Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 864: Chapter 22: Lenses

Zhao Yao had just returned from the north when he learned that Lian Daci urgently needed to see him. Without even having a sip of tea, he hurriedly headed to the porcelain factory with Tong Xi.

Lian Daci saw Zhao Yao coming and quickly greeted him. He first bowed to Zhao Yao, then said with a face full of joy, "Your Highness, the concave-convex lens you wanted has been made."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao broke into a surprised and delighted smile. "Really?"

Lian Daci said, "I wouldn’t dare deceive you, it really has been made."

"Take me in to see it."

Lian Daci took out the completed concave-convex lens and handed it to Zhao Yao.

"Your Highness, take a look; is this the concave-convex lens you wanted?"

After taking it in his hand, Zhao Yao lowered his head and examined it carefully, finding both the convex lens and concave mirror very clear.

"This is the concave-convex lens I wanted."

Lian Daci felt completely relieved hearing Zhao Yao’s words.

With admiration in his eyes, Zhao Yao looked at Lian Daci and praised him generously, "Well done, you’ve worked hard during this period."

Being praised by Zhao Yao, Lian Daci beamed with smiles, "Your Highness, you overpraise."

"Since you’ve made the concave-convex lens, next you should make the magnifying glass, spectacles, and telescope as I mentioned before." Zhao Yao instructed, "You can make several versions: simple, medium, and luxurious."

Lian Daci accepted the order, "Yes, Your Highness."

Zhao Yao smiled and said, "There are only a few days left until the New Year. If you complete them before then, I will have a great reward for you."

Upon hearing there would be a great reward, Lian Daci’s face lit up and he was filled with motivation.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, we will certainly complete everything before the New Year."

"Once these are made, you can have a good rest for a while; resume work after the Lantern Festival." Since Zhao Yao came to Swamp Prefecture, these porcelain craftsmen like Lian Daci had not had a break and had been working continuously till now. "Next year, you will be even busier, so take this opportunity during the New Year to rest well."

"We will follow Your Highness’s orders."

"By the way, there are still too few craftsmen in the porcelain factory. As I mentioned before, if you have any friends, you can invite them to Swamp Prefecture; the conditions will not be a problem." The current porcelain factory is still too small. Next year, Zhao Yao plans to build a larger one, which will require more craftsmen. Zhao Yao is also preparing to buy some porcelain craftsmen from Siam, Annan, Johor, and other countries. Although foreign craftsmen’s skills are far inferior to those of Great Zhou, they can be taught gradually.

"Your Highness, I have already written a letter to townsfolk, and after the New Year, they will bring some people over." Lian Daci also felt the number of craftsmen in the porcelain factory was too few and insufficient.

"Really? That’s great."

"Your Highness, even if my townsfolk come over, it still won’t be enough." Just making glass alone now requires a lot of manpower. "Your Highness, can we recruit some apprentices?"

"Apprentices?" Zhao Yao was slightly surprised, then asked, "You really plan to recruit apprentices, from where?"

"Just recruit them from Swamp Prefecture." Lian Daci understood the reason for Zhao Yao’s surprise, "Your Highness, recruiting apprentices is not the same as finding disciples. Of course, if we find good candidates, we will accept them."

"Since you’re willing to recruit apprentices, you can handle it." As soon as Zhao Yao finished speaking, he remembered the expansion of the porcelain factory next year and his expression turned solemn, "If we have more manpower next year, you must manage them well. I don’t want the recipes for what I make to leak out."

Lian Daci’s heart tightened, and his expression became very solemn, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will certainly manage the porcelain factory well."

Zhao Yao was confident in Lian Daci’s ability to handle affairs. After giving a few more instructions, he returned to the Prince Mansion. Upon returning, he busied himself with making a vision chart.

Since the concave-convex lens had been made, it wouldn’t be long before spectacles could be produced. Before fitting glasses for He Lianfang, he needed to test his second uncle’s degree of myopia.

After completing the vision chart, Zhao Yao went to find He Lianfang.

He Lianfang was currently staying with Zhao Yao at the Prince Mansion and had not moved out to live separately. Although Zhao Yao originally arranged a residence for him, He Lianfang felt it was unnecessary.

Seeing Zhao Yao rarely coming to find him, He Lianfang was a bit surprised, "Weren’t you going to North Mountain?"

"I came back a long time ago." Zhao Yao said, while sticking the completed vision chart on the wall.

Seeing the paper filled with strange symbols that Zhao Yao was sticking, He Lianfang asked in bewilderment, "What is this?"

"It’s the vision chart I mentioned earlier." Zhao Yao pointed to the vision chart he had just stuck on, introducing it to He Lianfang, "Through this, I can roughly determine how myopic you are, so I can fit glasses for you accordingly."