Chapter Fifteen: A Successful Creation

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Li Chengche knew full well that, in this era, surviving required more than money. Technical skill was equally important.

Once he learned how to refine steel, producing things such as artillery shells would no longer be a problem.

“Qin Gou’er, put the two iron plates I prepared on the table, with some space between them.”

Li Chengche quickly began issuing orders. “Lay them flat and make sure nothing goes wrong.”

“I can do that.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Gou’er cleared the table and laid out the two iron plates.

Su Qingyue watched curiously, unable to tell what His Highness intended to do.

Once the plates were ready, Li Chengche placed the porcelain pot on the ground. He picked up one of the iron rods, set it into the pot, and began stirring.

The molten glass inside soon clung to the rod like glue. He transferred the glass onto one of the iron plates and began hammering it continuously.

Shaping it was relatively simple. The process was essentially one of cooling, and the temperature had to be carefully controlled while forming the glass into different shapes.

It could not be shaped immediately after leaving the furnace. At that point, the temperature was too high and the glass was too fluid, making it easy to deform.

As the temperature fell, the molten glass became malleable, making it much easier to shape.

With repeated hammering and gradual cooling, its malleability continued to increase.

Compared with other materials, glass was extraordinarily pliable. As long as one possessed sufficient skill, it could be made into almost any shape.

When Li Chengche felt that the temperature had fallen enough, he immediately laid the glass-covered iron rod flat on the plate.

He bent down to inspect it, making certain there were no bubbles or impurities within.

Then he told Qin Gou’er to quickly press the other iron plate on top.

This was the final step. Once the molten glass inside had cooled completely, the glass would be finished.

The most important stage was still the smelting process. If the glass could not first be turned into a molten state, nothing else would matter.

Aside from pressing, glass could also be shaped by blowing or drawing.

However, both of those methods required special molds. Since Li Chengche did not have any at present, he had no choice but to abandon them for the time being.

That would not be difficult for him in the future. As Li Jiancheng’s son, obtaining such things would be easy enough.

For today, however, his main purpose was simply to test whether glass could actually be produced.

“Your Highness, is it finished?”

Qin Gou’er had initially been rather bewildered by the whole procedure. But seeing how seriously His Highness was taking it, he had gradually grown curious.

“Your Highness, you should put your clothes back on first.”

Su Qingyue handed him the robe lying nearby. “If you catch a chill, it will hardly be worth the trouble.”

It was still early spring, and the entire northwest remained bitterly cold.

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“Then I thank you, Manager Su.”

Li Chengche smiled and accepted the robe. “Gou’er, go buy some food and wine. We’ll have lunch here.”

“Yes.”

Qin Gou’er turned and was about to leave.

“Your Highness, why go out to buy it?”

At his words, Su Qingyue gave a soft laugh. “If you need anything, why not simply send someone to Drunken Flower Tower? Besides, I learned how to make that wine from you personally.”

“I was so busy that I forgot.”

Li Chengche slapped his forehead and looked toward Qin Gou’er. “Go straight to Drunken Flower Tower. Bring back two jars of wine. Understood?”

“Yes!”

Only then did Qin Gou’er bow before turning and leaving.

“Your Highness, what exactly are you trying to make?”

Su Qingyue circled the two iron plates, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity.

Ever since he had taught her the brewing techniques, her admiration for His Highness had grown steadily.

“The proper name for this is glass.”

Worried that the weight would not be sufficient, Li Chengche found several other pieces of iron nearby and placed them on top of the plate. After all, this crude method was still somewhat inferior to machine production.

As for the finished product, they would have to wait a while longer.

“Glass?”

The unfamiliar word filled Su Qingyue’s eyes with curiosity, and she could not help asking, “What sort of thing is it?”

“You’ll understand once it’s finished.”

The two of them chatted as they waited, and before long Qin Gou’er returned with the food.

“You don’t need to stand there. Sit down and eat with me.”

Li Chengche pulled Su Qingyue to the table and sat down, then glanced at the servant who was still standing.

He had never regarded the young man as a mere servant. In his view, all people were equal.

His ideas were, after all, very different from those of this era.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Qin Gou’er’s heart jolted. Though touched, he still shook his head.

“Then eat with us. If you keep talking nonsense, get out.”

Li Chengche could not help raising his voice. “Sit down and eat properly.”

“I understand!”

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Qin Gou’er hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat down obediently.

“This wine keeps getting better.”

Li Chengche accepted the wine cup Su Qingyue handed him and could not help remarking, “Manager Su, your craftsmanship is truly excellent.”

“It is all thanks to the Crown Prince’s guidance. I had very little to do with it.”

A trace of shyness crossed Su Qingyue’s pretty face as she replied.

“Enough. There’s no need for such courtesy between us.”

Li Chengche shook his head and continued, “Besides, judging from the current situation, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future.”

“Then I thank Your Highness for his support.”

Su Qingyue poured herself a cup of wine and said, “Whenever you have need of me, Your Highness, simply say the word.”

“Once this glass is ready, I’ll need you to arrange for some trustworthy craftsmen.”

This experience had made Li Chengche realize that relying on himself to swing a hammer would never allow production to increase on a large scale. His arms would probably give out first.

For now, he would still have to rely on the craftsmen to work alongside him.

“Your Highness, rest assured.”

Su Qingyue nodded as she poured him another cup of wine. “The people I employ are absolutely loyal.”

After the three of them finished eating, Li Chengche removed the iron weights from the plate.

Then he lifted away the upper iron plate. Between them, the glass had fully taken shape.

He stood the glass upright and examined it with great interest.

“Your Highness, is this glass? It looks like a block of ice.”

Su Qingyue’s beautiful eyes widened, and she could not help exclaiming, “It’s so beautiful.”

She had traveled widely and seen many things, but this was the first time she had ever laid eyes on such a lovely object.

“This is far sturdier than ice.”

Li Chengche smiled. “You should know that, with the addition of certain materials, it can even withstand arrows.”

Of course, in its current state, it could still block an arrow or two without difficulty.

To make something like bulletproof glass, however, more materials would be necessary.

Even so, Li Chengche was not particularly satisfied with the result in its present form.

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