Chapter 184: The Birth of Glass

"Your Highness, are these raw materials all correct?"

The Armory Department.

Wang Chong held the white sand and said to Zhao Xu,

Ever since Yan Wang had given instructions regarding the raw materials, he had personally contacted the merchants of the Yan Commandery Trading Firm, having them head to Dai Commandery to trade for white sand.

In only five days, these merchants had transported six boatloads of sand.

As for the large quantity of Soda Ash, it had to be sourced from Yuzhou; the journey was somewhat long, and it would be a few days before they could return.

Therefore, he had purchased some alkali directly from local alkali merchants, wanting to try and develop the Glass first.

"The raw materials are correct. Has the heat storage chamber been built?" Zhao Xu asked.

The sand in Wang Chong's hands was milky white and translucent; it was indeed quartz sand.

Only this kind of sand could be used to smelt transparent Glass.

As for the Soda Ash, it was to lower the melting point, while Limestone would produce calcium oxide, or Quicklime, at high temperatures.

Quicklime could improve the purity and stability of the Glass.

"According to what Your Highness taught, it has been built." Wang Chong led Zhao Xu to a courtyard.

He saw structures in the courtyard similar to a Blast Furnace and a Hot Blast Stove.

However, these structures were not tall, but rather low and flat.

In fact, the function of the heat storage chamber was similar to that of a Hot Blast Stove; both served to assist the adjacent furnace in raising its temperature.

The principle was also similar: first burn charcoal inside, then blow out the hot air.

And coincidentally, the melting point of Glass was about the same as that of iron smelting.

It could be said that a Blast Furnace could be used to smelt Glass.

It was just that Glass was not like molten iron, which could simply be poured out and left to solidify.

Instead, it required continuous heating to maintain a molten state so that it could be continuously blown.

Therefore, the Glass furnace was like a pool, with heating below and raw materials placed above.

Once melted, it was like a pot of soup in a cauldron.

"Since that is the case, let us try it today." Zhao Xu's spirits lifted; he was also full of anticipation for the Glass.

After all, with the packaging of Glass, he could completely create a luxury version of the Wine that sold for twenty taels a bottle.

A bottle could be sold for fifty, or even a hundred taels.

Because the Glass itself possessed value.

Having received Zhao Xu's order, Wang Chong immediately became excited.

He directed the craftsmen to put the raw materials in one by one according to the proportions given by Yan Wang, and then lit the fire.

Just like with iron smelting, Wang Chong also used Coke.

Therefore, the temperature of the Glass furnace rose very quickly.

Within three meters, waves of heat rushed toward people's faces.

After waiting quietly for over an hour, the temperature of the furnace reached its peak.

At this moment, the craftsman stirring the raw materials called out, "The sand has melted."

Wang Chong was overjoyed; ignoring the scorching heat, he rushed over and indeed saw a red, mucus-like liquid flowing at the very bottom.

Seeing this, Wang Chong did not leave; he stayed by the furnace the whole time, and the clothes on his body were soon soaked through with sweat.

Zhao Xu sat on a chair with a smile on his lips.

He had seen Glass many times and was accustomed to it, so naturally, he was not as excited as Wang Chong.

Moreover, melting and burning the Glass was only the first step; blowing the Glass into beautiful Glassware required additional techniques.

After waiting a while longer, until all the raw materials in the furnace had turned into red, translucent mucus, Zhao Xu stood up.

"Bring the hollow ceramic pipe." Zhao Xu said to Wang Chong.

This was also one of the things he had asked Wang Chong to prepare.

Its purpose was naturally to blow the Glass.

Wang Chong trotted all the way over and brought back a pipe over a meter long.

This pipe was handmade by the craftsmen; it was not as straight as the pipes made by modern industrialization and was a bit crooked, but as long as it could blow air, it was sufficient.

Now that the Glass was melted, but Wang Chong and the craftsmen all did not know what to do next.

So they all stared at Yan Wang, watching to see what he would do with this pipe.

Rubbing his hands together, Zhao Xu was full of interest; after all, ancient times were severely lacking in entertainment, and one could not always be making children.

This blowing of Glassware was also a kind of pleasure.

Although he had seen many exquisite pieces of Glassware in modern times, he had never tried it himself.

Holding the ceramic pipe, he came to the furnace and used one end of the pipe to pick out a lump of red mucus from inside.

The Glass solution was very viscous and naturally hung from the end of the pipe.

At this moment, he puffed out his cheeks and blew, just like blowing up a balloon.

Air entered the interior of the mucus, and it immediately became hollow, and the mucus also changed shape.

Because the thickness was uneven, it bulged to one side.

Seeing this, Zhao Xu rolled the bulging side of the mucus on a steel plate that Wang Chong had prepared, and that side immediately flattened out.

Then, he blew while rolling, and before long, a round, bulging shape emerged.

However, it was his first time doing it, and the bottle was not very standard.

At this moment, he could not help but sigh that there was an ocean between understanding theory and practice.

He had followed the process in his mind the entire time, but it still turned out like this.

As he sighed with emotion, his peripheral vision swept over Wang Chong and the craftsmen.

He saw that not only was there no trace of disdain on their faces, but they were actually filled with adoration.

As the glass gradually cooled and turned into a clear, transparent color, their mouths hung wide open, and they were completely stunned.

"Heavens, is this glass? It's too beautiful." A craftsman reached out his hand, as if trying to hold the Glass Bottle in the air.

"From the time I was born until now, this is the first time I've seen such a beautiful thing; even jade pendants and gold don't compare to it," another craftsman said.

"Such a beautiful thing was actually burned from sand; it's simply incredible. His Highness Yan Wang is truly amazing," one craftsman said, nearly bursting into tears.

"..."

Hearing the exclamations of the craftsmen in his ears, Wang Chong finally snapped out of his stupor.

At this moment, the way he looked at Yan Wang was different.

To him, it was as if only Yan Wang remained in this world, shining brightly under the illumination of the sun.

"Your Highness, my admiration for you is truly like the surging river, endless and continuous," Wang Chong said, dropping to his knees with a thud. "Your Highness, although this request of mine is a pipe dream, please teach me what you have learned. For this, I am willing to pay any price."

In his excitement, Wang Chong ignored life and death.

Even if Yan Wang were to get angry, he had to say it.

Having seen the glass, he suddenly felt he had no other desires in life; he only wanted to follow Yan Wang and learn these superb crafts. Even if it meant never marrying and growing old alone like a monk, he would be willing.

"Get up." Zhao Xu helped Wang Chong up.

Actually, one could not blame Wang Chong.

Iron smelting, making Gunpowder, and making cannons all had prototypes in the Great Song.

His methods merely improved the quality.

But transparent glass was as shocking to Wang Chong as a magical art that could turn stones into gold.

That was why Wang Chong was so uncomposed.

"After some time, I will establish an Official School, and at that time you will have the opportunity to learn. However, after I teach you things, you will have to lose one thing," Zhao Xu said.

"Please speak, Your Highness. I fear nothing," Wang Chong said.

"Freedom. Anyone who learns skills from me may not leave Yancheng without my order, and they will be subject to surveillance. Are you willing?" Zhao Xu said.

"I am willing." Wang Chong said without the slightest hesitation, his tone resolute.

"Good." Zhao Xu was very satisfied.

He did not want the things he taught to be passed into the hands of the powerful clans.

Otherwise, his own advantage would be gone.

"It is settled then. Now, let's finish blowing this pool of glass solution," Zhao Xu said with a smile.

Having said that, he began to explain the techniques of glassblowing to the craftsmen.

From now on, these craftsmen would be responsible for the production of Glassware.

In half a day's time, the liquid glass was completely used up by the craftsmen.

The courtyard was also filled with many crooked and misshapen glass containers.

There were also a few craftsmen who were quite clever and skillful, and they blew a few decent, beautiful Glass Bottles.