The civil and military ministers of the Wei State who were qualified to go to court received the order from King Wei Anli and gathered in their own carriages to the Wei Palace.
On the way, many princes, generals and other ministers met, and they were all puzzled.
I couldn't help but talk and ask each other while rushing to the palace of Wei Palace.
See if anyone knows why the king summoned everyone.
"General Yungui, what is the urgent matter for which the king summons us this time?"
"I don't know about a certain family..."
"I didn't expect that Marquis Changping, whom I haven't seen for a long time, is here. The last time we met was a while ago..."
"Well, look, that's the general's car."
"That's...Long Yangjun!"
…
When many ministers saw Long Yangjun, who was extremely favored by King Wei Anli, they immediately surrounded him and asked for information.
"Long Yangjun, do you know what is important for the king this time?"
With a soft smile on his face, Lord Long Yang thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it has something to do with Wei Sikong. I saw Wei Sikong having a secret conversation with the king before."
As for more news, Long Yangjun didn't say much.
"It's actually related to Wei Sikong?"
"Didn't Wei Sikong send someone to summon him before today's court meeting because he is ill in bed and cannot go to court?"
"I don't know what's so important?"
…
Everyone was talking in low voices as they walked.
Just when we arrived at the gate of Wei Palace.
There was a chamberlain who was waiting here in advance, saluted and greeted everyone, then stretched out his hand to indicate, and respectfully explained: "Please come with your subordinates, the king has been waiting for a long time."
Everyone had different expressions and didn't say much.
They all followed behind the chamberlain, turned around, and headed to the left.
There are many twists and turns along the way.
After bypassing many pavilions and pavilions, many princes, generals, and ministers, led by their chamberlains, arrived at the wide space on the side of the main hall of the Wei Palace.
At this moment.
King Anli of Wei is sitting upright on the edge, with guards stationed on both sides.
Wei Yong, the Grand Sikong, was standing on the left with his hands down, while Si Yuan, the leader of the five hundred soldiers of Wei, stood alone in the center of the field. There were many items placed beside him.
There are quicklime, activated charcoal, coarse salt, clay pots, fine sand, coarse sand, rope, cauldron, etc.
Still far away.
General Jin Wen noticed the back of his direct disciple Si Yuan.
"A Yuan, why is he here?"
He subconsciously turned his head to look at Wei Yong, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes, and he couldn't help but worry about his disciple.
"He couldn't have been deceived by this old guy Wei Yong, right?"
"If this is really the case, given Wei Yong's attitude towards me, A Yuan, as my disciple, would be in a bad situation..."
"How should I deal with it myself?"
While thinking secretly in my heart.
The general and other Wei officials came to the vicinity of King Anli of Wei, bowed their hands, and saluted King Anli of Wei.
"I will see you, Your Majesty!"
"No gifts, stay on your own terms!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
King Wei Anli turned his head slightly and gestured to the open space on both sides, asking many ministers to stand still.
Just watch quietly.
Then he looked at Si Yuan and ordered: "Let's start!"
"I respect your orders!"
Si Yuan saluted King Anli of Wei in response.
Then he pointed to the many objects placed in the open space, looked around at everyone, and said loudly: "What exactly these things are, I believe all of you adults will naturally know."
"Next, I will reveal a terrible fact to the king and all your lords."
Everyone was silent and said nothing.
I have no idea what Si Yuan, King Anli of Wei, Wei Yong, etc. are planning to do.
Si Yuan gave instructions from the side and asked the servants to follow orders.
"First pour the salt into hot water and let it melt."
The waiters obeyed the orders and poured the coarse salt into the two large pots. Two people were responsible for gently stirring, and the other two were responsible for pouring the salt.
Si Yuan stood nearby and observed the dissolution in the water.
After noticing that it was almost done, he ordered the waiter to stop pouring the coarse salt.
"On the left, add lime powder to the water. When it becomes viscous, pour it into the salt pan on the left."
"On the right, add the plant ash into the salt pan on the right."
"Both should be mixed thoroughly."
Si Yuan gave the order.
The eight chamberlains obeyed orders and completed these instructions meticulously.
While waiting for the dissolved coarse salt in the salt pot to be purified using different methods, he directed other servants to make filters.
"First wrap the bottomless clay pot with multiple layers of gauze and tie it firmly with rope."
"Then turn the bottomless clay pot upside down, first add fine sand to the inside, which is about five and one-fifths of the jar. Then fill it with activated charcoal, which is about five and one-fifths of the jar."
"On the top layer, add coarse sand, about five and a half minutes of the tank."
At this point, two simple filters are completed.
Wait until the turbid brine inside the two salt pots has almost reacted.
Si Yuan first ordered people to filter it several times in the conventional way.
Stack the filtered residue aside, and then order people to conduct fine filtration with the simple filters you just made.
He extracted refined salt using two different methods at the same time.
"Be careful not to pour it too fast."
"Catch the outlet of the bottomless pottery pot with a clean pottery basin, and then pour the permeated salt water into the other two empty pots."
"Start the fire and boil the salt..."
…
A series of command operations continued until near evening.
During the whole process, many princes, generals and ministers looked puzzled and had no idea what King Wei Anli meant by arranging such an event.
But the king ordered them to watch quietly.
They could only watch patiently and did not dare to make any sound.
"Okay, it's almost done."
Si Yuan secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Then he ordered people to take out the crystals that slowly evaporated from the inside of the iron pot, smash them and grind them into fine powder to produce the refined salt that can be made at present.
"Place these white salts separately and give them to the king and your lords to taste for yourself."
The servants took action one after another.
Put the snow-white salt extracted just now into small bowls and deliver them to King Anli of Wei and many princes and generals.
"Is this...salt?"
"It's as white as snowflakes, and it looks much better than the salt I used to eat."
"Is this edible?"
…
Everyone looked at each other in shock.
Finally, under the signal from Wei Yong's eyes, some of the ministers belonging to Wei Yong's faction had to bite the bullet and try it for themselves.
Pinch up a few grains of white salt and put it in your mouth.
"Um?!"
"It's so salty...but without the bitterness, the taste is pure!"
"Is this...really salt?!"
With the first person taking the lead and having nothing to do.
Naturally, there are more people who cannot bear the curiosity in their hearts and pick up a few grains of white salt themselves and taste it carefully.