Duke of Zhenguan

Chapter 105 Experiment (Part 1)

The bamboo paper still needs to be tested and improved in the paper mill in Huangzhuang.

However, the current paper is sufficient for the experimental stage, so Lin Chuan did not delay and began to busy himself with the preparations for the experiment.

Ink was readily available; there was a workshop in the Imperial Workshop specializing in making pine soot ink, which is now used in woodblock printing.

The most difficult aspects of movable type printing were paper and ink. Once paper and ink were solved, only the type and ink remained. This didn't require experimentation; lead movable type was definitely the optimal solution, given that it was still in use more than a thousand years later.

As for engraving, the Gongshu family is a ready-made candidate.

The next day at noon, Lin Chuan finally arrived at the Gewu Research Institute, looking rather leisurely.

After dealing with the backlog of work in his duty room, he went to the First Research Institute.

The Imperial Workshop requested twenty water-powered forging hammers from Gongshu Qi, and now a portion of the Gongshu family is working overtime with craftsmen to complete them.

However, the money had already been paid, and Lin Chuan had distributed the bonuses from the First Research Institute.

When Gongshuqi decided to come to find Lin Chuan, he was apprehensive.

He had brought his family to the Institute of Physics with the idea of ​​taking a gamble, but now he knows he made the right bet. He is now the director of the First Research Institute. Although he doesn't have the official land and salary like officials, he receives a fixed ten strings of cash every month, plus bonuses. This is much better than them going around building houses for people.

More importantly, here they can continuously improve their ancestral artifacts and study items such as bows and crossbows that they would never have dared to touch before.

At the main gate of the First Research Institute, Gongshu Qi saw Lin Chuan enter and hurriedly went to greet him, bowing respectfully: "Lord Lin!"

"Master Gongshu!" Lin Chuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Lord Lin, there's not much room for improvement in this crossbow. What do you think we should do next?" Gongshuqi asked with a smile.

"I need to speak with Master Gongshu. Let's talk inside!"

Lin Chuan called Gongshu Qi into the duty room and asked, "Mr. Gongshu, I need some characters engraved on a mold. They must be engraved according to the template, and preferably fit perfectly. Does Mr. Gongshu have anyone in his family who is skilled in seal engraving?"

"Engrave characters on the mold? Large or small characters?" Gongshuqi frowned and asked.

"They come in big and small. The big ones are not necessarily big, while the small ones might only be a little bigger than a grain of rice!" Lin Chuan said.

"This is delicate work!"

Gongshuqi said softly, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Chuan smiled and reassured him, "It's alright if you don't have any, Mr. Gongshu, don't be embarrassed! There are plenty of skilled seal engravers in the Imperial Workshop—"

"It's not that I'm making things difficult, it's just that the men in my family aren't very good at seal carving. These delicate tasks are usually done by the women in the family. In the past, when it was necessary to do these things, it was always the women in the family who did them!"

"I wonder if it would be convenient for a woman to do what Lord Lin wants to do?" Gongshuqi asked.

"It's fine as long as it can be done, but this needs to be kept secret!" Lin Chuan said.

"Keep it confidential, that's no problem. We know the rules! Shall I bring the person here for Lord Lin to see?" Gongshuqi asked.

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Mr. Gongshu. I'll go find Steward Li in a bit to discuss setting up a second research institute at the Gewu Research Institute to do this!"

"If it's convenient, would you like to bring Mr. Gongshu with you tomorrow?" Lin Chuan said.

"Good!" Gongshuqi replied.

After discussing it with Gongshuqi, Lin Chuan went to find Li San again.

"Greetings, Lord Lin!"

Upon seeing Lin Chuan, Li San remained as respectful as ever. He bowed and greeted Lin Chuan before welcoming him into the duty room, and then personally poured him hot tea.

"Manager Li, the Yan family and I want to research something and set up a second research lab at the Gewu Research Institute specifically for this purpose. However, this matter needs to be kept secret, so it's difficult to find skilled craftsmen!"

"Could you please ask Steward Li and Eunuch Zhang to inform them and arrange for some craftsmen to come and help?" Lin Chuan asked.

"I'll arrange it right away!" Li San didn't ask Lin Chuan what he wanted to do, and readily bowed and agreed.

"By the way, Mr. Gongshu said that there is not much room for improvement in the crossbows they are researching. I would like to trouble Steward Li to inform His Majesty that, if it is convenient, we could recommend them for credit?" Lin Chuan asked again.

"Lord Lin, I only have the right to report this matter. If you want to claim credit, it would be best if you spoke to His Majesty personally!" Li San said awkwardly.

Lin Chuan glanced at Li San, and seeing his sincere expression, nodded and said, "Alright, then Steward Li, you go find Master Gongshu and ask for the improved blueprints to give to His Majesty. I'll discuss the matter of requesting credit with His Majesty!"

The next day, Lin Chuan got up early, which was unusual for him, and went to the Gewu Research Institute.

Gongshu Qi had just sat in his duty room for a short while when he entered from outside, bowed, and said, "County Earl Lin!"

"Master Gongshu!"

Lin Chuan stood up to greet Gongshu Qi, only to find that there was a hooded person standing behind Gongshu Qi. She was slender and clearly a woman, presumably a wife from the Gongshu family.

"Lord Lin, this is my niece, Gongshu Mozhu. Mozhu, why don't you greet Lord Lin!"

Gongshu Mozhu removed his hood, gave a slight bow to Lin Chuan, and said softly, "Greetings, Lord Lin!"

Lin Chuan then saw Gongshu Mozhu's appearance. She had delicate features and a gentle face. Although she still had a childish look on her face, she would definitely be a beauty in time. However, she looked to be no more than fourteen or fifteen years old. Could she really have such amazing seal carving skills?

Lin Chuan looked at Gongshu Qi with some suspicion, realizing that he had found a master seal engraver, not a beauty.

Gongshu Qi felt uneasy under Lin Chuan's gaze and quickly explained, "Lord Lin, Mozhu's seal carving skills are the best in my family. I guarantee it with my life!"

Since Gongshu Qi had vouched for him with his life, Lin Chuan no longer doubted him and said with a smile, "Mr. Gongshu, I had no doubts about you. The matter of seal carving will be left to Mrs. Gongshu!"

Now that the people had arrived, Lin Chuan took Gongshu Qi and Gongshu Mozhu to find Li San.

The four of them went to the courtyard next to the First Research Institute. Lin Chuan pointed to the separate courtyard in front of them and said to the other three, "The Second Research Institute will be temporarily located here!"

After saying that, she cupped her hands in a respectful gesture towards Li San and said, "Manager Li, the Institute of Physics is full of men, which makes things difficult for Lady Gongshu. We'll have to trouble you to take good care of her!"

"Rest assured, Lord Lin, I will make all the arrangements!" Li San bowed and replied.

Lin Chuan plans to use the Second Research Institute specifically for printing books. In the future, the Second Research Institute may even have to research and improve the paper and ink itself. However, it is not appropriate to tell Li San about this yet, so he can only ask him to arrange the manpower as soon as possible.

I spent the whole day at the Gewu Research Institute and didn't get home until evening. When I entered the house, I found that Yan Liu Niangzi was actually there.

In the flower hall of the front yard, Er Ya, wearing a padded jacket, was chattering about the Lin family's past. Yan Liu Niangzi, dressed in a white fox fur coat, looked like she had stepped out of a painting. She sat there quietly, making Er Ya seem even more like an ignorant maid.

Meixiang, standing to the side, dressed simply and with a hairpin, actually looked more like a lady from a respectable family.