Yes, everyone read that right. A few days ago, Li Sipang returned to the palace and used Li Hao as an excuse to be beaten, but instead was praised.

As for the reasons... there are many reasons. It may be that Li Er feels sorry for the fat man, or it may be that Li Er thinks that the fat man will not lie to him, or it may be that the fat man has a good tongue.

In short, this little fat man was not beaten, but was praised by Li Erhao, praising him for his courage to do things, which made Li Chengqian very jealous.

When Li Sipang arrived at the Imperial Study in Lizheng Palace, Li Er was chatting with Changsun Wuji. When he saw him coming, he pointed a seat and asked him to sit down. He continued, "A hundred times the output, this kid really dares to brag, Wuji, do you think this is possible?"

"I don't know that this son has many unexpected actions, just like the artillery before. I have never seen the real thing before. I absolutely could not imagine that there would be a weapon that could threaten a target two thousand steps away." Changsun Wuji shook his head in pain. Rationally, he thought Li Hao was definitely bragging.

But what if it is true? That is a hundred times the output. If it can be realized, his Changsun family will be really developed.

With the trust of the emperor in today's emperor, he will continue to operate this industry for three..., no, five..., no, it's better to operate for ten years. It will be accumulated over the past thousand years.

To put it simply, that is: tm has made a fortune, has made a fortune!

Seeing that Changsun Wuji was a little distracted, Li Er did not disturb him. He turned to look at the fat man: "Qingque, did you discuss the method of smelting with Li Dejian a few days ago? Let me tell me, can his method really increase the production of pig iron by a hundred times?"

"Uh..." Facing the old man's expectant gaze, Li Sipang relied the reason he had prepared all the way and said in his heart: "Go back to his father, I think Dejian will never be aimless, and I believe in him."

It’s not okay if you don’t follow your heart. The little fat man can see clearly. Under the temptation of a hundred times the steel output, the old man was silent on the surface, but he was already crazy. Otherwise, he would never seek psychological comfort from himself, a little kid.

Li Er felt much more open when he received his son's affirmative reply, and nodded: "Well, Qingque's words are reasonable, Dejian's beloved minister has never disappointed me." After a pause, he felt that he was still unfulfilled, and sighed again: "I didn't expect that Dejian's beloved minister had found a new method of smelting so quickly. This son is really my loyal minister!"

It's crazy, it's really crazy. Li Sipang, who is dedicated to reading the books of sages, did not realize what a hundred times the steel output represents. He only knew that the old man was very abnormal and very abnormal.

...

The rumors about Li Hao mastering the new smelting method became more and more popular. In less than half a day, even the Tubo people learned the news.

"What did you say? Li Dejian has studied a new smelting method that can increase the yield of pig iron by a hundred times? Are you sure it's not a joke?" Songtsen's eyes were red.

Tubo lacked iron and technology, and the Tang Dynasty did not lack steel or technology.

But why are talents like Li Dejian not born in Tubo? How unfair is this?

Cole could understand his nephew's thoughts very well, and even he had to work hard to digest the news.

But then again, this matter sounds quite unreliable.

After thinking about it, Lunkoll refused to give up and said, "Zamp, this is a hundred times the output, do you believe it?"

Songtsen Gampo's expression was a little disappointed: "There is no wind, no waves, no wind comes from the hole. Even if there is no hundred times, it is always possible to turn three or five times. This is really the rich are more rich than the poor, and the poor are more poor."

"Oh..." Lunkoll struggled for a long time, and finally could only sigh.

...

Before I knew it, several days passed by.

This day, the prison will become lively again.

Li Er and Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Li Jing and other ministers came here, intending to witness the bet between Li Hao and Yu Yuanji together.

Although this bet was just a contest between the two, its meaning was extraordinary. It represents a competition between the old and new generations of smelting methods. If Li Hao really wins, it means that the steel output is expected to be a hundred times.

Yu Yuanji had never seen such a big scene? After learning that His Majesty the Emperor was here, he was so excited that he almost forgot his grandmother's surname and asked his ancestors for blessing.

Li Hao looked indifferent. After coming forward to greet him, he stood aside honestly, waiting for the final result of the competition.

In the iron smelting workshop to be used, a group of craftsmen looked at each other around a set of new equipment and shook their heads.

There is no reason, I can't understand it.

Everyone was a blacksmith. Although they didn't have to extract pig iron from the iron ore after they entered the generals later, they did not forget the method.

But what the hell is this set of equipment in front of you? What does two stoves together mean?

"Dajiang Feng, has it started?" Lao Han, the head of the supervisor, rushed in from outside. Seeing that everyone under his command, he couldn't help but urged: "Your Majesty is taking all the ministers and workers outside, so you should hurry up."

"Old Han, it's not that we don't hurry up, it's really... how to use this thing?" The person who spoke was a big blacksmith, who looked in his forties, with rough skin and loud voices.

When Lao Han heard this, he became angry: "Why do you want me to teach you about iron? You have lived to be a dog at such an age!"

As soon as this man entered the court and became an official, he became no longer simple, and so did Lao Han.

Compared to how craftsmen smelted iron, he was more concerned about how to explain to Li Er.

The big guy wanted to say something else, Feng Xu waved his hand: "Forget it, everyone, listen to my arrangements. I have heard Li Shidu talk about some of the usage of equipment these days. Let's try it first. If it doesn't work, I can only go find him in."

Old Han didn't say anything after hearing this, but just looked at the big guy deeply, and then said to Feng Xu: "Feng Dajiang, hurry up and get some time. If it doesn't work, someone will come to report me immediately."

"Yeah." Feng Xu responded perfunctorily, turned around and ordered everyone to start work.

Everyone was an old craftsman, so there would naturally be no problems when they cooperated. Under Lao Feng's command, they quickly moved.

Although the new smelting equipment looks strange, it is not complicated. Recalling the words Li Hao has revealed these days, Lao Feng first ordered people to ignite a carbide furnace wrapped in bricks and stones. As the fire gradually grew, he ordered people to ignite another carbide furnace connected to it.

However, the second charcoal stove burned not ordinary charcoal, but a batch of things called coke specially sent by Lijiazhuang yesterday.

Although coke looks similar to carbohydrate, it is somewhat different. It is added to the furnace and burns quickly. As the bellows connected to the first carbohydrate furnace are pushed by the apprentices, the coke in the second carbohydrate furnace immediately ignited a blazing white flame. Even from a distance, people can feel the heating temperature in it.

Feng Xi's eyes couldn't help but widen their eyes, and the shock in his heart could not be concealed no matter what.

The other busy craftsmen also felt the extraordinary temperature in the furnace and their faces changed drastically.

"This, how is this possible?"

"What a high temperature. Such a high temperature may really burn the ore, right?"

"What are you doing when you say so much? Add the ingredients, add the ingredients quickly."

It is easier said than done. The burning flames burned the walls of the furnace and it was red. People could not rely on them at all. It was almost like a fool to add iron into the furnace.

...

"What's going on? Why is there no news yet? It's been half an hour. Isn't it just a few pieces of iron? Is it going to be so long?" Cheng Yaojin was anxious and looked at the direction of the iron smelting workshop from time to time.

Qin Qiong smiled and joked, "If Zhijie is anxious, you can ask your son-in-law. What he made must be clear."

"He knows nothing." It's okay for Qin Qiong to not persuade him, but once he persuaded Cheng Yaojin, he would not hit him: "Second brother thought that my old Cheng had never asked him, but that guy actually told me that he didn't know."

"What? He doesn't know?"

"No, I, Old Cheng, have never seen such an unreliable young man in my life. You said you were not sure at all. Why did you say that you would increase the steel output by a hundred times? Isn't this bragging? Where can I put my old Cheng's face when it is spread?"

Qin Qiong:….

You Cheng Yaojin still has the face? Who in the Tang Dynasty doesn’t know the name of your devil king?

Li Jing was also a little anxious. While the old guys were not paying attention, he called Li Hao to his side: "Dejian, what's going on? Why is there no news yet?"

"I don't know." Li Hao shook his head.

Regarding blast furnace iron smelting, he was just talking about the equipment in the prison. The equipment he made was completely something he made through his imagination. He could only guarantee that this thing could burn the mineral materials into molten iron, and the rest was entirely up to God's will.

Of course, before doing this, he never thought that a bet would cause such a big stir. Almost all the civil and military officials in the court came to watch the fun.

If I had known this, I would have to prepare well in advance, at least I would have to refine a few furnaces of good iron before competing.

"Hey hey hey, it's out, it's out." Someone who squeezed together to gossip suddenly shouted, attracting everyone's attention.

Li Hao turned his head and saw a tall and strong guy running towards him in the distance.

Soon after the big guy ran here, Old Han, who was with Li Er, immediately met him: "How is it? Is there any result?"

"Huhuhuhu..." The big guy waved his hand, panted for a while, and swallowed: "No, no..."

"Not refined?" Old Han's heart chilled.

"No, no." The big guy shook his head, looked constipated, and gasped and said something that made everyone fall down: "The fire is too strong, the mines cannot be filled in."

Cheng Yaojin was just behind Lao Han at this moment. Hearing this, his eyes rolled: "Who, what do you mean? After all, you will just burn fire behind you and play!"

Lao Han: "…"

Big guy: "..."

Although this is a bit urged, it is true that they really burned the fire behind for half an hour.

The old guys behind were also a little stunned. After waiting for a long time, they thought there was news, but in the end... they said that they had not started practicing yet, and when will the prison work be so unreliable?

Li Er was even more black and turned his head to the side, and simply pretended to be like he didn't hear anything.

At this time, the emperor, he really had no way to express his opinion. He could not pull everyone to cut him down. In that case, no one would dare to smelter the iron again as a prisoner.

Yu Yuanji was a little curious and walked over and said, "Why don't I go and have a look, maybe it can come in handy."

As the head of the Changsun family's iron smelting workshop, Yu Yuanji's ability is not necessarily worse than Feng Xi. His request was immediately approved by Changsun Wuji: "Dejian, let Yuanji go there too, maybe he can't tell me what he can do."

"Well, that's good." Li Hao smiled and nodded, looking full of confidence.

He has done what he can do before. In theory, the super-small blast furnace that is used as the Iron Smelting Floor can completely burn iron ore into molten iron. As for the rest... shouldn't professional things be left to specialists?

Following the big guy to the iron smelting workshop, Yu Yuanji was confused and blurted out: "What is this?"

"Steelmaking furnace." Feng Xi frowned and pondered, and replied casually.

"This is what Li... Li Shidu said that it can burn ore into molten iron?" Yu Yuanji confirmed to Feng Xi again.

"Huh? You are..." Feng Xi then noticed that he didn't know the people around him.

"I'm the one Yu Yuanji who made a bet with Li Shidu." Yu Yuanji did not show any arrogant attitude this time. After walking around the new equipment, he asked Feng Xi: "This... master, I wonder what the difficulties are facing now?"

"Loading." Feng Xi sighed and said, "I planned to load the materials in the previous way, but after igniting the fire, I realized that this was impossible. Not to mention that this steel furnace was burned, people could not get close to them at all. Even if they could get close, they could not put the ore in."
To be continued...