In previous history, movable type printing was invented by Bi Sheng (Bi Sheng and Bi Sheng were not the same person) in the Northern Song Dynasty, but it was not popularized in the end.

The reason for this is divided into two aspects: software and hardware.

In terms of software, because of the font of Chinese, the number of commonly used words is about 7,000. In the letterpress arrangement, it is necessary to set up a preface font library, which is not convenient. In Latin and English, on the other hand, there are only 26 letters (excluding special fonts), which is relatively convenient.

In terms of hardware, the cement movable type printing technology invented by Bi Sheng does not have a long service life of the block material, and the force control requirements for pushing and pressing are high.

In contrast, the invention of movable type printing in 1445 not only improved the printing machine, but also adjusted the ink and block formula. Johannes Gutenberg, the German craftsman who invented it, was the first person to truly introduce movable type printing to the world.

In the 2015 supplement to Time, in the "Top 10 Inventions of the 10th and 20th Centuries AD", lead movable type printing was ranked first, even higher than Edison's electric light and Einstein's theory of relativity. (Don't spray this ranking, just take a look.) ）

On the other hand, Todd majored in life engineering, and in Warcraft terms: his microbiology and biochemistry were close to the grandmaster, applied chemistry and chemical engineering were close to the master, and the knowledge in other disciplines may be no different from ordinary people.

Lead movable type printing is mainly divided into four basic elements: printing materials, ink, word modules, and printing presses.

So, for Todd:

The printing materials are mainly linen paper or parchment paper, which are readily available and easy to solve.

Ink is also not difficult to obtain, and only involves a few simple chemical reactions and refinements. Specifically, the flaxseed oil is boiled and cooled, and then a small amount of turpentine obtained by distillation of pine resin is added, and then mixed with carbon black and copper, lead, and sulfur are added, and after a period of time, it becomes a suitable ink. The ink, which can be applied to metal molds with non-water-free surfaces and does not cause penetration, is one of the most critical elements of movable type printing.

As for the word module, it is not very difficult to make. Todd intended to use a lead-tin alloy containing antimony (the addition of antimony to increase the hardness of movable type) as the material for the block, and tried to determine the ratio of the three metal contents. The casting method adopts the method of convex and concave grooves, that is, fine sand or clay is used as the concave type, and the convex type is made of wood. First, the wooden movable type is carved out, stamped in the clay, then the wooden character block is taken out, and then the molten lead tin water is poured into the clay mold, and finally the lead movable type is taken out and trimmed.

The most troublesome thing was the printing press, because Todd wouldn't have made this stuff in the first place......

He only vaguely remembered that there was a paper feeding slot, a thing that looked like a large seal, a platform slot for a word block, and a stick to push......

With these vague impressions, he drew a sketch of the design that would slap him once he saw it, and gave it to Aiden Kom.

Todd knew that it would be almost impossible to recreate a 15th-century movable type printing press on his own.

So, he asked old Aiden to bring the drawings with him, and to bring the most knowledgeable and reliable craftsmen. At the same time, he also found Richell, who was more familiar with xenomorph abilities, and asked her to help him in building the printing press.

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Soon, in the side hall of the church that night, a group of people who seemed to be unable to beat the edge of the eight poles sat together.

On the left side of the side hall sat Aiden Kom and the two craftsmen who had saved Todd's life, and on the right sat Rachel and Huggins. Todd stood on the stage with a wooden plank standing upright behind him, and a charcoal pen in his hand.

Todd tapped the wooden board behind him with a charcoal pen and said, "Guys, we are gathered here today to make something, to brainstorm. ”

"Brainstorming?" the audience looked puzzled and whispered.

Todd patted his forehead with his hand, and secretly said in his heart that he had made the mistake of being a teacher in his previous life again, so he changed his words and said: "Brainstorming means brainstorming, and everyone works together to find ways and come up with ideas." ”

Todd pointed his finger to the ceiling, and the expression on his face suddenly became extremely serious: "What we discussed tonight is a treasure of God. Don't tell anyone what you hear or see, or you will be punished by the Holy Spirit!"

Seeing that everyone's expressions suddenly became solemn, he nodded with satisfaction, and then began to write and draw on the wooden board with charcoal, talking about the basic principles of printing to the functions of the machine, and focusing on explaining the process of arranging the blocks and embossing ink.

After talking about all this, Todd turned around and found that the group of people in the audience were silent, and he couldn't help muttering in his heart: Is it too complicated for him to speak?

Fortunately, a sentence from old Aiden reassured him of his concerns.

"My lord, it's a genius idea to use movable lead type to print paper! People are hand-copied, and they never thought that they could print fonts like this. ”

Todd listened to Aiden's words and remembered that it seemed that in the previous life, it was not until the end of the 13th century that block printing was introduced from Arabia to Europe. In other words, skipping the four generations of woodcuts, coppers, wood, and clay printing, lead movable type printing is indeed a product that transcends centuries.

Todd turned to Aiden and asked, "So can you come up with a design for the machine I requested?"

The old craftsman and the two friends discussed in a whisper, and said: "We have carefully read the drawings of the adults, and we plan to design such a machine, I don't know if it is correct? At the bottom of the machine, we plan to make a wooden pedestal, fix the movable type plate on it, and install an embossing plate on top of the movable type, which can be controlled by an iron or copper screw rod, and can be ...... up or down."

Todd listened to the other party's speech, and felt that there was still no intuitive impression. He interrupted Aiden's speech, beckoned, handed the charcoal pen to the old man in front of him, and said, "I still don't understand what you say...... You come up and draw out the specific design plan, and then explain it. ”

When the old craftsman heard this, he was so frightened that he quickly shook his hand, and hurriedly said, "My lord, don't humiliate me, I am a lowly craftsman." With you here, how dare I make a mistake?!"

"As I said, tonight's meeting was a brainstorming session...... Uh, I mean brainstorming. Here, there is no dignity, no position, anyone who has an idea can come to the stage and say it, or draw it!" Todd shook the charcoal pen in his hand again, and motioned for old Aiden to hurry up.

The old man took the charcoal and watched as Todd sat down in his place, trembling as he drew on the board. During this period, because of nervousness, I also drew the wrong pattern several times.

Todd's eyes grew brighter as he looked at the machine blueprints on the boards.

The old craftsman said in a trembling voice as he painted: "There is a tie rod next to the screw rod, which can be pushed by human power, so that the pressure required for printing can be obtained." Then the ink is brushed on the movable type, then the paper is covered, the screw rod is shaken, and the handwriting is printed through the pressure of the embossing plate. ”

Todd stood up at this time, and couldn't help but applaud, and praised loudly: "Amazing! You can think of such a perfect design in such a short time!"

Aiden was not greedy, he pointed to the other craftsman: "This design was first proposed by him. ”

Seeing that the priest turned his gaze to himself, the latter quickly stood up, bent down and said, "My lord, I used to work in the brewery. I realized that the machine for pressing grapes was very similar to this design, and that's when I remembered. ”

Todd was very happy and said loudly: "Everyone, this is what I mean by brainstorming! After all, a person's wisdom and strength are limited, and thinking together is the fastest way to solve the problem......

"My lord......" Aiden looked a little hesitant.

Todd motioned for him to speak straight and not to worry.

The old craftsman pointed to the loading table, bearings and counterweight bars of the machine: "If these parts are made by hand, the fit and level of the parts cannot be guaranteed, and they need to be made by high-temperature stamping and forging." And in the blacksmith shop in the town, there is no such device. ”

"Stamping and forging?"

Listening to the introduction of the old craftsman, Todd remembered the lathe in his previous life.

Old Aiden looked at the drawings on the wooden board and scratched the back of his head: "First, the temperature of the furnace body should be high enough to melt the iron; second, we must find a way to build a vertical tool for hammering iron; and third, we must make a mold for shaping parts in advance." ”

High temperatures that melt iron, heavy objects that can hammer materials, and molds that shape parts.

Todd was thinking about these three things when Huggins, behind him, whispered a word.

"As for the high temperature that can melt iron, Alfonso's servant, Leslie, should be able to help. 』

Todd nodded.

Regarding the latter two things, he suddenly had an idea and turned his gaze to Rachel.

The nun rolled her eyes and sighed, "I can do the last two things." But can you guarantee that these craftsmen are credible?"

Todd was stunned.

When Aiden Combe heard the nun's words, his old face turned red, and he refuted loudly: "What are these words! Without the Holy Son, I am just a poor man who can't even eat.

Todd glanced at Huggins again, who nodded slightly.

Then he thought for a moment, touched the bridge of his nose, and said to Aiden and the other two craftsmen, "Have you heard of xenomorphs?"

Aiden shrank his head, looked at the cross on his chest, and said, "I've heard that those people are 'demonic widows'. ”

"Old Aiden, can you trust me?"

"Of course, you are the son of the Holy Father, and you are an alchemist blessed by God!"

Todd winked and motioned for Huggins to close the doors and windows of the side hall, gathered the three craftsmen together, and whispered, "There are some things you may not know, xenos are not what the church says......"