I vaguely remember that the obsidian that became popular in later generations is a kind of silica, which is usually formed after the sudden cooling of magma flowing from volcanic lava, and does not have a crystal structure. In later generations, it did not have much industrial value, but became a raw material for the manufacture of handicrafts in artificial hype.

And if it's coal, it's not the same. Although in the previous life, the important position of coal was replaced by oil, but limited to the reserves of oil, the reserves are larger, and coal that is easier to mine is still widely used in all walks of life.

Industry is inseparable from steel, and steel is inseparable from coal, and the two are closely related. Alice's metallic qualities have great potential, but only if there is enough steel, otherwise it is all empty talk.

But now it's all on paper to talk about building a furnace to make steel. The first is that there is no industrial base, and the second is that Qin Song also knows a little about it, but he has seen iron-making blast furnaces in his memory, but refractory bricks are needed to build blast furnaces, which is basic common sense. And refractory bricks are a huge problem.

Without refractory bricks, the temperature of ironmaking cannot be reached, and high-quality steel cannot be obtained without temperature. Industrial development is linked one by one, and technical reserves in various industries are required to be successfully realized.

Qin Song is very self-aware, but even if he can't use coal to make iron, the most basic and common use of heating can be considered. The cold winter is approaching, and the autumn harvest solves the problem of diet, so the coal mine can solve the problem of heating.

It will not work to talk only about industry and not about people's livelihood. Only when the black stone collar becomes prosperous, the people are prosperous, the food and clothing are worry-free, and a solid foundation is cast, can we take bold steps with confidence. Otherwise, relying on the black stone to lead these crooked melons and cracked dates, and the serfs who have no expectations for life are simply wishful thinking.

The world is big, the time is very long, and it is easy to pull the egg when the steps are too big......

Wait, as if there were no eggs.

While Qin Song was thinking nonsense, Alice had already turned over and was ready to go to see in person whether the strange black stone would bring any inspiration to Linda.

However, Linda hesitated a little: "Alice, I heard that the west side is not safe. ”

"Why? Are there ferocious beasts there?" said Alice, who had lived in the castle for a long time, apparently not so aware of the outside world.

"I'm not afraid of beasts. Linda shook her head and looked at Alice cautiously: "It's exiles, and there are robbers." ”

"What?" Alice was taken aback, although the west was very desolate, it was also the territory of the Blackstone Realm, how dare those exiles and robbers, swagger like this...... Then, she soon understood why Linda wanted to stop talking, this is the border of the empire, no one cares about it, and the bandits are exterminated, relying entirely on the lord's own force.

And the Blackstone Collar is long gone, and the increasing number of bandit groups in the Blackstone Canyon speaks for itself. In fact, during his lifetime, Jarot repeatedly asked the Archon of Daotan, Pol Dutt, to send the Knights to eliminate the bandits entrenched in the choke point, along with the Blackstone Knights.

Unfortunately, Pol Dutt rejected the offer. After Jarot was killed in battle and the Blackstone Knights withered, the hope of exterminating the bandits was even slimmer.

"Yes, Alice. Linda sighed: "Since this spring, there has been a rumor. Say that the exiles and robbers are going to build an exile town in the west. They don't want to live in caves anymore. ”

"Town, oh my God!" Alice's eyebrows furrowed, and her face instantly turned pale: "These damn robbers are so daring! Under our noses, they dare to build a town! Linda, let's go back, and when Uncle Carrick returns, I'll verify this matter myself." ”

On the side of the couch, how can others be allowed to sleep soundly? When the autumn harvest is imminent, how can a group of robbers be at ease?

As the owner of the Black Stone Collar, Alice felt greatly humiliated, after all, she was just a child, without the city government and scheming, and at this moment there was only anger burning in her chest.

Carrick returned to the castle after sunset, and after half a cart of inferior iron ingots had been delivered to the door of the workshop, his good friend Eric told him that Alice had lost her temper for some reason and was waiting for him in the parlour.

Puzzled, Carrick hurried to the parlor and saw Alice walking around the room with a gloomy face.

"Uncle Carrick, what's the matter with the bandits in the west?" Seeing Carrick come in, Alice's eyes burned and she asked like a cannon, "When did those robbers become so bold?

It turned out that this was the case, Karrick felt a pang in his heart, not only he knew about the robbers building the town, but Leah also knew, but the Black Stone Leader really didn't have the ability to exterminate the bandits, so he could only turn a blind eye and let it go.

"Alice, don't worry. Karrick's tone was a little ashamed, more helpless: "You know the situation of the Black Stone Leader. We don't have the power to exterminate them, Leah knows that. But don't worry, we have a secret agreement with the bandits that they won't nuisance us, and we won't attack them. As for the land to the west, it was already deserted......"

"Even if it is a desert with no grass, it is our territory, which my ancestors bought with iron and blood. Alice knew that what Carrick said was the truth, but she couldn't swallow it in her heart: "We have tolerated them hiding in the Blackstone Canyon, but building a town is too much, it is a blatant provocation to the dignity of the lord, and sooner or later it will become a problem for the henchmen." ”

Carrick was silent for a while, he understood Alice's mood very well, and he didn't feel ashamed in his heart. Liya was also furious about this matter, and once decided to burn the jade, but in the end she gave up, she couldn't be angry for the crown and completely destroy the last foundation of the Black Stone Leader.

"Alice, I understand your feelings. Karrick could only patiently enlighten: "But the Blackstone Collar can't afford a war." Before I saw the creation of the gods, I was full of sorrow. But now, we see hope that as long as we survive this time, when we become strong again, we will eventually regain what we have lost. ”

"I'm sorry, Uncle Carrick. Alice's eyes were faintly glistening with tears, and the unspeakable humiliation made her feel extremely wronged, and she sniffed lightly: "I understand everything you said, I just feel a little uncomfortable in my heart." ”

Incompetent rage is useless, Alice, who calmed down, sat down in her chair dejectedly, and now she knows how much humiliation Leah has suffered for Blackstone Castle.

Karrick breathed a sigh of relief, his greatest fear was that Alice would lose her mind in a fit of rage. Seeing her depressed, she couldn't help but feel a little distressed: "It's not your responsibility, Alice. You've done a great job, and without you, we'd only be in a worse place. It is you and your gods who bring the light. There will come a day, trust me. ”

Alice slowly raised her eyelids and said in a calm tone, "Where's the ingot?

This bend is a bit big, Karrick was stunned for a moment, and quickly nodded: "It's all transported to the door of the workshop." ”

"Okay. Alice nodded, and when she raised it again, her eyes were full of fighting spirit: "Prepare some more candles, I will rush to make the sickle overnight." ”

With the mana recovery during the day, you can barely build four scythes, which is far from enough. But with one more night, the yield can be doubled.

Karrick lost his voice: "Alice......"

"Don't persuade me, we must make sure we have plenty of scythes. Although Alice looks forward to meeting the gods in her dreams every day, the responsibility on her shoulders is more important.