"Yes!"
Lin Ling Su had said as much, and Liu Jing Ping could only agree with a bitter smile.
Recently, their Shen Xiao Sect had truly been spending money like flowing water. Originally, their Shen Xiao Sect's fifteen large underground storerooms were almost entirely filled with gold, silver, and treasures.
However, with the continuous major actions in recent times, the money had indeed been spent like flowing water.
Seeing that the treasures in the storerooms were almost all used up, Liu Jing Ping had originally thought that this matter would end here.
But he never expected that his master would actually start thinking about selling land and shops...
Just as Liu Jing Ping was hesitating whether to try and persuade his master again, Han Mo finally saw the Quanzhou iron mine he had been longing for.
"My lord, this is the Qingyang Iron Works!"
Although he didn't know why Han Mo had rushed here with his men as soon as he arrived in Quanzhou, Lin Yu Shu, as the Prefect of Quanzhou, dared not be negligent and personally accompanied him throughout.
"According to your scale here, how much wrought iron can you produce in a year?"
Looking at the miners working topless in the mine, Han Mo asked with a frown.
"Reporting to Your Lord, in this current year, it's only about a hundred thousand catties. Pig iron is produced in larger quantities, but it won't exceed 150,000 catties..."
Hearing Han Mo's question, Lin Yu Shu replied proudly.
150,000 catties...
Upon hearing this number, Han Mo felt a headache.
It sounded like a lot, but if this were converted into post-market units, calculated in tons, the total annual production of pig iron and wrought iron here would be less than two thousand tons...
Looking at the proud expression on Lin Yu Shu's face and the busy craftsmen below, Han Mo truly didn't know what to say at this moment.
Although he hadn't asked for the specific number of people at this iron plant, he could roughly guess from the people working below that there should be no less than a thousand.
A large ironworks with over a thousand people, producing less than two thousand tons of iron ore in a year. If such output were placed in later generations, it would probably be the output of roadside black workshops in just a few days...
"Gather all the idle master craftsmen. And if you have nothing else to do, you can go back first. I'll find you again if there's anything to discuss!"
"Yes!"
Although he didn't know why Han Mo was doing this, Lin Yu Shu quickly cupped his hands towards Han Mo and then turned to leave.
"Son-in-law, he is the Prefect of Quanzhou after all. Aren't you afraid he'll feel..."
After Lin Yu Shu had walked away, Jiang Yan quickly reminded him in a low voice.
"With him here, do you think those craftsmen dare to speak?"
Han Mo sneered, casting a glance at the busy craftsmen below.
"Then, should I go..."
"No, I just want to see the real situation here. With their current output, do you think it's enough?"
150,000 catties of pig iron, plus 100,000 catties of wrought iron, a total of 250,000 catties.
However, the iron they produced not only had to bear all the military equipment consumption on the entire Liangzhe Circuit, but also a portion had to be sent to the military ordnance department in Bianliang every year.
The low combat effectiveness of the soldiers in the six southeastern circuits actually had a reason.
Although the total steel output of the Great Song Dynasty far exceeded all previous dynasties, it was still far from enough for the vast number of troops in the Great Song Dynasty!
Not to mention that there would be countless corrupt officials and greedy rascals who would embezzle the steel that should have been used to manufacture military equipment, and then sell it to the common people...
The number of soldiers was expanding every year, but how many of these soldiers only existed on ledgers, probably only the real military leaders knew.
If the soldiers' weapons and equipment were not adequately guaranteed, and the soldiers' basic living conditions were not guaranteed, and even the actual number of soldiers could not be determined by the court.
Under such circumstances, it would truly be a ghost if such an army could win!
Han Mo did not have time to rectify the military affairs of the entire Great Song Dynasty, nor did he have the energy to confront the vast corrupt and greedy group of officials in the Great Song Dynasty.
What he could do was to rectify an army with strong combat effectiveness as much as possible on the existing foundation.
The first step to a powerful army in the world, besides well-trained soldiers, was naturally indispensable military equipment.
The Great Song Dynasty lacked horses, which was unavoidable. To fight cavalry with infantry, they had to find a way with military equipment.
Han Mo did not intend to waste time on casting cannons. The simplest way to manufacture as many cannons as possible in the shortest time was naturally the primitive lathe.
After all, in an era when steel quality could not be guaranteed, it was much simpler to machine a seamless steel pipe with a lathe than to cast one!
To manufacture cannons and sufficient military equipment, the production of steel was the first step.
"Greetings, my lord!"
Soon, a minor official in a dark robe led a group of craftsmen dressed in hemp clothes behind him and quickly arrived before Han Mo.
"You go and attend to your own matters first. Let them accompany me!"
"Yes!"
Although he was a little unwilling, Lin Yu Shu had directly given the order, so the minor official could only cup his hands towards Han Mo and push himself aside.
"Are you the master craftsmen of this Qingyang Iron Works?"
"Reporting to Your Excellency, we all are..."
Looking at the faint smile on Han Mo's face, an elder who looked a little over 50 years old with a vigorous spirit stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Han Mo.
"Listening to your accent, it seems you are from Bianliang?"
Han Mo asked curiously, hearing the elder's Central Plains accent.
"Reporting to Your Lord, this old man came to Quanzhou in the third year of Daguan..."
"May I know the old man's esteemed surname?"
"I dare not, I dare not. How could this old man claim any esteemed or humble surname? I am the third child in the family, and they all call me Old Third Niu!"
"Since Uncle Niu, you are the master craftsman here, why don't you lead me around here?"
Han Mo said, smiling and cupping his hands towards the old man.
"My... my lord, please!"
Although Old Third Niu didn't know how high an official Han Mo was, he saw that the steward who usually managed them didn't dare to utter a sound in front of Han Mo, so he naturally understood that such a distinguished person was someone he couldn't afford to offend!