After Liu Yan received the news, he immediately rushed to the cement workshop outside Aoshan Acropolis. He saw that Song Gongming had already rushed over and was discussing something with Han Feng and other craftsmen around a wooden basket.
While waiting for the finished cement product, Song Gongming had already raised some money and mobilized it as the start-up capital for the cement workshop. He also contacted some merchants to pave the way for the sales of cement in advance.
Of course, Song Gongming did not reveal too much about the specific situation of cement in advance to avoid leaks.
When Liu Yan arrived at the cement workshop, Song Gongming and Han Feng hurried over to greet him. Liu Yan smiled and praised Han Feng and the craftsmen before getting into the topic.
Liu Yan, accompanied by Han Feng and Song Gongming, walked forward and saw that a large wooden basket had been filled with cement mortar. Everyone was waiting for the cement mortar to solidify.
Before Liu Yan arrived, Han Feng and Song Gongming started the experiment and wanted Liu Yan to check the results directly. After all, according to Liu Yan, the cement would take a long time to solidify. But obviously Song Gongming and Han Feng miscalculated the time, and Liu Yan was already here before it solidified.
After listening to Song Gongming and Han Feng's introduction, Liu Yan carefully observed the wooden frame and saw that the cement mortar was slightly different from the concrete mortar of later generations. There were no stones mixed in it, and the mortar in the wooden frame was also relatively thin. , not as sticky as the mortar of later generations. The things that play a supporting role in the mortar are broken porcelain pieces and other things.
Liu Yan first asked in detail about the development process of this home-made cement, and was very satisfied after hearing Han Feng's answer. He knew that Han Feng developed and produced it strictly according to his own methods, and there were no problems with the materials, processes and techniques.
So Liu Yan asked: "How long has it been for this basket of cement to solidify?"
Han Feng looked at the special incense coil next to him for timing, and said, "Master Qizhen, it has been almost more than an hour."
Liu Yan nodded and thought to himself: "There is not enough time. The concrete cement of later generations cannot be completely solidified for more than an hour, let alone my local cement. It will have to wait for a while!"
So, Liu Yan looked at the sky and saw that it was close to noon, so he said: "The setting time is not enough. It is estimated that this local cement will have to wait for a while to solidify. Let's eat first. I am already starving." ”
Song Gongming and Han Feng hurriedly sent people to prepare meals.
In the reception room in the cement workshop, Miao Shao, the commander of the Guards Battalion, came with several soldiers to set up a table and put several plates of delicious dishes on it. Liu Yan greeted Song Gongming and Han Feng. Come over and eat and drink together.
Han Feng, on the other hand, was worried about the local cement that was solidifying and insisted on staying at the scene and waiting.
Liu Yan saw that Han Feng was immersed in it and couldn't extricate himself, so he stopped insisting.
Later, after Liu Yan, Song Gongming, and Miao Shao ate and drank for a while, Song Gongming said: "Sir, after this cement solidifies, will it really be as hard as iron as you said, and it will be low-cost and fast to build a house?"
"Of course!" 33
Liu Yan said with longing: "As long as the cement in our workshop can be mass-produced, it will definitely have a huge impact. By then, not only will the building technology in Lingshanwei and Aoshanwei have undergone earth-shaking changes, but also the craftsmen will The houses we can build will be bigger, taller, and sturdier! Craftsmen can even build towering buildings with dozens of floors!"
"Dozens of stories high!"
After hearing this, Song Gongming's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't believe what Liu Yan said, and thought to himself: "Even those high towers and carved buildings in various places are probably not this high, that is, only a few or a dozen floors." It looks like, dozens of floors? How is this possible!"
However, looking at Liu Yan's confident look, Song Gongming had to believe that after all, many of the things Liu Yan had said and done before were things that ordinary people could not do or even dare not imagine, but Liu Yan could not All done!
For example, who could have imagined that Liu Yan could rise from the chief flag officer of Huolu Dun to a guerrilla general in just two or three years?
Therefore, no matter how hard Song Gongming couldn't believe it, he still felt from the bottom of his heart that Liu Yan would be able to do what ordinary people couldn't, and this home-made cement would also be successful.
Liu Yan and Song Gongming chatted for a while. Seeing that it was already past noon, they calculated in their minds that the time should be about the same.
At this time, the two of them had eaten and drank enough, and Liu Yan was ready to take a look at the cement in the wooden frame.
Suddenly, Han Feng ran over in a hurry and said loudly: "Sir! Minister! It's done, the cement was successful, it's really as solid as a rock!"
When Song Gongming heard this, he looked at Liu Yan excitedly and said, "Sir, we succeeded. There is such a wonderful thing in the world!"
"Ha ha!"
Liu Yan laughed loudly when he heard this and said, "Let's go! Let's take a look together!"
Everyone quickly came to the wooden frame. Liu Yan took a closer look and saw that the cement in the wooden frame had basically solidified, like a large piece of rock. The craftsmen such as Song Gongming and Han Feng were amazed. Their expressions It's like seeing a miracle that turns stone into gold.
Liu Yan stepped forward and knocked on the cement block. He felt that the hardness of the home-made cement was barely acceptable, and the setting time was within the allowable range. It just felt a bit brittle, and it seemed that the strength was still somewhat unsatisfactory.
Looking at the cement scraps on his hands, Liu Yan sighed slightly in his heart and thought to himself: "It's okay to use it to build residential buildings at this level, but if it is used to build city walls and other military facilities according to my expectations, then it will be It’s a bit unsatisfactory, the hardness is still a bit poor at this level, and the enemy’s trebuchets and even large-scale arrow rain can damage the cement wall.”
So, Liu Yan said to Han Feng: "This home-made cement is considered a success, but there are still some small flaws that need you to lead the craftsmen in the cement workshop to improve immediately."
Han Feng heard this and said quickly: "My lord, please make it clear."
"hardness!"
Liu Yan broke off the cement block, then showed the cement chips in his hand to Han Feng, and said: "The hardness of this local cement is still not enough. The workshop must find a way to solve it as soon as possible. My standard is four words: Hard Like a rock! It means to be truly as solid as a rock.”
Han Feng nodded solemnly after hearing this and said: "Don't worry, sir, I will do it immediately. I will mobilize manpower immediately and work day and night to perfect the cement process."
Liu Yan then inspected various parts of the workshop accompanied by everyone, and then returned to Jimo Yingcheng with satisfaction.
A few days later, Liu Yan received another urgent report from Han Feng. The hardness of the home-made cement had improved, and Liu Yan was asked to send someone to inspect it.
Liu Yan was very happy after hearing the news and rushed to the cement workshop outside Aoshan Acropolis. He saw a piece of cement that had solidified in the open space. Han Feng, Miao Shao, and Song Gongming surrounded Liu Yan and watched. A craftsman looked on. He looked at Liu Yan's face and smashed it hard with a sledgehammer. After a "bang" sound, only a few pieces of the cement block fell off, but overall it was still intact!
The surrounding craftsmen cheered when they saw this, and the faces of Han Feng and other craftsmen were also full of pride. This was the result of many days and nights of improvement, which was enough to make everyone proud.
Liu Yan was also very happy when he saw this. Although the improved local cement was still not comparable to the concrete of later generations, it was already a miracle in the late Ming Dynasty and could fully meet the construction requirements of Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard. Use required.
"good!"
Liu Yan said loudly in front of everyone: "All craftsmen who participate in the research and development and improvement of local cement will be rewarded with five taels of silver each, and their monthly wages will be increased by 10%!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone cheered again. Many craftsmen were shouting "Long live my lord". Han Feng, Song Gongming and others didn't think there was anything wrong, and even shouted together.
Afterwards, Liu Yan said to Song Gongming and Han Feng: "Immediately organize people to build a model house outside Aoshan Acropolis. The construction method will be according to the method I gave you before, using cement to pour it! This model house at least We need to build three floors, do you understand?”
Han Feng nodded excitedly, knowing in his heart that the house he was about to build would be the first cement house in the world. This was a great opportunity to become famous! And once this house is built, it will be the best publicity for the cement workshop, which can directly open up sales for cement.
On the same day, Han Feng led his men to define an open space on the north side of Aoshan Acropolis, and then mobilized his men to work day and night.
Only half a month later, a rather exquisite three-story house was built outside the Aoshan Acropolis. This house was built entirely with local cement and was very solid, as if it were a house carved out of stone. Moreover, the construction speed of this house was unimaginable in the past. A three-story house was built in just fifteen days. This speed is enough to surprise anyone.
Song Gongming, who came after hearing the news, and all the craftsmen in the workshop were greatly surprised.
Liu Yan, who came after hearing the news, was also very satisfied and immediately ordered the cement workshop outside Aoshan Acropolis to start producing cement at full capacity and prepare cement reserves.
"By then, cement will be used in various major projects in Lingshan Guard and Aoshan Guard. Not only will the construction quality be greatly improved, but a lot of time will also be saved. Time is money!"
Liu Yan thought to himself and breathed a sigh of relief: "Now, as long as the cement is sold, it will be another source of income, and he can do more big things."
After receiving Liu Yan's instructions, Song Gongming immediately said that he would immediately organize manpower to allocate money and food to ensure the smooth operation of the cement workshop.
Liu Yan gave some more instructions to everyone, and then returned to Jimo Camp City.
But before leaving, Liu Yan pointed to the cement house in the north of the city and said: "We need to send people to protect this place. Don't let irrelevant people in or out for the time being, and don't let anyone get the news. Use wooden boards and other things to cover the outside of the house." Immediately, we built barriers around the house and sent people to guard it."
Everyone was puzzled, and Song Gongming even asked Liu Yan directly about his intentions so that he could handle things more beautifully.
Liu Yan smiled and said: "I have great use for this house, you just need to wait for news from me!"
Some people died, but not completely...
