The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

Under the watchful eyes of Li Shimin and the other two, the craftsmen in the workshop started by crushing the poisonous salt and followed the steps step by step.

Salt water, filter, boil salt water, add wood ash, filter again, and boil salt again.

It took a long time to make all this trouble, but the amount produced this time was small, so the time was much shorter than when Li Fu was doing it before. Otherwise, they would have been busy from early morning to afternoon. Li Shimin and the other three might not have been able to wait for such a long time.

Moreover, it was already mid-afternoon, and they couldn't wait until the second half of the night.

When the craftsmen shoveled out the salt as white as snow from the pot, Li Shimin's heart was completely settled, and he was also a little happy.

Li Fu's method was useful!

Whether it was the device for filtering salt water or the method of boiling salt, it was not worth mentioning compared to the price of refined salt on the market today.

Li Shimin was not looking at the snow-white salt, that was simply money!

He could already imagine how much profit such refined salt could bring to the national treasury.

The craftsman took a ceramic bowl, filled it with some refined salt, and brought it over.

"Second brother, look, is it the same salt I brought into the palace last time?" Li Fu said, "It's more refined than the refined salt on the market."

The best refined salt on the market today is also the brine in the pool, which evaporates and precipitates. Whether the impurities inside have been removed is still unknown.

The refined salt made in Li Fu's workshop removes those harmful impurities that cannot be eaten, including chemical substances.

"I have one thing I don't understand." Fang Xuanling said, "Why do we add plant ash when boiling salt water?"

"Adding plant ash is the key to removing the bitterness of poisonous salt." Li Fu said, "Poisonous salt contains some harmful things that are harmful to people. Adding plant ash is to absorb those things. Some things that are invisible to the naked eye can be removed by plant ash."

Li Fu couldn't tell them about chemical reactions. After all, this thing can't be explained clearly in three or five sentences.

Instead of making the emperor curious about what calcium and magnesium ions are, it is better to use a simpler and more popular statement to fool the emperor.

The process is so detailed, what principle is needed? Just follow it.

Researching the principle is the job of craftsmen, not the job of these prime ministers and officials.

"So that's it. With this extra step, poisonous salt becomes refined salt." Fang Xuanling stroked his beard and smiled, "Great."

"The three of you already know the method of making salt. As for how to use this method well to benefit the country and the people, this is what my second brother and the two ministers should consider." Li Fu bowed and said, "The matter of salt is of great importance. If it is done well, the income of the treasury next year will be incomparable to usual."

"Indeed." Changsun Wuji nodded in agreement: "This matter is of great importance. Your Majesty, we must discuss it carefully after we go back and come up with a set of methods."

"Well, that's right, we have discussed it and it will be implemented after the New Year. New Year's new policy." Li Shimin smiled.

Several people walked out of the house and walked into the yard. Li Shimin was thinking as he walked.

Then he whispered to the three people around him: "But, once the new salt comes out, the old ministers in the court may cause trouble again."

Like the Pei family, there are many old ministers from aristocratic families who own salt mountains and salt mines.

Any policy of the court, as long as it harms the interests of the old ministers of the aristocratic families, then they will oppose it and make trouble openly or secretly.

This is why Li Shimin has a headache with those old ministers of Wude.

Always want to find an opportunity to make them give up important positions.

It seems that it will start after the New Year.

Let them get through this New Year's Day first.

"Prince, I see that there are so many water tanks in the workshop, such a large place, and so many water tanks on the open space. What are they for?" Changsun Wuji asked.

"These water tanks are all for fermenting sauce." Li Fu said: "Let's get some things from the kitchen."

Li Shimin heard this and smiled helplessly.

"You, I see you spend all your time thinking about eating and making money." Li Shimin said unhappily.

"What's wrong with that? If I didn't study food, how could I have the method of making salt today?" Li Fu said with a smile: "Now thanks to you, second brother, I am not afraid of having no money in my pocket to spend on studying these things."

Li Fu smiled and poked Li Shimin's lung tube.

Speaking of this, Li Shimin sighed helplessly.

This kid is really... 130,000 strings of cash.

When leaving the workshop, it was already dark.

"Second brother, two gentlemen, don't rush back to Chang'an today, stay at the farm for one night." Li Fu said: "It's late, and there are many inconveniences on the road."

Li Shimin thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Staying here for one night is not a big deal.It's important.

The morning court must be attended every day, but when I left the palace today, I had already informed Gongli that if I couldn't go back in the afternoon, the palace would inform the civil and military officials above the fifth rank in Beijing that they would not have to attend the morning court tomorrow morning.

After returning to the house, Li Fu ordered the servants to prepare dinner.

Tonight, I still have to entertain Li Shimin and the other two well.

Since they are here, they must enjoy the food and drink.

Accompany the largest landlord in the Tang Dynasty well, so that it will be easier to take on projects and ask for project funds in the future.

When the workshop brews soy sauce in the future, it will definitely be sent to the Shangshi Bureau in the palace. At that time, it will be another business.

Moreover, how can the families of civil and military officials in the court refuse the things used by the Shangshi Bureau?

Next year's soy sauce is like this year's eggs, and it will definitely be in short supply.

Dinner will not be eaten in the central hall. There is no ground dragon in the central hall. It is freezing cold, and it is even colder at night.

There is a side yard in the kitchen, which is clean and tidy, and there is a kang inside. Li Fu reserved this room and basically ate here at night. He brought the food from the living and cooking room and sent it directly to the next room. The food was still hot.

"Kitchen?"

After the group entered the yard, Li Shimin looked at the kitchen yard.

"Are we going to have dinner here at night?"

"Yes." Li Fu nodded and said, "The central hall is too cold, it's not as warm as here. Don't think this is a kitchen yard, there is a world inside, please come this way."

Li Fu took them to the side room and opened the door of the side room.

The kang inside was already heated, and the room was also warm.

"Take off your coat, the cold air is on the coat, it will be warm in a while." Li Fu said, while taking off his thick coat and then hanging it on the hanger next to him.

The three people around him also followed suit.

"Come on, come on, get on the kang." Li Fu said with a smile, "I've sent someone back in advance to tell the kitchen that we're going to have hot pot tonight."