After Tang Ji handed the glass mirror to Mu Xi, Mu Xi was also shocked when he looked at himself in the mirror. This was the first time he had seen his own appearance so clearly. Before, he could only see the general outline in the bronze mirror, but now he could clearly see every strand of his hair and the subtle wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. This was the first time he had examined himself so clearly.
Mu Xi did not keep it to herself but gave it to Tang Ji after looking at it for a while. After Chu Fan finished applying the melted silver, all the women took turns to check the glass mirror. They were all waiting for His Majesty to reward them with one after the glass mirror was completed.
Chu Fan looked at the bare glass. Although it was coated with silver, the sharp edges could easily cause harm to the user if used as is. Moreover, without the protection of the outer frame, the glass mirrors would also break easily.
So Chu Fan decided to add a delicate wooden frame to these glass mirrors. Of course, there was no need for Chu Fan to make these wooden frames himself. After all, the craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry were better at these woodworking jobs than Chu Fan. If Chu Fan were to do it himself, he didn't know how long it would take to complete so many glass mirrors.
The craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry came to the workshop under the leadership of Tang Hongwen.
Chu Fan looked at Tang Hongwen and asked, "Why did Minister Tang come here in person? I just want the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to make a few wooden frames. Is there no need to trouble Minister Tang?"
Tang Hongwen immediately replied, "Everything at the Ministry of Works is proceeding according to the plan established by Your Majesty, so they can complete their tasks well even without my supervision. However, if Your Majesty has any instructions, then I have no choice but to come and see for myself. I am worried that the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works may not be able to complete Your Majesty's instructions perfectly."
Of course, the deeper reason was that Tang Hongwen was afraid that Chu Fan would create something new and novel, and then because he did not take the lead, officials from other departments would preempt him, causing the Ministry of Industry to lose the opportunity to perform and also lose a lot of profits.
Chu Fan did not argue with Tang Hongwen. Now that Tang Hongwen, the Minister of Works, was here, Chu Fan no longer had to direct the craftsmen to produce the goods. He only had to make his request to Tang Hongwen and he would be able to arrange it.
Since Tang Hongwen decided to help in person, Chu Fan didn't hesitate. Otherwise, it might take him a lot of time to find the tools.
Chu Fan said directly: "Minister Tang, do you have tools in this workshop that can cut glass, or are there any diamonds in this workshop?"
After hearing Chu Fan's question, Tang Hongwen immediately replied, "Your Majesty, there are tools for cutting glass in this workshop, and we also have some diamonds in stock. I will get them for Your Majesty right away."
After Tang Hongwen finished speaking, he immediately began searching the workshop. It wasn't long before he found some glass-cutting tools and diamonds from the Ministry of Industry. Chu Fan was incredibly surprised when he took the tools. How could Tang Hongwen, as the Minister of Industry, know the specific storage locations of these tools? After all, the Minister was a high-ranking official in the imperial court. Could he have personally participated in these tasks at the Ministry of Industry?
Chu Fan asked, "Minister Tang, you are so familiar with the tools in this workshop. As the Minister of Works, do you usually come to the workshop to forge weapons yourself?"
Tang Hongwen said confidently, "Your Majesty, as the Minister of Works, how could you not personally forge weapons and various tools? Otherwise, how can you guarantee that the weapons or tools forged by other craftsmen in the Ministry of Works meet the requirements? Only by understanding the principles and techniques first can you better guide and supervise the work of the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works.
The workshop Your Majesty is in now is the first workshop that I built personally with a high-temperature furnace. After I received the new steelmaking method and high-temperature furnace design from Your Majesty, I personally led the craftsmen to build it according to the drawings given by Your Majesty.
Before Your Majesty needed to use this workshop, I was the one who used it, so I know everything here very well."
Chu Fan still trusted Tang Hongwen's words. If you were not someone who had been working in this workshop, it would be very difficult to find an item. After all, a forging workshop has a variety of tools, and these tools are placed in a very messy manner. If you are not familiar with the forging workshop, it is difficult to find the required tools in a short time.
Chu Fan said, "Thank you for your hard work, Lord Tang. Today, I'm also grateful for your help in making some wooden frames."
Tang Hongwen said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is my honor to share your concerns. Please provide the specific dimensions and styles of these wooden frames. I will immediately bring my craftsmen to make them for you."
Chu Fan said, "Minister Tang, please take a rest first. I will cut out the glass mirror first, and then Minister Tang will design the wooden frame according to the size and shape of the glass mirror."
Although Tang Hongwen didn't know what a glass mirror was, he understood what His Majesty was saying. As long as His Majesty produced the so-called glass mirror, he would know what His Majesty was talking about. There was no need for him to continue asking His Majesty.
Tang Hongwen waited quietly to the side, watching Chu Fan's next move. Because the glass mirror needed to cool the silver coating, all the glass mirrors were placed with their backs facing up, so Tang Hongwen couldn't see the front of the glass mirror. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so calm, waiting so quietly for Chu Fan to cut the glass.
Chu Fan first used the tools for cutting colored glass to cut the glass mirror, but there is still a big difference between glass and colored glass. The texture of glass is more fragile and will break if you are not careful. Chu Fan cuts carefully but still causes cracks on the glass.
Chu Fan immediately stopped cutting with the glass tool and started cutting with a simple tool inlaid with diamonds. It must be said that the speed of diamond cutting is much faster than that of cutting glass tools, and it is less likely to crack.
Chu Fan held the diamond and carefully carved into the glass along the pre-planned lines. As he applied more force, a crisp crack of glass rang out, and a complete piece of glass mirror was successfully cut. He then followed the same method to cut the rest of the glass one by one.
Chu Fan held the cut glass mirror and said to Tang Hongwen, "My dear Tang, this is the glass mirror I mentioned. Please design some exquisite wooden frames for me based on the size and shape of these glass mirrors."
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