False eunuch in late Ming Dynasty

Chapter 61 The Old Craftsman Has Great Wisdom

"Lord Cui, long time no see. Master Cui's face is full of red, which shows that he has met a nobleman. With this change of luck, the weather will be different." This Shi Fenglai is the chief assistant of the cabinet and also a celebrity under Wei Zhongxian.The relationship with Cui Chengxiu on weekdays is reasonable.But since Cui Chengxiu was impeached, the two immediately drew a clear line.Now that Wei Zhongxian has fallen, Shi Fenglai is in constant panic.I am afraid that Chongzhen will be liquidated on him.His nervousness was not unreasonable. Historically, after Wei Zhongxian fell from power, the next unlucky ones were their group of so-called eunuchs.Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu will be impeached soon.

With Liu's reminder, Cui Chengxiu naturally quickly understood why Shi Fenglai was so polite to her.However, he is not new to the officialdom, and immediately his face was filled with a smile: "Master Shi Shoufu came to the door, it is really full of splendor. When I got up in the morning, I heard magpies calling in the yard, and I knew it was a nobleman. It turns out that the adults are coming."

Everyone was laughing, and no one dared to laugh at Cui Chengxiu. Now that Cui Chengxiu has no official position, he has become the object of flattery by these court ministers.Cui Chengxiu was also very proud.

"Lord Cui, we have been officials in the same dynasty for many years. You have so many high-quality colored glazes in your hands now, but you should give your brothers enough colored glazes." Zhang Ruitu said.

"Naturally, but, my lords, you have to measure the size of your own windows first, so that I can cut the colored glaze here. Otherwise, I can't afford to lose such precious colored glaze." Cui Chengxiu said.

"That's easy to say. Master Cui, can you send someone to my house to measure the size of the windows?" Zhang Ruitu said.

"Of course, my Liuli shop was originally intended to be installed. Otherwise, you won't be able to install such a valuable item when you take it back. It would be a pity if it was broken." Cui Chengxiu said.

These dignitaries are really not short of money. After one morning, Cui Chengxiu sent out all the glass installation craftsmen who had just been trained by No. [-].After measuring the area and calculating it, even if all the colored glaze in the shop is sold, there is still a big shortage.These colored glazes are not cheap, the colored glaze used for a window needs at least ten taels of silver.There are at least hundreds of windows in the houses of big families.The large and small windows cost nearly ten thousand taels of silver.

But these people are really not short of money, and when they spend money, they don't blush and don't beat their hearts.Cui Chengxiu was not surprised either.If his house hadn't been ransacked, it wouldn't be a big deal to replace all the windows with colored glaze.Everyone cleaned up Liuli, if he didn't clean up, then he would lose face.What's more, at this time, all civil and military officials came over, hoping to make friends with Cao Qing through this incident.

Cao Qing had anticipated this situation a long time ago, so he didn't show up at all on the first day of opening.At night, Cui Chengxiu personally reported the sales situation during the day to Cao Qing.After all, the income this time is a bit huge.

"A total of hundreds of officials from households ordered colored glaze at Liulipu today. A total of more than 83 taels of silver were received. It's just that the quantity of colored glaze in Liulipu is less than one-tenth. The supply needs to be stepped up." Cui Chengxiu said.

"Old Cui, you have done a good job. Work hard, and I can see that things are done well. At that time, I will say a few good words to you in front of the emperor, and it is not impossible to restore your official title. But I I feel that your level of being an official is not as high as your level of running Liuli. If you work here, others dare not look down on you. So, if you have a title in the future, you still have to continue to manage this matter." Cao Qing said.

"Lord Cao, you're right. That's what my nephew persuaded me. I understand now. I'm really not made to be an official. I almost lost my head in the end. Now that I'm in charge of this shop, I feel at ease. Master Cao, as long as you let me continue working, I, Cui Chengxiu, will never refuse." Cui Chengxiu said.

"That's fine, don't worry about the title, I will ask the emperor for you in the future." Cao Qing said.

"What about Liuli?" Cui Chengxiu now regards Liuli shop as his career.

"Don't worry about the Liuli matter. The Liuli Factory has been open for several days, and the output should have increased. I'll ask them to ship another batch." Cao Qing said.

"That's good, that's good. Then I don't worry. The people who came today are all dignitaries. There are still many rich households in the capital. With these high-ranking dignitaries starting, these rich households will definitely follow suit. Presumably they can still sell A large number of colored glazes. It’s just that ordinary people can’t afford these things. I’m afraid they won’t last long.” Cui Chengxiu said.

"No one in the capital bought it, so we can transport it to Jinling to sell. There are many wealthy households in the south of the Yangtze River. If they transport colored glaze there, the selling price will be higher," Cao Qing said.

"Exactly." Cui Chengxiu nodded.

The next day, Cao Qing went to the steel factory in person.Cao Qing had been feeling uneasy for several days, for fear that Zhu Youjian would send someone to arrest him.I offended Empress Zhang terribly, and even touched her sacred place at that time.I'm afraid this queen won't let it go.However, there was no movement for several days in a row. Presumably, as her father said, Empress Zhang didn't want to make things big.But this time, Queen Zhang was completely offended.

"Eunuch Cao, all the glazed objects you mentioned have been blown out." Zhou Bugui came up to announce the good news as soon as he saw Cao Qing.

Cao Qing also didn’t want to talk about making glass into various exquisite glass devices at the beginning, but it was the first time for craftsmen in Ming Dynasty to come into contact with glass, which was completely different from ceramic technology. The glass is fired into molten glass and then blown into shape.These techniques have to be explored. Cao Qing has only blown glassware with an alcohol blowtorch, but he still has no experience in blowing molten glass into utensils.Cao Qing probably knew some methods of glass blowing, so he let these craftsmen explore by themselves.Unexpectedly, they really figured it out.

"However, those blown glazed utensils are particularly easy to break." Zhou Bugui said.

Cao Qing knew what was going on as soon as he heard it, "It's okay, after the glazed utensils are blown, they should be annealed in the annealing furnace just like those glazed plates."

"It turns out that's the case. Feelings make glass like steel." Zhou Bugui laughed.

"Well, it's not much different. This matter has caused you to worry too much. After a while, I will reward you meritorious craftsmen." Cao Qing said.

"With Eunuch Cao's words, no matter how much we suffer, it is worth it." Zhou Bugui said sincerely.

The status of craftsmen in this era is low, and it is of great significance to people like Cao Qing to value them.Although Cao Qing is an eunuch, he is also a figure in the sky to them.

Liulichang is in full swing.All craftsmen are working hard.

"Everyone has to work harder. Eunuch Cao is very satisfied with the excellent firearms produced at the steel factory. We also have to work harder here. Try to make glazed utensils that satisfy Eunuch Cao. Eunuch Cao has a great talent, He also thinks highly of us craftsmen, I see, whether we can have enough to eat in the future depends entirely on Eunuch Cao." Xu Dejian said loudly.

Wang Jielai carefully put aside a glass that had just been blown, "The glass blown out of this glass is really beautiful, but it is not durable, and it will break if you touch it a little. I don't know what use it is for Mr. Cao."

"Old Wang, I think your method is wrong. These glass plates are not the same as your glass. Why can my glass plate be like an iron plate, and it won't break if you smash it?" Wang Zhongyuan said.

Wang Jielai patted his head and said loudly: "That's right! Why didn't I remember it? After the glass is blown, I'm afraid it has to be treated like a glass plate to become firm. After we blow the trumpet glass, I didn’t care about it, it’s definitely not right. Come on, let’s blow out another batch.”

Cao Qing heard their voices outside, and Zhou Bugui was about to announce Cao Qing's arrival loudly, but Cao Qing hurriedly stopped Zhou Bugui, he wanted to see how these craftsmen solved the problem of annealing glassware.

Cao Qing had long understood that the wisdom of this ancient craftsman should not be underestimated.He and Zhou Bugui walked behind the craftsman cautiously.Those craftsmen were also engrossed in making colored glaze, people came and went, they didn't notice Cao Qing beside Zhou Bugui at all.When Cao Qing came here, he wore clothes similar to those of the craftsmen here, and also wore a hard hat on his head.This hard hat was designed by Cao Qing, and every craftsman is not allowed to wear it.The hard hat is a steel cap made by a steel factory, and the buffer net woven with beef tendon is used inside.It is also more comfortable to wear on the head.Ever since someone was hit in the head by a brick falling from the head at a construction site because the protection of the steel cap remained unscathed, everyone wears a steel cap on their head at all times.

Wang Jielai put the blown glazed vessels into the annealing furnace, and this time he rushed to make a batch.

"Old Wang, there should be no problem this time, right?" Wang Zhongyuan said with some credit.This time he did succeed.It wasn't that he reminded, Wang Jielai didn't think of it either.

Wang Jielai smiled and said, "It's definitely not a problem. As long as there is no problem in making this batch of glassware, I will definitely ask Eunuch Cao for your credit. It's not that you said it, I really didn't expect it. It's just that Eunuch Cao is so young. How did you come up with the idea of ​​building such an annealing furnace?"

"Who is Eunuch Cao? It must be Wenqu Xing who came down to earth. These things are the magic tricks of the gods in the sky. How can Eunuch Cao not know?" Wang Zhongyuan laughed.

Wang Jielai smiled and did not refute.

"Old Wang, have you thought of a way to make glassware?" Zhou Bugui said at this moment.

"Hey, Lao Zhou, are you here?" Wang Jielai said.

"Didn't I see that you have not been able to produce qualified glazed utensils, so I am thinking of a way for you?" Zhou Bugui said.

"Thank you in advance, but the problem has been solved. Have you been here for a while?" Wang Jielai said.

"Well, I've been here for quite a while. There is another nobleman who came with me." Zhou Bugui smiled.

Cao Qing came out: "Old Master Wang, I originally wanted to come here and tell you how to do glass post-processing, but I didn't expect you to think of it yourself. I still have some important utensils for you to make in the future. You need to worry about it." .” Cao Qing said.

Cao Qing was very satisfied with the progress of Liulichang. Cui Chengxiu was worried that there would be no business after the glass windows were finished. He did not expect to make glassware here.The craftsmanship problem here is solved, and the things to be made can go to the sea.

(End of this chapter)