Chapter 75 (2/2)
Those spies always wore famous brands, drove limousines, and dined in five-star restaurants. They frequently dealt with elites of society–generals, diplomats, ministers, and bankers……All spies were extraordinary sharpshooters, boxers, and drivers. Shooting, wrestling, driving were all part of the teaching curriculum in spy schools all over the world.
Ruan Zhu spoke of these people and matters by replacing the modern words with their ancient equivalent. It was not a lot, but it was rather clear and thorough.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi’s mouth was wide open with amazement. These things were unheard of and he had never seen nor heard of any recorded material on this before! But in the end, he heard his wife say: “I don’t know a lot and currently can only say this much. Just choose some based on their usefulness, okay?”
This was still not counted as a lot? When all was said and done, how much more could there possibly be that he did not know?
“Establishing this sort of tremendous information network should require a great deal of money, yes?”
As a child of the imperial family, Xuanyuan Zong Zhi was extremely wealthy, but it was not to the extent where he had enough money to start an organization.
“Money is all earned.” Ruan Zhu thought for a moment, then raised her eyes towards him: “Actually, there are multiple ways to earn money. It only depends on what method you use.”
The country of Tian Chu had entered a drought that they saw once in a hundred years, immediately followed by floods and devastating destruction. Aside from stockpiling food, the masses’ demand anything else–such as for luxury goods of gold and silver jewels–were much less than before. It could be said that with the exception of foodstuffs, there was no profit made from selling all other items.
What about luxury goods that had never existed before in this world, hmm?! For example, glass or mirrors–wouldn’t people be shocked at the magic of a mirror? What a pity that according to this time period, Shen Kuo had yet to be born and the world was missing chiming clocks.[a]
Ruan Zhu explained the process of making glass. It was not too technical and only required a few procedures: Construct a porcelain kiln; find some quartz gravel; then add a few materials; boil them in a graphite bowl; use a magnet to discard the metal material; make it more transparent; then use a pipe to blow glass.
“I only understand the process, and the technical aspects can only be slowly mastered. It will be easier to make if you request a few pottery masters.” Ruan Zhu recalled the over-one meter wide glazed tile lamp that the Ruan family only brought out during the New Years. It had been purchased from a Persian merchant and its value was a hundred thousand taels of silver.
Glazed tile was precisely glass but because of technological limits, it was not clear like conventional glass. There was originally a quite mature glass-making industry during China’s Spring and Autumn period,[b] but later years saw the crack down on foreign goods and the several-hundred years of Chinese glass culture faded away. It did not rise again as it was mainly porcelain that flourished.
“Glass can be manufactured in mirrors that will be incredibly life-like, as if people had placed themselves inside it. The manufacturing process is even more simple–just apply quicksilver on one side. But it needs one month before it can be used and the yield is also not that high. However, the price is very expensive. The manufacturing cost of one mirror as large as a palm is only several taels but the market price will be over one hundred taels.”
A hundred taels. An ordinary civilian working hard every day would require ten years to be able to earn that amount.
Better glass mirrors are actually silver-plated goods but Ruan Zhu’s knowledge was not that extensive. Mirrors coated with mercury were the first choice of many transmigrated stallion males in their plans to get rich, and as she had read quite a few transmigration novels, she naturally understood this.
Mercury mirrors were first invented by Venetians and they monopolized the production of mirrors around the world.
The French loved beauty and soon, an unending stream of francs flowed into the Venetians’ pockets. As the Head of State ordered his ministers to steal the glass-making technique, they used a large sum to bribe four Venetian mirror artisans. Thus, the secrets of the mirrors were publicized for all to know, causing prices to take a dive and ordinary civilians could now afford them.
“Actually, there is not much point in using glass to make household goods; it is better to use porcelain that is more durable. Not only is glass fragile, but if the skills are not up to standard, it will explode into fragments upon coming in contact with boiling water so people who are afraid to injure their mouths will not dare use it. It is best to make glass into mirrors as all men and women are fond of having one, and it can also be sold overseas at sky-high prices. At that time, silver will fly like snowflakes over to us and you will have the money to even easily establish a country.”
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi held his breath and also did not blink, as if afraid he would miss a word. The information his wife spoke of was like the exceptional sounds from a guqin, beautifully sonorous and resounding. He hugged her, completely full of emotion: “Wife, this husband is fortunate to have you in this life.”
A smile danced on the corner of Ruan Zhu’s mouth. To be able to help him was truly a great feeling.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi remembered something and his brows creased: “Does Zhao Hai also know of these things?”
Ruan Zhu heavily nodded her head, her two eyes similar to small lanterns: “He definitely knows.” Producing mirrors and glass was not too technical and knowing of it was also not difficult.
Xuanyuan Zong Zhi stood up: “This man cannot remain.”
A small palace eunuch stopped outside the beaded curtain and bowed before reporting:
“Prince, niangniang, the ones below have just transmitted a message–Nuan Qing has committed suicide.”
Ruan Zhu instantly became silent and only murmured after a while: “Why would he kill himself?” She had never thought of wanting his life. Was it that he no longer had any meaning to live or did he truly have feelings for the wet nurse and decided to accompany her?
“Nuan Chun is currently handling his funeral arrangements and is asking if niangniang has any instructions?”
Instructions? What instructions? Ruan Zhu felt a little lost. Before her eyes flashed the image of that man who had never really liked to speak and had always done his job properly.
When all was said and done, they had been together for this long! Ruan Zhu suddenly felt her nose was sour: “Find the Steward to set aside some silver and buy the best coffin! His parents and brothers……” Right, they were still in Lan Zhou. She would wait until the day she had returned to Lan Zhou to compensate them then!
[a] 沈括 Shen Kuo (1031-1095) was a Chinese polymathic scientist who was the first to describe the magnetic needle compass and true north. (Wikipedia) Chiming clocks are, well, clocks that chime with every hour. I didn’t find any information relating them to Shen Kuo, but he did invent a new form of inflow water clocks.
[b] 春秋时代 Spring and Autumn period was roughly from 771 to 476 BC.