Prototype flintlock muskets were no easy task.

Due to the limitations of technology in this era, it will take some time before that is possible.

Li Xin wasn't in a hurry.

After all, the grassland bandits in the northern Xiande Prefecture area did not launch an immediate attack.

As for Shuangcheng Prefecture, with Zhang Cheng, Liu Zheng, Wang Zhong, Mu Yunyan, and others there, there's no need to worry.

Given enough time, once the trench system of Shuangchengfu is completed, it will be able to keep the grassland bandits outside Shuangchengfu.

By then, the entire area around Dongning City will be safe.

It is time to relocate some immigrants to counties and townships under the jurisdiction of Dongning Prefecture, such as Dingli County.

Construction is of utmost importance!

Only by managing one's own base well can one cope with external invasions with ease and avoid panic.

In Dongning City today, all undertakings are gradually getting back on track.

In terms of making money, products such as soap, bar soap, liquor, and perfume all have amazing profits, enough to cover some of the current expenses in Dongning City.

In terms of construction, cement, bricks, tiles, and timber are also being produced in large quantities.

In military terms, gunpowder, bombs, cannons, crossbows, and other weapons also played an amazing role!

Even in the field of technology, coal, steel, railcars, glass, telescopes, and other materials are being produced little by little.

Technology has also laid the foundation.

Coal and steel were the cornerstones of the Industrial Revolution.

Both of these industries are developing rapidly.

However, Li Xin knew that in addition to these two industries, there were other important products for which he needed to lay a solid foundation as soon as possible.

That is the chemical industry.

Although the chemical industry is complex and challenging, it is still necessary to plan ahead, select professional personnel to conduct experiments, and accumulate experience.

First, we need to establish a solid foundation in the chemical industry. Once the necessary conditions are met, we can then proceed with the development of the chemical industry.

Nowadays, caustic soda is needed to produce soap.

Most of the caustic soda produced nowadays is mined from natural minerals. It is not produced locally in Dongning and is mostly purchased from places like Jiangnan.

These products can all be manufactured industrially.

This is the foundation of chemical engineering.

The fundamentals of chemical engineering lie in the three acids and two bases.

The "three acids and two alkalis" refer to nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), and soda ash (sodium carbonate).

With three acids and two alkalis, new products such as chemical fertilizers and yellow gunpowder can be manufactured.

This is also the foundation for new industrial development!

After searching in the field of intelligent technology for a period of time, Li Xin found some researchers to be specifically responsible for researching and producing three acids and two bases in the laboratory.

Whether they succeed or not depends on their fate.

After all, in an era when chemistry was practically nonexistent, starting from scratch was extremely difficult.

Li Xin didn't ask for anything.

...

Besides chemical engineering, the second task Li Xin had to arrange was to produce domestic fertilizer.

Currently, the number of immigrants migrating from places like Huaibei has reached as many as 80,000 to 90,000, and they are still migrating in continuously.

With so many new immigrants, the wasteland is constantly being reclaimed.

Furthermore, after Shuangcheng Prefecture was recovered, all the fertile land near Dongning Prefecture and its subordinate counties could be cultivated.

With so much fertile land, it's natural to cultivate it.

Farming, on the other hand, cannot rely solely on the weather; that's not feasible.

Although this era lacked superior seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation facilities, conditions could be improved little by little.

If we don't have good seeds, then we'll start with fertilizers and irrigation facilities.

Regarding the water conservancy facilities, the Dongning Prefecture and engineering teams have been instructed to begin surveying the surrounding area, and the digging of irrigation canals will begin after the autumn harvest.

As for fertilizer, that's simple too.

Modern compound fertilizers cannot be produced, but homemade fertilizers can still be produced.

After searching through smart technology for a while, Li Xin found several methods for making soil fertilizer.

1. Ammonia water.

Mix 100 catties of fresh cow dung, 1.5 taels of soybean powder, and 10 catties of calcined gypsum powder evenly, seal and let it ferment for three days.

After fermentation, add three times the amount of water and mix before use.

Its fertilizer effect is even better than that of ammonia water!

II. Ammonium sulfate.

Mix 100 jin of human urine, 10 jin of calcined gypsum powder, and 50 jin of water, stir well, seal for 10 days before use, and the fertilizer effect is comparable to that of ammonium sulfate.

III. Soil-based compound fertilizer.

First, crush, grind, and sieve the limestone and calcium carbonate. Then, add 240 to 300 kilograms of human urine to 200 kilograms of limestone powder, mix well, pile it into a mound, cover the outside with mud, seal it tightly, and store it for seven days.

This type of compound fertilizer is also suitable for use as base fertilizer and top dressing.

These three types of homemade fertilizers are also the most common homemade fertilizers, and their production process is not complicated.

As far as Li Xin could remember, he had seen his ancestors composting in the fields when he was a child, back when chemical fertilizers were not plentiful.

Traditional fertilizers were once an essential item for every household in the countryside!

It was also the guarantee of increased grain production in those years!

Such technology should naturally be promoted in this era.

After passing on these techniques to the technicians of Dongning Prefecture, Li Xin also instructed Liu Jingxuan, the prefect of Dongning, to send people to various districts and communities to pass on the experience and techniques to the people.

If people learn the composting technique for organic fertilizer, they may be able to increase their yield by using some organic fertilizer after planting grain next spring!

Once grain production increases, Dongning City will no longer need to rely on purchasing grain from outside.

Food security is also extremely important!

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