Reborn as King of South America

Chapter 264 Ready
Among the Institute's important research projects, the development of Bayer-type rotating magnetic field AC generators and the improvement of electrolytic methods for preparing metal elements are both for the production of industrial steel.

Steel production is the main basis for measuring a country's industrial development level. Among the two, steel production is an important reflection of a country's industrial technological level due to its high cost, low output and complex technology.

In the second half of the 19th century, due to differences in technological levels and industrial markets, crude steel production in major countries around the world also showed different development trends.

By the end of 1878, the crude steel output of Britain was 99.8 tons, that of the United States was 74.4 tons, that of Germany was 48.9 tons, that of France was 31.3 tons, and that of Tsarist Russia was 9.5 tons.

As two representatives of late-developing countries, China's crude steel output has just exceeded 7000 tons, reaching 7060 tons, while Japan's crude steel output is still hovering around 2000 tons, with no trend of significant growth in the short term.

The annual output of 7060 tons of crude steel is far behind that of major European and American powers. However, considering that Han is in the starting stage of steel smelting and processing production industry, and the Bayer rotating magnetic field AC generator that the Academy of Sciences is responsible for has been successfully developed two and a half months ago, the power problem that limits the crude steel smelting capacity has been successfully solved. It is not impossible for Han's crude steel output to increase rapidly in the next few years and even reach the development level of European and American countries.

At the Royal Academy of Sciences, Li Mingyuan, Liu Pu and others stood near a huge blast furnace, carefully observing the results of this inspection.

"Manganese metal has been used as an additive for smelting steel. When the manganese dosage is less than 10%, the steel product becomes brittle. When the manganese dosage is increased to 12% to 13%, the brittleness disappears. Then the temperature of the blast furnace is raised to 1,000 degrees, heated until the metal is liquefied, and then the liquid is placed under water for quenching, and hardened steel can be achieved."

Harfield, the white technician who was the first to discover the effect of hardening manganese steel, excitedly introduced it to Li Mingyuan.

"Yes, you did a great job. I'll have someone record your contribution later."

Li Mingyuan said with satisfaction.

"Your Highness, what is the use of this manganese steel? Can it be used in the manufacture of artillery?"

Liu Pu, who was pulled away by Li Mingyuan in the middle, asked.

"You should ask Harfield about this question. He knows better."

Li Mingyuan smiled and threw the question to Harfield.

“General Liu, you may not understand the properties of manganese steel.”

Harfield responded with a smile, explaining, "Manganese steel has a very high hardening strength. Using manganese steel as raw material to produce artillery is not only expensive, but also wears out the mechanical equipment in military factories due to its high hardening strength. Therefore, manganese steel is not suitable as a raw material for artillery barrels."

"Mr. Harfield, if manganese steel cannot be used in the military industry, then what is the point of inventing it?"

With the war in Argentina imminent, Liu Pu believed that Li Mingyuan must have brought him to the institute to inspect the technology related to military equipment. However, he did not expect the answer he got from Harfield was completely the opposite, so he became puzzled.

"No, General, I think the invention of manganese steel is a milestone in the development history of special synthetic steel. Its significance is definitely no less than that of chrome steel and tungsten steel used in the military industry."

Harfield was very concerned about his invention. When he heard Liu Pu's question, he immediately explained, "The significance of inventing manganese steel is to provide better quality steel raw materials for industrial production. For example, in railway construction, according to experimental data, under the same conditions, the service life of tracks made of manganese steel is 20 to 25 times that of wrought iron. In addition, in industries such as machine tools and ore mining that require high-intensity industrial production, the high hardening characteristics of manganese steel can effectively avoid the economic losses caused by the insufficient hardness of ordinary steel equipment. The use of manganese steel in the heavy industry field cannot be replaced by other special steels such as chrome steel and tungsten steel. Its value will never be discounted due to its shortcomings in the military field."

In 1819, with Faraday's first development of chromium steel in the laboratory, various other types of special synthetic steels were continuously developed. Among them, chromium steel, as the earliest discovered synthetic steel, has been developed in both military and civilian industries. However, nickel steel, also discovered by Faraday, has not been widely used due to immature technical conditions. The steel pipes used to make artillery, machine guns, and rifles generally need to add metal elements such as chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and platinum. However, because trace elements such as molybdenum and platinum were used in the synthesis of special steels relatively late, coupled with the influence of some other factors, the artillery barrels in the s and s had shortcomings such as rough manufacturing and short life, and could not be widely used in the military like the artillery in the mid-th century.

Of course, after a few decades, when the problem of restricting the large-scale use of manganese steel is solved, manganese steel can also be used to make helmets, tank armor, armor-piercing warheads, etc. But now, Li Mingyuan can only temporarily put aside the idea of ​​using manganese steel to improve the weapons and equipment of the National Defense Forces, and instead use manganese steel where it should be used.

Mineral resource mining and railway development are the development goals for the next stage.
There are many explored mines in the Congo colony, but they have remained unexplored for fear that information leaking out would attract the attention of other colonial powers. When the war is over and the international pressure faced by the Han State is eased, the mechanical equipment made with manganese steel will be able to find a place to use them.

When the Congo colony was in the hands of the King of Belgium, the mineral resources mined from there supported many mining companies in Belgium, Britain and other countries. However, the size and technological development potential of the Han Kingdom are far greater than those of Belgium. Li Mingyuan believes that with more suitable special steel materials, the economic development of the Congo by the Han Kingdom will be more comprehensive and smooth.

Apart from the role of manganese steel in colonial development, railway development was an important task in the mainland of China.

The existing railways in Han State were mainly left over from the governments of Brazil and Argentina. After Li Mingyuan led the National Defense Forces to occupy these areas, he took into account the backwardness of the current railway construction technology and did not want the railways he had built with great effort to become outdated in a few years or even decades, so he did not implement the plan to build large railways. After the invention of manganese steel, the service life of the rails was greatly extended, and the corresponding cost of building railways was reduced a lot. As a result, the construction of railways related to the development of Han State could be put on the agenda.

Leave professional matters to professionals. In terms of special steel synthesis, since Hardfield was able to develop manganese steel four years ahead of schedule, Li Mingyuan would naturally respect his research results. Therefore, after affirming Hardfield's achievements and rewarding him, Li Mingyuan asked Mannister and Hardfield to cooperate with other technicians to apply manganese steel to industrial production as soon as possible. Then, accompanied by a group of technicians, Li Mingyuan inspected the introduced internal combustion engines, arc lamps, electrical and other projects, and finally left the institute when it was getting dark.

After inspecting the research institute, Li Mingyuan immediately summoned the main generals and officials to discuss the plan of early war. After the meeting, the Han government immediately issued three policies:

3700: Issue an additional 2000 million Han Yuan national debt, equivalent to million taels of silver.

2. Purchase the people’s grain and livestock at a price 10% higher than the market price

3. Issue the amount of fiefdom corresponding to the rank of nobility:

Each hereditary baron was granted 300 mu of tax-free land and 500 mu of government land.

The Viscount has 500 acres of tax-free land and 1,000 acres of government land.

The earl has 800 acres of tax-free land and 1,500 acres of government land.

The Marquis has 1,200 acres of tax-free land and 2,000 acres of government land.

The Duke had 1,800 acres of tax-free land and 2,500 acres of government land.

Tax-free land will last for three generations, after which taxes will be levied according to a unified standard.

The three policies promulgated by the Han government were all related to the military. When the news reached other countries in southern South America, especially Argentina, they understood that the Han government's war machine had begun to start.

Thanks to Tu Haitao, Heifeng Bison, Haihua Empire Emperor, Jingxue Zhiyong, Siche, and Hanjia Dean i for their rewards and support!

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(End of this chapter)