He feigned composure, looked at Hanna, and asked, "Hanna, how much do you know about chemistry and physics? Do you have any way to achieve technologies like cement production and steelmaking?"
"Lord Link, the subjects I usually teach are physics and chemistry. As for the cement and steelmaking you mentioned..."
Hanna lowered her head slightly, her delicate brows furrowed, falling into a moment of contemplation.
After a moment, she raised her eyes, which sparkled with confidence, and slowly said, "Lord Link, I think it's worth a try, but we need to find various materials first."
"To make cement, we first need to find clay, or various pottery shards, slag ash, etc., taking 75% of the total; then find quicklime, controlling the amount between 20% to 25%; in addition, we also need slaked gypsum, or gypsum ore, which should be placed in an iron pot, heated to 130 to 180 degrees, and stirred constantly until it turns grayish-yellow, taking 5% of that."
"Grind these materials into a fine powder, then mix them thoroughly in these proportions, and you can make blended cement. This cement has excellent acid and alkali corrosion resistance, but its curing period is relatively long, about twenty days. Generally, it can only reach standard strength after two to three months. However, compared to modern cement, its overall performance will certainly be inferior; I estimate its grade can only reach about 200 to 400."
"As for steelmaking, building a modern electric furnace in this era is undoubtedly a pipe dream. But we can try ancient blast furnace steelmaking, except that the steel produced by this method has a higher carbon content, making it brittle and hard, suitable only for casting and difficult to forge. How to reduce the carbon content will have to be figured out later. Oh, by the way, Lord Link, are there any rivers nearby?"
"Rivers? Of course there are!" Link replied without hesitation, "To the southeast of Winterfell City, there is a river that never freezes, and Winterfell City was built along this river, allowing it to develop to this day."
Water is the source of life, and in this era, whether there is a stable water source nearby is the primary consideration when building a city.
Otherwise, the water needed just for farming would become an insurmountable obstacle.
"But Hanna, you asked me about rivers; are you planning to use water for cooling during steelmaking?" Link asked curiously, with a look of doubt.
Upon hearing this, Hanna smiled faintly and gently shook her head: "It is indeed good news that there is a river nearby. If there is a river, we can fully utilize hydraulic power to create a converter to solve the problem of high carbon content in blast furnace steel. By using the converter to continuously stir the molten iron and using a blower to continuously blow air into it, carbon will combine with oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide. This way, the carbon content in the molten iron can be continuously reduced, thereby producing low-carbon steel."
Truly a professional... Link listened to Hanna's clear and easy-to-understand explanation, secretly marveling.
Both thought of rivers, but his first thought was merely leisurely fishing, enjoying a moment of tranquility; while Hanna could quickly associate it with the utilization of hydraulic resources, closely integrating it with steelmaking technology.
Indeed, professional matters should be handled by professionals.
If it were him, an ordinary young man from the 21st century, let alone making cement, building blast furnaces and converters for steelmaking, he wouldn't even have heard of these terms.
"Very good, Hanna!" Link said solemnly and earnestly: "I now officially appoint you as the Head of the Scientific Research Department. Whatever you need, just tell me, and I will do my best to prepare all the necessary materials for you. All you have to do is turn these technologies that are beneficial for development into reality, one by one!"
"Yes, My Lord! Thank you for your trust and appreciation!"
Hanna nodded, replying with gratitude.
Link then gently tapped the table, called out to the maid, and carefully instructed her to arrange suitable accommodation for Fiora and Hanna.
The lord's castle was quite large, with many rooms. Originally, Link often lamented that there were too few people in the castle, and the empty rooms felt too lonely. Now with two more beautiful women, it injected fresh vitality into the grand castle.
This was quite good; the once somewhat desolate manor was gradually being filled with warmth and popularity.
Having all the beautiful girls live here, and with himself being the only man, as Old Slo the butler usually lived in his own home.
Hmm, how was this not another kind of crystal palace?
It was simply paradise!
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