Great Song

The three divisions are in charge of the world's money and food, and naturally they are also in charge of minting coins.This year Zhengdan, the emperor changed his reign name to "Xining", which was also the first reign name after he ascended the throne.It is necessary to cast a new batch of money and distribute it to the world.However, the treasury was empty and there was no copper available. Tang Jie, the envoy of the third division, was preparing to cast iron money for a while, but unexpectedly discovered a big mine.Now there is hope for the treasury.It just so happened that the gallbladder copper produced last year was of poor quality and was not suitable for making weapons and utensils, but it was barely usable for coins.

It's just that the fineness of gall copper is really not very good, and it is somewhat wasteful to cast money.Tang Jie was thinking about how to deal with this matter, but he didn't expect the emperor to say that he would allocate [-] guan to Baoying Temple to develop new coins.

Spend 100 yuan on this matter?Tang Jie was furious at that time.Even if new money is minted, it may not be able to mint [-] million coins.Thirty thousand guan is enough to support several yamen offices, how can they all be allocated to Baoying Temple?Besides, don't think he doesn't know. When the palm mine was developed, the emperor allocated [-] to [-] guns from the internal storage.Not counting the expenses of repairing the palace, building alchemy rooms, and paying salaries.Even if the explosives made by Ling Xiaozi, the heart-protecting pill, and the palm thunder are all useful, they can't be so expensive, right?

However, when he saw the copper piece Ling Xiaozi sent, he was speechless immediately.

"Is it true that only [-]% of the copper was used?" After looking at the piece of copper several times, Tang Jie still couldn't believe it.Such a golden copper sheet with good hardness and weight only uses [-]% copper?If it is replaced with gall copper, [-]% of copper will not be able to make such good money!

"Of course it's [-]%." That's what the funds depend on. Zhen Qiong said very firmly, "As long as you add zinc to the copper, you can make brass. It's as bright as gold, and it's the most useful."

"What is zinc?" Tang Jie couldn't help asking.

"It's the medicinal material for lighting copper." Zhen Qiong explained.

Tang Jie immediately understood: "It turns out that this copper is made of the method of touching gold with medicine stones!"

As the steward of money and food, Tang Jie naturally knew the way to make copper in the world.Use calamine to ignite red copper, and you can get brass that is as bright as gold.Many monasteries use gilt copper to make golden bodies for Buddha statues, and some even use them to deceive thieves.However, how can the gilded copper produced in this way have the fineness of the copper in hand?

Tang Jie couldn't help saying, "If this copper is fired with calamine, the color will not be constant, and it will be quite troublesome. I'm afraid the coins will not be usable."

"Of course, zinc is first extracted from calamine, and then zinc ingots are used to cast coins." Zhen Qiong hurriedly said, "As long as the ratio is not bad, the quality will be exactly the same, and it is very easy to use."

Tang Jie was immediately moved: "Is it expensive to make zinc?"

"No cost! I can think of a way, and it will definitely be cheaper than making lead!" Zhen Qiong said immediately.

If it can be done, it will save a lot of money by only minting coins.Tang Jie gritted his teeth: "Just for this method, I spent [-] guan, which is really much..."

Seeing that he still wanted to bargain, Zhen Qiong hurriedly said: "It's just zinc production! The method of iron and copper smelting I researched in the military department before saved a lot of money. Jinshi is the director of my school. If you have money to study alchemy, you may find something. Isn’t it much cheaper than the craftsmen in the workshop who spent dozens or hundreds of years improving the craft?”

Before the emperor gave the opportunity face to face, Zhen Qiong finally understood.Just talking about refining elixir, the third division will not approve the money, and it still needs to throw out the zinc-making method before the project can be approved.He is good at this!As long as money can be obtained, what project is not established?What's more, he knows more about Jinshi, so he can use this as an excuse to get more funding.Always think long term.

Tang Jie was also silent for a while when he heard the words.The Military Weapons Supervision is no longer under the control of the Third Division, but he knows the changes in the Military Weapons Supervision very well.The coke making method and ash blowing method are all from the mouth of the Lingxiao priest, and it has indeed made great progress in iron smelting, copper smelting, and even gold and silver refining, saving an unknown amount of food.Such great achievements made Su Song, a person who knew nothing about armaments, be rewarded by the emperor many times.

Now that the emperor has spoken, and the minting of coins can no longer be delayed, why not push the boat along the way and let the three divisions get some benefits?

"Since it's about minting coins, the money should be spent." In the end, Tang Jie nodded, "I'll draw up a memorial and approve the money within three days. But Ling Xiaozi should also do his best to develop it quickly." The method of smelting zinc is better."

Zhen Qiong burst into laughter immediately: "It's on me!"

seven days later.

Tang Jie looked at the pile of weird kilns that were burning in the yard, and fell into a daze: "Is this all right?"

Although he is also impatient, it seems that it will take some time to produce a method of smelting zinc in large quantities and saving money.Who would have thought that it only took seven days to complete this trail!

Zhen Qiong glanced at him: "Didn't the plan tell me to do it as soon as possible? I have been working nonstop for the past few days to make this kiln."

Of course, sleepless is an exaggeration.Zinc smelting is really nothing to worry about, so hurry up to save him from spending too much time on it.

Tang Jie almost choked to death, coughed and said: "This kiln is a bit weird, how do you refine zinc?"

Hearing him ask this, Zhen Qiong regained his spirit immediately and explained: "This stove is very simple. The earthen pot is made of mud, and a small chamber made of refractory material is placed on it to extract zinc. When making zinc, Calamine powder and coal powder are mixed and calcined. When the fire temperature is [-] degrees, the zinc will turn into smoke, float up and condense in the small chamber, and when the flame is turned off and cooled, what remains in the small chamber is rough zinc.”

It's really not troublesome.The pot is made of mud, and it only uses calamine and coal. The operation is simple, and how much does it cost?Tang Jie looked at Zhen Qiong for fetching zinc ingots again, and finally felt relieved.Immediately, I felt a pain in my heart again: "Just these, did you spend [-] guan?"

"It's more than that!" Zhen Qiong also said sadly, "Si Tianjian needs more transparent glass, otherwise he can't make a sky-watching mirror. The refining of alkali silver requires metals that can withstand high temperatures of thousands of degrees. A way of thinking. Alas, alchemy is not easy, and the money is always not enough."

The corner of Tang Jie's mouth twitched: "The treasury does not have enough money in and out. This time, I can only mint 200 million coins. I have to wait for the new mine to be opened before I can make any money. Ling Xiaozi should save some money." .”

Zhen Qiong didn't like this set: "The fineness of brass is so fine, even if you cast some money with a discount of [-]% or [-]%, it's okay. If you calculate it like this, it's more than a few million guan. You can make a profit by spending [-] guan. , Ji Xiang can’t cross the river and tear down the bridge.”

Tang Jie was speechless for a moment.He didn't expect this trail to be so shrewd.If Xiaoping coins are all minted, the value is indeed limited.However, it should be possible to make some copper coins with such a fine color, which are as bright as gold, to make some big coins with a discount of [-]% or [-]%.In this way, the number of new money issued is not small.It is still copper, which is several times more cost-effective.This achievement is placed in front of the emperor, and it will also be greatly rewarded, and it will pave the way for promotion to the Zhengshitang.It only costs [-] guan, which is really not much.

Seeing that Tang Jie was silent, Zhen Qiong immediately raised her tail.Brother Miao pointed out this trick, and it really worked!Hey, have you nothing to say now?

After a long while, Tang Jie coughed: "Ling Xiaozi has made a lot of contributions. If you have other strange ideas in the future, you should let me know."

"It's easy to say." Zhen Qiong put on a smile.If he is short of money in the future, he will definitely find a way to start another project.Now it's not alchemy alone. With so many alchemy rooms burning money together, how can we not think about ways to establish a project?

■

"The temple master actually got three more microscopes!" Chi Liaozi was shocked.When he saw a microscope for the first time a few days ago, he was astonished.It is also the first time that I really realized that alchemy is a feasible way to lead to the Dao!

If you can see all things in the world, understand what makes people sick, and what makes people sick, why worry about not being able to make a usable panacea?

However, a microscope costs no less than a thousand guan.It takes several skilled craftsmen to grind the lens, create the lens barrel, and place each exquisite component properly.Not to mention the loss, even if you can follow the path of Si Tianjian, money is always indispensable.Chi Liaozi didn't have any hope for such a treasure that was more precious than the alchemy furnace, he just wanted to use the temple master's.

Unexpectedly, three more sets were ordered in the blink of an eye!

Zhen Qiong waved his hand: "You want to delve into alchemy, how can you lose the microscope? These three are yours, and nephew Xuanshuang doesn't have to run to me every day."

Duan Xuanshuang blushed, it was not because he was willing to keep running to the temple master.In fact, Master borrowed the microscope and asked him to move it.It's all over now, Master got three microscopes, can he also get one?He couldn't grab his mentor, and he was so anxious these days!

Chi Liaozi was also very moved: "The Master is really caring for the old Taoist! There is no way to repay such a great kindness..."

Before he finished his set of words, Zhen Qiong quickly stopped: "Senior brother, why is this so? Now that Baoying Guan is the first establishment, I have to take care of these trivial matters. But besides alchemy, senior brother should also find a doctor with good medical skills to help Research is the way to go. Brainstorming, there will always be some results.”

The herbal school is inseparable from doctors and farmers. Now Chi Liaozi is obviously taking the route of doctors, so he should have a few helpers to study together.

Chi Liaozi was stunned: "How can a famous doctor give in to our little view?"

Practicing medicine and treating diseases is one of the most lucrative livelihoods in the world.As long as the medical skills are good, there is no shortage of money.If he can become an imperial physician or something, he will not worry about fame.

Zhen Qiong snorted: "Brother, why are you so pedantic. The microscope is a treasure that only we have. With it, are you afraid that you won't be able to attract people? Just please, the monthly salary can be set higher, I have money in my hand! "

But anyone who studies medicine loves the microscope.Now there are only a few sets in Tokyo. It seems that the officials are not willing to let this thing go out, even if they have money, they can't buy it.With such a town treasure, are you afraid that no one will take the bait?

Chi Liaozi was stunned.The viewer gave him three microscopes in one go, isn't that why?In the past, Changchun Temple also had some contacts with famous doctors in Xiangzhou. Now that there are microscopes and enough salary, are you afraid that you won't be able to hire a good doctor?

Chi Liaozi's old face burst into laughter: "It's still the Lord's thoughtfulness!"

Looking at Chi Liaozi's appearance, Zhen Qiong is like drinking rain.Back then I was afraid of being poor, but now that I have money, I must spend it vigorously!The revitalization of the Good Fortune faction depends on them!

It is the matter of accepting apprentices, which is still a bit difficult.Where can I find some apprentices with good qualifications?

The author has something to say: a discount of three or five is ten, which is big money. Simply put, it is three yuan, five yuan and ten yuan, and Xiaoping money is one yuan.

Why don't you use gold and silver coins? Naturally, it's because there are too few gold and silver coins.Paper currency is too difficult to control, so I will not consider it for the time being.