Changsun Wuji saw that Fang Er had said so, so he didn't press further.
"Name a price, Commander Fang."
"Five hundred dan per month?"
Fang Er looked at Changsun Wuji and held up one hand.
*Hiss!*
Changsun Wuji was shocked.
"Is this kid trying to rebel? What's the annual steel production of the Tang Dynasty? Ten million catties! That's only about eighty thousand dan! This guy, with one request, five hundred dan a month, six thousand dan a year, is directly asking for more than half of the Tang Dynasty's annual iron ore output?"
"I say, Commander Fang, do you know how much five hundred dan is?" Changsun Wuji's tone held a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Five hundred dan of pig iron, which is sixty thousand catties. That can barely produce ten thousand catties of refined steel. Is that a lot?" Fang Er spread his hands. "Ten catties of pig iron, after removing impurities, can yield two catties of fine steel, which is already a very high yield. Ten thousand catties is how much? Five tons?"
"Damn it! A car in later generations weighs at least a ton, right?"
*Hiss!*
Changsun Wuji gasped again.
"In a month, can you turn sixty thousand catties of pig iron into refined steel?" This made him unable to help but be surprised. In his impression, Yuchi Jingde was also from a blacksmith's background. That pair of refined steel long maces took half a month from pig iron to finished product! Just forging the pig iron took ten days! How heavy was that thing? Only a few dozen catties! Even if all one hundred people in Fangjia Village were on duty, they couldn't turn sixty thousand catties of pig iron into refined steel in a month, could they?"
"It might not be possible right now, but it's estimated that using three hundred dan a month is definitely no problem. However, in another two months, five hundred dan will definitely be no problem." Fang Er answered with reservations. Judging from Changsun Wuji's reaction earlier, it was better to hold back a little. If he scared this old guy into a heart attack, wouldn't Empress Changsun skin him alive?
"It's not that I don't believe you, but what you said is too incredible. You have to prove it to me." Changsun Wuji stared into Fang Er's eyes, as if trying to see through him.
*Smack!*
"Old fellow, look at this knife! This is a gift from my brother to Chumo. Chumo said it took less than an hour to make." Cheng Yaojin unbuckled the short knife from his waist and placed it on the stone table. Fang Er was speechless. This guy was too much of a robber. Both of the weapons he gave to Cheng Chumo were intercepted by this guy!
Changsun Wuji drew the short knife from its scabbard. The dark blade gleamed with cold light. The shape of the knife wasn't very good, but the blade was clearly extremely sharp. He plucked a hair, placed it on the blade, and blew it across. The hair was immediately cut into two pieces by the blade.
"Cutting hair with a blow!" Changsun Wuji's eyes widened, full of disbelief.
"Cutting hair with a blow is nothing! Do you want to try shaving iron like mud?" Cheng Yaojin was very satisfied with Changsun Wuji's reaction. Fang Er sat aside and watched Cheng Yaojin show off. Of course, he was also a part of this show.
Changsun Wuji heard Cheng Yaojin's words and fetched a long sword. Left hand sword, right hand knife. He fiercely clashed them together.
*Clang!*
*Clang!*
The first sound was the collision of the sword and the knife. The second sound was the sword breaking into two pieces, the tip falling to the ground. Changsun Wuji was sure that the long sword he brought was not shoddy. Although it wasn't refined steel, it was at least made of fine iron. But just like that? How could it be like cutting tofu?
Fang Er was overjoyed. "What material is this short knife made of? It was made from melted drill bits! It's definitely special steel! It's as easy to shave iron as shaving wood on a machine tool. If it weren't for the lack of suitable tools, he wouldn't have been willing to melt the drill bits!"
"This! This is comparable to the Yu Chang Jian! This is definitely not refined steel!" Changsun Wuji was sure that refined steel couldn't reach this level. At most, it would only cut a notch in the fine iron long sword.
"This is indeed not refined steel. It's made from some materials I obtained accidentally." Fang Er said with a smile.
"Alright, I believe you. Five hundred dan of iron ore per month, and each dan only costs one tael and five qian of silver, but I have a condition!" Changsun Wuji sheathed the short knife and threw it back to Cheng Yaojin.
"Please state it, Lord Changsun."
"You said earlier that the new farm tools can double the speed of plowing. My estate also has a large amount of farmland, so I want your farm tools. Of course, the price won't let you suffer a loss." Changsun Wuji stated his condition. In recent years, the iron ore business had made the Changsun family a lot of money. And in this era, the most reliable investment was undoubtedly land trading. Changsun Wuji's estate had about a thousand mu of official land, which was given by the court and returned upon leaving office, so it wasn't counted for now. He himself had bought over ten thousand mu with his own hard-earned money over the years.
"Hey, brother, count me in on this matter too." Cheng Yaojin also interjected from the side.
"Of course, no problem! It's all the same who I sell to! When the time comes, I'll give Lord Changsun and Old Brother Cheng a ten percent discount, how about that?"
"Splendid! It's settled then!" Changsun Wuji was very satisfied with Fang Er's reply. After finishing the serious business, Changsun Wuji praised Fang Er for the great impact of the explosive packages on the current war. Fang Er accepted it humbly. Then, he had servants prepare a banquet. Finally, Fang Er and Cheng Yaojin left the Changsun residence arm in arm, swaying, and returned to their respective homes. When they were there, Changsun Wuji was already in a state of drunken stupor. But as soon as they left, Changsun Wuji's demeanor changed completely, and there was no sign of drunkenness. After having his servants help him change, he got into a carriage and headed to the palace.
The East Palace. Changsun Wuji told Li Er about Fang Er's enormous demand for iron ore. Li Er was also startled when he heard about five hundred dan per month. He didn't expect Fang Er to need so much iron ore. Of course, he didn't even think about rebellion. A fifteen-year-old kid wouldn't dare to do something like that even if he was given all the courage. If Fangjia Village were to be suppressed, it would only take one round of explosive packages.
"When the farm tools come out, send one to the palace. I want to see what he can make with all this effort." Li Er said to Changsun Wuji.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Also, today Cheng Zhijie took out a short knife, a short knife comparable to the Yu Chang Jian, which could cut hair with a blow and shave iron like mud. It also came from Commander Fang."
"Oh? This is interesting. Let me think. You go and prepare the iron ore for him." Li Er waved his hand, signaling Changsun Wuji to withdraw. After he left, Li Er returned to the rear hall, where Empress Changsun was chatting with Concubine Yang. The eight-year-old Li Chengqian and the equally eight-year-old Li Ke were playing nearby. Seeing Li Shimin enter, they ran up calling "Father Emperor!"