Chapter 188: Success in Celestial Mud Research
Chapter 184 of "The Great Ming in the Box" opens with: Early in the morning, Li Daoxuan sat before the crate, holding a bamboo steamer of... Find out what happens!
Early in the morning, Li Daoxuan sat before the crate, holding a bamboo steamer of dumplings. Just as he had tossed a dumpling into his mouth, cheers erupted from the artisansâ well: âWe succeeded! We finally succeeded!âTurning toward the sound, he saw three little figures dancing with excitement at the center of the artisansâ well.
Li Daoxuan pulled out a magnifying glass and scrutinized their faces for a long while but didnât recognize them or recall their names.
As he debated whether to summon Gao Yiye for clarification, Artisan Master Gao Yiyi emerged and grumbled at the trio: âWhat are you three yelling about at this hour?â
The three beamed: âMaster Artisan, we succeeded! The recipe for celestial mud the Deity gave usâweâve finally made it!â
This jolted Li Daoxuanâs memory. Previously, Xing Honglang had marveled at how convenient cement roads would be for trade if spread everywhere, so he presented the cement formula for the little people to experiment with. Theyâd succeeded faster than expected.
Well, the ancient cement recipe was uncomplicatedâonly requiring limestone, clay, and water. With him providing direct instructions, their swift progress made sense.
Gao Yiyi asked curiously: âThe celestial mud worked? Show me.â
The three masons presented a small box containing a solid, dried block of cement.
Gao Yiyi tapped it: âFine work. It truly worked.â
He felt pleased, though not to the extent Li Daoxuan did. Limited by his era, he didnât grasp the significance of âachieving a scientific invention.â
âYou three fulfilled the Deityâs task and deserve great reward.â Gao Yiyi exercised his authority as master artisan: âI shall report to the Three Managers later and grant each of you a hundred catties of pork.â
The masons rejoicedâa hundred catties of pork already felt like immense wealth to them.
But Li Daoxuan thought: This isnât enough! Even though I gave the formula and helped them cheat, these three masons still achieved a major scientific breakthrough. A mere hundred catties of pork canât sufficeâthey must receive extraordinary rewards to create an example. All villagers must know âinvention can transform your destiny.â
This was vital!
Western science once surged ahead of the East precisely because inventors received immense wealth, social status, and respect.
Eastern scientists creating innovations went unnoticed and unrewarded.
Naturally, research motivation differed.
That allowed the West to bend ahead and maintain technological dominance for centuries.
It seemed his silver chain had to make another appearance.
The silver ring taken from it still wasnât wholly cut. Two tiny beads had been clipped for Teacher Mr. Wang, and several more for the bookshopâyet only a minuscule notch existed on the chain.
Snipâsnipâsnip. Three more small silver beads fell away.
He shifted his focus to the watchtower: âYiye, are you awake?â
âOh! The Deity calls me!â Gao Yiye pattered out of her room and dashed onto the balcony, gazing skyward.
Li Daoxuan sensed something odd about her face. Zooming in, he spotted dark circles under her eyesâshe clearly hadnât slept. âWhat happened?â
Gao Yiye: âWell⌠hehe⌠This little girl⌠stayed up drawing last night.â
Li Daoxuan: ââŚâ
Gao Yiye: âAfter reading the Yang Family Generals comic book the Deity bestowed, I found it so charming I wanted to illustrate a story myself. I got carried away drawing by lamplight until dawn.â
Li Daoxuan stifled a laugh. Understandableâeveryone had hobbies, and drawing was harmless. No need for interference.
âCan you still work?â
âI can!â The girl bounced energetically. âSee? Iâm wide awake and always ready for the Deityâs tasks!â
âVery well. Here are three silver beads. Have Thirty-Two retrieve them. Soon Gao Yiyi will report the masonsâ success to Thirty-Two. Direct Thirty-Two to reward them lavishly and proclaim them âResearch Modelsâ throughout the village. Henceforth, anyone making major inventions shall be richly compensated.â
Gao Yiye memorized this and pattered downstairs to find Thirty-Two.
That girl truly brimmed with energy.
Li Daoxuan suddenly wondered: What was she drawing? Iâm tempted to peekâŚ
No!
Snooping was improper.
Soon after, Gao Yiye delivered the message.
Thirty-Two fully âgrasped the divine intentâ and energized the villagers: once work concluded that day, all must gather at Gaojia Fortressâ entrance for an awards ceremony at dusk.
Leading Xu Dafu, the lamp maker, and thirty-eight subordinates, Xing Honglang journeyed from dawn till dusk, finally returning to Gaojia Village by nightfall.
The salt smugglers cheered wearily at distant fortress walls: âWeâve arrived! Time for proper rest!â
Xing Honglang touched the thick-bladed large knife on her back, her lips quirking briefly before she turned sober. âWeâre here!â she told the two artisans. âYour skills will earn you fortunes here.â
Having witnessed Xing Honglangâs capabilities en route, they trusted her somewhat. But as mere craftsmen, could they truly prosper?
Xu Dafu peered ahead: âThis village is huge!â
The lamp maker agreed: âThese structures suggest over a thousand residents.â
Coming from Xiâan Prefectureâa colossal metropolisâthey dismissed the villageâs bustle. Even with a thousand residents, wealth seemed unlikely.
A road construction crew passed nearby.
Workers waved at Xing Honglang: âBrave woman! Youâre back again! Ha! Excellent! Iâve stockpiled saltâbeen waiting for you!â
Xing Honglang grinned: âSalt selling has gotten harder. The new patrol officer Fang Wushang enforces fiercely. Next trip, Iâll trade sugar instead.â
A worker gasped: âAh!â
âDonât mind himâheâs money-mad!â another laughed. âYour return is timely, brave woman. The Three Managers summoned everyone for an awards ceremony at the main fortress gate after work today. Youâve arrived just in time!â