At the eastern foot of the shogunate, unlike the surrounding large open-air kilns, this side is also a fire kiln that is rising day by day, but it is surrounded by a wall.

It is the cement workshop.

Towards the New Year's Day, the kiln area that provides brick and stone materials for various constructions north of Xuanwu Lake is still full of people and very busy. Just after noon, a convoy of six ox carts came from the southwest, and the carts were full of fine coal, which aroused the envy of some passers-by, and knowing where the roadside was, envy at the same time, it was a little more embarrassing and mocking.

It took a month and a lot of work, but nothing was done.

Good coal.

There are many kilns around, most of which can only burn firewood.

The team was led by a middle-aged man in green clothes, and when the convoy stopped, he climbed down a green mule with the support of his subordinate people and walked to the gate of the workshop.

This is a Xu official of the Charcoal Bureau of the Ministry of Industry, named Zhuo Liu.

Zhuo Liu is also a candidate for this imperial examination, because of his average results and his age has reached 39 years old, so under the deployment of the imperial court, he entered the Ministry of Works, which is constantly expanding its manpower, and became a non-mainstream official. Compared with some other high-spirited and unwilling readers, Zhuo Liu, although he was also dissatisfied, also tried to move around, but after failing to succeed, he still stayed.

Because it can be seen that this new dynasty is ...... Seemingly, it's different.

In the future, there may be a day when the officials will come out.

Let's just say that the charcoal bureau where he is located was originally only the charcoal division under the department, which was regulated from the bottom of the nine products, and was only responsible for supplying charcoal to the royal family.

Now, after the Ministry of Industry was confirmed, this department was also promoted to Zhengbapin, not only supplying firewood and charcoal to the imperial family, but also responsible for the fuel needed for many burning things around Jinling. Zhuoliu also heard recently that this charcoal bureau ...... It may be further improved.

When the time comes, if you have more titles, you may be able to enter the stream.

In comparison, a fellow villager who also belongs to the Ministry of Industry's new cement bureau is the eighth ambassador, Shen Quan, both of whom are from Huaidong Gaoyou, so Zhuo Liu can get this designated errand and send firewood and charcoal here, anyway, this time, I'm afraid I'm going to be planted.

Zhuo Liu can still remember Shen Quan's hesitation when he was first appointed ambassador to the Cement Bureau.

At that time, there was also a special drinking party.

Zhuo Liu also scolded the other party at the beginning, because he knew that this was something arranged by a certain young man Pingzhang, and if it was done well, the future was immeasurable, so he also thought about whether he could also transfer to Shen Quan's side, even if he was also a Xu official, perhaps, the promotion could be faster.

It's good that I didn't.

It's all a month...... Nothing was accomplished, only some charcoal burned for nothing. If it had been placed elsewhere, all the bricks and tiles that would have been enough to build a mansion would have been burned.

The last time I came to deliver firewood, seeing Shen Quan's sad expression at a loss, Zhuo Liu's comfort on the surface, but in his heart...... But it is also inevitable that there will be some untimely schadenfreude.

Heizhang-sama's errand.

Where is it so easy to do what is arranged by a master in the world? If you do it casually, will you still be a master in the world, and you can still become a royal clan member in just one year?

Reported, entered the door.

Takuru noticed the difference in the courtyard at a glance.

Compared with the scene I saw some time ago, at the moment, in this courtyard, whether it is roasting stones, or crushing and grinding before stone or stone milling, all the craftsmen have a pair of white masks on their faces, and then look at the smoke of the kiln, there are craftsmen over there, and there are even stranger leather masks.

A craftsman who greeted Zhuoliu noticed his puzzled and surprised expression, and took the initiative to explain with a bit of ostentation: "This is sent by Lord Pingzhang's orders, and it's really good, since I put this on, everyone has nothing wrong with working in the dust, and in this winter, my face is much warmer." ”

Lord Heizhang?

Zhuo Liu, however, keenly grasped the key to it, looked at the craftsman, and asked with some disbelief, "Is this ...... Cement...... It's done? ”

"This ...... I don't dare to say anything about the small ones. ”

The craftsman said, his eyes subconsciously glancing at the row of houses on the east side of the courtyard.

Can it be ...... It depends on it.

Didn't work out!

This is the thought that popped into Zhuo Liu's heart.

But, since it didn't work out, is it ...... That young man Pingzhang, shouldn't he punish this cement bureau for doing everything, why did he send these masks?

Just thinking about it, several people came from a fire kiln on the west side, the leader was wearing a set of black casual clothes, wearing masks, and his body was covered with dust, but Zhuo Liu recognized that it was Shen Quan as the leader.

When Shen Quan saw Zhuo Liu, he also hurriedly took off the leather mask, stepped forward quickly, and arched his hand: "I'm annoying Brother Zhuo again." ”

"Everything within the division is within the division," Zhuo Liuliu returned the salute, but he still couldn't hold back, and said: "This time it's six truckloads of fine coal, which has just been transported from the riverside." That riverside...... The big boat also went up the river to the Huangzhou Mansion in Huguang, thousands of miles away. I also heard that Lord Shangshu personally told him, but he couldn't miss the Cement Bureau, so he hurriedly sent it to Brother Shen. ”

Zhuo Liu's words seem to be expressing his attention, but in fact, he has already brought sarcasm.

The Ministry of Industry attaches so much importance to the Cement Bureau, what do you want to give, you, the ambassador of the Cement Bureau, tossed for a month, spent a lot of money, but nothing was made...... Can't tell, right?

is also a scholar, of course, Shen Quan also heard the ridicule in Zhuo Liu's words, but subconsciously shook his head: "Ashamed, ashamed." ”

Beside Shen Quan, a craftsman who was illiterate but also well-versed in human relations saw that his Shangguan was faintly ridiculed by his fellow villagers, and hesitated slightly, but still took the initiative to say: "My lord, what are the ...... in the house?" I'm afraid it's already dry, but it's better to ...... See the results now. ”

?

Effect?

Zhuo Liu originally saw Shen Quan's ashamed and depressed appearance, and there was a little more schadenfreude in his mind, and at the moment, he heard this again...... What's going on?

Shen Quan hesitated.

Look at it now, if it doesn't work, in front of this Brother Zhuo, who is both a fellow villager and the same year, I am afraid that I will be embarrassed again.

However, the people around him have already mentioned it, if they don't look at it, they are afraid of being laughed at, or even suspicious, so they still signal to a row of warehouses in the east: "Brother Zhuo, since this is the case, let's take a look together." If it doesn't work, I hope Brother Zhuo won't laugh. ”

Zhuo Liu also came back to his senses, and hurriedly showed a smile: "It seems that I am going to see good things in the next day, and I have to congratulate Brother Shen first." ”

The two walked to the east house together, and in the face of Zhuo Liu's doubts, Shen Quan took the initiative to explain: "Speaking of which, it was still the day before yesterday, Lord Pingzhang suddenly called me over and asked about the cement burning. I didn't see any success in the next month, and I was ashamed, my lord...... Generous, without the slightest blame, and took the initiative to ask...... It is also worthy of being a master in the world, and when I heard it, I found the joint, which ......"

When it came to specific cement firing, Shen Quan subconsciously stopped, of course, he wouldn't say that the formula process given by someone was wrong, but then said vaguely: "...... This joint ...... Heh, it's all in the lower reckless...... So I came back and started trying again, and the next day...... That day, did Brother Zhuo know about penicillin? ”

Zhuo Liu listened carefully, but he didn't expect Shen Quan to turn to the penicillin matter, but he also nodded: "How can I not know, I went to Houhu University yesterday, but unfortunately there were too many people, and I couldn't get on the free clinic, but I bought a few catties of good honey and came back." ”

"That free clinic, a great act of kindness, let the family go to the next ...... "Shen Quan turned a corner in time, didn't say that he asked his family to follow and donate money, and returned to the present, and in a blink of an eye he came to a door in the east house, and said: "On that day, I only felt that something had been done, but I was not sure, so I quietly tried it out first, thinking that it was really done and then reported to Lord Pingzhang." ”

With that, Shen Quan took the key from his waist, opened the copper lock, and pushed the door open.

Zhuoliu immediately looked at it.

There was no furniture in the room, and on the empty floor, there were only six sets of molds, similar to the kind of wooden molds used for sand casting.

At the moment, in every wooden mold...... It's all like masonry.

When Zhuo Liu was in a daze for a short time, Shen Quan had already walked over, squatted down, touched the nearest piece with his hand, and nodded slightly: "It seems to be...... . ”

said this, but Shen Quan was full of apprehension in his heart.

There was a craftsman who suggested that it could be put into the furnace or added to the fire for drying, but after seeing the young man Pingzhang that day, Shen Quan accepted the craftsman's suggestion very modestly, but he did not agree at that time.

To roast it over fire is to deceive.

So I waited patiently for two or three days.

Now the question is...... It's already dry, but, how hard?

Is it really as hard as a stone?

Zhuo Liu stepped forward and looked carefully, in the six sets of molds half a foot high and a foot square, it was different when you looked closely, there were pure dry gray stone-like substances, some mixed with crushed stone, and several green bricks were spliced and glued together. Moreover, if you look more closely, there are different shades of color, and it is probably not the ash material of the same furnace.

Zhuo left his consciousness and reached out to touch the purer one.

It's cold and hard to get into.

If you want to pick it, you also want to see the hardness, think about it or there is no action.

In case it is broken......

After such a short moment of silence, it was still the craftsman just now who spoke and said to Shen Quan: "My lord, have you untied the mold?" ”

Shen Quan finally hesitated, but nodded: "Let's go." ”

If it doesn't work out, there must always be a result.

With Shen Quan's permission, several craftsmen stepped forward to operate, and Shen Quan also wanted to help, but because of the worry in his heart, he thought about it or retreated.

At the entrance, when I learned that I was here to check the results of the cement burning the day before yesterday, many craftsmen in the workshop gathered around, and even the people who came to deliver coal with Zhuoliu were curious to crowd over to see the excitement.

It's really hilarious.

The so-called cement, which has been spread in private, can be turned into stone if it is mixed with water and dried.

It's amazing to think about.

If there really is such a thing, don't talk about all kinds of workmanship, I'm just afraid...... If the imperial court wants to build a mountain out of thin air, wouldn't it be possible?

Is this something that can be done by man?

Inside the house.

Under the operation of the craftsmen, the outer layer of hemp rope was soon untied, and then one plank after another was removed, but ...... Things quickly went a little off the way.

The outer layer of two of the cement planks was firmly glued to the cement block, and the craftsman tried to break one of the planks directly with brute force, but half of the planks were still firmly attached to the dark gray cement block.

Seeing this, Shen Quan hurriedly stopped the craftsmen from continuing: "Stop, that's it, that's it." ”

As he spoke, he stepped forward again and crouched down to check.

As the manager of the workshop and the ambassador of the Cement Bureau, Shen Quan knew very well that the two pieces of cement that stuck to the wooden board were fired in the same furnace, and he could even clearly remember the formula of the cement, the firing time and other details of the furnace.

Now......

Although a wooden board was broken and the mold could not be removed, Shen Quan ...... in his heart But only joy.

That's how cement should be!

You must know that before pouring the mud in the six molds, they were all smeared with dry ash to prevent sticking, and the other few, Shen Quan had been carefully observing all the time, more or less, were not so easy to remove, and this one was simply stuck together.

Shen Quan turned his mind, and knocked on a piece of pure cement injection block in front of him with his hand, feeling very hard, thinking about it: "Take a hammer to ......" paused, and added: "I want a sledgehammer!" ”

Someone immediately agreed.

Soon, a sledgehammer with a long handle for pounding stones from the workshop was brought in.

Shen Quan took the heavy hammer half a person high, and wanted to do it himself, but after thinking about it, he gave it to the craftsman who had just opened his mouth to remind him: "Hang Er, you come." ”

The stout craftsman named Hang Er just opened his mouth when he couldn't get used to Zhuo Liu's teasing of his lord, but at the moment, he also hesitated, and subconsciously shook his head: "My lord, why don't you ...... Would you like to come in person? ”

"The official's strength is small," Shen Quan's expression became serious, and he ordered: "Come on, smash it hard for me." ”

To test whether the cement is successful or not, smashing is definitely the easiest way.

Shen Quan's momentum changed, and Hang Er subconsciously obeyed and took the hammer.

Others took the initiative to step away.

Shen Quandao: "Smash it, smash it, it's all the official's, and it has nothing to do with you." ”

Hang Er held the hammer in both hands, glanced at his own adult, then at Zhuo Liu, and then turned to the craftsmen and people who had already crowded the door, knowing that this matter was like this, as soon as he was ruthless, he raised the hammer and smashed it towards the nearest piece of cement.

Bang –

There was a muffled sound.

This is a piece of cement mixed with stones, the hammer fell, everyone is used to doing work, knowing that Hang Er did not leave the strength, however, there was no fragmentation scene in front of everyone's imagination, not even divided into two, the piece of cement, just smashed out of a shallow pit.

Shen Quan stared blankly at the cement block that had just been smashed out of a shallow pit, and let out a long sigh of relief.

It's done!

Around, not only a handful of craftsmen, but even Zhuo Liu, who was looking forward to the cement block being smashed and shattered, couldn't wait to exclaim when he saw the scene in front of him.

It turned out to be done!

This...... It's the rumored cement.

Sure enough, it's true, it's like the stone.

This creation of heaven and earth is really magical.

Amazing.

After a while, Shen Quan's voice sounded, interrupting everyone's admiration and amazement, and said to Hang Er, who was also a little stunned when the hammer fell: "Go on, smash." ”

So, aim for the second piece, the second hammer.

Bang –

This time it's a piece of pure cement.

As the hammer fell, the mud cracked in half.

Alas......

A soft sigh.

Broken?

Hang Er, who was taken aback, thought so and looked at Shen Quan.

Shen Quan thought about it: "This cement, or it has to be made with stones, it is stronger, but it is only two halves, it is not bad, continue!" ”

Bang –

The third hammer.

This time it was a few pieces of a stack of green bricks glued.

The same shattered.

However, everyone also found that the main broken bricks were green bricks, and the bonding places of green bricks and cement were firmly attached together.

Shen Quan silently wrote down the details and said again: "Go on." ”

Bang –

Bang –

Bang –

The last three hammers fell one after the other.

One of them was mixed with gravel again, and the other two were just glued to the outer plank mold and could not be removed.

Three pieces of cement, three heavy blows, all intact.

The six hammers fell, Shen Quan looked at the situation in front of him, thinking about the torment of the past month, and at the moment, he even wanted to cry.

After doing so for a while, it wasn't until Zhuo Liu, who found that his fellow villagers seemed to be a little stunned, pushed him and called a few times softly, and Shen Quan came back to his senses.

Looking around, Shen Quan said excitedly: "Wait...... Wait, wait. The official ...... I'm going to give the good news to Lord Pingzhang, the good news! ”

(End of chapter)