People in the Three Kingdoms: Starting from Preaching

Chapter 486 Key
Above the stove, the humming sound of the iron kettle gradually faded away. Gan Shi immediately knew that the fire was weak. He clasped his fists to apologize and stopped talking. Then he stood up, picked up a honeycomb coal with tongs, and replaced the waste coal that had been burned out in the stove.

This was just Gan Shi's usual action of changing coal at home, but for some reason, Zuo Ci and Ge Hong on the other side were a little dumbfounded.

After replacing the new coal, the fire soon became strong again and the iron kettle began to hum slightly again.

Gan Shi controlled the heat very well. The fire was neither too big nor too small, just enough to keep the water in the pot about to boil.

Of course, Gan Shi did not forget to refill the hot water for both of them. While pouring the water, he also introduced the popular customs of Xuanxia today: "The customs here in Xuanxia are very different from before. The method of making tea is completely different. Don't look at it on the surface that these are people imitating the trend of our Xuanxia Prime Minister, but in fact these new customs are closely related to Xuanxia's new ideas and technologies."

“Hmm? There is such a saying.” Zuo Ci immediately showed interest when he heard it. After entering Xuanxia, ​​the closer he got to Beiping, the more he felt that the people were quickly adapting to the changes in customs.

The most typical way is the way of drinking tea in front of us. Brewing tea with hot water is unique to Xuanxia.

Of course, he had also heard that this new tea drinking custom actually first spread from the Xuanxia court. It was a top-down change in customs, but the root of it actually lay in that man.

But now, after hearing Gan Shi say this, he realized that this matter might not be that simple.

As it happened, Gan Shi also started with tea: "You see, this method of brewing tea with hot water is completely different from the past. If it was just the people worshipping and imitating the prime minister, it wouldn't have spread so quickly. In fact, the reason why the people accepted it so quickly is, firstly, the theory of microscopic disease causes, and secondly, the benefits of the new fuel."

Zuo Ci nodded when he heard this, and after just a little thought he understood the meaning.

Ge Xuan was also smart, and acted as if he had suddenly realized something: "So that's how it is. Xuanxia has long had the theory of microorganisms as the source of disease, and thus derived the advocacy of not eating raw food. This method of drinking with hot water actually caters to this kind of demand."

Gan Shi laughed and said to Ge Xuan, "Anyone who can be Yuan Fang's disciple is not stupid. So, what do you think about this fuel?"

Ge Xuan was stunned, and his eyes immediately fell on the stove. "Just now, when I saw Mr. Guan changing the coal, I suddenly realized that the fire has been burning for more than an hour. The burning effect of this honeycomb coal is extremely strong, far better than firewood and charcoal, and it can really make it easier for people to boil water and cook."

At this time, Ge Xuan pondered: "Just."

Although Ge Xuan did not finish the word "just", Gan Shi and Zuo Ci both understood what he wanted to say.

Zuo Ci looked at Gan Shi, waiting for his answer.

Gan Shi said: "In fact, this honeycomb coal is not expensive at all, and is even cheaper than firewood. At least the people in the city can afford it."

Zuo Ci heard this and stared in disbelief: "Is this true? This honeycomb coal has a regular shape, and it must have taken a lot of effort to make it. How can it be cheaper than firewood?"

Gan Shi laughed out loud, feeling secretly happy.

In fact, his reputation has always been weaker than Zuo Ci's, so this opportunity to give the other party some advice is a rare one.

"You still don't understand the power of industry. Although it's simple for a woodcutter to chop wood, the output is too inefficient. A production place like a honeycomb coal factory can allocate raw materials, concentrate manpower, and unify standards. The output efficiency is more than ten or a hundred times that of a woodcutter. When the efficiency is high enough, the cost will become infinitely low. So it's not surprising that it's cheaper than firewood."

These words made Zuo Ci and Ge Xuan fall into deep thought. As they thought deeply about this principle, they gradually realized some of the power of industry.

It turns out that the reason why there are so many kinds of goods in Xuanxia is that simply by mobilizing resources and concentrating production in various factories, such a terrifying production efficiency can be achieved, and the prices of goods can generally become cheaper.

They used to wonder why there were so many clothes on the market and why they were all so cheap, but now they no longer have such doubts.

For example, under the current Shu Han and Wu Kingdoms, the old production methods are still maintained. Clothes are produced in small workshops or even directly by the people for their own use. Under such production capacity, clothes and cloth naturally become scarce and expensive, and can be directly used as hard currency.

"You see, it's just a simple custom of drinking hot water, but in fact it requires great conditions to popularize it. If there were no hygiene concepts vigorously promoted by microcosmic theory, and if there were no convenience brought by technology, it would be very difficult to drink this mouthful of hot water."

Gan Shi picked up the cup, took a sip, and then said, "In fact, drinking hot water is indeed an extremely useful custom. The court has already conducted an investigation. Often, in places that have just been liberated by Xuanxia and have not formed the habit of drinking hot water, the incidence of epidemics is generally more than 60% higher!"

Zuo Ci and Ge Xuan looked at each other, and both master and disciple saw shock in each other's eyes.

They didn't expect that such a small move could have such a big impact.

However, this thing is a small measure, but it is not easy to do it. As Gan Shi said, to support such a simple custom, it actually requires strong conditions to support it. If it were the current Shu Han and Wu Kingdom in the south, even if the people knew that they had to drink hot water, they would not be able to afford it.

However, Gan Shi changed the subject at this time: "Of course, such obvious results are not only due to drinking hot water, but also the combined effect of many sanitation measures such as bathhouses and public toilets promoted by the court. These are also the customs that are gradually becoming popular in Xuanxia now."

"The power of industry is indeed extraordinary. It has broadened my horizons." Zuo Ci, who was also drinking tea, could not help but sigh.

"Industry?" Gan Shi suddenly shook his head after hearing Zuo Ci's answer, and then laughed: "Industry has indeed made great contributions, but its foundation is still technology. This honeycomb coal is actually very simple, but if you don't know that air is a condition for combustion, how can you understand that this coal should be made into a honeycomb shape, and how can you make this coal burn for a long time?"

Then, Gan Shi tugged at his own clothes again: "Without the maturity of mechanical engineering to drive the innovation of textile machinery, how could we have the huge output of clothing today? Now there are students in Xuanxia Academy who have invented and studied sewing machines, and have achieved considerable results. When they mature, I wonder how much the efficiency will be improved."

Zuo Ci and Ge Xuan's expressions suddenly straightened. They knew that today's discussion was finally going to get to the point.

Sure enough, Gan Shi smiled faintly, and that smile showed calmness, but also contained a hint of pride.

From the side of the stove, he took a box of matches, which were used to make a fire.

He took out a match and struck it lightly. A flame suddenly ignited at the head of the match and soon the whole match was burned up. "If it weren't for my alchemical skills, how could I have made this small match? Don't you know how difficult it is to make the powder from the head of the match?"

Zuo Ci stared at the matches, but he was not impressed. "It's just like that. It doesn't seem that difficult. I can also make all kinds of flammable things that can have the same effect."

"No, no, no, this is very different." Gan Shi laughed and asked confidently: "To mass produce, it needs to be produced in large quantities and at a low cost. Of course, for alchemical chemistry, these are not the most important things."

Zuo Ci asked again: "What is the most important thing?"

Gan Shi said: "The key is that I can use theoretical tools to clarify the reaction process, and even use this tool to reverse and practice. After mastering this tool, I can use the characteristics of elements to purify salt and sugar, and also make new compounds to provide chemical materials for industrial technology. This is not something that Yuan Fang can do casually."

After the words fell, Zuo Ci and Ge Xuan were both stunned. They suddenly realized that they didn't quite understand what Gan Shi said.

This also made them even more surprised.

If it is already difficult to understand what the other person is saying, it only means that the knowledge systems of both parties have deviated too much. In other words, Gan Shi's alchemical system has now completely run in an unknown direction very far, so far that he can no longer see clearly.

But at this time, Gan Shi seemed to have entered the state and was completely immersed in the story.

He was excited to show his excellence in front of Zuo Ci and was therefore eager to prove himself right.

"This preparation process is not a chaotic and unpredictable state like the theory of the five elements and yin and yang in the Danjing, but a certain and precise state. I can clearly know how to separate and combine elements through their characteristics, and can even use characters and formulas to accurately express this process."

When he said this, Gan Shi even blushed with excitement, so much so that he looked like he was mumbling to himself.

"You simply don't understand the beauty of this. All changes are under control, and all unknowns can be observed and calculated. This world is finally not an unknowable existence. As long as you give me time, I can create all kinds of mysterious things, which must be comparable to the creation of immortals and Buddhas."

"Is it really so mysterious?"

Zuo Ci stared at Gan Shi with a look of deep suspicion.

Even though he also felt that the alchemical chemistry under the natural sciences was quite desirable, Gan Shi's words were still a bit too exaggerated, forcing him to wonder if Gan Shi was just bragging.

After all, as a famous alchemist, how could he not understand that the most important skill in his profession was to bluff people.

Gan Zhongshi finally came to his senses and calmed down. Although his loss of composure while speaking seemed a bit excessive, only he knew that it was not an exaggeration at all.

Although today's chemistry is still a long way from the level he described, he can feel the power of this theoretical system. He firmly believes that one day this theory will be able to reach that mysterious level.

"Yuan Fang, our prime minister is truly a god. If you stay and study it carefully, you will be able to understand the mysteries of this natural theory."

(End of this chapter)