Chapter 56

Luo Youde, he is a crucial part of the Hong Tao plan, but Hong Tao hasn't figured out how to get along with this son of an official. Recruiting him now clearly isn't the right time; he isn't a simple and straightforward boatman, and he certainly doesn't lack a few scrawny fish and shrimp like Hong Tao. He is a businessman, and businessmen value mutual benefit. At the moment, Hong Tao really doesn't have anything of equal value to offer in exchange. But leaving him hanging like this isn't a good idea either. People who show respect always have their own needs; you at least need to give them some hope. Otherwise, why would they spend their time just to hear some fresh stories from Australia? There will always come a day when they get tired of it.

"Hong brother! Today is your big day. I am a man full of copper stench, but I hope you won't refuse this load of dirty things. Among them, 120 strings of coins are for redeeming your boat and cart, and the remaining 100 strings are a small gift." When Hong Tao personally ran to the Zhenzhou dock, he still saw Luo Youde and Luo Dacai, without even a servant, with two large bamboo baskets covered in red silk beside them, which, according to his words, should be full of copper coins!

"Luo brother... I think we shouldn't keep calling each other 'Luo brother' and 'Hong brother'; it's too cumbersome. In my hometown, good friends who are older have 'old' added before their surname, and those who are younger have 'little' added. Old Luo, do you think this is okay?" Hong Tao, who had become familiar with Luo Youde, deliberately brought up his imaginary hometown and even used Henan dialect.

"Little Hong... it sounds a bit like a courtesan, let's just stick with 'Hong brother,' and we'll each call each other as we like." Luo Youde tried calling Hong Tao, but not only did he find it unpleasant, but Hong Tao himself also felt it was inappropriate.

"Alright, each calls the other as they like. Let's get on the boat and talk while we go!" Hong Tao helped Luo Dacai carry the two bamboo baskets onto the boat. They were really heavy. It's said that during the Song Dynasty, some sea ships used copper coins as ballast. Precious metals like gold and silver were not in circulation; apart from copper coins and paper money, large transactions often involved barter or a kind of bill called a 'guanzi,' similar to a modern bank draft, but not nationally circulated. If you wanted to use it anywhere, you had to carry a pile of copper coins.

"Luo, you've helped me financially multiple times, and you've hit my weak spot; I am indeed short of money. However, this method can't be used often. Over time, it will create a gap between us, and I might feel uncomfortable, or you might feel unbalanced. So, let's be straightforward and talk business first. I feel more at ease dealing with you this way. After we finish the business talk, we can chat about feelings, okay?" Hong Tao, while controlling the sail at the stern, kicked a basket of copper coins in the cabin and directly brought up the topic. Receiving money repeatedly without knowing the other party's intentions made Hong Tao uneasy.

"Indeed, Hong brother, you and I are both merchants, and I feel relieved. I don't ask for much; I just want to do the glass business with Hong brother. Didn't you say on the boat that you can make glass?" Luo Youde wasn't surprised by Hong Tao's straightforward question; he didn't hide his intentions and directly stated his request.

"Glass? Oh, I see... I should have kept my mouth shut... To be honest, I only know a bit about the process, but I've never practiced it. I can't guarantee that I can make the kind of colorless glass you mentioned." Hong Tao slapped his forehead, realizing that Luo Youde was interested in glass. This was really a case of boasting without basis. When had he ever made glass? He knew the theory but not the practice. He also knew how to build an aircraft carrier, but he couldn't do it.

"What are the chances?" Luo Youde wasn't disappointed; instead, he became even more interested. In his view, glass should be as rare as top-quality pearls, not something easily made. If it were so easy, it wouldn't be valuable.

"Well... I'd say 50% to 80% chance, mainly depending on the quality of the raw materials." Hong Tao tried to recall the raw materials used in the glass-making experiments he did in college. It was difficult. Back then, he was taught by a master craftsman in a factory, and he didn't take it seriously, so he didn't remember many specific steps.

Moreover, the glass production methods used in factories were more advanced than what was available in this era. No one would teach interns how to make glass using primitive methods, and those techniques had no place here. The raw materials used were finished chemical products, and he didn't know how to find substitutes in this era. The ratios of the raw materials would also need constant experimentation, which was very troublesome.

"Can you tell me what raw materials are needed?" Luo Youde's breathing became a bit rapid. In his view, glass was a precious treasure; making one piece a year was already a great achievement. But Hong Tao said he had a 50% to 80% chance, which was quite shocking.

"Soda ash... or saltpeter, if it's convenient, both soda ash and saltpeter would be fine. And quartz, we have quartz in the Song Dynasty, right?" Hong Tao thought about it. The Song Dynasty didn't have the technology for the three acids and two alkalis, and he didn't know how to make soda ash. Using saltpeter as a substitute would be better, and adding some sawdust as a reducing agent.

However, the Song Dynasty should have natural soda ash, which forms naturally in salt lakes. Although it's not pure soda ash, it might be more reliable. Hong Tao didn't know where it was produced, but he knew it was more common in the north. Unfortunately, those areas were occupied by the Jin and Western Xia. Whether Luo Youde could obtain it was a question. If he could, Hong Tao might be able to make soda ash, and then making glass would be more feasible. Of course, if he couldn't, don't blame Hong Tao for not being able to make colorless glass; it's not that he can't, but that you can't get the raw materials.

"Shiny stones?" Luo Youde wasn't sure if the quartz Hong Tao mentioned was the same as the quartz in the Song Dynasty.

"Yes, but don't bring crystal. It doesn't need to be of such high quality; using crystal to make glass would be a waste!" Hong Tao felt they were talking about the same thing, but to be safe, he added a reminder.

"Is that all?" Luo Youde seemed to think it was too simple.

"The rest is a secret formula, I'll handle it myself!" Hong Tao pointed to his head.

"Oh, I apologize, I apologize, don't be offended!" Luo Youde seemed to understand something and quickly apologized. Asking for a secret formula was very impolite.

PS: If you're happy, clap your hands! While you're at it, give me some clicks, favorites, and recommendations. It's a small effort, but it's a great encouragement for a writer...

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