In the afternoon.
Li Zexuan thought for a while, then took the carriage to the workshop. He wanted to ask Faubert to help and see if he could make cement.
In the morning, Yan Lide said that glutinous rice mortar could be used as a binder between bricks and stones, but the cost was very expensive. In this era, although prices were low, glutinous rice was a grain that was three to four times more expensive than rice. It would be a very extravagant thing to use it to build a wall.
Therefore, the houses of the Tang Dynasty were basically made of wood. Only the Imperial Palace, Zhao Ling Mausoleum, and the city walls could afford to use bricks and glutinous rice mortar. How could ordinary people afford to use such things?
Yan Lide and his son also gave Li Zexuan a rough cost estimate in the morning. If Yanhuang College followed Li Zexuan's original intention and used bricks and stones, the cost of building materials alone would be more than 400,000 strings of coins, not including labor and decoration costs.
This number had far exceeded Li Zexuan's budget. The reason was that Li Zexuan did not have a fresh understanding of the current construction technology and construction costs. Now, with such a huge capital hole, it would be harder to fill it in a short period of time than to reach the sky. However, Li Zexuan would definitely not give up on Yanhuang College.
After thinking about it, Li Zexuan decided to gather everyone's wisdom and see if they could make cement with better effect and lower cost.
There were so many protagonists in time-travel novels. Didn't they like to make cement, perfume, and mirrors when they time-traveled to ancient times? If they could make it, why couldn't he?
Ahem, although he was not a professional, he knew the general formula. He could tell Faubert and let the professional craftsmen study it! The glutinous rice mortar of this era was actually very close to modern cement (Some modern scholars often called the glutinous rice mortar of ancient times "organic cement"). He believed that if he could give them some inspiration, it would not be a big problem if he was lucky.
"Faubert, I thought of something. I need you to take some people to study it. However, I only know the general composition. As for the ratio of each component, you will have to test it yourself ~! "
After arriving at the workshop, Li Zexuan went straight to Faubert's private "office" and got straight to the point.
"Young Master, what is it ~?"
Faubert asked curiously.
Li Zexuan said with a solemn expression, "I call it cement. It's a building adhesive that can be used to replace glutinous rice mortar. It's very important, and I hope that Faubert can bring a group of skilled craftsmen to research it."
"Cement ~? Replace glutinous rice mortar ~? Young Master, are you going to build an academy? "
Faubert came to his senses and asked.
"Mm ~! I have already designed the building and layout of the academy. The main material is bricks, so we must use glutinous rice mortar. This morning, Minister Yan helped us estimate the cost. It will cost at least 400,000 strings of cash, so I plan to make a cheap substitute similar to glutinous rice mortar. "
"400,000 strings of cash ~?"
Faubert almost jumped up. Just from this budget, he could imagine how huge the Yanhuang College Li Zexuan wanted to build would be. He thought for a while, then clasped his fist and said,
"Since Young Master is so confident in this so-called" cement ", you can tell me the composition. The workshop is full of talents now. I believe that as long as we know the general composition, we can try to make it ~!"
This scene reminded Faubert of the last time when Li Zexuan asked them to study the glass production formula. Although he didn't know why his Young Master had so many novel and strange things in his mind, they could definitely make everything Li Zexuan said as long as they followed Li Zexuan's ideas.
"Cement is a mixture of limestone, clay, and iron ore in proportion. I call this mixture raw material. Then put it in the furnace for calcination. Generally, its calcination temperature is slightly lower than the temperature of smelting iron, but a little higher than the temperature of the glass you burned last time. It should be fine to use the kiln used to burn glass. The calcined product is called clinker. Finally, the clinker and gypsum are ground together and mixed according to the proportion. This is cement ~!
After adding an appropriate amount of water into the fired cement, it will become a paste that can harden in the air and water. After hardening, it can be comparable to a hard stone. It can be used to firmly bond sand, stone, and other materials together to form a solid stone body of a hydraulic cementing material. "
In order to let Faubert and the others develop cement as soon as possible, Li Zexuan was also giving it his all. On the way here, he kept using his abnormal spiritual power to recall the firing temperature of cement that he read in the books in his previous life. It was about 1450 degrees, the melting point of iron was 1538 degrees, and the firing temperature of glass was 1300 degrees. With this important information, he believed that the development of cement would be much smoother.
As for why Li Zexuan didn't simply recall the proportion of the cement's composition and tell Faubert, you think he didn't want to! The key point was that the books he read weren't books that specialized in making cement. Why would they be bored enough to write the proportion of each composition in the book? So even if he wanted to recall it, he couldn't recall it ~!
"En ~! This old man will remember it. Young Master, don't worry. In a while, this old man will organize the workshop's most elite craftsmen to start developing this cement! I think there should be news in the next few days ~! "
Faubert nodded, stood up and said confidently.
He was somewhat glad in his heart. Compared to the last time when they were developing glass, Li Zexuan gave them more detailed information this time. It would be much easier for them to really research it.
"Then I'll leave it to Faubert ~! Remember, the people who enter the mud kiln must wear a mask ~! "
Li Zexuan reminded him worriedly. He didn't want those craftsmen to get lung disease after a few years of work.
"Yes ~! Young Master, don't worry, this old man will arrange it ~! "
"Also, the workshop's relocation plan will still be carried out, but you can delay the specific date for a while. Wait until I'm done with the academy's matters in the near future. Faubert, you can go to Plum Village to claim the land ~!"
Li Zexuan rubbed his temples with a headache. If he said too much, he would cry. He didn't have enough money ~! At this time, if he wanted to move to the new factory area, he really didn't have the strength to do so. If the cement couldn't be developed, he would have to grit his teeth and fork out four to five hundred thousand strings of cash. His family didn't have that much liquid capital.
Moreover, a while ago, his wedding was so grand and extravagant. It was all real gold and silver. However, he didn't regret it ~! This baby wife deserved that grand wedding.
"Yes, Young Master ~!"
Faubert cupped his hands in understanding and said.
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