You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Mo Heng knew that what the Minister valued so highly was no ordinary official document.

He quickly wiped his hands on his clothes to make sure his fingertips were clean before respectfully accepting the gift.

The moment his gaze fell on the paper, the familiar charcoal lines, the detailed annotations, and the unfamiliar terminology and ideas immediately drew his attention like a magnet.

He read very quickly; his years of experience allowed him to grasp the key points swiftly.

First came allicin, simple and ingenious; then came cement formula…

When I saw the description of "limestone, clay, iron ore powder or slag mixed and calcined into 'clinker', and then ground together with gypsum", my breath hitched.

So that's how it is!

The uneven clumping and unstable strength that have plagued us for years are actually due to the lack of this key technique of re-grinding the 'clinker'!

And this plaster...

Wonderful!

Is it used to adjust the condensation time?

Yes, that must be it!

Calcination temperature...

Its lumps are grayish-green and as hard as stone...

This description is more than ten times more accurate than simply looking at the color of the flame and guessing based on our feelings!

He suppressed his excitement and quickly flipped over to the glass section.

The clear system of "quartz sand, limestone, pure alkali, and feldspar" is clearly distinguished from lead-barium glass.

The key to high-temperature homogenization and slow cooling during annealing...

The word "annealing," in particular, was like lightning cleaving through the fog!

So that's how it is!

Why do so many of the transparent glass pieces we've produced crack upon cooling?

It turns out the problem wasn't insufficient temperature, but rather that the cooling was too rapid, leaving no room for internal stress to release!

This annealing method involves allowing the glass to slowly solidify at a specific temperature, thus eliminating internal problems!

And this raw material system, no wonder we can't fire sturdy and heat-resistant objects when we try to imitate the old methods, it turns out that we chose the wrong path in terms of the fundamental properties of the clay!

Mo Heng felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and his hand holding the paper trembled slightly with excitement.

The core problems that have plagued him and many master craftsmen of the Imperial Workshop for years, as well as the directions for breakthroughs, are meticulously analyzed on these few sheets of paper, pointing straight to the crux of the matter!

This is by no means wishful thinking, but a highly feasible improvement guide based on profound knowledge!

"grown ups!"

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes blazing with light, his voice hoarse with excitement: "May I ask..."

"May I ask, from which sage master craftsman came this exquisite and fundamental formula and technique?"

"Is it some reclusive master craftsman, a scholar of both heaven and man, or some highly accomplished Taoist master skilled in alchemy and the investigation of things?"

"I wish I could sprout wings and fly there immediately to ask for your guidance and discuss this with you in person!"

He was acutely aware of the value of those few sheets of paper; the insight they represented far surpassed that of ordinary craftsmen.

The person who could write these must be a remarkable individual with a profound understanding of the properties of things!

Seeing Mo Heng's barely suppressed excitement, Shen Gai chuckled, stroked his beard, and a mixture of pride and mystery on his face appeared on his lips as he slowly asked, "Elder Mo wishes to see this person?"

"I'm afraid...it won't be easy."

"Why? No matter where that wise man is or what his request is, as long as you tell me, I will visit him three times to invite him here!" Mo Heng said anxiously.

"because....."

"The one who wrote this prescription was neither a recluse in the mountains nor a Taoist master, but rather..."

"Your Majesty!"

His Majesty?

Mo Heng was struck dumb, frozen in place, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide open, almost doubting that he had heard correctly.

A deathly silence fell over the surroundings, broken only by the heavy breathing of the crowd in shock.

How is this possible?!

That emperor, secluded in the inner palace, busy with countless affairs of state, that emperor who had just slain the Jin chieftain in the Jianghuai region, his martial prowess astonishing the world…

actually……

How could he have such a profound and thorough understanding of craftsmanship, material proportions, calcination temperature, and glass annealing?

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Mo Heng's mind. Was there another expert by His Majesty's side writing on his behalf?

But the Minister of Rites spoke with absolute certainty.

Is it because Your Majesty is endowed with extraordinary talent, born with knowledge?

This is far too fantastical.

But thinking of the increasingly outrageous legends circulating recently, such as "flying swords slaying generals" and "killing with a glare"... Mo Heng shuddered and quickly suppressed the almost "deified" thought.

No, that's not right. The approach, terminology, and analysis of the difficulties in this formula are full of the pragmatism and precision of an expert, and are by no means mystical.

This can only mean that... His Majesty's mastery of the study of "investigating things" is probably far beyond what ordinary people can imagine!

After the immense shock came a mixture of ecstasy, awe, and some indescribable excitement.

His Majesty the Emperor not only valued craftsmanship, but also personally studied it to such an extent, and provided such clear and feasible guidance!

For Mo Heng, who devoted his life to the study of things, this was like rain after a long drought!

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty's grace is boundless! Your Majesty is wise and benevolent!"

Mo Heng finally found his voice and bowed deeply towards the direction of the palace.

The surrounding craftsmen and apprentices also seemed to awaken from a dream, and they all followed suit and bowed.

Once his excitement subsided, Mo Heng immediately thought of the most practical problem.

He took a deep breath, turned to Shen Gai, and his face regained the familiar solemnity of a pragmatic craftsman: "My lord, His Majesty's bestowal of strategies is truly a tremendous opportunity."

"However... if we want to try to produce these materials according to this method, especially cement and glass, we will need to build new kilns, find good materials, and conduct repeated trial firings. The cost will be considerable."

"The Ministry of Public Works' recent funding..."

"Hahahaha!"

Shen Gai laughed again and patted Mo Heng's shoulder forcefully: "Old Mo!"

"The second piece of good news I have for you is this!"

"His Majesty is well aware of the difficulties and enormous costs involved in the research and development, and has specially decreed that a special fund of 500,000 taels of silver be allocated directly from the Imperial Treasury to the Ministry of Works!"

"Five...five hundred thousand taels?"

Mo Heng gasped in shock, his mind going completely blank. A collective gasp filled the air around him.

Five hundred thousand taels!

For the artisans of the Ministry of Works, who racked their brains year after year for a little funding and even had to subsidize experiments out of their own pockets, this was an astronomical figure!

An astronomical number that would allow them to go all out and try countless times!

"Excellent! Five hundred thousand taels!"

Shen Gai's gaze swept over every face in the hall, flushed with excitement: "His Majesty has decreed that this money must be used wisely!"

"Used for building kilns, testing materials, and inspiring you skilled craftsmen!"

"The accounts must be crystal clear; His Majesty will personally oversee them!"

"If anyone dares to line their own pockets or do a shoddy job, they will be dealt with absolutely without mercy!"

He looked at Mo Heng, who was still in a state of great shock, and said in a deep voice, "Elder Mo, His Majesty has entrusted this important task to you, and to all my colleagues in the Imperial Workshop!"

"From this day forward, you will be fully responsible for establishing a dedicated department, assembling the best craftsmen, and working with all your might according to the strategy bestowed upon you by His Majesty!"

"Give us people when we need them, and give us things when we need them!"

"I only care about the results."

"Can you quickly produce usable cement and glass to verify the miraculous effects of allicin?"

Mo Heng immediately clasped his hands in a deep fist salute: "Your humble servant Mo Heng accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

"With such trust from His Majesty and the esteemed official, all officials of the Ministry of Works and the Directorate of Works will devote themselves wholeheartedly to thoroughly investigating the properties of materials, working tirelessly day and night!"

"If we cannot follow Your Majesty's strategy and produce such a beneficial and miraculous object for the country and its people as soon as possible, this humble official..."

"I'd gladly offer my head!"

Shen Gai chuckled and waved his hand, "It's not that serious. You just need to study hard."

Mo Heng smiled slightly, but then remembered something and carefully said, "My lord, His Majesty has allocated a huge sum of money. We, the craftsmen, will certainly do our utmost."

"only……"

"This research and development will take a long time, and its success or failure is still unknown."

"This humble official dares to make a request to Your Excellency."

"Oh? Please speak freely, Elder Mo." Shen Gai was in an excellent mood at the moment, and his attitude was exceptionally warm.

"That's how it is," Mo Heng explained, "Some time ago, my apprentice Lu Xiaoshan noticed that ordinary wooden wedges and iron nails used to reinforce objects would sometimes loosen. So he had a wild idea and came up with a kind of iron nail with a spiral pattern, which he called a spiral rotating nail."

As he spoke, he took an object from a toolbox next to him and handed it to Shen Gai.

Shen took it and found it heavy. He noticed that this iron nail was different from the ordinary ones. It was engraved with even and fine spiral grooves all over its body, and the head was not flat, but had a thin slit.

He tried rubbing the nail with his fingers, feeling its unique texture.

"What wonderful use is this thing?"

"Its ingenious use lies in its 'self-tightening'."

"When this nail is screwed into the wood, its spiral pattern can fit tightly into the wood, making it much stronger than a straight nail, and it is not easy to come loose due to vibration or changes in humidity."

"When disassembling, simply unscrew in the opposite direction without damaging the object."

"What's even more ingenious is that if screws of different sizes and matching patterns are made, along with 'screw inserts' with internal threads, two pieces of ironwood or even iron can be easily disassembled and fastened together."

"It is of great benefit to the manufacture of machinery and furniture that require repeated assembly and disassembly."

"Lu Xiaoshan has already made some to verify its effectiveness, but creating this spiral pattern is quite labor-intensive. If it is to be mass-produced, the tools need to be improved, which will consume a lot of refined iron and manpower."

"I was thinking that if we could allocate a small portion of the 500,000 taels to establish a dedicated line, perfect this method, and produce a batch of spiral rotating nails and matching tools first."

"It may be sold to various workshops under the Directorate of Works, to places in the private sector that need fine woodwork and machinery repair, and even to the Ordnance Bureau if it finds it suitable."

"In this way, we may be able to make a slight surplus, which can be used to support research and development. This will not be in vain for His Majesty's allocation of funds, and we can see some return on our investment sooner."

"What is your opinion, sir?"

After listening, Shen played with the primitive screw and pondered for a moment.

These master craftsmen in the Ministry of Works are often engrossed in their skills and know little about business and profit-making. It is extremely rare that Mo Heng could think of generating revenue to give back to the family.

And if this screw is indeed as they say, it does have practical value.

He nodded: "Elder Mo's idea is quite insightful."

"Although His Majesty did not specify that this item could be used for other purposes, it would be excellent if it could be used to further one's research."

"However, the use of funds is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative."

"In that case, I will immediately go to the palace again to report to Your Majesty in person, explain the situation, and request Your Majesty's wise decision."

"Whether it succeeds or fails depends entirely on Your Majesty's will."

"You and Naru Xiaoshan should first make a detailed list of the required materials, manpower, and estimated costs, so that His Majesty may inquire about them."

"Your humble servant understands, thank you, sir!"

Shen Gai then offered a few words of encouragement to Mo Heng and the other craftsmen, praising Mo Heng's spirit of "investigating things" and his apprentices' ingenuity.

There was none of the arrogance a superior would show to a subordinate; on the contrary, there was great respect, which warmed the hearts of all the craftsmen and gave them even more motivation.

After instructing them to make preparations, Shen Gai did not linger any longer. He carefully put the screw away, turned around, and hurriedly left the workshop, heading back towards the palace.

……

Inside the Imperial Study, Lu Zuo was hunched over his desk, reviewing a backlog of memorials concerning local water conservancy and post road repairs.

They attempted to gain a deeper understanding of the empire's grassroots operations and potential problems by reading between the lines.

"Your Majesty, Minister of Works Shen Gai has once again requested an audience outside the palace, saying he has important matters to report."

"Oh? You're back again?"

"Announce."

Lu Zuo was somewhat surprised and put down his vermilion pen.

Is the research and development encountering insurmountable difficulties?

A moment later, Shen Gai strode in, bowed, and before Lu Zuo could ask any questions, he reported on Mo Heng and his idea of ​​allocating funds for trial production and revenue generation. Finally, he presented the screw as a sample.

"A spiral rotating machine nail?"

Lu Zuo took the slightly rough but well-formed iron nail, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He turned it over to examine it; the clear spiral pattern, the grooved nail head… this…

It's clearly a screw!

Did craftsmen in the Song Dynasty actually develop their own screws?

This once again refreshed his understanding of the current level of technology.

"Does Shen Qing mean that he believes this product is indeed valuable and that some funds could be allocated for trial production? If it can be sold and generate profits, it could subsidize the huge costs of research and development, such as cement and glass?"

"Your Majesty, I do indeed have this intention."

"Master Mo Heng also thought so. This move can verify the efficacy of this product. If it is good, it will benefit the country and the people."

"Secondly, if we can make a slight surplus, it will supplement our research and development expenses, and we will not fail His Majesty's trust."

"The funds are for specific purposes only, and I dare not use them without authorization, so I have come to request your permission," Shen replied respectfully.

Lu Zuo pondered for a moment, then instead of immediately answering the question about the allocation of funds, asked:

"Minister Shen, in the Ministry of Works, besides this screw, are there any other good products that have been proven effective but haven't been mass-produced for various reasons?"

"Tell me all of that."

Shen Gai hadn't expected the emperor to ask this. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Your Majesty, there are indeed a few."

"One of them is a kind of 'purifying jade ointment,' which is made by craftsmen in the alchemy workshop under the Imperial Workshop by repeatedly pounding and blending pig pancreas, soapberry, spices and other ingredients."

"Its cleaning and body-washing effects far surpass those of ordinary soapberries, and it leaves a lingering fragrance. However, the production process is complicated and the cost is slightly high, so it has not been widely promoted."

"Secondly, there was the 'swarm rocket vehicle' jointly developed by the Ordnance Bureau and the Directorate of Works."

"This is a variant of gunpowder weaponry, which places multiple rockets in a wheeled cage, allowing them to be ignited and launched simultaneously, covering an area with considerable power."

"However, its accuracy, range, and safety still need to be improved, and it consumes a lot of gunpowder, so it has not been mass-produced."

Cleansing Jade Cream?

It's soap!

The swarm rocket vehicle was the prototype of the multiple rocket launcher!

Lu Zuo's heart stirred once more. Had the chemical and military technologies of the Song Dynasty already reached this level?

"The matter of the screw is approved."

"From those 500,000 taels, 50,000 taels can be allocated specifically for improving the technology, establishing production lines, and conducting the first trial production."

"Strive for excellence and produce user-friendly and durable standard parts."