Chapter 51 The Flood and the Invention of Cement
In the summer of the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, torrential rains suddenly struck the south, continuing for months. The water levels of the Yangtze and Huai River basins rose sharply, many dikes collapsed, and the floods devoured farmland, villages, and towns like ferocious beasts.
Urgent reports, delivered by the imperial courier, poured into Chang'an like snowflakes, each one alarming:
"Jingzhou is in dire need of help; the river has overflowed its banks, three counties are flooded, and tens of thousands of people are displaced..."
"Yangzhou was flooded, the Grand Canal was disrupted, and the granaries were submerged..."
"Flash floods in Yuezhou have destroyed the official road, making it impossible for rescue teams to reach the area..."
The atmosphere in the imperial court was heavy. Li Shimin looked at the piles of disaster reports on his desk, his face somber. Since ascending the throne, he had been diligent in governing and caring for the people, reducing taxes and levies, hoping to usher in a peaceful and prosperous era, but unexpectedly, natural disasters continued to occur.
"Your Majesty, this flood has affected seven prefectures and twenty-three counties, and the number of people affected may exceed 300,000," Fang Xuanling reported in a deep voice. "The most urgent task is to provide disaster relief and ensure the safety of the people."
"How much grain is left in the national treasury?" Li Shimin asked.
"Last year's harvest was bountiful, and the granaries in various regions have ample reserves," the Minister of Revenue reported. "However, many granaries in the disaster-stricken areas were flooded, and grain needs to be transported from surrounding prefectures and counties."
"Then transfer them!" Li Shimin declared decisively. "Issue my decree: open the granaries and distribute grain to relieve the disaster victims. All affected prefectures and counties will be exempt from taxes for one year. Officials at all levels are to devote themselves to disaster relief; anyone who neglects their duties will be severely punished!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" the ministers exclaimed in unison.
But disaster relief is more than just distributing food. After the floods recede, diseases often follow; homes destroyed need to be resettled; damaged farmland needs to be restored; breached dikes need to be repaired...
After the court session, Li Shimin stood alone in front of the Liangyi Hall, gazing at the gloomy southern sky with a furrowed brow.
"Your Majesty," Wang Yi's voice sounded from behind.
Li Shimin turned around and saw her concerned eyes, his heart warmed: "Why are you here?"
"I've heard that the floods in the south are severe, so I've come to ask if there's anything I can do to help," Wang Yi said softly.
Li Shimin sighed and gave a general account of the disaster. Wang Yi listened, quickly analyzing the situation in her mind. She remembered this flood—a major flood did indeed occur in the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, but the specific details were blurred. She only knew that this disaster made Li Shimin pay more attention to water conservancy construction and accumulated experience in dealing with it for the later Zhenguan era.
“Your Majesty, disaster relief is like putting out a fire; it requires a multi-pronged approach,” Wang Yi said calmly. “Providing food aid is the first step, but subsequent disease prevention, resettlement of disaster victims, and repair of water conservancy projects are equally important.”
"I know." Li Shimin rubbed his temples. "I have already ordered the Imperial Medical Bureau to send people to the disaster area to prevent and control the epidemic, and the Ministry of Works to send people to repair the dikes. However... it's just a drop in the ocean."
Wang Yi pondered for a moment: "I have some ideas that might be of help."
"you say."
“First, establish temporary medical stations,” Wang Yi said. “The most common diseases after the floods are dysentery, malaria, and cholera. The Imperial Medical Bureau can allocate medicines and set up fixed medical stations in the disaster area, while also organizing mobile medical teams to go deep into the most severely affected villages.”
"Secondly, the resettlement of disaster victims must be scientific," she continued. "Temporary tents should be located on high ground, kept well-ventilated and dry, and overcrowding should be avoided. Drinking water must be boiled, and food must be properly stored. Doing these things well can greatly reduce the occurrence of epidemics."
"Third, water conservancy repair should address both the symptoms and the root causes." Wang Yi spread out a simple map. "Breached dikes should be repaired as soon as possible, but more importantly, the river channels should be dredged and silt removed. In some places, we can consider building reservoirs to store water during the rainy season and release it during the dry season to regulate the water volume."
She paused for a moment, then said, “I suggest that we take this opportunity to conduct a general survey of the major rivers across the country, draw up detailed water system maps, mark dangerous sections and dangerous sections, and formulate long-term management plans.”
Li Shimin listened attentively, his eyes gradually brightening: "You've thought this through very thoroughly. Can you take responsibility for these matters?"
"I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens," Wang Yi said solemnly, "but the cooperation of various departments is needed, especially the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue."
"I hereby grant you authority," Li Shimin declared. "Effective immediately, the 'Flood Disaster Relief Coordination Office' shall be established, with you in charge. All relevant departments shall assign capable personnel to assist you. The necessary funds, provisions, and manpower shall be allocated with priority."
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty." Wang Yi bowed, but felt a heavy responsibility in his heart.
Relief efforts were quickly launched. Wang Yi practically lived in the temporary coordinating office, working from dawn till dusk every day.
She first mobilized all the physicians in the Imperial Medical Bureau who could be dispatched, dividing them into ten medical teams to rush to various disaster-stricken areas. Each team carried a large amount of medicine for preventing and treating epidemics, as well as the "Post-Disaster Epidemic Prevention Manual" personally compiled by Wang Yi.
The manual details the symptoms, prevention and control methods, and disinfection measures for common diseases. It even includes a simple method for making a water purification device—using sand and charcoal to filter the water layer by layer. Although rudimentary, this method can greatly reduce the risk of water pollution.
Meanwhile, Wang Yi, through his work supervisor, urgently produced a large number of tents, simple water purifiers, and disinfection equipment, which were then transported to the disaster area.
"Master, this is an urgent report just sent from Jingzhou." An official rushed in. "The epidemic is starting to spread, and medicinal materials are in short supply."
Wang Yi quickly glanced at the urgent report: "Mobilize the medicinal herbs stored in Luoyang and Chang'an and transport them via the post roads at the highest speed. In addition, please issue an edict ordering the surrounding unaffected prefectures and counties to collect local medicinal herbs for nearby support."
"yes."
"Also," Wang Yi called after him, "pass on a message to the medical team: if they find the water source is seriously polluted, they can instruct the disaster victims to dig deep wells. The wellheads must be covered, and special tools must be used to draw water to avoid pollution."
"clear."
No sooner had the official left than someone from the Ministry of Works arrived: "Sir, these are the blueprints for repairing the breached dike. Please take a look and see if they are feasible."
Wang Yi inspected the site carefully and pointed out several problems: "The foundation here needs to be strengthened, as the ground is unstable after being eroded by floods. The materials used here should be more erosion-resistant. In addition, while repairing the dike, a flood diversion channel should be added downstream to reduce the pressure on the main dike."
"But... the construction period will be extended."
"Better slow than shoddy," Wang Yi said solemnly. "The dikes we repair this time must be able to withstand even greater floods. Otherwise, they will collapse again next rainy season."
The Ministry of Works officials accepted the order and left.
Wang Yi rubbed her temples and continued working on the next document. She felt like she was fighting a multi-front war—medical care, resettlement, repair, and logistics—and every single one of them had to be flawless.
A few days later, Li Shimin personally visited the General Affairs Office.
"How did you lose so much weight?" Li Shimin asked with concern when he saw Wang Yi's obviously haggard face.
"Hasn't Your Majesty also lost weight?" Wang Yi smiled. "How could we dare to slack off on such a major disaster relief effort?"
Li Shimin looked at the mountain of documents piled on her desk and sighed inwardly. This woman usually seemed aloof and distant, but in crucial moments, she displayed astonishing responsibility and ability.
"Is there any difficulty?"
"The biggest difficulty is manpower," Wang Yi said frankly. "The disaster area is too large, and too many people are needed. Although the imperial court has already transferred many people, it is still not enough."
Li Shimin pondered for a moment: "I can draw some men from the Imperial Guards to assist in disaster relief. In addition, we can recruit civilian volunteers and provide them with certain compensation."
"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Yi's eyes lit up. "Especially the Imperial Guards, they are highly disciplined and efficient, and can undertake some urgent, difficult, and dangerous tasks."
"Then let's do it this way," Li Shimin decided. "Just name the number of people you need."
Wang Yi quickly estimated: "At least five thousand people are needed to be assigned to various severely affected areas."
"I will give you ten thousand." Li Shimin waved his hand. "In addition, I will issue an edict ordering the garrisons in various regions to cooperate in disaster relief and to obey the command of the General Affairs Department."
This was an immense trust and a great deal of power. Wang Yi bowed solemnly: "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust."
With the military's involvement, the disaster relief efforts progressed much faster. Soldiers helped repair roads, set up tents, transport supplies, and maintain order, far more efficiently than ordinary civilian laborers.
Wang Yi also organized a group of skilled craftsmen and officials to begin surveying the major rivers. She personally participated in the formulation of the "Five-Year Plan for River Management," which planned to comprehensively manage the major water systems such as the Yangtze River, Yellow River, and Huai River within five years.
"We must not only repair, but also prevent," Wang Yi emphasized at the planning meeting. "In dangerous sections where dikes are prone to breach, we must build stone dikes; in narrow sections of the river, we must widen and dredge; and at the confluence of tributaries, we must build regulating gates."
An old river worker lamented, "What the official thinks is exactly what we've all longed for. It's just that in the past, the imperial court didn't pay enough attention, and funding was insufficient..."
“His Majesty now attaches great importance to this, and funds will be allocated,” Wang Yi said. “But we must use the money wisely and achieve tangible results.”
The disaster relief work lasted for a month, and the most dangerous period has finally passed. The epidemic has been brought under control, the disaster victims have been resettled, and most of the breached dikes have been repaired. Although the losses were heavy, at least there was no large-scale famine or unrest.
That day, Wang Yi returned to Qixia Garden early, which was unusual for her. She soaked in the bathtub, feeling the hot water relieve her fatigue.
The palace maid gently massaged her shoulders: "You've worked hard this past month, Master. I've heard that the people in the disaster area are all praising your virtues."
Wang Yi closed his eyes and said, "It is not my merit, but Your Majesty's benevolence and the hard work of millions of disaster relief workers."
She was speaking from the heart. In this past month, she had witnessed too many touching scenes—medical officers risking infection to treat patients day and night, soldiers jumping into floodwaters to rescue victims, and ordinary people helping each other overcome difficulties...
The people of this era possess astonishing resilience and kindness.
“Oh, right,” the palace maid remembered something, “His Highness Prince Cao came looking for the Master today, but found him not there, so he left a letter.”
"Let me see it."
Wang Yi dried his hands and took the letter. In it, Li Ming said he had heard the disaster area needed manpower and wanted to volunteer. However, knowing his sensitive position, he feared causing trouble for the relief efforts, so he first sought Wang Yi's opinion.
After reading the letter, Wang Yi pondered for a moment. Li Ming was still a child, and going to the front lines might indeed cause more trouble, just as Wang Yi feared. He understood that the boy wanted to impress his father, but the Crown Prince was also dealing with this matter, and Wang Yi's intervention at this time would inevitably lead to misunderstandings.
"Reporting to King Cao, this matter will not be resolved; let him stay in the palace."
She leaned against the couch, her thoughts drifting. The flood had disrupted her original plans, forcing her to postpone agricultural reforms and marine development. But the disaster relief itself was also an important experience.
Through this disaster relief effort, her prestige in the court and among the people greatly increased. She was no longer the mysterious "Guardian of the Nation," but a capable minister who genuinely worked for the people (although she was not a minister). Officials in departments such as the Imperial Medical Bureau, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue also gained a more direct understanding of her abilities.
More importantly, her relationship with Li Shimin grew even stronger as they faced the crisis together. The trust they shared in fighting side by side was far more solid than mere romantic love.
Outside the window, the rain had finally stopped. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the courtyard.
Wang Yi walked to the window and took a deep breath of the fresh air after the rain. Although tired, she felt fulfilled.
There are always unexpected events in a game of chess, and natural disasters are unpredictable. But a true chess player is not just someone who plays according to plan, but someone who can adapt to changing circumstances and incorporate unexpected events into their strategy.
This flood was both a challenge and an opportunity. Now that the disaster relief efforts have come to an end, the next steps are reconstruction and prevention.
And she was already prepared for the next step.
This summer of the ninth year of the Zhenguan era is destined to be recorded in history. Not because of the severity of the floods, but because of the efficiency of the disaster relief and the determination to rebuild.
Wang Yi delivered a near-perfect answer in this crucial test.
In the autumn of the ninth year of the Zhenguan era, dust swirled on the official roads outside Chang'an as caravans carrying disaster relief supplies southward and reports from affected prefectures and counties northward. The court was still immersed in the tense atmosphere of disaster relief, but the most critical moment had passed, and the focus gradually shifted to post-disaster reconstruction.
On the west side of Qixia Garden, a secluded courtyard has been temporarily converted into a workshop. Originally a warehouse used to store miscellaneous items, it is now brightly lit with fire day and night, filled with smoke and the unique smell of lime and clay.
Wang Yi stood in the center of the workshop, her plain clothes already covered in grime, and her face also covered in a layer of fine dust. In front of her were more than a dozen ceramic basins, each containing experimental samples with different proportions—this was the cement formula that she and the craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop had finally found after more than two months and hundreds of failures.
"Master, the strength test results for this batch are in." An old craftsman walked over, carrying several solidified test blocks, his face full of excitement. "Following your instructions, when we tapped them with a hammer, they only showed slight cracks, not shattered!"
Wang Yi took the test piece and examined it carefully. The grayish-white solid was as hard as stone, with a smooth surface and a dull, solid sound when tapped. She then picked up a test piece that had been soaked in water; it was noticeably heavier, but showed no signs of loosening.
"How waterproof is it?" she asked.
"After soaking in water for three days and drying, the strength remains the same," another craftsman replied. "Moreover, the drying speed is 20% faster than the previous batch."
A smile finally appeared in Wang Yi's eyes. It was done.
Two months ago, when the floods in the south were at their worst, she personally went to the disaster area to inspect the situation. Standing beside the breached dike, watching the turbid floodwaters wash away the rammed earth embankment, she realized a problem—the water conservancy projects of the Tang Dynasty relied too heavily on traditional rammed earth techniques.
While rammed earth dams are inexpensive, they are weak against erosion and easily collapse during major floods. Stone dams, on the other hand, are sturdy but expensive and have long construction periods, making them difficult to promote on a large scale.
At that time, she made up her mind to find a new type of building material that was both strong and economical.
Cement was naturally the first choice. But she couldn't directly present a modern cement formula; that would be too advanced and its origins unexplainable. She could only guide the artisans of this era to explore cement-making methods using materials and techniques already available in the Tang Dynasty.
The process was more difficult than she had imagined.
In the first month, she and the craftsmen experimented with dozens of recipes: lime, clay, plaster, iron slag, and even tried adding glutinous rice paste... but they were either not strong enough, dried too slowly, or dissolved as soon as they came into contact with water.
In the most dangerous experiment, the excessively high proportion of lime generated a large amount of heat and gas during mixing, nearly causing an explosion. Fortunately, Wang Yi had everyone retreat to a safe distance beforehand, and only some equipment was lost.
After the accident, Li Shimin rushed to the workshop upon hearing the news.
"Nonsense!" He rarely lost his temper with Wang Yi. "Let the craftsmen test these things. What are you doing here every day? What if you get hurt?"
Wang Yi, her face still covered in dust, calmly replied, "Your Majesty, this was my idea, so naturally I must participate personally. Moreover, the craftsmen are experienced; with them around, there won't be any major problems."
“That won’t do either,” Li Shimin said firmly. “From today onwards, you are not allowed to come to the workshop anymore. If you need anything, let the craftsmen experiment, and you just need to listen to their reports.”
Wang Yi knew he was worried about her, but she still shook her head: "Your Majesty, some details can only be understood by seeing them with your own eyes and doing them yourself. I promise I will be even more careful."
After a brief standoff, Li Shimin finally relented, but demanded that the workshop strengthen its security measures and also dispatched imperial guards to protect the perimeter.
In the second month, the experiment made a breakthrough. An old craftsman suggested that there was a special kind of clay in his hometown that became exceptionally hard after firing. Wang Yi immediately sent someone to fetch a sample, and after testing, they discovered that when this clay was mixed with lime in a specific ratio, fired, ground, and then water was added, the resulting solidified clay had a strength far exceeding that of the previous formula.
But a problem arose – the production of this clay was limited, making it unsuitable for large-scale use. Wang Yi had to continue searching for alternative materials.
She recalled the raw materials for modern cement: limestone, clay, iron ore powder, gypsum... The Tang Dynasty had no shortage of limestone, and also had clay. Iron ore powder could be obtained from iron smelting workshops, while gypsum required finding mineral sources.
Countless experiments were conducted, adjusting the proportions, changing the firing temperature, and controlling the grinding fineness...
Finally, as autumn deepened, they found the perfect formula: 70% limestone, 20% clay, half an iron ore powder, and half a gypsum. The firing temperature was controlled at around 1450 degrees Celsius (Wang Yi used the "furnace fire color" and "changes in test pieces" to indirectly judge the temperature). After grinding it into a fine powder, water was added and stirred. It could initially set within two hours, reach usable strength after one day, and be completely hardened in three days.
Most importantly, the raw materials are readily available and the costs are controllable.
"Has the cost accounting been completed?" Wang Yi asked the workshop's accountant.
"I've figured it out." The accountant flipped through the ledger. "With this formula, the cost of the same volume of material is only 40% of that of stone, while the construction speed can be more than three times faster."
Wang Yi nodded. The cost was perfectly acceptable. She turned to the craftsmen and said, "You've all worked hard. For the past two months, you've experimented day and night, and finally, we've achieved results. I will request recognition from His Majesty, and all those involved will be richly rewarded."
The craftsmen bowed and said, "Thank you, Master!"
“However,” Wang Yi changed the subject, “this is only the first step. Next, we will use this new material to actually build some projects and test its performance.”
She pointed to the open space outside the workshop: "First, build a wall in the yard, one section with traditional rammed earth, and the other with new material blocks, to compare their strength. Then build a small pool to test its waterproofing. If all of these pass..."
A glint flashed in her eyes: "Next spring, we'll use it to repair the breached dikes in the south."
The craftsmen were even more excited upon hearing this. They had witnessed the devastation of floods firsthand, and building stronger dikes would be an immeasurable act of merit.
Three days later, Wang Yi arrived at the Liangyi Hall with cement samples and test reports.
Inside the Liangyi Hall, Li Shimin was discussing post-disaster reconstruction matters with Crown Prince Li Chengqian. Reports from various prefectures and counties were laid out before them, their brows furrowed—although the most critical moment had passed, the reconstruction work was complex and multifaceted, with funds, materials, and manpower all in short supply.
"Father, Jingzhou has requested additional funds and grain to repair the official road, but the Ministry of Revenue says that this year's budget has already exceeded its limit..." Li Chengqian pointed to the memorial and reported.
Li Shimin rubbed his temples: "Have the Ministry of Works calculate it. If it is indeed urgently needed, allocate a portion from the imperial treasury. But we cannot set a precedent, otherwise all the prefectures and counties will come asking for money."
"Your subject understands."
Just then, a commotion arose outside the hall. A palace attendant rushed in to report, "Your Majesty... the Protector of the Nation requests an audience..."
"Just let her in, what's the rush?" Li Shimin frowned.
However, when Wang Yi walked in, Li Shimin and Li Chengqian were both stunned.
The Wang Yi before me was completely devoid of her usual aloof elegance. She wore coarse cloth clothes covered in grayish-white dust, her hair was simply tied back with a cloth strip, her bun loose, and a few strands of hair stuck to her forehead with sweat. Her face was also covered with a layer of dust, revealing only her bright eyes, and her lips were chapped from dryness.
The most striking feature was her hands—her originally slender, fair hands were now covered with tiny scratches and calluses, and grayish-white powder was embedded in her fingernails.
"Wang Yi, you..." Li Shimin suddenly stood up and strode to her. "What happened to you? Are you injured?"
"No, no." Wang Yi quickly waved her hand, and as she moved, more powder fell from her body. "I've come to bring Your Majesty good news!"
Her voice was exceptionally clear with excitement, creating an indescribable contrast with her disheveled appearance.
"Bring good news?" Li Shimin looked at her, feeling both sorry for her and amused. "Tell me first, what exactly has been going on these past few days?"
"I've been developing a new material that can be used to build dikes, roads, and houses. It's several times stronger than traditional mortar!" Wang Yi's eyes gleamed, completely disregarding her appearance. "Today I've finally succeeded, so I rushed here to tell Your Majesty!"
Li Chengqian also walked over, and looking at Wang Yi's appearance, a complex mix of emotions flashed in his eyes. He had seen Wang Yi's aloof and ethereal demeanor, her wise and composed demeanor, and her decisive and capable demeanor during disaster relief, but he had never seen her like this... so real and down-to-earth.
Covered in dust and dirt, yet brimming with vitality, it was like a pearl buried in the soil that had finally broken through the earth.
"What materials?" Li Shimin asked.
“It’s called ‘cement’.” Wang Yi took out a cloth bag from his pocket and carefully opened it. Inside were several grayish-white lumps that looked unremarkable.
"This is it?" Li Shimin picked up a piece, weighed it in his hand, and said, "Lighter than a stone, harder than soil... Is this the material you were talking about for building dams?"
"Your Majesty, this is no ordinary block," Wang Yi explained excitedly. "It's a powdery material that, when mixed with water, will gradually harden until it's as solid as stone. Moreover, it can be shaped, cast, and coated; its uses are extremely wide-ranging!"
She picked up a block of cement: "Your Majesty can test its hardness."
Li Shimin took it and squeezed it hard—it didn't break. He increased the pressure, but it still didn't break. Finally, he had a eunuch bring a hammer, and with a strong blow, the cement block cracked.
“It is indeed very hard.” A look of surprise flashed in Li Shimin’s eyes. “It is much stronger than ordinary rammed earth walls.”
"And it's waterproof!" Wang Yi continued. "If you build a dam with cement, it won't easily break down during floods. If you use it to build roads, it won't be muddy on rainy days. If you use it to build houses, it will be more sturdy and durable."
Li Shimin's eyes lit up as he listened. If what Wang Yi said was true, then the uses of this cement were immense! Post-disaster reconstruction desperately needed such a material.
"Have you been busy with this all this time?" Li Shimin looked at Wang Yi's disheveled appearance, and a mix of emotions welled up in his heart—gratitude, heartache, and admiration intertwined.
"Yes." Wang Yi nodded, then realized her appearance and smiled sheepishly. "The research and development process requires constant experimentation, so I spent every day in the workshop, figuring things out with the craftsmen. Today, we finally found the optimal ratio!"
Li Shimin turned to the eunuch and said, "Hurry up and fetch hot water and towels!"
"No need to trouble yourself..." Before Wang Yi could finish speaking, Li Shimin had already pulled her down to sit.
Soon, a eunuch brought over a copper basin, hot water, and a towel. Li Shimin even personally tested the water temperature, then wrung out the towel and gestured to Wang Yi: "Lift your face up."
Wang Yi was taken aback. The Emperor was going to personally wipe her face in front of the Crown Prince?
“Father…” Li Chengqian was also stunned.
"Lift it up." Li Shimin's voice was gentle but left no room for argument.
Wang Yi had no choice but to tilt her head back. A warm towel was placed over her face and gently wiped away the dust. The movements were gentle and careful, from her forehead to her cheeks, from the tip of her nose to her chin.
Li Chengqian stood aside, watching this scene with a profound sense of awe. He had never seen his father treat any concubine with such... such intimate and natural care. Even with his mother, his father mostly showed respect and affection, rarely displaying such meticulous attention.
After being wiped with hot water, Wang Yi's original skin tone gradually became visible. Because of her long hours in the workshop, her skin was not as fair as before, but had a healthy rosy glow. However, after washing away the dust, her moist and translucent appearance became even more pronounced, like peach blossoms after a rain.
Li Shimin wiped her face very carefully, even taking care of the area behind her ears and her neck. Wang Yi kept her eyes closed, her long eyelashes trembling slightly with nervousness, and her cheeks growing increasingly red from the heat and his close contact.
Finally finished wiping, Li Shimin put down the towel and looked at the clean face in front of him. Although there were still some signs of fatigue and the skin was not so fair, the eyes were surprisingly bright, and the whole person exuded a vibrant energy.
"Are you feeling better now?" Li Shimin smiled.
"Thank you, Your Majesty..." Wang Yi said somewhat embarrassedly. She secretly glanced at Li Chengqian beside her and saw that the Crown Prince was looking down at the ground. Pretending not to see him, she felt even more awkward.
"What's the cost of this cement?" Li Shimin returned to the main topic, but his hand was still holding Wang Yi's hand—the hand covered with small wounds and calluses.
"The raw materials are mainly limestone, clay, and some auxiliary materials, all of which are common materials." Wang Yi forced herself to focus. "The production process is not complicated either. The key is in the proportions and firing temperature. I have figured out a complete production method that can be used for large-scale production."
"Excellent!" Li Shimin slammed his hand on the table. "I will immediately issue an edict to establish cement workshops throughout the country, primarily for post-disaster reconstruction!"
"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Yi's eyes shone even brighter. "Furthermore, I have also thought of using cement in combination with steel bars—oh, that is, iron bars—to build a more robust bridge. However, this requires further testing."
"Reinforcing steel?" Li Shimin keenly grasped this word.
"Embedding iron bars into cement can greatly enhance tensile strength," Wang Yi explained. "Ordinary stones and bricks are afraid of being stretched, but not afraid of being compressed. After adding iron bars, they are not afraid of being stretched, and can be used to build bridges with larger spans, and even... taller buildings."
She didn't dare say "skyscrapers," for fear of frightening the ancients.
Even so, Li Shimin had already seen the enormous potential: "Go ahead and try it. Whatever you need, I will fully support you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Wang Yi was so excited he almost jumped up, but then remembered his identity and quickly composed himself.
Seeing her forced composure, Li Shimin couldn't help but laugh: "Alright, go back and get some rest. You've had a hard time these past few days. I'll come see you later."
"Yes, this concubine takes her leave." Wang Yi bowed, nodded to Li Chengqian, and then left the hall.
After she left, a brief silence fell over the hall.
"Chengqian," Li Shimin suddenly spoke, "what do you think of Master Wang?"
Li Chengqian was taken aback, and cautiously said, "Your Majesty is exceptionally talented and cares deeply for the people. Your son... admires you."
"Just admiration?" Li Shimin looked at him.
Li Chengqian was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I used to misunderstand you and thought that you were...bewitching me. But after the agricultural reforms, the disaster relief, and today's events, I understand that you are truly working for the Tang Dynasty and for the people."
He raised his head, his eyes sincere: "Although I still don't understand why a woman knows so much, as long as she is beneficial to the Tang Dynasty, I will respect her."
Li Shimin nodded with satisfaction: "I am very pleased that you think this way. Wang Yi... is indeed special. But her specialness is a blessing to the Tang Dynasty."
"Your subject understands."
"Alright, you can go and get busy too." Li Shimin waved his hand. "Pay close attention to the cement matter as well; it's a good thing for the country and the people."
"yes."
As Li Chengqian left the Liangyi Hall and walked along the palace path, the scene from just moments ago kept replaying in his mind—his father gently wiping Wang Yi's face, Wang Yi's trembling eyelashes with her eyes closed, and the vibrant face after the dust was washed away...
He shook his head, trying to banish the images from his mind. But somewhere deep inside, something had quietly changed.
Previously, he was wary of Wang Yi, hostile towards her, and forced to accept her compromises. But now, he saw another side of this woman—not a concubine vying for favor in the harem, not a mysterious Taoist nun, but a person who actually got things done.
A person who gets covered in dust and grime while researching cement, who gets as excited as a child when he succeeds, and who disregards his image for the sake of the people's well-being.
Such a woman… Li Chengqian took a deep breath. No wonder his father was so enamored with her.
Meanwhile, in Qixia Garden, Wang Yi soaked in the bathtub and sighed comfortably. These past few days in the workshop, he hadn't even had time to properly wash his face, let alone take a bath.
She looked at her hands, covered in tiny cuts and calluses, and smiled bitterly. In modern times, when had she ever suffered like this? But strangely, she didn't feel bitter; instead, she felt a fulfilling sense of accomplishment.
The successful development of cement signifies a major leap forward in the construction capabilities of Datang. Stronger dikes, smoother roads, more durable houses... these are all tangible improvements.
Moreover, with cement, many of her other ideas could become a reality. For example, port construction, large-scale water conservancy projects, and even... the foundations for future railways?
Wang Yi shook his head, feeling that he was thinking too far ahead. The most important thing now is post-disaster reconstruction.
After bathing, she changed into clean clothes and sat in front of the mirror to comb her hair. Although the woman in the mirror was tired, her eyes were bright and a faint smile played on her lips.
It feels so good to change the world through my own efforts.
Even if it's just a small change, even if it's just inventing cement a few hundred years earlier, even if it just makes life a little better for people in this era...
It's all worth it.
Footsteps sounded outside the window, and Li Shimin's voice rang out: "Wang Yi, I have arrived."
Wang Yi rose to greet him. Li Shimin walked in, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her after her bath.
"You must be exhausted today?" He pulled her to sit down. "I heard from the people in the workshop that you've been living and eating there these past few days, sharing the hardships with the craftsmen."
"I'm not tired," Wang Yi shook her head. "Seeing the cement project succeed makes it all worthwhile."
“You’re always like this,” Li Shimin sighed. “For the Tang Dynasty, for the people, you never spare a moment of effort.”
Wang Yi leaned on his shoulder: "Because this is Your Majesty's Great Tang, and the people Your Majesty cares about. I... also want to share Your Majesty's burdens."
These words were half true and half false, but they warmed Li Shimin's heart. He embraced Wang Yi and remained silent for a long time.
The two embraced quietly, their exhaustion relieved and their hearts comforted.
Outside the window, the setting sun painted the sky a golden-red hue. A new day was drawing to a close, and the future of the Tang Dynasty was gradually changing through these efforts.
The advent of cement will be a significant turning point in this era. And Wang Yi, once again, became the one who propelled history forward.
She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of Li Shimin's embrace, but her mind remained clear as ever.
The game continued, and she had acquired another important piece. Now, she needed to consider how to make this piece play its most effective role.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com