Guo An smiled slightly and asked quietly: "Who said sugar cane is necessary for sugar production?"
As soon as these words came out, Xu Yun and Zhuang Guang were stunned for a moment.
Immediately, his eyes widened with excitement.
"Guo Changshi, are you saying that besides sugar cane, there are other things that can be used to make sugar?"
As they were talking, the two of them suddenly remembered something and asked again: "Guo Changshi, are you planning to make malt candies?"
Maltose, also known as maltose, can be made from rice, wheat, millet, and millet. It is considered the earliest sugar in the Central Plains.
It can also be regarded as a traditional Chinese medicine.
The advantage of making caramel is that you can make it anytime and anywhere as long as you have grain.
However, maltose is sticky, and half of it is not sugar. It is not as sweet as sucrose, and it is not as delicious as sucrose.
Many wealthy people like to eat cane sugar.
However, caramel cannot be added to gunpowder, so Guo An slowly shook his head and said, "We are going to use a kind of beet to make sugar."
"beet?"
Xu Yun and Zhuang Guang stared at Guo An with wide eyes and asked, "May I ask Guo Changshi, what kind of beet can be used to make sugar?"
You know, since people learned to use sugarcane sugar, countless people have tried to use other plants to make sugar for hundreds of years.
Unfortunately, only sugar cane can be used to make sugar.
If Guo Changshi could really find another plant to make sugar, wouldn't Prince Yan's Mansion have directly discovered a golden mountain?
Guo An said: "Sugar carrot."
"Sugar carrot?"
Xu Yun and Zhuang Guang both frowned slightly.
"Guo Changshi, where does this kind of radish grow?"
Guo An said: "Ningxia, Liangzhou, or Liaodong and other places."
Really?
Xu Yun and Zhuang Guang looked overjoyed and asked hurriedly: "May I ask Guo Changshi, what does that sugar radish look like? Is it called a sugar radish?"
"We don't know either."
At this time, Guo An really didn't know the name of that kind of sugar carrot.
After thinking for a moment, he said: "You can first send people to places like Shaanxi and Liaodong to search for us.
One looks like a radish, but the rhizomes buried in the soil are small round red bumps.
Now it’s October, which is harvest season for these sugar radishes. "
"Yes, Guo Changshi! I will go there personally..."
Xu Yun and Zhuang Guang responded and prepared to go find the sugar carrots Guo An mentioned.
Guo An once again asked: "You guys remember, sugar radish is the name we gave you. If you can't use this name to search for it, just use the name of carrot to search for it."
"Yes, Guo Changshi!"
The two of them responded and hurried away.
As for whether the two can be found, Guo An is not worried at all.
Now Prince Yan's Mansion is most in need of money and manpower.
Moreover, because of the wool workshops and cotton-padded clothing workshops, the relationship between the Yan Palace and the northern regions of Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Liaodong is much closer.
It can be said that even if the Yan Palace wants to find a three-legged toad in the three northern provinces, it can be found.
…
A few days later.
Mr. Du Zhidao and Mr. Du Zhidao from Huguan, Shanxi finally came to Beiping Mansion.
Zhu Di personally brought Zhu Fu, Guo An, and monk Dao Yan to greet him personally.
In addition, a group of scholars who had gathered in Peiping in the past few days also spontaneously came out to greet him.
Even Guo's father and Liu Weiyuan came out to greet him.
It can be said to be a huge scene.
However, what reassures Guo An is that the old Mr. Du Xun does not know whether it is because of his temperament or because he is old and has entered the moment of sage.
No matter who he faces, he is always very friendly.
Even after hearing Zhu Di's various requests for the academy, Du Jie agreed with a smile, even if a monk was thrust into his job as a clerk.
Du Qi was not unhappy at all.
Now that the autumn harvest has passed, the academy has been completed, and the directors of the two major academies, Jijiu and Siye, are in place.
The academy officially enrolls students.
Enlightenment has enlightenment schools, and academies have academies schools.
In just ten days, the academy enrolled 300 junior students, and the number of formal students reached 500.
Basically, scholars from all seven counties and four states of Beiping Prefecture came.
Every day, there is busy traffic outside the academy gate.
As for the various officials in Prince Yan's Mansion, as well as the officials in Wanping, Daxing, Tongzhou and other nearby counties, they would be replaced every ten days.
Every day, Jin Zhong led a dozen trainee scribes to build houses around the academy.
The library of the academy is also filled with academy students every day.
Most of them are rich and well-dressed gentry children.
Every gentry and rich boy holds a book in his hand, and in front of him is a cup of hot tea, a plate of pastries, and some of the better ones have some fruits and food.
Every time he came here and saw this scene, Guo An couldn't help but curl his lips slightly.
However, Guo An did not wander around the library today, but went directly to the work building on the side of the library.
Inside the building, there was already a white-haired old man in his sixties, waiting for him quietly.
As Guo An came in, Jin Zhong quickly stood up to greet him and explained to Guo An.
"I met Guo Changshi. This is the old gentleman who wants to donate books to the library."
"Little old man Luo Ben has met Guo Changshi."
Seeing Guo An come in, the old man's eyes lit up and he quickly stood up to greet him.
Guo An was startled and hurriedly stepped forward to help him, "Old sir, you must not do this. This kid will not dare to accept such a great gift."
After saying that, he helped the old gentleman back to his seat, and Guo An asked curiously: "I dare to ask, the old gentleman is specifically looking for boys to come here, but what books do you want to donate?"
Robben pointed to the wooden box on the side and said slowly: "Thank you Guo for his long history. I am going to donate a few ancient books this time, as well as a few humble works written by myself."
"A book written by the old gentleman himself?"
Hearing this, Guo An, Jin Zhong and others were immediately filled with admiration.
In ancient times, no matter what, anyone who could write a book or biography must be a great Confucian who studied heaven and man and understood the past and present.
At this moment, Robben had slowly opened the wooden box.
""Water Margin"?"
Guo An couldn't help but frown slightly when he saw the first book.
If he remembered correctly, "Water Margin" should be a long novel, and the author's surname was Shi, not Luo!
Luo Ben smiled sarcastically and said: "Don't be surprised by Guo Changshi, this book was written by Teacher Xiao Lao'er.
However, due to some reasons, this book has never been published. The young man was afraid that the book would be lost. He also heard that the library built by His Highness Beiping Mansion wanted to collect all the books in the world, so he brought it over. "
"I see."
Guo An nodded slightly, didn't think much, and continued reading.
"Don't worry, old man. If we want to collect all the books in the world into the library, this book will certainly do the trick."
A glimmer of light appeared in Robben's eyes, and he quickly continued to flip through the books below.
"The Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms", "The Romance of the End of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties", "The Chronicle of the Sui and Tang Dynasties", "The Story of Sansui Pingyao"...
Hey, this is "Three Kingdoms" written by Chen Shou... "Three Kingdoms" annotated by Pei Songzhi... Unexpectedly, the old gentleman is also a researcher of ancient history. "
The entire box, except for some strange mythological books, is filled with dynasty romances, which Guo An likes to read the most.
Moreover, old men who can study these histories often have some real skills, and Guo An's tone is even more respectful.
"Thank you very much, Guo Changshi, for your compliments. The little old man is just an ordinary person. He wrote these books on his own initiative, but he couldn't afford to print and publish any of them."
"Don't worry, old man. Based on the past and the present, scholars of our generation should read some historical masterpieces. These books will be placed on the top floor of the library," Guo An said.
"Thank you Guo Changshi."
Robben quickly expressed his gratitude with joy on his face.
Guo An asked again: "I wonder where the old gentleman is from and how old he is this year? I will ask someone to choose the most suitable pair of reading glasses for the old gentleman... Presumably, when the old gentleman reads some words every day, his eyes will also A little dizzy..."
After so many years, this was the first time that Robben was respected by someone, but he did not refuse. He had already heard the name of Prince Yan's reading glasses.
"The little old man's name is Guanzhong, and his nickname is Huhai Sanren. He is from Taiyuan, Shanxi. He is sixty-six years old this year.
It’s a pity that since the chaos in the late Yuan Dynasty, I have been wandering south of the Yangtze River and haven’t been back for a long time..."
"Zi Guanzhong... Luo... Luo Guanzhong..."
After listening to the old man's words, Guo An shivered and had no other thoughts to listen to the rest of the words.
Thinking about it, Guo An seemed to remember something and quickly opened the "Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Although the handwriting inside was all handwritten, it was all too familiar to him.
"Guo Changshi, Guo Changshi..."
Seeing Guo An holding his copy of "The Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms" in a daze, with the expression in his eyes still changing, a trace of worry flashed in Robben's eyes.
"But what's wrong with this book written by the little old man?"
"The old gentleman misunderstood."
Guo An quickly explained: "I just think these books of the old man can be called classics. It would be a waste of resources to just put the original manuscripts of the old man in the library...
Don't worry, old man, I will definitely find someone to re-copy the old man's books.
As for the old gentleman's manuscripts, I will leave them to the old gentleman for personal care... Of course, if the old gentleman doesn't mind, I also want to keep a copy of the old gentleman's books at home...
"I don't mind, I don't mind!"
Robben was beaming with joy.
"Thank you, old sir."
Guo An hurriedly stood up and put all the books back into the wooden box.
"In this case, please ask the old gentleman to follow the boy to the city. The boy will personally find a house for the old gentleman, and find a scholar to copy the books for him personally."
"I didn't expect that the old man, who had been wandering for half his life, could be so respected by Guo Changshi at his old age, so the old man was disrespectful."
Robben wasn't pretentious either.
As he said, at such an old age, if he hadn't been unable to let go of his few books, he might have gone to find his teacher long ago.
Guo An ordered Jin Zhong on the side: "Jin Zhong, pick up this book box and follow us into the city."
"Yes, Guo Changshi!"
Jin Zhong responded and quickly picked up the book box.
On the side, an old man who looked like a servant quickly stepped forward to help Roben up.
Then, the group of people left the academy, got on Guo An's spacious and luxurious carriage, and headed into the city.
As for Robben's old carriage, it followed behind.
All the way, we came directly to Chunshu Hutong in Wanping County.
Stopped in front of a house without a plaque.
However, the house was kept clean and there were still a few servants living there.
Seeing Guo An leading the two old men in, a group of servants came over to greet them and then served them hot tea.
"Old sir, this is a villa bought by the boy, so the old gentleman can live here first.
If there are any needs, the servants in the courtyard can dispatch them at will. "
"Thank you Guo Changshi."
Robben looked around and said with gratitude.
Inside the house, Guo An and Luo Ben were chatting when a voice came from outside the courtyard.
"Ning Yi, I heard that your boy brought back an old gentleman. Could it be some great scholar?"
After saying this, Father Guo and Liu Weiyuan walked in.
At this time of year, there was nothing going on in their hometown of Shunde Mansion, so the two old men stayed in Beiping Mansion.
I spent all day either indulging in the academy's library or following some great Confucian scholars to discuss Taoism.
"I have met my father, my father-in-law."
Guo An stood up quickly, greeted Father Guo and Liu Weiyuan, and then introduced them to them: "Father, father-in-law, this old gentleman is Mr. Luo Guanzhong, who is from Taiyuan, Shanxi.
This time I came to donate books to the library, and most of the books were written by the old gentleman. "
"Mr. Luo, this is my father-in-law, and this is my father-in-law. They are both Shunde Mansion..."
After Guo An's introduction, Liu Weiyuan and Guo's father couldn't help but froze when they looked at Luo Guanzhong.
As for Luo Guanzhong, a wry smile flashed in his eyes.
…
(End of chapter)
