Ma Jun's face was filled with excitement, and he reported: "Back to Your Majesty, the Ministry of Industry has indeed developed something that benefits the country and the people. ”

Wang Can was also a little curious.

He wrote some ideas in his mind into a book and handed it to the people of the Ministry of Industry, and asked Ma Jun, Mo Yan, Pu Yuan and others to start working on it. However, Wang Can really did not know what exactly was developed, he was busy dealing with the affairs of the DPRK and China all day long, and it was impossible to keep an eye on the progress of the Ministry of Industry.

Ma Jundao: "Weichen is courageous, please move your majesty to the Ministry of Industry!" ”

"Let's go!"

Wang Can did not interrupt Ma Jun's mind of selling Guanzi, took Dian Wei with him, and went to the Ministry of Industry with Ma Jun. Entering the experimental field of the Ministry of Industry, the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry were excited and saluted Wang Can one after another.

Wang Can said: "Ma Jun, where is the object developed?" ”

Ma Jun took two steps forward, let the surrounding craftsmen retreat, revealing a hard stone slab, he stroked the stone slab, there was an intoxicated look on his face, and waved his hand: "Your Majesty, this is the result of just developed." ”

Wang Can looked at it, immediately understood, and asked, "Has the cement been developed?" ”

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Ma Jun bowed and replied.

Wang Can is also very happy in his heart, cement is the most extensive and important resource in construction. With the cement developed by the Ministry of Industry, not only the roads can be solidified, but also the city walls can be strengthened. Once between the major cities, there were dedicated avenues. Even if something happens in various places, you can send a message along the road in the shortest possible time.

The successful development of cement is very important.

Wang Can looked around at the craftsmen in the test field, looked at Ma Jun, and ordered: "Ma Qing, all craftsmen involved in the production of cement, regardless of their official positions, will be rewarded with ten taels of gold!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

When the craftsmen heard this, they hurriedly kowtowed and thanked them. They developed cement by order to research, even if Wang Can did not commend it, they could not say anything. However, Wang Can alone rewarded ten taels of gold, which was quite a reward.

The gold rewarded in this era is not real gold. For example, the reward of a thousand gold, which is made of brass, cannot be called gold. Only when it is called 'gold' alone is it real gold.

Wang Can continued: "The reward of ten taels of gold is only a fraction compared to your contribution. I have always believed that craftsmen have a big role. I hope that you will continue to work hard, create more, and create more things that benefit the country and the people. ”

"Your Ministers obey!"

Everyone replied in unison.

Wang Can continued: "Ma Qing, the Ministry of Industry has formulated a commendation regulation, specifically for those who invent and create. However, all objects that are beneficial to Guo Jia and can be useful are invented in accordance with the regulations. ”

"Obey the order!"

Ma Jun was even more excited when he heard Wang Can's order.

With Wang Can's arrangement, the Ministry of Industry is equivalent to a higher level. From antiquity, to the pre-Qin period, and the Han Dynasty, the status of craftsmen was not high. Only after Wang Can ascended the throne and became emperor, he set up a separate Ministry of Industry and improved the status of craftsmen, which was also the reason why Ma Jun followed Wang Can with all his heart.

Wang Can asked: "Ma Qing, how long will it take for the cement developed so far to dry and hard?" ”

Ma Jun said without thinking: "The current cement will harden for about eight hours. If we give Wechen and the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry a period of time to study, Wechen believes that it will shorten the time for drying. ”

Wang Can said: "Bring a certain amount of cement, follow me into the palace, and demonstrate it to the important ministers in the court." ”

"Obey the order!"

Ma Jun hurriedly arranged, and he transferred three craftsmen. One of the craftsmen carried a generation of cement; a craftsman carrying an iron rod the thickness of his thumb; The last craftsman carried a bag of sand and gravel.

Wang Can said: "What do you do with an iron rod?" ”

Ma Jun replied: "Your Majesty, in order to reduce the brittleness and increase the durability of the hard stone slabs we made, when making the stone slabs, iron rods were added to the sand and stones. In this way, the hardstone slabs made are not easy to break. ”

"Good, good!"

Wang Can couldn't help but applaud.

In fact, he wrote about some methods of making cement, but when it came to the use of iron rods to reinforce it, he did not mention it and did not take it into account. In later generations, steel was added to the floors of houses to increase the load-bearing capacity. Wang Can didn't say it, but Ma Jun and the others thought of it, this is the wisdom of Ma Jun and the others.

This made Wang Can very happy.

Ma Jun bowed down and stood beside Wang Can, he didn't speak, but from Wang Can's words, he knew that Wang Can was very happy.

That's enough.

The group left the Ministry of Works and returned to the palace.

Wang Can arranged for someone to pass the order and summoned Cheng Yu, the first assistant of the cabinet, as well as Xun You, Guo Jia, Jia Xu, and Li Ru of the cabinet to the palace for an audience. The group was in the palace office, and when they got Wang Can's edict, they immediately rushed here.

Entering the hall, Cheng Yu took the lead in saluting Wang Can.

Wang Can waved his hand to let a few people get up, and said solemnly: "I summoned you here because the Ministry of Industry has produced a thing that benefits the country and the people, and I specially invite you to take a look at it so that it can be promoted." ”

Cheng Yu said: "What is it?" ”

The objects that the Ministry of Industry has withdrawn in the past two years, Cheng Yu is also looking forward to it. Previously, the Ministry of Industry revolutionized papermaking and produced more paper, so that the imperial court no longer used bamboo slips, and all paper was used as a fold.

This alone saves countless manpower and material resources. In addition, the promotion of movable type printing has also made the promotion of books more rapid, and more people in the world can read.

It can be said that the Ministry of Industry has made great contributions.

Wang Can said: "Ma Jun, go outside the hall for a demonstration." ”

"Whoa!"

Ma Jun should get down and walk out of the hall with Wang Can, Cheng Yu, Xun You and others. Outside the hall, three craftsmen were ready. The three of them got Ma Jun's order and quickly mixed the cement and sand and gravel.

Jia Xu and others were puzzled by this scene.

However, they did not move the specific operation, nor did they ask questions, but quietly watched as the craftsmen made a model of a stone slab using cement, sand, and iron rods.

Jia Xu said: "Your Majesty, what is the use of this thing?" ”

Wang Can replied, "This stone slab is soft now, but after eight hours, it will be as hard as iron." Even if it is a knife and axe sharp weapon, it cannot be cut directly. People step on it, and it has no effect. The raw material used to make this slate is called 'cement', which was just developed by the Ministry of Industry. ”

Jia Xu stroked his beard, and after examining it, there was a questioning look on his face. He is also dozens of years old, well-informed, and has never seen such a miraculous nothing, and said: "Your Majesty, it's not that the old minister doesn't believe it, it's that this thing is too unbelievable, how can it be hard?" ”

Wang Can said: "Facts speak louder than words, and we will be able to see it tomorrow morning." You are called today to make known to you. Tomorrow morning, you will come into the palace and see the hardness of this stone slab. ”

Cheng Yu said: "The old minister has to take a closer look. ”

Jia Xu said: "Lao Chen is also looking forward to whether he can harden in the end." ”

Li Ru, Guo Jia and others all looked looking forward to it.

After Wang Can finished arranging, he ordered the soldiers to guard the stone slab and let Ma Jun take people away, while he took Jia Xu, Cheng Yu and others to discuss state affairs, and only let everyone leave after the matter was dealt with.