Steel Dynasty - Chapter 785

[Chapter 784 The rise of chemical industry]

The solemn atmosphere in the court became lighter because of the progress made by Lu Tong.

At the same time as the industry and commerce in the Great Yu Kingdom developed, officials in Qingzhou also began to gradually accept the reforms that were taking place. In order to keep up with Xiao Ming’s footsteps, many officials usually went to Qingzhou University to study to learn about various new things that appeared in Qingzhou. .

This subtle change makes Xiao Ming very satisfied, but it is not satisfied enough, because there is still a force in Dayu that prevents the wheel of history from rolling forward, and this is Confucianism.

Therefore, after the reform decrees became more and more complete, he was weighing how to turn the lagging power of Confucianism into a force that spurred the progress of the Great Yu Kingdom.

This idea flashed through Xiao Ming’s mind, and he focused his attention on the current chemical industry.

He said to the ministers: “Since Lu Tong has finally built the first sulfuric acid workshop in Chongqing, why don’t we all go and have a look with me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The ministers bowed and responded. They have become accustomed to it, and now their emperor will take them to observe any breakthrough in science and technology in the Chongqing Kingdom.

“Lead the way!”, Xiao Ming said to Lu Tong.

After that, he and Qian Dafu stood up and walked out, and the ministers followed him out of the political hall.

Under the guidance of Lu Tong, they left Qingzhou City and headed towards the Gongfang District. In the chemical industry area of the Gongfang District, they saw the sulfuric acid workshop that had been built.

Along the way, Lu Tong did not forget to educate officials about what sulfuric acid is and its functions.

In modern times, many people know that sulfuric acid has disfiguring effects, but they do not know that sulfuric acid is widely used in industry.

First of all, sulfuric acid can be used to produce chemical fertilizers. The fertilizer field powder, that is, ammonium sulfate, needs to react with sulfuric acid. The reaction between phosphate rock and sulfuric acid can also produce a fertilizer called phosphate lime or calcium phosphate. However, if you want to produce these two All kinds of chemical fertilizers require the digestion of large amounts of sulfuric acid.

Because of this, Xiao Ming had no choice but to use soil fertilizers. Now that sulfuric acid is industrialized, he can try industrial fertilizers.

In addition to the production of fertilizers, sulfuric acid plays a great role in the smelting industry. The refining of many metals requires sulfuric acid to dissolve it. Especially in industry, sulfuric acid is needed to remove rust from steel before cold rolling, cold drawing and stamping processing.

In addition, sulfuric acid is also used in the rubber production industry. Now Lutong’s industrialization of sulfuric acid has opened the door to many industries, allowing these industries to be realized.

The ministers were half-informed, but they were also quite shocked, because judging from the way Lu Tong was spitting, they could judge the importance of this matter.

While the ministers were listening to Lu Tong’s explanation, Xiao Ming had already walked around the lead chamber.

Generally speaking, the lead chamber method is to pass the mixed gas containing sulfur dioxide gas, oxygen and water vapor at a temperature of 300 to 500 degrees Celsius through several lead chambers in sequence. In the lead chambers, the sulfur dioxide is fully oxidized to form sulfuric acid.

The reason why a lead chamber is used is because dilute sulfuric acid is highly corrosive, so the equipment needs to be made of lead.

The source of sulfur dioxide is calcined sulfide iron ore or direct use of sulfur.

Xiao Ming came not only to observe, but also to check whether Lu Tong was doing it right. Now it seems that Lu Tong has successfully mastered the lead chamber method.

He said to Lu Tong: “Since sulfuric acid can be industrialized, industrial nitric acid will also be a success.”

“Your Majesty, this is what I am going to do next.” Lu Tong said, during these five or six years of study, Lu Tong said Tong is becoming more and more proficient in chemistry and has mastered many things.

Now that sulfuric acid is industrialized, he can use sulfuric acid and saltpeter to produce nitric acid industrially.

Xiao Ming nodded. Everything he experienced was actually the process of creating a national industrial system from scratch. Once the industrial foundation is laid, technology can rapidly improve.

Otherwise, all the knowledge and theories are of no use at all.

Now the breakthrough in the chemical industry will improve the industry of Great Chongqing again, especially the rubber industry. After all, according to the agreed time, it is time for Brandon to transport the rubber to Great Chongqing.

Once he has rubber he can produce some incredible things.

After observing the sulfuric acid workshop with the ministers, Xiao Ming commended the students who participated in the construction of the sulfuric acid workshop.

The current prosperity of Da Yu’s industry is often related to his original incentive policies. Now more and more scholars are entering Qingzhou University, hoping to obtain titles and land through their achievements in science.

Of course, the ministers were also worried that the land of Dayu would be unblockable in the future, but this was exactly Xiao Ming’s purpose.

Because he can grant them the captured land as a matter of course, so that they can build colonies.

For example, the land of the Golden Horde is now vaster than the land of Great Chongqing. There are also Siberian snowfields in the far north.

Through the Bering Strait, you can also enter Alaska, and then the fertile land of North America, so he is not worried about whether it can be sealed, but only worried that there are not enough people to seal it.

“Don’t relax, I’m waiting for you to establish a complete chemical industry system!”

Xiao Ming patted Lu Tong on the shoulder. As the saying goes, the revolution has not yet succeeded, and comrades still need to work hard.

Lu Tong’s eyes shone with excitement. The success of the sulfuric acid industry gave him great confidence. He said, “I will never fail the emperor’s trust.”

Nodding, Xiao Ming and the ministers left the workshop area. , now they still have a lot to do.

Each of the four decrees of the Golden Horde, the household registration system, encouraging childbirth, and population migration was not an easy task.

Returning to Qingzhou City, Xiao Ming and the officials dispersed.

After returning to the palace, he specially called Wang Xuan over. There were some things that were inconvenient to say in the court and he needed to talk to Wang Xuan alone.

“Your Majesty, the King of Chu did this, but Your Majesty did not send his troops south. Isn’t it a danger of raising tigers? As the saying goes, one must first settle the internal affairs in order to resist foreign aggression.” Wang Xuan was a little puzzled.

Xiao Ming laughed softly when he heard this, “Even if France pours all his money into it, the King of Chu cannot catch up with the development of the six states, and as time goes by, the gap between them will become wider and wider, and according to Li Kaiyuan According to the account books provided, 80% of Qingzhou’s goods this year were sold to the south. “

“80%!” Wang Xuan was a little surprised.

Xiao Ming nodded, “I am also a little unbelievable, but this is a fact. The north has been destroyed, and people’s livelihood has not yet been restored. If the south is destroyed again, where will the goods be sold? Goryeo is a market, but how can it be compared to We can go to the rich south.”

“I see, no wonder the emperor will always tolerate the king of Chu.” Wang Xuan sighed.

(End of chapter)