Generals of the Great Song Dynasty.

Summary

Wen Yan Bo, after acquiring cement, established a courtyard and selected craftsmen to work under Wen Ji Fu's supervision. He invited Emperor Zhao Zhen to showcase a massive concrete pillar, claiming it was a revolutionary innovation that could replace expensive timber pillars at a fraction of the cost. Wen Yan Bo extolled the benefits of cement for construction, emphasizing its affordability and efficiency, which could expedite projects like the Luo Yang palace. Zhao Zhen was intrigued and recognized the potential of cement, suspecting it originated from the Six Arts Academy and its scholar Wang Qing. Wen Yan Bo cleverly praised Wang Qing to allay the emperor's suspicions about their rivalry. He argued against handing over cement production to the unreliable Craft Bureau, advocating for artisan control to ensure quality and benefit the common people. Zhao Zhen agreed to Wen Yan Bo's proposal, acknowledging the importance of rewarding the Six Arts Academy for their contributions. Meanwhile, Wang Ning An, upon reading Wen Yan Bo's letter outlining a strategy for cement production, was impressed yet furious, realizing the potential of cement to change the world. He decided to invest in a cement workshop managed by Xu Yang, a promising young student from the academy, recognizing the hard work and dedication behind the cement's development.

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