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Chapter 24 The new self-ringing clock

If Hong Tao could write down his observations, analysis and understanding of this matter at this time and give it to Emperor Wanli, it might be able to greatly ease the emotional gap between father and son. After all, offering help in times of need is the easiest thing to make people emotional.

But he didn't write a word, didn't say a single relevant word, as if he didn't know what was happening in the outside world at all. He stayed in the East Palace all day staring at the craftsmen tinkering, or else he went to the Wenhua Palace and muttered with Li Zhizao. .

By the way, the mining tax dispute triggered by the porcelain workers' riot has spread to the East Palace.For more than ten days in a row, the bachelors and editors responsible for teaching the prince took turns taking leave. They were probably all thinking about how to force the emperor to submit. Who would have the energy to give lectures to a confused prince.

This was an advantage for Li Zhizao. He was one of the few officials who did not participate in such things. After seeing the telescope drawings drawn by Hong Tao and going back to ask Matteo Ricci, he could not wait to come to the Wenhua Palace every day to listen to the prince's explanation on how to make this thing. .

"It takes a lot of money to grind lenses just by crystal. Does Yuan Wailang know about glass?" The manufacturing process of telescopes is not difficult, but the curvature calculation and grinding process of objective lenses and eyepieces are very difficult in this era.

In terms of calculation, Li Zhizao had a good foundation in mathematics, and he could draw parallels with a little help. But in terms of lens manufacturing, Hong Tao was at his wits end. He could no longer make up lies to fool the emperor into agreeing to build a glass kiln in the East Palace. Therefore, the focus is still on developing Li Zhizao's abilities and letting him do it on his behalf.

"Mr. Xitai's contribution also included glass. I have seen it, and it has bright colors and delicate texture." Li Zhizao is no stranger to glass. The gift Matteo Ricci brought included a kaleidoscope, which was very magical.

"Have you ever seen glass that is colorless and more transparent than crystal?" It shouldn't be unfamiliar. The Ming Dynasty would bake things similar to colored glaze. In addition, various countries paid tribute, and all kinds of glassware were not uncommon although they were expensive.But Hong Tao is not talking about colored glass, but colorless glass.

"Excuse me for being stupid. I have never seen what Your Highness said..." Li Zhizao was dumbfounded. Could it be that crystal is not crystal clear enough? What should more transparent glass look like?

"I have a way to make this thing, but I'm trapped in the palace and can't implement it." After saying this for a long time, it was true. Hong Tao couldn't build a glass kiln in the palace.Firing colorless and transparent glass is not something that can only be done in one kiln. It requires a series of processing procedures from fuel to ingredients. It is a small industry chain.

As an official of the Ministry of Industry, Li Zhizao must have the means and conditions to do some of the steps, such as screening quartz sand, preparing anhydrous thenardite, and looking for talc and lead.

"If your highness does not dislike my stupidity, I would like to help you!" Li Zhizao was fooled and boarded the pirate ship under the temptation of the telescope, but he was still ignorant.This is the shortcoming of technical officials. They pay too much attention to the specific things themselves, thus ignoring an important parameter, people!
What Hong Tao gave Li Zhizao was only a list of materials and a simple preparation method for anhydrous Glauber's salt. The source did not need to be explained. As a prince, there was no need to explain too much to a junior official from the fifth rank. If you are willing to do it, do it, and if you don't want to be defeated!
But the next work cannot be so arrogant, because the person he is about to face is no longer Yuan Wai Lang but Chen Ju, the second-in-command in the Bureau of Rites and Admiral of Dongchang!
Youdao is like a key that opens a lock, and Li Zhizao can seduce him with novelty. However, this trick may not work well against Chen Ju, and he has to change things, such as money and power.

Ordinarily, given Chen Ju's status, he would not care about the prince's three melons and two dates, so it would be more difficult to bribe him.But Hong Tao believes that he is not completely without advantages, such as profits from the manufacturing and sales of colorless transparent glassware.

Of course, it is necessary to anticipate defeat before you expect victory.If Chen Ju really refused to be corrupted and would never touch him, he would pretend that he had said nothing, and neither party would lose anything.Even if Emperor Wanli knew about it, it would be easy to evade it. It was just a dream, just a random thought, and it was not a big deal.

"Wang An, take this thing to see Eunuch Chen. I had another dream a few days ago. I don't know if he wants to hear it."

It was obviously not appropriate for the prince to pay a visit to the Chief of Ceremonies, and it seemed a bit abrupt for someone to send a message to him.Just as it happened, after one and a half months of running-in, the first finished clock of Time Workshop was completed, and it was perfect to use it as a stepping stone.

Compared with the self-ringing bell that Matteo Ricci presented to Emperor Wanli, the products produced by Time Workshop are superior in every aspect.On the outside, the other one is gilded, while this one is made of K gold with red copper mixed inside.Not only does it have a high gold content, it is also wear-resistant, and it will not fade or expose the tires no matter how you play with it.The texture of K gold is moderately soft and hard, and is very suitable for engraving patterns. When the gold and silver craftsmen heard that it was to be presented to His Majesty, three eunuchs in their 50s and [-]s worked without sleep and food for more than four days, and they actually took ten pieces of gold and silver from their crowns. Chapter two is entirely engraved on the outer shell.

"Eighth-level worker!" Hong Tao didn't know what to say about these exquisite and unusual patterns and decorations, so he could only silently pay the highest respect in his heart.

In the inner core, compared to the original crown wheel escapement, the lever escapement used by Time Workshop is more advanced. In addition to accurate travel time, the clicking sound is also crisper and textured.

In addition, it is also a music box, which will automatically play music every two hours. Although it is only a simple Dongfanghong fragment, it should be considered a very magical object in this era.

Originally, Hong Tao planned to get another chiming bell engraved with different patterns to present to the queen, but the plan could not keep up with the change. In order to lure Chen Ju into the trap, he spent a night and scrapped several parts to build this one. He could only let Chen Ju get it. The queen waited a moment.

"Master Qiansui, Eunuch Chen is here in person!" In less than two quarters of an hour, Wang An came back in a hurry, empty-handed, but not alone.

"Chen Ju, Superintendent of Ceremonies, Admiral Bingbi of Dongchang, has met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..." Chen Ju came as expected, holding a brocade box containing a self-ringing bell in his hand as he entered the courtyard to pay his respects.

"Eunuch Chen, there is no need to be polite, please come to the main hall!" Hong Tao returned the greeting and took the lead to walk towards the main hall.

"My slave has seen the self-ringing bell made by Lord Qianzai. It is extremely exquisite. If you can present it in person, Lord Long live will definitely like it. I would like to report it to Your Majesty first!"

After entering the room, Chen Ju did not sit down. He stood respectfully and explained the purpose of coming here.The implication is to remind the prince that this kind of gift is best delivered to the emperor in person, as flattery has the best effect, and he is willing to help.

"Eunuch Chen, please sit down. I'd rather trouble you to make a trip to ring the bell. I have other important matters to discuss. Please see, does your father-in-law recognize this thing?" Hong Tao waved his hand, motioning for Wang An to make tea, and invited Wang An again. Chen Ju sat down and then lifted a piece of silk on the table to reveal the objects underneath.

"This...should be the glass offered by Sifan, right?"

Chen Ju only sat halfway down on the chair, holding the brocade box in his arms with both hands and not daring to let go. When he saw the emerald green flower-shaped cup on the table, he squinted at it, then raised his eyelids to stare at the prince, a bit confused.

Similar things must be rare among the people and very valuable, but they are not too expensive in the palace.Not to mention the prince, almost all the six palaces in the east and west have them, and even some high-ranking eunuchs have two in their hands.The emperor took these things as rewards and gave them to one when he was happy.

Did the prince come here just to ask for a few more glasses?It shouldn’t be. The chiming clock in my arms is enough to replace a lot of things. Isn’t it so disgusting?

(End of this chapter)