Soon Li Jinzhong sent several eunuchs out of the palace to investigate glass products and glass mirrors. This thing was called glazed in the Ming Dynasty at this time. Traditional Chinese glazed glass was actually a type of glass, but it was obtained from alchemy. The main ingredient was lead barium, which was poisonous and was not suitable for use as a dietary utensil. It was only suitable for use as a decoration. This kind of decoration can only be used by the royal family.

The eunuch went around the capital and then returned to the palace to report. Li Jinzhong said to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, there are very few transparent glass mirrors on the market. The slave sent people out to search for them, but they didn't find a few. They are basically so big, and the decoration on the outside looks too strange and the price is too expensive, so they are not very popular. As for the glass products you mentioned, there are basically not many, only some small items."

This is different from what Zhu Youxiao expected, but then he figured it out. Glass products are fragile products and are easily broken during the voyage. In addition, the mirrors at this time were based on Italy as the center of manufacturing, so glass products did not become a mainstream commodity in import and export trade. The Spaniards prefer to directly use silver to buy Ming products.

These glass mirrors are usually brought by missionaries. In addition, glass mirrors are not popular because they are European-style decorations. As a country in the Celestial Empire, the artistic level of the Chinese people is obviously not comparable to that of Europe.

Despite this, glass products are still profitable.

Especially for large pieces of glass, the Italians and French were unable to produce large pieces of flat glass, so there were no fitting mirrors, and there were no glass windows or other things.

The Ming Dynasty can be said to be the richest country in the world at present. Or the country with the largest gap between the rich and the poor. Rich people do not take money seriously. As long as glass is made, it is profitable. Those rich people are absolutely willing to spend a lot of money to buy flat glass that can make the house brighter, or tile-shaped glass skylights.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youxiao immediately took action and ordered the gathering of glass craftsmen. There were glass craftsmen in the Ministry of Works because there were glass tiles on the palace in the palace.

Soon, more than a dozen craftsmen gathered over, and the craftsmen demonstrated their process of making glazed tiles for Zhu Youxiao. These craftsmen have very clever craftsmanship and can make any glass bottles. However, glazed bottles are mostly used for burial and palace construction, and they do look better.

In this kind of Chinese civilization, there is no demand for glass and diet utensils because there is already porcelain. Therefore, since ancient times, glass has not been widely used, so transparent glass has not been further developed. In addition, glass is exclusively for the royal family, and the people cannot use glass without authorization, so naturally there is no development.

In the military battle in the imperial city, these dozen craftsmen, under the guidance of Zhu Youxiao, began to carry out in-depth research and development of glass. More than a dozen craftsmen were highly valued by the emperor, and they were all extremely excited and wanted to perform well in front of the emperor.

On the first day, they fired glass through quartz sand and soda ash, but the glass was green. After Zhu Youxiao looked at it, he knew that the green actually contained a small amount of iron. After adding manganese dioxide, the original divalent iron turned into trivalent iron and looked yellow, while the tetravalent manganese was reduced to trivalent manganese and became purple. Optical, yellow and purple can complement each other to a certain extent. When mixed together, they became white light, and the glass was not color-shifted.

Manganese ore is also needed. There are many mines in the Ming Dynasty, so it is easy to collect a lot of manganese ore the next day. After listening to Sun Chengzong's lecture in the Yangxin Palace, Zhu Youxiao came to the military battle with Li Jinzhong and two big masters around him to conduct an experiment with the craftsmen.

The craftsmen constantly added different amounts of manganese ore to conduct experiments, and the yellow and purple glasses have been successfully made by the craftsmen.

On the third day, transparent glass was successfully developed. The craftsmen used the blowing method to create a flat glass as big as a palm. Then they pasted tin foil, poured mercury on it, and a mirror was created. However, this was not finished, and the craftsmen began to make frames.

Unlike European frames, the style of Chinese frames is naturally a traditional element, and wood is used as frame materials. The craftsmen's carvings are extremely exquisite, and exquisite dressing mirrors are created in this way.

However, the reflectivity of using mercury to make the back of the mirror is not so good. It can be improved to silver plating method. Add glucose water to the ammonia solution of silver nitrate. The glucose reduces the invisible silver ions into silver particles, deposits them on the glass to make a silver mirror, and finally paints it with a layer of paint.

It sounds very simple, but the craftsmen couldn't understand it. So Zhu Youxiao quickly became a chemist and started various chemical experiments in the military battle.

At the same time, because the flat glass is blown, the flat glass is still very small and cannot be made very large. Therefore, Zhu Youxiao proposed to the craftsmen to casting to produce larger flat glass. The craftsmen have a good mind and have a high understanding of this production process. Zhu Youxiao just said a little bit and they quickly figured out.

A few days later, a huge flat glass with a length and width of two meters was made. Zhu Youxiao also completed the research on silver plating method.

Zhu Youxiao learned that the large piece of flat glass had been made, so he ran to take a look and found that there were still a lot of bubbles on it.

Obviously, the craftsmen were not sure about cooling. This was a problem of production experience and needed to continue to be proficient in the production process. But in general, flat glass was created and mirrors were created. And the quality was better than that of Italian mirrors. Mercury was toxic, while glass mirrors made by silver plating were non-toxic and had better reflective properties.

The technology was released. In order to ensure that the technology was not leaked, Zhu Youxiao rewarded the craftsmen with some silver and then ordered them to prohibit the leakage of the manufacturing technology of glass mirrors.

This is an imperial edict, so the craftsmen naturally dare not leak the secret. Even if it leaks the secret, it doesn’t matter. Zhu Youxiao is the emperor! Who dares to steal the emperor’s business? Wouldn’t that cause Jinyiwei to come to the door?

So this is an exclusive business.

"The emperor is really the Holy Emperor. The glazed mirror was created so quickly." Li Jinzhong saw that the mirror came out and immediately flattered. Zhu Youxiao smiled and said, "There are not only mirrors!"

The craftsmen soon had a new task, which was to create fitting mirrors two meters high and one meter wide, as well as to create glass windows and skylights.

A few days later, the palace began to distribute dressing mirrors. All the concubines of Shenzong and Xizong from both generations were sent. Li Xuanshi, who failed in the case of moving the palace, was also taken to Ciqing Palace by Zhu Youxiao. After all, he was a cheap woman I liked, and he was wronged in the case of moving the palace, so Zhu Youxiao took her out of the cold palace and arranged to live in Ciqing Palace. In addition to the dressing mirror, the mirror given to Li Xuanshi also had a dressing mirror.

The craftsmen began to change windows and skylights. The window lattices of the Yangxin Hall were originally covered with paper, but now these window papers have been torn and glass windows have been installed.

The tiles on the head were also lifted up, and two tiled-shaped sunroof glass were installed on it. This construction was very fast and it took less than half a day.

In less than half a day, the Yangxin Palace changed a lot.

There is no need to light candles in the house during the day. Bright light shines in from the beginning and the windows. The Temple of Harmony during the day looks very bright.

When Sun Chengzong entered the palace to give lectures to Zhu Youzhai, he suddenly found that the Yangxin Palace had changed directly, and the environment was much more comfortable than before. He looked at the glass window in surprise and asked, "Prince, what is this?"

"This is the latest colorless glass developed by craftsmen in the palace. I have been manufacturing it for more than ten days." Zhu Youxiao said proudly. Seeing that Zhu Youxiao has been busy with this for the past few days, Sun Chengzong couldn't help but feel a little disappointed and said, "Master, just leave these things to the craftsmen to do. Your energy should still be focused on governing the country."

"I know, but now the Donglin Party members control the government affairs, and I have nothing to do. In addition, the mining tax is withdrawn, and the court's finances will be tight next year. If I don't find a way to make some money, this country will not last long." Zhu Youxiao nodded and Sun Chengzong was speechless after hearing the emperor's words. This is all the actual situation! The Donglin Party members control the government affairs since the Wanli period, and now the power is getting stronger and stronger, and it is simply uncontrollable.

"Your Majesty, it is indeed necessary for you to make money. However, the national finance mainly relies on reforming the tax laws." Sun Chengzong advised, afraid that the emperor would go in the wrong direction.

"Teacher, since the businessman uses financial resources to control the court, our royal family can also develop business, and finally replace private businessmen and turn the world's business into official business." Zhu Youxiao said.

"This is also a way to improve finances. The Song Dynasty was the official system. But commercial operations were not that simple. If they were not done well, they would be futile." Sun Chengzong recognized Zhu Youxiao's idea, but he had no confidence in Zhu Youxiao in terms of implementation.

"Business management is difficult, but simple is also extremely simple. It is nothing more than eight words - buy low and sell high, and strange goods are acceptable." Zhu Youxiao said confidently. As a time traveler in the 21st century, although he has never practiced capital operation, he has never eaten pork and hasn't seen pigs running?

Zhu Youxiao continued: "European barbarians can't create this glass mirror and glass window. This is a strange thing and you will definitely be able to make money."

"Then try it!" Sun Chengzong nodded. Since the emperor is so confident, it is not impossible to let him try it. It is naturally good to make money, and if you can't make money, you can also wake up.>
Chapter completed!