Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

Considering that its function is construction, we finally decided to pave the way for the Institute of Science and Technology. After all, it is a benefit to our own people.

But there is a problem here. It takes about twenty-eight hours for the concrete to set.

However, the concrete is not hard enough at this time and requires seven days of wet curing to reach 70% of the design strength.

It takes twenty-eight days to reach 100% of the design strength.

Wei Wu does not need 100% design strength, 70% is enough.

But firing cement takes time, and he only has seven days now, which is obviously not enough.

Then we can only use some auxiliary means.

"Go find the blacksmith team and ask them to make you something that can spray steam."

"After the concrete is laid, it is sprayed with steam at a temperature between 40% and 60% hot every day. This is called steam curing."

The curing time of concrete is determined by temperature and humidity.

By using steam between 40 and 60 degrees, the hardening process of concrete can be shortened by about 30 percent.

After receiving all the key information, Wu Qiang immediately took his men to start work.

Wei Wu finally set his sights on the firearms group.

"Yang Chao, do you have any idea about how to make gunpowder more powerful?"

Hearing Wei Wu's words, the expressions on the faces of the three members of the firearms team immediately became awkward.

"Reporting to the Vice President, we are incompetent and have not yet found the thing you mentioned."

Wei Wu was not disappointed with this answer, as understanding the changes in matter is inherently difficult.

Moreover, the three people in front of us were transferred here later.

So after Yang Chao finished speaking, Wei Wu just nodded calmly.

"I can tell you the answer, but accordingly, your reward will no longer count."

After hearing the conditions proposed by Wei Wu, Yang Chao and the other three had no objections.

They do want the money, but they also want to get the reward based on their own abilities.

Now in the Institute of Science and Technology, the construction team has made cement, and the carpentry and blacksmith teams have even built a steam engine.

Everyone has some achievements to show for themselves, except their firearms team, which has not made any progress at all.

Although they were all colleagues, no one looked at them strangely, and no one criticized them.

But they can't get over their own problem, and always feel uncomfortable when they are with other people.

In addition, the Academy of Science and Technology is now being questioned, and it is obviously not the time for them to hold on.

So after Wei Wu finished speaking, Yang Chao immediately gave his answer.

"Sir Vice President, please tell us! We haven't been able to meet your requirements, and we don't have the face to ask for your reward."

Wei Wu also guessed that this would be the answer, so he immediately told the result.

"It's sugar. Adding sugar to gunpowder, at a rate of 10% by weight, can increase its power several times."

After finishing the story about sugar, Wei Wu wanted to see the surprised expressions of Yang Chao and the others.

The result was the opposite. Instead of being surprised, they looked confused.

Just when Wei Wu was wondering why they had such expressions, Yang Chao finally spoke.

"Mr. Vice President, may I ask what white sugar is? Is it the same sweet thing as brown sugar, something you eat?"

"If it's brown sugar, I've actually tried it myself. Although the gunpowder has changed, its power hasn't increased."

Brown sugar is what we call red sugar in later generations, but it was called differently in ancient times.

After hearing Yang Chao mention brown sugar, Wei Wu finally remembered a very critical issue.

It seems that there was indeed no such thing as white sugar during the Hongwu period in the early Ming Dynasty, and the only way to make brown sugar was to boil sugarcane.

Although there were records of white sugar as early as the Tang Dynasty, in fact, that thing was not white sugar at all.

It is just a type of sugar that is brighter in color than brown sugar and granulated sugar.

It was not until the Jiajing period that China produced snow-white sugar crystals that were completely filtered of impurities.

In other words, Yang Chao and the other three are not incompetent, but it is simply impossible for them to give an answer.

Realizing this, Wei Wu couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. This was such a messed up thing.

But then I thought, there is no white sugar now, so wouldn’t it be a fortune if I could make it myself?

You should know that the price of white sugar during the Jiajing period was almost sky-high. One tael of white sugar was equal to one tael of silver.

But now is not the time to think about this. Since it is his own problem, Wei Wu will not deny it even if he is wrong.

"It's my fault. I forgot you didn't even know what sugar was, and I asked you to try so hard to find it."

"How about this! For the gunpowder reward, I'll give you a new task. Once you complete it, I'll give it to you as usual."

"Also, on the day when the Institute of Science and Technology's achievements are showcased, I will bring out white sugar so you can see its power with your own eyes."

In fact, strictly speaking, Wei Wu's behavior was not an admission of fault, but Yang Chao and the other three did not care.

What they are most concerned about now is what task Wei Wu will give them next.

Also, I am looking forward to what Wei Wu said, that is, adding sugar to gunpowder can increase its power.

Seeing the expectant eyes of several people, Wei Wu did not keep them in suspense and spoke directly:

"The original mission assigned to you was supposed to be just partial information, and then you were supposed to complete it through your own hard work."

"But now the situation is special, I will tell you all the information, which can be regarded as making up for the previous sugar mission."

"The task I'm going to give you this time is to create a firearm called a flintlock rifle, but I don't have the blueprints for you."

As he spoke, Wei Wu took out a pen from his bosom and explained to the three people while drawing on the paper.

"The biggest difference between a flintlock and today's firearms is that it doesn't rely on an open flame to ignite, but rather on flint."

"You fix a flint to this thing called a trigger, and then you fix a flint in front of the flint."

"When you pull the trigger, the flint strikes the flint, creating sparks that ignite the powder chamber and complete the firing."

Having said that, Wei Wu suddenly raised his head and looked at the three people in the firearms group and asked a question.

"Although my painting is a bit abstract, I think with your abilities, you should be able to understand it!"