Chapter 9: Sugar Loft

"What?" Zheng Cong immediately jumped up. "Qin She, what do you mean by this? Are you burning the bridge after crossing the river?" Zheng Cong spoke in a rush, as he hadn't even crossed the river yet, so how could there be a bridge to burn? However, Zheng Kezang remained unmoved. After holding back his anger for a long time, Zheng Cong raised two fingers. "Twenty percent, at most twenty percent; if it's more, then let's call it quits."

This is the best sugar mill in the Ministry of Works. As long as the supply of sugarcane is guaranteed, it can produce 5,000 dan of snow sugar and no less than 10,000 dan of red sugar and black sugar in a season. With the current processing level, red sugar cannot be fully converted into white sugar, a fact that even Zheng Kezang, who possesses knowledge ahead of his time, cannot change. When it was initially acquired, the Marquis put in considerable effort.

"Lord Funing, be silent!" Master Lu cast an unhappy glance at the beefy Zheng Cong and picked up a ruler from the side, tapping it on the table. "What could possibly be more important than Yuanzi studying? Let’s discuss this later." Zheng Cong still wanted to speak, but Master Lu slammed his hand down. "Does Lord Funing intend for me to report this to the king?"

"Profit? Share?" Zheng Cong exclaimed. "Qin She, this is all your second uncle's money, and you still want a share? Isn't that too calculating?" Zheng Kezang did not respond and turned to leave, prompting Zheng Cong to jump in frustration. "Alright, alright, consider it like a three-year-old child making his mother upset. One percent, I'll give you one percent, is that acceptable?"

"Qin She, you truly are the lucky star of my second uncle, no, no, you are the God of Wealth." Zheng Cong had already cast aside the thought of wanting to strangle Zheng Kezang just moments ago. "Second uncle, I will follow your lead in everything, but isn't a 10% cut a bit too much? You see, you are just speaking without any backing. How about a 5% cut instead?"

Zheng Cong, upon hearing this, indeed popped a few sugar grains into his mouth. In reality, the sweetness did not change significantly; it was merely the recent suggestion that influenced his judgment: "Indeed, it has become a bit sweeter. Qinshe, this time we are bound to make a fortune."

Zheng Kezang furrowed his brows and thought for a moment; this was likely indeed the other party's bottom line. He then nodded and said, "Twenty percent it is, but we must have a written agreement, and I will also send someone to oversee the matter."

Then it's settled...

Having let out a sigh of relief, Zheng Kezang finally left the study. He turned around and entered the side room where Zheng Cong was drinking. Upon seeing Zheng Kezang come in, Zheng Cong, who had already been impatient, put down his wine cup and hurriedly spoke: "Your Excellency, the sugar has been secured, and the craftsmen have been hired. It took a great deal of effort. If we are unable to produce the snow sugar and rock sugar you mentioned, how will we compensate for it?"

Uncle Er will know once he opens it and takes a look

Can sugarcane bagasse and wastewater sugar be used for brewing wine

Geng Jingzhong intended to reclaim Quanzhou by force, which the Ming-Zheng side naturally would not agree to. Therefore, after using spies to observe Geng Fan's movements, Zhu Jin dispatched Liu Guoxuan, the commander of the Right Military Guard, to lead over ten thousand troops to station at the foot of Huian City to resist the twenty thousand infantry and cavalry sent by Geng Jingzhong.

After class, Master Lü did not rise as usual. Instead, he turned to Zheng Kezang and said: "Yuanzi wants to establish a youth camp. I will not say much, as the world is currently in chaos, and learning some military affairs is beneficial to the country. However, I am quite concerned about Yuanzi mingling with unlearned individuals like the Duke of Funing. Yuanzi, you must take care of yourself."

Wang Jinsu, a general under Geng Jingzhong responsible for the southern campaign, was nicknamed "Tiger." Seeing that the Zheng army was few in number, he developed a sense of contempt and intended to lead his troops directly into battle, aiming to defeat the Zheng army in one fell swoop and subsequently reclaim Quanzhou. However, Liu Guoxuan was on high alert, not allowing Wang Jinsu any opportunity to exploit a weakness. The two sides faced each other for more than ten days, and due to issues with the supply line for troops and provisions, Wang Jinsu was forced to retreat to Tuling.

Upon seeing Master Lü in a fit of anger, Zheng Kezang had no choice but to speak up: "Uncle, you should go out first. There is still an hour and a half of daylight left. I will finish today's work in due time. Any urgent matters can be discussed then."

"Second Uncle, I won't take advantage of you for nothing; I have a suggestion for you." Zheng Kezang looked at Zheng Cong leisurely. "First, Second Uncle can obtain some raw sugar from the Ministry of Works for processing," Zheng Cong's eyes immediately lit up. "Second, in fact, the residue from sugarcane and leftover sugar can be used to brew alcohol. Currently, Dongning strictly prohibits brewing alcohol from grains. If we succeed, it would be a significant source of profit, and the foreign sailors particularly enjoy this sugarcane wine."

"Iron press roller?" the steward exclaimed. "How much fine iron would the young master need? Such extravagance is unheard of." Zheng Kezang frowned, and the steward of the marquis's residence realized he had lost his composure, quickly adjusting his demeanor. "There is no need to mention that we do not have an iron press roller; the entire Taiwan does not possess one. Young master, could it be that you misheard?"

"This is indeed very good." Master Lü slightly nodded, stood up, and walked away with a dignified demeanor under the gaze of Zheng Kezang

Unwilling to accept defeat, Geng Jingzhong, upon witnessing this situation, was immediately filled with the desire to fight again. However, being intimidated by Liu Guoxuan, he did not dare to confront the main forces of the Zheng army with his large troops. Thus, he issued orders for Liu Yan and other units in western Fujian to launch a counterattack against the newly occupied areas in Zhangzhou where the Zheng army had not yet established a firm foothold. Consequently, the two armies frequently engaged in skirmishes in places such as Zhangpu and Nanjing, with both sides alternating between offense and defense.

What is the power source? Zheng Kezang pondered for a moment. He originally intended to use hydraulic machinery to ensure a stable power supply, but he found that his theoretical knowledge, acquired through extensive online research, lacked practical application. Moreover, even if he were to put it into practice, success could not be guaranteed on the first attempt. Zheng Cong would never allow himself to waste money in such a manner. "How much sugar can be produced in a season?"

Zheng Kezang waved his hand, expressing his disinterest in how the princelings were embezzling state assets: "I would like to mention a few points. First, these two dilapidated houses need to be demolished and rebuilt; they should be converted into brick houses, and the kitchen and chimney should be constructed outside. How can you not understand this? In this way, I will send you a blueprint shortly, and you can follow it to proceed.

Seeing Zheng Cong calculating how much the new snow sugar could sell for and how much profit could be made over a sugar season, Zheng Kezang smiled faintly and said: "Second Uncle, let's not talk so much for now, let's quickly take a look at your newly purchased sugar workshop..."

However, inflicting a thousand casualties on the enemy while suffering eight hundred losses oneself, coupled with the fact that the Zheng army originally had fewer troops than the Geng faction, meant that the victorious Zheng army at Tuling did not take the opportunity to advance towards Putian and Fuzhou. Instead, they only pursued as far as Xinghua before retreating to Quanzhou to regroup.

The sugar mill is powered by animal labor, for which the sugar house has several strong oxen. In the estate, one can manage affairs, and the other party is quite astute. Therefore, upon noticing that Zheng Kezang's attitude was subtly different, they naturally did not dare to deviate from the topic. However, today they learned that the lord and the eldest son were coming, and the oxen had all been driven out to graze.

"Is there a cast iron press roller?" Zheng Kezang interrupted the steward's self-praise and directly asked, "Additionally, what powers the press roller? Is it human power or animal power?"

Wang Jin stationed troops at Tuling, with a continuous camp stretching over 20 miles. Liu Guoxuan led his personal cavalry to observe closely, but was discovered by Wang Jin, who took the initiative to attack, intending to eliminate the enemy general first. However, Wang Jin did not realize that the Geng army was actually a paper tiger, strong on the outside but weak on the inside. As a result, he was blocked by the rapidly reinforced troops of Liu Guoxuan. The two sides fought for a day, and the Geng army was instead repelled by the disciplined and highly combat-effective Zheng army, suffering heavy losses. Yet, Wang Jin remained unaware that the Geng army was merely a paper tiger, leading to his forces being obstructed by Liu Guoxuan's reinforcements. After a day of battle, the Geng army was ultimately driven back by the disciplined and combat-effective Zheng army, incurring significant losses.

Upon seeing the imposing demeanor of the elder, and noticing the younger one casting glances at him, Zheng Cong, who realized he had performed poorly, felt somewhat disgruntled. He had no choice but to follow the eunuch out, yet judging by his expression, it was likely that he was still secretly cursing under his breath.

Please rest assured, Teacher. "Heaven and Earth, Ruler and Parent, Teacher; with such concern from you, I, Zheng Kezang, dare not be careless," he stood up respectfully in response. "The Marquis of Funing has indeed come for a serious matter; as for the others, the student knows his limits and will certainly not emulate their debauchery.

"Reconstruction? How much will this cost?" Zheng Cong appeared behind Zheng Kezang, and upon hearing about the need to spend money on renovating the workshop, he looked pained. "Qin She, why spend such unnecessary money?"

Zheng Kezang did not say much to him, but threw a paper bag in his hand over. Zheng Cong was taken aback: "What is this?"

"Qin She, my dear nephew, you are indeed quite astute." Zheng Cong did not hesitate for a moment this time. "Alright, let's proceed as planned."

Zheng Cong, filled with suspicion, picked up the paper bag from the table and slowly opened it. Upon seeing the contents inside, he couldn't help but exclaim: "Snow sugar, you really made it! It is indeed much whiter than the snow sugar available on the market now. Qinshe, how did you do it?"

At this point, Zheng Kezang also gave Zheng Cong the opportunity to refute. He instructed the eunuch who had closely followed Zheng Cong: "Invite the Marquis of Funing to wait aside, and prepare some food and drinks."

How dare I speak carelessly in front of my second uncle? However, as for the art of brewing, I no longer need to consult books. As for the craftsmen, you will have to seek them out yourself, second uncle. By the way, once it is accomplished, you can reward your nephew with a ten percent share of the profits.

"Thirty percent." Zheng Kezang held up a finger. "At least thirty percent; if not, I'll go find Third Uncle and Fifth Uncle."

This is what Yu has experimented with based on the methods in the book over the past few days. Naturally, Zheng Cong would not reveal his hand to Zheng Cong at this moment. The second uncle can give it a try to see if it is sweeter and more delicate than the snow sugar and brown sugar currently available on the market

"You can say whatever you want; Uncle Er has already boarded your pirate ship." Zheng Cong, with a mournful expression, pondered for a long time and ultimately accepted Zheng Kezang's reasoning. "Moreover, where there is a first, there will be a second; just say it all. Uncle Er is going all out today"

"This is the place, Young Master." Gasping for breath, Zheng Cong was assisted by a servant to rest on the side. After being introduced by the steward of the Marquis's residence, Zheng Kezang nodded and followed him inside. The entire sugar workshop appeared to cover a considerable area, but the main structure consisted of only two thatched huts, built of bamboo and wood, well-ventilated on all sides. One of the huts contained a crushing mill, while the other had some pots and pans, likely one was for juicing and the other for boiling. "Young Master, please take a look, this is the best and latest stone mill, capable of producing twenty percent more juice than the previous wooden mills."

Zheng Kezang shook his head, this Zheng Cong is truly fixated on money. Last time it was made clear that even if it doesn't work out, merely producing sugar would still yield a considerable profit. Today, he has to pull this stunt again, which is nothing more than an attempt to make Zheng Kezang concede even more benefits.

"Second Uncle, to produce good snow sugar, the key is to use pure water and ensure the surroundings are fresh; excessive smoke will also ruin the appearance." Zheng Kezang took advantage of Zheng Cong's ignorance and explained haphazardly. "Second Uncle, you can't catch a wolf without letting go of the child; as long as we can produce good snow sugar, this amount of money is just a small sum."

Once Zheng Cong disappeared inside the room, Master Lü calmly picked up the book again. Seeing the old man's demeanor, Zheng Kezang could only pretend that nothing had happened, and both parties continued their recitation until they finished the scheduled content.

Is that so? If that is the case, perhaps I have made a mistake. Zheng Kezang did not bother to argue with the person who spoke incorrectly, but simply instructed, "You have yet to mention what drives the oil press."

After finally disembarking from the ship, Zheng Cong, feeling unsteady on his feet, sat down on the ground. The servants hurried to find an ox cart. Once they boarded the cart, they jostled for nearly half an hour before finally catching sight of their destination

"Qin She, Qin She," Zheng Kezang was studying with Master Lü, when Zheng Cong, shaking his head, barged in despite the servant's attempts to stop him. "Why are you still studying? The matter we discussed the other day has already been taken care of by my second uncle. Hurry up, don't delay. When are we going to go take a look?"

Zheng Cong's newly purchased sugar mill is located in Tianxing Prefecture. If traveling by land, it would likely take a whole day to reach, so he can only take a boat to cross the Tai River Inner Sea. Although the Inner Sea is much calmer than the strait, after sitting on the boat for more than an hour, Zheng Cong, who has exhausted himself in indulgence, feels dizzy, his eyes are glazed, and he is nauseous.

Secondly, I still need to order a batch of tools. After returning, I will list them and ask Uncle Er to customize them. The production of white sugar requires control over the crystallization temperature, but currently, we have no means to achieve temperature control. Rather than relying on the master’s skill in managing the heat, it is better to use more convenient tools to accomplish this goal. Therefore, it is essential to manufacture a suitable batch of tools. Thirdly, we need to build another tofu workshop nearby. The tofu produced can be sent to the Eastern Capital for sale, and it can also serve as additional meals for the craftsmen, but the soy milk must be reserved, as it will be very useful in the production of rock sugar. Zheng Cong glanced at the steward beside him, and rather than relying on the master’s skill in managing the heat, it is better to use more convenient tools to accomplish this goal. Therefore, it is essential to manufacture a suitable batch of tools. Thirdly, we need to build another tofu workshop nearby. The tofu produced can be sent to the Eastern Capital for sale, and it can also serve as additional meals for the craftsmen, but the soy milk must be reserved, as it will be very useful in the production of rock sugar. Zheng Cong looked at the steward beside him, who nodded to indicate that he had noted it down. Fourthly, prepare another 1,000 jin of charcoal, grind it into fine powder, and pack it into cloth bags for later use. The river water or well water collected in the future must be filtered through the charcoal powder bags before it can be used. Fifthly, I will transcribe the entire sugar-making regulations. Uncle Er has instructed these sugar workers to follow the regulations strictly, without any deviation; otherwise, if the quality is compromised, I will not take responsibility. Finally, how should the profits from this sugar workshop be divided?