Daqin: A buff of incredible comprehension

When he casually opened the box, his eyes widened.

"Old Zhang!"

"Get back here!"

A cautious greeting came from outside the door, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"Come in."

Chen Ming waved his hand and focused on the large, brightly colored, jade-like bowl in the box. This blood-red bowl was rich in color, lustrous, and extremely dazzling.

The rim of the bowl is delicately lined with gold and decorated with delicate silver trim. Anyone who sees it will regard it as a priceless artistic treasure.

"Who made this bowl?" He stroked the porcelain bowl in his hand and admired it.

"I ordered the craftsmen to make it."

"I asked who made it?" Chen Mingxian was dissatisfied.

"It's Mr. and Mrs. Fang Ying." Zhang Shouhou replied respectfully.

"Mr. and Mrs. Fang Ying? Call them over." Chen Ming certainly remembered this couple. They were the ones who successfully solved the problem of impurities in transparent glass last time.

Zhang Shouhou immediately turned around and went out to inform them. In addition to the large blood-red bowl, the wooden box also contained a pale green porcelain bowl. The bowl's surface was delicately painted with ancient trees and green buds, its branches dotted with pale red flowers, as if foreshadowing the successful experiment with the three-color glaze.

“This is a leap forward.”

Colored glazes were not thought to have appeared until the Tang Dynasty. While Chen Ming's bowl is relatively crude in craftsmanship, it represents a significant breakthrough among contemporary porcelains, successfully employing multiple glaze colors simultaneously.

As Zhang Shouhou's stern voice gradually approached, "Go in and perform well..."

"Mr. Chen has always been magnanimous to us. We will certainly serve you in return." The voice was soft and respectful.

The door opened, and Zhang Shouhou brought in a couple whose clothes were covered in mud, and bowed to greet their boss.

Seeing that the night was getting darker and it was getting late, they seemed to have not rested yet.

"Haven't you finished your work yet?"

"Indeed, I haven't rested. I haven't stopped for a long time in order to catch up with the progress."

They looked tired but full of anticipation. Clearly, these artisans were in the midst of a new wave of artistic creation.

"Mr. Zhang once said that only those who can endure hardship can achieve great things."

"The Ministry of Works built a giant ship and sailed to the ocean to search for traces of the immortal mountain."

"We should do our best to present a sincere gift to the Immortal."

“As the saying goes, where there is sincerity, even metal and stone can be broken.”

"The immortals have great powers and know everything about the past and the future."

"The Sun family's father and son's every move, I believe the immortals have already seen through it."

"My heart is sincere..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhang Xianweng had already started coughing violently.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Those immortal things you always talk about, haven't they been exposed long ago?"

"We work for Chief Steward Chen and are paid by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We should be loyal to our duties and do our duty."

"What rare treasures doesn't the Far Sea Immortal Mountain have? What's missing from your few humble creations?"

"Put more thought into the real things, and don't just think about seeking immortality all day long."

"Is it really worth it to exchange this shabby thing of yours for an elixir?"

Sun Ren bowed his head and expressed shame, "Master Zhang's advice was reasonable. I was blinded by greed for a moment, and I must have displeased the immortal."

"It's Manager Chen who won't be happy!" Zhang Xianweng corrected him.

"Yes."

"I have indeed made a mistake upon a mistake." Sun Ren's mind was a little confused. No matter how the other party accused him, he just kept apologizing in a low voice.

"Your Majesty." Madam Sun gave him a sympathetic look.

Zhang Shaofu told her privately that Fang Ying had no part in the giant ship's departure.

After all, these were all to make him do his job well, not to really take him out to sea; otherwise, if he missed the important mission, the consequences would be serious.

"Manager Chen specially invited you here because he truly values ​​and appreciates you."

"And yet, with such a small accomplishment, you want to board a ship worth a million gold? How were you brought up?"

"Alas... a rotten tree cannot be carved."

"With your knowledge, you still want to be among the immortals?" Zhang Xianweng looked at him with disappointment.

"I admit my mistake, and I hope Master Zhang will teach me more."

"All right."

"If this continues, people will become fools." An official couldn't help but smile.

Zhang and Han are really interesting.

I have no idea about good skills, but I can learn bad skills quickly.

When did he master this unique skill of boosting morale and striking a blow to the mind, and it managed to turn Sun Ren, who was bent on seeking immortality, into a hardworking and diligent person.

And he was so tired that even his wife suffered with him. "Sir, what do you want to cut off?"

Zhang Xianweng was puzzled and said, "Chop off your head and get out of here faster."

The official waved his hands impatiently, "Gentlemen, who made this porcelain?" He held up the bright red porcelain bowl.

"Sir, this item was made by my humble husband."

Madam Sun hurriedly spoke first and confirmed:

"Oh?"

Someone was a little skeptical.

His apron was covered with traces of the kiln, while her skirt was dotted with colorful paints. It was hard to say whose contribution was greater.

“How did you get this red color?”

"The embryo is more delicate and white than before."

"This is exactly the kind of porcelain I wanted. I've done a great job this time."

Mrs. Sun's face was full of joy. She secretly glanced at her husband and explained softly:

"Sir, my husband once worked in a glass frit workshop. I thought that glass frit, being so bright and transparent, would create a dazzling luster if used on porcelain. After several experiments, we were able to create a suitable glaze."

"Grandpa Lu gave us a book about the properties of the five elements of minerals. I added various minerals according to the records and experimented with them. I finally succeeded in firing different colors."

"The clay already had a formula, and with the experience gained from firing glass sand, we later added several other ingredients, which greatly improved the effect."

Mrs. Sun suddenly remembered, "Oh, and I also want to thank Mr. Zhao for his help. If he hadn't provided the grinding machinery, it would have taken a lot of effort just to process the raw materials."

"And the water-powered potter's wheel he developed eliminates the need for a rocking lever, saving time and making it much easier than before."

An official couldn't help but sigh. This is the result of accumulated experience: the experience of making glass frit has been applied to porcelain; the study of the physical and chemical properties of minerals has enabled the rapid mixing of a variety of pigments; and the support of the mechanical equipment provided by Tianshi. "Who designed the gold and silver intricacies on this bowl?"

He held up the red-glazed porcelain bowl and examined it carefully. "This bowl wasn't easy to come by. Since you were ordered to make it, we've gone through more than a dozen trial firings, and only this one is complete. The others are almost defective."

Madam Sun shook her head regretfully: "The furnace temperature is a little low.

New arrangements

"I request a rank of saddle for the male in my family, and a rank of saddle for my daughter."

“This ensures they will have enough food and clothing for the rest of their lives.”

The official graciously complied with the request.

Mrs. Zheng was overjoyed when she heard this: "Thank you very much, sir!"

"You...are you lying to me?" she couldn't help but ask again.

"Why would I lie to you?" He explained patiently, "You deserve this."

"Mrs. Zheng, I wonder if you would be willing to work in the Imperial Household Department?" The official's eyes were full of admiration.

Zheng Ying was a man of great talent, but his wife was clearly more capable and intelligent than him. Not only was she clever and skillful, she was also smart and capable.

"What does your Excellency mean?" Mrs. Zheng asked tentatively.

"The Imperial Household Department is looking for talented people," he told her. "With your talent, why don't you get a job here? How about becoming the manager of the porcelain workshop first? As for the official rank, I'll help you arrange it."

Mrs. Zheng was stunned for a moment, then asked in disbelief, "Can I become an official too?"

"Of course," he replied affirmatively. "The Imperial Household Department belongs to the royal family. As long as you get His Majesty's approval, you can even take on a higher position. An additional salary will make it easier for you and your wife to settle down in Xianyang, and also help you accumulate some wealth for your children."

Thinking of this, the official couldn't help but look at Zheng Ying with disappointment: There's no hope of relying on him.

"I... will follow your arrangements." Mrs. Zheng finally agreed after hesitation.

"It's not enough to just produce one or two pieces of quality porcelain," he continued. "We need to consult Mr. Tian more and plan a large-scale production plan as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

He remembered something and noticed that Mrs. Zheng spoke of Tian Zhou with admiration and respect. The old man wasn't married yet, so how about setting them up?

Zheng Ying was very surprised that his wife was appointed as the manager of the porcelain workshop, and showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

I was so absorbed in pursuing the path of immortality that I didn't care about my wife and children. Now someone is helping me shoulder this responsibility, what's there to be dissatisfied about?

"I'd rather demolish ten temples than ruin a marriage. Well, since you want to seek the immortals, then it's up to you."

"Someone, please call Mr. Tian over." He told the waiter.

Half an hour later, the carriage returned fully loaded. He had been lying down leisurely on the way there, and on the return trip, the carriage was filled with bundles of exquisite porcelain, a dazzling array of items filling the carriage. Occasionally, the porcelain clashed, creating a crisp sound that made him feel as if he were immersed in music.

"This is the key to our export earnings!" He stroked the smooth surface of a porcelain vase and said with satisfaction, "We finally succeeded!"

Throughout Chinese history, there have been three main export commodities: tea, silk, and porcelain. The profits from the first two are enormous, far exceeding those from smuggling.

Even though most of the porcelain brought back this time was scrap, it was of high quality and meticulously crafted. Even coarse Song Dynasty porcelain from folk kilns was worth a tael of gold, let alone today's finer wares. If production were increased, porcelain sales could cover the treasury's expenses and even generate a surplus.

"This is a high-tech luxury!" he exclaimed. "The future of the Qin Dynasty's great fleet depends on it."

As I approached the door, a slender figure stood on tiptoe and looked around. After hearing the familiar sound of wheels, she greeted me with joy.

"A Ling!" He immediately recognized Xiang Li Ling standing in the night.

"I'm back." He got out of the car and excitedly hugged her in his arms. "It's cold and humid outside. Don't wait for me outside, okay?"

Xiang Liling smiled gently, but didn't dare look him in the eye: "You haven't come back since midnight, I just wanted to take a look."

He felt the dampness on his coat and said with emotion, "You still know how to lie."

She lowered her head and said like a child who had made a mistake, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again next time."