"What is this, a stone?" Li Shimin asked with confusion as he looked at the thing Li Xiu offered. Finally, he even knocked it with his hands, confirming that it was a gray stone-like thing, and it looked very rough, but the specifications were square, as if it had been carved into this way?

"Your Majesty is right that it is a stone, but I prefer to call it cement!" Li Xiu said with a smile at this time. The cement he offered to Li Shimin was the cement he made during this period.

Li Xiu had long wanted to make this kind of building materials, but the productivity of the Tang Dynasty was low in the past, and it was unrealistic to want to produce cement on a large scale. Now with his time travel, the Tang Dynasty also undergoes tremendous changes, such as the use of coal, the promotion of hydraulic equipment, etc., which greatly improved productivity and now the conditions for producing cement are met.

"Cement? What a strange name, but what's the use of this kind of stone?" Li Xiu picked up the palm-sized piece of cement and weighed it, and then asked curiously again. Changsun Wuji and Li Zhi next to him were also looking at this inconspicuous "stone". Even though Li Zhi was Li Xiu's student, he had never heard of the name of cement.

"Haha, cement is actually not a stone, but a kind of cement that is mixed with lime, clay, and gypsum in a certain proportion, and then calcined with a fierce fire to finally form a powder, which is cement. When used, as long as the powder is mixed with water, after a period of time, the powder will become such a stone-like cement block." Li Xiu smiled again and said.

Li Shimin felt very novel when he heard Li Xiu's description, but then he asked in confusion: "This cement is a bit magical, but even so, what's the use of it?"

"Your Majesty, don't underestimate cement. It's very useful, because it's very hard when condensed into blocks, almost no different from stone, and is not afraid of water and fire, and is very suitable for building roads and cities..."

Li Xiu did not offer cement to Li Shimin for no reason, but made cement in combination with the plan to annex the grassland. Because if you want to control the grassland, you must send officials and garrisons, but there are no cities or roads on the grassland. Sometimes, even if there are clearly passable places, a heavy rain will turn into a swamp, bringing huge difficulties to the march.

However, it is different now with cement. The Tang Dynasty could use cement to build roads, and the roads after cement hardening are not afraid of rain. In addition, cities are also being built at the hub of the road. These cities can attract grassland people to settle down or attract Han people to live. Combined with the previous policy of Han people rewarding fields and pastures when they go to the grassland, it is estimated that it will not take long before these cities can become prosperous places. In addition to the officials and troops stationed, these places can naturally be firmly controlled by the Tang Dynasty.
Chapter completed!