Chapter 75: Pure Love
After Ji Zheng's detailed explanation, Ding Mao nodded as if he had understood something, then he grabbed Ji Zheng's arm and pulled him out the door impatiently: "In this case, let's go and try it out."
"Master Ding, please don't worry!" Ji Zheng quickly pulled Ding Mao back and asked him to stop. "In addition to saltpeter, there are also problems with sulfur and charcoal."
Upon hearing this, Ding Mao stopped and looked at Ji Zheng with sharp eyes, waiting for his next words.
Ji Zheng was secretly shocked to find that Ding Mao was so fond of gunpowder.
After talking for a while, his lips were a little dry. After pouring a cup of tea and drinking it all, Ji Zheng slowly said: "If there is too much sulfur, the excess gas and heat produced will cause premature explosion..."
Before he could finish his words, Chen Zi interrupted him and said, "So our gunpowder always exploded for no apparent reason before. Is it because we put too much sulfur?"
"That's the main reason, but there are other factors as well," Ji Zheng replied. "For example, too much saltpeter can make gunpowder unstable."
These words made Ding Mao and Chen Zi a little confused. They looked at Ji Zheng blankly, "Then how can we stabilize it?" Ding Mao asked again.
“It’s impossible to be 100 percent stable, but we can add something else to try to improve stability,” Ji said.
"What are the other things?" Chen Zi asked.
Naturally, they are potassium carbonate and calcium carbonate. Both substances can absorb moisture and acidic substances in gunpowder, thereby stabilizing the gunpowder.
"For example, wood ash." Ji Zheng replied that potassium carbonate can be extracted from wood ash. "In addition, limestone, white marble, and chalk are also OK."
The last three substances mentioned by Ji Zheng are mainly composed of calcium carbonate.
Ding Mao and Chen Zi nodded thoughtfully, then frowned slightly, as if they were thinking about something.
"I didn't expect that Master Ji knew so much." Ding Mao spoke first, with a faint smile on his face, "Has Master Ji done relevant experiments before?"
Hearing this, Ji Zheng secretly said that it was not good, he accidentally revealed too much.
"Yes, Lord Ji said before that he only had a basic understanding. Now it seems that he was too modest." Chen Zi also echoed with a smile.
Looking at the smiling faces of the two people, Ji Zheng wondered in his heart whether these two people were just complimenting him or if there was something else behind their words.
But no matter what, I have to be more cautious in this regard in the future, at least not reveal too much.
Ji Zheng suppressed his thoughts and smiled faintly, saying the same thing he had used to fool Emperor Ren: "I discovered this by accident after many experiments."
Unfortunately, such words may fool laymen, but it is difficult to fool experts like Ding Mao and Chen Zi.
Ji Zheng understood it in his heart, but he didn't care too much. As long as it looked acceptable on the surface, it was fine.
It was obvious that Ding Mao and Chen Zi thought the same thing. They exchanged glances and then said with a smile, "Master Ji is extremely intelligent. We are far behind him."
Anyway, no matter whether Ji Zheng did it intentionally or unintentionally, someone higher up would naturally pay attention to it, and the two of them just had to take advantage of it.
"Thank you for the award, my Excellencies. It was just a coincidence." Ji Zheng responded modestly, but he was actually a little impatient.
This damn feudal society, this damn red tape.
"In that case, let's stop chatting." Ding Mao turned and walked out the door, "It's time to get down to business."
Chen Zi made a gesture of invitation to Ji Zheng, "Master Ji, please."
Ji Zheng smiled and nodded, and the two followed Ding Mao's pace.
In Yu's study, Emperor Ren was sitting behind his desk reviewing memorials. Not far from him were two eunuchs, who were bending over and lowering their heads, fanning themselves with fans.
Seeing the prince coming in, Emperor Ren looked up at him, then calmly finished reviewing the memorial in his hand, and then raised his head and said, "Come and sit over here."
Jing Xian responded and walked over to sit below Emperor Ren.
As soon as the prince sat down, the eunuch serving beside him hurried forward to pour tea for him.
"Your uncle Sheng will arrive in the capital in the next two days." Emperor Ren said softly.
Jing Yi is only two years older than Jing Xian, and the two get along more like friends and brothers.
Upon hearing this news, Jing Xian's eyes flashed with joy, "Did the emperor's uncle find someone?"
Emperor Ren nodded.
"That's great!" Jing Yi couldn't hide his joy.
When gunpowder was first discovered, Jing Yi became very interested in it. He also participated in the research and development of the first batch of usable gunpowder, but later the research and development of gunpowder came to a standstill.
He then hid his identity and searched for capable people among the people. He was away for more than two years. Now he was finally coming back with his people. Jingxian and Emperor Ren were very happy.
While feeling happy, Jing Xian thought again, "I just don't know how capable this person is."
Emperor Ren didn't say anything, he thought of Ji Zheng.
Jing Xian's words brought a brief silence to Yu's study. The sunlight shone through the carved window lattices onto the ground, forming patches of golden light, and dust danced in the air.
Emperor Ren stared at the memorial in front of him, his cloudy and deep eyes revealing something he was thinking about.
The smoke from the incense burner on the altar adds a touch of mystery to the quiet atmosphere.
"This man must have some extraordinary qualities to be chosen by your uncle Sheng." Emperor Ren spoke slowly, with a hint of expectation in his tone, and his voice echoed in the quiet room, "When he comes, everything will be clear."
Jing Xian pursed his lips and was silent for a moment, remembering Ji Zheng setting off fireworks outside the city a few days ago. He said, "I heard that Ji Zheng from the Ministry of Works made something very similar to gunpowder outside the city the day before yesterday?"
Emperor Ren glanced at Jing Xian and nodded slightly.
"Since he can make this thing, I think he is quite knowledgeable about gunpowder. Why don't you transfer him to the Gunpowder Department?" Jing Xian didn't know that Ji Zheng had already left.
"We let him go yesterday." Emperor Ren replied calmly, "Let's see what happens to him in the next few days."
Jing Xian nodded slightly.
the other side.
Ji Zheng followed Chen Zidingmao to the experiment site.
"What should we do first?" Ding Mao asked Ji Zheng.
Ji Zheng thought for a moment and said, "Let's purify the saltpeter first."
This saltpeter really has too many impurities. Ji Zheng put on gloves and explained to the others, "There are three steps to purify saltpeter. First, dissolve the raw materials, then filter out the impurities, and finally evaporate and crystallize."
Unfortunately, his explanation was almost the same as no explanation at all. The listeners' eyes were dazed and their minds were blank.
Ding Mao stood there, hesitating for a long time before asking, "What does this dissolving raw material mean?"
"And what does evaporation crystallization mean?" Chen Zi also asked.
After hearing the two people's questions, Ji Zheng wanted to slap himself to death and forgot that they couldn't understand these chemical terms.
"Sorry, sorry, it's my fault." Ji Zheng apologized quickly, "You two adults can watch me operate it first, and then I will explain it to you two adults."
"Then I'll trouble you, Lord Ji." Ding Mao and Chen Zi bowed and expressed their gratitude.
"It should be." Ji Zheng answered casually.
He then began to explain to Ding Mao and Chen Zi while operating.
After a complicated and time-consuming operation, the three finally obtained a small amount of purified white crystals.
Looking at the small handful of snow-white saltpeter in the jar, Ding Mao and Chen Zi widened their eyes, and the way they looked at Ji Zheng had completely changed.
"Master Ji, this is a divine skill!" Ding Mao couldn't help but exclaimed in amazement.
This exaggeration made Ji Zheng very embarrassed. He just took advantage of the times, and this was not his first invention.
Ji Zheng touched his nose sheepishly and changed the subject, "The effect of purified saltpeter will be better."
"Then let's try it now!"
Ding Mao couldn't wait to use the purified saltpeter in gunpowder to see if it could really increase the power of gunpowder.
Chen Zi also nodded along with Ding Mao, "Yes, yes!" His tone was very excited and anxious.
Ji Zheng stopped the two of them and said, "Don't be impatient, my lords. The money will be gone soon. Let's do it tomorrow."
Making gunpowder is time-consuming and laborious. If he made it now, he probably wouldn't be able to get home until dark.
"Can...."
Ding Mao was about to say something else, but Ji Zheng interrupted him immediately, saying, "There's no need to rush. It can't get away anyway."
Seeing the hesitation on the two people's faces, Ji Zheng said, "Everyone is tired today. If we force the experiment, we may run out of energy and make mistakes." He paused and said, "Also, the risk factor is higher when operating at night. If something goes wrong, who will take the responsibility?"
After hearing this, Ding Mao and Chen Zi looked at each other and felt that Ji Zheng was right.
"Lord Ji is absolutely right. It is our fault for not considering it carefully enough," said Ding Mao.
"It's okay, we can come over early tomorrow." Ji Zheng said comfortingly.
When it was time to leave, Ji Zheng left without wasting a second.
As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, Sheng Wang Jingyi and his men entered the palace.
After leaving the palace gate, Ji Zheng found his own carriage and stepped into it in two steps.
As soon as I opened the curtain, I saw Ji Hean looking at me with sparkling eyes.
"Why are you here!" Ji Zheng rushed over suddenly, and the carriage moved a little.
Ji Hean hugged Ji Zheng tightly and said with a smile: "I want to give you a surprise." Ji Zheng sat up straight, his eyes full of smiles, "This is such a surprise!!"
At this time, the driver coughed lightly and reminded: "Master, can we set off now?"
Ji Zheng responded, and the carriage moved forward slowly.
"Baby, why did you want to pick me up today?"
Ji Zheng asked as he held the person and touched him all over in a dishonest manner.
Ji Hean twisted his body, and seeing Ji Zheng touching her more and more excessively, he could not help but shout, "Ji Zheng!"
There was some anger in the voice. Ji Zheng was afraid that the person was really angry, so he quickly withdrew his hand and smiled ingratiatingly.
Ji Hean rolled his eyes at him, straightened his clothes and asked, "How was your day?"
Ji Zheng leaned on Ji Hean's shoulder and said lazily, "Not bad, but handling some matters is a bit tedious and a headache."
After that, he added glibly, "But the moment I saw the baby, all my tiredness disappeared."
Ji Hean felt very happy when hearing these words. "Then lean on my legs and I will give you a massage."
Ji Zheng naturally wanted it more than ever. He immediately adjusted his posture and rested his head on Ji Hean's legs, with his face buried in Ji Hean's lower abdomen.
Ji and An Yagen couldn't massage him in this position, so they turned Ji Zheng's head and said, "This is the only way to do it, otherwise I can't massage you."
Unexpectedly, Ji Zheng turned his head back and said like a child throwing a tantrum: "That's what I want."
Ji Hean was helpless, "Okay then."
Ji Hean's hand gently rested on Ji Zheng's head, stroking it intermittently.
Ji Zheng sighed comfortably, closed his eyes and enjoyed this pleasant moment, "Baby, you touch me so comfortably!"
There was a teasing tone in these words, but Ji Hean didn't hear it and said seriously: "Then I will let you touch me more often in the future."
Hearing this, Ji Zheng got up from Ji Hean's arms and leaned over to whisper in Ji Hean's ear: "Thank you, baby, can I apply to touch you somewhere else?"
There was a teasing look in the corners of his eyes and his expression was very ambiguous.
As soon as Ji Hean understood what Ji Zheng had just said, his ears turned red, "Ji Zheng!"
Ji Zheng laughed and reached out to touch Ji He'an's red ears, "My dear, why are you still so innocent?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
