(Thank you, thank you!) Thank you Zhao Wuxian 2014, UFGW, and my dog named Cat for your support! ）

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The warrior returned his bow to his sheath and slowly approached, and the group of followers followed suit, while a circle of wolf-riding archers surrounding the three "assassins" lowered their bows.

Ma Han first asked the wolf riders: "What's the matter with these people?" ”

Someone bowed down and said: "My lord, my subordinates found that these people were carrying sharp blades and were going down the stream, and the direction was exactly where the lord was, so they led the crowd to intercept and arrest them." ”

Before Ma Han could speak, the youngest of the three was already angry: "This thousand mountains are not private land, you can come, we can't come?" ”

A wolf rider shouted: "This place is inaccessible, and it is not appropriate for you to appear here, not to mention that you are carrying a sharp blade, and you are fleeing in panic under the drink, isn't it suspicious?" ”

At this time, the strong man who carried four knives and called himself Pu Yuan returned the knife to the sheath, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Ma Han: "This nobleman, surnamed Pu Mingyuan, a small people in Shu, takes casting as a business, these two people are the apprentices of the small people, and the knives they carry are all cast by the small people. ”

The name is correct, the place of origin is also correct, and the most important thing is that the profession is the same. Ma Han was pleasantly surprised, thinking that it wouldn't be such a coincidence, right? I just said to you, and you appeared in front of you?

At this time, Ma Jun couldn't help but say: "Shuzhong is not thousands of miles away from Liaodong, what are you doing here?" ”

Pu Yuan said respectfully: "When Xiaomin made swords, he felt that the quality of quenching water was different, and the impact on swords was also different. Xiaomin went all the way south and north, after five years. It is heard that the white mountain of Liaodong (i.e. Changbai Mountain) has a heavenly pool, and its water is cold, and it is pure to yin, so it is climbed to the heavenly pool to distinguish the water. The day before yesterday, Fang descended from the top of the Tianchi and passed through this place...... The apprentice has an urn of heavenly pond water on his back, which can be tested by the nobles......"

Ma Han finally laughed out loud and pointed at Pu Yuan: "That's right, it's you!" ”

As soon as they heard that the lord's words were not good, a group of wolves rode from Qi Brush to raise their bows, and the three of Pu Yuan's master and apprentice were shocked. Subconsciously draw a knife to protect yourself. Although in the face of the arrow cluster, let alone six knives, even if sixty knives are powerless, it is better than catching it with your hands tied.

Ma Han pressed his hand again and again, and scolded with a smile: "What are you nervous about, you have put away your weapons, don't be rude to Master Pu." Then he raised his hand to Pu Yuan as a salute, "My name is Ma Han, the new Liaodong Taishou." Hu Cong is the guardian of the heart, and where it is rude, please don't blame Master Pu. ”

Pu Yuan's master and apprentice were stunned for a moment and were at a loss. Liaodong changed hands. Even though they were outsiders who had heard of it, they didn't think much about it as dirt on the soles of their feet. I never expected that I would see it in this lofty mountain today. And the other party is so young, far from the high-ranking official of the 2,000 stone in his mind. What surprised them even more was that the young Taishou actually saluted them. And called Pu Yuan "teacher", which is an honorific title for the skillful, musical, and craftsman who is highly skilled and has an official body.

How could Pu Yuan's master and apprentice receive such treatment? I can't react at all, I'm stupid. It wasn't until the wolf riders and servants shouted "rude" that the three masters and apprentices woke up like a dream, abandoned their blades and knelt down together, and forgave their sins.

Ma Han stretched out his hand to Pu Yuan: "Can this knife be seen?" ”

Pu Yuan immediately held the knife with both hands, held it high above the top, and offered it respectfully.

Ma Han took the knife with his left hand, weighed the weight, about five or six catties, the blade is like a white line, the back of the knife is thick by a finger, the color is blue and black, the blade is covered with scaly patterns, and the sound of the play is loud, such as the melodious sound of the piano. Ma Han had just witnessed this knife slashing a halberd, and when he looked at it up close, the blade was indeed undamaged.

"What a knife!" Ma Han was amazed, and the attendants behind him couldn't help but nod.

Pu Yuan was still kneeling, his demeanor was still respectful, but his tone revealed a trace of pride that could not be concealed: "This is a seventy refined steel knife quenched by Shu water, which took Xiaomin several months to forge, ordinary gold and iron, and it is difficult to help but strike." ”

Seventy refinements! The wolf riders all looked strange. In this era, it is very good to have a thirty-steel sword, such as the saber that Ma Han carries with him. Fifty refining can be regarded as a high-quality product, seventy refining may not be able to buy it with money, as for the hundred refining blades, it is unattainable.

A commoner like Pu Yuan, if he wasn't self-controlled, couldn't afford to buy a good knife like this if he sold him, let alone carry as many as four.

Ma Han can already be sure that the person in front of him is Pu Yuan, who has left a great name in the history of Chinese governance. In that "History of World Iron and Steel Development", it is mentioned that Pu Yuan, a famous craftsman of Shu Kingdom, cast 3,000 knives for Zhuge Liang in the Slope Valley, all of which are 72 refined, and are known as divine soldiers in history.

The reason why Ma Han remembers it clearly is because there is also an anecdote recorded in it: when Pu Yuan made the knife, he once said that the Han water was dull and weak, and he was not allowed to quench, and the Shu River was refreshing, which was called the essence of Dajin, and he ordered people to take river water in Chengdu. Pu Yuan used it to quench the knife, but said that the water he took was mixed with fushui and could not be used. The person who takes the water defends that his words are not mixed, and Pu Yuan draws the water with a knife, and his words are mixed with eight liters. The water collector kowtowed in fright, saying that he had knocked over an urn of water in the water, and mixed it with eight liters of water...... Although this record is too miraculous, it also reflects Pu Yuan's quenching skills from one side, and it has really reached the realm of perfection.

A master who has such a deep understanding of water quenching said that he did not run all over the world's famous mountains and rivers when he was young, looking for the most suitable water for quenching, who would believe it? This is like the tea saint Lu Yu in later generations, in order to have a cup of excellent tea, he did not hesitate to travel all over the world to find a good spring. The Ancient Grandmaster, it might as well be.

Pu Yuan is definitely the top sword casting master of the Three Kingdoms, although he is still young at the moment, and he may be a little inexperienced, but the potential goes without saying, since he has met it, hehe......

For the invitation of a dignified guard, Pu Yuan's master and apprentice were really flattered, and when they came to the tent of the station, they had nowhere to put their hands and feet. When Ma ordered someone to bring wine and food, his words were shocking, and he even made Pu Yuan's master and apprentice fall into a state of confusion, and they were completely stunned by this pie in the sky.

It wasn't until Ma Han introduced him to Ma Jun and a few blacksmiths that in front of his peers, Pu Yuan's master and apprentice recovered and talked happily. After the banquet, Ma Han left Pu Yuan alone.

Before Ma Han could speak, Pu Yuan had already bowed deeply: "Today, Meng Taishou is so courteous, Yuan has nothing to repay, and he is willing to take a hundred refined steel knives in his bag." Dedication to Taishou. "Because on the banquet, before the Taishou, it is not allowed to bring blades, so the knives of Pu Yuan's master and apprentice are stored in the guards outside the tent, and Pu Yuan can only be spoken and cannot be displayed.

Ma Han smiled, he brought a knife with him, it was just a decoration, he didn't want to be too shocking. What kind of refined steel, in front of him, but the face is muddy. smiled at the moment: "I want it." It's not just one hundred refining treasure knife, but thousands! ”

Pu Yuan: "Ah......hh

Ma Han clapped his palms, asked someone to send a treasure knife of Pu Yuan, held it in his hand, slashed several times in the void, and the knife wind whistled, and suddenly said: "The knife is a soldier on the battlefield, cutting the enemy's weapon with a blade, splitting the enemy's shield, and beheading the enemy...... That's right. What is the use of refining the back of the knife? ”

Pu Yuan was stunned at first, his pupils seemed to have a little starlight, and then they became brighter and brighter, and the light was even greater. His body trembled slightly.

Ma Han's seemingly casual words actually contain the welding theory of the "Su Iron Knife" made by Qi Wuhuaiwen of the Northern Qi Dynasty during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

To the sword. The cutting edge mainly plays the role of assassination, so it requires a relatively high hardness, so as to ensure the sharpness of the knife. Therefore, steel with higher carbon content and greater hardness should be selected for manufacturing. The back of the knife mainly plays a supporting role, requiring good toughness, so that the knife will not break when it is subjected to a relatively large impact, so it is necessary to choose wrought iron with low carbon content and greater toughness. It is based on the above understanding that the casting master Qi Wuhuaiwen was able to skillfully combine wrought iron and steel when making zuò knives, and used the two in the right place, which not only met the different requirements of different parts of the steel knife, but also saved a lot of expensive steel, which was indeed a major improvement in the history of metallurgy.

Pu Yuan is also a master, at least a quasi-master, some things, in fact, are only separated by a layer of window paper, not to mention that you can't think of it in your life, but as long as you are gentle......

The iron knife made by Qi Wuhuaiwen was made by the method of filling steel. Although Ma Han couldn't remember the specific method, he was deeply impressed by the practicality of welding and the fun of the two-liquid quenching method. It just so happened that Pu Yuan was a master of quenching, and Ma Han said next: "In fact, there is no need for spring water and river water, and urine quenching is also very good......"

Pu Yuan jumped up suddenly: "This, how can this be made!" He immediately pleaded guilty for his gaffe in front of the Taishou.

It's no wonder that Ma Han's words are simply a direct denial of his achievements over the years, can you not jump your feet?

Ma Han waved his hand in disbelief and said, "I once met a master caster overseas, and he told me what he had learned for many years. He said that when forging swords, they should first be quenched in cow and horse urine with a large cooling rate, which can make the sword obtain better hardness; Then, when the temperature is low, it is quenched in grease with a low cooling rate to prevent the sword from cracking and deforming, and to improve its toughness, so that the best quality steel sword is obtained. Well, he called it the 'two-liquid quenching method'. I am not a caster, I dare not assert whether this is true or not, which water quality quenching is better, I think, only the caster himself experiments, practice to know. ”

This time, Pu Yuan didn't jump his feet, but knelt on the seat, pulling the beard on his chin with one hand, and clenching unconsciously on his knee with the other hand, his thick eyebrows furrowed tightly, thinking hard, and his eyes were dim and bright. The hand was pulled so hard that Ma Han was worried that he would pull off a big handful of his beard.

After a long time, Pu Yuan finally seemed to have figured out something, and let out a long breath. The body was facing Ma Han, bowed respectfully, and said: "Pu Yuan is so lucky, he has to be too conservative to teach this secret that is not passed on, Yuan has nothing to repay, think about it again and again, and is willing to settle in Liao and cast a knife for Taishou." ”

Pu Yuan is a blacksmith, where to cast a knife is not cast? It's rare for Liaodong to be appreciated and pass on the secret method, so wouldn't it be good to do it under him?

Ma Han laughed heartily and stepped forward to help him up: "I should appoint you as a worker and cast swords and swords for me in Liaodong." The weapon of my White Wolf Army, I will ask Master Pu. ”

The engineer officer, who is the official of the county supervising the manufacture of instruments, ranks 600 stones...... I was a white body before! Pu Yuan couldn't believe it. More importantly, once you are an industrial official, you should have funds, raw materials, manpower, and space for casting, and there is no shortage of everything. What could be more gratifying for a forger? This is like the scientists of later generations, who lack not talent, but funds and equipment.

Ma Han was also very satisfied, Pu Yuan was able to forge three thousand seventy-two refining treasure knives in a short period of time, not only was it a matter of superb skills, but it was more likely that he should have mastered the faster method of filling steel. Otherwise, it is hard to imagine that with the casting level of this period, where can thousands of treasure knives be made at once. Maybe Pu Yuan has not yet been developed, but as long as he provides good enough conditions for his repeated practice, and has advanced theoretical guidance, who can say that this steel filling method or even Su Gang method will not appear in advance?

In addition, whether it is a ring-headed knife, a spear, or a halberd, they are all weapons that will be eliminated after hundreds of years, and it is necessary to create a large sword and spear, which will be the mainstream weapon on the battlefield for the next thousand years.

Liaodong needs strong troops, and strong soldiers need sharp weapons.

Ma Han is looking forward to the day when the tiger will be strengthened. (To be continued......)