Iron Power And Sorcerer

Iron Power And Sorcerer Chapter 264

2021-02-26

Chapter 264 The Furnace
The weather is getting colder, the anger is stagnating, and the grass and trees are turning yellow.

Not only the ordinary person is gradually reluctant to go out; the red rose and blue rose, who are covered in bruises and bruises, also take a break and return to their lair to lick their wounds and save their strength for the next year.

The devastated Plato finally got a short respite. People mended their clothes, prepared for winter storage, and enjoyed the hard-won peace and tranquility.

On the southwestern frontier of Palato, the remote and barren Iron Peak County is a scene in a frenzy.

The messenger cavalry with green flags is heading to various villages and towns to deliver the first issue of "Communication Bulletin".

The first Chamber of Commerce meeting in Iron Peak County is also under intense preparations.

Refugee farms and military camps are still racing against time to prepare the land and plant seeds. Seeing that winter is coming, the days are getting shorter and shorter, and everyone is working more and more fiercely.

If the farming animals are too tired to carry it, then use people to pull the plow in shifts; if the day is not enough, then light a bonfire at night to continue.

Because they're not working for "Lord Montagne", or some manor lord, but for themselves.

The mentality of human beings is always very wonderful, the opportunity becomes slim little by little, and people are even more reluctant to let go. If you only talk about motivation, the days at the beginning of autumn farming are far inferior to the past few days at the end.

Refugees and field-granting soldiers are frantically working, and the old homesteaders are at their happiest time of year.

The homesteaders' winter wheat, barley and rye are mostly sown in late September and early October, and they are growing satisfactorily.

Wheat seedlings broke out in groups, and the farmland was full of green, like a newly built lawn, adding a rare vitality to the autumn and winter communication season.

In fact, the yeoman's wheat fields are in great crisis.

The problem isn't that it's not growing well, it's that it looks really good. This year is a warm winter, and some wheat fields that have been sown early have already started [joining].

Wait a few days, and when the temperature really cools down, all the early-joining wheat seedlings will freeze to death.

Old Man Falmer -- the "agricultural consultant" Winters brought back from Wolfstown -- was worried.

So what?

Winters didn't, but he knew where.

He has dispatched messengers as soon as possible to convene large grain farmers from nearby villages and towns to discuss countermeasures in Rewodan.

"My lord, what if everyone can't think of a good way?" Elder Falmer was still worried.

"It's all right, Old Mister." Winters was already in debt, he said with a smile: "It's really the day of the famine, and I still have Andrea Cellini."

……

Imperial Calendar October 30, 559, Winters returned to Gervoudan second day, an ordinary and special day.

Ordinary, because today the sun still rises and will set.

Extraordinary—perhaps worthy of a grand remembrance, because just today, Winters will officially begin smelting iron.

The blast furnace has been completed thanks to the hard work of Mason Senior, the potter's brother and the masons from Revodan.

The smelting furnace is located on a flat plateau on Tiefeng Mountain, far away from people and close to the mine, which is convenient for obtaining ore.

According to the requirements of Carlos, the furnace body is built with double-layer refractory bricks, with a height of more than four meters. From a distance, it looks like a giant long-necked vase placed on the mountainside.

If Carlos hadn't insisted on waiting for Winters to come back, Mason Senior would have gone to the next step.

"I've blown the cow for you, don't worry about it." About to make a real move, Winters laughed and slapped the little blacksmith on the back: "What are you afraid of? Keep your head up!"

Carlos' upper teeth hit his lower teeth, he struggled to swallowed saliva, desperately nodded.

Everyone could see that the little blacksmith was extremely nervous.

Carlos fasted three days in advance and took a shower and put on a new set of clothes this morning. And he doesn't allow anyone to say the words "extinguish" and "failure", and whoever says it is in a hurry.

To be honest, Winters didn't hold out much hope for the ability of the little blacksmith.

If the little blacksmith's big brother Bellion said "it's possible", Winters would dare to put down all the chips without the slightest hesitation;

But Carlos Soya...just look at him Winters had an ominous intuition at first sight with the great wit of Vashka.

But he sincerely hopes that the little blacksmith can prove his intuition wrong with practical actions.

Opening the furnace and smelting iron is a real major event, and the blacksmiths in Forge Township want to open their eyes when they hear the news.

Not only the blacksmiths, but the prestigious citizens of Gervoudan and even the little lions all want to find out.

Winters didn't agree, and put it all back together.

Especially the sharp and intelligent little lion who is also friend and enemy. Although Winters felt a little guilty, he insisted that Brother Hu, Senior Brother An, take the little lion to hunt.

On the one hand, he didn't want to reveal technical secrets; on the other hand, Winters didn't want to be embarrassed.

So the "Ignition Ceremony" was very quiet, with only a few participants.

Mason Senior came excitedly, and Andre was pulled over by Senior.

Moritz is away, Water of Life has recently lost his confession, and the lieutenant colonel is listless and anxious, and he doesn't like public appearances.

In addition to the four military tribunes, only the blacksmith Weng's son-in-law, Boltin and Saosha, were present.

...

Back in Gervodin, Winters immediately came to visit Old Mister Boltain, asking him to be his advisor - informal, untitled and not registered On record, it is exactly what the old blacksmith wanted.

Also invited to be a consultant was Boltain's old nemesis, tobacconist and city Elder Priskin.

Together with Farmer Falmer, Old Mister, brought in from Wolftown, Winters has a small group of advisors... The chief shadow advisor is, of course, "Mrs. Montagne".

……

The old blacksmith made a wish that he could see the black smoke of the furnace from the window. Winters went a step further and invited the old man directly to the ignition ceremony.

The old blacksmith readily agreed and took the carriage first and then the stretcher. It took a lot of effort to come to the foot of the Tiefeng Mountain - this was the first time the old man had left Gervodin in eight years.

Yes, and Kaman.

The young priest is now holding a golden bowl in one hand and a small sweeper in the other, pouring holy water on the blast furnace reluctantly.

The Palauans have a morbid love for "blessing ceremony". People can be blessed, weapons can be blessed, agricultural tools can be blessed... Anyway, there is no harm in pouring some holy water.

So Winters told Kaman a lot of truth, and forcefully brought Kaman to the blast furnace.

I saw Kaman drenched casually twice, and the remaining holy water in the bowl simply splashed on the furnace wall and returned to Winters: "Okay, it's over."

"A few verses?" Winters blinked.

"Recite the scriptures? Can I engrave a holy emblem for you again?" Kaman said at one point now: "Which scriptures and gospels are on fire, tell me."

"Okay, that's it." Winters did not insist: "If this can happen, the people of Iron Peak will benefit a lot. Thank you, Mr. Kaman."

Kaman sipped He pursed his lips, stared at Winters for a long time, turned his head back to the furnace in a fit of anger, held the furnace wall and laid hands on it, mutter incantations in his mouth.

Preliminary work Carlos is ready. The charcoal is neat and tidy in the oven cavity yarded into a funnel, just waiting for Winters to ignite.

Winters wasn't going to "speak a few words" either. When Kaman's blessing ceremony ended, he slowly closed his eyes and entered a spellcasting state.

When he opened his eyes again, the torch "pu" in his hand burst into flames.

As everyone watched, Winters solemnly lit the flame of hope.

Two cows leisurely chewed half-digested hay, pulling the bellows at a moderate pace.

The charcoal gradually burns to a fiery red as the continuous air blows into the furnace cavity, and the scorching heat can be felt even from a few meters away.

Seeing that the fire had arrived, Carlos filled the blast furnace with primary iron ore and limestone from above.

The raw ore mined from the old pits is screened, roasted, crushed and cleaned to get [primary iron ore] - Carlos called it.

And then what?
Then there is no then.

During the long and boring waiting, only dark red slag and a small amount of golden iron slurry fell into the bottom of the furnace. No matter how devoutly Carlos prayed, the molten iron could not flow out.

Carlos was frantic with anxiety, Mason Senior was disappointed, and Andre was impatient.

Winters didn't feel it—he didn't expect to be successful at all.

"You brat won't start the furnace until I come back." Winters said to the little blacksmith jokingly: "Is he afraid that Captain Mason will beat you up when I'm not here?"

Carlos immediately I was going to cry to Winters on the spot.

"Your Excellency, it's good that Mr. Leusoya is here. When we used a block smelting furnace in the early years, it took a whole day or more to open the furnace, not so fast." Calm down.

He suggested to Winters: "You don't have to wait here, why don't I accompany you to Forge Township and introduce you to some of my Old Partners?"

Winters thinks the old man is right. Whether it is successful or not, you will know the result tomorrow, and it is useless to wait.

"It's your fault then." Winters nodded> with a smile.

Mason Senior came here with high hopes. I heard that the results will be available tomorrow. I am disappointed. exhibit one's feelings in one's speech .

"Then I'll go back first." Mason Senior said goodbye listlessly: "The horse farm is organizing people to mow the grass. I'll go and see."

"I'll go too." Andrei is leaving too.

Hearing the word "horse farm", Winters hurriedly grabbed the Senior: "You can accompany me to Forge Township, and things on the horse farm are not in a hurry."

With that said, Winters gave Andre a silent look.

Andre understood, and immediately changed his words: "That's right! That's right! Go to Forge Township and look for it. Maybe someone there knows how to cast cannons!"

Don't let Mason Senior go , in fact, because the two of them haven't dared to talk to Senior about the [race chief officer], and now is a good opportunity.

It's good that Andre didn't mention it, but Mason was even more distressed when he mentioned it: "I've asked, no one in Forge Town knows how to cast bells and cannons."

"In case Are they hiding and tucking?" Winters took Senior and didn't let go: "If Mr. Boltain accompanies us, their attitude will be different."

Mason sighed and reluctantly agreed.

The entire group went to Forge Township, leaving Carlos to guard the blast furnace with a few small workers. No one was watching and supervising, and Carlos finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Forge Township is at the foot of Iron Peak, next to the St. George River and very close to the blast furnace.

On the way, the old blacksmith Boltain chatted with several tribunals about the major event of iron smelting.

"The principle of iron smelting is actually very simple. Put charcoal and iron ore together and set it on fire." The old blacksmith Boltin sat down, and when he mentioned iron smelting, he was very excited: "From I know that's what blacksmiths did from the very beginning."

"The easier it sounds." Winters sighed a little: "It may be harder to do."

"No Wrong." The old blacksmith clasped his palms and laughed: "The same iron and charcoal are burned together, some people can make good sponge iron, some people can make steel, but some people can only make black lumps that break with a squeeze. Iron is not difficult in principle, but in craftsmanship - that is, secret recipes, experience and process."

Immediately afterwards, the old blacksmith Boltain talked about the [block smelting furnace] and Carlos' [blast furnace] difference.

The reason why the block furnace is called "block furnace" is because it "smelts a large piece of iron at a time".

"Iron has no legs, so it won't walk out of the furnace by itself." The old blacksmith gestured hard: "So if you make a furnace with blocks, you have to dismantle the furnace wall every time you make a furnace of iron. , take out the iron and build it back up."

Mason suddenly became interested: "Can't you melt iron into water--like bronze and gold, and let it flow out on its own?"

Able to melt molten iron and cast a cannon, Senior's thinking is straightforward.

"It can't be done. The furnace temperature of the block smelting furnace is not enough to melt iron into molten iron. Iron is not gold or bronze, and it is extremely difficult to melt. Forging furnaces like us ordinary blacksmiths can also Make the iron a little softer. It's still a long way from molten iron."

"The iron was not melted during the ironmaking process? How did the iron come out?" Winters asked curiously.

"Uh... Actually I don't know." The old blacksmith Boltain was a little embarrassed and replied with a wry smile: "The blacksmith can smelt iron, but why can iron ore and charcoal be burned together to produce iron? No one knows. Why does iron soften when burned? No one knows. Why? Maybe it's magic."

Winters laughed.

Old blacksmith Boltain advises Mason: "[Casting] is far more difficult than [forging]. Any blacksmith can forge, but very few know how. If you want to forge a cannon, It's better to use bronze."

"But where can I find copper?" Mason was a little disappointed.

"Pig ears don't make silk wallets." The old blacksmith couldn't help: "Without grass, there are no bricks."

Mason sighed heavily.

"There will be." Winters reassured Senior: "At worst, come back from buying copper from outside."

"But." The old blacksmith Boltain's tone was hesitant: " There is a gossip that the Imperial Family blacksmiths in the north have invented a method that can burn iron into water and cast it. Some people call that kind of iron cast iron. It's just a rumor, I don't know exactly how to do it. As I guess, It should be a smelting furnace that is very difficult to deal with."

"Really?" Mason was pleasantly surprised.

"I don't know if it's true or not..."

Andre, who hasn't said a word for a long time, suddenly muttered: "I don't know if the stove just now can be done, so don't think about it. Cast iron is something that can’t be seen. If you want me to say, it’s better to think about what to do if you can’t make iron...”

“Go back and study it.” Winters said in a relaxed tone, he asked the old man for advice: "You should continue to tell us about the iron smelting furnace."

The old blacksmith Bol replied frankly and sincerely: "Actually, I don't know anything about blast furnaces, otherwise I will help you personally. Mr. Sawyer Even if I am not an expert, I have learned from an expert. When I first met, I was only 10% sure about Mr. Sawyer, but now I have at least 50%.”

The old blacksmith sighed. Said: "Mr. Sawyer is still young, but his ability is far better than mine. My life... Hey, it's a waste of time."

"How could that be?" Winters smiled and shook his head: " In my opinion, Mr. Sawyer's furnace is set up, but the problem is still behind."

"After all, what is a blast furnace?" Andrei yawned. : "That brick tower was a blast furnace just now? Does it feel okay?"

The old blacksmith Boltain explained to Andre again.

In a nutshell, a block furnace is like a cup with an opening at the top for charging. It has to be disassembled once used, and then put back in again;

The blast furnace is a cup with a faucet.

The old blacksmith used a vulgar but vivid metaphor: "The blast furnace is like a man, drinking water on top and peeing on the bottom. The block refining furnace is to drink a large glass of water at a time and urinate once a day. Of course, it is better than drinking and urinating all the time. "

Andre laughed until the carriage trembled.

"How about rebuilding the road when the autumn ploughing is over?" "Winters looked thoughtful:" According to the standard of Legion Road, it was repaired as a hard-faced road. "

Old blacksmith Boltain was inconvenient and had to take the carriage. Winters wanted to ask more advice from the consultant, so he also took the carriage, and he also took Andre and Mason Senior.

The carriage was not small, but it was crowded with three officers. Winters and Andre were on their knees, and it was very uncomfortable.

And the road between Gervoudin and Forge was very rough. Poor, the road was bumpy, but it awakened Winters' obsession with building roads.

"Building roads in winter? "Mason asked subconsciously.

"I also have time in winter." "

"I'm afraid there are not enough staff. "

"Let's go little by little, for the time being, I'm only going to repair Revodan to Forge Township." There is time for the rest of the road to be repaired slowly. "Winters held his forehead: "The major event is a mess of small things, like a tangle of threads." Let's go one by one. "

"That's about the same." Mason nodded, suddenly realizing that something was wrong: "Who will fix it?" ”

Mason looked towards Winters, Winters silently looked towards the window;
Mason looked towards Andre, and Andre silently looked towards the window.

“Why is the Artillery Section?” Call the Artillery Division? Mason looked complicated and muttered: "I think it should be called the Miscellaneous Army!" "

"Senior, think about it." "Winters slaps flattery seriously: "The whole army is from top to bottom, besides you, who else has this ability?" "

"Yes. "Andre is equally righteous: "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. "

"Okay, stop killing me." I take care of this. "Mason sighed: "But I have a request. "

"Just say it." "Winters sat up straight, after all, Senior rarely takes the initiative to ask for it.

"Find some copper materials, I don't believe that I can't find 100 kg of copper materials after searching all over Tiefeng County. Mason also looked towards the window: "You can't make a big one, let's make a small one first." If two shots are not fired, the craftsmanship will be wasted again. ”

…

Guests at the Gervoudan Accounting School were taking their first class as Winters took the carriage to Forge Township.

No pen and paper, the students each carried a shallow square plate, sprinkled with fine sand, and used wooden sticks to outline on the sand;

No textbooks - Madame Montagne is still writing;

There is no professional teacher, the lecturer is the most senior bookkeeper invited from Priskin Trading Company.

There is no special venue, so the discussion of the city hall is temporarily used As a classroom.

According to Mrs. Montagne's arrangement, the first class will teach neither arithmetic nor reading and writing, but the logic of "double-entry bookkeeping".

"teacher" couldn't let go of his voice, and stumblingly said: "...the double-entry bookkeeping method is actually very simple, one column on the left, one column on the right, one column for expenses, and one for income..."

This senior bookkeeper is over 500 years old, but this is the first time he has been teaching dozens of people in the eyes. It is inevitable that he is nervous.

The council hall is a two-storey building, and the first floor is a public debate. , the meeting place, and the second layer is for the audience to take their seats.

Anna is sitting on the second floor of the meeting hall at the moment, with her chin supported.

She has a lot to say about Wolf Town, Gervodin and Tiefeng.

In fact, Jun doesn't have deep feelings, and the same is true for accounting school. It is because of that person that she will work tirelessly and work hard.

But now, there is a strange kind of strangeness lingering in her mind. Feeling... proud? Proud? Proud? It doesn't seem to be at all, and it seems to be a little bit.

Anna couldn't figure it out, which made her a little distressed and more confused.

It's really interesting, though, that a school run by women and enrolling men is probably the first of its kind in the history of Iron Peak County and even New Reclamation—although she's hiding behind Winters.

"...In the double-entry bookkeeping method, each trade fair is recorded in two books as income and expenditure at the same time. Each account book is the basis for auditing other account books, closely linked with one another... Double-entry bookkeeping is not for convenience, but to restrain people's greed. Never give birth to evil thoughts, remember! That's the devil whispering to you..."

Ana watched with scrutiny.

"This teacher is not very competent and needs to be replaced. Anna thought to herself, "You shouldn't have the most senior bookkeeper, but the one with the loudest voice." ”

Anna put on her top hat again and was about to leave the chamber. She glanced at the seats of the students downstairs inadvertently, which made her almost exclaim.

She saw Scarlett wearing The man's clothes and trousers, his hair cut as short as a man's, his face dirty, is sitting in the corner of the "classroom" listening to a class.

Although Scarlett looks childish from the outside The boy who didn't take off, but Anna was sure that the boy was Scarlett Mitchell.

Ana was dizzy, she knew that Ms. Mitchell was very brave, but didn't expect to be so big and so on.

......

After class, Scarlett was trying to sneak out of the council room quietly.

A woman with a black veil stopped her In front of her—Mrs. Medellin, Mrs. Mitchell's maid.

Scarlett tried to pretend she didn't know Mrs. Medellin, but Mrs. Medellin clearly recognized her.

So Scarlett was taken away on the spot.

Mrs. Medellin did not take Scarlett back to see Mrs. Mitchell, but took Scarlett to the officer's quarters near the garrison.

Scarlett thought she was going to be reprimanded by Mr. Montagne, but waiting for her was "Mrs. Montagne".

"You silly girl. " Anna stroked Ms. Mitchell's hair distressedly: "How can you be willing to cut it? "

"It's okay, it will grow again." "Scarlett sniffed wildly.

"Does Mrs. Mitchell know?" "

Scarlett shuddered subconsciously and begged pitifully: "Don't tell my mother, mother will pass out." "

"Can you keep it a secret?" "

"The longer you hide the better..."

"Why cut your hair?" "Anna regretted, distressed and puzzled: "Why? "

"I'm going to class." "Scarlett replied confidently: "I also want to learn accounting. "

Anna wanted to ask back, "Then why don't you come to me directly?" ”

But thinking of the embarrassing scene she saw when she first came to Mitchell Manor, she has several points of understanding in her heart.

The girl who first awakened of love, her stubborn character, Fragile and delicate self-esteem... Anna seems to be looking in the mirror.

She is not angry, but more distressed, a seed germinates in her heart.

“If you really want to learn to remember account. Anna took Scarlett's hand and asked gently, "Can I teach you?" ”

[Thanks to book friends for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, rewards and comments]
[The one-time smelting furnace used by Japanese swordsmiths to smelt "Yugang" is a block Furnace]
[The smelting furnace for direct steelmaking is not uncommon, and the more primordial age is, the more this method is used, because it is not cost-effective]
[The technology of Japanese swordsmiths to smelt jade steel belongs to the lack of Innate resources. Causes the skills to be a little crooked - to be precise, it is not "crooked", it should be "specialized in a certain aspect to adapt to local natural conditions"]
[The economic base determines the superstructure, and the natural endowment determines the technology trend ]