Chapter 9, Hundred Refinements (Part Two)

In various regions of Jiangnan, the Mongolian steeds frolic freely, crops lie flattened, and cities are reduced to rubble amidst the same flames. Those cities were our homes. Du Hu's face gradually turned red from the heat of the fire; several soldiers attempted to step forward to assist him, but he pushed them away. Looking up at Wen Tianxiang, one could see that he remained calm and composed, as if he had once worked in steel casting in a past life, using tongs to manipulate the iron materials, evenly pouring a layer of molten iron onto the other side of the wrought iron plate.

I will give it a try, the advantage of this method is its speed. Wen Tianxiang smiled as he took off his outer robe and walked towards the furnace. From the perspective of another world, there are still many areas in the logistics camp's armory that need continuous improvement. In Wen Zhong's memory, there are two types of furnaces: a flat furnace and a simple converter that can directly refine molten iron into steel, but both methods require a stable base of operations. They belong to high investment, high output methods. The steel pouring method, on the other hand, is suitable for guerrilla zones that need to be relocated at any time and has low technical requirements. During the Republic of China period, the local armed groups in Shanxi used this method entirely. When the Japanese arrived, everyone buried the furnace with soil and quickly relocated with the finished products. As long as a space about ten feet wide was found, they could immediately set up another furnace. In an instant, they could refine high-quality steel suitable for making bayonets. When the Japanese arrived, everyone buried the furnace with soil and quickly relocated with the finished products. As long as a space about ten feet wide was found, they could immediately set up another furnace. In an instant, they could refine high-quality steel suitable for making bayonets

Wen Tianxiang smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Liu Zijun's suggestion. The crossbow designed by Wen Zhong is a synthesis of Eastern and Western crossbows, incorporating the mechanism of Eastern crossbow arrows and the metal arms and gear transmission technology of Western crossbow arrows, making it appear quite novel. However, whether it is the steel crossbow or the nearby foot-powered simple lathe, which is regarded as a divine object by everyone, the design concept is not complicated. An experienced craftsman could easily replicate similar products after disassembling and reassembling a few times. Yet, whether it is the steel crossbow or the nearby foot-powered simple lathe, which is regarded as a divine object by everyone, the design concept is not complicated. An experienced craftsman could easily replicate similar products after disassembling and reassembling a few times

This Prime Minister Wen is truly becoming increasingly inscrutable Liu Zijun observed the busy figure of Wen Tianxiang, shaking his head repeatedly

Wen Tianxiang raised his head and saw a large group of young people gathered around the stream, varying in age, dressed in the common attire of the people from Fujian, not knowing what their purpose was

"Prime Minister, General Chen has returned," Liu Zijun leaned close to Wen Tianxiang's ear and explained in a low voice. "General Chen has come back from Shaowu Army (Shaowu, Fujian) and brought back dozens of craftsmen. That old gentleman's surname is Lin, and he is the leader of the craftsmen"

Who speaks of the strong odor of thousands of miles, when China possesses its own heroic spirit and literature

Sigh, it is hard to express in words," Chen Zijing sighed, his expression somewhat despondent. "We suffered a defeat on Jiangnan West Road, and various heroes have successively fallen. Lord Zhang Shijie dispatched troops to attack Quanzhou, but they were unable to capture it. Upon hearing that the Tartars' reinforcements had arrived, they hurriedly retreated by water. With the main forces of the Song Dynasty gone, various regions fell back into the hands of the Tartars. In some areas, wealthy families, fearing a massacre by the Tartars, assassinated the Song Dynasty's defenders and hurriedly presented their heads to surrender.

No need for formalities, there is no need for politeness in the military. How was the journey? What were the results?" Wen Tianxiang, unable to check whether the steel he had painstakingly produced was successful, grabbed Chen Zijing and asked eagerly

Extract the iron material, forge it to remove impurities, then return it to the furnace, pour in the molten iron again, and forge it once more. After two pourings, a faint smile appeared on Wen Tianxiang's face as he quietly instructed Xiao Zi: "Alright, take it for quenching and see how it compares to your refined steel"

In Wenzhong's memory, the steelmaking furnace is merely an extension of the smelting furnace, equally suitable for guerrilla warfare, as it allows for the need to "smelt wherever a location is found, and quickly relocate with the finished product after smelting." The two furnace chambers are connected in a "日" shape, with the steel furnace in front and the charcoal furnace behind. The best material for steelmaking is coke, but the peat (coal) used for producing coke on Baizhang Ridge is extremely scarce, so a mixture of 60% charcoal and 40% coke is used.

"Old man, I mean no offense. I am already buried up to my neck in loess and do not wish to serve the Tartars like a dog. If it is inconvenient for you to speak, I will not ask further." Old man Lin misinterpreted Wen Tianxiang's expression, and there was a hint of despair in his voice

This paradox is quite complex, so complex that Wen Tianxiang momentarily forgot the fire tongs in his hand. The cast iron block has nearly melted away, and it seems that this steel casting is about to fail.

"There is no heavenly book; that is just a rumor," Wen Tianxiang's explanation sounded to the crowd like an attempt to cover up the truth. Old Man Lin nodded in understanding, choosing not to engage with Wen Tianxiang on the issue of the heavenly book. After tending to the fire for a while with his head down, he quietly asked, "Sir Wen, does the heavenly book mention whether our Great Song will perish?"

The熟铁盘 in the furnace turned yellow again. Wen Tianxiang picked up a bar of pig iron and evenly poured a layer of molten iron onto the熟铁. Old man Lin watched intently for a while, exclaiming in admiration, "What a skill, what a skill! I wonder where the gentleman learned this from"

Before Xiao Zi could act, an old man over sixty jumped forward without any hesitation, using iron chopsticks to grab the steel ball. He pushed through the crowd and swiftly ran to the stream, plunging the steel ball into a mud pit used for quenching.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zijun scrutinized the old man once more, filled with both belief and doubt. "How old are you, old man? Can you keep up with us in marching and fighting?"

The white smoke billowed out, obscuring the excited gazes of the craftsmen

"The stench of thousands of miles is so strong, where is the loyal soul of a thousand autumns?" Du Hu sighed to the heavens, his fists clenched tightly, making a crisp sound. Several soldiers heard this clearly, their blood-red eyes wide open. Wen Tianxiang had once garrisoned in Jianzhou, and the places mentioned by Chen Zijing are the hometowns of many soldiers.

Just set up, as per the Prime Minister's instructions, it is right inside. Xiao Zi honestly replied, "That method is unheard of by everyone, and no one dares to try it first"

"The adult has awakened from his coma, and everything has changed," Chen Zijing said with a smile, his face full of admiration. "Don't underestimate that old man; he is the best blacksmith within a radius of several hundred miles. He is the revered master of the Baoji Ironworks. With Lord Wen being so sincere towards him, how could he not bring his disciples to forge weapons for us?"

After examining the drive wheels crafted by the artisans on the simple lathe, Wen Tianxiang inquired, "Have you finished assembling the furnace?"

"Why not, I just want to give everyone a demonstration," Wen Tianxiang pushed aside Xiao Zi, took a pair of cotton gloves from an old craftsman, and while walking towards the furnace, shouted, "Noble sir, you assist me with this."

Du Hu was a master of weapon forging, possessing strength far greater than that of an ordinary soldier. Grasping the handle of the bellows, he pulled and pushed, causing the flames in the charcoal chamber to roar over the fire wall. In a short while, the wrought iron material was heated to a tender red. Drawing upon Wen Zhong's memories, Wen Tianxiang knew that the temperature was nearly right. He used iron chopsticks to pick up a thin piece of pig iron and placed it two-thirds into the steel chamber. Red sparks danced as the flames consumed it, and moments later, the pig iron began to melt, dripping molten iron onto the red wrought iron material, producing a faint crackling sound. Suddenly, the molten iron began to boil, and some dross floated to the surface like a pot boiling over, splattering countless sparks.

The "shameless" craftsmen were enraged upon hearing this, clanging their hammers together with a loud ringing sound

Note on Alcoholics: The methods of steelmaking and iron smelting originated from the base during the Anti-Japanese War and are not fabricated. Along with *illustrations*, the technology of steel casting already existed during the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. In the 1930s, a practical steelmaking technique among northern bandits was called "one-foot overturning," which was a type of small smelting furnace specifically designed to provide materials for weapons. If discovered, they would kick it over and flee, a name that is quite descriptive.

In the furnace, molten iron is boiling and sublimating on the steel, as a piece of steel billet gradually takes shape

Chen Zijing glanced at them and continued, "Many local officials who originally followed us have shifted their allegiance, submitting to the Northern Yuan. Most of the heroes and gentry who actively supported the restoration of the Song Dynasty have been captured and killed by these local officials, under the pretext of avoiding the wrath of the Mongol leaders. The garrison commander of Tingzhou, Huang Quji, led twenty thousand newly allied troops and, alongside the Mongols, invaded Shaowu, committing acts of arson, murder, and plunder everywhere, even more shameless than the Mongols..."

From the perspective of a drunkard, the jokes surrounding the Great Leap Forward's steel production in the 1950s and 1960s can be attributed more to management chaos than to technical failures. When the entire nation prioritized output over quality, it is indeed strange that anyone would earnestly strive to produce good steel and delve into the intricacies of technology.

In the book, it is mentioned that during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there were already individuals who had refined steel in this manner; I have merely made some partial improvements. Wen Tianxiang did not lift his head, his thoughts entirely focused on observing the color of the flames on the iron bars

But now, with this group of men on Baizhang Ridge, will the Song Dynasty still fall? Wen Tianxiang asked himself, his gaze gradually becoming confused. If he could truly change fate, what kind of mark would be left in the history books of future generations? Would the tragedies of the Manchu and Japanese invasions unfold as they did in the original history? Without Wen Zhong, where would he find this memory? Without this unique memory, what could he rely on to turn the wheels of history?

"行," Wen Tianxiang readily agreed, signaling to stop Liu Zijun and others from making a scene. He walked over to the furnace, starting to gesture to the old man from the pile of the furnace.

The book states, "As long as there is one standing man of the Song Dynasty in this world, Huaxia will stand forever unyielding." Wen Tianxiang raised his head and solemnly spoke to Lin the old man and the group of craftsmen. Since heaven had granted him the memory of another world, he was confident that he could use this memory to change the fate of the entire China

"How can that be?" Xiao Zi suddenly jumped up, grabbing the coat that Wen Tianxiang had taken off and holding it in his hands, stammering, "Prime Minister, please do not punish this subordinate. I will personally give it a try; today I will definitely produce qualified steel!"

"When the crossbows are distributed in the future, it is essential to record which soldier receives which crossbow according to the serial numbers. On the battlefield, if a person falls, the crossbow must also be lost," Liu Zijun suggested in a low voice. His thoughts were aligned with Xiao Zi's, placing great emphasis on the confidentiality of technology. This was a custom of the Song Dynasty; when the divine arm bow first appeared, the court had gathered all the craftsmen capable of manufacturing it in Bianliang, prohibiting any from leaving.

"Isn't this the three volumes of the heavenly book, Sir Wen?" The old man Lin slyly winked at Wen Tianxiang, clearly having deduced from the expressions on the faces of Du Hu and others that the one who taught him the steel casting technique was none other than the current Prime Minister Wen Tianxiang. This act of feigning madness and foolishness was far more about testing than about learning the craft.

A good man, Du Hu sincerely praised from the bottom of his heart, but in the vast Jiangnan region, how many heroes like Lin Laozhang are there? Ye Te is not considered a renowned general; he commands only over 3,000 Mongolian soldiers and a small number of Xixia people. However, the treacherous Huang Quji has brought along 20,000 newly allied troops.

Wen Tianxiang was startled by the question, causing the molten iron to shift slightly and spill onto the furnace wall, splattering a few sparks. Will the Song Dynasty perish? In the memories of his dreams, a year and a half later, there would no longer be a country called the Song Dynasty in the world

In recent days, he has been busy and the knowledge he has encountered has already exceeded the limits of what he can absorb. The rapid transformation of pig iron into wrought iron, the carburization of wrought iron into steel, and the adjustment of elasticity through tempering are all concepts he has never encountered before. As he realizes the narrowness of his previous learning, he also gains a deeper understanding of the "Heavenly Book" written by Wen Tianxiang and the vastness of the world. Therefore, while striving to digest new knowledge, he also tries to adopt a steady and methodical approach to avoid mistakes and accidents.

"Yes, I will obey your command," Du Hu replied in a drawn-out voice, shrugging off his coat to reveal his solid muscles. Knowing that Prime Minister Wen was about to impart his skills to everyone, many veteran craftsmen handed their tasks over to the apprentice soldiers and hurried over, squinting in the afternoon sunlight.

"You bookworm, why are you sighing? Can a sigh drive away the Tartars? They are so proud now; thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. Who knows, one day they might fall, and we, the common people of the Song Dynasty, could throw them back into the desert with a brick each." A booming voice interrupted Du Hu's sigh. The old man Lin, who had taken Wen Tianxiang's smelting achievements, had returned at some point, carrying cooled steel blocks in his hands. Without any regard for rank, he addressed Wen Tianxiang, saying: "Sir, what is your name? Could you teach me your skill of turning iron into steel?"

The furnace has been drying for several days. Due to not fully grasping the steel-making methods mentioned in Wen Tianxiang's writings, he is reluctant to allow the craftsmen to attempt it lightly. Materials are scarce on Baizhang Ridge, and even more lacking than raw materials are skilled craftsmen. Losing either of these two is considered a sin by Xiao Zi.

The Prime Minister values us, which is a blessing for us! What are you waiting for? Open fire and assist the Prime Minister!" shouted the blacksmith Li Er at the top of his lungs. The onlooking craftsmen and soldiers snapped back to reality and, filled with joy, rushed towards the furnace. Those carrying wrought iron did so, while others added coal, and soon the preparations for pouring steel were ready.

Huangya Cave, Wen Zhong from another world, is thus gradually forging the hope for victory in the War of Resistance. Although the time and space are different, the shared grief and indignation over the destruction of the nation and the loss of the family remain the same

"Having seen the Chancellor," Chen Zijing, with a face full of dust and weariness, still dressed in the attire of a monk, said, "I noticed that you were busy earlier, so I did not dare to approach to pay my respects. Please forgive me, my lord"

This is my Song Dynasty, where officials prefer to surrender and serve as slaves. In contrast, the gentry and common people, who have never gained any benefits from the court, are eager to dedicate themselves to the country. Wen Tianxiang thought in anger, as the mountain wind blew in from the horizon, carrying with it the stench of blood from thousands of miles away

The key lies in continuous updates, ensuring that one's progress is always faster than that of one's competitors. It is not about clinging to the old foundations laid by predecessors; doing so protects one's own skills while simultaneously closing off the possibility of embracing external technologies. A voice surged from within Wen Daren, seemingly echoing the thoughts of Wen Zhong from another world. This memory brought not only some technical insights to Wen Tianxiang but, unbeknownst to him, had already transformed his way of thinking.

Sixty-nine, but with remarkable skills, he is a master of the craft. The Tatar leader, Ye Te Mi Shi, broke through the Shao Wu army. The old man was unwilling to serve the Mongols as a dog, so he revolted with his disciples. This time, I led people to push iron materials and peat up the mountain. The traitor Huang Quji sent a group of lackeys to chase us, but the old man swung his iron hammer and knocked down four of them. The rest fled in a panic, leaving no one behind. At that moment, the old man's imposing presence was such that even if Huang Hansheng were alive, it would be no different.