"Put it in the ash pool?" When we start talking about the process in earnest, we can't talk about the initial part. Craftsmen understand the need to remove the skin of the bamboo in advance, but they do not understand the practice of putting the bamboo in a pond to dip it.

"Yes, add plant ash or lime to the pond and put the bamboo in it. The time is as short as three or five days and half a month, and as long as two or three months or even half a ......year," Liu Tao nodded, "The ultimate goal is to soften the bamboo material and make it easier to take bamboo and hemp." ”

"That is, after finishing, go directly to the step of soaking lime water, and remove the part of cutting hemp and washing, right?" The craftsman probably understood. If that's the case, it's saved some time.

"At this step, the rest is almost the same as your previous steps, nothing more than steaming, pounding, pulping, papermaking, ......" Liu Tao nodded, many of the papermaking techniques of later generations were improved on the basis of Caihou paper.

After a pause, he continued: "It's just that I hope that before steaming, a part of the bamboo and hemp taken out will be dried and bleached, or smoked and bleached, to see if the paper made in this way can be whiter." ”

He remembered that he had seen the production process of bamboo paper, and if it was not bleached, the bamboo paper produced would be yellowish. It is said that there is no big problem with writing, but he is used to white paper, and he will be a little uncomfortable.

"That would take more time." The craftsman also voiced his concerns.

"It's okay, just pick a part of it. The first thing to do is definitely paper that can be made in large quantities and quickly, as for the paper with relatively high white skin, it is nothing to have less, and the price will naturally be higher. Liu Tao replied.

"That's fine." The craftsman will realize that the price of wood and bamboo slips must be different, and it is natural that the price of different paper is different.

"Finally, there is the paper medicine part...... Liu Tao took out two pieces of paper and drew several crops on them, "I know that the workshop originally had paper medicine, here are several crops that can be used to make paper medicine, you can try to configure new paper medicine." ”

"Do you want them all?" The craftsman was a little surprised.

"Not necessarily, try them all, it's a long-term question to see which works better." Liu Tao explained. After all, paper medicine is the secret of papermaking in later generations, and the texture of paper is largely related to paper medicine.

Therefore, even if the production process of rice paper has almost been passed on, but the paper medicine is not leaked for a day, then the process of rice paper is not so easy for others to want.

Not to mention, there are geographical restrictions on the raw materials needed for rice paper, and it is very difficult for others to imitate them. Even if it is Liu Tao, even if he already knows the process, he must restore the rice paper in this era...... I guess I can't help it.

"It's just that it takes at least three months to make paper according to this method, and it takes at least two to three months to ......make it," said the craftsman carefully, omitting the parts of cutting and washing, which is considered fast.

"There is an easier way...... Liu Tao thought for a while, "directly remove the steaming part, directly pound the pulp, add the paper medicine and make paper, press and dry to remove the water, make a roasting basket, burn the fire, put the paper on it to dry......"

The drawings of the roasting cage were also taken out, a bit like a wall building, using the principle of a kang, lighting a fire in it, and using the heat of the walls on both sides to dry the paper.

"That is, to shorten the time of drying paper, this process can further shorten the time of papermaking, more than a month, no, a month is estimated to have been able to make a batch of paper!" The craftsman looked at the roaster and was amazed.

"Dry the paper too, and see which one is better on both sides. We also want low-end paper, and we also want high-end paper. Our goal is to make paper a daily commodity for life, rather than a special existence for literati. Liu Tao reminded.

How many literati were there in this era of the Han Dynasty, and how many literati could afford to use paper? There may be some squires and tyrants who can use it, the demand is not high, and the price is not as cheap as bamboo slips, which is also the key to restricting the development of paper.

Just like distilled liquor, that is, the Zhang family, the largest big merchant in Zhuo County, can allow distillation. If you change to an ordinary wine merchant, the price of raw materials can discourage them.

Especially in the past two years, natural and man-made disasters are estimated to further increase grain prices, and the cost of brewing grain wine must also be further increased. Fortunately, the Zhang family has accepted his suggestion to try to buy sorghum and try to make wine.

As far as distilled spirits are concerned, sorghum as a liquor-based liquor should be the best choice. Corn is also counted, but that thing is still on the American side, and the yield is not as high as in later generations......

"In the workshop, there is an area dedicated to the development of new paper and to try to improve the quality of the paper. With the new results, and the audit confirms that there is no problem, then I will give different rewards according to different values. Liu Tao has not forgotten the scientific research department.

Fortunately, it doesn't require much technical content, what is needed is continuous trial and exploration, a bit of mechanical attempt.

"What does the proprietor mean that if we have a better way to make the paper of better quality, we will be rewarded?" It was the first time the craftsmen had heard of such a system.

"It's not just professional, how to keep the quality of paper unchanged, but the speed of papermaking is shortened, even if it's one or two days, there are rewards, provided that it can be popularized, only a few people can do this, it doesn't count." Liu Tao reminded.

After a pause, he continued: "In order to make you believe that I am not fooling you, I will save two thousand guan in the workshop later, deducting one thousand guan as the purchase cost and research cost, and one thousand guan will be used as a reward, and then save it when it is used up." ”

Money can make ghosts grind, money can make ghosts push ghosts, Liu Tao promised so much, and the minds of the craftsmen suddenly became lively.

The workshop is there, and the raw materials are also purchased, so the rest will naturally be determined by the system, and at the same time, the finances will be grasped in hand. According to the agreement, in terms of finance, Liu Tao will send people, and Zhen and Bi Lan will send people to supervise.

At this point, there is nothing left to do on the workshop side. Liu Tao didn't plan to go back by carriage, but just ordered Jian Yong to go back, arrange for people to come over to take over the finances, and bring two thousand Guan over at the same time.

himself, so he took his three righteous brothers and walked back. I've been in Luoyang for so long, and I really haven't had a good time shopping.

"Brother, those two thousand yuan are already our last funding ......" On the way, Lu Yan had to remind. Although His Majesty also gave some money, but those were distributed, and there was not much left.

Let's just say that the so-called ten thousand gold, of course, is not ten thousand taels of gold, but ten thousand and five baht coins, that is, ten times.

"How can there be output without input...... I didn't see it, compared to when we first came to the workshop, the craftsmen and helpers in the workshop now seem to have changed one by two. Liu Tao replied.

In the past, it was estimated that the overseers of the royal family used these craftsmen as slaves and tool men......

"But the problem, we don't have enough funds...... Lu Yan reminded him, after all, the wooden coffins bought by copying books also cost money, and the prices in Luoyang are relatively expensive.

"That's why I'm walking!" Liu Tao replied, "I have a means to make money quickly......