ushernet Chapter 283 The Stove
Chapter 283 The Stove
As the new year begins, everything is renewed. At this time of universal celebration and family joy, most people are still immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year, enjoying the warm time spent with their loved ones. However, one person is different—Ying Wuyou. At this moment, she has already devoted herself entirely to an important research project.
With the system's assistance, Ying Wuyou was diligently copying down the furnace's manufacturing principles and detailed diagrams. Her pen danced rapidly across the paper, leaving behind neat and clear lines of writing.
Time ticked by, and Ying Wuyou remained completely absorbed, oblivious to the changes in her surroundings. She focused intently on wielding her pen. Finally, with the last stroke, Ying Wuyou let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in her chair as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
At this moment, the thick stack of papers on the table was the result of her hard work. Ying Wuyou gazed at the words and drawings she had written herself, and a sense of accomplishment welled up in her heart. However, just a moment later, she gently shook her head and sighed to herself, "Alas, I am such a hardworking little bee!" Although this sentence carried a hint of self-deprecation, it was more of an affirmation of her own efforts.
After a short rest, Ying Wuyou rallied her spirits and picked up the newly completed diagrams of the furnace's construction principles and design, beginning to examine them carefully. Her gaze lingered on every detail, her mind constantly considering the feasibility of the design. From the selection of materials to the rationality of the structure, and the difficulty of the process, Ying Wuyou analyzed and evaluated each aspect one by one.
It's important to understand that with current technology, manufacturing a practical furnace presents numerous challenges. Especially in the absence of advanced welding techniques, achieving a tight connection between components relies on the most primitive method: repeatedly hammering iron blocks by hand to deform them and ultimately connect them.
Moreover, due to the high melting point of iron, the heat generated by burning ordinary wood is insufficient to melt it. Therefore, obtaining a sufficiently high temperature became crucial. After careful consideration, Ying Wuyou realized that vigorously promoting the use of coal was undoubtedly the most important way to solve this problem.
Therefore, Ying Wuyou, on the one hand, ordered Mo Li to do everything possible to create a high-performance furnace; on the other hand, he personally took on the role of head of the Coal Transportation Bureau, actively promoting the widespread use of coal in Xianyang City. For a time, the entire city of Xianyang was captivated by a completely new, black substance: coal. The common people were filled with curiosity about this peculiar fuel they had never seen before, but dared not inquire easily due to their complete ignorance of it. However, the wealthy merchants and nobles were different; they keenly sensed the enormous business opportunities it contained and showed great interest and a strong desire to buy.
In a very short time, coal quickly became popular in Xianyang, becoming a hot topic of conversation in the streets and alleys. At the same time, with the surge in coal demand, a new type of fuel called honeycomb briquettes emerged and quickly won the favor of ordinary people. These honeycomb briquettes were not only relatively inexpensive but also convenient and quick to use, greatly improving people's quality of life.
Under the scorching heat of the roaring coals, Mo Li quickly and successfully crafted a simple yet practical stove. Looking at the newly forged stove, its appearance, while not exquisite, was still gratifying. Standing to the side, Ying Wuyou carefully examined the stove, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, and he nodded slightly, indicating his approval of Mo Li's craftsmanship.
However, Mo Li was at a loss when it came to building the chimney. Constructing a qualified chimney was no easy task, involving numerous complex processes and techniques. Fortunately, they now possessed abundant coal resources. If they could overcome this challenge, the Qin Dynasty's smelting technology would undoubtedly experience a qualitative leap and rapid development.
Thinking of this, Ying Wuyou immediately took action. She quickly summoned Xu Fu and several other alchemists to discuss how to transform ordinary iron into incredibly hard steel. Once everyone was present, Ying Wuyou explained the basic principles and key points to them in a clear and concise manner. Afterward, she generously left them a considerable amount of iron and a large quantity of coal for their use, then turned and left, entrusting the subsequent research work entirely to this group.
Xu Fu and his fellow alchemists never dreamed they would be so fortunate as to escape the tedious and filthy work of wool processing and instead devote themselves to the more advanced field of iron smelting. This sudden change filled them with joy and even a sense of being overwhelmed by favor. At this moment, an irrepressible excitement surged within them, and their entire bodies seemed to be filled with inexhaustible energy. Therefore, the moment Ying Wuyou left, they did not hesitate to throw themselves into the intense and busy experiments.
Unfortunately, their good fortune didn't last long. The constant hammering and banging during their experiments created deafening noise, which soon attracted the attention of those nearby, who quickly relayed the information to Ying Wuyou. Upon learning of this, Ying Wuyou pondered briefly and decisively decided to fund the purchase of another estate specifically for these alchemists to use as a research facility. This would not only avoid disturbing the peace but also create a relatively quiet and independent environment for the alchemists, allowing them to focus more intently on their iron-smelting techniques.
Mo Li, as expected of a skillful person, finally succeeded in making the chimney of the stove after some effort. The chimney was completely black and had a smooth surface.
Then, Ying Wuyou had someone carefully lift the heavy stove and slowly walk towards Chaohua Palace. Along the way, he attracted the attention of many, who were filled with curiosity and doubt about what he was carrying.
Upon returning to Chaohua Palace, Ying Wuyou, without even taking a break, immediately began directing everyone. She first carefully observed the height of the chimney, then confidently ordered, "Men! Make a hole of the appropriate size in the wall here, according to the height of this chimney." Before she finished speaking, several strong and capable craftsmen quickly got to work.
Before long, a hole that perfectly matched the chimney appeared in the wall. Ying Wuyou nodded in satisfaction and personally stepped forward to install the chimney securely into the hole. Then, she carefully checked each connection to ensure it was secure before letting out a sigh of relief.
With everything prepared, the most crucial step was the ignition experiment. Ying Wuyou had someone light a fire inside the skull, then added wood and other materials, finally placing honeycomb briquettes inside.
As time went by, the burning honeycomb briquettes burned brighter and brighter, billowing thick smoke rushing out of the towering chimney. Before long, the entire house was enveloped in warm heat, and the previously icy air gradually became pleasantly warm. Everyone inside felt this sudden warmth, their faces beaming with surprise and excitement.