The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 406 Glass and Mirror

Marsh Mansion thousands of miles away.

Zhao Yao has been very busy these days. He has been staying in the backyard of the palace, busy making cement with Zheng Cheng and others.

During this period of time, Zheng Cheng has been making cement with the craftsmen, but he has been unable to make it successfully and is always one step behind.Zhao Yao changed several formulas for this, but still failed.

In the past two days, Zhao Yao changed the comparison of the formula and finally made it. However, whether it will be successful or not will have to be tested.

Zhao Yao asked the craftsmen to build a wall with cement. After a few days, the cement would dry, and then try smashing the wall to see if it was firm.

Early this morning, Zhao Yao took Zheng Cheng and others to a wall built a few days ago.

He Lianfang was curious and came to take a look.During this period of time, Zhao Yao has been busy making cement in the backyard, completely ignoring other things.He wanted to see if this so-called cement was really as strong as Zhao Yao said.

Zhao Yao asked the captain of the guard to take a huge hammer and beat the cement wall.The captain of the guard hammered hard several times, but the cement wall was not knocked down.

Everyone present was stunned when they saw this scene.

Zhao Yao asked another guard to help the chief guard and beat the cement wall together, but the cement wall remained unmoved.Zhao Yao called a few more people, and then asked them to bang hard together, and then cracks were made in the cement wall.

When Zheng Cheng and He Lianfang saw this scene, they were all stunned.

The scene was silent, and no one spoke for a long time.

Zhao Yao is very satisfied with the solidity of the cement wall.He walked to the cement wall, raised his hand and patted the cement wall, smiling with satisfaction: "Successful."

The sound of "successful" woke up everyone present. Zheng Cheng was the first to react and immediately cheered: "Great, we finally succeeded."

The craftsmen and guards came to their senses one after another and congratulated Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao turned back to look at He Lianfang and raised his eyebrows at him proudly: "Second uncle, how is the cement I made?"

He Lianfang said expressionlessly: "Not bad." The cement made by Xiao Shi was stronger than he imagined. "This cement can be used to repair the city wall."

Zhao Yao nodded lightly and said, "I originally planned to build the wall with cement, but I have changed my mind now."

Hearing this, He Lianfang frowned slightly and asked, "Aren't you making cement just to build walls?"

"It's to build a wall, but there's something missing." Zhao Yao just remembered that building a wall requires bricks as well as cement.Bricks and cement are a perfect match and are the best strong partners.He still had to make the bricks.

He Lianfang hurriedly asked: "What's missing?"

"The bricks are missing." Zhao Yao pinched his chin and said thoughtfully, "We have to make the green bricks first."

As soon as Zheng Cheng heard the word "blue brick", which he had never heard of before, his eyes immediately lit up.He hurriedly asked: "Lord, what is the blue brick?"

"It's just the bricks used to build walls, but they are stronger than the current bricks." Nowadays, Dazhou uses adobe bricks, which are made of clay. "Blue bricks are stronger. The most important thing is that they have strong frost resistance and do not deform or discolor. Another point is that blue bricks have better air permeability and very strong water absorption. It is more efficient to use blue bricks to build city walls. Solid.”

When he heard that the blue bricks were so useful, Zheng Cheng's eyes lit up and he looked very excited: "Lord, let's make the green bricks quickly."

"Blue bricks are not easy to make. We have to spend some effort." Blue bricks are more difficult to make than red bricks, mainly because blue bricks are water-cooled, and water cooling is very troublesome to operate.Red bricks are naturally cooled and are very convenient to operate. "When making green bricks, make red bricks at the same time." Dazhou is still black, not red, otherwise the red bricks cannot be used.

Zheng Cheng asked curiously: "Lord, are these red bricks the same as blue bricks?"

"The manufacturing principle is the same, but blue bricks are more durable than red bricks." Zhao Yao was grateful in his heart that Zhao Yao liked reading in his dream, otherwise he wouldn't be able to make these things. "Red bricks are easier to build than blue bricks, so we made them together when the time came."

Zheng Cheng geared up and said, "Lord, let's do it now."

Zhao Yao nodded slightly and said, "Okay." The cement was produced and the green bricks had to be made as soon as possible.

When the craftsmen saw Zhao Yao and Zheng Cheng leaving, they quickly followed them.A group of guards were left looking at each other with He Lianfang.

He Lianfang glanced at the captain of the guard and the others and ordered: "Take care of them."

"Yes, Master He."

He Lianfang warned again: "Don't reveal a single word about what happened just now."

The captain of the guard and the others naturally knew the importance of cement, and said with a solemn expression: "My subordinates understand."

He Lianfang believed in the ability of the captain of the guard, so without saying anything more, he was pushed back.

In the backyard laboratory, Zhao Yao told Zheng Cheng how to make green bricks and red bricks.In fact, the method of making blue bricks and red bricks is similar to that of making adobe bricks.The only difference is the cooling.

Zhao Yao repeatedly emphasized to Zheng Cheng the methods of cooling and the precautions for cooling.

After hearing this, Zheng Cheng sighed in his heart: No wonder the master said that blue bricks are not easy to make.

After Zhao Yao told Zheng Cheng the instructions and precautions for making blue and red bricks, he turned around and took Dingshan out of the palace and to the kiln.

The backyard of the palace was not large enough for a kiln.Therefore, Zhao Yao sent people to build a kiln in the back mountain not far from the palace.

In the past two days, the kiln factory has successfully made glass.Zhao Yao went there today because the kiln factory produced a set of very exquisite glassware according to his instructions.

Zhao Yao asked the kiln factory to make glass tea bowls, glass vases, glass screens and other things used in daily life.

"It's very beautifully made." Zhao Yao looked at the glass tureen with exquisite threads in his hand and said with satisfaction, "You have worked hard these days."

The craftsmen were very excited when they received Zhao Yao's praise and hurriedly said that it was what they should have done.

"I will reward you with three months' monthly salary." The wages paid by Zhao Yao to these craftsmen were not low to begin with, and with food and accommodation included on weekdays, their treatment was [-] times better than before.Now that Zhao Yao was going to reward them with three months' wages, they were naturally very grateful and moved.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Your Highness is truly a living Bodhisattva.

"Before the New Year, you should work harder and make another batch of glass porcelain." Zhao Yao planned to wait until the new year to send a batch of glass porcelain to the capital to seduce the dignitaries in the capital to come to him to buy glass porcelain. "You put some thought into making this batch of glass porcelain more exquisite. I will send it to the capital when the time comes."

When he heard that it was going to be sent to the capital, Lian Daci felt nervous and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, my subordinates will definitely make it as soon as possible."

"By the way, has the concave-convex mirror I asked you to make made any progress?"

Lian Daci looked panicked and said in a tone full of shame: "My subordinate is incompetent, so I still didn't succeed in doing it."

"Don't worry, just take your time with it." Zhao Yao thought of something else, "Has the mercury mirror I want made?"

"It's done, and I'm preparing to present it to you." Lian Daci asked Zhao Yao to wait, and soon he returned with a mirror and handed it to Zhao Yao with both hands. "Your Highness, look."

Zhao Yao reached out and took it, clearly seeing his face in the mirror.

"Your Highness, you are really amazing. The mirror you made is so clear that even the hair on your face can be seen clearly. It's like a demon mirror." When you first made this mercury mirror, even Da Porcelain I was shocked, thinking I saw a monster, but I didn't expect it was me.

"This mirror can only reflect people's faces clearly, but it can't reflect monsters, let alone the ghosts in people's hearts." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "It's just an ordinary mirror." "Your Highness, this is no ordinary mirror. , how can an ordinary mirror reflect so clearly." Lian Daci had long been convinced of Zhao Yao's talent, but when he made the mercury mirror according to His Highness the King of Han's instructions, he suddenly felt that His Highness the King of Han was not a human being, but a human being. god.Because humans cannot make such magical things, only gods can.

"By the way, you make another batch of large and small mirrors and send them to the capital together with the glass and porcelain." Zhao Yao ordered, "Remember to make more large mirrors that are as tall as people, so that they can reflect the whole body. "

"Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao looked at the palm-sized mirror in his hand, and suddenly thought that women or men might also need to bring a small mirror when going out.

"By the way, let's make a batch of very exquisite small mirrors, the kind with flip-top lids."

"Flip the cover?" Lian Daci didn't quite understand what Zhao Yao meant.

"Bring me a pen and paper."

"Yes, Your Highness." Lian Daci quickly brought Zhao Yao a pen and paper.

Zhao Yao drew some exquisite and small mirrors on the paper and handed them to Lian Daci.

"do you understand?"

After Lian Daci read it, he nodded quickly and said, "My subordinates understand."

Zhao Yao's head was spinning very fast, and he ordered again: "You can also make some valuable mirrors based on the style of bronze mirrors. They will be loved by the rich and powerful businessmen."

Lian Daci had never thought of this aspect, but now that he heard what Zhao Yao said, he thought he could give it a try.

"Your Highness is wise."

"You are using your talents to make some other mirrors." Do not underestimate the wisdom of the kiln craftsmen.At first, he just gave them the recipe for making glass, and then they not only made glass, but also made some glass porcelain, such as vases, bowls, tea cups and other things. "This mirror can also be used for other things, you can think about it."

Lian Daci was confused, what other things could the mirror be used for?
This is His Highness's test for them, and they must do it.

"I will definitely live up to His Highness's trust."

"By the way, glass can also be used to make jewelry." Glass was not valuable in Zhao Yao's world in his dream, but it was unprecedented in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Things made from it would definitely be very popular. “It can also be used as an accessory.”

"My subordinate understands."

Zhao Yao explained something more, and then returned to the Han Palace with the prepared glass porcelain and mercury mirror.

He Lianfang looked at the glass and porcelain in the boxes in front of her with shock on her face.

"Is this the glass you're talking about?"

"Yes, what do you think, second uncle?" Zhao Yao took out a glass vase from the box and handed it to He Lianfang, "Isn't it beautiful?"

He Lianfang looked at it carefully and then exclaimed: "It's even more beautiful than colored glaze."

"This is the first batch, and there are still some flaws in the work. When the second batch is made, it will look even better." Zhao Yao showed the mercury mirror to He Lianfang again.

When He Lianfang took it and saw the person in the mirror, she was so frightened that she almost threw the mirror in her hand.When he lowered his head and looked carefully at the person in the mirror, he realized it was himself.

"Is this the mercury mirror you're talking about?"

Zhao Yao nodded: "Yes, can you see it clearly?"

This is not only clear, it is simply revealed.

"Are you planning to send glass and mercury mirrors to the capital?"

"That's right, then people from the capital will come to buy from me." These boxes of glass items and mercury mirrors were like shining gold in Zhao Yao's eyes. "Starting next year, I will make a lot of money again."

He Lianfang smiled and said: "Congratulations." Glass and mercury mirrors can make Zhao Yao make money every day.

"Second uncle, I told you before that glass has great uses, not only to make money, but also to be used on the battlefield."

"Is this the clairvoyance you mentioned before?" He Lianfang remembered this incident and had been waiting for Zhao Yao to create clairvoyance. "Has it been made?"

Zhao Yao shrugged and said with some regret: "It's a pity that it hasn't been successful yet."

He Lianfang said disgustedly: "Then what did you say?"

"I believe the craftsmen in the kiln factory can make it, so let's wait patiently." Zhao Yao remembered that He Lianfang's eyes were not very good, and said, "When the time comes, I will make a pair of glasses for you, uncle, so You will be able to see clearly when you read in the future." By the way, before getting glasses, you have to find out how much my uncle is myopia.It seemed that he had to make an eye chart quickly to test his second uncle's degree of myopia.

"We'll talk about it after you make it." He didn't say anything.

"Don't rush, take your time." Zhao Yao felt that there were still a few craftsmen in the kiln, and there were only a few craftsmen with particularly good skills. "No, I have to ask my father to send me some highly skilled craftsmen."

"The craftsmen in the palace are not much better than the craftsmen in your kiln." When Zhao Yao wanted craftsmen, He Lianfang sent people around to recruit craftsmen for him. "If you want top craftsmen, you can only go to the Mo family."

"I really want the Mo family, but the Mo family has fled far away. Where can I find them?" If he can find skilled Mo family children, then they can help him make whatever he wants to make.In this way, he can save a lot of worry.

"You can ask your father, maybe he knows something."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao looked surprised: "Father, do you know the whereabouts of the children of the Mo family?" In the previous dynasty, seven or eighty-eight of the Mo family were killed, and the remaining ones who were not killed were all anonymous.It's not easy to find them.

"Wouldn't you know if you just asked?"

When Zhao Yao heard what He Lianfang said, he felt that his second uncle seemed to know something.

"Second uncle, are you hiding something from me?"

He Lianfang glanced sideways at Zhao Yao, "What do you think I've hidden from you?"

"How do I know?" If he knew, he wouldn't ask this.He always felt that there was something shady going on between his second uncle and his father.

He Lianfang pointed to the teacup and teapot in the box and said to Zhao Yao: "I took this tea set."

Seeing He Lianfang change the subject, Zhao Yao knew that no matter how he asked, his second uncle would not tell him.

"It was meant for you."

He Lianfang looked at Zhao Yao and remembered another thing.

"In a while, Yan Huarong will arrive at Marsh Mansion to transport new salt to Qilu. Do you have enough new salt?"

"A lot of beaches have been built these days. When Yan Huarong arrives, there will be more than 1000 kilograms of new salt, which is enough to suppress the price of salt in Qilu." When mentioning the new salt, Zhao Yao thought of the young people who appeared around the salt field recently. His eyes suddenly became cold and stern, "When I finish working on foreigners coming to Swamp House to do business next year, I will take care of these silverfish." Now he really couldn't spare his time to take care of the officials and chieftains of other states.

(End of this chapter)