In terms of process difficulty, glass manufacturing is less difficult than colored glaze.
Ming craftsmen can make art-grade colored glaze, so there is no reason why they can’t make glass.
Li Min did not let Wang Zhi ask questions, and shouted with a stern face: "Just go ahead and prepare for the purchase. Don't ask so many questions."
Wang Zhi hurriedly responded, arranged for people to prepare, and then invited Li Min, Gu Zhengchen and others to enter Liulijiao Factory.
The dazzling array of colorful glazes placed in the courtyard is quite spectacular. One of the seven-foot-tall glazed towers is the most eye-catching, emitting colorful light under the sunlight.
"This is prepared for Tianjie Temple. As you know, His Majesty has a close relationship with Tianjie Temple."
Seeing Gu Zhengchen staring at Liuli Pagoda, Li Min explained.
Gu Zhengchen said with a smile: "Tianjie Temple is quite beautiful."
Li Min's brows moved slightly: "Scenery? Haha, it's just the moment."
"What does Li Shangshu mean?"
Gu Zhengchen was stunned for a moment and looked at Li Min.
Li Min didn't say anything, just shook his head and walked away.
Gu Zhengchen knew very well that as a minister, Li Min's words were obviously not groundless. Could it be that Lao Zhu was planning to attack Buddhism?
It must be still early.
The people at Liuliciao Factory worked quickly, and the things Gu Zhengchen needed to prepare were not difficult to find. Saltpeter was not difficult to find. The Ministry of Industry had its own storage. Natural soda ash was also easy to find. Things like lime and borax were in the pharmacy. Yes, just go to a few drug stores...
Materials are ready.
Gu Zhengchen arranged for craftsmen to weigh quartz sand, soda ash, feldspar, limestone and other materials in a certain proportion and crush them. After screening, he used magnets to suck out the iron filings in the powder, then mixed them evenly and put them on the ground. Put it into the crucible cellar and heat it.
Coking coal was used for heating. This thing appeared in the late Southern Song Dynasty and was already used in large quantities by the Yuan Dynasty. There is a bellows for blowing air next to the cellar, but this bellows is larger and requires two craftsmen to pull it together.
Shovel after shovel of coking coal was added from time to time. The temperature inside the crucible became higher and higher, and the contents finally began to melt...
Li Min chatted with Gu Zhengchen, while Kuai Mingsi learned the firing techniques from the craftsmen and made molds with them.
Time passed little by little. It took nearly two hours before the material in the crucible was completely melted, and the green glass liquid was bubbling.
"Add saltpeter."
Gu Zhengchen ordered.
The craftsman immediately took action.
When the saltpeter was poured into the glass liquid and stirred continuously, Li Min watched the originally green liquid become clear and translucent little by little, and looked at Gu Zhengchen in confusion: "Why is this?"
Gu Zhengchen shrugged.
There was no way to explain the issue of ferrous iron and ferric iron to him. I was a liberal arts student, so I was pretty good at knowing the materials and processes for making glass. It was impossible to list chemical formulas.
"There are still too many bubbles."
Gu Zhengchen saw that although the liquid had become clear, there were a large number of bubbles on the surface and inside of the liquid. It was impossible to make a magnifying glass with this liquid.
“Add borax!”
Gu Zhengchen spoke again.
Li Min snatched the borax from the craftsman's hand and poured it in. Gu Zhengchen took out a bag of refined salt from his arms and poured it in under the puzzled eyes of everyone.
"What did you pour?"
Li Min was very curious.
Gu Zhengchen smiled and said, "Don't say it."
Li Min saw that Gu Zhengchen didn't say anything and knew that he didn't want to leak the method, so he didn't ask any questions.
As the two things are added, the bubbles in the liquid begin to grow larger. Small bubbles collide together and absorb each other, forming larger bubbles.
Wang Zhi saw this scene and shook his head repeatedly: "This is ruined."
There was pity in Li Min's eyes.
Whether it is making colored glaze or anything else, it is impossible to break the bubbles if there are too many.
Gu Zhengchen didn't speak, just watched quietly.
Bubbles emerge from the inside of the liquid and combine with the bubbles on the surface. The collapse of each large bubble means the disappearance of several small bubbles. As the large bubbles continue to explode, the bubbles in the glass liquid become rarer.
"Is this okay?"
Li Min was a little stunned.
Gu Zhengchen arranged for the craftsman to prepare the mold, and then said to the craftsman: "It's ready to be baked."
The craftsmen understood. Several craftsmen stood behind the pit and used long iron hooks to hang it on top of the pit. There were also craftsmen on both sides of the pit who used grapples to pull the pit. They cooperated with each other to slowly tip the pit.
The glass liquid flows out from the sharp mouth, enters the annealing channel, and slowly flows into the mold. The design of this channel and mold is similar to a cash cow. When one mold is full, the liquid will move to the next mold.
After half an hour, Gu Zhengchen ordered the mold to be removed.
The mold itself is designed to be slightly concave, and the poured glass will naturally be slightly convex.
Gu Zhengchen checked them one by one, discarding those with bubbles. One was not satisfied, and two were still defective. When the fifth mold was opened, a smile finally appeared on Gu Zhengchen's face.
This is a flawless magnifying glass. There are no air bubbles inside. It is very clear.
"What did you make this for?"
Li Min didn't know why.
Neither Wang Zhi nor the craftsman understood, and looked at each other in confusion as Gu Zhengchen laughed. This thing is as big as the palm of your hand, neither beautiful nor practical. Why do you want this thing?
Gu Zhengchen continued to rummage and found two more usable magnifying glasses, put them in his arms, and said to Wang Zhi and others: "It's hard work for you all today, please don't tell anyone about this matter."
Regardless of whether the magnifying glass was usable or not, Gu Zhengchen collected all the magnifying glasses and handed them to Kuai Mingsi, and then left Liulijiao Factory with Li Min.
On the carriage, Li Min took out a round glass block from Kuai Mingsi's package. After looking at it and seeing nothing surprising, he asked: "You have been busy all afternoon, do you need to give me an explanation?"
Gu Zhengchen slowly stretched his finger under the magnifying glass. Li Min was shocked when he saw the thick finger: "Your finger..."
"My hands have not changed. It is this kind of glass that magnifies my fingers. The biggest function of this kind of mirror is to magnify. A very skilled miniature carver can indeed carve out boats and people on walnuts with his eyes. There are many words written on the grains of rice, but it is difficult to find such miniature carving craftsmen, so I had to take a trick and take out this magnifying glass."
Gu Zhengchen explained.
Li Min tried his hand, and sure enough, the originally inconspicuous palm prints actually became much larger under the magnifying glass, and he could see it very clearly. He couldn't help but sigh: "Where did you get this method?"
Gu Zhengchen said calmly: "Water droplets."
Li Min and Kuai Mingsi were stunned.
Gu Zhengchen explained: "Look for a water drop and observe it. You will find that water droplets can indeed magnify objects. Since water droplets can do it, transparent glass can naturally do it as well."
Li Min and Kuai Mingsi were a little numb.
Everyone has seen water droplets, but not everyone has observed them carefully. Even if someone knew this, they probably would not have imagined that similar glass could be made.
"His Majesty is really wise to transfer you to the Treasure Banknote Proposal Department. I believe you will be able to produce treasure banknotes beyond everyone's imagination!"
Li Min said, then put a intact magnifying glass into his arms.
Gu Zhengchen stretched out his hand to ask for it: "There are only three intact ones in total. You take them away and I will use them as I wish. If you need them, just go back to Wang Zhi and send someone to make them again."
Li Min shook his head: "You didn't give me the formula. If I go back to them, I will definitely not be able to make it. Unless you tell me what you added to the glass water at the end."
Gu Zhengchen put the remaining magnifying glass into his arms, and handed the other discarded ones to Kuai Mingsi, and said to Li Min: "Li Shangshu, it's okay to give you the formula, but now is not the time. In addition, this thing is of great importance. It’s not appropriate to let more people know.”
Li Min understands Gu Zhengchen's worries. With a magnifying glass, micro-carving will become relatively easier. The treasure banknote lifting department has this thing, but no one outside does. Anyone who wants to imitate treasure banknotes must figure out the details of micro-carving, but This will block most craftsmen. If the magnifying glass spreads, it may lead to the risk of counterfeiting of the treasure banknotes.
After thinking about this, Li Min took out the magnifying glass from his arms and handed it to Gu Zhengchen: "I will keep Wang Zhi and others silent about this matter. You should not make any more noises. It will be used by the Baochao Office." Bar."
"Thank you."
Gu Zhengchen thanked Li Min.
It was almost dusk, Li Min and Kuai Mingsi went back separately, and Gu Zhengchen asked Zhang Pei, who was driving the car, to go directly to the Baochao Office.
The Baochao Collection Office is located on Liren Street, across the Qinhuai River. Not far away is Jiaofangsi, and to the north of Jiaofangsi is the Imperial City.
Fei Zhen is indeed a very capable person. In a short period of time, he properly allocated the craftsmen, and arranged all aspects of procurement, slurry pools, pigments, engraving, printing, etc. to each craftsman. The corresponding preparation work was very high. Efficiency unfolds.
For example, the most needed material for making banknotes - mulberry paper, needs to be specially beaten to make it, because there is a batch of mulberry paper stored in the palace, and there is no rush to make homemade pulp at the moment. However, the copper plates needed for engraving need to be arranged to be customized by the Ministry of Industry. There is no smelting furnace in the treasure banknote lifting department, and the master plate of the engraving needs to be of a specific size, and the size needs to be strictly controlled.
Fei Zhen was too busy to take care of dinner, but he was still tireless when lighting the lamp.
Gu Zhengchen is here.
Fei Zhen summoned all the craftsmen and introduced him: "This is a man from Quanzhou County, the head of the Ministry of Industry, and the deputy director of the Bao Chao Lifting Department. He is a talented person, and His Majesty attaches great importance to him. He has been appointed to manage the Bao Chao Lifting Department. Although I am here to promote him, he will do everything in this matter, and no one is allowed to violate it, including me."
The craftsmen looked at Gu Zhengchen with respect in their eyes. You have to obey him even when it comes to promotion, who dares to disobey?
Gu Zhengchen came out, looked at everyone, and said sternly: "Your Majesty has a decree to produce the first edition of treasure banknotes within half a month. In fact, today has already passed, and there are only fourteen days left. In other words, I It is very likely that I will only stay here for fourteen days. No matter what my temper is or whether I am easy to get along with or not, you must bear with me for these fourteen days. Under the order, there is no room for bargaining. Fei Tiju and I have made up our minds, and you just go ahead and do it. Don’t refute, let alone delay or slack off, do you understand?”
The craftsmen nodded repeatedly.
Gu Zhengchen's tone became calmer and he asked: "Now, who is the best engraver?"
