Traveling through the sword to engage in military industry

The Prime Material Plane.

“Huh, someone's offering ten thousand yuan for the complete technology of open-hearth steelmaking from the 1930s? The entire process must operate without electricity, relying purely on manual labor and simple machinery, with a daily output exceeding 50 tons of steel. Who's so bored as to look for something that's been obsolete for a century? Could it be a scam?” It was just past nine in the evening when a young associate professor from the School of Metallurgy at a certain University of Science and Technology muttered to himself after seeing a post.

“They even left a phone number and email address, making it seem real.”

This young associate professor is named Hu Rentao, and his profession is precisely in the field of steel smelting. Coincidentally, during his graduate studies, he specialized in the early Martin furnace—that is, the steelmaking method invented by the steelmaking expert Martin, the inventor of open-hearth steelmaking. He wrote a very detailed paper on the textual research of the process, so it can be said that he has a considerable understanding of the early open-hearth steelmaking process.

“Ding ding ding,” “Ding ding ding.”

“Lao Hu, your phone's ringing. Who is it? Why are they calling you so late?” His wife next to him said with some impatience.

“I don't know, I'll go see.” Hu Rentao responded helplessly. His wife was good in every way, but she didn't like him socializing with friends. The call was from an unfamiliar number. Hu Rentao answered it.

“Hello, is this Mr. Hu Rentao?” A young voice came from the other end of the phone.

“Hello, this is he. May I ask who's calling and what it's about?” Hu Rentao replied with some confusion.

“Hello, Mr. Hu. I'm the person who's looking for the open-hearth furnace technology. My surname is Ren, and my name is Ren Zhong. I've seen your paper. It's very detailed. I'd like to consult with you, Mr. Hu. According to the process in your paper, can it really be achieved?”

“Of course. This is the actual experimental design process of the Martin furnace back then. I'm sure it can be fully realized, but the original version was for 30 tons, and the daily output can't reach 50 tons.”

“That's okay, that's okay. As long as it can be achieved. Next, I wonder if you, Mr. Hu, can further optimize and improve it to achieve higher production capacity?”

“Of course. If the scale is improved, achieving a daily output of one or two hundred tons wouldn't be a big problem. Any more than that might require electricity-driven machinery.”

“That's great, Mr. Hu. Could I add you on WeChat? I'll transfer the ten thousand yuan to you. Also, may I ask, Mr. Hu, if you could optimize and design a new open-hearth steelmaking production process diagram for me? How much would you charge for the design fee?”

Hearing this, Hu Rentao was stunned for a moment. Are scammers so bored these days? But what would they use this outdated technology for?

Hu Rentao really wanted to hang up the phone, but inexplicably, Hu Rentao held back.

“Mr. Ren, are you serious?” Hu Rentao asked.

“Of course, Mr. Hu. As long as your technology can achieve steelmaking, then I will pay for your design.” Ren Zhong emphasized. “If you don't believe me, I can pay a portion of the design fee first.”

“Mr. Ren, my mobile number is also my WeChat ID. If you're serious, please pay me the paper fee first.” After Hu Rentao finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

“Lao Hu, who was it?”

“Someone who dialed the wrong number.” Hu Rentao sat next to the computer, staring blankly at his mobile phone.

In a few seconds, a notification message that someone had added him on WeChat actually appeared on the phone screen.

Hu Rentao's heart fluttered, and he immediately clicked to accept.

With a “ding” sound, a transfer of ten thousand yuan really came through on WeChat.

Hu Rentao's hand trembled, and he immediately clicked to receive the payment on the transfer.

Ten thousand yuan instantly arrived in his account.

Hu Rentao had an unreal feeling for a moment. His old paper had actually been sold for ten thousand yuan a second time?

What's wrong with this world?

How could there be such a person?

“Mr. Hu, how much do you think the design fee for the open-hearth steelmaking process optimization design would be? I'll transfer a 50,000 yuan deposit to you first. Can you start working on it as soon as possible? How long will the design period take?”

After this message popped up on WeChat, a new transfer notification was received.

Wow, the other party is serious.

This time, Hu Rentao didn't dare to click receive directly.

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Instead, he chose to call Ren Zhong back.

“Mr. Ren, this is Hu Rentao.”

“Hello, Mr. Hu. I'd like to ask, how long will it take for you to complete the open-hearth steelmaking process optimization design scheme, and how much will the design fee be?” Ren Zhong asked impatiently as soon as the call connected.

“Wait, Mr. Ren, may I ask, are you getting this process design scheme to open a small steel plant? Our country doesn't allow small steel plants. This old open-hearth steelmaking method consumes a lot of energy, causes a lot of pollution, and is inefficient. It has long been eliminated.” As a teacher at a university, Hu Rentao has his own bottom line.

Even if the other party seems to be foolishly rich, if the other party really uses his design to secretly open a small steel plant, then he can't escape responsibility.

“Mr. Hu, don't worry, I won't use this to open any steel plants in the country.” Ren Zhong said here, quickly thinking in his brain, trying to come up with a better reason, “I have a friend who found a small iron ore mine in Africa and is setting up a small steel plant for the black brothers' tribe. You know, there are many places over there without electricity, and they are poor. They can't afford advanced steelmaking blast furnaces, so they're just setting up a small steel plant to make some small money.”

Hu Rentao was half-believing and half-doubting Ren Zhong's reason.

No matter how poor the black brothers are, it doesn't seem like a big deal to build a power plant to support a steel plant. Anyway, it's not their investment. A small steel plant with a daily output of a hundred tons of steel has an annual output value of over 100 million, and a small coal-fired power plant can also earn a lot.

“Mr. Ren, I can do this design scheme, but I don't have any qualifications, so I can only do it in the name of design data, unsigned, and without any responsibility for the subsequent construction. I'll give you the electronic files in person for cash. If you can accept this, I'll take this design scheme for 300,000 yuan.” Hu Rentao pondered for a long time and finally hardened his heart and said to Ren Zhong.

“I have no problem with this, but it would be okay to consult with you, Mr. Hu, if we encounter technical problems.” Ren Zhong didn't question this condition. He's not even in this plane, what does he need qualifications for?

“Of course, it's no problem to simply consult on technical issues, Mr. Ren. I can guarantee that the process design can be realized, so rest assured.” Hu Rentao heard that the other party had agreed to such conditions, so what was he worried about?

This money, he was determined to earn!

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