Zhao Shan gave Cao Mengchan a look of approval.
She is indeed a good wife!
A master smelter like Cao An would be a waste if left outside, so it would be best if he stayed in the court.
Zhao Shan looked distressed and sighed: "Father-in-law, I fought with the Xiliang army at Tongguan. After the first battle, I found that the weapons of Xiliang were actually sharper than the weapons of the Daqian soldiers."
"well……"
"If it weren't for the bravery and bravery of the soldiers, I'm afraid my father-in-law wouldn't even be able to see me."
"Relying on the hard work of the soldiers, although I luckily won the battle at Tongguan, I also suffered heavy casualties. If the Daqian soldiers had sharper weapons, there would not be so many casualties."
"The war won't be so difficult."
"My father-in-law likes smelting, but he also studied with his grandfather. He is compassionate and compassionate. Do you want to watch the soldiers die on the battlefield? Do you want to watch countless families, wives and children separated?"
Zhao Shan sighed: "I was tossing and turning over this, and Mengchan was also frightened. Does my father-in-law want to see Mengchan wash her face in tears?"
Cao An's cheeks twitched.
He was not willing to serve as an official, so why did he reach the point where he could not win the battle, the people wanted to separate their wives and children, and even Cao Mengchan shed tears?
The hat is too big for him to wear.
With Zhao Shan's words, if he dares to refuse, he may have his legs broken by his old father when he returns home.
Cao An was so devastated by Zhao Shan that he sighed: "Your Majesty, I just obey the arrangement and am willing to work in the Ministry of Industry."
Zhao Shan said quickly: "With the help of my father-in-law, I am more powerful than a tiger. I no longer have to worry about the soldiers."
Cao An changed the topic and said: "The Longyuan Sword in your Majesty's hand is not forged from ordinary materials. It is made from an extraterrestrial meteorite that I discovered in Yizhou. It was forged with the help of meteorites."
"This sword is forged using hundreds of steel-making methods. The material is special and the quality of the quenching water is special. It is irreplaceable."
"I went to the Ministry of Industry. Even if I was responsible for forging swords, it would be impossible to create a magical weapon like Longyuan Sword."
"Your Majesty must be mentally prepared."
Cao An solemnly said: "If you follow the standard requirements of Longyuan Sword, it will never be met. Please know it, Your Majesty."
Zhao Shanxiao said: "Don't worry, father-in-law, I know it well. I just need to be sharper than the current weapon. How is the steel used by father-in-law to forge the sword smelted?"
Cao An was stunned for a moment.
How could he explain the professional issues involving steel to His Majesty in simple and easy-to-understand terms?
Cao An thought about it carefully and replied: "Your Majesty, the current acquisition of steel mainly depends on hard work."
Zhao Shan asked: "Is there no other way but to practice hard?"
Cao An shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, this is the only way. The Longyuan Sword is forged from meteorite iron. It has a special material and can be directly made into steel."
"Refining steel from ordinary iron ore is more complicated."
"After the pig iron is melted, there is a lump of smelting iron, and then the wrought iron is obtained by continuous hammering. However, the wrought iron is not hard enough to withstand the force of chopping. It needs to be charcoaled, and then repeatedly forged to increase the hardness, and it will become sharp and tough. .”
Cao An smiled and asked, "Can your Majesty understand?"
Zhao Shan suddenly smiled.
He has done special science popularization on the issue of steelmaking, so he naturally understands it.
Wrought iron has a low carbon content and is softer; pig iron has a high carbon content and is more brittle; steel has a medium carbon content and is tough and not easily broken.
Steel is the necessary material for swords.
Zhao Shan thought for a while and said: "Father-in-law, the key to smelting swords lies in steel. As long as there is a large amount of steel, magic weapons can be forged."
Cao An sighed: "The problem is that steel is difficult to obtain."
Zhao Shan chuckled in his heart.
It is difficult for people like Cao An to make steel, but he has a better way.
"Tiangong Kaiwu" records the method of frying steel. The pig iron is melted into molten iron, flows out into the square pond, and is then stirred and decarburized with willow sticks to obtain wrought iron. With wrought iron, steel can be smelted in large quantities using the steel filling method.
Zhao Shan said directly: "Father-in-law, why don't you try the steel filling method?"
"Steel filling method?"
Cao An was filled with doubts and asked, "Does your Majesty also know how to make steel?"
Zhao Shan smiled and said: "I just understand it a little bit!"
Cao An became interested and asked again: "Your Majesty, what is the steel filling method?"
Zhao Shan explained: "The steel filling method is to beat wrought iron into finger-width thin slices and stack them on top of each other, and then put the pig iron on the wrought iron to smelt."
"Pig iron is melted into molten iron and seeped into wrought iron, producing incredible effects. The mixed iron blocks are reforged to produce steel.
"In addition, the quenching liquid is also particular. In addition to water, animal urine and grease liquids can also be used for quenching."
Zhao Shan pointed out: "Weapons forged in this way will be stronger and sharper."
Cao An's eyes lit up.
The steel filling method opened a door for him. Although he didn't know if it would work, he wanted to give it a try.
Cao An still didn't understand something, so he took the opportunity to ask.
Zhao Shan answered calmly and unhurriedly. Although he couldn't actually operate it, he knew a lot of theories and could point out the direction for Cao An. Weng and son-in-law kept talking, causing Cao Mengchan to be left alone.
Cao Mengchan was even more surprised. Why was Your Majesty influenced by his father?
Your Majesty also knows how to smelt and forge?
Half an hour later, Cao An finished his questioning and looked at Zhao Shan with shock and admiration in his eyes.
Cao Anxin said sincerely: "Your Majesty's knowledge and wisdom are as great as those of heaven and man. I admire you. I didn't expect that there are methods of pouring steel, inlaying steel, etc. in steelmaking. It's really eye-opening. I want to go home immediately and experiment." "
Zhao Shan said: "Why should my father-in-law choose to go far away? The Ministry of Industry has a special smelting place. Father-in-law should go to the Ministry of Industry."
Cao An said without hesitation: "Your Majesty, please make arrangements."
Zhao Shan ordered Zhang Xu to take Cao An to the Ministry of Industry and read out Cao An's appointment.
After Cao An left, Zhao Shan looked at the astonished Cao Mengchan and said with a smile: "My father-in-law's return has been a great help to me. Chan'er is really my lucky star."
Cao Mengchan said humbly: "Your Majesty rewards me, this is what I should do."
Cao Mengchan also stood up and left.
Zhao Shan continued to handle government affairs.
Cao An got busy in the smelting workshop of the Ministry of Industry. He was the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Zhao Shan's father-in-law. Everyone in the Ministry of Industry fully cooperated.
Cao An used the steel filling method to make steel, and then experimented with the quenching effects of water, urine and grease. At night, Cao An didn't rest. He continued to make steel after dinner.
Cao An kept trying, and at the beginning of the next morning, he forged a qualified sword through the steel filling method.
The edge of the sword is sharp and the blade is bright.
Cao An held the sword, looked at the assisting craftsmen, and ordered: "Take a sword and cut with me to try the new sword."
The craftsman nodded and said: "Cao Shangshu, be careful!"
Cao An held the sword with both hands and slashed with the craftsman. The moment the two swords collided, sparks flew everywhere.
Cao An and the craftsman each took a step back.
Cao An raised the sword and looked at it. There was no chip on the blade and it was as bright as new. He looked at the craftsman again and asked urgently: "How is it? Does your sword have any effect?"
The craftsman took a quick look and saw that the sword blade left a half-inch deep gap, which was extremely obvious.
The craftsman was shocked and said: "Cao Shangshu, the sword you forged is so sharp, it is at least eighty times refined. According to the general forging method, it takes countless time, but you can forge it overnight. It is incredible."
Cao An said happily: "This is all His Majesty's advice and His Majesty's wisdom."
At this moment, Cao An was excited.
The steel filling method is done!
Your Majesty's arrangement really works.
Cao An was amazed at Zhao Shan's wisdom, left the Ministry of Works directly, and eagerly went to Zhao Shan's palace to report the news.
