In the study, Sun Yue and Sun Chunming looked at Xue Juzheng's letter, cooked tea and left the servants, and started a serious conversation.

The content of the letter is very simple. Basically, Xue Juzheng has settled the matter in Langzhou, especially at Shimen, which has completed the preliminary mineral exploration. As long as Sun Chunming needs it, he can grant him the entire mineral deposit at any time. However, accordingly, he has to set up industries in Langzhou to drive the economic development of Langzhou, and the mines dug have to pay taxes to the court.

This was the request made by Sun Yue. He wanted to use this mine to improve the living standards of the people of Langzhou and make up for his guilt.

When he talked about this with Xue Juzheng, he didn't discuss it with Sun Chunming at all. Although he mentioned it to Sun Chunming after returning to Beijing, Sun Chunming did not take it as a major event at the beginning. The main reason is that he did not have a clear concept of realgar in Shimen. In fact, if Sun Yue had not been there in person, he would not have had this concept.

But after reading Xue Juzheng's letter, he was really shocked. The high-density sulfur mining area alone was actually more than 200 acres, which was too big.

"Is this a bit big? With our current financial resources, if you want to eat such a large mining area, I still have some strength. I understand that you want to do something for the people of Langzhou, but is this a bit big?"

"Why, are you afraid of losing money? That's not the time to give you a mine in vain? Are you just going to study gunpowder?"

"What do you think this is the 21st century? What's the use of realgar? You have also fought with the army. Your new army has fought for four months. Tell me how many kilograms of gunpowder you used? Besides, since that place is the five major disaster areas in the 20th century, how much do you think I have to spend more money to prevent pollution? Not to mention anything else, the gloves and masks that miners change every day is not a small amount of money. If you don't care, the whole area is full of cancer villages and it doesn't match your original intention. In addition, the transportation and water transportation in Langzhou are not very developed, and it is not very convenient to ship. What should I do to buy and sell this? Besides, I originally planned to build some of our industries in Yangzhou. If you invest in Langzhou on such a large scale, do you know how much you will delay me?"

Sun Yue frowned and said, "To put it bluntly, it's just that gunpowder is used less. Dad, it's not that I said you, it's been so long, why hasn't your gunpowder improvement made any progress? If you can use gunpowder improvement, wouldn't everything be solved?"

Sun Chunming smiled bitterly and said, "Do you really think I have not studied anything in the past two years? Alas, my gunpowder has been improved a long time ago. Although it cannot reach the level of explosives, it is basically not worse than that in the Ming Dynasty. But what is the use of gunpowder alone? This thing is not that powerful in war. How brave is the strong army of the Song Dynasty today? Can it be used? If there is less equipment, it is useless. If there is more equipment, the tactics of the entire army will change accordingly. What will the army react? Will they accept this thing? Even if they accept it, will it really be better than those without gunpowder? Gunpowder arrows and Divine Fire Flying Crows were found in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, and in the late Northern Song Dynasty, there were even thunder cannons and thunderstorms. What was the result? When the Jin army came, 800,000 imperial guards were like paper. To be honest, I feel that at least now, this thing is really useless to the army."

"Besides, we can do this gunpowder, and others can do it too. If I really hand over the things and put them on a large scale, will the Song Dynasty benefit the most? Haha, most of our country's saltpeter is in the Southern Tang Dynasty. In terms of population and economy, the Song Dynasty has no advantage compared with the Southern Tang Dynasty, and it is even a little worse. The difference between the new gunpowder and the old gunpowder is nothing more than that of the sulfur in the gunpowder. If you can get the finished product, do you think the Southern Tang Dynasty will not be able to study it? You said, what's the use of the gunpowder I made."

Sun Yue was also shocked because in his impression, most of the time travel novels he read were just made out of gunpowder, which seemed to be invincible in the world, so he didn't think so deeply at all.

"In other words, gunpowder is useless to the Song Dynasty? The realgar mine in Langzhou is useless either? No, if gunpowder is really useless, why are you doing so much effort to study this thing?"

Sun Chunming smiled and said, "So what I am studying is explosives. If I can study explosives, it will be of great use. If I can study it, it will be of great use to the Song army unless the rifled flintlock rifle is studied, it will be of little use to the Song army, and it will even outweigh the benefits. However, the realgar mine cannot be said to be completely useless. At least it is good to use it as firecrackers? Look at how expensive the firecrackers on the market are now, and a few people can afford it. The most expensive thing in making firecrackers is sulfur. I plan to open a larger firecracker fireworks factory in Shimen, which should ensure that I can balance my income and expenditure. At least, it is a merit to make every family be able to afford it during the New Year. Besides, after the Song Dynasty unified the south, this thing can still play a role in the Khitan."

"Uh... OK, so what?"

"So, I plan to move the explosive research to the firecracker factory. Anyway, I am not a science and engineering student. The project has been progressing at this stage. If you want to create a detonator, the only way is to try it. The blind cat can still encounter a dead mouse. I don't believe that I can't create a detonator. Nobel was also tested by Xia Jiba back then, but there is one thing I have to tell you clearly. This test was tested by human life. God has opened it for him. The reason why I wanted to move a laboratory is because Kaifeng's construction is too restrictive. So, at that time, these tests will be handed over to the villagers of Langzhou. It will definitely kill people. And I estimate that 180 deaths may not be enough. I have to tell you clearly. You are so overwhelmed by the Virgin Mary. Don't blame me again then.

Sun Yue frowned and thought for a while and said, "Okay, you didn't see it, so I don't know how poor the place in Langzhou is. No, it should be said that Kaifeng City is not good. It is said that life is priceless, but this person is poor enough to a certain extent, and his life is not worth much. However, when you hire someone, you will tell them all about the dangers and pay higher wages."

"This is definitely fine, but what you said to Xue Juzheng before is too far apart. This business needs to be done, not as simple as you two think. And when you are doing business, even if you want to compensate the people of Langzhou, you can't do a money-losing business. It's not that the climate is good. If you plant sugarcane and open a sugar factory and rum winery, it should be good, but these things have to be discussed with Xue Juzheng."

"Well, I understand. Maybe I took it for granted. I don't understand business matters very well. You decide."

"Then the question is, who will discuss with Xue Juzheng? I am a court official, so I can't leave. When Cao Ni'er is born, I will let Lao Cao go. After all, Lu Mengzheng is not around, so he is not at ease when he asks him to go on a business trip. I will write a letter to Xue Juzheng to explain and ask him to wait for another two days."

"No, you are not available, I can go there. I'm familiar with that place. Show me the plan and teach me. Can I not be as good as Uncle Cao?"

"You? How can you go? Brother Murong's coffin will be back to Beijing in two days. Don't you take this opportunity to meet your future wife and cultivate feelings?"
Chapter completed!