Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 264 The Furnace

  The weather is getting colder, the anger is closed, and the grass and trees are withering yellow.

   It is not just that ordinary people are gradually reluctant to go out; Red Rose and Blue Rose, who are covered in bruises and bruises, also take a break and return to their nests to lick their wounds and save their strength for the next year.

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

   On the southwest frontier of Palatu, the remote and barren Iron Peak County is a hot scene.

   Herald cavalrymen with green flags are going to various villages and towns to send the first issue of "Communication Bulletin".

  The first "complaint meeting" consultation meeting in Tiefeng County is also under intense preparations.

   Refugee farms and military colonies 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.

  When the ploughing animals are too tired to carry the ploughs, people will take turns to pull the plows;

   Because they are not working for "Mr. Montagne", nor are they working for some manor master, 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 when autumn farming started are far inferior to the last few days.

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

   The winter wheat, barley and rye of the homesteaders 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 lawn that had just been built, adding a rare vitality to the autumn and winter communication season.

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

   The problem is not that he is not growing well, but that he is growing too well. This year is a warm winter, and some wheat fields that have been sown early have already started [joining].

   In a few days, when the temperature is really cool, all the wheat seedlings that have been jointed early will be frozen to death.

Old Man   Falmer—the “Agricultural Consultant” Winters had brought back from Wolftown—worried about it.

   Countermeasures?

   Winters didn't, but he knew where.

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

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

   "It's all right, old gentleman." Winters, who was already in debt, said with a smile, "I still have Andrea Cellini on the day of the famine."

  …

  October 30, 559, the imperial calendar, the second day of Winters' return to Gervoudan, an ordinary and special day.

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

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

  The blast furnace has been completed thanks to the hard work of Mason-senpai, the potter brothers, and the masons recruited from Gervodin.

  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 had not insisted on waiting for Winters to come back before starting the fire, Senior Mason would have already taken the next step.

   "I've blown the cow for you, feel free to do 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 swallowed hard and nodded desperately.

   Everyone could see that the little blacksmith was extremely nervous.

  Carlos fasted three days in advance, 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.

   Honestly, Winters didn't hold out much hope for the little blacksmith's skills.

  If the little blacksmith's brother Bellion said "can do", Winters would dare to suppress all the chips without hesitation;

  But Carlos Sawyer... Just seeing that he and Vashka are so smart at first sight, Winters has an ominous intuition.

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

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

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

  Winters didn't agree, and he put everything back.

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

   On the one hand, he did not want to reveal technical secrets; on the other hand, Winters did not want to be embarrassed.

   Therefore, the "lighting ceremony" was very deserted, with only a few participants.

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

  Moritz is not here, the water of life has recently been cut off, the lieutenant colonel is listless and anxious all day, and he does not like to appear in public.

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

  …

   Back in Gervodin, Winters immediately came to visit the old Mr. Boltain and asked the latter to be his advisor - informal, untitled and not registered, just as the old blacksmith wanted.

   was also invited to be an advisor, as well as Potain's old nemesis, the tobacconist and mayor Priskin the Elder.

   Coupled with the farmer Mr. Falmer invited from Wolf Town, Winters has a small advisory group... The chief shadow advisor is of course "Mrs. Montagne".

  …

  The old blacksmith once 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. He took a carriage and then a stretcher. It took a lot of effort to come to the foot of the Iron Peak. This was the first time the old man had left Gervoudan 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 into the blast furnace reluctantly.

  The Platoons have a morbid love for "blessing rituals". 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 forced Kaman to bring Kaman to the blast furnace.

  I saw Kaman casually drenching it 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 o'clock now: "Which scriptures and gospels are on fire, tell me."

   "Okay, that's it." Winters didn't insist: "If this can happen, the people of Iron Peak County will benefit a lot. Thank you, Mr. Carman."

  Kaman 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, chanting words in his mouth.

   Pre-work Carlos is ready. The charcoal was neatly piled up in the shape of a funnel in the oven cavity, just waiting for Winters to light it.

   Winters was not going to "speak a few words" either. When Kaman's blessing ceremony was over, he slowly closed his eyes and entered a spell casting state.

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

   Under the gazes of everyone, Winters solemnly lit the flame of hope.

  The two cows leisurely chewed the half-digested forage and pulled the bellows unhurriedly.

  As the continuous air blows into the furnace cavity, the charcoal gradually burns to a fiery red, and you can feel the scorching heat wave 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 pit is screened, roasted, crushed and cleaned to get [primary iron ore] - Carlos called it.

and then?

   Then there is no then.

  During the long and boring waiting, only dark red **** 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 went crazy with anxiety, Senior Mason was also quite disappointed, and Andre was already impatient.

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

   "You don't have to wait until I get back to start the furnace." Winters joked to the little blacksmith: "Is it because I'm not here, Captain Mason will beat you?"

  Carlos was about to cry on the spot to show Winters.

   "Your Excellency, it's good to leave Mr. Suoya here. When we used the block smelting furnace in the early years, it took a whole day or even longer to open the furnace, not so fast." The old blacksmith Boltain was very calm.

   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 buddies?"

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

   "Then I'll have you." Winters nodded with a smile.

  Senior Mason came here with high hopes. Hearing that the results will be available tomorrow, his disappointment is palpable.

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

   "I'm going too." Andrei is also leaving.

   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 this day."

   said, Winters silently gave Andre a look.

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

   Don't let Senior Mason go, in fact, because the two of them haven't dared to talk to the senior about the [Race Farm Official], 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 Township knows how to cast bells and cannons."

   "What if they were hiding?" Wentesla told the senior not to let go: "If Mr. Boltain accompanies us, their attitude will be different."

  Mason sighed and reluctantly agreed.

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

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

   On the way, the old blacksmith Bortain chatted with several tribunals about the big and small matters 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 the earliest time I know, That's what blacksmiths do."

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

"That's right." 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 smelting is not difficult in principle, but in craftsmanship—that is, the secret recipe, the experience and the process.”

   Immediately afterwards, the old blacksmith Boltain talked about the difference between the [Block Smelting Furnace] and Carlos' [Blast Furnace].

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

"Iron doesn't have legs, so it won't walk out of the furnace on its own." 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 together. "

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

  The ability to melt molten iron can cast a cannon, the senior's thinking is very direct.

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

   "Iron was not melted in the process of iron making? How was the iron made?" Winters asked curiously.

"Uh...Actually I don't know either." 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. Burning and softening? No one knows. Why? Maybe because of magic."

   Winters laughed.

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

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

   "Pig ears can't be made into silk wallets." The old blacksmith couldn't help: "Without grass, there would be no bricks."

   Mason sighed heavily.

   "There will be." Winters comforted the senior: "The big deal is to buy copper materials from outside."

"However." The old blacksmith Boltain's tone was hesitant: "There is a rumor that the royal blacksmith in the north has invented a method that can burn iron into water and cast it. Some people call that kind of iron cast iron. It is just a rumor, the specific I don't know how to do it. In my guess, it should use a very powerful smelting furnace."

   "Really?" Mason was surprised.

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

Andre, who hadn't said a word for a long time, suddenly muttered: "I don't know if that stove can be made completely, so don't think about the invisible things like cast iron. If you want me to say, it's better to think about it as soon as possible. What to do with iron..."

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

The old blacksmith Bol answered frankly and sincerely: "Actually, I don't understand blast furnaces either, otherwise I would definitely help you handle it myself. Mr. Sawyer smelts iron with a straight face and has rules and regulations. Even if he is not an expert, he has learned from an expert. When we first met , I'm only 10% sure about Mr. Sawyer, and now at least 50%."

   The old blacksmith sighed: "Although Mr. Soya is still young, he is far better than me. My whole life... Hey, it's all in vain."

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

   "After all, what exactly is a blast furnace?" Andrei yawned: "That brick tower was a blast furnace just now? Doesn't it feel good?"

  The old blacksmith Boltain explained to Andre again.

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

  The blast furnace is a cup with a tap, which can be continuously smelted by feeding materials above and tapping iron below.

The old blacksmith used a vulgar but vivid metaphor: "A blast furnace is like a person, who keeps drinking water on the top and urinating on the bottom. The block furnace is like drinking a large glass of water at a time and urinating once a day, of course, it is better than Drink and urinate all the time.”

  Andre laughed so much that the carriage trembled.

   "How about rebuilding the road when the autumn ploughing is over?" Winters thought thoughtfully: "Build it according to the standard of Legion's main road, and build it into a hard-faced road."

  The old blacksmith Bortain was inconvenient and could only ride in a carriage. Winters wanted to ask the advisor more, so he also took the carriage, and he also pulled Andre and Senior Mason.

   The carriage is not small, but it is crowded with three officers. Winters and Andre were on their knees, terribly miserable.

   Moreover, the road conditions between Revodan and Forge Township were very poor, and the road was bumpy, which awakened Winters's obsession with road construction.

   "Building roads in winter?" Mason asked subconsciously.

   "There is also time for winter leisure."

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

"Let's go little by little. For the time being, I will only repair Revodan to Forge Township. The rest of the road will be repaired slowly when there is time." Winters held his forehead. Just one by one."

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

  Mason looked at Winters, and Winters silently looked out the window;

   Mason looked at Andre again, and Andre also silently looked out the window.

   "Why is the Artillery Division called the Artillery Division?" Mason muttered with a complicated expression, "I think it should be called the Miscellaneous Division!"

   "Senior, you might as well think about it." Winters flattered seriously: "From top to bottom in the entire army, who else has this ability except you?"

   "That's right." Andre is equally righteous: "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility."

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

   "Just say it." Winters sat up straight, after all, seniors rarely ask for it.

"Find some copper material, I don't believe that I can't find 100 kilograms of copper material after searching Tiefeng County." Mason also looked out the window: "If you can't make a big one, let's make a small one for fun. It's going to waste again."

  …

When   Winters rode in his carriage to Forge Township, the students of the accounting school in Gervoudan were taking their first class.

  There was no pen and paper, so each student carried a shallow square plate, sprinkled with fine sand on the plate, and used wooden sticks to outline on the fine sand;

   There are no textbooks - Madame Montagne is still writing;

   There is no professional teacher, and the lecturer is the most senior bookkeeper invited from the Priskin firm.

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

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

   "Teacher" couldn't let go of his voice, and said stumblingly: "...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 taught dozens of people in the eyes, and he is inevitably nervous.

  The Conference Hall is a two-storey building. The first floor is a place for citizens to debate and discuss matters, and the second floor is for the audience to sit.

  Anna was sitting on the second floor of the council hall at the moment, listening with her chin propped up.

   She doesn't actually have deep feelings for Wolf Town, Gervoudan and Iron Peak County, nor does she have any deep feelings for the accounting school. It is for that person that she will work tirelessly and be busy.

   But now, a strange feeling lingers in her mind... pride? proud? pride? It doesn't seem to be at all, and it seems to be a bit.

  Anna couldn't think clearly, which made her a little distressed and more confused.

   But it's really interesting. It's probably the first in the history of Iron Peak County and even New Reclaimed to run a school by women and recruit men to teach it - although she is hiding behind Winters.

"...In double-entry bookkeeping, each transaction is recorded in two books as income and expenses at the same time. Each book is the basis for auditing other books, and they are linked together... Double-entry bookkeeping is not for the purpose of 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 eyes.

   "This teacher is not very competent and needs to be replaced." Anna thought to herself: "You should not find the most senior bookkeeper, but the one with the loudest voice."

  Anna put on her hat again and was about to leave the council hall. The inadvertent glance at the student's seat downstairs made her almost exclaim.

   She saw that Scarlett was wearing men's clothes and pants, her hair was cut short like a man's, her face was dirty, and she was sitting in the corner of the "classroom" listening to a class.

  Although Scarlett looks like a childish boy from the outside, Anna can be sure that the boy is Scarlett Mitchell.

  Anna felt dizzy, she knew that Ms. Mitchell was very brave, but she didn't expect it to be so big.

  …

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

   A woman with a black veil on her head stopped 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 what was waiting for her was "Madame Montagne".

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

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

   "Does Mrs Mitchell know?"

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

   "Can you keep it a secret?"

   "The longer you hide the better..."

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

   "I want to go to class." Scarlett answered confidently: "I also want to learn bookkeeping."

  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 went to Mitchell Manor, she was somewhat aware of it.

   A young girl who is in love, a stubborn personality, a fragile and delicate self-esteem... Anna seems to be looking in the mirror.

   She was not angry, but more distressed, a seed sprouted in her heart.

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

   [Thanks to book lovers for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment]

   [The one-time smelting furnace used by Japanese swordsmiths to smelt "Yugang" is a block smelting furnace]

   [Smelting furnaces for direct steelmaking are not uncommon, and the more primitive the age, 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 resource conditions, resulting in a little crooked skill - 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 technological trend]

   (end of this chapter)