Blue bricks, a type of brick, are commonly used in construction. To build faster, whether it's paving roads, building walls, or constructing fortresses, bricks are indispensable.
Besides blue bricks, there are also red bricks. Both are bricks, but their quality differs. Blue bricks are of better quality than red bricks. The former fully utilizes the oxygen in the kiln during production, while red bricks are formed when there is too much oxygen in the kiln, which penetrates the brick body and creates the color.
There is a gap in quality, and the production process for blue bricks involves an extra step compared to red bricks, making it slightly more troublesome. However, the price difference is not substantial.
Given this, why not just use blue bricks and not bother with red bricks?
Therefore, Chu Chen had no intention of firing red bricks; he would go straight for blue bricks.
"You asked your mother for a million taels?"
Princess Xinyue was astonished. That was a considerable sum, considering the imperial court's annual tax revenue was only two million taels.
"You mentioned earlier that you built ten brick kilns a mile away. Even with more hired farmhands during the off-season, it shouldn't cost that much, should it?"
"That alone wouldn't cost that much, but I didn't just dig kilns outside Shuangyue City. I've established brick kilns in every region of the country where agricultural estates are located, all for producing blue bricks."
Chu Chen smiled, did some mental calculations, and continued, "Given the speed of winter's arrival and the construction pace, we can manage about thirty kilns per region. The output of blue bricks should be sufficient for building granaries."
"Uh~" Princess Xinyue didn't know what to say.
Before the autumn harvest next year, he's already thinking about building granaries? And using such a novel material?
"You, you haven't even paid attention to this year's autumn harvest. The imperial granaries in the capital couldn't even hold the grain harvested from the imperial estates. I merely mentioned the benefits of blue bricks to His Majesty and spoke about the granary issue, and His Majesty immediately approved a massive investment in building granaries."
Chu Chen reached out and gently flicked Princess Xinyue's nose.
"Hmph~ I know you're capable, you've got it all figured out, alright?"
Princess Xinyue swatted his hand away, slightly displeased by his treating her like a child.
However, she secretly enjoyed such an intimate gesture.
"And it's not just blue bricks; I've also developed cement. Like blue bricks, it's a powerful tool for infrastructure development."
"Cement? Do you have any finished product?"
Princess Xinyue asked, puzzled.
"Yes, I'll take you to see it."
With that, Chu Chen led Princess Xinyue to another area of the factory.
Upon entering, the masters and apprentices in the factory were all wearing cloth masks. Even in the chilly autumn air, they were working shirtless, smashing ore.
Chu Chen waved his hand towards Princess Xinyue, and a stream of spiritual energy enveloped her mouth and nose. "There's a lot of dust here. I've applied a filtering barrier for you."
"Thank you~ I didn't expect entering the Qi Transformation realm to be so convenient."
Princess Xinyue touched her face. She couldn't feel the spiritual energy with her touch, but with her Body Refining realm's spiritual perception, she could clearly tell that a spiritual energy barrier had enveloped her mouth and nose.
Chu Chen also applied a spiritual energy filtering barrier to himself. This could filter the air for breathing, blocking out large particles of dust.
"Are those ores they're smashing and the powder they're grinding the raw materials for cement?"
Princess Xinyue walked alongside Chu Chen, pointing at the busy craftsmen.
"Yes, cement isn't made from a single material. There's iron ore powder, limestone powder, clay powder, and so on, but the primary material is limestone powder."
Chu Chen nodded, answering Princess Xinyue's question and briefly acknowledging the greetings of the craftsmen.
"Prime Minister Chu, why aren't you wearing a mask! It's so dusty here!"
A steward rushed over, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Chu Chen and the princess. He quickly ordered someone to fetch cloth masks.
"No need. With my Qi Transformation realm cultivation, I can easily block out this much dust."
Chu Chen waved his hand to stop him and then said, "This is Princess Xinyue, the fifth princess. Please give us a tour of the cement production."
"Yes, yes, yes. Your subordinate understands."
The steward nodded repeatedly and respectfully led the way. He was filled with envy for Chu Chen's cultivation, which allowed him to block out dust.
This place offered high bonuses and political achievements, making it a very good and lucrative official post under the Ministry of Works. The only drawback was the excessive dust that required wearing a cloth mask.
Spring, autumn, and winter were bearable; wearing a mask not only blocked dust but also warmed the face. However, it would be uncomfortable in the summer. He wondered if the resourceful Prime Minister Chu could solve this problem.
Soon, the steward led them to observe the grinding of powders, and then to witness the production of cement powder.
Finally, he brought them to the finished goods warehouse and said, "This is the finished cement, currently being stored in wooden buckets."
The technology for making bags was not yet adequate. The large gaps in the sacks made them unsuitable for storing cement, so wooden buckets and barrels had to be used.
Chu Chen suddenly instructed, "Take some out and demonstrate the wonderful uses of cement to the Fifth Princess on the spot."
The steward was momentarily stunned, then immediately called for water, a few bricks, and a wooden board.
Two masters then personally took action, mixing the cement and water, eager to impress the distinguished guests and express their gratitude for the good life they had here.
The over three hundred masters in this factory district earned five taels of silver per month, with room and board included for their families. Furthermore, for each apprentice they took on, they received an additional five hundred coins per month, doubling their income if they took on ten apprentices.
Not only was the food plentiful and balanced with vegetables and meat, but it was also a dream-like existence, far more wonderful than working for the Ministry of Works.
Even the apprentices received half a tael of silver per month for their personal use before completing their training, and they also received room and board. If they successfully completed their training in any trade, they would immediately receive the treatment of a master craftsman.
"Huh? This mixing method, why is it so similar to the process of making blue bricks?"
Princess Xinyue suddenly asked in surprise.
"Basically, any mixing process is similar. There's nothing strange about it."
Chu Chen replied with a smile.
Soon, the two masters finished mixing the cement and stepped aside.
Chu Chen then said, "Alright, try spreading the cement on one side of two blue bricks yourself, then place one on top of the other and press them together."
Princess Xinyue heard this, squatted down, used a trowel to spread cement on the upper surface of the bottom brick, then took another brick and spread cement on its lower surface. She then placed the two bricks together and pressed them with a little force.
After doing so, Princess Xinyue curiously asked, "Is that all?"
"It needs to air dry for several hours. Once the cement inside is dry, the two bricks will be firmly bonded and difficult to separate. Of course, with me here, it's not that troublesome."
"Are you going to use your Qi Transformation realm abilities again?" Princess Xinyue asked with anticipation.