sovbooks Chapter 114 Lemons and the Ocean
Chapter 114 Lemons and the Ocean
Chapter 114 Lemons and the Ocean
Learning from his experience in the tampons business, Zhang Kun did not engage in intensive promotion and advertising for the glass business.
To avoid the exorbitant profits from glass attracting a bunch of shady characters, causing chaos and unrest.
Moreover, glass, also known as lead-barium glass, was already in existence at that time, and soda-lime glass was also imported, so people at that time had some knowledge of glass.
Moreover, the cost of soda-lime glass is far higher than that of lead-barium glass:
Natural pure alkali. The Ming Dynasty lacked natural alkali mines, and Zhang Kun had not memorized any traditional methods of alkali production.
We can only use the contemporary methods of wood ash and seaweed ash.
In Western Europe, the seaweed ash method was mainly used, but the seaweed used in the Ming Dynasty was mainly red and green algae, which had too high potassium content.
What was produced was not soda-lime glass, but potassium-lime glass, the kind of glass that has a slightly greenish tint.
This type of glass is strong and tough, making it suitable for tabletops, windows, cabinets, etc., but it is not transparent or colorless.
Fortunately, there are still some brown algae in the Bohai Sea, but the yield is limited.
Zhang Kun sourced the high-temperature kilns from Zunhua Ironworks in Jizhou, Zhili Province, and Jingdezhen in Fuliang County, Raozhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.
Kiln masters were brought in; the former built a coke kiln, while the latter worked with glassmakers from Xiangshan'ao to build a glass kiln.
The kilns of the Ming Dynasty could reach temperatures of over 1400 degrees Celsius, while soda-lime glass requires 1500 degrees Celsius, so the difficulty was not too great.
The glassblowing process, like that of the gunners of the Hongyi cannons, required training from glass craftsmen in Xiangshan'ao...
Today, the Yubing ship mainly produces three types of glass products:
The first category is the bottles supplied to Shaochunhao, the highest-end Yubinglu, made of transparent and colorless soda-lime glass.
Second only to Jade Ice Dew, Lotus White is made of greenish potassium-calcium glass.
Zhang Kun also wanted to supply snuff bottles for the Jinlu ship, but the market response was lukewarm; people at the time preferred the jade-like texture of glass.
The second category is furniture such as desktops, windows, and cabinets, all of which use potassium-calcium glass with high strength and good toughness.
The third category is "", which refers to eyeglasses.
Modern eyeglasses either use crystal or imported soda-lime glass, resulting in high costs and prices.
Zhang Kun values this market more and focuses the publicity and promotion of the Yubing ship on this aspect.
Ma Tou Dian (Horse Head Shop).
Cheng Wenqing was helped down from the carriage by Zhang Kun. Looking at the newly built temple to the goddess a few dozen steps away, he couldn't help but complain, "Why build a temple to the goddess in this place?"
Zhang Kun explained to Cheng Wenqing in a low voice, "Sister, this temple doesn't worship Bixia Yuanjun, it worships Wusheng Laomu."
Cheng Wenqing was taken aback upon hearing this, turned to stare at Zhang Kun, and asked suspiciously, "You don't seem like the type to believe in such nonsense. What is the purpose of setting up this temple to worship the goddess?"
"There are too many migrant workers in Zhangjiawan and Hexiwu; this unauthorized activity cannot be completely eradicated."
Zhang Kun explained to Cheng Wenqing, "My idea is to 'use one thief to control another.' Those who worship the Eternal Mother are much more docile than those who worship Maitreya."
"You'd better be careful."
Cheng Wenqing touched his stomach and warned Zhang Kun, "Don't play with fire and cause an accident!"
To accommodate the gamblers from Zhangjiawan and Hexiwu, Zhang Kun requested that gaps be left between casinos for inns and taverns.
Zhang Kun and Cheng Wenqing walked between the two largest casinos, where the taverns were also the largest.
The head chef of the culinary team was trained at Zhang Kun's home and learned many new dishes from Zhang Kun, which were very popular with diners.
"What kind of acid is in this, so sour but not pungent?"
Cheng Wenqing picked up the glass, took a small sip of chilled black tea through the reed tube, and his eyes lit up.
This thing is called a lemon.
Zhang Kun picked up the lemon that was served with the iced tea and introduced it to Cheng Wenqing: "This is a type of orange that came from the Fulangji region. It is grown by combining lime and Buddha's hand."
It can treat bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and other ailments. The people of Fulangji like it very much and eat it like vinegar.
Diners here think the taste is good, and the Red Eyebrow brand could sell well in tea shops in Beijing...
""
Oranges are a large and chaotic family, descended from three ancestors: tangerines, grapefruits, and oaks, and their offspring.
Sweet oranges, limes, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits, Buddha's hand citrons, etc.
In China, lemons were definitely hybridized, but most likely they were disliked for being too sour, unlike plums and hawthorns, so they weren't passed down.
Meanwhile, in Europe, due to septicemia caused by the Age of Exploration, lemons, which are a good source of vitamin C and have a long shelf life, became popular.
Nowadays, it is being cultivated in Guangdong, Fujian and other places, and is mainly sold to people from Fulangji.
Zhang Kun instructed the Nanjing Hongmei shipyard to lease land in Guangdong and Fujian to promote planting.
On one hand, it is used to make lemon black tea and added to sweet and sour dishes to make the aroma more complex.
On the other hand, Zhang Kun needed lemons when preparing for his overseas shipping business, and when the fleet was far from the coast.
On the boat journey to Anping, Cheng Wenqing asked Zhang Kun, "Why did you summon me here?"
"I plan to buy the Shengzhou ship in Tianjin and build a large ship for overseas trade."
Zhang Kun explained to Cheng Wenqing, "The business prospects are unclear, and I was thinking of putting my own money in first, but I'm a bit short on cash..."
'
This matter stems from a conversation that took place a few days ago:
On this day, Lu Ruohan, who thought Zhang Kun was open-minded, intelligent and tolerant, was trying to trick Zhang Kun into becoming a Catholic.
Zhang Kun was already getting impatient and directly retorted to Lu Ruohan: "Mr. Lu, let me put it this way: even if what you call the Gospel of God can truly spread throughout the Ming Dynasty..."
So later on, it must be the Church of England! It can never be your Roman Catholic Church!
Because the emperor and the court would never tolerate the Roman patriarch appointing or dismissing patriarchs in the Ming Dynasty!
You must know that the emperor of our Great Ming Dynasty is the Son of Heaven, the Grand Patriarch who "shepherds the people on behalf of Heaven!"
He picked up the glass, took a sip of iced tea to moisten his throat, and continued to argue with Lu Ruohan: "Moreover, our Great Ming Dynasty respects Heaven and our ancestors, and honors our forefathers and sages. How can we accept your prohibition against worshipping our ancestors!"
?
Last year in Nanjing, a similar incident occurred, and many of your comrades were expelled.
If a few more lesson plans are prepared, they may be able to remain in the Ming Dynasty.
"I'm afraid only heretics like Deutsche Welle and the Netherlands exist!"
Lu Ruohan was stunned and speechless after being confronted by Zhang Kun.
Lu Ruohan had previously debated with many Japanese and Ming Dynasty people, but the debates were all about doctrine.
However, Zhang Kun didn't talk about doctrine at all, and instead used sectarian issues to retort to Lu Ruohan.
Anglicanism in England, Lutheranism in North Germany, Calvinism in the Netherlands, and Anabaptism.
These Protestant and Catholic groups were sworn enemies, fighting each other to the death, and their relationship was irreconcilable.
The Anglican Church is not much different from the Catholic Church in other respects, except that the king replaces the pope.
Lutheranism emphasizes that everyone has the right to read and interpret the Bible, and that the Bible is above all else, but it still maintains an episcopal system.
Calvinism went a step further, no longer appointing bishops, but instead having the faithful elect elders, who in turn elect their superior elders.
The Anabaptists, who are the most contrary to Catholicism, have no elders and are decentralized and unorganized, which is why they are the most resilient.
Not knowing what to reply, Lu Ruohan could only change the subject to Japan's trans-Pacific voyages.
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