From Robinson Crusoe

"I do not know."

Zhou Ri looked hesitant. According to his understanding of the large tribe, the loss of nearly thirty warriors was already a considerable loss.

This unexpected loss would obviously have an impact on the expansion trend of the large tribes, and might even disrupt their deployment and cause the tribes to lose in subsequent conflicts.

Under normal circumstances, it is almost impossible for the leader of a large tribe to send an expeditionary force to investigate.

But there are exceptions to everything. Sunday was not clear about the style of the leader of the big tribe. He only knew that it took only a dozen years for the tribe to develop to its current size. During this period, it annexed many small tribes and showed signs of unifying the archipelago.

He couldn't give Chen Zhou a definite answer for a man who was different from most tribal leaders.

Trying to express his point with his limited vocabulary, Sunday finally gave another guess:

If one or two of the warriors who landed on the island to participate in the cannibal sacrifice survived, they could escape from the big island in a canoe and return to the archipelago safely.

Upon learning that there are hostile gods on the big island, the leaders of the big tribes will most likely be too afraid to gather their men to attack again.

He had to consider the consequences of further losses of tribal warriors.

But it is certain that all the soldiers and priests who landed on the island would be wiped out.

Over the years, every time people went to the island to hold the cannibal feast, it went smoothly, but this time no one returned, and there was no storm during the sacrifice.

This happened in a very strange way, but there was no obvious danger.

If the large tribe has enough manpower in the future, it is not impossible to land on the island again.

……

On that day, Chen Zhou only wanted to cut the weeds completely and leave no one alive to avoid unnecessary trouble.

I never expected that not leaving a message could lead to more serious consequences.

Sunday grew up in a primitive tribe, participated in conflicts between indigenous peoples, and was a captive in a large tribe for a while. He felt that the boy's guess was quite credible.

……

“It’s a bit troublesome, but since everyone has been killed, it’s too late to regret now.

We can't just send these two helpers who we have trained with great difficulty back and let them spread the word about how terrible Oshima is.

Besides, I was alone before, with a few improved flintlock rifles, I could fight ten people at once and save these two natives.

Now I have three people, and in the future I will make guns with longer range, faster firing rate and greater power. Even if that big tribe uses all its manpower to attack, what is there to be afraid of?"

“And think about it from another perspective. Two laborers are not enough. If we can domesticate more natives, we can try to do more things.

But after all, I saved the lives of these two natives and was able to intimidate them.

If we catch the warriors of the big tribes, under the influence of blood feud and faith, it is hard to say whether they can be as docile as these two guys..."

Chen Zhou thought to himself, his expression did not change at all, as if he was only seeking information about the indigenous tribes out of interest and had no other intentions towards those cannibal tribes.

Although he did not react on the surface, he was still on high alert for the possibility of a large tribe landing on the island.

It is now the rainy season and the sea is unpredictable. Unless the leader of the big tribe is crazy, he will never send the natives out to the big island.

When the dry season comes and the weather is clear and the sea is calm, Chen Zhou plans to build a watchtower and a beacon tower near the top of the mountain so that he can keep an eye on things when he herds sheep nearby on Saturday.

According to what was said on Saturday and Sunday, the natives usually land on the island around noon or in the afternoon to hold cannibalism ceremonies. As long as Saturday does not slack off, there is a high chance of observing the natives landing on the island at the first moment.

……

Of course, before the cannibals landed on the island, Chen Zhou couldn't devote all his energy to guarding against them.

He has more important things to do.

……

The arrival of the rainy season forced the charcoal kiln to stop working, but it did not affect the progress of indoor work.

With sufficient manpower, Chen Zhou felt more confident. During the process of expanding the forging room, he would occasionally take two natives with him to dig the storage room.

Frequent rainfall meant that the crops did not need irrigation, and the growing flock of sheep also became docile and honest after months of Saturday's companionship.

This allows the duo to spend less energy on their daily tasks, freeing up more time to learn and help build God's Abode.

Simultaneously with the expansion of the forge, the laying of load-bearing columns, the laying of ceilings and floors, the construction of exterior walls, and most importantly, the design and construction of the forge were also carried out.

……

Chen Zhou could vaguely reconstruct most of the things he had actually seen based on his memory and the knowledge he had acquired.

But this forge was definitely beyond the scope of his knowledge.

The only forges he knew about were the ones at the sword-forging convention, but most of the forges in that show were electric furnaces. Even the outdoor hand-cranked coal furnaces did not use bellows but blowers, which were not of much reference value to him.

After thinking about it, Chen Zhou believes that the general structure of both modern coal-fired forges and traditional forges should be similar.

No matter what, it cannot be separated from the three core structures of "combustion system", "heating system" and "smoke exhaust system".

Modern forging furnaces may at most add a heat exchanger to preheat the air to improve combustion efficiency, or install a water jacket in the furnace insulation layer to recover waste heat.

As for these three core structures, it is sufficient to design a good layout to ensure that the wind chamber can deliver air into the combustion area and promote combustion efficiency.

……

After studying for seven or eight days and drawing a bunch of design drawings, Chen Zhou officially started work after feeling that his theory had no major flaws.

The space created in the forging room is sufficient for use.

But before building the forge, he had to burn some refractory bricks.

It was cloudy and rainy outside all day, so the pottery kiln could not be used normally. Chen Zhou could only build a temporary brick kiln in the forging room to produce the building materials he needed in small batches.

Fortunately, the forging furnace is not very large, so not many refractory bricks are needed.

In less than half a month, he had prepared enough white mud bricks. He then dismantled the temporary brick kiln and built a forge near the outer wall.

……

When it comes to areas he is not good at, Chen Zhou always likes to choose more conservative design ideas, and this forge is no exception.

Its combustion chamber and heating chamber use a very traditional and simple up and down layout.

The wind chamber is slightly different from the traditional forge.

Heated air helps to promote complete combustion of unburned gases, so modern forges usually have a heat exchanger for heating the air.

Chen Zhou took this into consideration when designing the forging furnace. He deliberately divided the wind chamber into two parts, the upper and lower parts. He used the residual heat in the combustion zone to heat the air first, and then sent the heated air into the combustion zone through the bottom of the furnace.

The heating chamber of the forge is a straight-through structure with no redundant design.

When building the smoke exhaust system, Chen Zhou thought about adding a new channel in the main flue to allow the flue gas to enter the heat exchange area and further utilize the heat released by the fuel.

However, there is already a heat exchange area in the wind chamber, and adding another heat exchange area in the flue always seems a bit redundant.

If the weather is fine and does not affect outdoor work, a larger pottery kiln can be built. Chen Zhou has the idea of firing a square pottery jar and installing it on both sides of the heating room to boil water during the forging process.

Unfortunately, the current conditions do not allow it.

Besides, Chen Zhou was still unsure about the actual performance of this forge, so he didn't think about those fancy functions, but just concentrated on building this "weapon" that could help him enter the Iron Age.

……

Having accumulated enough construction experience, Chen Zhou, as a half-civil engineer, is quite adept at building a forge.

Neither the combustion chamber, the wind chamber, nor the heating chamber had any problems for him. He only encountered some troubles when making the bellows.

Since he didn't know how to tan leather, he only learned how to tan fur from an old guy on the forum. As a result, the edges of the bellows he made were not tight and always leaked air when pumping.

To this end, Chen Zhou even took out the precious seal skin to replace the sheepskin, but the improvement was not significant.

There was no other choice, so he had to cut the Ultraman suit open and wrap it with a mixture of rubber and iron sheets, and finally achieved the desired effect.

……

1662 3 Month 17 Day.

After more than a month of preparation and construction, the forge was finally placed neatly outside the forge room.

It is square in shape, with the heating chamber suspended above the combustion chamber, approximately at the same level as Chen Zhou's waist. The outer layer is covered with a layer of white mud, making it look both heavy and solid, giving people an indescribable sense of solidity.

……

Small pieces of metal that had been cut in advance were neatly placed on the long table beside the stove, and shiny black charcoal was placed in the fuel area.

The oil lamp hanging from the ceiling emitted a faint light, and even before it was lit, a faint smell of heat emanated from the room.

Saturday and Sunday stood behind Chen Zhou, looking at the newly built behemoth with curious eyes, secretly guessing what this strange building was used for.

……

"Light the fire."

When Chen Zhou tried forging for the first time, the forging process of those veteran blacksmiths in the knife forging competition kept flashing through his mind, and he could feel his heartbeat gradually speeding up.

Whether it's a mule or a horse, it has to be taken out for a walk. No matter how nervous he is or how afraid of failure he is, he has to start working today.

Spread the crushed charcoal into small pieces in the furnace, put some dry twigs in it, and the flame began to spread with the crisp sound of the lighter.

The temperature of the furnace rose rapidly, and everyone standing in front of the forging furnace felt the heat coming towards them.

Looking at the bright red flames, Chen Zhou couldn't help but think of a poem written by his teacher:

"Man and ape bid farewell to each other. Only a few stones have been ground, in the childhood.

The flames in the copper and iron furnace are turning, so when will it be guessed? It's only a few thousand years of cold and heat.

It is rare to smile in this world, we bow to each other on the battlefield. Blood flows all over the suburbs. "

……

From apes to upright walking, and from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

The bright red tongues of fire will spit out shovels and pickaxes used for farming and production, but more importantly, weapons that can kill people.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhou turned around to look at the two natives behind him who were still unclear about what this forge meant to the history of human development. In his mind, he pictured the two holding iron weapons and fighting against their "fellow tribesmen".

“Although war is cruel, human development cannot be separated from war.

What I am afraid of is that small tribes like theirs, living in resource-poor areas, have very backward systems but are unaware of the importance of productivity and technology.

Knowing only how to stir up conflict and annex each other is the road to self-destruction..."

……

While observing the fire, Chen Zhou called two natives to his side and instructed them, one to add charcoal and the other to press the bellows.

In modern times, with the help of blowers and chain grates, one person can handle the forging work slowly. But here, in order to make the first forging go smoothly, he still had to train two capable assistants.

……

Before they knew it, Saturday and Sunday had been living on the island for almost a hundred days.

The unprecedented happy life, sufficient food, balanced nutrition, enough sleep time and exercise made the two natives seem to be reborn.

They are taller, have whiter skin, and have obvious muscle lines on their bodies.

Perhaps due to the influence of knowledge, the two domesticated people no longer have the ferocious aura of the cannibalistic natives on their faces. Instead, they look more and more like the Chinese people, with a tough and kind temperament vaguely revealed in their faces.

……

After more than ninety days of getting along and teaching each other, the two have learned most of the Chinese vocabulary.

Not only that, the number of characters they learn to write is also increasing steadily.

Chen Zhou often ate with the two men. When they took a break from work, he would occasionally ask them some questions or tell them some traditional Chinese mythology stories.

For example, Pangu created the world, Nuwa created human beings, Nuwa repaired the sky, Kuafu chased the sun, Houyi shot down the sun, etc.

Although the two natives understood that crops grew from the ground and sheep were born from ewes, and had a preliminary and superficial understanding of the laws of nature, they did not have the idea that "there is no God in the world."

They believed the story Chen Zhou told without a doubt.

After all, the history of Chinese culture is too long and profound, and its mythology system is much richer than the primitive gods they used to believe in.

The level of detail in mythological stories is an important pillar in establishing a complete image of gods.

……

Preaching is addictive.

As Chen Zhou gradually adapted to the role of "teacher", at the end of telling stories to the two natives, he would always analyze the spirit expressed in the stories and chew up the essence of the myths to feed to Saturday and Sunday.

The spirit of courage to explore and break through that Pangu passed on when he created the world was transformed into the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, lakes and seas after his death;
The spirit of fighting against nature and striving for self-improvement conveyed by Gun and Yu’s flood control efforts;
Stories including Kuafu chasing the sun, Houyi shooting down the sun, and Jingwei filling the sea, all instilled in the two indigenous people the idea that man can conquer nature, that one must be perseverant, and that one must serve the public wholeheartedly.

Chen Zhou didn't know how much impact these stories would have on the two indigenous people.

He was just very relieved that during the lonely challenge, he had two helpers who were more and more in line with his thoughts and ideas and were similar to the people in his hometown to accompany him.

……

Spending time together will naturally create a tacit understanding that needs no elaboration.

A few simple instructions from Chen Zhou were enough to make the two natives understand the essentials of the job. They watched Chen Zhou's every move intently, adding charcoal and blowing air.

The temperature in the furnace is rising steadily.

It was raining outside and extremely hot inside.

Before starting to forge, Chen Zhou took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and picked up the pliers.

For the first forging, his requirements for himself were very simple—

There is no need to forge a qualified finished product, as long as the shape of the iron block can be changed smoothly and the quenching is completed, it is considered a success.

……

The bellows draw air and continuously spray it into the heat exchange area next to the combustion area. After preliminary heating, it flows into the furnace again.

The temperature of the charcoal fire was getting higher and higher, and the color was bright like a little sun.

Beads of sweat were already dripping down Chen Zhou's forehead. He observed the color of the flames, estimated the temperature, and his eyes were filled with the blazing flames.

Thinking the time was right, he secured the iron block with pliers, placed it in the furnace and began to heat it.

……

"faster!"

"Too fast, slow down."

Sweat evaporates in the high temperature, and the working forge is like a beast with fangs bared, showing its ferocity and power.

Chen Zhou would occasionally give orders to Zhou Ri, who was pressing the bellows, to control the firepower.

Saturday, when it was time to add charcoal, was not idle either. He had to constantly break large pieces of charcoal into small pieces and fill them into the burning area.

……

As the flames licked the metal, it turned red, indicating that it was ready for the next stage - forging.

The short pliers exposed their shortcomings at this time. Chen Zhou took a lot of effort to take out the metal block from the flames and placed it on the "temporary anvil" made of a whole piece of rock.

The heat waves continuously emitted by the iron block distorted the surrounding air. Being the closest, Chen Zhou could feel its heat and danger.

Call ~
Take a long breath.

A little worried about getting injured at work, Chen Zhou tightly grasped the pliers with one hand to clamp the metal block, and picked up the hammer with the other hand. He carefully adjusted the angle and struck the first blow.

Long-term labor has greatly enhanced his ability to control his body.

Although it was the first time forging, Chen Zhou's hammer landed accurately and heavily, leaving a faint dent on the surface of the metal block.

Silently encouraging himself in his heart, reminding himself to pay attention to safety while also relaxing his mind, Chen Zhou brought down the second hammer.

……

Muscle memory gradually formed. Although the hammer in his hand was not a professional blacksmith's hammer, it could not resist Chen Zhou's steady hand and strong strength.

Layers of debris-like oxide scales were constantly peeling off from the iron block, and its bright red color was rapidly fading, indicating that its temperature was dropping.

Before the iron block turned completely black, Chen Zhou put it back into the forge.

Add charcoal, press the bellows, increase the temperature, and repeat the same steps again and again.

The block of metal softened, accepted the forging, and gradually became flat, like an untamed wild horse that was transformed into a famous horse under the whip of the hammer.

……

Of course, although Chen Zhou felt good about himself and thought he swung the hammer as fast and powerfully as those old blacksmiths.

But he was just a layman in the profound and complex art of forging.

Without experience and skills, even if he swung the hammer hard, the piece of iron would not be able to smoothly turn into the shape he wanted.

……

The long first forging lasted for more than two hours.

The strong Chen Zhou drank no less than four kilograms of water during this process.

The fatigue of his muscles was not a big deal. It was mainly the high temperature and the enclosed space that made him feel uncomfortable, as if the thing being forged in the furnace was not the iron, but himself.

Without looking in the mirror, Chen Zhou knew that his face must have been burned red.

The two natives were even worse off than him.

Saturday, who was in charge of adding charcoal, had a dark face covered with streaks of sweat.

Sunday, who was working the bellows, was exhausted. Even if he worked on the farm all day from morning to night, his face would never show the fatigue he was feeling now.

When Chen Zhou simply quenched the fire and announced that the work for the day was over, both of them showed expressions of relief on their faces.

……

Before forging began, the iron block cut by the super-time and space at least had a regular shape.

After Chen Zhou finished forging, it had turned into an uneven iron plate covered with hammer marks.

In fact, during the forging process, Chen Zhou had a general goal——

He wanted to imitate the famous Zhangqiu iron pot and hand-forge a large pot that could be used for stir-frying and stewing.

At this moment, looking at the "strange-shaped big iron pot" thrown on the ground, Chen Zhou believed that his face was darker than the bottom of the pot.

There is always a huge gap between ideal and reality.

After all, forging is different from carpentry, and it is not something that someone who has never been exposed to it can quickly master.

Modifying metal is far from as simple as carving a piece of wood.

Coupled with factors such as insufficient tools, an unwieldy hammer, no suitable anvil, and pliers that were too short, Chen Zhou's failure was not surprising.

……

Having been mentally prepared, Chen Zhou did not feel discouraged by the failure of the first forging attempt.

While drinking water, he summed up the experiences and lessons he learned from this failure.

“If you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools.

My initial goal should be to shift from difficult tools such as iron pots to practical and simple tools such as hammers and long-handled pliers.

Forging these tools not only improves my skills, but also makes subsequent work easier.”

"In addition to the tools, I also need to find a suitable anvil..."

Thinking of this, Chen Zhou touched the "temporary stone anvil" that had only been used once.

This bluish-gray boulder is as hard as iron, but has very poor toughness and is not resistant to high temperatures.

After some forging, the stone's originally flat and smooth surface had been broken into a spider web of broken pits and cracks.

It can be said that it is basically a disposable item.

And even as a disposable item, it doesn't qualify.

During the forging process, the broken stones that were splashed and peeled off from the stone surface caused considerable trouble to the forging.

Once they are embedded in the iron block, they will pose a hidden danger to the structural strength of the iron block, thus affecting the durability of the finished ironware.

……

However, the hammer head of the hammer is small in size and simple in shape, so it is not too difficult to forge.

The anvil is a relatively large and heavy tool with a complex shape and high requirements for hardness.

Even if a rough shape can be forged, in order to enhance the function and practicality of the anvil, the anvil surface must be smoothed or a hole must be drilled at the anvil nose, which are not simple tasks.

Without a complete set of tools, it would be too difficult for Chen Zhou to forge an anvil by force.

If we try to cast it with molten iron, there may be some chance of success.

Of course, compared to these methods that require you to spend your own mental and physical energy and time to obtain it, relying on mysterious rewards seems to be simpler and more convenient. (End of this chapter)