the time, if Fang Qiao goes well, the emperor's secret order should also arrive. There are not enough men and horses in hand, and there is no emperor to delegate power to suppress Xue Li and mobilize the county troops. Some things cannot be done yet and can only wait.