"One-two, one-two, one-two......" Wang Maobo shouted the trumpet, commanding more than 30 craftsmen and apprentices to slowly place the huge waterwheel parts on the stone base of the riverside with ropes and pulleys.

A one-story tall paddle that comes into contact with the water. The paddle shaft began to rotate slowly, but it was restrained by the stop tenon, making a series of unwilling "squeaks".

Unmoved by the noise, Wang Maobo continued to direct the craftsmen and apprentices to install the transmission gears, transmission rods, reduction gears, worms, two-wheel vertical stone mills and other components in place one by one. Then one by one, it is tightened, oiled, and corrected. Immediately, after checking three more times, and after confirming that all the parts were in working condition, he trotted to a wooden pavilion by the river.

"Do it!" In the pavilion, Zhang Qian smiled and waved his hand, "You don't have to come and ask me, it's a big deal to dismantle it and start over, anyway, you can return to the furnace!" ”

"Yes!" Wang Maozhong, who was only halfway through the run, held his pace and clasped his fists gratefully. Immediately, he turned around quickly, ran to the waterwheel with his legs, pushed the lever with his own hands, and pulled up the stop tenon one by one.

The "Squeak Quack ......" has a wooden paddle that is a full story high, and is pushed out of the water by the clear river one by one, and then re-like water from the other side.

The paddle shaft, which is wrapped in a layer of bronze on the surface, is slowly rotated by the paddle blades, and the gear at the tail end is tangent to the transmission wheel, driving a transmission rod that is two feet long. The invisible energy is quickly transmitted to the top of the transmission rod to the tail, and then from the gear of the tail downward. After a set of proven and feasible mechanical systems on the windmill, it is decelerated, redirectional, and finally steadily transmitted to the top of the two-wheel stone mill.

The gear at the top of the stone mill made a loud "boom" and then began to rotate slowly. Two wheel-shaped stone mills walked opposite each other on the grinding plate, and in an instant, the thunderous sound of "boom, boom, boom......" made everyone present boil.

"Let one, let one, let one go, let go of trouble!" Wang Yuanbao personally carried a piece of jelly-like glass pulp with an iron plate, trotted through the crowd, and stuffed the "skin jelly" and the iron plate under the stone mill together.

The glaze, which was still in a semi-melted state, was quickly crushed into a flat plate by the stone mill. Immediately, he quickly pulled it out along with the iron plate. An apprentice had already brought a basin of river water and quickly splashed it on the surface of the iron plate. "Snort......" white mist filled the air, quickly covering everyone's eyes.

A gust of spring breeze blew slowly, and the white mist dissipated. Wang Yuanbao didn't care about the heat, and carefully separated the glass from the iron plate with his hands. A two-foot square, very irregular shape, and a transparent glazed plate with stone grinding patterns on the surface appeared in front of everyone's eyes in an instant.

The color is a little greenish, the thickness is not too uniform, and obvious bubbles can be seen in individual locations. However, if it is not used to make a mirror, but after cutting, it is more than enough to inlay a glass window.

What's more, only two people are needed to operate the whole process. One is responsible for stuffing the softened glass and iron plates into the stone mill, and the other is responsible for pouring cold water! Several processes such as molding, wax melting, and pouring are directly omitted. And the thickness of the pressed glass is much lower than that of the poured products.

If the grinding disc and the surface of the grinding stone can be wrapped with a layer of iron sheet, and then polished smooth. The pressed glazed plate may be more uniform and flat, and even the surface can be without any obvious patterns!

The huge front (money) scene quickly made Wang Yuanbao's eyes begin to shine. Throwing the glass plate worth hundreds of treasures into the hands of the craftsmen who surrounded him, he rushed to Wang Maobo without hesitation, with a smile on his face: "The king's book, the king's book." What is the total cost of this set of waterwheels and stone mills? Double the price, I buy three, no, buy five! ”

Regardless of whether Wang Maobo agreed or not, he pointed his hand to the glass workshop under construction not far away, and continued to discuss with a smile, "Install it on my side first, and you don't have to wait for the house to be repaired." It's open on my side, and I can start work just as well. Although we are two workshops, we are actually a family. If you promise to do it for me now, I'll pay you half of the deposit in advance! ”

"I'll have to ask the young eunuch about this. The material money is only a few dozen hangs. "Wang Maobo, who looks honest and even a little wooden on the surface, is not fooled by him at all. After thinking about it, he used words and language that he was not familiar with, and explained seriously, "But the rule that the young superintendent has made before, as long as everything made by the ordnance superintendent has not existed in the world before, the user must hand over a copy of the patent money. ”

"This ......" Wang Yuanbao glanced at the pavilion, and suddenly wilted like a crop beaten by frost.

Taking advantage of Wang Maobo, he was at ease, and even felt that it was a kind of fun. Anyway, the major shareholders behind each other are all Liushen Commercial Firm, Liulifang and Iron Smelting Workshop, which are equivalent to brothers. Since they are all brothers, why should they be too careful with each other?

can take advantage of Zhang Qian, give Wang Yuanbao a hundred dares, he doesn't dare.

is not afraid of Zhang Qian's power to oppress him, but he is afraid of stealing chickens and rice. After all, so far, Wang Yuanbao has not seen anyone, and he can really take advantage of Zhang Qian. On the contrary, those who treat each other honestly and honestly have gained a lot of money.

"Don't just look at the waterwheel to use, for this waterwheel, the young eunuch and the craftsmen of the ordnance supervisor have been tossing repeatedly for more than a month. Hundreds of drawings were drawn. Not to mention the various materials that failed the experiment and were discarded? Seeing Wang Yuanbao's unwilling face, Wang Maobo, who had just been promoted to the chief secretary of the Ordnance Supervision Department, couldn't help but remind in a whisper.

"Didn't I think that the building near the water would get the moon first?" The weather in March was already very hot, Wang Yuanbao explained curtly with beads of sweat on his forehead. "Well, we're ...... too"

"You can't say that, it's better not even to think about it!" Wang Maobo glared at him, and his face suddenly became solemn. "Around the young eunuch, I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at it every day. If he doesn't make a mistake, there are people who want to pick the bone in the egg. What's more, let you get the moon first? If you want to use a water truck, no problem, according to the rules, go to the ordnance supervisor to pay the money and place an order, and I will arrange someone to help you get it out as soon as possible. But how much you sell to others, you don't want to be cheap for a penny. Maybe in the end, you won't have to double the cost, why do you have to take this shortcut?! ”

"That's, that's!" Wang Yuanbao nodded frequently. Deep down, he was very dissatisfied with Wang Maobo's speculation.

It is true that windmills are now cheaper and cheaper, but at that time because of the large number of windmills. And it has been rapidly promoted from Jingzhao Mansion to Longyou, Hebei and Shandong. The waterwheels were born to be used by various workshops, and in a short period of time, the number could not be huge. Moreover, the output of the waterwheel is more than ten times that of the windmill. Stability, but also shook off hundreds of streets of windmills!

"What are you two talking about, so lively?!" Zhang Qian's voice suddenly came from nearby, making Wang Yuanbao tremble, and quickly put away the little Jiujiu in his heart.

"Shopkeeper Wang wants to buy a few waterwheels and place them in his glazed workshop, and if he asks me the price, I can't tell me!" Wang Maobo was very kind-hearted and took the initiative to cover up for Wang Yuanbao.

Wang Yuanbao also hurriedly put on a smiling face and quickly explained, "I, didn't I see the waterwheel pushing the stone mill, and it is very convenient to suppress the glaze?" I wanted to take advantage of the fact that the glass workshop was not built before it was built, and quickly ordered a few to be installed. Lest you have to readjust the place after the workshop is built! ”

"That's easy to do, Uncle Wang Mao, you can help him order." When the waterwheel was being developed, Zhang Qianxin had already thought of the benefit distribution plan, smiled, and immediately responded, "This waterwheel, I am going to hand it over to the ironworking mill." It is the first product of the iron-smelting workshop in addition to iron pipes. As for the patent fee, the ironsmith will pay for it from the Ordnance Superintendent and pay it in a lump sum. In this way, no matter how many waterwheels the ironworks build in the future, they have nothing to do with the ordnance superintendent. In addition to the proportional distribution of the patent fees to the inventors and participants, the remaining part can continue to develop other weapons for the benefit of the country and the people. ”

"This, thank you for the completion of the young eunuch!" Wang Yuanbao was overjoyed, and immediately smiled and bowed to Zhang Qian.

"Thank you, young eunuch! I must do my best to not fall the signboard of the Six Gods Iron Workshop! I didn't expect that the problem that had plagued me for a long time was solved so easily by Zhang Qian, and Wang Maobo also gave it up with admiration.

"Don't press the glass naked, how is the molten iron melting, try the molten iron!" From the middle of the first month to the middle of March, Zhang Qian was not just to watch the waterwheel press the glass board. After solving the problem of benefit distribution in three or two sentences, he immediately put forward a new request to Wang Maobo.

"I'll go get it right away, and Ren Zhicheng will watch over the hearth." Wang Maobo replied loudly, turned around and went straight to the dirt slope not far away.

"I'll go, I'll go!" Wang Yuanbao followed behind Wang Maobo, and his voice trembled with excitement.

Thirty paces away, on a slightly higher dirt slope. Ren Cong is directing several apprentices, using a wind gourd to blow wind into a half-human-high hearth. Under the hearth, the burning coke is blown by the wind and the red star rolls up, sending a steady stream of heat to the top of the furnace. The roof of the furnace was completely sealed according to the method of the Persian craftsmen. The clay stove near the coke, and the clay-wrapped danding, have been burned to a dull yellow, and there is a risk of bursting at any time.

This is the iron-making method that Ren Cong bought from a big fugitive slave last month at a high price of 20 yuan. For this reason, he also bought a Datang household registration for the fugitive slave. At that time, Guo Nu also laughed at his kindness, suitable for becoming a monk. However, after Zhang Qian saw it, he thought that the deal was very worthwhile.

As a son of a blacksmith family, Wang Maobo has not seen what this deal is worth until now? Compared with the iron-making furnaces that can be seen everywhere in Datang, the smelting efficiency of the hearth is more than a hundred times worse. The common vertical iron-making furnace in Datang produces molten iron, which is calculated in 10,000 catties every time. The hearth, on the other hand, can only produce dozens of catties at a time. And the earthhearth has extremely high requirements for iron ore, and the iron ore with slightly worse quality must be smelted many times. It's better to take the scrap iron directly to make the furnace!

The only good thing is that the hearth is convenient. Dig a pit casually, pile up some yellow mud, and wrap it in the most heat-resistant dragon and tiger Danding, and you can start refining. Even during the march and war, there is no delay in starting work anytime and anywhere.

Just as he was thinking wildly, he heard Wang Yuanbao shouting loudly: "Ren Zhicheng, the young eunuch asked you, how is the iron smelting!" What are the waterwheels and stone mills waiting over there? ”

"That's good, that's good!" Ren Cong agreed repeatedly, followed closely, and ordered someone to stop the wind. Immediately, he picked up a sledgehammer from the ground and smashed it into the middle of the hearth.

"Bang!" The hearth and the dragon and tiger dendin inside shattered at the same time, and the molten iron supported the slag and rolled out of the dendon like a waterfall. In the process of flowing downward, it is automatically divided into two layers. (Note: The full video can be seen on the Internet for the furnace smelting iron, so I won't go into details.) ）

"Don't move, I'll come, I'll come!" Ren Cong was so excited that his voice changed tone, and he used a huge long-handled iron tongs to stir vigorously in the "waterfall" emitting red smoke, and soon, he stirred up a large ball of molten iron that was solidifying, threw it into the iron chicken bus next to him, and then pushed the cart and ran to the stone mill.

"The rest is yours!" As he ran, he explained to the craftsmen, lest the other party delay time and let the iron level be wasted.

There was no need for him to explain, the craftsmen of the Armands Department had already picked up their long-handled iron tongs and shovels, separated the remaining molten iron from the ashes, and loaded them into another iron chicken bus, and then, everyone pushed the cart and followed closely behind Ren Cong.

Wang Maobo and Wang Yuanbao didn't dare to slack off, and they also ran down the dirt slope. In the blink of an eye, I was back next to the stone mill. I saw that Ren Cong stuffed a large ball of half-melted iron into the rolling grinding stone.

At a glance from the previous situation of crushing the half-melted glass, the heavy grinding stone, driven by the waterwheel, pressed over the iron mass without any obstacles, and in a snap of his fingers, the iron mass turned into an iron plate. And that Ren Cong is not satisfied. The iron plate was quickly adjusted with iron pliers, and it was repeatedly crushed by the stone mill, and after a short time, the thickness of the iron plate was thinned by more than half.

"Take it off and stuff the rest of the iron into it. Let's see if we can finish it all in one go! Zhang Qian's voice sounded behind everyone, and it was also full of excitement that could not be concealed.

"Yes! Big brother! Ren Cong quickly used long-handled iron pliers to snatch the moment the stone mill was crushed the next time, and removed the iron plate that was already less than half a point. The craftsmen, who happened to arrive in the cart, worked together to clamp the remaining fifty or sixty catties of iron onto the grinding plate.

"Boom, boom, boom!" The stone mill was accompanied by a huge "roar", grinding over the iron, round and round. None of the people around him spoke, and watched as the color of the iron gradually changed from orange to dark red, to black, and then to silver light from black.

After more than 30 rounds, the iron finally cooled completely. Under Ren Cong's command, the craftsmen once again worked together to remove the finished product from the grinding plate. An iron plate with a huge surface area, a large semicircular shape, and a thickness of about half a minute was quickly erected in front of everyone's eyes. (Note: Half a cent, the unit under the ancient inch is a minute.) One point is about two millimeters. ）

Compared with the iron plate knocked out by the blacksmith before, although the thickness is not necessarily much thinner, the whole is more uniform. And the efficiency exceeds that of hand knocking dozens of times. For the Ordnance Supervision Staff, which needs to manufacture a large number of Mingguang armor every year, the benefits brought by this production method are simply self-evident. For Ren and Guo's tin furnace workshops, the benefits of this production method are even more visible.

"If you use a furnace to melt iron, it shouldn't be a big problem to crush 100 catties of iron at a time." After carefully observing the fineness of the iron plate and the operation of the stone mill, Zhang Qian concluded with a smile. Immediately, he began to assign a new task to Ren Cong, "Next time, you put less iron and try how thin you can press." To make a stove chimney, it is estimated that a quarter of the thickness of the current is enough, too thick is a waste. ”

"Yes! Big brother! Ren Cong put down the iron plate pressed out in the first round, clenched his hands into fists, and answered without hesitation.

"You can ask someone again, this kind of dragon and tiger danding, when it is fired, can you add more ink stone to the clay. I don't know exactly how much to add, but it's between 20% and 40%. Or let's start the kiln ourselves, burn a few Danding, and see if it can be successful. Zhang Qian squatted down, striking the iron plate with a hammer while frowning and commanding. There was a faint sense of disappointment in his voice.

"I'll come, I'll burn. Anyway, if you burn the glass, you can't use Danding. You can't go out and buy it every day! "I'm afraid that I won't have a chance to perform, Wang Yuanbao is next to him.

"Then hand it over to Liulifang to burn Danding, and if the iron-smelting workshop and the ordnance supervisor need Danding, they will all buy it from Liulifang!" Zhang Qian didn't look up, his eyes were still staring at the iron plate, as if roses were about to bloom on the iron plate.

"Senior brother, is there something wrong?" Ren Cong finally found out that his senior brother's mood was wrong, and he also squatted down and asked cautiously.

"There's no problem, or it's not your problem, it should be that I haven't figured it out!" Zhang Qian smiled and nodded slightly.

According to the information that can be found at hand, the iron-making method that Ren Cong inadvertently bought from the Great Eater Fugitive Slave should be a branch of ancient Indian steelmaking. That is, the refining method of Damascus steel, which often appears in literary and artistic works of another time and space. However, I don't know if the technology that Ren Cong bought was incomplete, or the big food fugitive slave who sold the technology deliberately hid his secrets, and he had several furnaces in a row, and all the smelted could only be regarded as wrought iron. (Note: Damascus steel is actually crucible steel produced in ancient India!) ”）

Although the quality of crucible wrought iron is also very good, it is more than a hundred times less valuable than the legendary Damascus steel. The former at most made the stove chimneys produced and sold by the Guo family and the Ren family lighter and thinner. And the latter can raise the quality of the weapons of the whole Datang by one or several levels!

However, Zhang Qian definitely didn't have time to figure out what the problem was today. Before Ren Cong could continue to ask, behind the crowd, Zhang Jiuling's complaint had already sounded: "Yongzhao, Yongzhao, there is really yours." The huge secretary and supervisor can't let you go. It's so bad that I have to run to the Wei River to find it! ”

"Brother Zishou, do you have something to do with me?" Zhang Qian frowned in surprise, put down the hammer, and slowly got up. The face covered with dust was washed black and white by sweat, which was so funny.

"Nonsense, do you think everyone is like you, saying that you can escape if you don't go to court?" Zhang Jiuling looked amused and admired, stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Qian's sleeve, and couldn't help but walk towards the outside of the crowd, "It's not for my brother to talk too much, you are also a secretary and a young eunuch, you can't be a secretary and a supervisor, and you don't even show your face." Squatting and striking iron with people on the side of the ordnance supervisor all day and night! Knowing you, understand that you want to show your strengths and create more magic weapons for Datang. I don't know you, I thought you wanted to learn that Ji Kang! ”

When the words fell, he suddenly realized that the name Ji Kang was very unlucky. Hurriedly smiled and decisively changed his words, "Others are Da Yin City, you are good, you are just hiding in the court." ”

"I'll leave all the affairs of the secretary and supervisor over to He's book!" Zhang Qian's face turned red when he was said, and he hurriedly explained. "The printing problem has long been solved, and compiling dictionaries is a grinding stone, and I am far less expert than He Shu. Moreover, there are also Bo Gao, Ji Ling and Zi Yu, who are working on He's writings. ”

This is a big truth, primitive movable type printing, there is not much technical content at all. After using copper movable type at any cost, and by adding pine resin, the problem of ink adhesion was solved, all that remained was whether the operation was skilled!

The role that Zhang Qianqian can play in the purely academic work of compiling a dictionary is not the same as that of cultural giants such as He Zhizhang, Zhang Xu, Wang Han, and Wang Zhilian. Therefore, after recommending the pinyin method to everyone, he immediately let it go completely, which is the wisest choice. Reluctantly participated, but it was easy to expose its shortcomings.

Obviously, Zhang Jiuling also knew that it was a waste of his life to let Zhang Qian squat in a secretary who had nothing to do, so after complaining a few casually, he quickly cut back to the topic: "Wait a while to see the saint, don't say that." You can tell the Holy Majesty that you have been in charge of the ordnance supervisor a lot recently, so there is no time for the secretary to be in charge. However, it cannot be said that the secretary and supervisor do not have you much, and there are not many of you. Otherwise, more than one person will get you in trouble. ”

"The Holy One summoned me?!" Only then did Zhang Qian realize that Zhang Jiuling came to find him, not to stop by to see the excitement. The words of inquiry blurted out, "What is it?" Isn't the Chinese book, the servant shooting, and the three products under the Tongping Chapter Sect all there? ”

"The ruler is short, the inch is long!" Zhang Jiuling glanced at him and pouted helplessly, "Fortunately, it's not far from the Ordnance Prison here." Quickly wash your face, go to the armory prison to change into court clothes, and take a shortcut with me to Daming Palace. Chang Chao didn't participate today, Zong Chuke and the secretary and supervisor Wei Juyuan had an argument. Therefore, the Holy Lord specially sent me to inform you to participate in the Pilgrimage! ”

"They are arguing, what does it matter to me?" The more Zhang Qian listened, the more confused he became, and the more frowning his brows became.

"Why is it none of your business? Thou secretary and young eunuch, alas——! Knowing that Zhang Qian loved to slip away when he went to the court, he wouldn't pay close attention to the movements in the court at all, Zhang Jiuling sighed helplessly. Immediately, Shao had to explain to him seriously, "Although Wei Juyuan, the secretary and supervisor, is old and confused, he is also your top boss. He was made so public by Zong Chuke that he couldn't get off the stage, how could you, as a secretary and young eunuch, ignore it. ”

"Oh? Isn't he on good terms with Zong Chuke? Zhang Qian still didn't seem to understand, frowning and digging into the bottom line, "Why did Zong Chuke hold him today?" ”

"It's not because the "Lin De Calendar" is becoming more and more inaccurate!" Zhang Jiuling sighed again, and told the truth, "When the solar eclipse appeared last year, it was not on the first day of the new year. And this year is even more ruthless, on the day of the Shangyuan Festival, the moon is missing a small half. In the eighteenth or nineteenth day of the first month, the moon was barely full. It's clear that something is wrong with the Lin De Calendar. The Hun Tian Jian is subordinate to the Secretary of the Prison, and it is reasonable to make timely revisions to the "Lin De Calendar". From the first month to the middle of March, for two whole months, the Hun Tian Prison Zhengjiaye was so loyal that he couldn't even come up with a rough plan. Wei Juyuan is still with a thick old face today, according to the "Lin De Calendar", there will be a lunar eclipse on the fifteenth day of the next month. ”

"It doesn't seem to be Zong Chuke to blame for this!" Although he saw Zong Chuke for the first time last year, Zhang Qian had a very bad impression of this person. However, on the issue of "Lin De Li", he really can't speak for his top boss.

For no other reason, after more than 60 years of use, the shortcomings of the "Lin De Calendar" have been very obvious. Predictions about solar and lunar eclipses are basically not very accurate. The moon corresponding to the lunar calendar is also less and less right. (Note: Li Chunfeng denied the existence of precession when formulating the Lin De calendar.) As a result, the longer the Linde calendar is used, the greater the accumulated error)

"Of course I know that I don't blame Zong Chuke, it's just who will solve this trouble!" Zhang Jiuling finally relented, and didn't want Zhang Qian to be involved in the political whirlpool, so he took the initiative to explain to him, "Changing the calendar involves more than just whether the calendar is accurate or not. A lot of things related to fate, luck, and celestial phenomena, especially those related to the royal family, had to be corrected one by one. Wei Juyuan may not be really confused, but he feels that he is old, and if he can not take this stall, he will not take this stall. And Ka Ye Zhizhong has no ability to do it. ”

"Oh!" Zhang Qian finally understood what he meant by being summoned by Emperor Li Xian of the Heavenly Divine Dragon. The secretary and supervisor above are old and confused, and the chief supervisor of Qin Tian is unusable. As a young eunuch, he was impartial and just pulled over for emergency.

When he was crying and laughing, he found that Zhang Jiuling's face suddenly became extremely solemn. Immediately after, I heard the other party lower his voice, and solemnly reminded him with the amplitude of a mosquito's humming, "I always feel that Zong Chuke is holding on to the problem of the "Lin De Calendar" at this juncture, and it may not be out of public intentions. So, with Zhao, you must do it for yourself today! Some things, not done, are not necessarily wrong. If you do, you may not be able to do it. ”

Whew, the wind blows across the river, bringing a breath of coolness through the body.

Zhang Qian immediately knew it, and nodded lightly at Zhang Jiuling in the wind.

…………

"Huh-" The smoke wind of late spring blew through a certain courtyard in the light house, and the locust trees and flowers were like confetti, one after another.

"Senior brother, the centaur is ready, this time, it is guaranteed to be foolproof!" The monk Huiming walked quickly under the flowers of the locust tree, and his figure was like a ghost.

"Exorcism!" The senior monk Huifan clasped his hands together and commanded in a deep voice. The wrinkles on the face are intertwined like scars.

"Yes!" Hui Ming bowed in agreement and turned to leave, leaving a lush vegetable patch behind him.

In the vegetable garden by the pond, the mandala has grown to more than two feet high, and the buds that stop on the branches are like towering ghost horns.