Emperor Chongzhen wanted Song Yingxing to do something, which was actually to pass through the cement in the Three Treasures.

If the glass can be burned, then there will be no problem with the cement. However, cement has a special feature compared to glass, which is to be broken into powder.

This process, if it is based on manpower, although the manpower at this time is very cheap, but the cost is still very high. After all, the demand for cement is very high, and I don't know how many people are needed to do it by manpower.

But now that this steam engine has been built, it is much simpler to use the steam engine as the power to burn coal gas and smash it constantly.

Compared with glass, cement is not so profitable, and its main use is to build roads and houses. In the past, when the imperial court was not wealthy, it really couldn't afford to consume large-scale cement.

But now it's different, the court has money, and this confidence is enough. The advent of cement for infrastructure purposes can be carried out on a large scale, with steam engines and cement, the transportation of the Ming Dynasty will be greatly changed. At that time, the radiation power of the central court will also be greatly enhanced.

In the foreseeable future, the roads in Daming will be built with cement, and the roads from counties to villages will also be improved. Only under such a premise can we change the situation that the imperial power has not been lower than the county since ancient times.

If transportation is inconvenient, even if there are officials at the village and town level, it will be useless. The so-called Tiangao Emperor is far away, which is probably what it means.

In addition, due to the flooding in the south and drought in the north brought by the Xiaoice River period, the emergence of cement can also greatly alleviate the flooding disaster in the south.

Overall, however, it will take a long time for the improvement of this transportation infrastructure to bear fruit.

“…… All in all, after the invention of this cement, it is the function of sediment bonding, which can be used to build roads and bridges, build houses and so on. Emperor Chongzhen explained to Song Yingxing, "If it is matched with steel bars, not only can the bridge be built in the water without falling, but also the building can be built very high without collapsing, and the road will no longer be muddy and trapped by heavy rain......

For the first time, Song Yingxing and others thought of glutinous rice juice, in the past, when building city walls or rich families building houses, glutinous rice juice was used to glue them. This cost is very high, and it is not affordable for ordinary people.

But according to what the emperor said, this cement is just made of sand and gravel, with the help of the steam engine, not only the cost will be cheap, but also the output will be very high, and it can be used in so many places, the invention of cement, the change of people's livelihood, can be imagined!

It is based on this understanding that after Emperor Chongzhen's introduction, Song Yingxing saluted him very solemnly and said in a categorical tone: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, Weichen will use the fastest speed to burn the cement!" ”

The only difficulty in firing this cement is that Emperor Chongzhen does not remember the ratio of lime and clay, which requires Song Yingxing to constantly experiment to obtain the best performance of cement.

After the cement is fired, we can continue to study the cement with other materials to make cement for various purposes. I have to say that this cement is shallow, but the knowledge is very deep, and it takes a lot of time and money to explore.

Zhu Cihong, the crown prince on the side, was very envious when he heard it, obviously ready to move, and also wanted to do this thing of burning cement, and when Emperor Chongzhen saw it, he said to him with a smile: "Greed is not to chew, the application of steam engines still has a long way to go." When it can be used in the carriage and the ship, it will be considered a phased victory, and when that time comes, I can give you a new thing to tinker with. ”

"Thank you, Father!" Zhu Cihong was very happy when he heard this, and hurriedly replied, "Erchen must apply the steam engine to carriages and ships as soon as possible!" ”

The other people watching on the side, including Bi Maokang, Song Yingxing and others, were a little stunned. Because they can't imagine how knowledgeable the emperor is, so much ability?

It is said that Confucianism does not believe in ghosts and gods, but at this moment, they are really suspicious. If Emperor Chongzhen was really not a true dragon emperor, not an immortal, how could he know so much?

…………

The next day, the news spread on the side of the War Bureau. When the people of Beijing heard this, there was another discussion, which should also be a common practice.

This time, though, they weren't talking about the steam engine being built.

Seriously, although the steam engine has been discussed since Emperor Chongzhen mentioned this when he gave the crown prince a lesson, but for the people of the Ming Dynasty at this time, this steam engine is a bit mysterious after all, and it can't really be used in carriages and ships, and not many people will be very shocked.

Compared with this steam engine, the crown prince has to be awarded the title of "machine master", which is the topic they are most concerned about and discussed the most.

"You say, what is this called, the prince still uses the title of master?"

"Why can't it be sealed? What kind of steam engine did the prince come up with, which is very useful to the Ming Dynasty, and the emperor gave it a seal, is there any problem? ”

"That's right, the prince has the title of machine master, which means that the prince has the level of a master in this machine building, this is the prince's ability, why can't he have it?"

"But, Prince, the Crown Prince is the future emperor of my Ming Dynasty, can the emperor still have the titles of these craftsmen? That's ridiculous, isn't it? ”

"What's ridiculous? Didn't the former Emperor Zhengde appoint himself a general, isn't this equivalent to a master of war? Besides, these masters and grandmaster titles are not good craftsman titles, right? The first master of my Ming Dynasty was Master Bi, you said that Master Bi was a craftsman? ”

“……”

The arguments of the people of Jingshi are different because of their different butts. Especially those who are old-fashioned and stubborn, it is more difficult to accept the fact that the prince is awarded the title of machine master.

But no matter how difficult it is for them to accept, this matter is already a foregone conclusion, and they can't change it.

Emperor Chongzhen's desk, and only a few copies of the recital were handed over, saying that the matter of making the crown prince a machine master was too absurd, and Yu Li did not agree, and persuaded the emperor to withdraw his fate.

For these chapters, Emperor Chongzhen originally didn't want to pay attention to them, so he just left them in the middle of it. However, after thinking about it, he made a special instruction. It is said that the invention of the steam engine is a major event for the benefit of the country and the people, and it is the virtue and merit of the prince. In that case, what's wrong with me giving me a commendation?

The fact that the crown prince was named a machine master was originally supported by many people, and there were many more people, because Emperor Chongzhen's prestige was high enough, so high that whatever Emperor Chongzhen did, it must be right.

Now that it has been raised to the height of benefiting the country and the people and virtue and merit, they have stood up to support Emperor Chongzhen's statement, and for a while, just saliva can drown the old stubbornness.

After Empress Zhou heard this, as Zhu Cihong expected, she had an opinion. However, after Emperor Chongzhen explained, he was no longer stubborn. For her, it is of course better for the crown prince to be affirmed by the emperor than to be reprimanded.

Everyone thought that when this matter passed like this, Emperor Chongzhen issued another holy decree, and Jingshi was a sensation again. It can even be said that as long as the news is received, it is all a sensation.

This holy decree was that Emperor Chongzhen informed the people of the world that he wanted to make a list of champions with 365 lines. Of course, this champion is not like the champion of the imperial examination who can be an official. After the competition, it will be entered into the list of champions printed by the royal family, printed and distributed to the world, and known to the people of the world. In addition, Emperor Chongzhen also took out one million taels from the inner treasury and deposited it in the bank, and the interest obtained was used to reward three hundred and sixty-five champions.

This idea, Emperor Chongzhen is actually from the Guinness Book of Records of later generations, which is to inspire the people of the Ming Dynasty to be the first in all walks of life.

The reason why this news is a sensation in the world is because this matter can be said to be a matter of fame and fortune.

The name is for the champion, which is entered by the royal family and praised by the world. This is an absolute temptation for those who are not bad for money.

Profit, as long as you get the champion, there will be rewards to take, although not a lot, but there is this ability, don't take it for nothing! In addition to this, there is also a very big advantage. For example, the wine, food, objects, etc. made by the champion will naturally be the most popular thing, and it is completely unimaginable how much profit there will be.

Therefore, after this will, everyone began to inquire about what the specific charter of this champion list is? What industries can be entered, and what kind of comparison method is there.

These questions can only be answered by Emperor Chongzhen.

It didn't take long for Emperor Chongzhen to announce the specific details. According to the classification in "Heavenly Creation", all things can be compared, divided into north and south, and the twelve prisons and four divisions and eight bureaus in the palace are respectively assigned to confirm the test records.

Of course, it's impossible to say how perfect the rules are. Among them, there will definitely be a lot of problems, but it doesn't matter, they are all crossing the river by feeling the stones, and they can only be improved step by step in the process of being held.

Emperor Chongzhen thought about the various highest records of human movement, and finally decided to wait for this matter to start first, and then slowly join. By the way, you can hold a sports meeting in the future.

For now, this champion list must be done first. For Emperor Chongzhen, in fact, there is also a profit in it, it depends on whether he wants it or not.

The printed champion list, printed with the number, at least the name on the list, will definitely buy a collection, right? Maybe I'll buy more, but I don't have to give it to friends and family.

This kind of very commemorative thing, if others print it and sell it, it is estimated that not many people will buy it. If you dare to counterfeit the royal print, it will be a long life.

On an annual basis, update this champion list every year, and it will be another large number of sales.

If this is repeated, it is completely conceivable that the royal office will definitely make money on this champion list.

But for Emperor Chongzhen, he doesn't care about making money. What he cares about is the spirit of encouraging the people of Daming to strive for excellence.

Just as he was busy with this, an urgent report arrived.