() Besides, Zhong Jinwei and Xu Guangqi hurried back to the ceramics factory. They saw smoke coming from the chimney of the new kiln in the distance, and the cement was probably still being fired.
When the two arrived at the door of the ceramics factory, Zhong Jinwei found his old acquaintance waiting for him at the door.
Gu Baichuan and Wang Peng came to the ceramics factory early in the morning and missed the opportunity. They waited for Zhong Jinwei in the concierge. Zhong Jinwei and his entourage made a lot of noise on horseback. When the guards saw it, they reported it to them first. Gu Baichuan and Wang Peng hurriedly arrived.
Zhong Jinwei was greeted at the door.
When Zhong Jinwei rode up to him, Gu Baichuan and Wang Peng hurried forward and knelt down to pay their respects.
Zhong Jinwei skillfully dismounted from his horse, helped Gu Baichuan and Wang Peng up and said, "I don't know how to thank you for your great contribution. First you risked your life to protect me, and now you help me avenge you. This, this..."
Zhong Jinwei was speechless and didn't know what to say. Gu Baichuan and Wang Peng hurriedly said: "Uncle Zhongxing is too polite. They are just subordinates who have done their duty."
Zhong Jinwei looked at the two of them, shook their shoulders hard, and said nothing. He immediately thought of Gu Baichuan's injury, and asked with concern: "How is your injury?"
Gu Baichuan smiled, moved his arm to signal, and then replied: "As long as you don't use too much force, it's just like normal, it's fine."
"Okay, that's good." Zhong Jinwei was very happy after hearing this. He suddenly remembered that Gu Baichuan's injury was almost healed, so his brother-in-law's injury was almost healed as well.
"Uncle Zhongxing, we have made a meritorious service this time. The factory owner specially ordered us to come over and lead the bodyguard of Uncle Zhongxing in case of unexpected events." Gu Baichuan explained his intention to Zhong Jinwei.
This was actually the intention of Emperor Chongzhen. After all, he asked Dongchang to increase manpower to protect the nobles. King Guang Chengen could not make the decision.
Zhong Jinwei thanked them politely and then led them into the ceramics factory.
Xu Guangqi watched silently from the side all the time, thinking in his heart that Dongchang sent people to protect him, but it could be regarded as surveillance. But Zhongxing Bo didn't mind at all and didn't shirk at all. He was really an open-minded and true gentleman. Thinking of this,
His understanding of Zhongxing Bo deepened.
Zhong Jinwei and Xu Guangqi walked to the new kiln in a familiar manner and found that all the craftsmen were gathered in the square of the new kiln, surrounded by An Guiyi, waiting for the firing results.
When they noticed Zhong Jinwei coming, they left An Guiyi alone and came over one after another to greet him, all with smiles on their faces.
Wu Shengda happily said to Zhong Jinwei: "Uncle Zhongxing, the temperature of the new kiln is indeed much higher than before, and cement is expected to be fired."
When Zhong Jinwei heard that Wu Shengda, an old craftsman, said this, he thought he was confident before saying it to him. He was very happy. Under the leadership of Wu Shengda, he went over to observe the fire of the new kiln.
In fact, he couldn't tell what kind of furnace fire represented what temperature. But Wu Shengda knew it and explained it to Zhong Jinwei in detail based on the color of the previous flames.
After listening, Zhong Jinwei asked: "How long has it been burning?"
"It's been about three hours, and the fever started early in the morning."
"No more firing, turn off the heat and start the kiln." Zhong Jinwei thought that as long as the chemical reaction conditions were met, the firing process should be completed soon. It was almost six hours now, which should be enough, so he gave the order to Wu Shengda.
An Guiyi had arranged tables, chairs and hot tea in the shed in the square, and let Zhong Jinwei and Xu Guangqi in to wait for the results. When the eunuch is strong, he will be a third-level official; when the eunuch is strong, he is nothing and has to do something back.
The duty of a slave.
Amid everyone's expectations, five samples were moved to the square for Zhong Jinwei to inspect carefully.
Zhong Jinwei inspected each sample one by one, and Xu Guangqi followed him, joining in the fun and looking at the samples on the long table.
The samples have all changed, but the lime and clay particles were larger before and not in the powdery form that Zhong Jinwei saw in later generations.
Zhong Jinwei asked people to grind it finely and add water to conduct experiments. He found that a ratio of lime and clay of five to one is most like the cement of later generations. In other words, the cement should have been fired.
In fact, Zhong Jinwei didn't need to announce it. When the craftsmen saw the experimental results, they couldn't help but cheer.
Although Zhong Jinwei was excited, he was not as happy as they were. He called Wu Shengda and told him to adjust the proportions, grind the raw materials finely, increase the contact area, and try another furnace.
After Xu Guangqi came to the ceramics factory, he was like a passerby, sipping soy sauce. Now after hearing Zhong Jinwei's instructions to Wu Shengda, he finally interjected: "If you don't soak this raw material and mix it into small balls, you can increase the number of these ingredients."
Contact area."
Xu Guangqi was old and experienced a lot. It can be seen from his "Agricultural Policy Complete Book" that he happened to propose a standard procedure for cement in later generations.
Zhong Jinwei thought so and quickly ordered Wu Shengda to do it.
Wu Shengda led the craftsmen and started working enthusiastically. This time, he worked extra hard. It was a different feeling knowing that there would be results.
When Zhong Jinwei started waiting again, he remembered that he had not eaten lunch. He looked at Xu Guangqi, an old man in his sixties, who had also forgotten to eat. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty. If Xu Guangqi's body was exhausted, the loss would be great.
Therefore, Zhong Jinwei blamed himself on Xu Guangqi and told Gu Baichuan that he must remind him when it was time to eat in the future.
Xu Guangqi didn't take it seriously. As long as he could achieve results, it didn't matter if he had a late meal. He had always done this. However, deep down in his heart, he was still grateful for Zhong Jinwei's concern.
During the days when the new kiln was being built, the cement raw materials had been prepared, and after the first firing, the second operation became much more proficient. However, despite this, I was still busy until dark, and then I confirmed that the cement was the best.
Formula ratio.
Zhong Jinwei was overjoyed and asked An Guiyi to add dishes and serve delicious dishes to the craftsmen. However, it was a pity that the cement that had just been fired was exhausted.
Zhong Jinwei asked the craftsmen to bake another kiln overnight after dinner and report the success to the emperor early tomorrow morning.
There is peace here in the ceramics factory, and everyone, whether they are craftsmen or guards, are beaming and happy from the bottom of their hearts; but in the capital, the mansions of civil servants and nobles are filled with gloom.
The fact that Emperor Chongzhen did not show any respect to Zhang Fengxiang, the former Minister of Industry, and directly approved his resignation has quickly spread among interested people.
People with ghosts in their hearts have many thoughts, and people with bad mental qualities tend to think in a bad direction.
Various ideas and speculations began to ferment in the capital.
Some more decisive officials began to write their resignations overnight, wanting to learn from Zhang Fengxiang, the former Minister of Industry, and resigned voluntarily when Emperor Chongzhen did not have the evidence to preserve their wealth. But more people were still reluctant to give up the power in their hands, and they
While watching.
On the ninth day of the third year of Chongzhen's reign, Zhong Jinwei took Xu Guangqi with him and took a cart of cement samples ground into powder. He went to report the good news to Emperor Chongzhen with a relaxed expression. To be honest, whether cement can be fired has always been in Zhong Jinwei's heart.
I was worried. After all, he had only read about cement firing from time travel novels, but had never actually done it. Now he is relieved.
At the same time, on an official road at the junction of Xichuan and Shaanxi, an army was advancing rapidly in an orderly manner. It could be seen that it was very disciplined. The soldiers were all wearing light rattan armor and carrying long white poles on their shoulders.
gun.
On one side of the official road, a group of generals surrounded a female general who was about fifty years old. Behind him was a large flag with the word "Qin" written on it. The female general was Qin Liangyu, the chief military officer of Xichuan, who was leading the group with a group of civil servants.
The crimson-robed civil servants bid farewell.
"Zhongcheng doesn't need to send him off again. This time King Qin will definitely defeat Jianlu." Qin Liangyu clasped his fists and said to the red-robed civil servant.
"Okay, I will send this copy of Zhongcheng here. The presence of General Qin's soldiers is a blessing to Sichuan and the Ming Dynasty. I wish General Qin's soldiers a victory and the siege of the capital. Please!" Zhang Lunye, governor of Xichuan
I bowed my hands and asked Qin Liangyu.
"Zhongcheng, there is no need to say more. King Qin is my duty. The emperor summoned me last year and received many rewards. Your kindness is so great that I risked my life to keep the emperor safe. Farewell!" Qin Liangyu is used to his military career.
Not being a wordy person, Zhang Lun said a few more words for the sake of giving the 7,500 soldiers supplies. Finally, she handed over her hand, got on her horse, and took her nephew Qin Yiming with her to chase the troops.
Zhang Lun said: "Take care." Then he watched Qin Liangyu go away.
Seeing that Qin Liangyu was a little arrogant and rude, the deputy chief envoy beside Zhang Lun said angrily on Zhang Lun's behalf: "It's unreasonable. Qin Liangyu dares to be rude in front of Zhongcheng. Zhongcheng is too tolerant to her."
Zhang Lun turned around, looked at him, and reprimanded with a cold face: "If you can be like her, able to win every battle, this time you have ruined your family and the country, and squandered your family wealth to serve the king, I will be the Prime Minister."
You are equally sure to be arrogant and rude."
The chief envoy and deputy envoy of Nishichuan were bored and withdrew in disbelief.
Qin Liangyu, the commander-in-chief of Xichuan, led 7,500 soldiers who had provided food and grass for the imperial court and 2,000 soldiers who had used all their wealth to provide food and grass, a total of 9,500 soldiers with white poles and more than 1,000 horses, and marched under starry night to King Qin of the capital.