Chapter 105: Building the Glass Factory, the Banquet Begins

Even this is not the limit of this army.

As everyone knows, the larger the number of people, the slower the marching speed.

If the number of people in this army were reduced to one thousand, the speed would be even faster.

Not to mention that Zhu Gaoxu was implementing an elimination system.

If only the elites were kept, the speed would undoubtedly increase further.

At that point, without considering other factors, even Zhu Gaoxu dared not imagine just how far they could march in a single day.

Watching the dust behind the army, Zhu Gaoxu nodded.

As the entire army arrived, Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and ordered them to rest.

In truth, there was nothing much to rest from; it was only a few miles, which was not a problem for this army at this time.

Zhu Gaoxu was mainly waiting for the other materials to arrive; now that the people had arrived, the building materials had not yet.

Zhu Gaoxu could only wait for the time being.

Fortunately, he did not have to wait long, as various materials were transported over one after another.

Sand, stone, blue bricks, and some timber were delivered immediately; with these things, the entire army finally had work to do.

There was nothing more to say; Zhu Gaoxu waved his hand and ordered them to start the stoves.

A group of soldiers took shovels and other tools and began to dig.

Watching this scene, Zhu Gaoxu found a sense of familiarity.

It was just like a construction crew from later generations...

As everyone officially began to work, Zhu Gaoxu did not remain idle.

He had someone bring paper and a brush, and he began to draw the blueprints for the furnace on the paper.

First, to manufacture glass, the temperature must meet the standard.

The melting point for manufacturing glass is around seven or eight hundred degrees, so this furnace naturally had to have some specific requirements.

"The chimney must be long, and the opening must be small."

While speaking, Zhu Gaoxu continued to draw on the paper.

"In addition, buy good coal; once it's built, we'll test a batch first. If it doesn't work, I'll go talk to Imperial Grandfather and get some royal coal to burn."

Zhu Gaoxu kept giving instructions to the people below, and those soldiers dug roughly according to Zhu Gaoxu's orders.

"Right, the footprint isn't large, but the perimeter must be fenced off!"

"Yes, yes, yes, you there, start from that side!"

Some people were digging foundations to build the factory, while others began driving wooden stakes to build the perimeter.

There was also a group of people who began to build the furnace according to Zhu Gaoxu's instructions.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at the sky and instructed Mao Xiang to organize the soldiers to return to the Military Camp after dark.

Just like that, the group worked vigorously until dark, and Zhu Gaoxu returned to the Military Camp with them.

After ordering the fifty household servants he brought to be settled in, Zhu Gaoxu fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

He was truly too tired.

This matter of building a Glass Factory certainly could not be completed in a day or two.

Even with Zhu Gaoxu leading over seven thousand people to work together, it still took a full five days.

Just as the Glass Factory was about to be completed, someone from home came to call Zhu Gaoxu back.

For these five days, Zhu Gaoxu had not returned home at all.

For one, the work here was indeed busy, especially the construction of the furnace, which Zhu Gaoxu had to supervise personally.

For another, Zhu Gaoxu did not dare to go back.

He had taken almost all the household servants from home, and he was truly afraid that his old man would spank him after he returned.

But now that his old man had sent someone to call him, he had no choice but to return.

Early in the morning, just after Zhu Gaoxu returned home, his first task was to order the servants to draw several buckets of bathwater for him, and then he enjoyed a refreshing hot bath.

These past few days had exhausted him; it was dirty and tiring at the construction site, and the conditions at the Military Camp did not allow for a bath. Having just returned home, Zhu Gaoxu felt itchy all over and could not endure it for even a second.

After bathing, a refreshed Zhu Gaoxu walked out dressed neatly.

He discovered that the number of household servants in the house had increased significantly, and they were all very busy.

After asking someone to clarify his old man's location, Zhu Gaoxu went to the front hall to find his old man.

"Father, what important matter do you have for calling me back?"

Zhu Di was dressed very formally today, his Python Robe fully displaying his imposing manner.

He was secretly blaming himself, and seeing Zhu Gaoxu made his anger flare up.

"You brat, you still know how to come back?"

"Why didn't you just die out there?"

Knowing that his old man was speaking in anger, Zhu Gaoxu chuckled and walked to his old man's side, saying, "Father, calm your anger. I've been busy with military affairs these past two days and haven't had any time."

"Heh, you're the only one with things to do?"

"Besides, why did you call my servants away when you were busy with military affairs? To accompany you in fighting a war?"

"Damn it, it forced me to borrow manpower from your maternal grandfather to host this banquet."

Hearing his old man's words, Zhu Gaoxu realized that the extra household servants at home had been borrowed from the Wei State Duke Mansion.

And listening to Zhu Di's meaning, the reason he was called back today was because his old man had set the date for the banquet for today.

He had wondered why these household servants were so busy; it turned out they were setting things up.

After understanding, Zhu Gaoxu said directly, "I have caused trouble for Father. Is there anything else I can do to help now?"

Zhu Di turned his head to look at Zhu Gaoxu, calmed his mood, and said, "I have already prepared everything. When the time comes, I will introduce you to a few uncles, just act normally, and absolutely do not cause any trouble for me."

After finishing, Zhu Di seemed to have thought of something, and he looked toward Zhu Gaoxu with an uneasy expression.