When dissolved in water, saltpeter would absorb a lot of heat. This was the principle behind making ice with saltpeter. Thanks to the experience of reading novels in the past, Liszt knew a lot of such common knowledge.
He also knew that saltpeter could be reused.
"Saltpeter is a magical substance. It can dissolve in water and make the water very cold until it freezes." Liszt directed the servant to pour the white powder into the basin.
Then, the powder gradually melted.
Tom put his finger into the water and shouted in surprise: "Master, master, the water, the water really turned cold, it's so cold!"
Gort pushed Tom away, curious and hesitant. Finally, he put his finger in: "It's indeed much colder than before. Liszt, is this the means of a magician? I once saw a magician who was good at ice magic. He always made a lot of ice in the summer to make money."
However, after a moment of silence, the water only cooled a little, but did not freeze.
"Liszt, why didn't it turn into ice?"
"Teacher Gort, a little powder is not enough to make ice with saltpeter. Now, it only proves that it is indeed saltpeter." Liszt smiled faintly, "Then, while you are crushing the rocks, collect all the saltpeter and send it into the castle. Don't miss a single one."
"Alright, I look forward to the moment when you make ice. Having ice in the summer is what nobles should enjoy."
Tomorrow was the sailing festival, and the castle would host a banquet.
At night.
Looking at the amount of saltpeter powder collected in a day, which was enough to fill a barrel, Liszt excitedly instructed the servants to start making real saltpeter ice.
When dissolved in water, the saltpeter would release heat and turn water into ice.
However, the ice water that directly melted the saltpeter was poisonous, so a vat and a copper basin with good thermal conductivity were needed. The vat was filled with water, the copper basin was also filled with water, and the copper basin was then placed into the vat. The saltpeter was poured into the vat and waited for it to absorb heat, turning the water into ice.
Because there was enough saltpeter powder, the heat absorption effect was very strong.
Within a moment, the water in the vat began to slowly freeze, and after a while, even the water in the copper basin began to freeze.
"It's frozen!"
"It really froze!"
"What a magical scene! This is the work of the legendary alchemists!"
Markus, Gort, Isaiah, and Blair, who were watching from the side, were all amazed. In their impression, there was only ice in winter. The nobles had to build an icehouse to enjoy the cool of ice in summer. However, an ice cellar was a luxury. Only a wealthy lord could organize a large team of ice miners to dig ice from rivers and lakes in winter.
A fallen aristocrat like Gort could only rub a few ice cubes in the Tulip Castle every year to have a taste.
Markus, Blair, and Isaiah weren't even qualified to taste Xia Bing.
Liszt was equally excited. He had heard of saltpeter making ice, but it was his first time making it himself. Seeing water turn into ice with his own eyes was a very shocking feeling.
"Master, it's frozen." Thomas's eyes lit up as he looked at the vat.
"Take the ice." Liszt nodded, maintaining a reserved aristocratic smile on his face, calm and dignified. "Cut the ice into small pieces. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, everyone can get a small piece of ice."
Carter whispered: "Master, the ice is too expensive. The servants don't need it, right?"
"It doesn't matter, Mr. Carter. Just do as I say."
"Yes, Master. On behalf of all the servants, I express my most sincere respect for your generosity." Carter bowed. Meeting a generous aristocratic master was indeed the servants' luck.
After saying that, he directed Thomas to carry the copper basin of ice cubes into the kitchen and began to cut them.
Liszt then called Tom: "Store this vat of ice water. When the sun rises tomorrow, take it out to dry. Don't waste a drop."
Gort was puzzled: "Liszt, what's the meaning of this? The ice can be used, why do we need to dry it?"
"Saltpeter directly melts the condensed ice. Of course it can be used, but it can't be eaten. Drying it in the sun will turn it into saltpeter and then repeatedly use it to make ice. "
"Is saltpeter really so magical?"
"It's far more magical than you think." Liszt thought to himself. If he could find sulfur, he would dare to make gunpowder right now.
Compared to gunpowder, gunpowder was technically not an explosive, but it was still a highly flammable explosive. It was suitable for making some soil bombs, and its power was at least not weaker than the magic released by low-level World of Warcraft. If used in a low-level battle, it would have a surprising effect.
Of course, in a world with dragons, elves and magic, gunpowder had no decisive advantage.
The dishes at the banquet were not plentiful. Liszt could not bear to entertain Gort and the others with lavish meals every day. The castle's supplies were his personal guarantee for a luxurious life.
The wine was also relatively poor. It was sour beer without hops.
But the atmosphere at the banquet was high because everyone had a few ice cubes in their cup. The ice cubes melted, making the whole cup of beer cold. After drinking it, one's whole body instantly became cool and bright. In this increasingly hot weather, it was definitely the best enjoyment.
"Liszt, I propose, cheers for the cold beer!" Gort happily raised his cup.
Liszt raised his cup in response: "Then for the cold beer, cheers."
"Cheers!"
Gulp, gulp. The sound of beer being gulped down could be heard from the dining table.
… …
The kitchen.
At the dining table.
Irene kept fiddling with the ice cubes on the plate with a spoon, making a clattering sound.
Abby Ladle couldn't help but scold: "Irene, stop making unpleasant sounds. Master rewarded you with ice cubes, hurry up and eat them!"
"Compared to eating ice cubes, I prefer to watch them melt. Mrs. Abby, don't you think the temperature in the kitchen has dropped today?" Irene Fourfingers continued to fiddle with the ice cubes and looked at Lily Bathtub in the next seat: "Little Lily, do you feel it?"
"Of course, there are ice cubes on each of our plates." After saying that, Little Lily stuck out her tongue and licked the ice cubes on the spoon. She was reluctant to eat them all at once.
The ice cubes had no taste, but they were cool and comfortable, making the heat of the whole body subside.
Abby angrily said: "Little Lily, I don't allow you to talk to Irene while eating. Your clumsy and rude table manners will only bring shame to the kitchen!"
"Cough, cough."
Butler Carter forcefully bit the ice cubes in his mouth. He was already in his fifties, but his teeth were still very good: "Mrs. Abby, they are still children. It is a bit rude to allow them to eat."
"Mr. Carter, it's not that I don't listen to your orders, but you shouldn't indulge them. They will become lawless. Being clumsy is already disappointing enough. If they can't even learn a little etiquette, they will stay in the kitchen for the rest of their lives, unable to become maids upstairs. "Abby seriously said.
Carter and Mo Sen glanced at each other. They both knew that Abby was a good person with a hard mouth but a soft heart.
However, Irene was obviously not convinced: "Mrs. Abby, I don't want to go upstairs. It's not comfortable upstairs. I have to be careful not to leave even a footprint. I want to be a cook in the future. I like to work in the kitchen. "
"You can give up on that idea!" Abby suddenly exploded, "With me in the kitchen, you will never become a cook. Little girl, remember, don't offend me!"
"But you will grow old one day."
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