IRON SHELL

Chapter 004: Blacksmith, Bellows, and Silence

The mayor gazed at Anwen for a long time, seeing a force in the calm eyes of the young man.

He is a bit uneasy.

If the wounded soldiers shout and rage, they will not be afraid instead. That kind of scene was actually what he hoped to see, because then he had countless excuses to reasonably suppress these people who had little combat power.

But they just stood silent and let his countless excuses disappear in their unborn moments.

This year is a disaster year, "said Qiu Li." After the locusts pass through, some of them still have some rations left, while others are already suffering from hunger. If we continue to collect taxes based on previous years, we may force many people to die

Whether or not to collect taxes, or how much, does not depend on me, "said the mayor." It's just like your pension. I can only say that the big shots in the capital control everything, and I'm just a small player at the end of the power system. I can't solve your problems

So who else can solve this problem in Shengdun Town? "An Wen asked.

No one, "the mayor shook his head. Perhaps you should go find the chief political officer

This sentence was a joke, so the mayor smiled and said it, but Qiu Li did not take it as a joke.

Perhaps we will, "he said.

The mayor's face changed slightly.

The quiet conversation lasted for a long time, and the wounded soldiers gradually understood that this silent march would not yield any results. Some people began to become irrational and irritable, but were suppressed by Qiu Li's gaze.

At night, they gathered in the courtyard of one of the wounded soldiers' houses to discuss this matter. After hesitating for a long time, Qiu Li said, "Let's go to the Wangdu

Everyone began to remain silent.

Wangdu, a distant place. This distance is not only a spatial distance, but also a psychological distance. Everyone instinctively feels awe when they hear the word 'Wang Du'.

But now life can't go on anymore, facing the threat of broken homes, that word doesn't seem so scary anymore.

Everyone raise some money, "someone said." Let's go

This is also a battle, for the sake of our family, "someone said.

We're just getting what we deserve back, there's nothing to be afraid of, "someone said.

Everyone nodded one after another.

On the third day, the team consisting of fifty wounded soldiers from the Emergency Expeditionary Force set off. Their family saw them off with a hint of nervousness and more anticipation, watching them go away.

My family is filled with anticipation, which is their only motivation to endure the hardships.

Anwen followed Qiu Li all the way to Shengdun Town and watched him lead the wounded soldiers away, but did not return to Kemang Village afterwards.

The last time he came to Shengdun Town and went to the town office with the wounded soldiers, he passed by a blacksmith's shop. The tinkling sound inside recalled his memories and also reminded him of a way to get through the difficulties.

Not only the mountains and forests are his treasure trove.

After seeing off Qiu Li, he came to the blacksmith's shop and looked at the hoe, shovel, and sword hanging in front of the shop, sinking into memories. When someone walked out of the shop, he even had an illusion that it was his father.

But of course it cannot be.

What do you need? "The blacksmith asked kindly.

I want to borrow your stove and iron, "said Anwen.

What? "The blacksmith thought he had heard wrong.

I want to strike something, but I don't have all the tools of a blacksmith, "said Anwen." I don't have money on me either, but I can use one thing as a reward

The blacksmith smiled and scratched his head, "I've never done such a business before

He turned around and shouted inside, "Dad, come and take a look. This young man's requirements are a bit strange

An elderly man in his sixties, who was as strong as a black iron tower, walked out of the shop with a burning smell. He looked at Anwen in confusion, while Anwen repeated his request.

Are you also a blacksmith? "The old man asked.

Anwen nodded.

What do you want to borrow our stove to make? "The old man asked.

A sharper sword, "said Anwen.

That may take a long time, "the old man said.

It should take one or two months, "said Anwen.

What about the compensation? "The old man asked.

I know the blower you're using is a leather bag, "said Anwen." I can make a better blower for you

A better blower? "The old man was a bit surprised." Young people, creating new things is not an easy task

Actually, it's not necessarily difficult, "said Anwen.

Let's talk about it. "The old man was somewhat interested.

It's called a bellows, "said An Wen." It's made of wood and when used, it only needs to be pulled back and forth, and the wind will continuously blow into the furnace to keep the fire strong

If you create it and prove it to be effective, I can consider it, "the old man said seriously.

So, I need woodworking tools, "said Anwen.

The old man smiled.

The old blacksmith was a kind man. Facing this serious young man, he did not laugh it off, but chose to believe it. He took Anwen to a carpenter's workshop not far away and paid for the woodwork.

The carpenter was surprised to follow Anwen's command to create a rectangular strange box and a pile of strange components in just one day. Anwen installed all the components together, and a double acting piston bellows was formed.

In the blacksmith shop, he personally demonstrated the use of the bellows, and when he saw the strong wind continuously outputting from the bellows, the blacksmiths were stunned.

Is this enough to serve as a reward? "An Wen asked.

"Yes." The old blacksmith nodded excitedly.

For blacksmiths, hammering is not a problem, the problem is the temperature of the fire. The only thing that can enhance the power of flames is the blower. Traditional leather bags have low wind power and are tiring to use, making it difficult to achieve the desired effect.

And he saw this magical "bellows" blowing out even more intense fire. He knows that the value of this bellows may have exceeded that of his shop.

I took advantage of this business by myself.

Shengdun Town is not big, only three blacksmith shops, otherwise Anwen could have made a considerable income by selling bellows alone. He understood this, so he still chose the casting that he was better at.

When the boy took off his coat and waved the hammer without his shirt, the blacksmiths were surprised to see the bulging muscles as strong as iron. The skilled swing made the old blacksmiths feel ashamed.

Do you want to work with me? I can give you a higher salary than others

Remuneration

During the break, the old blacksmith asked Anwen carefully.

Anwen smiled and shook his head.

If it weren't for the compulsion of life, perhaps he would never walk to the stove again in his lifetime and pick up a hammer to forge.

Modern forging does not require a hammer, and machinery has replaced manual labor. Through computer control, it is possible to accurately forge red iron blocks.

But my father doesn't like this way.

He told Anwen that in the world today, the most valuable products are not standard products on assembly lines, but handicrafts made by people themselves with both hands.

Blacksmith is an industry that has been passed down for thousands of years, and there are some things that modern machinery can never replace.

So Anwen learned to swing a hammer from a young age and use his muscles to control the strength of each forging. As a result, he had a sense of familiarity with hammers and stoves, not as tools, but as companions.

No child likes boring ironmaking, and Anwen is actually the same. But after his mother passed away, that was the only way he could think of to comfort his father and overcome his pain. Whenever he waved his hammer and saw his father's peaceful and satisfied smile, he would feel that what he had made was not iron, but his father's happiness.

As Anwen continued to hammer the iron block closer to the sword shape, Qiu Li and his wounded troops arrived at Wangdu.

They marched forward in silence, sitting in front of the main hall, in front of the garden square, and in front of the forbidden area of the palace.

Their meditation caused a sensation in the royal capital, with many people visiting and inquiring. When they learned that they were wounded soldiers of the Expeditionary Army who fought for humanity and were physically disabled, but now unable to live without compensation, some shed tears of sympathy, some angrily accused the authorities, and some sent them water and food, blankets, and thick clothes.

The autumn wind grew colder, and the wounded soldiers sat quietly wrapped in blankets in the wind.

Their silence gave rise to more sympathy among the people of Wangdu for them, and public grievances began to boil due to their lack of proper compensation and even the absence of officials to intervene.

In the main government hall, the highest floor of a tall building belongs to only one person. That is the chief political officer of the Dawn Empire.

Like other human empires on the continent, the Dawn Empire completed the separation of monarchy and government as early as two hundred years ago. As the maker of laws and the supervisor of the country, the king simply lived elegantly in the palace to enjoy life, and entrusted the important affairs of governance to the chief political officer.

So, the chief political officer Wu Zheng is considered the true ruler of the Dawn Empire.

At this moment, he was standing by the window, looking at the wounded soldier sitting silently in front of the main hall door.

Some people say this is a scenery, "he said.

It's just nonsense from the fools, "whispered trusted Mori, standing respectfully behind him.

But I've had enough of it, "Wu Zheng waved his hand.

In his fifties, he has short gray hair, but his figure is still straight. He has a serious face, usually unsmiling and giving people a sense of authority.

But in front of his confidants, he did not intend to maintain any disguised calmness. He angrily waved his hand and said, "These damn pariahs, who think they have made a little sacrifice for the country, are they qualified to blackmail the country? Mori, are you just quietly watching them constantly tarnish the country's reputation

But... "Mori looked puzzled. They are very quiet

Yes, they are very quiet, as quiet as the flowers and plants on the roadside, never disturbing anyone. They just sit or stand in silence.

So, what reason is there to eliminate them?

At last night's dinner, Your Majesty already asked me, "said Wu Zheng.

My dear chief political officer, I heard that there are some disabled people wandering around in groups in the royal capital. What's the matter? "He cleverly imitated the old tone of the king and then waved his hand in disgust." I have to explain to Your Majesty because of these lowly people. Fortunately, Your Majesty believes that they are just wandering beggars

Mori listened quietly without expressing any opinion. Because he knew that since the chief political officer had taken the initiative to mention this matter to himself, he must have had an idea.

He just needs to execute.