This was a brand-new mine!
Wang Chong had been made a marquis and possessed enormous influence in the capital. Coupled with his enormous wealth and influence in the capital, it was a simple matter for him to own a brand-new mine.
As he walked into the mine, his vision darkened. When Wang Chong opened his eyes, he could finally make out the scene before him.
Piles of white lime and brown clay were piled up like small mountains in the mine. Not far from these piles of clay and lime was a water trough that flowed down from the mountains.
Not far from this water trough were forty to fifty experienced masons who had been recruited by the Wang Clan.
"Paying respects to Marquis!"
Upon seeing Wang Chong enter, all the masons bowed at the waist, their expressions extremely respectful.
"There's no need to stand on ceremony!"
Wang Chong waved his hand as he walked into the mine. The interior of the mine was extremely spacious. Although it was not as bright as the outside, it was not dark. In addition, all the structures, like the water trough and the air vents, had been arranged in a very reasonable manner.
"Not bad!"
Wang Chong scanned his surroundings and gave a slight nod. Although everything was built according to his wishes, it was still the first time he came here.
"Pass on my order! Double the number of soldiers! In addition, tell the great clans that are cooperating with us to send more experts to guard the perimeter as well. "
Wang Chong said.
Just like how WuZi Steel had been forged in the Wei Hao Clan's mine, no one could have imagined that the world's most famous WuZi Steel weapons would be forged in that mine.
And just one thousand WuZi Steel weapons had shone brilliantly in the war of the southwest, attracting the attention of the entire world.
Although this mine seemed ordinary, only Wang Chong knew that what it would produce in the future would be even more important to the Tang Dynasty than the WuZi Steel weapons.
This was because what Wang Chong was about to 'forge' in this ordinary mine would assuredly change the entire Central Plains, the entire Tang Dynasty: 'cement'!
Once, Wang Chong had constantly pondered this question. What was the greatest advantage of the Central Plains, the Tang Dynasty, or perhaps the entire Central Plains where the Han lived? Without question, it was vast territory and abundant resources.
Then what was its greatest weakness?
Although he was unwilling to admit it, Wang Chong's final answer was vast territory and abundant resources.
Everything had two sides. The Tang Dynasty's vast territory and abundant resources meant that it had an enormous population, enormous resources, and formidable regenerative abilities.
But at the same time, its vast territory meant that its enormous population, resources, and resources would require an extremely long period of time to be successfully transported.
'Before the soldiers and horses are mobilized, the provisions and fodder must go first'. 'Three months of war, three years of preparation' — this was a major flaw that required enormous expenditure.
In the war of the southwest, the Tang Dynasty had so many soldiers and Imperial Great Generals, but when Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huizang led more than two hundred thousand cavalry east, the Tang Dynasty had been unable to muster a single soldier to support them.
Although it could be said that the foreign kingdoms on the border were keeping them in check, the more important reason was that such a massive country was not easy to mobilize, and all kinds of transportation and reinforcements were extremely time-consuming.
Even Wang Chong, one of the elites of the Tang Dynasty who had prepared for this war, had still spent more than a month marching south, traveling day and night.
But the opponents of the Tang Dynasty, whether it was Mengshe Zhao or Ouzan, did not have this problem. Gelofeng had not prepared for this war for three years.
And it had taken only a moment for Dalun Ruozan and Huoshu Huizang to leave the plateau and join the war in the east. From making a decision to actually entering the war, they had not needed a single moment!
Further, on the northeast border, in the territory of Youzhou, even a famous general like Zhang Shougui, a veteran general, a master of the art of war, would find it very difficult to wage a very intense war against the Goguryeo Empire ruled by Yeon Gaesomun.
Yeon Gaesomun did not need to prepare provisions for three years. If something happened in one place, he could immediately send reinforcements from other places. Although this would take some time, it would not take several months.
In contrast, the Andong Protectorate could only rely on its own power to deal with an empire!
Although the Tang Dynasty was powerful, its vast territory made it difficult for it to mobilize its forces. In its battles with foreign countries, it had always been on the defensive. The transportation of provisions and the long distances made it difficult for this empire to put all its strength into dealing with its foes.
It was the same with Mengshe Zhao, it was the same with Ouzan, it was the same with the Eastern and Western Turks, it was the same with Goguryeo, and it would be the same with the distant Arabian Empire in the future …
In order to resolve the millennia-old predicament of the various dynasties of the Central Plains, one had to solve the vast and arduous transportation problem. 'Cement' was the solution that Wang Chong was using to solve this problem of the world.
A smooth, open, and level road could save far more time than a rugged mountain path. It could more quickly transport the soldiers of the Tang Dynasty from one place to another, and it could more conveniently transport the provisions of the various prefectures and provinces of the Tang Dynasty to the capital, where they could then be transported to other battlefields.
If one had an extremely convenient road system that extended in all directions, one could transform the Tang Dynasty from an extremely fat man to a muscular man who could move quickly, and it would also be able to intimidate the surrounding foreign countries.
This was something that could not be achieved or replaced by any martial arts or martial arts.
Martial arts were only about one person's bravery, but strategy was about seeing the greater picture. No matter what era, a strategic view of the greater picture could not be replaced!
On the martial path, one could only fight ten people, a hundred people, a thousand people, ten thousand people, but on the strategic view of the greater picture, one could fight one hundred thousand people, one million people, and it could even influence one for thousands of years. This was something that nothing could replace.
What Wang Chong needed to do was to create a massive road system that would change the vast territory and resources of this powerful empire, so that it could transport supplies and reinforcements several times faster than before. This would intimidate all its enemies and change the flaw that the dynasties of the Central Plains could only ever unleash 'one punch' against the surrounding countries!
"How is the preparation of the thing I spoke of coming along?"
Wang Chong turned his head and asked.
"Young Master, according to Young Master's orders, I have already had these masons prepare it. … Young Master will understand the specifics after taking a look."
As Zhao Jingdian spoke, he led Wang Chong into a tunnel that was not easily visible. Inside the cave, it was a mess. The ground was filled with piles of fine "small mounds", and the color of each mound was slightly different.
Wang Chong's gaze swept across the ground not too far away from the 'mound'. There were piles of hardened 'mud' there.
"Young Master, according to your instructions, I've already asked the masons to mix lime and clay according to different proportions to make different kinds of 'slurries'. However, the results are still not satisfactory. Young Master, you'll understand after taking a look."
Zhao Jingdian said.
Although he did not understand why Wang Chong, as a scion of a clan of ministers and generals, the Young Marquis of the Tang Dynasty, was so highly regarded by the Holy Emperor, that he clearly had more important matters to attend to, why did he place so much importance on this insignificant 'mud', even digging a mine outside the city for him to handle? But Zhao Jingdian was well aware that Wang Chong never spoke without thinking. This seemingly unremarkable 'mud' was assuredly extremely important to Wang Chong, and it was highly likely to be related to some important future plans.
Thus, even though he had been transferred to this tiny mine, Zhao Jingdian was conscientious and dedicated to his duties without a word of complaint.
Wang Chong silently walked over, bent down, and grabbed a handful of the hardened 'mud'. A pile of fine powder quickly seeped out from between his fingers. Wang Chong's brow furrowed at this sight.
This fine powder was so brittle that even a person stepping on it would be pulverized, let alone bearing the weight of a carriage. 'Cement' of this quality was simply incapable of building the roads he wanted, much less completing his plan to transform the empire and shorten the time needed to transport soldiers and reinforcements.
After a few moments of silence, Wang Chong took two more steps forward to the second pile of hardened 'mud' and reached out once more. This time, it was much better. Compared to the first pile of hardened 'mud', this second pile was much harder, but it was still not enough. With a light tug, it shattered, and Wang Chong did not even need to use Stellar Energy.
As he walked through the third pile, the fourth pile, the fifth pile … each pile of hardened 'mud' had different problems. Some were too brittle, others too loose, but regardless of the type, they were all far from what Wang Chong wanted.
"I've already had these experienced masons try different ratios. Increase the amount of lime, increase the amount of clay, or change the amount of water. In total, they've tried several hundred different methods, but in the end, they're all unsatisfactory. The hardness of this stuff is too low. In two days at most, it'll crack and release a lot of powder, just like what Young Master is seeing right now. "
Zhao Jingdian's voice rang out in his ear.
Wang Chong instantly fell silent. Developing 'cement' was far more difficult than he had imagined. Although the materials required for 'cement' weren't too rare in this era and could be developed in theory, it was easier said than done, and carrying it out was far from easy.
"… But even though most of the mud can't be used, these experienced masons still managed to find the optimal ratio of lime and clay. This can be considered the greatest harvest of this period."
While Wang Chong was in low spirits and deep in thought, Zhao Jingdian's voice rang out in his ear. At these words, Wang Chong's eyes brightened and his spirits lifted. He turned his head to look at Zhao Jingdian.
"Where's the pile of mud you spoke of?"
Wang Chong stood up and asked.
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