Iron is a good conductor of heat. When it was the hottest, Li Ke even thought he could fry an egg on the armor.
Although the soldiers were used to it, Li Ke also saw it.
These people are related to whether he can go back safely. How can he not be careful?
But persuading them to take off their armor would not work, not to mention whether the soldiers agreed. According to the laws of the Tang Dynasty army, removing one's armor privately would result in beheading.
In desperation, I could only think of this solution.
"Your Highness, how did you do it?"
After finishing the piece in his mouth, the centurion stared at the piece in the basin.
"That's why I'm your highness and you're just a centurion."
Li Ke smiled.
"You are allowed to eat another piece, and by the way, tell them that they can come to me to get ice cubes during their break every day at noon."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The centurion took the ice and went away happily.
When Huo Qubing saw the centurion leaving, he also stretched out his hand towards the basin.
"Why--"
Li Ke knocked his hand off.
"We are not like them, eating from a small basin."
"Your Highness, is there any difference?"
Huo Qubing was confused.
"Nonsense, I can't keep some good stuff for myself?"
Li Ke rolled his eyes. He couldn't care about other people, but Huo Qubing was different.
Those big bosses were willing to take advantage of him, so Huo Qubing was considered half of his family.
He felt bad about letting him eat those ice cubes with those big bosses.
The method of making ice from saltpeter is not difficult. It will take at least a hundred years for someone to discover it.
Fill two basins, one large and one small, with water, and add saltpeter to the large basin.
Under the stimulation of saltpeter, a natural refrigerant, the temperature of the large basin will drop rapidly, thus triggering a very simple reaction in the small basin.
Li Ke fished out the saltpeter and put it aside to dry. He and Huo Qubing took out the ice from the small basin. The master and the servant took one piece each and chewed it loudly.
"Your Highness, what are the charcoal and sulfur for?"
Huo Qubing asked with ice stuffed in his mouth.
"This...is kept secret for now."
Li Ke sold it out.
"You'll know when you get there."
…
Anyway, Hexi has arrived.
After getting the ice cubes, the soldiers were all grateful to Li Ke.
At the same time, the marching speed also accelerated a lot.
The latter part of the journey took less than five days.
"I'm out of seclusion..."
Seeing that the famous Yumen Pass in history had been left behind, Li Ke couldn't help but sigh.
"The main force is on standby, and the cavalry team is divided into three units to search for salt mines."
Huo Qubing gave the order very neatly.
As early as on the road, Li Ke handed over full command to him.
To become a general, you don't just need to read a lot of art of war or military books.
Li Ke still can't recognize all the eight hundred people.
And Huo Qubing just walked around in the crowd and was able to name their names and military ranks accurately.
He is like a natural general, always able to do the right thing at the right time.
Thinking of this, Li Ke couldn't help but miss the general who led "the more the better".
In history, apart from Han Xin, no one else can command millions of troops.
Li Ke couldn't even imagine that scene. He was already dizzy after only eight hundred. If he added a few zeros at the end, he felt that he could faint directly.
The cavalry team was extremely efficient, and it didn't take long for someone to return.
"Your Highness, we discovered a large salt mine thirty miles to the west."
"Set off!"
Li Ke waved his hand.
This place west of Chang'an has enough room for him.
The sooner you complete the target, the sooner you can go back.
The scale of the salt mine is not small, about three acres, and Li Ke is very satisfied.
For such a large salt mine, let alone 100,000 kilograms of salt, adding zero would not be a problem.
Li Ke called the centurion.
"Do you want to be CEO, marry Bai Fumei, and reach the pinnacle of life?"
"???"
The centurion looked confused.
"...Ahem, just, do you want to be promoted?"
"Think about it!"
The centurion's eyes gleamed.
Why did he join the army? It was because he couldn't survive in his hometown.
Otherwise, who would be willing to do this kind of business of tying their head around their neck and seeking prosperity and wealth?
"If you want to be promoted, then take your chances."
Li Ke asked others to put the tools in place, and took a hammer to knock off a piece of salt mine weighing about five kilograms.
"Powder."
The centurion banged a few times, smashed the salt mine into small pieces, then threw it into the stone mill and pushed it hard.
After a while, the small pieces turned into dark brown powder.
"Add water and filter."
Bringing the big basin that had been prepared earlier, Li Ke collected the mineral powder and threw it into the basin, then added enough water.
Natural fusion is not possible and must be stirred with a wooden stick.
This step was naturally completed by the centurion.
Wait until the mineral powder is fully dissolved, that is, after it is saturated.
Li Ke brought another basin and covered it with linen cloth.
Pour the liquid into the two basins and go back and forth several times.
The impurities in the mine remained on the linen.
After all the solids visible to the naked eye have been filtered, only the liquid remains.
"The next step is disinfection, which is the most important step. You all should watch it with your eyes wide open."
Li Ke said seriously.
Disinfection is the most important process of making salt in ancient times. If it is not completed carefully, eating the salt can cause diarrhea in the slightest and life-threatening in the worst cases.
Li Ke wrapped the processed charcoal in layers of linen and placed it on the funnel.
Pour the filtered liquid from the top of the funnel, and use a new basin to connect it below.
Repeat this until the liquid coming out is almost the same as water.
Charcoal has good adsorption properties, and neither phosphorus nor potassium can escape its detection.
"Cook it until the water dries up."
After doing this, Li Ke was very tired. He put down his tools and went to rest aside.
I don't know how long it took, but I heard people cheering in a daze.
"It's salt, it's salt!"
The centurion held a large piece of salt and ran to Li Ke's side.
"Your Highness, you eat first."
"Go, go, eat what you want."
Li Ke waved his hand impatiently.
Who is eating it with salt in their hands? Is there anything wrong with it?
The centurion didn't care so much. When he saw that Li Ke didn't eat, he immediately broke off a piece and put it in his mouth.
Suddenly, a face was deformed.
Even so, he still shouted in an excited voice.
"It's salt, green salt!"
The others fell into a brief silence. After a while, the army of 800 people made a roaring sound.
You know, what is green salt? It is an exclusive item for princes and nobles.
Company commander Sun Wuji, from a wealthy family, usually only dipped a willow branch in it when brushing his teeth.
Little soldiers like them, who have struggled all their lives, may not have a chance with this kind of thing.
Now that such a valuable thing is right in front of you, how can you not be excited.
"By the way, how much was produced in the pot just now?"
Li Ke suddenly asked as if he remembered something.
