Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

"My secret recipe can increase the fertility of the fields, thereby doubling or tripling the yield per acre of crops on the fields!"

After hearing these words, Zhu Gaochi finally couldn't sit still anymore. He stood up fatly and stared at the wall opposite.

"What?"

Zhu Di took out his ears and asked suspiciously.

"Did I hear you correctly? Jiang Xinghuo said that he has a way to make the fields fertile and double the yield per acre?"

Zhu Gaochi looked at his father with wide eyes, a look of surprise on his face.

"right!"

Zhu Gaochi nodded seriously and said, "That's what Mr. Jiang just said!"

"Ha ha."

Zhu Di chewed a few times, then walked over, patted Zhu Gaochi on the shoulder, and nodded happily.

"Okay! Great!"

"Mr. Jiang is indeed a banished immortal. If there is such an immortal recipe, doesn't it mean that the Ming Dynasty can grow more food, the people live a prosperous life, and the tax collected by the country far exceeds that of any dynasty in history? By then, the national power of the Ming Dynasty will be It will be greatly enhanced! I will be able to realize my wish and completely defeat the Mongols!"

Zhu Di's interest was very high, but Zhu Gaochi still reminded him cautiously.

"But just now Mr. Jiang also said that although the cost is not extremely high, but from what he said, the cost is still not low. Maybe it is not cheap if it is produced on a large scale, or it is not cheap if it is produced on a large scale. It cannot meet the needs of the entire Ming Dynasty.”

"These are nothing!"

Zhu Di interrupted his big brother and waved his fist.

"As long as it is truly proven that this fairy recipe can be made, I can hire the best and most professional people to do it, as long as it can make the fields more fertile! This is a major event related to the foundation of the country, and I don't care how much I invest in it. money."

"I only need this immortal recipe!"

Zhu Gaochi guessed: "How much does Father think it will cost to make this fairy recipe? Although the first time cost must be high, you still have to calculate the cost. After all, this thing is to increase the fertility of the soil. If the manufacturing cost is higher than The land is expensive, so it’s really not worth the gain.”

Zhu Di thought for a while and said: "This kind of fairy prescription is produced for the first time. Just purchasing the items will cost thousands of taels, right? Listening to Jiang Xinghuo, in the future, the price may gradually come down if it is produced on a large scale. .”

"However, the first time it was made, its symbolic meaning was far greater than its practical significance. As long as it can be made and proved to be able to effectively increase field fertility and increase crop yields, it would be a huge success."

Father and son both nodded at the same time.

It's my first time, so it's normal for it to be a little more expensive.

Hearing the words next door, everyone's breathing was also stagnant.

Does such a magical thing really exist in this world?

As the top dignitaries of the Ming Dynasty, both Cao Guogong Li Jinglong and the second prince Zhu Gaoxu are undoubtedly well-informed because of their status.

But even Li Jinglong, who is both knowledgeable and likes to study "know a little bit about everything", has never seen anything that can increase soil fertility!

In fact, for this era, agriculture is actually the most important event and is the foundation of the country.

Therefore, anything related to 'increased grain production', even if it may just be a rumor in a local newspaper, will be taken extremely seriously by the court.

After all, food is equivalent to life these days!

But what Jiang Xinghuo said could be manufactured artificially and increase the fertility of fields, which was indeed something Li Jinglong had never seen or heard of.

Li Jinglong believed that he had seen many strange things, but those things were incomparable with what Jiang Xinghuo said in front of him, because it involved fields, the carrier of civilization.

Who would believe this kind of thing unless they have personally experienced it.

But no matter what, now that Jiang Xinghuo has said it, it is worth a try!

At this time, Yuan Gong, who had changed into clean linen clothes today, suddenly asked.

"Does this secret recipe really exist? Or, are you willing to give it to me?"

"It exists, and I am willing to show it." Jiang Xinghuo shrugged and said, "I can guarantee that the secret recipe is absolutely effective."

"Is this true?" Li Jinglong exclaimed.

Zhu Gaoxu rubbed his hands excitedly and asked: "If this can be done, what does Mr. Jiang want? Money? A beautiful concubine? Just say it."

"Hahaha" Jiang Xinghuo couldn't help laughing, "Do you think if I think about it, I will be short of gold, silver and beauties in the Ming Dynasty?"

Zhu Gaoxu scratched his beard and smiled.

If what Jiang Xinghuo said before is true, then wouldn’t just picking up a few of Japan’s mountains of gold and silver be enough to last a lifetime?

What's more, with Jiang Xinghuo's talent and learning, he is known as "Xiao Liuyong" on the Qinhuai River. No matter how many famous prostitutes recommend themselves to pillow mats, they can't exchange for a poem. It can be said that "Jiang Lang is handsome and cardamom is good at poetry". Beauty doesn't have to have many talents. How many?

Li Jinglong said: "Money and women are naturally at the lowest level. How can a talented person like Jiang Lang lack women?"

"Then what does Mr. Jiang want? If Mr. Jiang is released from prison next year, Mr. Jiang will have to live. We have no say at what price we want to sell this secret recipe." Li Jinglong asked confidently.

"I don't need anything."

Jiang Xinghuo smiled under the surprised looks of several people and said calmly.

"If there is, then it is a single thought that saves the common people."

Li Jinglong looked at Jiang Xinghuo's young and handsome face and was a little stunned for a moment.

He is obviously a handsome person who should be "very difficult to be affectionate in a brothel dream", but why is there such a contrast.

However, Yuan Gong thought to himself at the same time: "No wonder this Jiang Xinghuo has such a fate. He seems to be entangled with countless people, and he released this thing that can be called a fairy prescription for free. This kind of magnanimity is really beyond our comparison."

"Mr. Jiang, how to make something like this that increases soil fertility?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

"The principle is very simple. Of course, in this era, even if the secret recipe product is produced, even if the cost is not extremely high, it is destined to only be used in a very small range in the form of a 'test field' and cannot be promoted nationwide. .”

Jiang Xinghuo added a prerequisite.

"Similarly, I am not making this thing for large-scale promotion, but just to let you know how big the difference between different fertilizers and current manure is in increasing the yield of food crops!"

"There is another thing that is being promoted on a large scale. It has a similar effect to this one, but it is currently unavailable."

"Understood."

Li Jinglong nodded and said: "In other words, Jiang Lang has other methods that can be promoted on a large scale, and this secret recipe is just that it can be produced now. Let's see similar effects first."

"That's what it means." Jiang Xinghuo agreed with Li Jinglong's statement.

"What about the first step? What is needed?" Zhu Gaoxu asked again.

Jiang Xinghuo looked at Yuan Gong, who was dressed in linen and had white hair and beard.

"The first step is to need an old Taoist priest who can make alchemy."

Looking at everyone's gazes, Yuan Gong's lips twisted into a difficult smile.

"Can't it be small?"

Jiang Xinghuo shook his head and said, "Young people are not good at it, because the thing you need to practice is a bit dangerous. Only the older people can prove that they have successfully practiced until now without being burned to death by this thing, and that they are skilled workers."

A strange look suddenly appeared on Yuan Gong's face: "Is this... is there any risk to one's life after refining the elixir?"

"It's not alchemy."

Jiang Xinghuo corrected solemnly.

"—It's chemistry!"

"I don't care what the name is, but I am very curious about this recipe."

Although Yuan Gong is over sixty, he is well-maintained. At this moment, he is staring at Jiang Xinghuo with bright eyes.

Yuan Gong had never seen such a secret recipe that could increase soil fertility. He had never even heard of it, and he couldn't help but feel itchy.

"So what exactly is the elixir that I need to refine?"

Jiang Xinghuo corrected again: "It's not that you need to refine the elixir, but that you need to refine the green vitriol."

Li Jinglong and Zhu Gaoxu were stunned after meeting each other.

Green vitriol?

What is green vitriol?

Can it be eaten?

When Yuan Gong heard this, he looked astonished.

Li Jinglong looked at Yuan Gong and asked, "What exactly is green vitriol?"

Yuan Gong explained: "Green vitriol is a kind of ore. When it comes out of the mine and has not seen the wind, its color is like glass. When it is burned with charcoal fire, the vitriol boils out and becomes red like gold juice. When it boils, the juice is gone and the color becomes red." Like Huang Dan.”

"In other words, it is a kind of transparent ore that turns green when exposed to the wind, and then burns into juice and condenses?" Li Jinglong probably understood.

"Yes." Yuan Gong nodded, "This is the main material of the three Taoist elixirs. It is also widely used in other elixirs. It has been known to alchemists since the late Han Dynasty."

"Can you practice?" Zhu Gaoxu asked curiously.

"sure."

Yuan Gong said with some pride: "If the porcelain basin is filled, it will not corrode. If you light a fire and burn it, it will melt. If you turn off the fire and wait for it, it will solidify. As long as you are careful, it will not melt and burn your skin. I have been practicing for countless years." "

"That's good. The first step of 'needing an old Taoist priest who can make alchemy' has been solved." Zhu Gaoxu turned around and asked, "Mr. Jiang, what about the second step?"

Jiang Xinghuo thought for a moment.

He really needed to think deeply, because he had to think back on how chemical fertilizers could be easily produced in the laboratory in this era.

It is absolutely impossible to produce chemical fertilizers on a large scale in Daming!

It must be understood that even in the first half of the 20th century, China was unable to produce fertilizers on a large scale. And Beibang, the country next door, was still unable to produce fertilizers on a large scale independently even though it had made mushroom bombs.

Fertilizer is the two sides of dynamite.

The difficulty is if you want to make your own nitrogen fertilizer.

Then a source of nitrogen must be obtained, which is ammonia.

Before the industrial era, there were only two ways to obtain nitrogen in farmland, the low probability of unstable lightning nitrogen fixation and biological nitrogen fixation, that is, distiller's grains, sugar residue, bean residue, oil residue, etc. But unfortunately, ordinary farmers engaged in single production cannot obtain it stably. These biological nitrogen.

But if you want to make industrial synthetic ammonia, you must face two difficulties.

The first catalyst is something that most people can't rub out with their hands, not even Jiang Xinghuo. Even though he worked as an apprentice, a designer, and opened several factories of his own when he participated in industrial salvation in the sixth life, he couldn't. It means he can do anything.

The second high-temperature and high-pressure resistant equipment is even more terrifying. The steel used in this equipment is the same as that of submarines. In other words, when can you point out a series of front-end technology trees for submarine steel before you can make it? Come out with ammonia synthesis equipment.

The reaction tower for ammonia synthesis needs to withstand a high pressure of more than 10Mpa at a high temperature of hundreds of degrees, well, that is, it can withstand about 100 kilograms of pressure per square centimeter, and it needs to last for several years without deformation.

The problem is, even if you can make steel for submarines, this special world is no longer the Ming Dynasty!

Of course, in addition to synthesizing ammonia, there is a simpler and low-cost way to obtain ammonia.

——That is the local method of coking.

There is no cost or technology involved in making coke using the local method. The simplest method is to pile a pile of coke on the ground, then cover it with soil to make a long earthen furnace that looks like a tomb head on the side, and light a fire to start. Already practiced.

If you are more particular, get a special coke oven.

Coke ovens are highly compatible with kilns.

Let alone the Ming Dynasty in 1402, even if we travel to the Eastern Jin Dynasty in 402, we can do this casually.

Because coking coal itself contains nitrogen-containing heterocycles, during the coking process, the ammonia will float out in the form of gas and be mixed in the gas. You only need to collect the ammonia in liquid, and then let the liquid dry and solidify to obtain Nitrogen fertilizer containing solid ammonia.

Of course, this conversion efficiency is low and cannot be promoted on a large scale.

Jiang Xinghuo’s intention is not to promote it on a large scale, but to let them understand the amazing effects of chemical fertilizers while cultivating a little bit of scientific awareness.

There is a reason why Jiang Xinghuo never envisioned large-scale promotion of chemical fertilizers.

Chemical fertilizers are not necessarily a good thing for today's Ming Dynasty.

Because if the application of chemical fertilizers has not gone through long-term experiments, it is difficult to master the application skills of corresponding crops. Moreover, even if you master the application of chemical fertilizers, chemical fertilizers will cause a series of subsequent problems such as soil hardening and pest infestation.

Therefore, Ming Dynasty is now unable to use chemical fertilizers on a large scale, nor does it have the means to deal with subsequent problems with chemical fertilizers.

But Jiang Xinghuo knows that fertilizers that are far more effective than manure and less harmful are not just nitrogen fertilizers made by coking.

To put it bluntly, this is the easiest demonstration experiment to implement.

And the reason why the first step is to need an old Taoist priest who can make alchemy.

It is because of this era that those who could possibly master the process of refining green vitriol (sulfuric acid) were basically alchemy Taoist priests.

Only these ancient alchemy Taoist priests would study how to mix mercury, sulfuric acid, lead and mercury together every day to refine the brightly colored "golden elixir". Others would not study this.

The reason why green vitriol is needed is because the ammonia gas produced by coking requires corresponding liquid to be collected.

The "contact method" of modern chemicals is impossible to implement due to the limitations of the Ming Dynasty's technological level, so the only options are the "lead chamber method" and the "retorting method".

The principle of the lead chamber method is simply to use saltpeter and sulfur to burn together. The sulfur produces sulfur dioxide, and the saltpeter produces nitrogen oxides. When the two are mixed, sulfur trioxide is produced, and sulfuric acid is further obtained.

The lead chamber method can be realized in Ming Dynasty as long as you have money.

But if the purpose is just to demonstrate the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing process, there is a simpler way.

——Retorting method.

What is retort, you ask?

The first step is to set up a porcelain cylinder (sulfuric acid will corrode the iron cylinder), the second step is to throw green vitriol into it, the third step is to light a fire, and the fourth step is to add water.

This is the retort method, which is no different from the steps of stewing chicken soup in a porcelain pot.

So, in a nutshell.

Solid ammonium sulfate nitrogen fertilizer = local coking + carbonization + sun drying.

It's that simple.

With the current Ming Dynasty's technological level, this can be achieved easily without any difficulty, and the cost is ridiculously low.

If there is only a bit of "technical difficulty", it is the porcelain cylinder and the porcelain tube for gas conduction, which need to be made stronger.

After sorting out the steps and required items, Jiang Xinghuo spoke.

"The second step requires coke, a coke oven, and a ceramic tube to guide the gas."

"Put the coke into the coke oven, then insert a ceramic tube into the air outlet, and align the other end of the ceramic tube with the porcelain cylinder containing the green vitriol liquid."

"Patterns of Ceramic Tubes."

Jiang Xinghuo raised his right hand, made a U-shape with his thumb, thumb, and index finger, and said, "Just like this."

"..."

It was quiet for a moment by the tree pit.

"What's wrong? These things are difficult to make? No need to demonstrate today. You can ask the old Taoist priest to go back and do it. Just take the finished product and try it on a small piece of farmland."

"It's not that hard to do."

Yuan Gong explained: "On the contrary, these are all ready-made. I have the porcelain jar for burning green vitriol in the warehouse of Yuan's house in Nanjing. The porcelain tubes can be directly removed from the things used to refine mercury."

"The coke-burning stove is still in the prison warehouse and it doesn't need to be heated until winter. It's just that it hasn't been taken out."

"In other words, everything is available and can be ready in a matter of seconds."

Jiang Xinghuo asked as he looked at several people.

"Then why do you look like this?"

Li Jinglong suddenly felt pain in his forehead.

He looked at Yuan Gong and felt that despair was written on the old Taoist priest's face.

"Mr. Jiang, are you serious? This doesn't seem like you are refining elixirs." Zhu Gaoxu asked after a long silence.

Yuan Gong laughed bitterly: "I have been practicing elixirs all my life. Burning charcoal smoke and adding green vitriol liquid can produce a magical elixir that can increase soil fertility. I have never refined it before."

"You don't believe it?"

"It's not that I don't believe it." Li Jinglong said helplessly, "It's just that this thing doesn't sound reliable!"

Jiang Xinghuo took a deep breath.

"I say it again, this is not alchemy, this is chemistry!"

"Chemistry is to extract elements from substances and react them to obtain the required elements."

Zhu Gaoxu said honestly: "It still sounds like he is refining elixirs."

Jiang Xinghuo, who was in a bad mood today, came close to breaking his defense for the first time almost during the lecture.

The main reason may be that he was teaching chemistry, and these people kept asking him if he was making alchemy.

"Then if I tell you, the essence of this set of things is that nitrogen-containing heterocycles produce ammonia gas, and concentrated sulfuric acid liquid absorbs ammonia gas to form liquid ammonium sulfate. After drying, solid ammonium sulfate is obtained. Solid ammonium sulfate is a nitrogen fertilizer. A method that can increase soil fertility, do you believe it?"

Li Jinglong concluded: "Although I don't understand such a fascinating statement at first, and I can't understand it when I think about it carefully, it sounds much more believable!"

Several people nodded in agreement like chickens pecking at rice.