Upon hearing this, Zhao Hao stroked his chin and pondered the feasibility.

In fact, Chinese alchemists were also chemists, and their achievements were remarkable. In addition to the well-known gunpowder, their inventions also included but were not limited to perfect distillation technology, using sublimation to effectively purify sulfur, iodine, mercuric sulfide, mercuric chloride and mercuric oxide.

He also discovered the hydrometallurgical process for copper smelting, the spontaneous combustion of phosphorus, the amalgam of gold and silver, the use of flame color reaction to determine the composition of a substance, the discovery of oxygen, the knowledge of how to prepare it, and the conclusion that water contains oxygen but it is difficult to extract it, etc.

But after thinking it over, he decided not to get involved with that gang for the time being. Firstly, the current Emperor Longqing hated alchemists very much. If the Xu family or some hostile forces filed a complaint, saying that he was keeping alchemists on Xishan Island, it would be a big trouble.

Secondly, most of the alchemists of this dynasty are cunning and ambitious. Bringing such people to Xishan Island would be a blessing or a curse.

Thinking of this, he shook his head at his nephew, and then said to Qu Rukui: "I have decided. Institute 04 will be established today. You will be in charge for the time being."

Everyone applauded and congratulated the junior brother for taking on the responsibility.

Qu Rukui's face turned green, and he stammered, "Master, am I the only one here?"

"Yes, just you." Zhao Hao nodded and said, "At first I don't want you to do anything else, just complete all the experiments in Elementary Chemistry for me."

"That, that's not easy..." Xiao Qu's face turned pale again.

There are dozens of experiments in Elementary Chemistry, involving hundreds of chemical materials. It would take a long time to find all the materials.

Moreover, naturally occurring substances have to be purified, and non-natural substances have to be synthesized... Among them, there are also some that are toxic, highly corrosive, and flammable.

Just thinking about it made him tremble with fear.

"Master, my junior brother is a little timid, why don't I do it?" Zhang Jian volunteered.

"That's what I like about him." Zhao Hao shook his head and smiled, then said to his disciples in a serious tone, "Remember, although all experiments are dangerous, chemical experiments are the most dangerous. The braver the person doing chemical experiments, the sooner he will die. Only those who are cautious and careful can survive."

"I understand, Master." The disciples nodded and said, "Then Junior Brother is the best fit."

"Yes, Master. He checks the door latch three times every night before going to bed, and he also extinguishes the charcoal basin and puts a bowl of water between us." Xing Yunlu, who sleeps on the same kang with him, took the opportunity to protest: "He is too cautious."

Qu Rukui blushed with embarrassment and said in a low voice, "We only have one life. Who knows which will come first, tomorrow or an accident?"

"Look, it's perfect, right?" Zhao Hao patted the little disciple's shoulder happily and said, "Don't worry, can your master really leave you alone?"

Then he said to several disciples, "Select the most cautious one from each of your institutes to go over and support our junior brother."

"Hey." The disciples felt a headache. The research center had just started, and every department was short of manpower. Being poached was as painful as cutting out flesh. But whoever dared to say no to the master would be in trouble.

Zhao Hao saw their dilemma and scolded them with a smile: "Don't pout, I will send you dozens of apprentices later."

He was referring to the 220 primary school graduates from Caijiaxiang Primary School. Those children had just completed a one-month training and were now all in Suzhou City, helping to set up the group's headquarters while waiting for assignment.

Although Jiangnan Group and the research center are not affiliated with each other, it is no problem to transfer a few people over if the boss gives the order.

"That's good." The disciples all breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Thank you, Master."

"They are all graduates of Caijiaxiang Primary School. You must train them well." Zhao Hao whispered, "The old masters are old. You will still have to rely on them in the future."

"Yes, Master." The disciples nodded. Nowadays, there are many skilled craftsmen in the research institute, but the more skilled the craftsmen are, the more they cherish their skills. Not only is it difficult for them to accept new things, but they are also afraid that their skills will be learned by others.

This makes it difficult for the institute to form a positive scientific research atmosphere.

The young directors saw it all and were anxious, but they were helpless. For example, Institute 02, without those glass masters, couldn't do anything. So Xing Yunlu was in no use being anxious, he could only coax them while trying to learn from them.

By the time the interns arrived, the directors had learned most of their skills and were no longer worried about them quitting their jobs.

Only then can the atmosphere in the institute be completely turned around.

~~

After coming out of Room 201, Zhao Hao entered Room 101 - Laboratory No. 1 of Institute 01.

Similar to 201 which is dedicated to glass, this laboratory has only one mission, which is to produce the best steel.

Unlike him who intentionally restricted the development of chemistry, Mr. Zhao dreamed of quickly refining suitable steel.

Because steel is the mother of all machines.

Without good steel, it is impossible to make good guns and cannons, or even the cylinder of the Newcomen engine, let alone the Watt engine which has higher requirements.

Well, Zhao Hao was not eager for the steam engine. After all, the problem of the Ming Dynasty was a surplus of labor, not a shortage of labor. Even if a steam engine was developed, it would not be able to bring about an industrial revolution.

But he will go to sea next year and needs sophisticated weapons to defend himself.

We must first make up for this shortcoming before we can be invincible!

Zhao Hao's expression changed when he entered Room 101. He looked seriously at the hundreds of black cast iron pipes on the long table.

Like 201, each pipe fitting is also numbered.

The difference is that you can’t tell whether this thing is good or bad with your eyes, they all look the same…

"It's still the same old problem, bubbles and trachoma." Zhang Jian and Wang Yingxuan squatted down and dragged out a few wooden boxes from under the table.

The box was filled with broken cast iron cylinder blocks, which were obviously made for the Newcomen engine that Zhang Jian had been dreaming of.

Now we can see the point.

"This was cast in early October. It cracked the same day after it was installed," said Wang Yingxuan, pushing his glasses.

Zhao Hao picked up a piece of debris and took a look. The broken end looked like a honeycomb.

Looking at them one by one, the trachoma becomes smaller and smaller, but still so dense that it makes people speechless.

"Master, we have tried our best to increase the furnace temperature and paid attention to the speed during casting. Why are there still bubbles?" Zhang Jian asked with a puzzled look on his face.

Zhao Hao thought to himself, I don’t know either. I have taught you everything I can teach you… The coke oven has also been built; the casting time has been increased appropriately, and the temperature has been maintained at a constant level for a long time so that the air in the molten iron can be slowly discharged. This has also been a reminder.

Why are there still bubbles?

"Time waits for no one, let's use copper to cast the gun barrel first." Zhao Hao looked at the junk in the wooden box with some helplessness. It seemed that he couldn't wait to test it slowly, so he could only be extravagant.

But copper cannons are made with money. Fortunately, I have money, otherwise I really can't afford it...

Mr. Zhao felt a little distressed.

ps. The third update will be gone tonight.

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