novelhk Page 1721
Page 1721
"Only the captain's salary."
"You'll be in charge of the Glass Bureau,"
"If you do a good job, I'll give you a baron title later."
When He Qiaoshou heard the King of Liang ask about her official position,
He then thought that the King of Liang might grant him an official position.
But I never expected it to be a captain.
There was also a baron.
Although nominally, the civil and military officials of the Great Liang Dynasty held ordinary positions.
However, after the Prince of Liang sided with the military officers...
Military officers held a more prestigious position than civil officials.
Moreover, it is very difficult for military officers above the rank of captain to be promoted.
It's impossible to be promoted to captain without military achievements.
This news has already spread throughout the capital.
Titles of nobility are also very difficult to obtain.
Only a few people who have made great contributions can be granted titles.
The Prince of Liang sold several baronies in Western Xia.
A baron is worth 100,000 strings of cash.
Many wealthy merchants in the Central Plains wanted to buy a baronship for 100,000 strings of cash.
However, the imperial court did not sell any more titles.
Although he was granted the title of baron
It's also not advisable to resell it for another 100,000 strings of cash.
But this also shows the baron's nobility.
He Qiaoshou knelt on the ground and kowtowed,
"I, a lowly person, have accomplished nothing of great merit."
"I am utterly unworthy of such a generous reward from the King of Liang."
Zhao Yuan's mouth was also agape when he saw Wang Jing.
"I could swallow a fist," he laughed.
"Your contribution is enough to rival the victory of capturing the city,"
"You'll soon find out what you've accomplished."
"Get up, I have something to ask you."
He Qiaoshou kowtowed again.
Only then did he get up.
“A petty person will always speak without reservation.”
Zhao Yuan asked, "How can I give you enough manpower?"
How many lenses can be produced in a day?
He Qiaoshou said, "Making lenses is much more difficult than making glass."
"Only a skilled master craftsman can do it,"
"If we disregard the success rate,"
"Perhaps we could do more,"
"But we'll have to test it to know how much we can do in a day."
Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "Besides stone, this is how lenses are made,"
Are there any other costs?
Wang Jing interjected, "The biggest expense in glassmaking is the cost of charcoal."
Zhao Yuan shook his head and said, "These lenses are much more valuable than coal."
"Don't worry about the cost, just burn it on a massive scale,"
"Even if only one out of a hundred is useful, that would be fine."
Wang Jing said cautiously,
"Is the Prince of Liang going to sell these lenses?"
Zhao Yuan actually had this idea, and asked curiously,
Do you know what these lenses are used for?
Wang Jing said, "There are craftsmen who grind crystal to make lenses."
"Wearing it on your glasses can help people with poor eyesight read books."
Zhao Yuan asked curiously, "Do you have glasses now?"
The difference between officials and artisans immediately became apparent.
Wang Jing said respectfully, "Glasses."
"It can make your eyes as clear as a mirror,"
"King Liang has chosen a good name."
"I don't know when it came about,"
"However, lenses made from crystal are very expensive,"
"Only a few high-ranking officials and nobles can afford it."
The earliest eyeglasses did indeed come from China.
Marco Polo's Travels mentions eyeglasses in China.
Large oval shape, made of crystal, quartz, topaz, and amethyst.
And it was set inside the tortoise shell as a frame.
The temples of the glasses were secured to the sideburns with brass clips.
Two thin strings were tied around the ears.
The three temples of the glasses were fixed to the hat.
The cost is considerable.
A symbol of status and position.
A local gentryman once traded a horse for a pair of glasses.
Marco Polo came to China during the Yuan Dynasty.
However, there are records of people using crystal lenses to read books as early as the Song Dynasty.
What use is a personal eunuch?
"There are eyeglasses in the palace,"
"I noticed that the King of Liang has excellent eyesight,"
"I didn't take it out."
Zhao Yuan naturally knew that not everyone could wear the same pair of glasses.
If it's not done properly, it can worsen your eyesight.
However, he was still very interested in the glasses of this era, he chuckled.
"Go and fetch it for me, let me see it."
"Yes!"
Why bother responding?
Go down and look for it yourself.
He Yong was found very quickly.
Clearly, Emperor Huizong also regarded this item as a rare treasure and kept it in the palace.
Otherwise, we wouldn't have found it so quickly.
Why open the box?
They ran into Zhao Yuan.
The box was wrapped in bright yellow silk.
Two transparent lenses were placed in the middle.
The frame connecting the two lenses is made of gold.
It is also decorated with exquisite patterns.
It was clearly a gift specifically for the Emperor.
However, it doesn't have glasses temples.
I could only hold the glasses in front of my eyes by pinching them with my hands.
Both lenses are smooth and transparent.
It was clearly crafted by a master craftsman.
Zhao Yuan looked at his glasses.
He then gestured for He Yong to put it away.
"How much are these glasses worth?"
Chapter 1749 Exorbitant Profits
Wang Jing said, "This is something that the Prince of Liang could never find for a thousand pieces of gold."
Even the cheapest glasses on the market cost several hundred strings of cash each.
"The same lenses are very difficult to grind,"
"Most of the high-ranking officials and nobles also use only one lens."
Zhao Yuan asked in surprise, "Several hundred strings of cash each?"
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Wang Jing hurriedly replied, "Absolutely right."
“I have investigated this carefully beforehand.”
"Crystals are expensive to begin with,"
"Grinding lenses is something only a few master craftsmen can do,"
"It will take a long time."
"But even if it sells for several hundred strings of cash,"
"Even high-ranking officials and nobles flocked to it."
Zhao Yuan laughed and said, "How about I sell them for one hundred strings of cash each?"
Wang Jing thought for a moment.
"One hundred strings of cash is already much cheaper,"
"If it were sold, it would definitely be in high demand."
"However, glass lenses can be mass-produced,"