More than half of the time.

A three-way green canopy carriage was guarded by more than 100 horsemen and slowly moved towards the open space twenty miles east of Fuyang City.

"The prince has arrived, come with me to pick up the car."

A flash of excitement flashed on Zhu Zongting's face, and then he grabbed Zhu Zongnian's wrist and was about to run towards the car.

"Brother Ting'er, why don't you ...... Why don't you let me wash my face first?"

Zhu Zongnian looked embarrassed and pointed at his face with his other hand.

At this time, the open space was busy building blast furnaces and buildings, and there was naturally a lot of dust.

And Zhu Zongnian is slightly fat, and he has been studying "rare and ingenious" at home all the year round, and his body bones are naturally not much stronger.

Under the scorching sun, the sweat on his face never faded.

Zhu Zongting paused, and glanced at Zhu Zongnian's face full of black scars helplessly.

Rather helplessly, he urged, "Go quickly, go quickly."

Saying that, Zhu Zongting quickly let go of Zhu Zongnian's wrist and added, "Hurry up, don't lose your etiquette in front of the prince."

"Right away, right away." Zhu Zongnian agreed while running.

More than ten years later.

Zhu Zongnian rushed to the basin, picked up a handful of ice water with both hands, and then threw himself into his face.

"Poof! Comfortable." As soon as Fang touched the ice water, Zhu Zongnian couldn't help but let out a loud shout.

But soon, Zhu Zongnian, who had just been refreshed, was stunned on the spot for some reason in the posture of holding water.

"Zong Nian! Zongnian!" Seeing that Zhu Zongnian had not moved for a long time, the three-way green canopy carriage in the distance was getting closer and closer to the open space at this time.

Zhu Zongting couldn't help shouting twice.

However, Zhu Zongnian still maintained a stunned posture as if he hadn't heard it at all.

"Zong Nian! The prince is almost here!" Zhu Zongting urged and ran towards the pavilion in a hurry.

"Zong Nian! The prince is coming! Don't lose your manners!" Before approaching, Zhu Zongting grabbed Zhu Zongnian's wrist and dragged Zhu Zongnian towards the three-yuan green canopy carriage while urging.

Half a quarter of an hour later.

The three-wheel green canopy carriage slowly stopped in front of the two of them.

"Minister, the special envoy of the palace, Zhu Zongting, pays a visit to the prince!"

Zhu Zongting straightened his clothes, and then bowed to the carriage.

"The envoy of the court is exempt."

Yang Xian'an slowly pulled the curtain, and Xu Yi, who was dressed in a dark jade-colored green dragon suit, slowly walked from the carriage.

"Yes, Lord."

Zhu Zongting bowed again, and his arm touched Zhu Zongnian's arm, who had been standing behind him, without a trace.

Although its movements are subtle, it is difficult to escape Xu Yi's eyes.

"This is the wizard the old lady said?" Xu Yi smiled, and then asked.

I don't know if it's because of the heat or what.

A dense layer of fine beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Zhu Zongting's forehead.

"Back to the prince, this person is Zhu Zongnian." Zhu Zongting replied.

Then he paused slightly, his body couldn't help but bend deeply, and he lowered his head and said, "Zong Nian has often wandered his mind since he was a child, and I hope that the prince will forgive me for the rudeness."

Xu Yi chuckled and waved his hand slightly, "It's okay, when I see a lot of strange people, they wander from time to time, maybe Zong Nian is pregnant with some unknown whimsical ideas in his mind at this time."

Zhu Zongnian laughed twice when he heard this, so he had to put the matter on hold for the time being.

Then he made an invitation behind him: "It's hot here, and please follow the prince to the pavilion."

Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then looked at the busy people in front of him as he walked.

"Zong Ting, how did the Zhu family settle these people?"

At the gazebo, Xu Yi slowly sat down and asked.

When Zhu Zongting heard this, he hurriedly replied, "Back to the prince, the Zhu family has hired more than 3,000 people and more than 1,000 craftsmen at a price one percent higher than the market price."

"Please rest assured that this place can be completely completed before the farming is busy.

We will never delay the farming work."

Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "The Zhu family has a heart."

After the words fell, Xu Yi looked at Zhu Zongting and asked again, "Can there be a map to build here?"

"Lord Wang, this is a map that we have negotiated with a hundred masters, please take a look."

Hearing this, Zhu Zongting quickly took out a few pieces of rice paper from the hem of his sleeve and presented his hands to Xu Yi.

Xu Yi nodded slightly, then reached out to take the rice paper and savored it.

It is not difficult to see from the map that the Zhu family has taken great pains to choose the site or build.

Whether it is the two workshops or the buildings in the back, the most reasonable distribution has been achieved, and there is no need for improvement.

Apart from...... Blast furnace.

And Xu Yi came this time for the blast furnace.

A well-laid out blast furnace saves not only time, but also a lot of manpower, material resources, energy, etc.

Xu Yi slowly put away the map and handed it back to Zhu Zongting.

Then he asked, "How many blast furnaces have been built at this time?"

Along the way, few people continued to build blast furnaces on the open land.

That's why I asked this question.

Zhu Zongting's face paused slightly when he heard this, and then he replied: "Back to the prince, the foundation of a hundred blast furnaces has been laid, and if it is progressing normally, it should be possible to complete a hundred within ten days."

"But ......" The corner of Zhu Zongting's eyes flashed from Zhu Zongnian, who was still in a daze, and then he continued to speak, "But now, we have found a method that seems to be more efficient in building a blast furnace."

"At this time, we are organizing people to verify what seems to be a more efficient method."

"Therefore, from this day onwards, we are postponing the construction of the blast furnace."

"Oh?" Xu Yi was surprised when he heard this: "A more efficient method of building a blast furnace?"

Zhu Zongting said worriedly: "It is suspicious, the minister has already organized people to verify it, and I believe it will not take long to draw a conclusion."

Xu Yi's face turned slightly straight, and he asked, "Is there a map of the new blast furnace?"

Hearing this, Zhu Zongting quickly took out a mahogany long box from the hem of his sleeve.

"This is the method of cultivating the new blast furnace, and I invite the prince to take a look."

Zhu Zongting held up the mahogany box with both hands, and presented it to Xu Yi with his back bent.

Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then reached out to take the mahogany long box.

As the mahogany box was slowly opened, a pair of red ropes lay quietly in the mahogany box.

Xu Yi untied the red rope and slowly unfolded it, and the familiar blast furnace instantly appeared in front of him.

"Where did this law come from?" Just by glancing, Xu Yi closed it, and then asked with a precious face.

Seeing that his face was serious.

Zhu Zongting didn't dare to talk about anything else.

hurriedly bowed and said, "Back to the prince, this picture was made by the minister's brother Zongnian."

"Zhu Zongnian?" Xu Yi muttered in a low voice, and then looked at Zhu Zongnian, who was still in a daze.

Last night, he only heard that Zhu Zongnian could perfectly restore the repeater that had disappeared for hundreds of years.

But I have never heard that this son can improve the blast furnace.

If this thing is really painted by Zhu Zongnian.

Well, this person is really a genius who is not born!

Just when Xu Yi was distracted.

Zhu Zongnian, who was originally in a daze, suddenly stared at the water basin not far away and the newly replaced ice cubes in it, and sighed again and again.

"In winter, because of the cold, the water droplets condense into ice."

"What about summer? How do you get rid of the heat in the water in the summer?"

"Cellar? Ice Seeker?"

Zhu Zongnian stared at the ice cubes in the basin that were melting extremely slowly, and couldn't help muttering to himself.

Xu Yi, who came back to his senses, heard Zhu Zongnian's muttering.

His heart moved slightly, and then he slowly spoke, "Saltpeter."

"Saltpeter?" Zhu Zongnian frowned when he heard this, "Saltpeter is not

Do you want to make fireworks? The five elements of this thing belong to fire, how can it be heated?"

As soon as the words fell, Zhu Zongnian slowly turned around.

I saw that the person in front of me was wearing a white jade crown and a dark jade-colored green dragon robe, and his appearance was exceptionally good.

With just a glance, Zhu Zongnian recognized the identity of the person in front of him.

"Xiaomin Zhu Zongnian, meet His Royal Highness King Yan."

Zhu Zongnian panicked in his heart, and hurriedly bowed his hand.

Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and said, "No courtesy."

Then he looked at Zhu Zongnian in front of him, and slowly asked, "Zongnian is just drilling and developing the ice method?"

Seeing that there was no blame in Xu Yi's eyes.

Zhu Zongnian couldn't help but feel relieved.

Then he asked in a low voice, "His Royal Highness King Yan said that saltpeter can be used to make ice?"

Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "Although saltpeter is a necessary thing for fireworks, this thing is extremely cold-loving, and if it is placed in water, it can absorb the heat in the water and make it condense into ice."

"As for yes or no, saltpeter is not a rare thing, and Zong Nian can send someone back to the city to buy it and personally verify the results."

Zhu Zongnian nodded heavily when he heard this, and said, "Xiaomin, thank the prince for solving his doubts."

As soon as the words fell, Zhu Zongnian couldn't help but tilt his head slightly, and looked at Zhu Zongting with a pleading face.

Zhu Zongting nodded helplessly and said, "I'll arrange for someone to buy it."

"Thank you, brother, thank you, brother." An extraordinarily bright smile instantly bloomed on Zhu Zongnian's face, and he thanked him again and again.

"Lord, the ministers will come when they go." Zhu Zongting shook his head helplessly, and then his face turned straight and he bowed to Xu Yi.

Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "Order someone to buy more saltpeter, and prepare some large basins and clay pots."

"Obey the order!" Zhu Zongting saluted solemnly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and walked quickly towards his entourage not far away.

After Zhu Zongting returns.

Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and motioned for the two to take their seats.

"Xie Wang Ye (His Royal Highness King Yan)." Zhu Zongting and Zhu Zongnian bowed their hands to thank them, and then slowly sat down.

After the two of them are seated.

Xu Yi spread the blast furnace map in his hand on the stone table.

Interested in the school test, he said, "Zong Nian, why can this blast furnace improve efficiency?"

Zhu Zongnian wiped the sweat from his forehead when he heard this.

Then he said unhurriedly: "Back to the prince, this blast furnace alone is not enough to improve the efficiency too much."

"This blast furnace is just a little more rational than the existing blast furnace structure."

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Zongting's face instantly turned pale.

"Zong Nian, that's not what you said." Zhu Zongting looked at Zhu Zongnian with a pale face and asked in a low voice.

Xu Yi waved his hand slightly as usual, motioning for Zhu Zongnian to continue.

Zhu Zongnian bowed to Xu Yi gratefully.

Then he turned his head slightly and whispered, "Brother, don't panic, and wait for my brother to finish speaking."

As soon as the words fell, Zhu Zongnian immediately saluted again with a straight face: "His Royal Highness King Yan."

"This thing can't greatly improve the efficiency of ironmaking."

"But if it is combined with the other two things, it can directly increase the efficiency of ironmaking by at least 50%."

Xu Yi understood in his heart, and slowly asked, "The two things you mentioned are coke made from coal washing, and limestone?"

......Hearing this, Zhu Zongnian was directly stunned on the spot, and whispered in disbelief, "How did His Royal Highness King Yan know....... I...... I found out by accident......

For a while, Zhu Zongnian was stunned as if the second monk was confused.

No matter how much they think, they can't understand it.

Coal has been used since the previous dynasty.

It's just that it's very difficult to mine.

And then it is rarely really revealed to the people.

As for open-pit coal mines, due to factors such as transportation and price, this item can only be exposed to large households.

And most of the dignitaries still use those good charcoal.

It is precisely because of this that the word "coke" has not yet been invented.

Or it was invented, but it didn't spread due to various factors.

Therefore, Zhu Zongnian has always been puzzled.

And Xu Yi naturally would not explain everything to Zhu Zongnian.

Even the purpose of taking the initiative to say that the coke was in limestone was to suppress Zhu Zongming's youthful arrogance.

If Zhu Zongnian could restrain the arrogance that is always inadvertently exposed on his body.

Then in the future, this person will go further together with "Gewu".

Inside the gazebo.

Xu Yi sat upright on the stone bench and looked at Zhu Zongnian as usual.

Slowly asked, "Zong Nian, what Gu Zhi said, yes or no?"

Zhu Zongnian instantly came back to his senses when he heard this, and hurriedly bowed his hand and said, "Back to His Royal Highness King Yan, the two things in the mouth of the little people are the coke and limestone that have been refined after washing."

Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "There is still something unclear between Lone and this blast furnace, I don't know if Zong Nian can introduce Lone in detail."

"Yes." Zhu Zongnian wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly spoke.

After the words fell, Zhu Zongnian slowly opened his mouth to introduce the principle of the blast furnace and why the efficiency of the blast furnace would be increased by at least 50% after adding coke and limestone.

Compared with Fang Cai, Zhu Zongnian at this time no longer had half of his pride in his words and deeds.

In fact, the so-called blast furnace is easily understood if it is explained in the language of later generations.

The so-called blast furnace is divided into four parts.

They are the roar, the body, the hearth, and the cylinder.

The roar of the furnace is the mouth of the furnace.

And the so-called blast furnace ironmaking.

Iron ore, coke and limestone are added to the blast furnace from the furnace.

Among them, the main role of limestone is to convert the silica in the ore into slag.

At the same time, hot air is pumped in from the bottom of the blast furnace with a wooden bellows.

Coke reacts with oxygen in hot air to form carbon dioxide.

The main function of this reaction is to maintain the high temperature in the furnace body.

After that, the carbon dioxide travels upwards and encounters coke to produce carbon monoxide.

At this point, the so-called reducing agent has been formed.

After that, carbon monoxide continues to run upwards until it encounters iron ore such as hematite.

At this point, carbon monoxide and ferric oxide react at high temperatures to produce iron and carbon dioxide.

Due to the high density of the molten iron, the molten iron ends up at the bottom of the furnace cylinder.

Because the density of the slag is less than that of molten iron, it floats on top of molten iron.

After the slag is cleaned, the molten iron can be obtained.

At this point, the blast furnace ironmaking was completely completed.

In Xu Yi's view, the reason why the efficiency can be greatly improved is that the blast furnace and coke are indispensable.

As for the reason, it's simple.

Iron has a melting point of 1,500 degrees Celsius, while coke can produce high temperatures of 2,300 to 2,500 degrees Celsius when burned.

After that, after the blast furnace temperature is stored and raised, it can easily reach 2,800 to 3,000 degrees Celsius.

At such high temperatures, wouldn't the efficiency of ironmaking be high?

What's more, there is limestone for converting slag, which undoubtedly makes cleaning slag more time-saving and labor-saving.

A moment later.

Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "With this blast furnace here, when it can increase the smelting effect several times, Zong Nian is really a genius."

"Don't dare to be, don't dare to be." Zhu Zongnian's face turned slightly red, and he waved his hand again and again.

Xu Yi smiled, and then threw out an olive branch and said, "Would you like to enter the Yan Palace?"

After the words fell, he saw Zhu Zongnian's face tangled.

Xu Yi chuckled and added, "After entering the Yan Palace, the Lone Club will set up a strange thing for you

The courtyard, the courtyard of strange things, is outside the palace of the palace."

"Except for Lone, no one can order the Strange Things."

"Since then, the Lonely Society has recruited skilled craftsmen from all over the world to strengthen the Academy."

"Would you like to be the director of the Academy of Strange Things?"

The words fell.

After smelling so superior conditions.

Zhu Zongnian had no worries in his heart.

"Minister Zhu Zongnian, I am willing to serve the prince as a dog and horse."

Zhu Zongnian got up and bowed to Xu Yi.

"Good, good." Xu Yi smiled and said hello three times.

immediately got up and took a half step forward and slowly helped Zhu Zongnian up.

After Zhu Zongnian died.

Xu Yi patted Zhu Zongnian's shoulder very solemnly.

Then he smiled and said, "Lonely and now have the help of the sect, if you get a camp!"

Hearing this, Zhu Zongnian's heart couldn't help but move.

Hurriedly bowed again to show loyalty.

Zhu Zongting looked at the two people who were suitable for the monarchs and ministers on the side in a daze, and kept muttering to himself in his heart: "If you get the year of the sect, if you get a camp, if you get a camp, if you get a camp, if you get a camp."

This is really not a high evaluation.

After more than ten breaths, the corners of Zhu Zongting's mouth, who came back to his senses, couldn't help but rise slightly.

Rather, for the sake of it.

The more the children of the Zhu family are used in Xu Yi, the more benefits they will have to the family.

This is naturally a cause for celebration.

As for the reason, it's simple.

He is the eldest grandson of the Zhu family, and sooner or later he will sit on the throne of the head of the Zhu family.

The stronger the family, the more beneficial it will be.

Just when the three of them had their own thoughts.

Several fully loaded carriages slowly made their way towards the gazebo.

Zhu Zongting settled down, and then bowed and said, "Lord Wang, saltpeter and other things have arrived."

Xu Yi nodded slightly, then looked at Zhu Zongnian and commanded, "The basin is half water, and the clay pot is full of water and placed on it."

"After that, put saltpeter in a basin of water slowly and several times."

After the words fell, Xu Yi gently patted Zhu Zongnian's shoulder and said, "Go ahead."

"Obey the order!" Zhu Zongnian nodded heavily, and then bowed.

Xu Yi didn't think about making saltpeter ice into a business.

But in the end, I silently gave up.

As for the reason, it's simple.

First, saltpeter ice making is not too difficult, so the risk of leakage is particularly high.

Second, even after being made into ice cubes, its sales are embarrassing.

Sold to ordinary people?

Then the price is bound to be low.

Sold to dignitaries?

Such people have ice cellars in their homes, and there is no shortage of ice cubes to survive the heat, so they will naturally not spend unjust money to buy ice cubes produced by Xu Yi.

After thinking about it.

Xu Yi finally decided to spread this law for free, in order to win the love of the people at the bottom.

It's just that since the beginning of summer, Xu Yi has been busy and dizzy, and naturally forgets such trivial things in his mind.

If you think about it, today is a good time.

Xu Yi settled down, and then looked at the new blast furnace that was rising not far away.

"The Imperial Court." Xu Yi looked sideways at Zhu Zongting beside him slightly.

"Lord, the minister is here." Zhu Zongting bowed when he heard this.

Xu Yi stretched out his hand and pointed to the new blast furnace that was rising from the ground not far away, and then slowly said, "Watching this new blast furnace can be put into use in three to five days at most."

"After the verification, if there is no problem, it will be convenient for the two workshops to fully build such a new blast furnace."

As soon as the words fell, Zhu Zongting immediately bowed and said, "The minister obeys the order."

Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then spoke again: "After I go back this time, I can discuss with the old lady, if it is not difficult, I can do it in two workshops

A hundred-acre workshop was erected next to the tributary of the former Yanghe River, completely separating smelting from ironmaking."

The Yanghe River and the Sanggan River are the two largest water systems in Fuyang City.

Among them, the Sanggan River is named because the river dries up every time the mulberries are ripe.

It is precisely for this reason that Zhu Huaimin chose the site for the workshop by the Yanghe River, which is twenty miles away from Wang Daying.

According to Xu Yi's observation, the water flow speed of the tributaries of the Nayang River not far away is enough to drive medium and large waterwheels.

With the help of waterwheels, the time required for armament equipment will be greatly shortened.

When Zhu Zongting heard this, he bowed his hand again and said, "The minister obeys the order!"

Just as the two were discussing the new workshop.

Not far away, Zhu Zongnian's voice full of surprise suddenly came.

"It's finished! It's really done!"

"It's frozen! It's really freezing!"

"Lord! The water has frozen in!"

Xu Yi slowly got up and chuckled, "Let's go, let's take a look."

"Yes." Zhu Zongting got up with a smile on the corner of his mouth and followed silently.

When the two of them were not yet near the land of the basin of water.

Zhu Zongnian ran towards the two with a clay pot-shaped ice cube in his hand and a smile on his face.

"Lord! The water is really freezing!" Zhu Zongnian held up the clay pot-shaped ice cube in his hand and reported with joy on his face.

The clay pot-shaped ice cubes shimmer in colorful colors in the sunlight, and they are truly beautiful.

Xu Yi looked at the ice cube in Zhu Zongnian's hand. He chuckled and said, "Not bad."

The words fell.

Xu Yi's gaze crossed Zhu Zongnian, who was holding an ice cube, and looked at the people who were sweating and busy under the scorching sun in the distance.

He slowly spoke, "As soon as this thing comes out, the people will be blessed."

The words fell.

Xu Yi slowly retracted his gaze, and then ordered: "Zong Ting, Zong Nian, you two set out to write down the method of making saltpeter ice, and ordered people to spread it quickly in the Yan Land."

"That the people of my land may no longer be disturbed by the heat."

"After that, he traveled from all over the world to spread this method throughout the Great Zhou."

Zhu Zongting and Zhu Zongnian were all surprised when they heard this.

But soon, Zhu Zongting was the first to come back to his senses, and hurriedly arched his hand and said, "The minister obeys the order!"