Chapter 181 Storm Is Coming

"Your Highness, are these ingredients correct?"

Bing Zhan Division. read

Wang Chong held the white sand and said to Zhao Xu.

After King Yan handed over the raw materials, he personally contacted the merchants of Yanjun County and asked them to go to Daijun to sell white sand.

As for a large amount of soda ash, they have to go to Yuzhou. The journey is a bit long and it will take a few days to come back.

So he bought some alkali directly from the local alkali merchant and wanted to develop the glass first.

"The raw materials are all right, has the regenerator been built?" Zhao Xu asked.

The sand in Wang Chong's hand is milky white and translucent, and it is indeed quartz sand.

Only this kind of sand can produce transparent glass.

As for soda ash, it is to lower the melting point, while limestone will produce calcium oxide, which is quicklime, at high temperatures.

Quicklime can improve the purity and stability of glass.

"It's built according to His Highness' instructions." Wang Chong led Zhao Xu into a courtyard.

He saw buildings similar to blast furnaces and air-heated furnaces in the yard.

However, this building is not high, but short and flat.

In fact, the regenerator and the air-heated furnace have similar functions. They both assist the furnace next to them to heat up.

The principle is similar, they burn charcoal inside first and then blow out the hot air.

And coincidentally, the melting point of glass is similar to the melting point of iron.

It can be said that the blast furnace can be used to melt glass.

However, glass is not like molten iron, it just flows down and solidifies.

Instead, it needs to be heated continuously to keep it in a molten state so that it can be blown continuously.

"In that case, let's try it today." Zhao Xu became more energetic, and he was also looking forward to the glass.

After receiving Zhao Xu's order, Wang Chong immediately became excited.

Instruct the craftsmen to put the raw materials in sequence according to the proportion given by King Yan, and then light the fire.

Like iron smelting, Wang Chong also used coke.

So the temperature of the glass furnace rose quickly.

Within three meters, heat waves hit people's faces.

After waiting quietly for more than an hour, the temperature of the furnace reached its peak.

At this time, the craftsman who was stirring the raw materials shouted, "The sand has melted."

Wang Chong was overjoyed and rushed over regardless of the heat. Sure enough, he saw a viscous liquid like red mucus flowing on the lowest surface.

Seeing this, Wang Chong stopped leaving and stayed at the furnace. His clothes were soon soaked with sweat.

Zhao Xu sat on the chair with a smile on his lips.

After waiting for a while, when all the raw materials in the furnace turned into red translucent slime, he stood up.

"Bring the hollow pottery pipe." Zhao Xu said to Wang Chong.

This was also one of the things he asked Wang Chong to prepare.

The function is naturally used to blow glass.

Wang Chong ran all the way and brought a pipe more than one meter long.

Now the glass is melted, but neither Wang Chong nor the craftsmen know what to do next.

So everyone stared at King Yan to see what he was doing with the pipe.

Rubbing his hands, Zhao Xu was very interested. After all, there was a serious lack of entertainment in ancient times, and he could not always make children.

Holding the pottery pipe, he came to the furnace and used the end of the jar to pick out a ball of red glass liquid.

The liquid glass is very viscous and hangs naturally on one end of the jar.

At this time, he puffed up his cheeks and blew them up like a balloon.

The gas entered the inside of the liquid glass, and the inside suddenly bulged, and the liquid glass also deformed.

Because the thickness is uneven, it looks bulging on one side.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu rolled the bulging side of the glass liquid on a steel plate prepared by Wang Chong, and the side immediately deflated.

Then he blew and rolled, and soon a round and bulging shape came out.

But this was his first time making it, and the bottle was not very standard.

At this time, he couldn't help but sigh, knowing that there is still an ocean between theory and practice.

He was secretly following the process in his mind throughout the entire process, and it was still like this.

While he was sighing, his peripheral vision glanced at Wang Chong and the craftsmen.

Not only did they not show any disdain, but they looked full of admiration.

When the glass gradually cooled and turned into a clear transparent color, their mouths grew even wider and they were completely sluggish.

"Oh my god, is this glass? It's so beautiful." A craftsman stretched out his hand and seemed to be holding the glass bottle in his hand.

"This is the first time I have seen such a beautiful thing since I was born. Even if it is a jade pendant, it is not as good as gold." Another craftsman said.

"It's unbelievable that such a beautiful thing is made of sand. Your Highness, King Yan, is so amazing." A craftsman almost cried.

"..."

Wang Chongcai came out of his daze when the craftsmen's exclamations rang in his ears.

At this time, the way he looked at King Yan was different.

To him, it was as if King Yan was the only one left in this world, shining in the sunshine.

"Your Highness, my admiration for you is like the endless river." Wang Chong knelt on the ground with a thud, "Your Highness, although this request is an extravagant wish, I hope that your Highness can teach me what I have learned. , I am willing to pay any price.”

In his excitement, Wang Chong ignored life and death.

Even if King Yan is angry, he will say it out.

When he saw the glass, he suddenly felt that he had nothing to pursue in life. He just wanted to learn these superb crafts from King Yan. Even if he didn't marry a wife and lived alone like a monk, he was willing to do so.

"Get up." Zhao Xu helped Wang Chong up.

In fact, Wang Chong cannot be blamed.

Smelting iron, making gunpowder, and making cannons all took shape in Dasong.

His method only improved the quality.

And the transparent glass was as shocking as the magic of turning stone into gold in Wang Chong's eyes.

That's why Wang Chong lost his composure.

"After a while, I will build an official school. You will have the opportunity to learn from me, but after I teach you something, you will lose something." Zhao Xu said.

"Your Highness, please speak. I am not afraid of anything." Wang Chong said.

"Anyone who learns skills from me must not leave Yancheng without my order, and will be monitored. Are you willing?" Zhao Xu said.

"I am willing." Wang Chong said with almost no hesitation.

"Okay." Zhao Xu was very satisfied.

He didn't want what he taught to be passed on to the powerful family.

Otherwise, his advantage would be gone.

"That's it. Now, let's blow out this pool of glass liquid first. "Zhao Xu said with a smile.

After that, he explained the blowing techniques to the craftsmen.

These craftsmen will be responsible for the production of glassware in the future.

In half a day, the glass liquid was consumed by the testers.

There are also many crooked glass containers in the yard.

There are also a few craftsmen who are more skillful and blew out some nice and beautiful glass bottles.

With three of the beautiful glass bottles, Zhao Xu returned to the palace.

It immediately caused an uproar in the palace.

"Your Highness, what is this? It's so beautiful. "

The servants and maids of the palace all swarmed over to watch.

Feng'er and Luan'er's eyes were also twinkling with little stars.

Humans like shiny and beautiful things. This is the instinct of living things.

For this reason, gold, gems, and pearls have become famous and precious luxury goods.

And the beauty of glass is comparable to these things.

The reason why it is cheap in modern times is that it can be industrialized.

But it is different in Dasong.

Except for him and his own people, no one knows that the raw materials of glass are very cheap.

Using this information gap, he can make glass make huge profits for the palace.

"It should be a gem, but why does it look like this?" A servant wondered.

"It must be a gem, but how can this gem be more transparent than ice." A maid covered her chest with a look of fascination.

"So it must be the most precious of the gems. ”

“…”

Everyone was talking at once.

“Your Highness, what on earth is this?” Feng’er started to act coquettishly.

She had been in the palace before, unlike the servants and maids who had never seen jewelry.

In her opinion, this thing was definitely not jewelry.

Luan’er tilted her head, thought for a while and said, “This must be something that Your Highness has developed again.”

Zhao Xu pinched Luan’er’s waist, “Luan’er is still smart.”

“I guessed so too.” Feng’er continued.

Your Highness the Prince of Yan always said that she had big breasts and no brains. She admitted the first part, but she didn’t admit the latter part.

Zhao Xu chuckled twice, “I won’t tease you anymore. This thing is called glass. The shape of this bottle is blown out. It was indeed just developed.”

Everyone was more surprised than before they knew it, and they all took a breath.

Such a beautiful thing was actually developed by Your Highness the Prince of Yan. It’s incredible.

“Your Highness means that this thing can be made casually, just like perfume? "Feng'er said, covering her mouth.

Luan'er's beautiful eyes also flickered.

Zhao Xu nodded, which was considered an admission.

Feng'er was stunned for a long time, and suddenly she was overjoyed.

"Your Highness, can you give me this bottle?"

Luan'er didn't say anything, but the desire in her eyes said it all.

"Take it, take it." Zhao Xu said to the two of them.

He couldn't stand Feng'er's nonsense.

Hearing this, Feng'er grabbed a palm-sized glass bottle and held it in her hand.

Zhao Xu picked up another one and stuffed it into Luan'er's hand.

The remaining one... He looked at the servants and maids who were envious, "Here you go, enjoy your eyes first, and give you one each later. "

"Thank you, Your Highness. "The servants and maids were moved when they heard this.

They were different from Feng'er and Luan'er, they were all servants who did rough work.

The King of Yan could think of them for such a precious thing, and they were willing to die for the King of Yan.

After a while, Zhao Xu went to the study.

Although glass is new, there is no need to hide it now.

After all, it will be released soon.

And the price should not be too outrageous, otherwise it will be out of stock.

Of course, some glass artworks can be sold as jewelry.

He was thinking about it, and suddenly someone came to report that Liu Fu was back.

"Your Highness." Liu Fu had a trace of fatigue and excitement on his face. He entered the study and saluted him.

"How is Shanggu County now?" Zhao Xu asked.

"Your Highness, after the Shanggu nobles were uprooted, Shanggu County was like a new life. The people sang praises to your highness and responded positively to the government's decrees. "

"Because the government office lacks officials, many people took the initiative to help the government office measure the land, and the land was divided smoothly. It will be almost distributed within this month."

"There is also the system of village head and baozhang in Yan County. The people in each county also elected themselves. I explained how they supervised and coordinated production in the countryside and formed rural soldiers."

"The general's recruitment of soldiers was also very smooth. Not only did the young and strong people in Shanggu fight hard to join the royal guards, but the people of Jinzhou who fell into trouble in Shanggu County also came here after hearing the news. Now it is said that it is about to be full. General Mo is very happy."

Standing in front of Zhao Xu, Liu Fulo kept talking like a barrage of words, as if he couldn't finish talking.

Zhao Xu looked at Liu Fu and listened quietly.

Although this guy is a flatterer, he knows that Liu Fu has great ambitions in his heart.

It was this ambition that made him follow him wholeheartedly.

No matter how much you pay for this, you are willing to do so.

After talking for a quarter of an hour, Liu Fu seemed tired and said with a smile: "Your Highness, this time I came back to bring the wealth collected from the wealthy families to the treasury. There are 2.2 million taels of silver in it." , the rest are jewelry, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, and the shops of wealthy families in various counties. It is estimated that the amount is not small. As for the food and grass, it will be left in Shanggu County to help the people. "

Zhao Xu was speechless when he heard this.

Killing these Shanggu wealthy people will really enrich the royal treasury.

These things are enough for Shanggu County to support itself.

And through this, he also understood why both the Beidi people and the Yuan family regarded him as a fat sheep.

This was the case even after he captured Shanggu County.

If they invaded everything they owned, they wouldn't just die.

"Well, that's right, thank you for your hard work." Zhao Xu said.

When your subordinates work for you, regardless of rewards, you still have to say heart-warming words.

You can't let people sweat and feel aggrieved.

Liu Fu smiled and said, "It's not hard at all to work for His Highness, but His Highness mentioned the exam last time..."

Zhao Xu smiled helplessly, knowing that Liu Fu would mention this matter.

After all, this is the dream of a poor scholar like him.

"Just keep this in mind, I won't lie to you." Zhao Xu said, and then he told Liu Fu about the Mi family.

"Mr. Mi, no, Mr. Mi Guozhang?" Liu Fu's eyes suddenly became particularly lively, "That's great. Although Xiaguan is far away in Yanzhou, he has heard about Mi Guozhang's reputation from his friends. If Mi Guozhang is If Zhang Neng raises his arms and shouts, he will definitely be able to send scholars to His Highness."

Zhao Xu smiled, he didn't expect that Liu Fu also knew Mi Zhuang.

The two were chatting when someone suddenly reported that Chang Wei was coming.

Zhao Xu thought it was something about the school and asked him to come in.

"Your Highness, the Beidi people have been making little moves recently." Chang Wei entered the study with a solemn expression.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Xu had an ominous premonition.

"Beidi scouts attacked the bastion camp, and more and more scouts appeared. The general is worried..." Chang Wei hesitated.

Zhao Xu frowned. He guessed that the Beidi people would discover the bastion being built.

I just didn't expect them to be so quick to harass and destroy.

Chang Wei was worried that the Beidi people would send troops to destroy it in large numbers.

If so, that would be troublesome.