Chapter 121 The Ascension of Chickens and Dogs
The three of them made a rough plan and started to prepare immediately.
The weather vane is simple. You just need to find a thin pole and install an extremely light, freely rotating wind vane on it. It can be replaced by something like a feather.
The key is the barometer and thermometer, both of which need to contain liquid, and the reading is taken by the height of the liquid in a transparent tube.
But there was no glass in that era, and the three of them studied for a long time but still couldn't come up with a good substitute.
Xu Shiming frowned, "If there is really no transparent container, then a slightly translucent porcelain container would be enough, right?"
Zhou Da: "Porcelain? But it needs to be fired very thinly to achieve the effect of light transmission. Where can we find it?"
Zhao Sicheng thought for a while, then suddenly stood up and said, "I know!"
He had seen a small porcelain bottle at Xiao Wan's place before. It was the Liuyun Frost that Qin Yuwei gave to Xiao Wan. The porcelain bottle was extremely exquisitely made and the bottle body was extremely thin. You could see how much was left in the bottle by holding it up to the light.
Xu Shiming: "But didn't you quarrel with Xiao Wan and haven't reconciled yet?"
Zhao Sicheng's face fell, "Don't mention it. I was just being rude last time. Wanwan has ignored me for more than ten days."
Wanwan used to always pull my ears, and now my ears are itchy.
Xu Shiming shook his head. No one else could help with this matter. "Since it was sent by Qin Yuwei, why don't we just go find her directly?"
Qin Yuwei was rehearsing a dance when she saw Xu Shiming and the other two coming to find her, wearing dance costumes.
After hearing the three people's purpose, Qin Yuwei nodded:
"This is not difficult to do. The porcelain bottles we have are all customized from a century-old ceramic factory. The craftsmen there are very skilled, so making thin and fine porcelain tubes should not be a problem.
It's just that I've been too busy with rehearsals recently and don't have time to ask for you. How about this, I'll write a note and you can go directly to the shop to find Aunt Zhang Si, she will help you."
After receiving Qin Yuwei's note, the three of them began to divide the work. Zhao Sicheng and Xu Shiming went to find Zhang Sigu, and Zhou Da went to the pharmacy in the city to buy cinnabar.
Cinnabar is an essential raw material for refining mercury.
Led by Zhang Sigu, Zhao Sicheng and his companion came to a ceramic factory in Jiangzhou City, found the master craftsman inside, and explained their needs.
The old master has been a ceramic craftsman all his life, and he squinted his eyes and thought for a long time.
"You have found the right person. For a hollow porcelain tube like this with a thin wall, I dare say that you can't find anyone else in Jiangzhou City who can make it except me!"
Zhang Sigu flattered the old master at the right time, and the old master was in a good mood. He pointed at a pile of tools on the ground and gestured to them.
To make thin and long porcelain jars, you first need to choose appropriate clay materials, and then use forming techniques such as throwing and sharpening to pull the clay into a thin tube shape, and then perform fine trimming to achieve the desired effect.
"This thing is easy to say but hard to do!" The old master smiled at the two boys Zhao Sicheng and Xu Shiming.
"Just for Fourth Aunt's sake, I'll make a few for you!"
Xu Shiming and Zhao Sicheng were overjoyed, thanked repeatedly, and agreed to come back to pick it up in seven days.
…
On the open and ventilated flat ground, Zhou Da, wearing a homemade mask on his face, stood next to a small stove made of clay and bricks.
This stove is shorter than an ordinary stove, with red-hot charcoal burning in the furnace, and the temperature is extremely high. Above the stove is a curved ceramic pipe as thick as an arm, which is used to condense mercury vapor.
Although the device is simple, it is the best that can be made using existing materials.
Zhou Da held a clay pot in his hand, which was filled with cinnabar powder ground by the water flying method. He carefully poured the cinnabar powder into a small hole on the top of the furnace, then sealed the furnace door with an iron rod. He sat aside, staring at the condenser, waiting for mercury to appear.
As the temperature in the furnace rose, time passed, but there was no movement at the outlet of the condenser.
After the eighth attempt, Zhou Da removed the ceramic tube in annoyance, and there were still only some black residues on the inner wall of the tube.
Xu Shiming and Zhao Sicheng came over, and both covered their mouths and noses with wet cloth to prevent inhalation of toxic gases.
"Still not working?" Zhao Sicheng asked, bending down to help him check the airtightness of the stove.
He fiddled with it for a while and decided that the problem wasn't with the stove.
"It's actually within expectations." Zhou Da said in a deep voice, "It's the cinnabar problem. It's like this when there are too many impurities. It's almost impossible to extract mercury."
The mining and processing of cinnabar in ancient times was technically difficult, so the output of high-purity cinnabar was limited and expensive, making it difficult for ordinary people to buy it.
When you are undecided, ask someone for help.
They went to look for their good brother Liang Zhou. Liang Zhou was a royal relative after all, and his family might have some top-quality cinnabar.
"Okay! I'll go home and help you guys check it out after two days off. If there's really good cinnabar at home, I can steal it for you!"
Liang Zhou patted his chest and made the promise.
He kept his word. When he returned home on the day off, he saw his uncle holding a bird cage in one hand and two walnuts in the other, and was about to go out for a walk.
Even the brown brocade jacket couldn't cover her round belly.
Liang Zhou didn't beat around the bush when talking to this uncle who was even more dissolute than himself. He just smiled brightly, walked up to him and asked him if he had any good collection of cinnabar.
"No, no, you little rascal, you only know how to covet your father's good things every day!" The king's uncle Liang Wu stared at his prodigal son with a wary look on his face.
I hid the walnut in my hand behind my back. This thing is an antique and very valuable!
Liang Zhou came closer, blinked hard, and said in a tone of "you understand, I understand":
"My aunt is very favored in the palace recently, why doesn't anyone come to curry favor with you, old man, and give you some treasures or something?"
"Brat!" If Liang Wu didn't have something in both hands, he would have slapped him on the head.
Liang Wu lowered his voice and said, "I'm warning you, stay out of the palace!
Do you know what it means that when one person succeeds, everyone around him will benefit? We are now those people who are benefiting!
This wealth and splendor may not last long, so enjoy it day by day. Some things are more dangerous the more you get involved, so avoid them if you can."
"What if one day I can't avoid it?"
"Run!"
Liang Wu rolled his eyes at his silly son and ignored him, then went for a walk humming a tune while carrying the bird.
Liang Zhou shrugged. Although his father was the emperor's uncle, he and Concubine Liang did not grow up together, so they were not really close.
The king's brother-in-law Liang Wu did not live in the capital, but chose to stay in Jiangzhou, obviously wanting to stay away from trouble.
Liang Zhou has never seen Concubine Liang and her son, the Third Prince, since he traveled through time. His impression of these two people still comes from the original owner's memory.
The original owner had only met the Third Prince a few times when he was a child. Although they were relatives, the Third Prince never looked him in the eye.
You don't have to guess to know that the relationship is not good.
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