Not even halfway through.
A three-column green-covered carriage, guarded by more than a hundred horsemen, slowly moved toward the open space twenty miles east of Juyang City.
"Your Majesty is here, come with me to pick him up."
A flash of excitement flashed across Zhu Zongting's face, and then he grabbed Zhu Zongnian's wrist and ran towards the car.
"Brother Ting, how about... do you want me to wash my face first?"
Zhu Zongnian pointed to his face with his other finger in embarrassment.
At this time, the open space was busy building blast furnaces and buildings, and there was naturally a lot of dust.
Zhu Zongnian, on the other hand, is slightly chubby and spends many years studying "curiosities and wonders" at home. His body, which lacks exercise, is naturally not much stronger.
Under the scorching sun, the sweat on his face never subsided.
Zhu Zongting paused and glanced helplessly at Zhu Zongnian's face covered with long black marks.
He urged helplessly: "Go, go, go."
With that said, Zhu Zongting quickly let go of Zhu Zongnian's wrist and added: "Hurry up, don't lose etiquette in front of the prince."
"It'll be fine soon, it'll be fine soon." Zhu Zongnian promised as he ran.
After more than ten breaths.
Zhu Zongnian rushed to the basin, held a handful of ice water in both hands, and then threw it towards his face.
"Pfft! Soothing." Zhu Zongnian couldn't help shouting as soon as Fang touched the ice water.
But soon, Zhu Zongnian, who had just been refreshed, kept holding the water and was stunned on the spot for some reason.
"Zongnian! Zongnian!" Seeing that Zhu Zongnian had not moved yet, the three-column green-covered carriage in the distance was getting closer and closer to the open space.
Zhu Zongting couldn't help shouting twice.
However, Zhu Zongnian seemed to have not heard anything at all and remained in a dazed posture.
"Zong Nian! Your Majesty is almost here!" Zhu Zongting urged while running toward the pavilion in a hurry.
"Zongnian! Your Majesty is almost here! Don't lose your etiquette!" As he approached, Zhu Zongting grabbed Zhu Zongnian's wrist and urged him while pulling Zhu Zongnian toward the three-horse carriage with green awning.
Half an hour later.
The carriage with three green hoods slowly stopped in front of the two of them.
"My lord, the special envoy of the royal palace, Zhu Zongting, pays homage to the prince!"
Zhu Zongting straightened his clothes, then faced the carriage and bowed his hands.
"The imperial envoy is exempt from the courtesy."
Yang Xian'an slowly opened the car curtain, and Xu Yi, dressed in dark jade green dragon uniform, slowly walked out of the car.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Zhu Zongting bowed his hands again and touched the arm of Zhu Zongnian who was standing behind him blankly.
Although his movements were subtle, it was difficult to escape Xu Yi's eyes.
"Is this the genius that the old man mentioned?" Xu Yi smiled and then asked.
I don’t know if it’s because of the hot weather or something else.
A dense layer of small beads of sweat suddenly appeared on Zhu Zongting's forehead.
"Back to your lord, this person is Zhu Zongnian." Zhu Zongting answered with his hands raised.
Then there was a slight pause, his body couldn't help but bend deeply, he lowered his head and said, "Zongnian has been distracted from time to time since he was a child. I hope you will forgive me for my rudeness."
Xu Yi chuckled and waved his hands slightly and said, "It doesn't matter. When I see many strange people, they are often distracted. Maybe Zongnian is gestating some unknown strange ideas in his mind at this time."
Zhu Zongnian laughed twice when he heard this and had to put the matter aside for the time being.
Then he said, "It's hot here, please come with me to the pavilion."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then walked while looking at the busy peasants in front of him.
"Zongting, how do the Zhu family arrange these civilian husbands?"
At the pavilion, Xu Yi slowly took a seat and then asked.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongting hurriedly raised his hands and replied: "Back to my lord, the Zhu family hired more than 3,000 civilians and more than 1,000 craftsmen at a price that is 10% higher than the market price."
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this place will be completely completed before the busy farming season.
It will never delay the busy work of farming. "
Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "The Zhu family is interested."
After finishing his words, Xu Yi looked at Zhu Zongting and asked again: "Is there a map for the construction of this place?"
"Your Majesty, this is a map that we have consulted with hundreds of master craftsmen. Please take a look at it."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongting quickly took out several pieces of rice paper from his sleeves and presented them to Xu Yi with both hands.
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then reached out to take the rice paper and tasted it carefully.
It is not difficult to see from the map that the Zhu family put a lot of effort into both site selection and construction.
Whether it is the two workshops or the buildings at the back, they have been allocated in the most reasonable manner, and there is no need for improvement.
Except...the blast furnace.
Xu Yi came here this time just for the blast furnace.
A blast furnace with a reasonable layout 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 vacant land.
Therefore, this question was asked just now.
Zhu Zongting's face paused slightly when he heard this, and then he replied: "Back to your lord, the foundations of a hundred blast furnaces have been laid. If we follow the normal progress, we should be able to complete one hundred blast furnaces within ten days."
"But..." The corner of Zhu Zongting's eyes flashed past Zhu Zongnian, who was still in a daze, and then continued: "But now, we have found a method that seems to be more efficient in building a blast furnace."
"At this time, we are organizing manpower to verify the suspected more efficient method."
"Therefore, starting from today, we are temporarily postponing the construction of the blast furnace."
"Oh?" Xu Yi said with surprise when he heard this: "A more efficient way to build a blast furnace?"
Zhu Zongting said anxiously: "It's suspected. I've organized manpower to verify it. I believe it won't take long to draw a conclusion."
Xu Yi's expression straightened slightly and he asked, "Do you have a map of the new blast furnace?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongting quickly took out a long mahogany box from his sleeve.
"This is the method for repairing the new blast furnace. Please take a look at it."
Zhu Zongting raised the long mahogany box with both hands and presented it to Xu Yi with his back bent.
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then reached out and took the long mahogany box.
As the long mahogany box was slowly opened, a map wrapped with a red rope lay quietly in the long mahogany box.
Xu Yi untied the red rope and slowly unfolded it, and a blast furnace with a familiar style instantly appeared in front of his eyes.
"Where did this method come from?" After just one glance, Xu Yi closed it and asked with a serious face.
His face was serious.
Zhu Zongting didn't dare to think about anything else.
He hurriedly raised his hands and saluted, "Go back to your lord, this picture was made by my younger brother Zong Nian."
"Zhu Zongnian?" Xu Yi murmured in a low voice, and then looked at Zhu Zongnian, who was still stunned.
He only heard last night that Zhu Zongnian could perfectly restore the repeated crossbow that had disappeared for hundreds of years.
But I have never heard that this man can improve the blast furnace.
If this thing is really painted by Zhu Zongnian.
So, this person is truly a unique genius!
Just when Xu Yi was distracted.
Zhu Zongnian, who was originally in a daze, suddenly frowned and stared at the water basin not far away and the newly replaced ice cubes in it, sighing repeatedly.
"Due to the cold in winter, the water droplets condense into ice."
"What about summer? How to remove the heat from water in summer?"
"Cellar? Ice mirror?"
Zhu Zongnian stared at the ice cubes that were melting extremely slowly in the basin and couldn't help but murmur to himself.
After Xu Yi came back to his senses, he heard Zhu Zongnian murmuring.
There was a slight movement in my heart, and then I slowly said, "Saltpeter."
"Saltpeter?" Zhu Zongnian frowned and said, "Saltpeter is not
Making fireworks? The five elements of this thing belong to fire. How to get rid of the heat? "
After finishing his words, Zhu Zongnian slowly turned around.
The person in front of me was wearing a white jade crown and a dark jade green dragon robe, and his appearance was particularly good.
With just one glance, Zhu Zongnian recognized the identity of the person in front of him.
"My humble citizen Zhu Zongnian, pays homage to His Highness King Yan."
Zhu Zongnian panicked and quickly bowed his hands.
Xu Yi waved his hand slightly and said, "No courtesy."
Then he looked at Zhu Zongnian in front of him and asked slowly: "Zongnian was just studying the method of making ice?"
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: "Just now, His Highness King Yan said that saltpeter can be used to make ice?"
Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "Although saltpeter is a must-have for fireworks, it likes cold very much. If it is placed in water, it can absorb the heat in the water and condense it into ice."
"As for whether it is true or not, saltpeter is not a rare thing. Zongnian can send someone back to the city to buy it and verify it himself to get the result."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongnian nodded solemnly and said, "I would like to thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing up my doubts."
After finishing his words, Zhu Zongnian couldn't help but tilt his head slightly and looked at Zhu Zongting with a pleading look on his face.
Zhu Zongting nodded helplessly and said, "I will arrange the manpower to purchase it."
"Thank you, brother, thank you so much, brother." Zhu Zongnian's face instantly burst into a bright smile, and he thanked him repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, I'll come as soon as I go." Zhu Zongting shook his head helplessly, then his face straightened, and he bowed his hands to Xu Yi.
Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "Order to buy more saltpeter, and prepare some large basins and clay pots."
"I obey the order!" Zhu Zongting saluted solemnly.
After finishing his words, he turned around and walked quickly towards his entourage not far away.
After Zhu Zongting returns.
Xu Yi waved his hand slightly to signal the two of them to take a seat.
"Thank you, Prince Yan." Zhu Zongting and Zhu Zongnian bowed their hands in thanks, and then slowly took their seats.
After the two of them took their seats.
Xu Yi laid the blast furnace map in his hand flat on the stone table.
He was interested in asking the school teacher: "Zongnian, why can this blast furnace improve its efficiency?"
Zhu Zongnian wiped the sweat from his forehead when he heard this.
Then he said calmly: "Back to your lord, this blast furnace alone is not enough to improve efficiency too much."
"This blast furnace is just a more reasonable structure than the existing blast furnace."
As soon as he said this, Zhu Zongting's face instantly turned pale.
"Zongnian, that's not what you said just now." Zhu Zongting looked at Zhu Zongnian with a pale face and asked in a low voice.
Xu Yi waved his hand slightly with a normal expression, indicating to Zhu Zongnian to continue.
Zhu Zongnian saluted Xu Yi with a grateful face.
Then he tilted his head slightly and said in a low voice: "Brother, don't panic, I will wait until I finish what I have to say."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Zongnian straightened his face and saluted again, saying, "Your Majesty, King Yan."
"Although this thing cannot greatly improve the efficiency of iron-making."
"But if it is combined with two other items, it can directly increase the iron-making efficiency by at least 50%."
Xu Yi understood in his heart and asked slowly: "Are the two things you mentioned the coke made from coal washing and refining, and the limestone?"
"Shocked..." Hearing this, Zhu Zongnian froze on the spot and whispered in disbelief: "How did His Highness King Yan know...I... .I also discovered it by accident..."
For a moment, Zhu Zongnian froze on the spot like the two-foot-long monk who was confused.
No matter how much he thinks about it, he still can't figure it out.
Coal is a thing that has been used as early as the previous dynasty.
It's just that it's very difficult to mine.
Furthermore, it is rarely truly revealed to the public.
As for open-pit coal mines, due to factors such as transportation and price, this material can only be exposed to large households.
Most of the dignitaries still use the best charcoal.
It is precisely because of this that "coke" has not yet been invented.
Or maybe it was invented, but failed to spread due to various factors.
Therefore, Zhu Zongnian still cannot understand it.
Naturally, Xu Yi would not explain everything to Zhu Zongnian in detail.
He even took the initiative to say that the purpose of coking the limestone was to suppress Zhu Zongming's youthful arrogance.
If only Zhu Zongnian could keep the arrogance that was always exposed inadvertently in his heart.
Then in the future, this person will go further in "Gewu".
Inside the pavilion.
Xu Yi sat on the stone bench and looked at Zhu Zongnian with a normal expression.
He slowly asked, "Zongnian, what Guzhi said is true or not?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongnian came to his senses instantly and hurriedly raised his hands in salute and said, "Back to Your Majesty King Yan, the two things in the mouth of this humble citizen are exactly the coke and limestone refined after washing with water."
Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "There is still something unclear about Gu and this blast furnace. I wonder if Zongnian can introduce it to Gu in detail."
"Yes." Zhu Zongnian said hurriedly after wiping the sweat from his forehead.
After he finished speaking, Zhu Zongnian slowly introduced the principles of the blast furnace and why adding coke and limestone would increase the efficiency by at least 50%.
Compared with just now, Zhu Zongnian's words and deeds at this time no longer showed any pride.
In fact, if the so-called blast furnace is explained in the language of later generations, it can be easily understood.
The so-called blast furnace is divided into four parts.
They are furnace roar, furnace body, furnace hearth and hearth.
The roar of the furnace is the mouth of the furnace.
And the so-called blast furnace ironmaking.
That is, iron ore, coke and limestone are added into the blast furnace from the furnace roar.
Among them, the main function of limestone is to convert the silica in the ore into slag.
At the same time, hot air is blown in from the bottom of the blast furnace using wooden bellows.
The coke reacts with oxygen in the hot air to produce carbon dioxide.
The main function of this reaction is to maintain high temperature in the furnace.
After that, the carbon dioxide travels upward, encounters coke and generates carbon monoxide.
At this point, what would later be called a reducing agent has been generated.
The carbon monoxide then continues upward 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 molten iron, the molten iron ends up at the bottom of the furnace.
Since the density of slag is less than that of molten iron, it floats on top of molten iron.
After the slag is cleaned, molten iron can be obtained.
At this point, the blast furnace ironmaking is completely completed.
In Xu Yi's view, the reason why efficiency can be greatly improved is that blast furnace and coke are indispensable.
As for the reason, it is very simple.
The melting point of iron is 1,500 degrees Celsius, and coke can generate a high temperature of 2,300 to 2,500 degrees Celsius after burning.
After that, after the blast furnace temperature is stored and raised, it can easily reach 2800 to 3000 degrees Celsius.
At such high temperatures, wouldn’t the efficiency of ironmaking be low?
What's more, there is also limestone used to convert the slag, which undoubtedly makes cleaning the slag more time-saving and labor-saving.
After a while.
Xu Yi nodded slightly and said, "With this blast furnace, the smelting effect can be increased several times. Zong Nian is really a genius."
"I don't think so." Zhu Zongnian's face turned slightly red and he waved his hands to refuse.
Xu Yi smiled, then extended an olive branch and said, "Would you like to enter Prince Yan's Mansion?"
After he finished speaking, Zhu Zongnian showed a tangled look on his face.
Xu Yi chuckled and added: "After entering Prince Yan's palace, I will set up a strange thing for you.
The Courtyard, the Courtyard of Strange Objects is located outside the palace's Gongzheng Institute. "
"No one can give orders to the Academy of Strange Objects except Gu."
"After that, Guhui will gather the most skilled craftsmen from all over the world to build a palace of wonders and wonders."
"Are you willing to be the director of the Academy of Strange Objects?"
The words are over.
After smelling such excellent conditions.
Zhu Zongnian no longer had any worries in his heart.
"Your Majesty, Zhu Zongnian, is willing to do your best for the prince."
Zhu Zongnian stood up and bowed his hands to Xu Yi.
"Okay, okay." Xu Yi said hello three times with a smile on his face.
Then he stood up and took half a step forward to slowly help Zhu Zongnian up.
After Zhu Zongnian got up.
Xu Yi patted Zhu Zongnian's shoulder very solemnly.
Then he smiled and said, "It's like getting a battalion to have Zong Nian help me now!"
Hearing this, Zhu Zongnian couldn't help but feel greatly moved.
He quickly bowed his hands again to show his loyalty.
Zhu Zongting stared at the two people beside him, who were in harmony with each other. He kept murmuring to himself: "If you win the year of your clan, it will be like winning a battalion. If you win the year of your clan, it will be like winning a battalion."
This evaluation is really not low.
After more than ten breaths, Zhu Zongting came back to his senses and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly.
Instead of that.
The more important the Zhu family's children are in Xu Yi's place, the more benefits they will bring to the family.
This is naturally a matter of joy and congratulation.
As for the reason, it is very 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 more powerful his family is, the more beneficial it will be to him.
Just when the three of them had their own thoughts.
Several fully loaded carriages were slowly approaching the pavilion.
Zhu Zongting composed himself, and then he bowed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the saltpeter and other items have arrived."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, then looked at Zhu Zongnian and said, "The basin is half filled with water, and the clay pot is filled with water and placed on top."
"After that, slowly and repeatedly add saltpeter into the basin."
After finishing speaking, Xu Yi gently patted Zhu Zongnian's shoulder and said, "Go."
"I obey the order!" Zhu Zongnian nodded heavily, then raised his hands in salute.
It’s not like Xu Yi has never thought of making saltpeter ice into a business.
But in the end, I gave up silently.
As for the reason, it is very simple.
First of all, making ice from saltpeter is not very difficult, so the risk of leakage is particularly high.
Secondly, even after it is made into ice cubes, its marketability is very awkward.
Sold to ordinary people?
Then the price will definitely not be high.
Sold to dignitaries?
Such people all have ice cellars in their homes and there is no shortage of ice cubes to survive the summer heat. Naturally, they will not waste money on the ice cubes produced by Xu Yi.
After much thought.
Xu Yi finally decided to spread this method for free in order to win the love of the people at the bottom.
It's just that since summer entered, Xu Yi has been so busy that he naturally forgets such small things in his mind.
If you think about it carefully, today is actually a good opportunity.
Xu Yi calmed down and then looked at the new blast furnace rising from the ground not far away.
"Zongting." Xu Yi turned his head slightly and looked at Zhu Zongting beside him.
"My lord, I'm here." Zhu Zongting bowed his hands and saluted after hearing this.
Xu Yi pointed at the new blast furnace that was rising from the ground not far away, and then slowly said, "Gu Guan, this new blast furnace will be put into use in at least three to five days."
"After verification, if there are no problems, this new type of blast furnace can be fully constructed in the two workshops."
After he finished speaking, Zhu Zongting immediately bowed his hands and said, "I obey your order."
Xu Yi nodded slightly, and then spoke again: "After returning this time, we can discuss it with the old man. If there is no difficulty, we can discuss it in the two workshops.
Another hundred-acre workshop was built next to the tributary of Yanghe River in front of it, completely separating smelting and blacksmithing. "
Yanghe River and Sanggan River are the two largest water systems in Juyang City.
Among them, the Sanggan River is named because it dries up every time the mulberries mature.
For this reason, when Zhu Huaimin chose the location for his workshop, he settled on the Yang River twenty miles away from Wang Daying.
According to Xu Yi's observation, the water flow speed in the nearby Nayang River tributary is enough to drive medium and large waterwheels.
With the help of waterwheels, the time for equipping military equipment can be greatly shortened.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zongting raised his hands and saluted again: "I obey your order!"
Just as the two were discussing the new workshop.
Zhu Zongnian's surprised voice suddenly came from not far away.
"It's done! It's really done!"
"It's freezing! It's really freezing!"
"Your Majesty! The water has frozen into ice!"
Xu Yi stood up slowly and chuckled: "Let's go and have a look."
"Yes." Zhu Zongting stood up with a smile and followed silently.
The two of them had not yet approached the water basin.
Zhu Zongnian held a clay pot-shaped ice cube in his hand and ran towards the two of them with a smile on his face.
"Your Majesty! The water has really condensed into ice!" Zhu Zongnian raised the pot-shaped ice cube in his hand high and reported with joy on his face.
Under the sunlight, the clay pot-shaped ice cubes sparkle with colorful colors, which is really beautiful.
Xu Yi looked at the ice cube in Zhu Zongnian's hand. He chuckled and said, "Not bad, not bad."
The words are over.
Xu Yi looked past Zhu Zongnian, who was holding ice cubes, to the sweaty civilians in the distance who were busy under the scorching sun.
He slowly opened his mouth and said, "When this thing comes out, it will be a blessing to the people."
The words are over.
Xu Yi slowly withdrew his gaze, and then ordered: "Zong Ting, Zong Nian, you two set out to write down the method of making ice with saltpeter, and order it to be spread quickly throughout Yan."
"So that the people of Yan Land will no longer be disturbed by the scorching heat."
"After that, he started doing business in various places and spread this method throughout the Zhou Dynasty."
Zhu Zongting and Zhu Zongnian were both surprised when they heard this.
But soon, Zhu Zongting came to his senses first and quickly said, "I obey your order!"
