Firing porcelain is much more complicated than firing pottery. Both the technical process and the firing process are more cumbersome than pottery.

Fortunately, Gu Qing, an outsider, did not have to get involved in the insider business. The craftsmen hired by Hao Dong were competent enough, and Gu Qing could completely retreat behind the scenes and just wait for the money.

There are two major categories of porcelain kilns in the Tang Dynasty. Depending on the mineral content and firing temperature of porcelain clay in different regions, they are divided into Yue kiln celadon and Xing kiln white porcelain, which are known as "Southern Qing Dynasty and North White porcelain". However, because coal has not yet been

Used for firing porcelain, the white porcelain produced by Xing kiln is often rough in texture and dull in color, so most people in the world favor celadon. There is a saying in the world that "Xing porcelain is not as good as Yue".

The porcelain clay and porcelain firing fuel used by Gu Qing are both of the highest quality. The texture of the fired porcelain is naturally of the highest quality. The key is the glazing and decoration technology, which depends on the craftsmanship of the craftsman.

After the porcelain soil was transported up the mountain, Gu Qing had no control over it. Professional matters were left to professionals. It would be bad for a layman to order an expert.

He put his hands behind his back and said a few words like a leader inspecting, not knowing how to pretend to show authority. Finally, Gu Qing left under the respectful greetings of a group of craftsmen.

Four days later, the first batch of porcelain was fired from the kiln.

This was a very important day. Both Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing were present and witnessed with their own eyes the first batch of porcelain being carefully carried out of the kiln entrance by the craftsmen. Many people gathered outside the fence at the kiln entrance, just because Gu Qing had ordered that inside the fence

No one except craftsmen is allowed to enter the "important production area". Among them, "no one" also includes Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing. Gu Qing just told everyone without beating the gongs and drums that these two people are the ones to be guarded against.

Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing didn't mind either. The businessmen were thick-skinned and didn't have very high self-esteem. Since Gu Qing had made it clear, it would be useless even if they got the secret recipe for making ceramics. At worst, they would break up and share the core technology with the entire world.

The businessmen of the Tang Dynasty, Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing, immediately stopped thinking. After weighing the pros and cons, they decided to monopolize technology to make money. They were businessmen, not kiln workers. As long as they could make money, they did not have to obtain the core technology.

After the fired celadon cools down, the glass-like glaze is reflected in the sunlight. On the surface of the light cyan porcelain, the skilled craftsman depicts a pine tree and a crane. With the refraction angle of the sunlight, the pine and crane seem to be on the surface of the porcelain.

The surface is dancing and flying, and the decoration is gorgeous and exquisite, which can be called a fine product.

Everyone around held their breath and stared at the wide-mouth amphora in Gu Qing's hand with wide eyes. Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing were trembling with excitement, but they did not dare to make a sound for fear of breaking it.

Snap!

Gu Qing picked up the amphorae and knocked it hard on the stone next to it. The bottle broke into pieces. Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing's cheeks twitched violently at the same time, and then they covered their hearts in pain. Their hearts seemed to be broken.

Not only them, but the craftsmen next to them also looked in pain, as if their souls were embedded in the porcelain, and if the bottle was broken, their souls would be gone.

There was a gasp, and Gu Qing looked back at them in confusion.

What happened to these people? Are they possessed by evil spirits?

Waving to Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing, the three bosses gathered together and carefully observed the embryo of porcelain.

"Good! Good stuff! This piece of porcelain is dense and white, with a smooth surface, crisp and clear sound, and exquisite decoration and composition. Mr. Shao Lang, we have made a good thing. Hao has been in business for many years. I am not modest in saying that this piece of porcelain is

Hao has only seen in his life that he deserves to be the best in the world. To put it bluntly, even the Yue kiln fine porcelain that was sent as tribute to the Chang'an Imperial Palace is far inferior to the porcelain we fired."

Shi Daxing also nodded excitedly: "Fat Hao was right. He really made a good object. It is indeed much better than the Yue porcelain on the market. As for the Xing porcelain, it is even more incomparable..."

The two of them spoke softer and quieter, and then quickly looked at each other and found that each other's eyes were so strange.

Normally they are sworn enemies, but in the face of common interests, the two enemies rarely have a common understanding.

"This batch of porcelain cannot be taken out!" Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing suddenly said in unison.

Gu Qing was startled, and then said: "Are you crazy? The porcelain is not bad, why can't it be taken out?"

Shi Daxing glanced at Hao Donglai and motioned for him to explain. Hao Donglai smiled and said, "Young Master, we are about to become famous!"

Gu Qing squinted: "What do you mean?"

"Young Master, Mr. Hao really didn't expect that the porcelain we fired was so exquisite. It can be said to be unparalleled in the world. It would be a pity if such exquisite porcelain is only used to make money. Why can't we use it as a way to enter the world?"

"The level of advancement?" Gu Qing was not stupid and immediately guessed Hao Donglai's intention: "Tribute?"

Hao Donglai clapped his hands happily: "Yes, tribute! Since our porcelain is better than what's on the market, why can't it be used as a tribute?"

Gu Qing squinted at him: "Is it so easy to pay tribute? Although the quality of the porcelain is fine, tribute involves too many things. It requires government connections, public reputation, and more importantly, eunuchs in the palace... What's the matter? The palace.

The department responsible for purchasing..."

Hao Donglai hurriedly explained: "Si Gongtai, during the reign of Queen Shunsheng, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was changed to Si Gongtai. The Internal Affairs Bureau under Si Gongtai is responsible for the cashier's affairs."

Gu Qing spread his hands and said: "Look, it's a lot of trouble to send a tribute to the palace. There are so many connections to get through. No matter how capable you are, how can you reach into the palace?"

Hao Donglai waved his hand: "Don't dare to talk nonsense, reaching into the palace is because the people of the Tang Dynasty are loyal to the emperor. The good things in the world can only be enjoyed by the virtuous emperor. No matter how difficult it is, we must give it a try."

Shi Daxing stroked the messy beard on his chin and said: "I agree with what Fatty Hao said, you have to give it a try, otherwise it will be a waste of good things. Young Master, if our porcelain is designated as a tribute, it will be much more beneficial than making money.

We have good items in hand and we are confident, so we can just spend money up and down, from Qingcheng County to Shuzhou, and from Shuzhou to Chang'an Palace, we will spend money all the way!"

Hao Donglai said: "That's why we just said that this batch of porcelain cannot be taken out. Let's bake another batch. The firing process is slightly worse. The worse porcelain will be sold on the market to build a reputation. If it is really used in the future,

The palace has designated it as a tribute, and the palace's requirements for tributes are very strict, and they must be better than those used by the people. By then, we will have this batch of better quality products in our hands, so we won't panic."

Gu Qing said doubtfully: "I don't study much, so don't talk nonsense. Doesn't the porcelain submitted to the imperial palace have to come from the official kiln? Ours can only be regarded as a private kiln, right?"

Hao Donglai and Shi Daxing were astonished: "What do we mean by 'official kiln' and 'private kiln'? Shaolangjun, do we have such a saying in the Tang Dynasty?"

Gu Qing was also shocked: "There were no official or private kilns in the Tang Dynasty?"

Hao Donglai thought for a while and said: "I haven't heard of any official kilns and private kilns. I only heard that there is a saying that 'officials supervise the burning of porcelain by the people.' That is, if it is designated as tribute porcelain, the government will send people to supervise our burning of porcelain, but not
Chapter completed!