Alchemy room secret glass mirror

Once the plan was set, we immediately and quietly launched our operation in this remote place called Erxian Mountain.

The first priority was the source of wealth—glass mirrors. I combined my memory of the principles of glass firing and silver mirror reactions with the materials available at the time, repeatedly refining a process that was as detailed as possible. Quartz sand (silicon dioxide) was the primary raw material, pure alkali (sodium carbonate) served as a flux, and limestone (calcium carbonate) was used for stabilization—these terms were unfamiliar to Yiqing, but I used descriptions like "white, crystalline gravel," "stone that changes the color of flames," and "a common white stone in the mountains." Combined with his knowledge of minerals and medicinal herbs, he was able to grasp the general idea. He suggested that the sand beneath a cliff somewhere behind Erxian Mountain might fit the description of "quartz sand," that "pure alkali" could perhaps be extracted from certain salt-alkaline deposits or the ashes of specific plants, and that "limestone" was even more readily available.

Next came the experiment. The abandoned alchemy room, nestled in a secluded valley behind the temple, was where Master Luo had once refined elixirs. It had fallen into disuse, making it a perfect place for us to utilize. Yiqing cast a spell, clearing away years of dust and cobwebs, and then reinforced the doors and windows to ensure secrecy.

Firing glass requires high temperatures, and the original furnace in the alchemy room was far from adequate. Yiqing personally designed it, directing Qingsong and two other mute servants, whom he had carefully inspected and confirmed to be reliable, whose homes were deep in the mountains and had little contact with the outside world (he had chosen them specifically to ensure absolute secrecy). Using refractory clay and stone, they rebuilt a sealed kiln with a more rational structure and capable of reaching higher temperatures.

During this time, I was responsible for repeatedly testing alternatives to the "Silver Mirror Reaction." Mercury is extremely toxic and difficult to control. I seem to recall a method using glucose to reduce a silver ammonia solution, but extracting pure glucose and preparing a silver ammonia solution was practically impossible in that era. Ultimately, after countless failures, I had to settle for the relatively primitive but more feasible "tin amalgam" method: first applying tin foil to glass and then carefully applying mercury. While there was still a risk of mercury vapor poisoning, as long as we strictly controlled the amount used and provided proper ventilation, the risk should be minimized. Yiqing also specially prepared some detoxifying and anti-poisoning pills for emergency use.

Gathering the raw materials was even more time-consuming and laborious. Quartz sand required repeated washing and screening to remove impurities. Obtaining pure alkali proved quite challenging, until Luo Zhenren, upon hearing about it, managed to obtain some pure "stone alkali" from somewhere, solving the crucial problem. Limestone was relatively easy to obtain; it could simply be ground into powder.

Everything was ready, and on a moonlit night with sparse stars, we started the first official firing.

Inside the alchemy room, the fire blazed, casting a crimson glow on everyone's face. Yiqing personally controlled the heat. His perception of temperature was far superior to that of ordinary people, allowing him to precisely control the temperature by observing the flame's color and sensing it with his spiritual power. I nervously watched the kiln, constantly reminding him of the temperature range for melting glass according to my memory.

Qingsong and the two mute servants followed the instructions, adding fuel in time and maintaining ventilation.

As time passed, the temperature inside the kiln grew ever hotter, until even I, standing just a few steps away, could feel the heat. Finally, in the darkest hour before dawn, through the kiln's observation hole, we saw the mixture inside gradually melt, transforming into a viscous, bubbling orange-red liquid!

"It's done!" I couldn't help but exclaim and excitedly grabbed Yiqing's sleeve.

A hint of joy flashed in Yiqing's eyes, but he did not relax. Instead, he focused more on controlling the final heat preservation and clarification process to expel as many bubbles as possible.

As daylight faded and the fire died, the molten glass in the kiln slowly cooled and solidified. We carefully opened the kiln and, using special tongs, pulled out a piece of glass—still warm, irregularly shaped, slightly greenish, but still quite clear!

The first step, firing the glass, was a success!

Although this first piece of glass still had some bubbles and impurities inside, and its surface wasn't smooth enough, it already far surpassed the clarity of bronze mirrors of that era! We all gathered around this hard-earned piece of glass, beaming with delight. Even the two silent servants had a glint of surprise in their eyes.

The next step, the "silver plating," was both crucial and dangerous. We chose to conduct it during the day, when ventilation was optimal. Wearing a makeshift mask and gloves made from multiple layers of fine cotton cloth, I carefully applied the thinly beaten tin foil, which I had prepared earlier, evenly to the polished glass surface. Then, Yiqing personally performed the operation, using his spiritual power to control the trace amount of mercury, evenly coating the foil and forming a tin amalgam.

The entire process must be fast, accurate, and steady, minimizing the release of mercury vapor. Once completed, we quickly place the treated glass in a well-ventilated area to allow it to react and solidify naturally.

The wait was agonizing. On the third day, after we carefully scraped off the excess amalgam on the surface and cleaned it with water, a glass mirror, reflecting our faces with incredible clarity, was finally created!

Looking at my own image in the mirror, so clear that even my eyelashes were clearly visible, I was so moved that I almost cried. Qingsong and the mute servants were even more stunned. They had never seen such a clear "mirror". It was as if another self was sealed in this crystal object.

"This thing... is truly miraculous." Yiqing stroked the smooth, cool mirror surface, his eyes filled with wonder. "If this gets out, it will be priceless."

Our initial success gave us immense confidence. Over the next period of time, we continuously refined our process, adjusting the raw material ratios, optimizing the firing temperature, and the silver plating process. Gradually, our glass mirrors became smoother, with fewer impurities and bubbles, and a brighter surface. We even experimented with making small, portable handheld mirrors.

Of course, all these finished products were strictly sealed and hidden in the secret room of the alchemy room, and absolutely no part of them was allowed to leave the temple. We know that it is a crime to possess a treasure.

At the same time, Yiqing did not relax his efforts to gather information from the outside world. Through some extremely secret channels (mainly from some wandering Taoists or hermits who had received great kindness from Luo Zhenren), he gradually received some news about the outside world.

After Chao Gai's death, Song Jiang successfully took over as leader of Liangshanpo and changed the "Gathering Hall" to the "Loyalty Hall," his ambitions becoming clear. The imperial court also seemed to have changed its strategy, employing both suppression and appeasement. While there were occasional frictions between the two sides, large-scale fighting paused, as if something was brewing.

"The discussion of recruiting Song Jiang is probably already going on in secret." Yiqing said confidently, looking at the latest secret letter, "Song Jiang seems to be having secret dealings with certain officials in Tokyo."

The wheel of history is indeed still moving along the established track.

"We need to move faster." I felt a sense of urgency. Once the surrender is achieved and the army is on the march, our deployment must be in place.

Yiqing nodded and said, "We've successfully produced several high-quality mirrors. It's time to find a secret way to cash in on them. At the same time, we need to start planning for Jiangnan as well."

He pulled out a more detailed map of Jiangnan, on which he had already marked several points. "Suzhou and Hangzhou are prosperous and thriving, with a mix of good and bad people, making them easy to hide in. I intend to send an absolutely reliable person south with some funds to purchase one or two inconspicuous businesses around Taihu Lake, such as a teahouse or a silk shop, to serve as bases for future support."

"Who are the candidates?" This is crucial.

Yiqing pondered for a moment and said, "I have a candidate in mind. It's a registered disciple that Master had enlightened in his early years, named Lu Renjia. He was originally a Huizhou merchant, but his family fell into poverty. He became disillusioned with the world and lived in seclusion in the Jiangnan area. He is a smart person who values ​​his word and is grateful to Master. I can entrust him with this matter."

A disciple enlightened by Master Luo? That should be reliable. I feel a little relieved.

"How do I sell the mirror?" This is the key to obtaining start-up capital.

"We can't sell them domestically; it would be too conspicuous." Yiqing had clearly thought this through. "We can sell them overseas by sea. There are merchants in Quanzhou, Fujian, who travel to foreign lands, and some of them have connections to the Daoist sect. I can write a letter, along with a few small mirrors, and give it to Lu Renjia to take. I can have him contact reliable merchants and sell the mirrors overseas in exchange for gold, silver, or easily convertible foreign treasures."

The plan was well-thought-out and interconnected. Using overseas trade to digest the glass mirrors would not only bring in huge profits but also minimize the attention of the imperial court or other forces like Liangshan.

"Okay, let's do this." I totally agree.

Secret recipes are brewed in the alchemy room, and the glazed mirror is complete. This seemingly unassuming place is quietly becoming the heart of our destiny-defying plan. The blood of money will soon be pumped out from here, flowing along hidden veins to the south of the Yangtze River, building a fragile but hopeful line of defense against the inevitable bloody storm ahead.