I, a useless prince, started with the Xiang Yu template.

A month later.

Chu Yun transformed the backyard of the Qin Prince's mansion into a massive experimental field.

The original flowerbeds and rockeries were moved away, and a dozen or so rows of large sheds were erected, with several kilns built inside. Next to them were piles of sand, limestone, clay, and some powders that I couldn't name.

All the craftsmen coming in and out were reliable old artisans found from all over the country, each with superb skills and tight-lipped.

The Prince's guards surrounded the entire backyard, and no one except Chu Yun and the designated craftsmen was allowed to approach.

The servants in the mansion were all dumbfounded.

No one knows what the prince is up to.

All you could see were various stones, sand, and firewood being transported into the kiln every day, with craftsmen constantly moving in and out, keeping the fire in the kiln burning continuously.

Occasionally, black smoke would billow out, accompanied by clanging and banging sounds.

People have been talking about it a lot behind the scenes.

"What's the prince doing, spending all his time in the backyard? These materials don't look like they're for building a house."

The servant scratched his head and lowered his voice.

"Who knows? I heard from the guards that it's burning brightly inside. Could it be that the prince wants to fire porcelain himself?"

"Come on, do you really need so many stones to make porcelain? I think it's more like they're refining elixirs."

An old servant sweeping the floor nearby chimed in, "The noble ladies in the palace used to love doing this, seeking immortality."

"How old is Your Highness? Why would you need to refine elixirs?"

The group started talking all at once, and the more they talked, the more mysterious it became.

People are guessing all sorts of things, but no one has guessed the point.

Despite the discussions, no one dared to actually go closer to take a look.

The Prince's mansion has strict rules, especially in the backyard, where guards keep a close watch. Anyone who dares to trespass will be thrown out.

People would just chat privately and vent their frustrations.

Chu Yun, on the other hand, was completely unaffected. Every day, he would run to the backyard at the crack of dawn, more punctual than when he went to court.

The process of making cement is relatively simple. It involves grinding limestone and clay into powder in a certain proportion, calcining them at a high temperature, and finally adding gypsum and grinding them finely.

But once you actually try it, you realize that even the slightest difference is unacceptable. If the calcination temperature is insufficient, the strength will be poor;

If the gypsum ratio is incorrect, the setting speed will be either too fast or too slow.

He would squat by the kiln every day, adjusting the recipe and recording the firing temperature with several veteran craftsmen.

If the sample doesn't work, break it up and mix it again.

Glass is more troublesome.

If the ratio of sand, alkali, and limestone is slightly off, the resulting product will either be cloudy and yellowish, or full of bubbles and crack at the slightest touch.

Too high or too low a temperature won't work, and an incorrect cooling rate can also easily cause it to explode.

Chu Yun stood guard at the kiln entrance, watching the molten material inside and adjusting the temperature from time to time, more attentive than if he were fighting a war.

That afternoon, Li Wanqing, Liu Xi, and Yelü Li sat in the garden pavilion drinking tea.

The wind rustled the fallen leaves in the yard, and autumn was growing stronger.

The three chatted for a few minutes before the topic returned to the backyard.

Holding the teacup, Liu Xi couldn't help but speak first.

"Sister, what exactly does the Prince do in the backyard? It's been a month now, and he's been leaving early and coming home late every day. When you ask him, he just laughs and won't say anything."

Li Wanqing gently blew on the tea foam, her tone tinged with helplessness and a touch of heartache.

"Who knows. After coming back, he handled important matters very well, but whenever he had free time, he would go to the backyard."

His clothes were always covered in dust, and he looked noticeably thinner. When asked, he insisted it was a good product, saying we'd see once it was ready.

Yelü Li rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"How about we sneak over and take a look? I think the backyard wall isn't very high, we should be able to climb over..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Wanqing glared at him.

"Nonsense. Since the prince is not saying anything, he must have his reasons. If we barge in rashly, not only will we disturb his business, but it will also be against the rules."

Yelü Li stuck out her tongue and didn't say anything more.

But his curiosity remained undiminished.

Just then, Chu Yun walked over from under the corridor.

He had just come out of the backyard; the hem of his robe was dusty, and his hands were covered in grime.

Upon seeing the three people, he paused for a moment, then walked over with a smile.

"The three of you are chatting here."

Liu Xi, being a lively person, leaned over and asked again.

"Your Highness, please tell us the secret: what treasures are hidden in the backyard? The whole manor is incredibly curious."

Chu Yun dusted off his hands and smiled meaningfully.

"What's the rush? It'll be done in a few days. You'll be in for a big surprise then."

After saying that, he chatted with the three of them for a few minutes about everyday things, then hurriedly walked towards the backyard.

The three of them were left sitting in the pavilion, looking at each other, their curiosity only growing stronger.

.......

this day.

In the experimental field in the backyard of the Qin Prince's Mansion, the furnace fire burns all day long, and the scorching heat envelops the entire shed area. Even the autumn wind cannot take away the heat.

A group of craftsmen surrounded the high-temperature kiln in the center, staring intently at the activity inside.

This is the 37th time this month that the proportions and temperature have been adjusted and the firing process has been controlled. In the previous 30 times, the finished product was either full of bubbles and cloudy and dark, or it was brittle and would break and be scrapped with the slightest touch. Everyone was worried.

Chu Yun stood at the forefront, staring intently at the kiln opening, constantly reviewing the glass firing ratio and temperature control time in his mind.

The system provides a complete technical process, but the ancient kiln firing temperature was unstable and the purity of the raw materials was inconsistent, so every detail required repeated trial and error adjustments.

Before long, the old craftsman in charge of controlling the fire precisely timed it.

"It's ready to be taken out of the oven."

Two craftsmen, wearing thick heat-resistant gloves and holding iron tongs, carefully reached into the high-temperature kiln and steadily pinched out a palm-sized solidified blank.

The freshly baked clay still carried the residual heat of the reddish furnace and emitted a faint steam. Everyone subconsciously took a half step forward, their eyes fixed on the finished product. The entire place fell silent instantly, with only the crackling sound of burning firewood remaining.

As the residual heat slowly dissipates, the color of the clay body completely changes.

All the original murky and rough impurities disappeared, and a crystal clear, clean and transparent object was presented to everyone.

Without a single bubble or crack, the light falling on it is crystal clear, even cleaner and brighter than the most expensive natural crystal on the market, and its texture far surpasses all glass products of this era.

The onlookers were stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with ecstasy.

"Your Highness, it's done! We've really succeeded in firing the finished product! The glass, the glass has been successfully fired!"

The other craftsmen also realized what was happening.

"Your Highness, it's a success! This time it's an absolutely perfect product!"

"Flawless, flawless, it's so beautiful!"

The fatigue from repeated failures and all-night debugging over the past few days vanished at this moment.

For the past month, they have been following Chu Yun day and night by the kiln, adjusting the ratio of pure alkali to sand, controlling the calcination temperature, and exploring the cooling rhythm. They have failed and started over time again and again, and everyone is almost losing their confidence.

Seeing the perfect finished product now fills me with excitement and a sense of accomplishment.

Chu Yun stepped forward and gently picked up the finished glass piece.

It feels slightly cool to the touch, with a hard and transparent texture. Even through the glass, you can clearly see the distant pillars and vegetation, with an unobstructed view.

He examined the edges repeatedly; they were smooth and flat, without any defects, perfectly meeting the standards of modern ordinary glass, far exceeding his expectations.

A smile appeared on his lips.

Natural crystal is expensive and rare, while ordinary glass is cloudy, dull, and has very poor hardness, so it can only be used to make low-end ornaments.

This glass is far more transparent than crystal, and its raw materials are simply readily available sand, lime, and pure alkali, making its cost negligible.

This means endless business opportunities.

Chu Yun raised his eyes and swept them over the group of artisans whose faces were full of joy, and said loudly.

"Listen up, everyone! The glass has been successfully manufactured today."

"From now on, all finished products will be fired in batches according to today's standards."

"Everyone who participated in the trial production today will be richly rewarded by me. The reward will be doubled, accumulating monthly, and I will never treat them unfairly!"

Upon hearing this, all the craftsmen bowed respectfully, their faces filled with excitement.

Working under the prince not only allows one to learn unique skills but also brings generous rewards, making everyone highly motivated.