Cao Cao called me to rob a tomb

Chapter 874 Dead Corpse (4000)

"Mr. Yu, bring me your compass."

Wu Liang didn't rush to draw conclusions, but turned back and said to Ji.

"it's here."

Yu Ji quickly took the compass out of the cloth bag and handed it over.

After Wu Liang took the compass, he straightened it and looked at it, only to see that the compass in the middle of the compass still could not indicate the direction correctly at this moment, but still pointed in the direction of the holy mountain.

Then he slowly approached the bronze statue in front of him while holding a compass, while observing the changes of the compass.

At first the north arrow on the compass did not change.

Waiting until the compass had leaned against the bronze statue, the compass needle seemed to vibrate slightly, as if two forces from different directions were wrestling.

Wu Liang gently moved the compass needle with his fingers to make it turn slowly.

And when the compass stopped completely, it pointed to the bronze statue in front of it...

At this moment, Wu Liang had come to a conclusion:
There is a high probability that the black substance in this stone statue is the strong magnetic basalt on the holy mountain;

Or even if it is not a strong magnetic basalt, it should be an ore with a very high metal content, and the metal rich in it should be iron, because the material used for this compass is a magnet, and there are only so many metals that can generate gravity. There are several kinds, among which iron can be produced naturally and has the largest stock in nature!
As for the pure elemental copper on the surface of the bronze statue, it will not have any effect on the compass, so there is no need to consider this interference at all.

In fact, magnets are also closely related to iron, and its composition is ferroferric oxide.

Therefore, no matter whether the black substance is the strong magnetic basalt on the holy mountain or the ore with extremely high iron content, it has something to do with iron, and the two are not in conflict. Basalt can contain ferric oxide or iron content. Extremely high ore, everything is determined by nature.

So... iron... elemental copper...

Wu Liang suddenly thought of an even more incredible possibility - wet copper smelting!
This copper smelting method first appeared in the "Huainan Wanbi Shu" written in the Western Han Dynasty, in which the sentence "Zeng Qing gets iron and turns into copper" records the chemical phenomenon of wet copper smelting.

As far as Wu Liang knows, the wet method of copper smelting was really used and put into production in the form of a system, and it was already in the Song Dynasty, which was nearly a thousand years after the end of the Han Dynasty.

Before that, pyrometallurgical copper smelting technology had always been the mainstream.

In fact, listening to the names of these two copper smelting technologies, you can see the difference between the two.

Copper smelting by fire method, as its name implies, is actually to burn copper-rich copper ore with intense fire, so as to extract the copper metal in it, which is not much different from the blast furnace used in iron smelting.

Although this copper smelting method is simple and direct, the biggest problem is that it can only be used for copper-rich ores.

The wet copper smelting method is a chemical copper smelting method. The refined copper ore in nature is usually copper sulfide, and copper sulfide is weathered and oxidized in nature, and it will gradually be converted into copper sulfate, which is often said by the people. Bile alum, copper sulfate is soluble in water, and after completely dissolving it and removing impurities, the bile alum water can be obtained, and immersing iron in the bile alum water to fully react can replace the copper ions in the copper sulfate, thus forming extremely Pure elemental copper.

The metal copper extracted by this copper smelting method is extremely high in purity, and has the characteristics of simple operation and fuel saving. Most importantly, this method can be used no matter for lean ore, rich ore, sulfide ore and oxide ore. very wide.

In comparison, hydrometallurgy is naturally more advanced.

After all, later studies have shown that the copper content on the earth is only about 0.01%, and the copper concentrate suitable for pyrometallurgy is even rarer. It is a non-renewable mineral resource, while iron, which is also commonly used as a metal, accounts for 5.1%. , In such a contrast, copper is very rare, and naturally more efficient copper smelting technology must be adopted.

It is also because of this that wet copper smelting has continued to later generations since it officially became the main method of copper smelting in the Song Dynasty. Even before Wu Liang traveled, wet copper smelting was still the mainstream method of copper smelting.

and so……

A more intense look of shock appeared in Wu Liang's eyes.

The scene of the fusion of simple copper and black matter, and the statue structure that does not look like a simple copper plating process, plus this basalt that may also contain a lot of iron...

If this is really a relic of the Jiuli Kingdom in ancient times, and the copper smelting technology mastered by the Jiuli Kingdom is wet copper smelting, then does it mean that his previous speculation still greatly underestimated the Jiuli Kingdom? The copper smelting skills of China are not comparable to those of the Zhou Dynasty, but can be compared with the later Song Dynasty? !
This is only a comparison within the scope of the Celestial Dynasty. If it is compared with the West... it is almost equivalent to leading the entire human history and civilization. After all, Western introduction stocks only started to use wet copper smelting at the end of the 17th century. to the modern category.

"This... what did you find out?"

Seeing Wu Liang's expression gradually turn from doubt to shock, the people in the Huan army who were waiting for Wu Liang's conclusion were filled with surprise.

Although they don't know the wet copper smelting method, they know Wu Liang. If he hadn't made some shocking discoveries, with his knowledge, he definitely wouldn't reveal such an expression.

Under the suspicious gaze of everyone, he finally came back to his senses.

However, he didn't express the guess in his heart immediately, because this guess still needs more evidence to support it, at least the current evidence is not enough.

The most direct evidence is bile alum water.

This is the raw material that wet copper smelting can never jump through. This kind of water is blue, and it was even used as a pigment in ancient times. Therefore, if this place has ever used wet copper smelting, it will inevitably leave behind blue If he can find this thing, he can confirm his guess.

Of course, it is also possible that this place is not a hydrometallurgy mine at all, and Wu Liang couldn't find what he guessed might exist.

If so, he can only choose to take this bronze statue back and study it slowly...if he can get out of this place alive.

……

Wu Liang didn't explain, and everyone in the Huan army didn't ask.

This matter was temporarily shelved amidst everyone's curiosity.

Excavation work continues.

This time, in order to speed up the excavation progress, the Tuan army did not stop working and rest after dark, but worked until midnight by the light of the bonfire lit at the excavation site.

When eating at night, Bai Jingjing quietly approached Wu Liang, pulled him to a place where there was no one else, and said with a serious expression, "Wu Youcai, we probably have enough food left for another day, if there is no way to leave here after that , I’m afraid everyone is about to start a famine, so I want to ask you, do you have any solution?”

"No."

Wu Liang shook his head very bluntly.

"Then what are your plans?"

Bai Jingjing asked again.

"I just asked Yang Wanli in private. The repair work of the three gate towers has been basically completed. However, after the restoration, the gate towers can no longer enter and exit the secret realm. I'm afraid this road will not work."

Wu Liang murmured, "The only hope now is that kind of strange insect. If we can find that kind of strange insect in the river bed and find a way for them to enter and leave the secret realm, maybe there is still a glimmer of life..."

"Then do you think this method holds great promise?"

Bai Jingjing asked again.

"Hard to say……"

Wu Liang shrugged and said with an ambiguous wry smile.

"In that case..."

Bai Jingjing's expression didn't change much when she heard the words, but she stretched out her hand to Wu Liang's eyes, "Why don't you return the Suihou Zhu to me in advance, this is the mission entrusted to me by the ancestors of the Bai family. I must be buried here, even if there is no way to bring Suihouzhu back to the Bai family with my own hands, I still hope that Suihouzhu will be in my hands when I die."

"So heartless?"

Wu Liang was taken aback for a moment, "I'm not dead yet, and you started to pay respects, are you from the second senior brother?"

"What second brother?"

Bai Jingjing looked suspicious, but she didn't pursue this weird statement, but suddenly showed a sly smile, "I'm relieved if you don't want to return the Suihou Pearl, I'll go to rest first."

"???"

Wu Liang's face was filled with question marks.

Unexpectedly, Bai Jingjing finally learned badly, and would use this method to test his tone and will.

But he really doesn't have any clue now, it's just that he doesn't want to give up easily until the last moment... Bai Jingjing has indeed grasped his veins, if he has the idea of ​​giving up in his heart, he will indeed take the initiative to give up Hou Zhu returned.

……

The next day.

Although the people of the Huanren Army enlarged and deepened the pothole a lot, the result was not good.

Except for a few tattered pottery fragments dug out of the red soil that are hard to tell when they were made, Wu Liang didn't get anything of archaeological value, and naturally he didn't get any clues that might help them get out of here.

However, during this day, their food consumption was not spared because the excavation work had not progressed.

The food eaten by the people in the Tuan army at night was already the last reserves.

Maybe there was a little left, which could barely cope with the next morning's eclipse, and then they would really only have the three little wild boars and the big rooster left.

Only a few backbones of the Huren Army who were in charge of logistics knew about this matter.

They didn't know how to announce this matter to everyone, and they didn't know how to appease everyone's subsequent panic after announcing this matter.

Wu Liang's heart was not as calm as it seemed on the surface.

But he knows better than anyone else that he is the one who can't be messed up at this time, otherwise everyone in the Huren Army will only be more disturbed... And he always believes that if those strange insects can freely travel between the two worlds, he will be able to, too. It just takes time to find a way to travel between the two worlds.

this night.

For some, sleep is doomed to be impossible.

Bai Jingjing, Yu Ji, Zhen Mi, Zhuge Liang, Prince Chamu, Yang Wanli, Dian Wei...they all tossed and turned.

However, Cao Ni and the soldiers of the Huren Army slept soundly, especially those soldiers of the Huren Army, snoring one after another like a chainsaw. They were really tired, but they were able to sleep because they didn't know yet. The food is gone, and everyone will face the most severe test next.

Wu Liang stood alone outside the camp, looking at the crack that looked like a giant mouth not far away and the unrecognizable river bed dug by them, hiding his expression at this moment in the darkness.

"Wu Taishi, are you still asleep?"

A familiar voice came from behind, and it was Hua Tuo who came.

"Doctor Hua."

The expression in the darkness instantly turned into a smile, Wu Liang turned around and said, "Can't you sleep too?"

"Yes."

Hua Tuo also smiled, walked to Wu Liang's side and said calmly, "Wu Taishi, I want to discuss something with you."

"Doctor Hua, please tell me."

Wu Liang nodded in response.

"You guys have been busy working here these days. Although I intend to help, I don't know how to intervene. Therefore, apart from occasionally carrying two bags of soil, most of the time I just stand dryly on the sidelines."

Hua Tuo avoided Wu Liang's eyes, looked into the distance and said, "So I don't want to be with you until tomorrow. With this effort, I want to seize the time to carve some wood chips to express what I have learned here. The lost secret recipes and medical skills were recorded and compiled into a book... This holy mountain is about to be destroyed, if something happens to me, there is still a chance to keep these life-saving things, don't you think?"

"..."

Wu Liang's eyes flickered, but he finally chose to remain silent.

It seems that Hua Tuo has also noticed the current predicament, so he came up with such an idea... But if he leaves the book now, it should be the lost mysterious medical book, right?

As for whether the title of the book is called "Qing Nang Shu", it is not easy to say. After all, it is only a fiction in the novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and it cannot be regarded as a historical fact. Unfortunately, the jailer was afraid of being implicated and did not dare to accept it, so Hua Tuo could only reluctantly burn the book.

Unexpectedly, this time, Hua Tuo hadn't even met Boss Cao before, so he was about to start leaving books in advance. This is the real good fortune...

"Wu Taishi didn't say anything, so I accepted it as Wu Taishi, thank you."

Amidst Wu Liang's silence, Hua Tuo had already got the answer he wanted, and then bowed to Wu Liang before retreating on his own.

……

Day two.

Excavation work continues as usual.

Wu Liang and a group of backbones of the Tau army joined in the excavation work silently. Even the elderly Yu Ji insisted on going to the battle, carrying half a bag of soil with Zhuge Liang to dig the pit.

Yet the situation remains hopeless.

The sun gradually rose above their heads from the east, but they still found nothing new.

"In a few hours, we will have to announce the news that the food has run out..."

Although even if the food is completely exhausted, they can actually survive for a few more days, because people will starve to death for several days without water, not to mention they still have water.

But once there is no food, this kind of excavation work that requires a lot of physical strength will be difficult to continue...

at this time.

The voice of a Tuan army soldier suddenly came: "Young master, come here quickly and have a look, we seem to have dug up a dead body!"

(End of this chapter)