Chapter 505: He Is Still That Same Youth

Liu Zheng followed Jiang Xuan to a deep mountain on the outskirts of Liangzhou.

Nowadays, Liangzhou is filled with all kinds of factories and workshops. Industry, light industry, and handicrafts have all seen significant development. Therefore, there is no need to go all the way to Yintan City for certain things; there are production bases near Liangzhou as well.

"Young Master!"

As soon as they arrived, they saw Wei Tiezhu running over joyfully. Today, Wei Tiezhu is the Industrial Department Counselor for all of Liangzhou, in charge of the entire Ministry of Works; he can be said to hold a high and powerful position. Yet, he still buries himself in these deep mountains, busy with something alongside a group of craftsmen.

"Tiezhu has grown even sturdier!"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

Thinking back to when he and his old man first arrived in Liangzhou, it was this Wei Tiezhu who led a group of people to build the Marquis Mansion. Since then, he could be considered his first follower.

Although Wei Tiezhu comes from a farming family, his ability to learn is very strong. Now, he has a thorough grasp of all the big and small matters of the Ministry of Works.

In Liangzhou, industrial development is a major tone set by Liu Zheng. Therefore, it must be entrusted to someone he trusts. Wei Tiezhu is the only candidate. Even though he holds an important position, he does not have the foul habits of other official masters. When he sees Liu Zheng, he still has that honest face, dark skin, and white teeth.

Hmm, he is still that same youth from before, without a single change.

Liu Zheng chuckled and said, "You've worked hard, Brother Wei."

Wei Tiezhu hurriedly shook his head.

Jiang Xuan teased from the side, "Isn't it hard work? Brother Wei just married a wife recently and then buried himself in these mountains. That young wife must have some opinions!"

"Really?"

Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then looked over with great joy: "Which family's daughter is she?"

He had only gone to Liangshan for a trip, and Wei Tiezhu had actually started a family? But thinking about it, his age is indeed about right. Thinking of this, he still felt a bit guilty. This is a brother who grew up with him; he got married, and he didn't even know. Shame, shame.

Wei Tiezhu glared fiercely at Jiang Xuan, then gave an honest smile, looking somewhat embarrassed, and chuckled: "The daughter of the Wang Family."

"The Liangzhou Wang Family?"

Liu Zheng nodded with a smile: "That can be considered a wealthy family; she is worthy of my Brother Wei. I must prepare a grand gift to send to my sister-in-law later!"

The three of them joked for a few moments.

At this time, they had reached the middle of the mountain.

Looking at it, many distillation pots were hidden within.

In the deep mountains, smoke curled; it was the blue smoke produced after these distillation pots were burned.

Liu Zheng nodded as he watched and said, "You must make the brothers pay attention to safety."

Hearing this, Jiang Xuan began to clamor: "Exactly, this Green Vitriol Oil is super fierce; last time it burned right through my gloves!"

Liu Zheng and Wei Tiezhu both laughed upon hearing this.

That's right.

Liu Zheng had already asked Jiang Xuan to prepare here as soon as he knew about the Blockage of the Ship. What is Green Vitriol Oil? It is actually sulfuric acid!

In ancient times.

There had long been a method for refining sulfuric acid, but at that time, it was mostly used by alchemists for pill refining. They would calcine green vitriol to produce Green Vitriol Oil, which is sulfuric acid in the true sense!

As everyone knows, strong acid can dissolve cement!

But Liu Zheng felt that sulfuric acid alone was not enough. He wanted to formulate aqua regia!

Aqua regia is actually a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid!

So, he had the sulfuric acid, but where would the nitric acid come from? Naturally, from saltpeter! Saltpeter, which is potassium nitrate, is placed in a sealed container and calcined to generate nitrogen dioxide; nitrogen dioxide dissolved in water becomes nitric acid.

Afterwards, the nitric acid and sulfuric acid are fused to create the highly corrosive aqua regia.

This process is not very complicated, but the container became a relatively difficult problem to solve. Fortunately, Liu Zheng had glass containers; if he had to use ordinary ceramic containers, he really wouldn't dare to hold this stuff.

Liu Zheng looked at the bustling scene and asked with a smile: "How much have you accumulated?"

Wei Tiezhu replied in a muffled voice: "Ever since the Young Master sent the order back, we have been rushing to make it. Now there is about two thousand jin!"

Liu Zheng was overjoyed: "Good, that's enough!"

"Hahahaha, when shall we go over and melt those cement blocks!"

Jiang Xuan said through gritted teeth; during this period, he had truly been driven to distraction by those few large blocks of cement.

Liu Zheng smiled: "No rush, let the bullet fly for a while..."

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng smiled slightly.

Just as Qingyang Shuo said, Liangzhou has actually already passed the chaos that the Blockage of the Ship initially brought to Liangzhou. After all, it has been such a long time; without a waterway, there is still a land route. Even if people carried it on their backs, they could still bring the grain over...

Now, the Blockage of the Ship only affects the Grand Canal and the Yinzhou Coin.

Liu Zheng does not mind waiting for more and more money to pour into Liangzhou before coming for another harvest!

Having already come to the mountain, Liu Zheng was in no hurry to return.

This place had already been turned into a chemical factory in the mountains by Wei Tiezhu.

He suddenly remembered that he had just promised Wei Tiezhu he would give his wife a gift.

Liu Zheng had a sudden inspiration.

According to his current status and position, sending some gold, silver, or jewelry naturally wouldn't be very interesting...

What would be good to send?

He thought for a moment, and his eyes finally lit up.

Got it!

He turned back and said to Jiang Xuan: "You, go immediately and send me some flat glass, tin foil, and mercury!"

Wei Tiezhu and Jiang Xuan looked at each other in dismay.

Is the Young Master going to tinker with new things again?

Thinking this, the two of them were still very excited. Thinking back to those years... actually, it wasn't long ago, Liu Zheng would come up with a new invention every few days, one after another, and he single-handedly developed the economy of Yinzhou, this barren land.

Now, with Liangzhou in hand, he holds power over the entire court.

Liu Zheng, conversely, had no time for inventions.

This sudden whim of Liu Zheng's naturally reminded the two of them of those youthful days of the past.

"Alright, I will go prepare it immediately!"

Jiang Xuan galloped away on his horse.

Wei Tiezhu followed Liu Zheng curiously: "Viscount, what are you going to create this time?"

Liu Zheng chuckled: "Something to please a young lady, how about that? I will give Brother Wei a month of leave today; go back and spend some time with your wife, and strive to produce a nephew for Liu Zheng soon, how about it?"

"Oh my..."

Wei Tiezhu's old face turned red.

But he still followed Liu Zheng curiously.

Something to please a young girl?

Liu Zheng found a house that had been built here and ducked inside.

In the room, there were some empty Glass bottles; suddenly, Liu Zheng had the feeling of returning to his previous life, attending a Chemistry class. He had never dared to slack off in the development of this field, Chemistry.

Before leaving, he had already handed the Chemical Periodic Table to Mo Chen of the Wangbei Academy.

He estimated that there would be progress over there before long.

Very quickly.

Jiang Xuan brought back everything Liu Zheng needed.

Liu Zheng rolled up his sleeves, his face full of excitement.

The two of them stood to the side, watching with full anticipation.

Wei Tiezhu looked at the overjoyed Liu Zheng.

He also started to laugh along with him.

He was still that same youth from before...

"Boom!"

Wangbei Academy.

A small building collapsed once again.

Why say "once again"?

Because this was already the seventh time in these three days...

"Third Senior Brother!"

"Third Senior Brother, are you alright?"

"Third Senior Brother, are you well?"

A group of students searched through the wood shavings and rubble to pull Mo Chen out.

Mo Chen's face was black and bruised, and half of his hair had been burned off.

Yet, his eyes at this moment were filled with excitement.

"Amazing, amazing!"

"Damn it, is this Chemistry?"

"Prefect Liu did not lie to me, he did not lie to me! Three Acids and Two Alkalis, Three Acids and Two Alkalis, so that is how it works!"

Then he stood up from the rubble, grabbed another pile of bottles and jars, and rushed into the next small building.

The crowd had black lines on their faces.

"No, pull him out quickly!"

"That is the building for our Literature department!"

"Hurry!"

"Rumble!"