Xu Yuanzuo is by no means an honest gentleman who speaks to everyone in everything. The reason why he told Li Teng the purpose of his trip was only because of Li Teng's identity.

Li Teng, a Taoist priest, is the apprentice of the first assistant Li Chunfang. In this era when master and apprentice are like father and son, it is not too much to directly regard him as Li Chunfang's son. What's more, both of them are surnamed Li, who knows if they are nephews of their own clan. After Li Chunfang returned to his hometown, Li Teng still stayed in Beijing, and he was deaf and clear-sighted, and did not have the slightest intention of keeping his eyes dirty, which was very interesting.

"Shouldn't this matter be handled by the Ministry of Household and the Ministry of Industry?" Li Teng said: "I can't help with this benefit." ”

"Then why did you come to me?" Xu Yuanzuo asked.

"Friends catch up." Li Teng said it rightly.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Xu Yuanzuo didn't believe it at all.

Li Teng laughed for a while and said, "Actually, I heard that you are here, and one is that I want to see the old ones." The second is that I also came to you to make a fate. ”

Xu Yuanzuo tilted his head and shouted outside the door: "Qi Miao, take twenty taels of silver." ”

Li Teng scolded with a smile: "I have a cheap land!" ”

"Chess! Don't take it! Xu Yuanzuo immediately shouted.

Li Teng was helpless: "Okay, okay, I'll just say it." I'm really here to make a fate, but I'm afraid twenty taels is not enough, I want two thousand taels. ”

Xu Yuanzuo was stunned and said, "30,000 taels can buy a first assistant." ”

Li Teng's face that had just been tensed immediately made Xu Yuanzuo laugh again, and scolded: "I can't talk to you about business!" But you arranged Gao Xinzheng, and it was really easy to get it. ”

"False praise."

- Who's praising you!

Li Teng chirped: "It's too shameless! ”

Xu Yuanzuo said: "Two thousand taels is really not a small amount. Why do you want so much silver for doing some chemical experiments......"

"Chemistry?" Li Teng said: "I want to build a temple. ”

Xu Yuanzuo sighed: "Then I am even more reluctant, I don't believe in the Three Qing and Four Emperors, and they don't recognize my good when I give you silver." You don't have the right place, you should go to those believers. ”

Li Teng said: "If I am empty-handed. Then, of course, just go to another financial owner. You give me two thousand taels, and I'll exchange the good things with you. ”

Xu Yuanzuo said: "Let's not talk about why you didn't ask Li Ge Lao. Let's talk about this good thing, are you sure it's worth two thousand taels? ”

"It may not be worth it to others, but it must be worth it to you." Li Teng said: "Just like the medicine for the prevention and control of turtle hands, in the lower people, it is just to prevent and control hand cracks in winter." The price is three or five dollars; In the militaristic state, it is not easy to strengthen the sailors. ”

Xu Yuanzuo nodded slightly and said, "That's true." I see that you are a real cultivator, and I believe you once, so let's hear about it. ”

Li Teng was not in a hurry to speak, and deliberately interrupted: "How do you know that I have real cultivation?" ”

"Because you make me feel comfortable, even if I know that you have a plan, but I don't feel weird." Xu Yuanzuo said truthfully: "I want the empirical evidence of cultivators. Probably right here. ”

Li Teng didn't expect Xu Yuanzuo to have such insight, and said unexpectedly: "It seems that I still underestimate the heroes of the world, although you have never practiced, your wisdom is not inferior to that of a monk." ”

"Life is a practice." Xu Yuanzuoyun said lightly.

"Teachable." Li Teng saluted, and then said: "I have some ancient Dan prescriptions in my hand, or I want to use these Dan prescriptions as a price for you, either by searching for classics or visiting famous mountains." Xu Yuanzuo listened quietly. Li Teng continued: "I heard that you paved the road with cement in Tanghang. Want a cheaper and more convenient solution? ”

"You know all about cement?" Xu Yuanzuo was shocked by the speed with which the news spread.

"Good things don't go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles." Li Teng said with a smile: "Tang Xing Xu's son is extravagant and wasteful. I'm afraid I'll be able to write it into a book. ”

Xu Yuanzuo smiled: "Some people say that I am paving the road with silver, but it won't spread so far." ”

Li Teng said: "It depends on which circle it is." For ordinary people, this is just a small talk to show off their wealth. For many of the Daomen, it was a big deal. ”

"What's the matter with you Taoist priests?" Xu Yuanzuo was puzzled.

Li Teng smiled: "You don't know why." The so-called cement of your southerners is called Guji mud in Danding Gate, which is used by Danshi to seal the furnace and insulate the gas. The most famous June mud is the construction of Nanjing City at the beginning of the country. Used to build walls with bricks. The laity are ignorant, thinking that the city wall of Nanjing is strong because it is sticky with glutinous rice juice, hehe, only the craftsmen who do the work know what is going on, and ask the Taoist priest to ask for the recipe. It has been eaten from generation to generation and used to this day. ”

Xu Yuanzuo knew that what Li Teng said was true, and said: "Even so, I already have this mud." ”

"Those craftsmen won't give you the recipe." Li Teng said firmly.

"I just need to buy the finished product, and I don't necessarily have to have a formula." Xu Yuanzuo didn't care.

Li Teng said: "However, your finished product is also very limited. Have you heard the story of Sanfeng Patriarch building a Danchang in Yunnan and turning mud into stone overnight? ”

"I've heard a little."

Legend has it that the Taoist priest Zhang Sanfeng ignited the exiled Shen Wansan in Yunnan to build a place for alchemy, turning thousands of acres of mud into stone overnight. Of course, the details are not believable, but there is always a mother to the story. Considering the identity of Taoist Zhang Sanfeng, knowing the Liuyi mud, and showing a small hand, it is not a fantasy to let the uninformed southwest man marvel and sing.

"Not to mention other solid mud, I know twenty formulas of Liuyi mud alone. The physical properties are different depending on the formula. The cement you buy must be used for the bricks of the city wall, which is expensive and complicated, and the effect may not be good. Li Teng said: "Liuyi mud was originally used by Taoist priests to seal Danding, and it was only used for a few dozen catties at a time, so it doesn't hurt to be slightly more expensive." The brick wrapping of the city wall is a major event for the ages, and it is often necessary to gather the power of one government and one place to do it, of course, regardless of the cost. You want to use it to pave the way, and unless you have a cornucopia at home, it's hard to do it. ”

"So, can you give me a recipe for a good price?" Xu Yuanzuo confirmed.

Li Teng smiled mysteriously: "In the formula of Liuyi mud, there are ten kinds of medicines at most, and only two kinds at the least. My teacher and I have been trying to make it, and now although we haven't found the formula of Patriarch Mitoyo's 'overnight stone', it is also a little small. In particular, there are only five kinds of medicines that are readily available. The price is low. The most expensive is only labor, but there are many people in Jiangnan, so it doesn't hurt to think about it. ”

Xu Yuanzuo pondered slightly after hearing this, and said: "This thing is in my hands, and it can indeed be used as a militaristic killing weapon." But I don't think it's enough to exchange for two thousand taels. ”

Li Teng looked at Xu Yuanzuo with a smile.

Xu Yuanzuo said seriously: "It's not that I deliberately bargained. Actually, I also know the general recipe of this 61 mud. In addition to grinding to fine. I really don't know the ratio of other components, smelting time and temperature. But I could have found someone to try it out. Keep the amount of other drugs inconvenient, increase or decrease the dosage of a single drug, and find the main drug - well, no need to find it, Sun Zhenren said: the most important thing is alum stone and red stone grease. If I had tried it myself, I might not have needed 2,000 taels in the end. ”

"You can use it when you get it." Li Teng did not deny Xu Yuanzuo's statement, he tried it out this way.

"I'm not in a hurry." Xu Yuanzuo also did not deny the advantages of Li Teng's words. But how could he be shackled by such words.

Li Teng said helplessly: "I am a Taoist priest after all, not like you as a profiteer, bargaining with you is really a hatchet." He said, "Since you are going to go by sea, then you must use artillery." I also have a gunpowder recipe here, which is much more powerful than the gunpowder of the Shenji Battalion and the Gunpowder Bureau. ”

"Just use gunpowder on the market, how much can it cost in a year? Besides, how much gunpowder do I use in business? You should sell it to Thistle. Xu Yuanzuo was noncommittal, on the one hand, he wanted to bargain, and on the other hand, he also had the intention of exploring Li Teng's old bottom.

Li Teng said helplessly: "Qi Dudu wants it." But he couldn't make it himself, so he had to hand it over to the Gunpowder Bureau. I don't want this recipe to leak out. Just do it. ”

Xu Yuanzuo sighed and stopped talking.

Li Teng said: "What else do you want?" Let's put it bluntly. ”

Xu Yuanzuo said: "Friends have the righteousness of wealth, don't look at Xu as such a philistine." ”

Li Teng snorted with a smile.

"I've heard you say this, and I think it's interesting." Xu Yuanzuo said: "Especially if you know it, you don't know why it is, and you are very misleading." Why don't you spread these things out? ”

Li Teng fell into deep thought, and only said after a while: "I'm still afraid that it is not human." Miscellaneous uses such as 61 mud. It doesn't hurt to spread the word. If it weren't for the generosity of the ancestors, how could the wine-making method of 'chasing souls' and 'seizing souls' now. But if a killing weapon like gunpowder spreads, it may not be a blessing for the people. He paused and said, "I am raising money everywhere, just to build a temple in a remote place and accept some disciples. Inspecting the temperament, the good students sorted out the Danfang passed down by the ancestors. ”

"No wonder no one gave you money." Xu Yuanzuo said with a smile.

Li Teng said: "The nobles in Beijing also think that the temple is too remote and does not help merit. As everyone knows, even if the temple is built outside the Daming Gate, there is no merit. ”

Xu Yuanzuo laughed and said: "You are eating the grandfather's rice and smashing the grandfather's bowl!" ”

"That's true. The importance of wealth and silk offering is the word offering, is it a transaction of merit? Li Teng pouted: "So this matter is really a headache, and I can only ask Jinglian here." ”

Xu Yuanzuo spoke, and his spirit improved, and he said, "I really like the craft of alchemy." Turning one thing into another is mysterious, but real. Li Teng nodded in agreement, feeling like a bosom friend.

Xu Yuanzuo continued: "Tongfeng just said that I don't know why, so I have something to ask Tongfeng. If Brother Tongfeng can advise, then I will buy these two formulas for two thousand taels. If Brother Tai can't teach me to be convinced, then let's discuss it again. ”

Li Teng said: "I must know everything." ”

Xu Yuanzuo said: "It's like this: the inside of our new house should be painted with a layer of chalk, and then the doors and windows should be closed, and a pot fire will be built in the house. The strange thing is that the chalk painted on the wall was originally powdered and slag, but after baking, it became more damp, and after a night, the moisture receded, and the wall became like stone. What the hell is going on? ”

Li Teng listened to the question and didn't know how to explain it to him. If you only say that the properties of things are different, it is the principle of the biochemistry of things, not only is I afraid that Xu Yuanzuo will not understand, but it is estimated that Xu Yuanzuo will not be convinced - because all the changes in pills are like this. And it's okay to say these words to the apprentice, I really know a lot, but I feel that there is still a layer of paper.

Although Xu Yuanzuo is a science scumbag, he still remembers the reaction of calcium hydroxide with carbon dioxide to produce calcium carbonate and water in junior high school chemistry. The so-called chalk of this era was actually calcium hydroxide, and there was also a common name called hydrated lime, which was mixed with real calcium carbonate chalk - mainly because there were no chemistry classes.

Of course, on the earth during the Longqing period, the Easterners were busy with alchemy, and the Westerners were busy with alchemy, and no one knew that a little thing called "chemistry" would hatch in the future.

"There's one more question." Xu Yuanzuo waited for a while without an answer, and then asked: "Dao is born of one, life is two, and two is born of three." At this point, it is quite clear that the Tao is the original will, giving birth to the original material 'one', but evolving into yin and yang, black and white, positive and negative...... That is, two. Yin and yang are born together, positive and negative fight each other, so there is 'three'. How did this come about? What are all things? ”

Li Teng sat like a clay sculpture for a long time before he said, "This is also what the Taoists want to explore." ”

Xu Yuanzuo said: "If you want to separate all things one by one, name them, summarize their reactions to each other, and explore the root cause. I'd like to sponsor. ”

Li Teng was surprised: "There has always been no shortage of people doing this, and it is indeed a promising thing." However, how can you profit from it? ”

If it could have been profitable, someone would have thrown money into it a long time ago. Since ancient times, Xu Yuanzuo is not the only wealthy businessman, and it is not only the capitalists of later generations who can realize the importance of technology.

Xu Yuanzuo thought for a while and said, "If you want to make a profit directly, I'm afraid there is really no way." However, this matter is the foundation of why Huaxia is Huaxia, and the derivatives in it may not only have huge profits, but also cause changes in the sky. For example, gunpowder. ”

Without chemistry, there would be no steelmaking, no high-energy explosives, no pesticides to increase food production.

Pesticides can increase grain production and make food no longer a chain around the neck of commerce. Let more labor flow into the field of production and sales, and stimulate economic development.

Steel and explosives were the passports for merchants to walk the world. When you come across a closed door, you have to rely on these two things to knock on the door. They are at the same time highly profitable commodities, and the market is well cultivated - it is just a matter of provoking the two groups to fight.

All thanks to chemistry.

Xu Yuanzuo still remembers that the teacher in chemistry class talked about atoms, electrons, and other things, and there is definitely no way to observe them now. However, the establishment of hypotheses, the determination of the names of substances, and the accumulation and summary of chemical reactions should not be underestimated in promoting science and technology. If the optimal formula can be studied through the exhaustive method, the commercial value is also very high.

"Brother Tongfeng, you and I have no rebellion, salty in my heart, I can give you more silver, a lot of silver. But all the utensils, strange things, and recipes you have studied must belong to me. Xu Yuanzuo said.

Li Teng frowned: "It's yours?" ”

"Qingshi is still your name, but you can't sell it to others without my hands." Xu Yuanzuo explained.

Li Teng thought about it, and others may not be able to afford this money, not to mention that the amount of silver invested in advance is huge, but there is no return, who is willing to invest money? The world expects others to dig wells to drink water by themselves, but Xu Yuanzuo is willing to dig wells to find water, which can be regarded as righteousness in comparison.

"Okay." Li Teng nodded in agreement.

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For the specific technical parameters of Liuyi mud in this paper, and whether it can be compared with Portland cement in later generations, please refer to Huang Lin's "Research on Ancient Chinese Liuyi Mud" by Huang Lin of the University of Science and Technology of China.

*(To be continued.) )