"Youdao is a word that wakes up the dreamer." Li Min's seemingly joking words sounded to Master Jiao's ears, but they were like a thunderbolt that opened a gap in his already fixed thinking.

Li Min's metaphor was so vivid that he immediately grasped the key point and said excitedly: "Your Highness, do you mean to say that the air can be heated and then blown into the furnace?"

"Haha, Mr. Jiao is indeed very experienced and he grasped the key point right away!" Li Min praised, air preheating is actually just a layer of window paper. Everyone understands the truth, but no one has ever thought of doing it this way. The main reason is the front

People's experiences limit their thinking.

Li Min stepped forward to the side of the water drain, stretched out his hand and gestured on the ground: "Uncle and Master Jiao, please take a look. You can build a preheating room here to heat the air and blow it into the furnace. In this way, you can

This prevents the temperature in the furnace from being lowered by the cold wind, and the higher the furnace temperature, the iron in the iron ore can be smelted out as quickly as possible. This not only saves time, but also the quality of the smelted iron is much better than before.

.”

As the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Duan Lun still knew a little bit about the art of iron smelting, so he could understand Li Min's words. However, as an official who coordinated the overall situation, he heard something inappropriate in Li Min's words.

He immediately asked: "Liu Lang, I understand what you are talking about about the preheating room, but have you ever thought about it? This preheating room also consumes fuel. Although the quality of the iron produced is better, the cost

But it has also increased, wouldn’t this be a bit uneconomical?”

Hearing Duan Lun's question, the excited Chief Jiao said first: "Master Shangshu, adding a preheating room will not increase the cost, because when the furnace temperature is increased, the smelting time is shortened. In this way, the smelting time can be

Reduce the amount of fuel, and the saved fuel can be used to heat the air."

"Eh~, wonderful! This is my oversight!" Duan Lun heard Master Jiao's explanation. He praised with eyes shining at the same time. At the same time, he admired Li Min's talent even more. He had just arrived a short time ago.

, made a small change to the blast furnace, which immediately improved the quality of the iron produced by the blast furnace, and also speeded up the time for the furnace to produce iron. Don't underestimate this small improvement, Datang has countless iron-making

Furnaces, if every furnace is modified as Li Min said, not only will the annual iron output increase a lot, but the quality of the iron will also be improved to a higher level. This is an amazing achievement!

"Liu Lang, everyone said that you got guidance from a god. I didn't believe it at first. But now I know that those rumors are not exaggerated for you!" Duan Lun thought that he had obtained such a big one out of thin air.

He was so excited about his political achievements that he no longer cared about his manners. He stepped forward and patted Li Min on the shoulder and praised loudly.

"What the hell, uncle, you praise your nephew too much!" Li Min said hurriedly and modestly, but he couldn't hide the pride on his face, especially when he saw Master Jiao's eyes shining with admiration for him, looking at him

It was like seeing a pile of gold and silver treasures. I wanted to grab them and hold them in my arms for a kiss.

The craftsmen are all action-minded. Chief Jiao immediately called several major craftsmen over and explained the method of preheating the chamber. These people were immediately shocked and looked at Li Min with the same eyes as Chief Jiao.

These people are all experts, and Li Min is also there. So everyone talked to each other, and soon came up with a detailed plan for this preheating chamber, and some of them also proposed that this preheating chamber should be heated

When the fuel and air are separated, the fuel requirements are very low. There is no need to use the saved coke. Cheaper coal can be used as fuel. In this way, although a preheating

However, it can actually save a lot of fuel costs and can definitely reduce the cost of a furnace of iron.

As soon as this proposal came out, it immediately attracted the admiration of Li Min, Director Jiao and others. Even Duan Lun, who was left to doze on the side, applauded loudly. Although the Ministry of Industry gets a lot of money every year, there are more places to spend money.

, so as soon as he, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, hears that he can save money, he will immediately become energetic.

As soon as the plan for the preheating room was finalized, Director Jiao originally wanted to do it in person, but Li Min stopped him and the craftsmen. Transforming the blast furnace was just a small move by Li Min to establish his authority. His main purpose was to organize these craftsmen.

Help yourself to figure out the steel filling method. After all, the blast furnace only produces pig iron, but how to turn the pig iron into steel? This is the most troublesome step.

Datang's steelmaking still used the fried steel method. The so-called steel frying actually means melting the pig iron and then stirring it constantly, just like cooking. This allows the oxygen in the air to react with the impurities in the pig iron and the charcoal.

, which reduces the carbon content in the iron. However, most of the steel produced by this fried steel method is wrought iron and low carbon steel. If you master it well, you can also get some medium carbon steel and high carbon steel that are more widely used.

.

What Li Min wants to do is a further step of steel filling. Although whether it is the steel frying method or the steel filling method, Li Min only knows a rough idea. After all, he has not learned this knowledge specifically, but only learned from some miscellaneous books.

Or I have read introductions about this on the Internet. However, even though he knows only a little about steelmaking, Li Min is fully confident in mastering the steel filling method. After all, he knows the nature of steel very well. To put it bluntly,

, isn’t the so-called steel just iron with a carbon content within a certain range?

If he wanted Chief Jiao and others to help him figure out the steel filling method, Li Min had to let them understand the difference between steel and iron first, so Li Min had to temporarily act as a chemistry teacher and try his best to explain it in plain language.

Of course, Li Min was not stupid enough to talk about atoms and molecules. He just told them that the iron contained many impurities. Of course they knew about this, Master Jiao. Then Li Min said that one of these impurities was very special.

Its content will affect the properties of iron. If it contains more of this impurity, it is pig iron, if it contains less, it is wrought iron, and if it is in the middle, it is steel.

Everyone understood what he said, and then Li Min explained the principle of the steel filling method. Although the steel filling method existed in the late Han Dynasty, it was not until the Song Dynasty that it began to be used on a large scale, so in the early Tang Dynasty

, very few people know about this steel-making method. In fact, the so-called steel-filling method is to mix pig iron and wrought iron. As long as the ratio is correct, steel will come out. Of course, the steel-filling method is definitely not as good as Li Min imagined.

It's simple, but the principle is correct. As long as you spend some energy and time researching in this direction, you can definitely master the steel filling method.

After listening to Li Min's method of filling steel, Chief Jiao and a group of craftsmen fell into deep thought. They also understood Li Min's explanation. If someone else was talking about the difference between steel and steel in front of them, they would definitely sneer at it. After all,

When it comes to their understanding of steel, none of them, who have been playing with steel for almost a lifetime, are convinced by the other. However, Li Min's views on the preheating room just now have already made them have a feeling for Li Min, this unique prince.

In awe, after listening carefully to Li Min's explanation, and then confirming it with my own understanding of the properties of steel, I found that what I only knew before, but not the why, if I use Li Min's theory to explain it, it turns out that

All of a sudden everything became smooth.

Chief Jiao discussed quietly with the craftsmen around him for a while, then stood up and reported: "Your Highness, all my subordinates understand the steel filling method you mentioned. Although in actual operation, you may encounter some difficulties, but it is

It’s not that there is no solution. If we are given some time to study it, we are indeed sure to come up with this solution!”

"Okay!" Li Min was overjoyed when he heard that there was a way. He stretched out his hand and patted Master Jiao on the shoulder twice, "Mr. Jiao, if we can come up with this steel filling method, it will definitely increase Datang's steel output several times."

Times, and as the main participants in this matter, you will definitely be famous in the history of the Tang Dynasty!"

"That's right! You all have the courage to do it. If you need anything, come to me. During this time, put down all other things at hand and do your best to come up with this steel filling method." Duan Lun also stood up and said,

But the expression on his face was a bit strange. His face was so red that it didn't look like he was excited. Instead, he felt a bit suffocated.

Seeing that even Lord Shangshu fully supported the steel filling method, Chief Jiao and the others no longer had any worries and immediately said: "Thank you, Lord Shangshu, for your support. I will go all out to research the steel filling method as soon as possible!"

Although Li Min is a prince, he can't control Master Jiao and the others after all. Duan Lun is the boss, so Duan Lun's words are more effective here.

After Li Min explained the steel filling method, he had nothing to do next. After all, when it came to the actual operation of iron smelting and steelmaking, he was far away from people like Chief Jiao, so once the theoretical knowledge was finished, Li Min and Duan

Lun no longer disturbed these craftsmen who had already begun to take action, and left the large workshop together.

While walking on the road, Duan Lun snorted angrily: "Liu Lang, you are really naughty. Is this what you said about helping us improve the technology of smelting iron and steel?"

"Eh? Uncle, isn't a preheating chamber and a steel filling method enough? This is a good thing that can double Datang's steel production several times!" Li Min blinked and replied innocently.

"Shit! Although the preheating chamber is a good idea, your steel filling method is just a painting. I only know a rough idea. Then I will talk to the craftsmen and let them study it on their own. Is it possible to study it?

Let’s not talk about coming out, it will definitely cost a lot of manpower and material resources, and all of this will have to be paid for by our Ministry of Industry.” Seeing Li Min’s scoundrel look, even Duan Lun, a gentle man like him, couldn’t help but curse.

When Li Min asked him for help, he boasted like an expert, as if he could get everything done immediately as soon as he took action. But in the end, Li Min only pointed in a general direction. As for the specifics,

The craftsmanship of the craftsman must be studied by his craftsmen themselves, and the cost had to be reimbursed by him, the minister. How could he not be angry?

"Uncle, you can't say that. My steel filling method is genuine. If they didn't have my guidance today and just let them study it on their own, it would be difficult to develop it even if it takes a hundred years!" Li Min said very confidently.

, In fact, what he said was obviously a bit of a boast. The method of steel injection had already appeared in the late Han Dynasty, but only very few people knew about it in the Tang Dynasty.

"Hmph~" Seeing the dignified Prince Liang acting rogue in front of him, Duan Lun, even though he was Li Min's uncle, had nothing to do with him. In the end, he could only snort, turn his head to the side, and stop looking at this rogue boy.

Seeing that Duan Lun seemed a little angry, Li Min was also a little worried. There would be many places where he would use Duan Lun in the future. It would not be worthwhile if the relationship became tense because of such a trivial matter. So Li Min thought about it and suddenly

An idea came to him, and he pulled Duan Lun's sleeves with a flattering look on his face, asking him to turn his face, and then said: "Hey, uncle, it's my nephew's fault this time. Otherwise, I'll get something new."

Come out, I promise this time, I will never fool you again with semi-finished products like the steel filling method!"

"Huh, are you that generous?" Duan Lun was still a little doubtful about Li Min's character.

"Of course, and this thing is related to farming. You also know that our Tang Dynasty attaches great importance to farming. Even my father goes to the fields in person. As long as I take out that thing and then your Ministry of Industry presents it, if in the future

If the promotion spreads, uncle, as the main promoter, you will definitely be famous in the history of the Tang Dynasty." Li Min started to lie again. He had already said the last sentence to the principal and the others just now, without even a single word.

change.

"Hey, even if you boast about your stuff this time, I won't believe it unless you show me the real thing!" Duan Lun is also a smart man and will never fall in the same place twice.

"Isn't it just the real thing? Uncle, please wait for two days. I will ask the craftsmen at home to make it when I get back. When it is done, I will demonstrate it in front of you. Then you will know the benefits of this thing." Li

Xin still said with an awesome look on his face.

After returning to the Ministry of Industry, Li Min said goodbye to Duan Lun and didn't go anywhere. He immediately returned to the palace and prepared to let the craftsmen make the things he just said he wanted to give to Duan Lun. However, as soon as he arrived at the palace,

He was very surprised to see a person, and his servants said that this person had been waiting for him at home for a long time.

"Eighth brother, why do you have time to come to Sixth Brother's house today?" Li Min walked into the living room and asked with a smile. The person who came was none other than Li Zhen, the eighth among the princes. When Li Min went to elementary school,

This kid even competed with Sizi for origami. It can be said that he is a relatively unscrupulous guy.

"Brother Six, you must help me this time, otherwise I will really have no shame in living!" But what people didn't expect was that as soon as Li Zhen saw Li Min, tears filled her eyes with excitement, as if

As if the child without his parents finally saw his relatives, he rushed forward and hugged Li Min's thigh, wailing loudly.
Chapter completed!