Zhu Di glared at Guo An angrily and said, "This king can't see the quality of the molten iron smelted in the iron-making furnace, how can I believe that you can refine 600,000 catties of pig iron for this king in three months?" ”

Guo An was suddenly startled, waved his hand again and again, and said: "Your Highness, it's not the lower officials who make iron, it's the Zhong Steward and the craftsmen of the iron smelting institute who make iron." ”

Hearing this, Zhu Di couldn't help but have a nameless fire in his heart.

However, Guo An also learned well, and without waiting for Zhu Di to scold, he hurriedly said: "If Your Highness wants to see the quality of raw iron smelted in this iron-making furnace, I can go to the rooms next door, and there are small iron-making furnaces made by Xia Guan and a group of old craftsmen in the past month or so." ”

At this time, Zhong Huo also understood, Zhu Di suddenly drove to the purpose of the iron smelting institute, and then quickly nodded and said: "Your Highness, what Guo Xianzun said is right, in the next few rooms, there are several small iron-making furnaces similar to the internal structure of the giant iron-making furnace in front.

It just so happened that two iron-making furnaces began to burn in the cellar early in the morning, and the molten iron in the furnaces was almost ready. ”

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes lit up and he said directly.

"Let's go, take this king to see it."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Zhong Huo hurriedly took Zhu Di and walked to the distant room.

In these rooms, there are some small iron-making furnaces from before, and Zhu Di has also been here once.

However, this time, with Zhong Huo's leadership, he obviously saw no less than six iron-making furnaces of the same appearance and different sizes.

Zhu Di asked with some curiosity: "Guo An, these iron-making furnaces have been made by you in the past month or so?" ”

Guo An replied with emotion: "Your Highness, Xia Guan didn't think about it at first, after giving the salaries to the ten old craftsmen, these ten old craftsmen seemed to have eaten rejuvenation...... The immortal elixir is general, and even the strength has increased a lot, as if it is not fatal to do the work.

Basically, it takes five or six days to improve an iron-making furnace. ”

Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Liang on the side, a little unconvinced, "Oh? Is it? ”

Zhu Liang hurriedly nodded in response: "Back to Your Highness, it's really like this!" ”

At this time, Zhu Di nodded with some suspicion, "If you can refine 600,000 catties of pig iron within three months this time, this king will reward each of the ten old craftsmen with ten taels of silver." ”

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Guo An's face was overjoyed, and he hurriedly thanked him.

"Your Highness, the craftsmen of the iron smelting plant have also worked hard......

Zhu Di glared at Guo An and said, "Let's wait until 600,000 catties of pig iron are refined." ”

Guo An looked confident, "Your Highness, rest assured, in this matter, the lower officials have a great deal of confidence." ”

At this time, the bell fire leading the way in front of him had also stopped, and he saluted Zhu Di with excitement on his face.

"Your Highness, the iron-making furnace in this house can be opened!"

I can't help but be excited, although he is in charge of such a large iron smelting plant, he doesn't dare to be greedy. Moreover, the annual food is only a little more than those craftsmen.

And listening to the meaning of the words of Guo Xianzun and His Royal Highness King Yan, now as long as they refine 600,000 catties of pig iron within three months, His Royal Highness King Yan can still reward them?

Even, is it possible that it will not be less than ten taels of silver?

With these ten taels of silver, his family will be able to tear a few more pieces of coarse cloth and make a few new clothes this year, and even the dilapidated houses in his family can be repaired again, and it will not be so cold in winter.

Just thinking about it, Zhong Huo felt a fire in his heart.

If it had been a month ago, Zhong Huo would have felt that this matter was wishful thinking. But now, he believes that as long as the hundreds of craftsmen in their iron smelting plant let go of their work, they will definitely be able to smelt 600,000 catties of pig iron within three months.

For Zhong Huo's excited look, Zhu Di just felt a little strange, and then left it behind, and turned his head to look at the iron-making furnace in front of him, which was only more than one person high.

"Then turn on the furnace."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The bell fire answered, and began to beckon the craftsmen in the room to open the furnace.

As the tap under the iron furnace was opened, sparks flew everywhere, and the temperature in the entire room rose sharply.

Suddenly, Guo An remembered something, and hurriedly shouted to Zhong Huo on the side, "Steward Zhong, bring a mold over, and by the way, forge a steel knife with a handle, and let His Highness take a look!" ”

Hearing this, Zhong Huo's eyes lit up, he glanced at Guo An gratefully, and ran out.

And the two craftsmen next to the iron furnace also subconsciously slowed down.

After a while, Zhong Huo walked over with a long strip of mold and skillfully placed the mold under the taphole.

Zhu Di was a little puzzled and asked, "What is this doing?" ”

Guo An replied: "Your Highness, if you solidify the molten iron directly in the mold, and then forge it again, you can easily forge a steel knife!" ”

"Steel knives?"

Zhu Di looked at Guo An with some disbelief.

Guo An smiled confidently, "Your Highness will know just by looking at it." ”

Hearing this, Zhu Di ignored Guo An and looked directly at Zhong Huo, who was busy.

I saw Zhong Huo wait until the mold was filled with molten iron, then dragged the mold outside, and then put some incomprehensible dust on it.

Then, it didn't take long for the molten iron to almost solidify.

Zhong Huo directly turned the mold upside down on the forging table on the side, and knocked it vigorously a few times, and a black and shiny steel knife rough embryo appeared on the forging table.

On the side, the two foundries who had been waiting for a long time directly rolled up their sleeves, picked up the hammer and began to hammer and forge repeatedly.

Zhu Di, Zhu Fu and others watched quietly from the side.

About two quarters of an hour later.

Guo An already felt numb in his legs, and he couldn't stand on his feet, so he could only lean on the wall outside, and began to regret why he had let Zhonghuo forge on the spot.

I don't know how long it took, Guo An saw that after Zhong Huo had been polished several times in a row, he finally picked up the forged steel knife and respectfully handed it to Zhu Di.

Zhu Di took the steel knife directly, and watched it repeatedly with interest on his face, and the more he looked, the richer the smile on his face became.

"Good knife, good steel mouth......"

Zhong Huo cautiously suggested: "Your Highness, there is a stump outside, you can try the knife!" ”

Zhu Di looked at Zhong Huo with appreciation, "Quickly take this king forward!" ”

"Your Highness, please!"

Zhong Huo's heart trembled, and he hurriedly led the way.

Soon, passing around several houses, the group came to a place where several tree stumps of various thicknesses were planted, and there were some obvious knife marks on the stumps.

Seeing this, Zhu Di's eyes lit up, and the momentum of the whole person began to change suddenly, he walked a few steps quickly, waved the steel knife in his hand, and slashed towards a stump.

"Knock ......"

Zhu Di only felt a lightness in his hand, and the upper half of the stump in front of him fell to the ground with a whirlwind, making a sound, and rolling a few times.

"Your Highness is invincible!"

Guo An subconsciously praised.

On the side, Zhu Fu, Zhu Liang, Li Wang and others all widened their eyes, and their eyes shone brightly.

Hearing this, the corners of Zhu Di's mouth curled slightly, and then he thought of something, and hurriedly stepped forward to look.

Sure enough, the stump was cut by the steel knife in his hand!

Seeing this, Zhu Di couldn't help but be overjoyed, and subconsciously praised.

"What a magic weapon!"

……