novelaction Chapter 144: Ancient Iron Smelting Method
Chapter 144: Ancient Iron Smelting Method
After bidding farewell to Chai Feng and Ji Hongxia, Chen Changfan led his team into the county town to collect the reward.
As his team grew larger, County Magistrate Cheng's attitude towards him became better and better, especially when he saw that Hu Ming, who had helped him, had his arms chopped off and was tied up like a dumpling, with his lower body covered in blood.
Cheng Weimin felt a chill in his crotch and didn't dare to look Chen Changfan in the eye.
"Master Cheng, if I capture the bandit leader alive, how much will the reward be?"
"Two hundred taels, is that okay?"
Chen Changfan took the banknote and patted Cheng Weimin on the shoulder. "Next time, I'll capture a few more bandit leaders and try to make up the total for Master Cheng."
Cheng Weimin wiped his sweat: "...That's not necessary."
"Yes, yes, next time I go to suppress bandits, I will definitely make it a point to tell them that this is a bandit suppression team formed by Lord Cheng, and we will not stop until the bandit problem is eradicated. By the way, Lord Cheng, you live in the west of the city, right?"
Is this how you use preemptive strike?
If you go out to suppress the bandits, just suppress them. Why do you mention my name? And why do you specifically tell the bandits where I live? Are you afraid that they won't come to take revenge?
Cheng Weimin was filled with hatred, but he could do nothing about Chen Changfan. He could only send this plague god away with a smile, and secretly felt sullen with himself.
"Cheng Weimin, ah Cheng Weimin, why did you provoke him?"
……
After selling some mountain products along the way, Chen Changfan bought some daily necessities with three hundred taels of silver notes in his pocket.
Without much effort, Chen Changfan recruited more than a dozen militiamen. This time, he specially selected a few strong ones. After all, blacksmithing is hard work, and you can't forge iron without strength.
After returning to the mountain, Shen Cuiyun also recruited many villagers, and according to Chen Changfan's instructions, she specially recruited two blacksmiths.
Including blacksmith Han from Xiaoshi Village, there are now three blacksmiths in the village.
The pleasant clinking sound of iron hammering has begun to echo in Chen Changfan's mind.
"Boss, according to the recipe you gave, a clay furnace has been built, and the bellows have just been made!"
Shen Cuiyun, Lao Wei and others were arranging their work, and Hu the bricklayer came up to them with an excited look on his face and said.
"Come on, take me to see it!" Chen Changfan rubbed his hands excitedly and quickly followed Hu the bricklayer to the side.
Two young men were mixing mud, adding clay, straw and coarse salt, which could effectively prevent the furnace from cracking.
The other two guys were burning the furnace. As the bellows kept blowing, the furnace wall had become half dry. Chen Changfan observed it and felt that the quality of the clay furnace was pretty good and it should not be a problem to smelt a small amount of iron.
"Where's the iron ore? Is it ready?"
Someone immediately brought a basin of iron ore powder. Chen Changfan took it and found it quite heavy in his hand.
"Charcoal, coke, limestone, are they all ready?"
When everything was ready, Chen Changfan gave the order, "Ignite! Increase the temperature!"
The fire was lit, and the temperature around seemed to rise a little.
Several young men took turns adding fuel to the fire and blowing air, while Chen Changfan added mineral powder, limestone and charcoal from time to time.
He actually didn't have much experience, but since no one else knew how to smelt iron, he just went with his gut.
About two hours passed and the smelting was completed.
Everyone stood by, waiting for the furnace to be opened with some anticipation.
Hu the bricklayer smashed the clay stove with a painful look on his face and picked out pieces of slag.
Looking at the black slag still glowing red, everyone widened their eyes in curiosity.
After letting it sit for a while, Chen Changfan took the hammer and started hammering. The slag made a clanging sound, and he knew that the iron should be refined.
After removing the impurities, only the slag is left, which is about the size of a palm. It looks very irregular in shape and is black with a hint of brown.
"It's pig iron!"
Blacksmith Han couldn't help but shout excitedly, he didn't expect that his boss actually mastered the skill of iron smelting. There were not many people who knew how to make iron in this era.
Chen Changfan nodded with satisfaction. He didn't expect that the iron content of this limonite was so high. A basin of ore powder could produce a piece of pig iron the size of a palm. He really found a treasure mine.
"Did you see what I did just now? You'll do the same thing with the iron smelting later. Set up those two clay furnaces, divide the young and strong into two shifts, and keep smelting day and night."
Chen Changfan gave an order to Hu the bricklayer, who nodded repeatedly.
"Old Wei, iron smelting is a matter of great importance. If anyone spreads the news of iron smelting, no more nonsense, just kill them."
Chen Changfan did not hide his words from others, and everyone felt their scalps tingle. Old Wei nodded in agreement and glanced at everyone, but no one dared to look him in the eye.
Rumor?
Are you spreading this because you are mentally ill?
Smelting iron privately is a capital crime. If it gets out, I'm afraid no one will be in good shape.
And there is no reason to spread it.
Living in this farm, with enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear, only a person with a mental disorder would think of destroying this place.
"Zhang Yi, take a team to guard Xiaohei Mountain tonight and intensify the excavation of the limonite ore. Also, sift out the ore powder directly at Xiaohei Mountain. This way, transportation will be more efficient."
Zhang Yi took the order and retreated quickly.
These people are Chen Changfan's confidants. I believe that everyone will seriously carry out the tasks he has assigned.
When I called up the system, I found the word "Iron Smelting" in the skills column.
Spend 2 Encounter Points to perfect the Iron Smelting Technique.
Based on his own experience, Chen Changfan recorded the method of iron smelting on paper and handed it to Hu the bricklayer. It is believed that the efficiency of iron smelting can be greatly improved in the future.
Of course, these three small clay stoves were just appetizers. They would probably only be enough to make a kitchen knife after a day of refining, which was far from what he needed.
"In a few days, the large furnace should be ready. Only then will the real ironmaking business begin."
According to Chen Changfan's plan, this furnace is the heart of Xiaofeng Mountain.
Iron smelting, heating, and continuing to climb higher in the technology tree are all closely related to this furnace.
That night, just as the aroma of food filled the air in the village, Lao Wei suddenly came to report, "Boss, two bandits have arrived outside the village. They claim to be from the neighboring Silver Hook Mountain."
Yin Gou Mountain is only a few miles away from Xiaofeng Mountain and can indeed be considered as being next door.
But at this time, why are they here?
And there are only two bandits coming, what does that mean?
Chen Changfan secretly released the little lizard, and after confirming that the two bandits were outside the village, he ordered people to open the village gate and walked straight out.
When the two bandits saw Chen Changfan coming out so carelessly without any weapons or guards, a hint of respect flashed in their eyes.
"Greetings to Master Chen. We are from the Axe Gang on Silver Hook Mountain next door. We are here on the Master's orders to bring you a special gift. I hope Master Chen will accept it."
As they spoke, the two men took out two things and presented them respectfully.
Chen Changfan glanced at it without changing his expression.
Two little goldfish and a sheepskin map.
The Axe Gang is really rich and powerful.
"Thank your boss for me. Goodbye."
In fact, he disdained to associate with bandits, but he had no need to go against money.
The two bandits saluted and retreated. Chen Changfan weighed the small goldfish in his hand and estimated that it weighed about four or five taels.
"The Axe Gang heard about what happened to the Viper Gang and took the initiative to show their friendship to me."
Chen Changfan turned west, which was the direction of Yin Gou Mountain.
"Boss, you accepted this little goldfish. Does that mean you want to make friends with the Axe Gang?" Old Wei asked with some confusion.
"Who said that? I can't stand with bandits."
"Then why did you accept their gold bars?"
"They offered it to me voluntarily. Wouldn't it be unkind of me to refuse it?"
When it comes to being cruel, the boss is still the one.
Old Wei's mouth twitched, knowing that the Axe Gang's gold bars were given away for free.