Copper smelting is not in a hurry, he plans to smelt zinc first.

After grinding, more than 200 catties of zinc concentrate powder were obtained; More than 30 catties of copper concentrate powder. Of course, due to the primitive beneficiation technology and one-person operation, the so-called concentrate powder is not too "fine", and the proportion of rock in it is still very large.

He mixed the selected 200 catties of zinc concentrate powder and crushed coal powder into three clay cylinders in a ratio of two to one. According to the plan, after loading more than half of it, it was sealed with mud, leaving a small hole the thickness of a thumb.

At the top of the clay pot, the clay pot is used to make a condensation roof, and a hole is still left in the opposite direction of the lower outlet hole, and then sealed with yellow mud to minimize the escape of zinc gas.

Because the lid at the top of the pot is exposed to air, the temperature of the condensing chamber is at most four or five hundred or five or six hundred degrees.

It is also very simple to lower the temperature of the condensing chamber by storing water in a yellow mud paste reservoir on it, but it is not necessary. Because zinc gas almost certainly condenses at five or six hundred degrees, it rarely escapes. The leaks are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or other oxide gases mentioned earlier.

In order to prevent the crockpot from burning and exploding, it was also wrapped in a thumb-thick layer of yellow mud.

On the third day, he found some wood to make a fire in the kitchen of the Taoist temple, then put coal around the three clay pots, and began to make a fire to smelt zinc.

In order to increase the temperature, the fuel is still coal, because coal is hotter than charcoal and has a higher calorific value efficiency.

……

Ten days later, all the concentrate powder was smelted. He practiced more than 70 catties of zinc and a little more than 9 catties of copper.

The Lord of the Nine Heavens was not there, so he went out to check the farm. Then he went to find someone to open the door, borrowed a crucible, and smelted the brass. He used the ratio of copper:zinc = 6:4. In this way, 15.2 catties of brass were smelted.

These brass are equivalent to 3.8 catties of silver, that is, 60.8 taels, which is converted into copper coins, which is more than 48 pounds. Excluding the various costs, it is about the same, but it is a lot of money.

It stands to reason that it is impossible to have such a high profit in smelting metals. Just because at this time the price of brass (鍮) was twenty times higher than that of bronze. This is an unreasonable price, so Wu Yanzhi's brass is very valuable.

If you follow the price of bronze, but you always earn more money, it is far from catching up with those who do silk, porcelain, and salt business!

Of course, this is mainly due to the lack of large-scale production, plus Wu Yanzhi has spent about the usual costs, which are all uncontrolled and random expenditures.

Wu Yanzhi's book has also been written, that is, he summarized the smelting experience and wrote a book "Seven Gold Essence", which is about the smelting techniques of gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc and other seven metals.

With the money, Wu Yanzhi went to Beishi, spent two rounds of money, and made two new sets of his whole body from the head to the boots.

This has always been a full set of clothes, hats, shoes, and belts made of money, and at that time, it was also considered a high-end product. Because at this time, the monthly material of a six-grade official is only 2.4 yuan.

Back at the Taoist temple, everyone saw that Wu Yanzhi was wearing a high-grade muslin shirt and black leather six-fold boots today, but their faces were full of surprise, and they didn't know why he suddenly became rich.

There are also a few who guess that he is very close to the Guanzhu, thinking that he must have obtained the secret of the Guanzhu's refining of the stone and made a fortune. Because people knew that he bought ore, but they didn't know what he was doing with it at the time.

Back in his room, he collapsed on the bed and began to ponder how to present his skills to the Emperor. It's not a way to live in a Taoist temple for a long time! Besides, this sneaking brass refining is not a long-term solution, after all, he is not a person of industry and commerce, and it is inconvenient to work for a long time.

It was not until the Song Dynasty that the status of merchants was able to catch up with that of commoners, and their children could also participate in the imperial examinations. Of course, the status of businessmen and officials is still far from comparable!

The children of Tang Dynasty workers and merchants were not allowed to participate in the imperial examination. Li Bai's father was a businessman, and he was exiled for breaking the law, so Li Bai could not take the exam.

It's not that I deliberately want to participate. Those who boast that he is not willing to take the exam are nonsense. Because in fact, Li Bai has been seeking officials all his life!

……

It's May, and the weather in the city is very hot, but the climate inside this temple is very cool because of the high terrain and the ancient trees. The empty room in the Taoist temple has long been occupied by some officials, who come here from time to time to enjoy the shade.

This morning, Wu Yanzhi was ready to go out and go to Beishi to hang out. Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out of the door, a Taoist handyman in his twenties hurriedly ran over, saying that Xue Gong was here again.

It just so happened that the master of the Nine Heavens Dao was not there, and the master of the Qingxu Throne heard that Wu Yanzhi was a little good at Go, and was ready to let him accompany Xue Jichang to talk about a few games.

This miscellaneous servant happened to be the person who had carried calamine for Wu Yanzhi some time ago, and he was also very familiar with Wu Yanzhi.

When Wu Yanyi heard this, he raised his eyebrows, and instantly said with joy: "Okay!" I'll go back to the house to get a little ready, please help me do something, I have a lot of thanks! ”

"Oh? Wu Lang has something to do, but please command! The villain dares to disobey orders! "That miscellaneous servant has long known the details of Wu Yanzhi, and he is very respectful. In addition, I heard that there is a heavy thanks, and the natural attitude is excellent.

"You just need to exchange some money for me and send it to the upper seat!" Wu Yanzhi explained seriously.

"This is a trivial matter, the villain must do it, please rest assured that Wu Lang is!" What he heard was that he went to North City to exchange money and come back, and then handed it over to him, what was the difficulty of this matter? There is also a considerable tip, which is naturally very happy.

……

Master Qingxu and Jiuxiao Refiner are about the same age, both in their seventies. The same gray hair, holding the dust, a fairy wind bone, excellent momentum!

He was chatting with Xue Jichang, the chief doctor.

Seeing Wu Yanzhi come in, his clothes were quite gorgeous, and his momentum was much different from the past, and Master Qingxu was full of surprise! He said to the waiter on the side, "Hurry up and serve tea to Wu Lang!" ”

"Yes!" The waiter hurriedly took a cup of tea and brought it over.

"Late life to see Xue Gong, Qingxu Dao Chief!"

"You're welcome!" Both of them said.

"Wu Lang, today the Lord of the Nine Heavens went to Heyang to check the farm, and he was not in the view. I heard that you are also quite proficient in chess, so you might as well talk about a few games with Xue Gongshou. Although the chess skills may be thousands of miles away from Xue's, it doesn't matter if you win or lose, just learn from your predecessors! Master Qingxu smiled.

"That's good! In this case, the late students are learning Go for the first time, and I also ask Xue Gong to teach the late students a lot! Wu Yanzhi said indifferently.

"Hmmm! Okay, then I'll see how good Takero is at playing chess! This game of chess also depends on understanding, and people with high understanding can learn chess quickly and can be taught.

Those people with mediocre qualifications, after teaching him for ten or twenty years, still haven't grown at all! I have a nephew who is such a person. Xue Jichang nodded.

Wu Yanzhi sat down and saluted Xue Jichang, and after Wu Yanzhi still placed the four seats, he took the initiative to grab a sunspot to show politeness.

Master Qingxu didn't know anything about Go, but after Wu Yanzhi threw down the five sunspots, he felt Xue Jichang's face change drastically, and he became a little nervous!