The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

"Good." Xun Hao's eyes also lit up. "Brave Ma, I see you are no ordinary person. In this world, life is not easy for craftsmen, is it?" Ma Heng remained silent. His story was simple, yet tragic.

He was originally the chief carpenter of a wealthy family in Nanyang. The master of the house also loved carpentry, and the two were both teacher and friend. When the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, the master's house was destroyed by the rebel soldiers, and the entire family was slaughtered.

He managed to escape by sheer luck and wandered all the way to Yingchuan. Despite his excellent skills, he couldn't even afford a full meal.

If it weren't for the Xun family providing porridge, he would probably have starved to death in some corner long ago.

Judging from his expression, Xun Hao knew that he was almost right.

Without asking further questions, he extended an olive branch: "My Xun family wishes to build a workshop specializing in the production of all kinds of artifacts. We are lacking a chief craftsman to oversee the entire operation. Would you be willing to accept this position, sir?"

Ma Heng suddenly raised his head and looked at Xun Hao in disbelief.

The head craftsman was the leader of the workshop, the head of all the craftsmen, responsible for designing blueprints, assigning tasks, and supervising the construction schedule—a highly respected position. What merit did this destitute vagrant possess?

"Young master...you're not joking, are you?" His voice was a little hoarse.

"I never joke," Xun Hao said calmly and firmly. "If you're willing, you'll be fully responsible for everything in the workshop. Just list the necessary manpower and materials, and I'll provide them for you. I have only one requirement: you must reproduce the blueprints I give you exactly as they appear, and you must keep them absolutely confidential."

Ma Heng's chest heaved violently as he looked at the boy in front of him, who was only a few years older than his son. In the boy's clear eyes, there was no contempt or pity, only pure trust and appreciation.

A scholar will die for one who understands him. This respect is more touching to a craftsman than any gold or silver.

He took a step back, knelt down, and kowtowed heavily to Xun Hao.

"This humble commoner, Ma Heng, is willing to serve you, sir, with the utmost loyalty!"

"Please rise." Xun Hao personally stepped forward and helped him up. "From now on, you are a member of the Xun family. Come with me back to the manor first; I have some things I'd like you to prepare."

After settling Ma Heng in, Xun Hao strolled around the estate with the steward.

The scenery in Zhuangzi was even better than Xun Hao had imagined.

Under Xun Yu's personal management, the place was well-organized and showed no signs of the chaos that often plagues refugee camps.

Men, women, young and old each had their own tasks. The young and strong worked in the fields, the women washed clothes, and the children were gathered together and taught to read simple words by a literate old man.

Inspired by Ma Heng, Xun Hao returned to the city and instructed Xun Yu to post notices at various refugee settlements, stating that anyone with a skill, whether blacksmith, carpenter, potter, weaver, brewer, or accountant, could register at the Xun family's management office.

Once verified, they will not only be allocated better accommodations, but will also receive an extra portion of food rations each day.

The announcement caused a sensation throughout the refugee camps of Yingchuan. For these people who were starving and living hand to mouth, it was like a godsend.

Within two or three days, the registration list was delivered to Xun Hao's desk, a thick stack of documents.

Xun Hao flipped through the pages, while Guo Jia poured himself some tea, muttering, "You really can't sit still. You just found one Ma Heng, and you're already thinking about the next one."

Xun Hao ignored him and focused his gaze on two names on the roster.

"Pu Yuan, a native of Nanyang, was a blacksmith by family tradition and claimed to be able to forge steel a hundred times."

"Tao Sheng, a native of Shangdang, was a potter whose pottery was harder than stone."

"Hundred-refined steel?" Guo Jia also came over, his eyes lighting up at the words. "That's some huge boast. The best ring-pommel swords used in the army these days are only thirty-refined. How dare this vagrant blacksmith claim to be able to forge hundred-refined steel?"

"Whether it's boasting or not, we'll find out soon enough." Xun Hao closed the register and instructed the servant outside the door, "Go and invite these two men here. Also, take the best batch of iron we bought from the north and send it to the blacksmith's shop in the west of the city."

Half an hour later, Pu Yuan and Tao Sheng were brought to Xun Hao's courtyard.

Pu Yuan was a burly man, around thirty years old, with bulging muscles. Years of blacksmithing had given his skin a dark red hue, and his hands were covered in thick calluses and burn scars. He stood there like an iron tower, but his eyes were sharp and shrewd.

Tao Sheng was a taciturn middle-aged man, thin and slightly hunched, who looked somewhat timid. He kept his head down and nervously twisted his hands in front of him.

"You are Pu Yuan?" Xun Hao's gaze fell on Pu Yuan.

"This humble commoner, Pu Yuan, greets you, sir." Pu Yuan bowed respectfully.

"The roster says you can forge 100 liters of steel?" Guo Jia asked lazily from the side, his tone clearly skeptical.

Pu Yuan glanced at Guo Jia and replied in a deep voice, "The term 'hundred-times-refined' is just a saying. The quality of steel does not depend on the number of times it is refined, on the temperature, on the force of the hammering, and even more so on the water used for quenching. My family's ancestral steel-forging method may not be the best in the world, but ordinary swords and knives are nothing but clay chickens and earthenware dogs in front of the weapons I forge."

What a boastful tone.

Xun Hao didn't laugh. He simply looked calmly at Pu Yuan: "Words are meaningless. The blacksmith shop in the west of the city has already prepared the best iron and the best charcoal for you. I'll give you three days to forge a sword. If your sword can cut through the ring-pommel swords issued to the county soldiers without damaging the blade, I will grant you the largest forging workshop in Yingchuan, with manpower and materials at your disposal."

Pu Yuan's breath hitched, and a burning light flashed in his eyes. He stared intently at Xun Hao, as if confirming the truth of the other's words.

"Is what you say true, young master?"

"I never break my word."

"Very well!" Pu Yuan clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice booming like a bell. "If I fail to satisfy you in three days, I will bring you my head!"

After saying that, he turned and strode away, unable to wait even a moment longer.

Tao Sheng was the only one left in the courtyard. He kept his head down, and his body was even trembling slightly.

"Your name is Tao Sheng?" Xun Hao's voice softened slightly.

"Yes...yes, this humble citizen...Tao Sheng."

"Raise your head."

Tao Sheng hesitated for a moment, then slowly raised his head. It was a weathered face, his eyes filled with fear and unease.

"I've heard that your pottery is very sturdy?"

"It's... a craft passed down in my family. When firing it, I added something else to the clay... making it... more durable than ordinary pottery jars."

Did you bring any samples?

Tao Sheng quickly and carefully took out a ceramic bowl from the tattered cloth bag he was carrying on his back. The ceramic bowl had a simple and unremarkable design and a grayish-black color.

Guo Jia picked it up and weighed it in his hand, then curled his lip: "This is it? It'd break if you threw it on the ground, wouldn't it?"

As he spoke, he loosened his grip, and the ceramic bowl fell onto the bluestone slab on the ground.