Chapter 81
"What's this?"
Everyone was confused and curious.
Liu Ju curled his lips: "Try it."
The guard paused. "Try it? Is it edible?"
"Yes, but only a little bit. Like this."
Liu Ju extended a finger, dipped a few grains of "gravel" in it, and brought it to Liu Che's lips. Liu Che licked it gently, frowning slightly, then paused. "Salty, is it... salt?"
The tone was uncertain, perhaps because this "salt" looked and tasted different from the usual salt. Ordinary salt blocks were large and dark, but this was crystal clear. Ordinary salt blocks tasted salty and bitter, but this was simply salty, not bitter.
Everyone followed Liu Ju's example and tasted a few grains, their faces becoming more confused.
Indeed, it is like salt but not like salt.
Several pairs of eyes turned to Liu Ju, seeking an answer. Liu Ju nodded: "It's salt. Fine salt."
"Fine salt?" Liu Che looked at the pottery jar in front of him. "As fine as snow, it's just right. How did you make it?"
"This is the distillation method I used. I asked Qi Yuanniang's Liulifang to make the tools."
Afraid that they didn't understand, Liu Ju specially drew a blueprint and explained it one by one according to the instructions on the blueprint.
Liu Che's expression flickered slightly. "Distillation, so is there another method?"
"Yes. The simplest method is decoction. The same method we use now."
If they are the same, why is the quality of the salt produced so different?
"Because of a lack of washing and dilution, the salt we use today is mostly made from brine extracted from wells or from seawater. Whether it's brine extracted from wells or seawater, both contain many impurities besides salt, such as sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium chloride."
Everyone was confused: "What sour, what beautiful?"
Liu Ju roughly knew that they were some chemical components, but he couldn't explain them in detail, so he simply said, "Some names of impurities, just understand them as non-salt impurities.
"Today, when we make salt, we usually evaporate the water completely, stopping only when crystallization is left. This mixes the salt with impurities, resulting in an impure salt block with an astringent taste and a bitter color."
Liu Che keenly understood his hidden meaning and asked, "Can't it be completely evaporated?"
"Yes. Sodium chloride... well, that's salt. Salt has a low solubility and will precipitate first. Other impurities have a high solubility and will precipitate later."
Not everyone quite understands what solubility and precipitation are, but considering the context, you can basically understand their meaning without having to ask too many questions.
Liu Che raised his eyebrows. "In other words, if you just collect the salt blocks, or what you call crystals, when the salt is precipitated but the impurities are not, you can basically get this jar of snow-white salt grains in front of you?"
"Almost. As for the point at which crystals can be collected, the limit is unknown, but it will be determined after a few attempts. This is the method used for boiling seawater. For well salt mining, salt minerals can be washed first and then diluted with fresh water."
Liu Ju nodded and continued, "The salt obtained in this way may not always be this fine, but most impurities can be removed, making it purer and free of bitterness. It not only tastes better, but is also healthier."
After saying this, Liu Ju took out two documents from his pocket.
With paper, there is no need to use bulky bamboo slips. It can be carried with you, which is very convenient.
He handed one to the Chief of Guards and said, "My eldest sister's fiefdom produces salt, so you can use any of these methods. Distillation retains more salt and wastes less, and can produce the finest salt possible. The salt has a higher color and fineness, but the process is more complicated and expensive, making it unsuitable for large-scale production.
"Boiled salt is much simpler than boiling it, and while it's bound to be a bit wasteful, practice makes perfect, and with more practice, the waste will decrease. However, both methods require a lot of firewood."
After a pause, Liu Ju handed another document to Liu Che: "There is another method of drying salt."
"Drying salt?" Liu Che opened the document. "Drying it in the sun?"
"Yes. Dig a pit and build a pond. The bottom of the pond can be paved with blue bricks or pottery shards to prevent seepage and loss. Pour seawater or brine into the pond and let it crystallize into salt through sunlight. You can also use multi-stage evaporation ponds to produce salt and brine in stages.
"This method can not only produce large quantities of salt, improve the quality of salt and obtain pure white salt grains, but also does not require firewood, greatly reducing the cost of salt production.
"It just requires a high geographical location. We need the Grand Historian to monitor the weather and choose a place with sufficient sunshine, high evaporation, and low rainfall to build a salt field specifically for drying salt."
Wei Qing pondered: "If this construction succeeds, our Han Dynasty will have an endless supply of fine salt in the future."
Yes, fine salt, not the coarse salt blocks that are mixed with impurities today.
Liu Ju nodded. "Just as seawater is an inexhaustible source, salt is naturally an inexhaustible source as well. As long as our Han Dynasty's salt production is greatly increased and the cost of salt production is reduced, more and more people will be able to afford salt and no longer have to worry about the cost of salt.
"One more thing. From the news that my second sister and Zhang Qian brought back from the Western Regions, it seems the salt they use there is about the same quality as ours, or even worse. Salt as pure and fine as snow is something they've never heard of or seen before.
"White jade paper was popular in the Western Regions back then, and now snow mountain salt can be too."
White jade paper is not white jade, but it is as smooth and clean as white jade; snow mountain salt is not snow mountain, but it is as bright and delicate as snow mountain.
Liu Ju curled his lips. "Father, the Xiongnu also need salt. Furthermore, they live a nomadic life, with little agricultural produce, and mostly rely on animal husbandry. However, cattle and sheep have growth cycles, so they can't be slaughtered at will in all seasons."
As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Che and the others understood his unspoken meaning.
The Huns needed salt to store food to cope with the inevitable shortages every year.
Liu Ju's eyes gleamed: "So salt is not only necessary for daily life, but also a strategic resource."
The words "strategic materials" are extremely important. After this sentence, he got to the point.
"Two years ago, the Emperor ordered the return of salt and iron to the government. It took two years, and only this year was the plan basically completed. Now, this new method of salt production is just what we need. It also shows those whose interests have been affected and who are angry that we have the confidence to take it back."
This statement is simple, but it contains profound meaning.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, Guan Zhong proposed the "official mountain and sea" policy, which made salt and iron state-owned. Later, Shang Yang of the Qin State implemented reforms to control the profits of the mountains and seas and also implemented a state-run monopoly on salt and iron. From then on, the government monopolized the salt and iron business.
However, when the Han Dynasty was first established, several generations of emperors adopted the Huang-Lao philosophy, followed the policy of inaction, and allowed the country to recuperate. They opened up the salt and iron industries to private enterprises, so that the merchants who operated salt and iron became richer than kings and princes.
The court had been spending a lot of money on war in recent years, so Liu Ju was tinkering with various new things to boost agricultural production and expand commerce. Liu Che was also busy, constantly thinking about taking back the power of salt and iron.
Two years ago, an official order was issued, handing the matter over to Sang Hongyang. But some things are easier said than done, harder to take back.
Iron is relatively better off. Even though it was initially liberalized, it wasn't fully open. Now, with iron ore mining and smelting firmly under control, there aren't many problems. Especially since the policy has been implemented, any attempt to do so would be considered treason. The consequences are so severe that everyone needs to think carefully.
Salt is a bit more troublesome.
Although it has been taken back on the surface, after all, it affects the interests of many people, and there is no guarantee that those wealthy businessmen and nobles will not leave behind shady plots, just waiting to cause trouble.
The new salt-making method proposed by Liu Ju was an opportunity. The court could use it to build new salt fields, eliminate hidden dangers, and then carry out salt industry reform.
Liu Che's eyes were deep, and his fingers tapped on the salt production information, his expression serious: "This matter needs to be discussed with the Minister of Agriculture, Sang Hongyang, as soon as possible."
As soon as he finished speaking, a eunuch came hurriedly to report: "Your Majesty, the Minister of Agriculture is waiting outside the palace gate and wants to come in to see you."
Everyone: ???
Liu Che was stunned. He had just mentioned the position of Minister of Agriculture when the person arrived. Wasn't this a bit too fast?
After a pause of half a second, I came to my senses. No, that was the rain of fireworks!
Damn. Distracted by Liu Ju's new salt-making method, I almost forgot about the fireworks display. The fireworks display was visible throughout the city, and countless people witnessed it. It might have been just the common people, but how could the royal family and court officials not react?
Just as the thought came to mind, another eunuch came over and said, "Your Majesty, Minister Sang and the Minister of the Imperial Household are requesting an audience outside the palace."
"Your Majesty, Commander Ji An requests an audience."
"Princess Guantao, Princess Longlü requests an audience."
"Marquis Wu'an requests an audience. Minister Taichang requests an audience."
…
As names and official titles popped up one after another, veins in Liu Che's temples throbbed.
Liu Ju immediately stood up and yawned: "It's getting late, Father, I'm so sleepy, I'll take my leave now."
After saying this, he ran away quickly, almost as fast as a sprint of a hundred meters, for fear that if he was a step late, Liu Che would force him to stay.
When Liu Che reacted, Liu Ju had already turned the corner and disappeared: ...
To be honest, Liu Che didn't want to see these people, so he sent them all back. But he could avoid them on the first day, but he couldn't avoid them on the fifteenth. He had to meet them at court the next day, and there was also the matter of salt production to discuss.
At the court meeting, everyone was coming and going, and it was very lively.
After the court meeting, Liu Che was surrounded by three layers of people, and even many royal relatives kept coming to the court to submit memorials.
Liu Che had no choice but to discuss the matter of salt production; at the same time, he racked his brains to convey some "artificial" meaning without leaking the secret, but at the same time not hindering everyone's fantasy of a "miracle from heaven". He also needed to add fuel to the flames and quietly guide them to spread the rumor, and strive to implement Liu Ju's "strategy".
However, the impact of the golden rain from the sky was so great that people came one after another to seek to see him.
Liu Che hardly stopped all day, dealing with one group after another. Finally, he couldn't bear it anymore and walked towards the East Palace.
Why should he, an emperor, be trapped in such a "difficult situation" and be harassed by others, while the culprit can get away with it? This culprit must be brought back. He caused this problem himself, so he should solve it himself!
Unfortunately, he found nothing when he entered the East Palace, and could only ask the maid who stayed behind: His Highness said that the hot summer has arrived, he is afraid of heat, the weather is too dry, he can't sleep well at night, and he feels uncomfortable during the day, so he went to Bowang Garden to escape the summer heat.
Liu Che: ...
Good guy, Liu Che exclaimed, "Good guy."
What the hell is there to be afraid of the heat? It's obvious that he is hiding away and leaving the mess to him.
Damn!
The other side.
Bowang Garden is not very large, but it borders Shanglin Garden and is connected to the other. Nestled against the mountains and beside the water, with ingenious architectural design, it is indeed a great place to escape the summer heat.
Therefore, although Liu Ju was trying to avoid it, he was really trying to escape the heat.
Sit on a recliner, with a basin of ice filled with fruit on the table next to you. Eat and drink, and then take a good nap when you're tired. It's a relaxing and comfortable experience.
As for Liu Che who was "suffering" in the Weiyang Palace?
Liu Ju said: Well... a son who doesn't cheat his father is not a good son. As the emperor's good eldest son, how could he let his father lack the joy of being "cheated"?
Besides, isn’t the purpose of an old father to clean up his son’s mess?
So, there's nothing wrong with that.
Yawn, turn over, and continue sleeping.
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