Chapter 29: Powerful Alliance
In the following period of time, Zhu Xianhai had no time at all to achieve his small goal of climbing over the wall to enter the house and feel the body odor.
The moon and flowers are indeed a very attractive place.
But the prerequisite for making an appointment is to spend money.
For time travelers, making money is more important.
In November, Buffett, who was in Europe, sent several telegrams. In addition to reporting the results of market development in Europe, he also urged us to ship the goods. At the same time, he also sent a large amount of raw materials from Europe - Turkish opium, Coptis chinensis, etc. These raw materials were purchased from the UK. In order to purchase cheaper opium, he even went directly to Turkey. It must be said that Buffett is an extremely competent partner.
These raw materials were sent to Buenos Aires along with the immigrant ships from Europe. Of course, Zhu Xianhai did not need to go to Matou to pick up the goods. This was when Leonardo's role was shown. He directed the coolies at the dock to carry these things on their shoulders and hands onto the carriage.
Before the raw materials were put into storage, he would take several apprentices with him to unpack and check the raw materials one by one.
“These are the opium?”
Standing in front of the warehouse, picking up a piece of black ointment weighing one kilogram, Zhu Xianhai's mood seemed a little complicated.
Opium!
This was the first time he had seen this thing.
"Yes, all the best Turkish opium."
Leonardo said.
"We just did a simple test and found that its morphine content is no less than 15%."
Turkish opium!
It is definitely a famous brand among opium, and because of its high morphine content, it is deeply welcomed by merchants from various countries, including the UK. In this era, the British sold poor-quality Indian opium to China while importing opium from Turkey to extract morphine for pharmaceutical production.
Of course, this is not contradictory to "Liqingsong", which has now been fully rolled out in the UK. Not only have many factories actively purchased this drug, but many doctors have also published articles in medical magazines praising this perfect and magical drug, calling it a good medicine for "restoring youth". So many rich people have also bought it, and it has indescribable "side effects".
Correspondingly, the output of the small pharmacy could no longer meet the demand. Therefore, Zhu Xianhai decided to open a new pharmaceutical factory to produce patented drugs such as Liposon, aspirin and berberine hydrochloride, turning the pharmacy into a pharmaceutical company.
Besides these?
Well, extracting a variety of drugs from opium to make painkillers and anesthetics is also a good choice. After all, the war will break out next year, and the demand for these drugs in the war will definitely be an extremely huge market.
Of course, we are making medicines, and the medicines we make are used to cure diseases and save lives. If they abuse them, that is their business.
"Has the telegram been sent?"
Put down the opium, Zhu Xianhai asked.
"It has been sent out. There will be a reply soon. However, sir, I think the equipment made in the UK may not meet your needs. After all, the alkaloids you produce are of high purity, while those made by the British are simply garbage."
Leonardo curled his lips, his tone full of contempt.
British goods are really rubbish, the color is like coffee and the impurity content is too high.
"That's a matter of process. As for the equipment, those are the equipment for industrial production. Didn't you read what Buffett said in the telegram? The special equipment in the UK can produce 100 pounds of alkaloids at a time, while our equipment can only produce a few pounds at a time. Only advanced equipment can ensure that our products are continuously supplied to the world."
Industry is power!
This applies to any industry!
Factory-based and large-scale production is the difference between pharmaceutical companies and workshops.
"By the way, has the Chilean saltpeter arrived?"
"Already here, sir, at ..."
Leonardo flipped through the record sheet and said.
"Leon, go and move box 135 over here."
Leonardo asked puzzledly after the heavy boxes were moved.
"Sir, do you want this saltpeter for fertilizer?"
Then he talked to himself again.
"We don't need saltpeter as fertilizer here."
This is also the reason why Zhu Xianhai bought Chilean saltpeter from the UK - Argentina does not need saltpeter fertilizer at all.
"I'm using it for another experiment."
Zhu Xianhai smiled.
Chilean saltpeter, actually sodium saltpeter, is not produced in Chile, but in Antofagasta Province in Bolivia and Tarapacá Province in Peru. These two regions are called "Grande del Norte" and their main product is saltpeter.
Every year, more than 100,000 tons of saltpeter were shipped to Europe through Chilean ports, which is why it was called "Chilean Saltpeter". Europe's demand for saltpeter was also increasing. More than a decade later, it was Europe's demand and huge saltpeter wealth that triggered the famous "Guano War".
Europe imports more than 100,000 tons of Chilean saltpeter every year, not because of war, but as fertilizer to increase agricultural production, which is the only use of sodium saltpeter. Sodium saltpeter cannot be used to make pharmaceutical gunpowder, which naturally limits its price and application.
Potassium nitrate is still used to make gunpowder. At present, Bengal, India has the world's largest and most important saltpeter mine, and this mining area is firmly controlled by the British. France, Germany, and even the United States can either pay obediently or issue a special license like the French and find a way to purify saltpeter in the toilet.
At this moment, Zhu Xianhai purchased Chilean saltpeter in order to use it to make gunpowder and break the British monopoly.
"It's just a simple reaction. It was written in Tiangong Kaiwu hundreds of years ago..."
In the laboratory, Zhu Xianhai was talking to himself while conducting experiments.
“Perhaps DuPont got the inspiration from The Exploitation of the Works of Nature.”
The experience he is gaining from DuPont is the basis for the experiment he is conducting now.
After the outbreak of the Civil War, the United States, which was divided into the North and the South, was troubled by the "saltpeter shortage". After the outbreak of the war, the remaining Indian saltpeter in the hands of the Northern Army could only produce gunpowder for a maximum of six months, and Britain immediately embargoed Indian saltpeter to the United States.
what to do?
Therefore, the founder of DuPont Group set his sights on Chilean saltpeter. Unlike Indian saltpeter, the main component of Chilean saltpeter is calcium nitrate. DuPont obtained enough potassium nitrate through a simple exchange reaction. DuPont monopolized the supply of gunpowder in the United States by producing gunpowder raw materials through exchange reactions, thus achieving the rise of DuPont.
Right now, all Zhu Xianhai has to do is copy DuPont's path.
"Using wood ash, that is, potassium carbonate, as a raw material to combine calcium ions and provide potassium ions, this is an 'exchange reaction'..."
Soon, several pounds of white potassium nitrate were freshly produced. Zhu Xianhai said proudly while staring at the potassium nitrate.
"Okay, now everything is ready. We just need the east wind. Once the Yankees start fighting, we can trade arms on both sides!"
Painkillers and anesthetics are used to save lives, while gunpowder and explosives are used to kill people. The combination of the two is simply a match made in heaven by the Jade Emperor... If you don't make a few million dollars from him, you will really be sorry for this perfect match...
