wild trail

Chapter 288 How Steel Is Made

Under the hard work of a hundred peasants, a large area was cleared in half a month, but it was covered by thick soil, and there was nothing of value at all.

The only thing that can be seen as a whole is the huge dinosaur statue in the middle of the city.

Although Wang Lang has hope for what he can find in the ruins, he also knows that this hope is extremely slim. I don't know how long the lost city has been deserted. It is definitely not easy to find information about dinosaurs here. things.

After exploring for half a month, the "archaeological team" did not pass anything of value, and Wang Lang gradually put this matter behind him.

After more than a month of ironmaking work, progress has been made. With the Ministry of Industry sending the first steel scimitar, it marks that Xia Kingdom has initially entered the Iron Age.

Compared with bronze weapons, iron weapons are much more complicated to forge. Bronze weapons only need to pour molten copper water into the mold, and then polish them after forming, but iron weapons are different, unless there are advanced techniques, Otherwise, if you want to get a sophisticated weapon, you must go through a lot of forging.

The steel produced in the blast furnace is not fine steel, and the carbon content is still relatively high. This machete has been forged repeatedly, and some patterns can be seen faintly on the blade. Wang Lang swung the machete and slashed at the corner of the table. .

After the knife passed, the corner of the table snapped off. Seeing that the blade was intact, he couldn't help sighing: "It really is a good knife."

"Your Majesty, although this knife is extremely sharp, it is very troublesome to forge. It is impossible to mass-produce it now." The official of the Ministry of Industry said slowly.

Wang Lang looked at the scimitar in his hand, and asked in a deep voice, "What's the problem?"

"It's not difficult to smelt this iron ore, but using copper to make iron weapons, we found that the effect is not as hard and sharp as copper weapons, and it is very easy to break, but if it is like this scimitar, repeated calcining hammer If you hit it, the weapon will be extremely hard, but this process takes a lot of time, just this one knife took us nearly ten days."

After listening to the official's narration, Wang Lang knew where the problem was. The improvement of smelting technology can only be explored a little bit. It is his limit to be able to achieve this step. However, he still has a solution to the troublesome problem of forging. To solve it, if manpower is not enough, use animal power or water power. As a modern person, he knows that science and technology are the primary productive forces, so it is impossible to be as rigid as the ancients.

"I know about this matter, and I will find a way to solve it. You should refine as much wrought iron as possible. Even if you can't make weapons now, you can use it to make farm tools." Wang Lang said slowly.

Hearing this, the official's eyes lit up, and he said respectfully: "Building farm tools? Your Majesty is so wise. We thought this iron tool was useless before?"

Wang Lang said with a smile: "Everything has its use, it's just a matter of finding the right method. The mining of iron ore cannot be stopped. If there are not enough blast furnaces for making iron, build a few more. This thing will be more useful than copperware in the future .”

"I obey my orders!"

Wang Lang nodded, and said, "Go ahead and do your work first. I'll let you guys know after I think of a solution to the forging."

"Yes!"

The official withdrew respectfully.

Wang Lang waved the scimitar a few times, and couldn't help but smiled wryly: "I thought that fine steel could be made with charcoal, it's a bit whimsical, it seems that the steelmaking technology is still immature, it seems that the only way to do it is from the forging method." Figured out a way."

Putting the scimitar and his saber together, Wang Lang took out a piece of paper and began to design the forging hammer with a brush.

Although he is not very proficient in chemistry, he is still very familiar with simple machinery.

The river next to Yancheng has a gentle flow. If you want to use the water power to forge, you must build a dam. With the current ability, building a dam is not as difficult as skyrocketing, but it is definitely not an easy task.

In order to produce usable steel weapons as soon as possible, Wang Lang had no choice but to use animal power instead of water power.

The power of the horned dragon is obvious to all. If four or five horned dragons are used as power, the forging speed can definitely be increased many times.

After more than a week of repeated revisions, the animal power forging hammer was finally designed.

With this drawing, Wang Lang came to the Ministry of Industry.

The officials of the Ministry of Industry who stayed behind saw Wang Lang's arrival and hurried out to greet him.

"I don't know Your Majesty, what's the important thing here?" the Ministry of Industry official asked.

"Who is in charge here now." Wang Lang asked.

"Chen, Li Tong, is currently in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Industry." A young En official stepped forward and said.

This young man, Wang Lang, had some impressions. Because of his outstanding performance, he was recommended by Mu Feng as the servant of the Ministry of Industry.

"Li Shilang, let's see how long it takes to make the things on this blueprint." Wang Lang handed the blueprint to Li Tong.

After receiving the drawing, Li Tong opened it and looked at it. It was drawn on something he had never seen before, but Wang Lang explained every part in small characters. Even if he had never seen this thing, it did not hinder him After careful consideration for a while, he said respectfully: "Return to Your Majesty, this thing can only be made in about a month or so."

"More than a month is enough. In this way, let me know as soon as the thing is made." Wang Lang said in a deep voice.

"Obey!" Li Tong said respectfully.

After explaining his affairs, Wang Lang got up and left under the sound of respect from everyone.

A few days later, the team that transported the pterosaur eggs also returned to Yancheng.

When the pterosaur eggs arrived, Wang Lang inquired about the hatching environment of the pterosaurs in detail, and arranged for a special person to take charge of the matter. As long as half of the nearly a hundred dragon eggs hatched successfully, it would be considered a success.

From the mouth of the returning officer, Wang Lang learned that before they returned, half of the construction of the harbor had been completed, the wharf had been initially formed, and Mufeng had already started the construction of the shipyard. It is estimated that in half a year, it should be ready for use. .

Although Xia Guo's population is small, with the comprehensive development of sea, land and air, the national strength can be said to be thriving.

Now in Xia Kingdom, counting the serving prisoners of war, there are already nearly 3 people, and the savages within a radius of 3 miles are basically gathered. A country of 500 people maintains an army of [-] people. Wang Langshen I deeply feel that there is not enough manpower.

Regarding this situation, Wang Lang felt that the national border should be pushed further. The specific situation in the south is unclear, but in the north, he knew that there were a large number of human tribes living there, and he temporarily gave up his plan to attack in the jungle.

"It doesn't matter if you are yellow, white or whatever, as long as you are alive, you are the labor force of our Xia Kingdom." Wang Lang stared at the map and slammed his fist heavily on the position in the north.

(End of this chapter)