The difficulties are as follows.
The manufacture of cement requires limestone and clay to be calcined together at high temperatures.
Firstly, this requires extremely high temperatures, at least 1500 degrees Celsius, for a sustained period of time. This is much more difficult than simply burning quicklime, and it is very difficult to achieve under the current technological conditions in Ye Kingdom.
But this is not something she cannot solve.
Secondly, some of the raw materials for cement are rare.
Thirdly, even if all of the above are solved, there is still the technology of grinding powder.
All the components of cement must be in an extremely fine powder state. Modern processes use large ball mills and air classification to achieve pulverization.
But here, what can be used to achieve this? A millstone?
Even if all of these can be achieved, the project is truly enormous. She can take her time, but what about the damaged city walls, Yuwen Sheng, the nomadic barbarians, and even the many other potential dangers?
So she finally decided to make a semi-finished cement product first. Although it couldn't be as strong as real cement, it was much simpler and easier to make.
"Could you spare some chalk for me? I want to make a concrete material that's better than mortar."
Wei Yao, who knew nothing about civil engineering, asked, "Is this necessary?"
Zheng Quchi patiently explained to him, "Do you know why the stone foundation of the city wall is not stable now?"
"Is it because of the mortar you mentioned?" He thought of what she had said earlier.
Zheng Quchi nodded, then shook his head: "Yes and no, the most important thing is, do you know what season it is now?"
Wei Yao found it all very mysterious, and a person passing by also unconsciously slowed down and turned his head to listen.
"How could I not know that? It's winter right now."
"Simply put, if the weather is not cold enough, water cannot freeze into ice. The mortar used for building walls is the opposite. If it is soaked in snow and dew during a winter and does not have enough temperature and sunlight, it will still be just a pile of tofu dregs the following year."
Is that the logic?
Wei Yao recalled what she had said earlier: "So you're planning to use a different kind of mud instead?"
So... "that's not wrong either."
Wei Yao's reaction was different from what Zheng Quchi had expected. He finally couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, you should stop messing around. You don't know, Master Yuan and Master Yin had already anticipated this and had already found a solution."
Zheng Quchi paused for a moment, then asked curiously, "What methods do they have?"
Wei Yao didn't hide anything from her: "They reported to the county that they needed a large amount of rice. Although we don't know the specific purpose, the general has already agreed to urgently transfer it from various counties..."
"Tuo rice?" This seems to be glutinous rice. "How much Tu rice would that take? Aren't all the counties facing grain shortages and granaries strained right now?"
She had specifically inquired about grain prices in Fuxian County and had heard rice shop owners mention the recent price increases, all because of the drought in Fuxian County, which had led to a significant reduction in grain production, and there might even be famine next year.
Back when she was building her new house, she wanted to use glutinous rice mortar, which is strong and adhesive, but she gave up because it was expensive and somewhat wasteful. But now they are willing to pay any price.
As expected, Wei Yao's expression turned serious: "No matter how tense things get, we must ensure the integrity of the city wall."
Zheng Quchi also understood that the city wall was crucial for the military defense of Fuxian County and the invasion of foreign enemies, but... "But the problem is not that."
She's bald.
It's true what they say, "a trade is like a mountain." With her vivid explanation, any stonemason could probably understand it, but he just couldn't.
It's one thing if he doesn't understand, but he also won't listen to advice.
Seeing her so eager, like a groundhog vying for favor and a higher position, Wei Yao's eyes immediately filled with affection, and he earnestly tried to persuade her.
“Aqing, I know you want to help, but you are not as skilled as the craftsmen who specialize in this, so you don’t need to worry about it. With the two from Jixia Academy here, I believe the city wall will be completed on schedule.”
Zheng Quchi: "..."
Hey, what do you mean? Are you discriminating against people with formal education? You're looking down on unlicensed, amateur craftspeople like her because she graduated from a regular university, right?
"If they want rice, I think I know what they're planning to do. I can tell you with certainty that this won't solve the current problem," she said angrily.
Wei Yao just looked at her without saying anything, but she clearly felt that she was being sarcastic.
Seeing his expression, Zheng Quchi immediately understood that no matter what she said, it would be useless; he wouldn't give up until he hit a wall.
"Alright, let's put this matter aside for now and talk about something else."
"Anything else?" He chuckled. "Is your little head always full of thoughts?"
She wasn't joking with him: "I've seen the weapons of our Fuxian County garrison before, and I just visited the forging workshop. The wrought iron weapons they make aren't strong enough and are easily bent and deformed. I think I can use another forging method to make the weapons equipped in Fuxian County even more refined, no, a giant leap forward."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yao's pupils constricted, and he froze in shock.
He grabbed her shoulder tightly: "What did you say?"
"A material that is more durable, sharper, and tougher than iron and less prone to breakage."
His throat bobbed, and he asked in a deep voice, "What is that?"
"steel!"
"Steel?" He had never heard of that word before.
"That's right, nothing lasts forever."
He silently recited "No steel is forged without being tempered a hundred times" a few times, then looked up, glanced around, pulled Zheng Quchi aside, and the two of them found a secluded spot away from everyone's eyes and ears.
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