On that day, Zhao Hongrun gathered everyone in the smelting bureau in a square in the bureau and sat on the floor with them to discuss how to increase the output of candles per unit time.

It has to be said that the flame of the crowd was high, and it didn't take long for a craftsman to stand up and propose: "It is better to use the method of household coinage to build a large mold, which can produce a hundred at a time." ”

Hearing this, the surrounding craftsmen nodded yes.

You know, they're the Smelting Bureau, and they're good at making any large mold, even the one used to cast coins, and it's the work of the craftsmen of the Smelting Bureau, so it's not a problem to build a large mold for candles.

But Zhao Hongrun was not satisfied with this.

After all, he had already thought about making large molds, and what made him difficult was how to solve the candle wick problem, and I have to say that the craftsman's suggestion did not get to the point.

At this time, another craftsman stood up and said hesitantly: "Your Highness, it's better to be like this: anyway, the wick of the candle is soaked in candle oil, and the wick soaked in candle oil will also solidify and form after cooling, and my smelting bureau will create a complete candle mold, and after pouring candle oil into the candle, insert the candle wick that has already solidified into the ......"

I have to say that the words of this old craftsman made Zhao Hongrun's eyes light up.

But at this moment, another craftsman frowned and retorted: "But in this case, how can you make sure that the wick must be in the middle of the candle?" According to one guess, although the wick is solidified in advance, if it is inserted into the hot candle oil, the wick must be softened, and the softened cotton thread cannot ensure that the candle crosses, let alone be in the middle. …… The proposal of the old craftsman. I'm afraid it's not appropriate. ”

Hearing this, not only did the old craftsman from before nod and sit down again with a regretful face, but even the nearby craftsmen also talked about it, feeling that these words were indeed very reasonable.

In this regard, Zhao Hongrun's expression was a little strange.

Because in his opinion, the old craftsman's proposal was very constructive. Therefore, he said tentatively: "The hot candle oil will soften the solidified candle oil on the surface of the candle wick, so what about lowering the temperature of the candle oil?" ”

"That doesn't guarantee that the wick will always be in the middle of the candle." Chen Tang, the official of the Smelting Bureau, shook his head and affirmed: "This method is not good. ”

『……』

Zhao Hongrun opened his mouth, but he was speechless.

He felt that the craftsmen of the Metallurgical Bureau seemed to be obsessive-compulsive people who strive for perfection, and they were too particular about excellence, although there was nothing wrong with saying this.

"If only the wick wouldn't soften." Cheng Lin, the official of the Smelting Bureau, muttered beside him.

Hear that. Zhao Hongrun's heart moved slightly.

He thought for a moment and muttered, "This king has an idea, but I don't know if it's feasible or not. ”

"His Royal Highness King Su, please speak." Jucheng Wang Fu hurriedly said.

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun gestured with both hands and said in a low voice: "Take a bamboo silk and wrap the cotton thread around it to act as a candle wick, so it will not bend." ”

As soon as the words fell. I saw that there was silence in the open space, and many craftsmen stared at Zhao Hongrun with wide eyes. Surprise and quirkiness on his face.

"Could it be that His Royal Highness King Su has already made up his mind? …… In fact, in the end, the reward of two thousand taels of silver was finally won by His Highness himself?'

Many craftsmen who were thinking about the two thousand taels of silver looked at Zhao Hongrun with their eyes.

I have to say that the craftsmen of the Smelting Bureau are quite pragmatic, even if someone hurriedly took a few bamboo threads and a ball of cotton thread, according to the way Zhao Hongrun said, the cotton thread was wound on the bamboo silk in a spiral.

First attempt. Failed.

Because the wick is about the thickness of a child's little finger.

Using this thing as a candlestick? How thick are candles in the market?

So, the craftsmen immediately sharpened the bamboo silk to a thinner and chose the cotton thread. The thinnest cotton thread is also used, and after such a toss, a wick that is only the thickness of the chopsticks is made.

And this candle wick, although it is elastic and can be completely, in the absence of external force, eliminates the possibility of bending, which makes many of the smelting bureau craftsmen present exclaim.

But the problem is that this new wick does not solve the most fundamental problem: how to ensure that the wick is always in the middle of the mold?

In this regard, even Zhao Hongrun has any good way.

However, seeing that His Royal Highness King Su had made a difficulty, the craftsmen of the All Metallurgical Bureau seemed to be interested, after all, according to the promise of His Royal Highness King Su, whoever solves this problem will receive a reward of two thousand taels of silver, which is a huge amount of money.

As a result, the craftsmen of the Metallurgical Bureau discussed with each other and put forward many suggestions.

I have to say that even Zhao Hongrun felt a little whimsical when he heard these suggestions, and they were completely in the clouds.

But admittedly, there are a few more reliable suggestions.

For example, one craftsman proposed changing the bottom of the mold so that the flat bottom of the mold becomes a pointed cone, so that as long as the wick above the mold is kept in the middle position, the wick will inevitably be in the center of the candle.

Not to mention, even Zhao Hongrun nodded secretly when he heard this wisdom.

The only question is, how to use a candle like this with a conical bottom? Is it possible to launch a candlestick to match it?

No, before Zhao Hongrun could ask, Langguan Chen Di had already asked a question similar to what Zhao Hongrun thought in his heart: "The bottom is sharpened, how to stand on the table?" ”

Coincidentally, the craftsman had already thought of a countermeasure, and it was still the countermeasure that Zhao Hongrun thought of: "My smelting bureau can launch a candlestick that matches this batch of candles." ”

In this regard, Chen Tang scoffed.

Don't look at this honest Lang official trembling in the face of Zhao Hongrun, but in terms of technology, the targeted questions he raised are really to the point: "Do you think that the people will spend an extra penny to buy the candlestick launched by my Smelting Bureau?" …… Or is it that when my smelting bureau sells candles, it gives away candlesticks for nothing? ”

The craftsman was silent and sat down in a daze.

Think about it, you must know that candles are not cheap daily consumables, far less expensive than oil lamps. Therefore, there were originally fewer people in Wei who used candles than those who used oil lamps.

But now, the Smelting Bureau has produced a batch of candles, but the people of Wei who already think that candles are expensive need to spend an extra amount of money to buy a candlestick, who will buy it?

As for giving it away for free, don't even think about it.

Buy a candle once and get a candle holder free?

If a common man only buys a candle. So do you send it or not?

Give?

That's okay, the smelting bureau has to lose so much that even the pants are due!

And just then, another craftsman stood up and said, "Actually, we can cut off part of the bottom and flatten it, wouldn't it be good?" Cut off candles can still be melted again and remade. ”

"That sounds a lot more reliable."

Zhao Hongrun nodded secretly and took the initiative to ask the names of the two craftsmen. If his smelting bureau finally chooses their proposal, then the two craftsmen will divide the bounty of two thousand taels of silver equally.

At this point, Zhao Hongrun has always been very generous.

But Zhao Hongrun's inquiry, in addition to making the two craftsmen's faces glow with joy, also made the rest of the nearby craftsmen a little red.

They racked their brains and thought of a better way, after all, it was about the huge bounty!

Time. The whole square fell silent, and as far as the eye could see. I saw that those craftsmen were all concentrating on thinking, and at the same time gesturing with their hands to something, so that the open space, which was obviously hundreds of people, was silent.

Suddenly, a young craftsman stood up and proposed, "Your Highness." In fact, we can make a candle with a candle wick space inside, and then put the wick in it after making a candle......"

As he spoke, he got carried away and ran in front of the crowd. He gestured with both hands and added: "Your Highness, my smelting bureau can use the method of minting coins in the household department to create a whole iron mold, and this whole mold can have dozens of grooves for making candles, and the advantage of this is that as long as we pour candle oil into the mold, the candle oil will fill each individual groove by itself...... As for the wick, it is recommended that when making the mold, place an iron chopstick with a thickness of about the same thickness as the wick in the center of the bottom of each groove...... Wait for the candles in these grooves to solidify, well, we can design at the bottom of the mold and push the formed candles out. Finally, we use the wick improved by His Highness, dip it in hot candle oil, and insert it directly into the gap of these candles, and the hot candle oil will dissolve with the inner wall of the candle, so that a candle is made. ”

"Huh?"

Zhao Hongrun glanced at the young craftsman in front of him in surprise, and couldn't help but ask, "What's your name?" ”

I saw that the young craftsman forcibly suppressed the joy in his heart, and said respectfully: "Returning to His Highness, he is called Ding Jun below!" ”

『Ding Jun ......』

Zhao Hongrun muttered the name in his heart, although he had never underestimated these "ancient craftsmen" in his cognitive concept, it was undeniable that he was shocked by the wisdom of these "ancient craftsmen", especially this craftsman named Ding Jun.

Because perhaps only Zhao Hongrun will understand that Ding Jun's suggestion has at least surpassed the candle craft of this era for a full thousand years.

You must know that even the Yu Department, who is responsible for making candles, still stays in the same process that the Smelting Bureau has tried: creating two semi-circular molds and clamping the wicks with two semi-circular candles.

Compared with the more and more perfect, almost one-step candle making method of the Smelting Bureau, how can it be described as backward?

Immediately, Zhao Hongrun made a decision to reward Ding Jun with 1,000 taels of silver, and reward the other two craftsmen who initially proposed to make candles with large molds with 500 taels of silver each.

In addition, all personnel in the entire smelting bureau will be issued an additional month's salary.

Everybody, rejoice.

"Let's have a big deal!"

When Zhao Hongrun announced the official creation of a large-scale mold, all the craftsmen present couldn't help but cheer.

Although the task given to them by Zhao Hongrun is quite onerous.

In half a month, ten large candle molds were built, and each mold could produce 100 candles at the same time.

It has to be said that as long as this matter goes well, the speed at which the Smelting Bureau will make candles desperate for any candle workshop in the country, including the workshop managed by the Yu Department under the Ministry of Industry. (To be continued.) )