Mr. Huang is very reliable in his work. Not only the lime, but also the clay and charcoal residue are all made meticulously according to Han Du's instructions.
Han Duyi checked everything, nodded with satisfaction, and ordered the craftsman to take out a small amount of raw materials, mix the three raw materials together according to the proportion, and install the kiln again to burn the raw materials into clinker.
Han Du did not leave here, but looked at the blazing carbon fire in the lime kiln with many craftsmen.
When the calcining time in the lime kiln is enough, turn off the heat, open the kiln, and take out the clinker.
After the clinker cooled down, Han Du leaned over and took a closer look. Judging from the color, the clinker was similar to the cement he had seen before, but he didn't know if the effect would be the same as cement.
Putting down the clinker in his hand, clapped his hands, Han Du ordered: "Come here, bring the prepared sand and water."
The craftsman quickly brought sand and poured it on the wooden board, mixed it with clinker and dug out the sand into a volcano shape. After adding a little water, he began to stir repeatedly.
After the mixture is fully mixed, the craftsman puts it into the prepared wooden frame.
When Han Du saw that the work was done, he nodded and said, "That's it for today."
Seeing that Han Du was quite satisfied, Mr. Huang stepped forward and asked, "Sir, can this be done?"
"I don't know whether it's successful or not." Han Du shook his head, "But we'll know whether it's successful tomorrow morning. Just wait."
The next day, Han Du came to the Banknote Bureau full of excitement and asked the craftsmen to dismantle the wooden frame and take out the concrete.
The two-foot-square concrete was whitish in color, and Han Du suddenly felt cold when he saw this.
Sure enough, in subsequent experiments, the concrete did not have the rock-solid hardness he remembered. Under the hammer of the craftsman, it only lasted less than five times before it fell apart.
"Sir, is this done?" Mr. Huang was very happy. He saw very clearly just now that this thing is so hard that it can withstand several hammer blows. This is much stronger than simple lime.
Han Du weighed the concrete pieces in his hand, looked at them carefully, and after hearing what Mr. Huang said, he turned to look at him and sighed, "It works, but it failed. Change the ratio and try again." "
"Ah?" Huang Lao's eyes widened. This still failed. In Huang Lao's opinion, this is already considered a good thing? So what does it take to be considered accomplished? However, since Han Du gave the order, he did not dare to say anything more and responded: "Yes."
In the next few days, experiment after experiment failed again and again.
Han Du stayed in the banknote bureau almost without sleep or food.
One morning, Han Du was woken up by a "dong dong dong" knock on the door while he was still sleeping.
Opening the door, rubbing his bloodshot eyes, he looked up and saw that it was already sunrise.
"Sir, it's done, it's done..." As soon as Mr. Huang saw Han Du, he was excited and incoherent. He rubbed his hands repeatedly and didn't know where he put them.
"What happened?" Han Du hadn't come back to his senses yet. He suddenly thought of something and grabbed Mr. Huang's skinny arm. "You mean the cement was successful? Really? Take me to see it quickly."
Mr. Huang seemed a little frightened by Han Du's actions and was stunned for a moment without responding.
Han Du still had time to take care of Mr. Huang, so he let go and ran quickly towards the lime kiln alone.
When Han Du arrived, the place was already surrounded by craftsmen.
Everyone was whispering, and when they saw Han Du coming, they all hurriedly greeted him.
"grown ups."
"grown ups,"
"Sir, this thing is really magical."
Han Du had no intention of paying attention to the crowd at the moment, and stared at the concrete slab surrounded by everyone. The blue-grey concrete slab occasionally shimmered, which was the cement mortar solidifying. It was exactly the same as in his memory.
Han Du took a deep breath. Just then Mr. Huang arrived and turned to ask him, "Has anyone tried it?"
"I tried it, and it is exactly as the adults said. It is as solid as a rock. No matter how hard it is hit with a hammer, it is still intact. Tsk, tsk, the old man has never seen such a magical thing in his life. It can turn sand into stone like making tofu. Sir, this is a treasure..." Mr. Huang nodded.
baby?
This is of course a treasure, otherwise I wouldn't have spent so much energy testing it out.
Han Du smiled with satisfaction.
Fengtian Temple.
Mao Xiang apologized and whispered something in Lao Zhu's ear.
"What did you say?" Lao Zhu's eyes widened and he turned his head to look at Mao Xiang.
"Everything I said is true. Han Du created a strange object in the banknote bureau. It can turn sand into rock. It is also extremely hard and is not afraid of being struck by a hammer. It is harder than ordinary rocks." Mao Xiang lowered his head and nodded. Don't dare to have any selfish motives and report to the emperor truthfully.
Turn sand into rock, which is harder than stone.
Every word he heard shocked Lao Zhu's heart. The first thing he thought of was the city defense at the border. The city defense in the north played a role in resisting the invasion of the Northern Yuan Dynasty. Although the city was built with bricks, lime, glutinous rice, etc.
However, after all, lime and glutinous rice are far inferior to real stones. They do not have the ability of resisting wind and sun like stones. The adhesion effect will be greatly reduced over time, so almost all border cities need to be repaired almost every year.
Repairing the border city walls every year was a huge expense for the Ming Dynasty's finances.
Now, Han Du actually made something that can turn sand into stone?
"Immediately, move to the banknote bureau." Lao Zhu ordered the eunuch beside him.
The old eunuch suddenly received Lao Zhu's order and did not react for a moment. Fortunately, he responded immediately, "I obey the order."
The emperor's travel was naturally no small matter.
Even if it is a hurried trip, there are not a few people involved.
Soon, Lao Zhu led everyone out of Fengtian Hall.
Political room.
Since the emperor executed Hu Weiyong and abolished Zhongshu Province last year, Prime Minister Zuo Li Shanchang moved to this ordinary house to work.
"The emperor suddenly left the palace?" After receiving this news from his subordinate officials, Li Shanchang stood up from his chair in shock.
Apart from anything else, he knew very well how diligent the emperor was.
When the emperor abolished the Zhongshu Province, to be honest, Li Shanchang was also dissatisfied. After all, he was the Prime Minister Zuo and could be said to be the person closest to the power center of the Zhongshu Province. Who among the ministers did not hope that one day he could be "under one person" A person above ten thousand people, in charge of the central government, and courteous to hundreds of officials?"
Not only Li Shanchang, but almost all civil servants at that time seemed to be laughing at the emperor's joke. Because no one thinks that the emperor alone can handle the world's government affairs.
But after one year, Lao Zhu told all officials with practical actions. "You are wrong."
Lao Zhu not only handled all the government affairs by himself, but also handled some minor matters at the county level so well that the officials could not feel the difference between the Zhongshu Province and the Zhongshu Province.
Of course, Lao Zhu is not without his contribution. Since the abolition of the Zhongshu Ministry of Education, Lao Zhu has to deal with government affairs until late at night almost every day. A lot of time was taken up by government affairs. In the past, Lao Zhu would leave the palace from time to time for private visits, but since the Zhongshu Province was abolished, Lao Zhu has not even had time to leave the palace.
Now the emperor suddenly left the palace.
"Did something happen? Or is there something big happening?" Li Shanchang lowered his eyes and thought.
Suddenly he raised his head and ordered, "Prepare the sedan chair, I will go to see the emperor."
Banknote Bureau.
When the craftsmen heard Han Du's announcement of success, they were all immersed in the joy of cheering.
After all, it has been very difficult for everyone these days.
Han Du even had two rabbit eyes, and other craftsmen naturally worked harder than Han Du. Han Du was only responsible for commanding and testing, but the craftsmen had to constantly mix raw materials, open and fire kilns, and everyone was exhausted.
At this time, we can see the benefits of Han Du improving the treatment of the craftsmen.
If it were in the past, these craftsmen would have been full of complaints and dissatisfaction as Han Du went through such trouble. After all, the craftsmen bring their own dry food to work, and there is no reward for their pure efforts. But now that Han Du has paid them salaries and solved their food problem, the craftsmen's various requirements for Han Du have naturally been met one by one.
"What are you afraid of when you are tired? After eating a meal, your strength comes back, right? After all, you are eating food provided by Han Du, so it is natural that you should use your strength." This is what the craftsmen have in common. idea.
Just as Han Du carefully recorded the exact proportions and asked the craftsmen to load the cement again and continue calcining the cement, a high-pitched and loud voice came from a distance.
"The Emperor has arrived."
The old eunuch followed Lao Zhu into the banknote bureau. When he saw Han Du's figure from a distance, he immediately shouted.
"No matter whether the emperor's trip is good or bad for Han Du, there is only so much our family can do."
Han Du turned his head in surprise and saw Lao Zhu's guard of honor.
He quickly led a group of craftsmen, three steps and two steps at a time, and trotted all the way to Lao Zhu.
"Your Majesty, Han Du, was late to pick you up. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"The common people pay their respects to the Emperor."
"no."
Lao Zhu got off the bus directly and came to Han Du.
"The Emperor is here, what do you mean?" Han Du asked in a low voice.
"I heard that you made a strange thing that can turn sand into stone?" Lao Zhu asked directly.
"What turned sand into stone?" Han Du didn't react at all. What kind of mess is this about turning sand into stone? You might as well say I can turn stone into gold. Who is this who is spreading rumors about himself in front of Lao Zhu?
Han Du glanced at the people behind Lao Zhu.
Suddenly Han Du realized, "Did the Emperor mean cement?"
"Cement? What is this?" Lao Zhu came here to see a strange object that turned sand into stone, not some random cement.
Cement, this name is too ordinary, and it doesn't match the strange thing at all.
