Chapter 125: Medicine and Cinnabar Stone

Myr Fire is a type of healing ointment originating from Myr; when applied to a wound and ignited, it can disinfect the wound. Due to its high price, during wartime, only noble lords can afford to use Myr Fire.

Nowadays, the medicinal alcohol produced in Winterfell using a distiller can disinfect wounds directly, making it more convenient than Myr Fire.

Whether the North faces Ironborn Pirates, Wildlings, or Lannisters in the future, once on the battlefield, medicinal alcohol can effectively help the soldiers of the North.

In the study, an incense candle flickered between Eddard and Maester Norman, and Norman took out a wineskin containing medicinal alcohol. Both Farmer and Norman spoke highly of the medicinal alcohol.

"White-headed" Maester Norman said: "Alcohol has long been used to disinfect wounds, but because the proof of the wine is insufficient, the disinfection effect of ordinary wine is poor. Actually, at the Citadel, many years ago, some Maesters and Archmaesters proposed the concept of medicinal alcohol, but unfortunately, the Citadel spent hundreds of years and still could not refine medicinal alcohol with a sufficient proof."

The honest Maester Farmer said: "If the nobles were willing to put in the effort they use to refine fine wines and spirits, Westeros would have had medicinal alcohol long ago. Fortunately, Lord Eddard invented the distiller and contributed medicinal alcohol to the soldiers of the North."

Eddard folded his hands, "Medicinal alcohol and cold medicine are great inventions, but they are far from enough. The warriors of the Forest Clan, and the hunters and beekeepers of Winterfell, bring back herbs from the Wolfswood every day, and I also purchase some medicinal materials from the south that the North does not have. You must carefully distinguish the medicinal properties of every herb."

"White-headed" Maester Norman nodded, "The medicine shelves of Winterfell have already collected thousands of medicines, and these past few days I have been discussing with Maester Farmer about collaborating to write a medical book. Of course, in terms of herbs and medicine, we cannot do without Lord Eddard's guidance."

Eddard smiled, "Let us all research together; in the future, our breakthroughs in academics at Winterfell may not be inferior to the Citadel."

Maester Farmer adjusted his chain, "Lord Eddard, to be honest, the academic atmosphere in Winterfell is better. The servants and children all respect the Maesters, and Lord Eddard not only funds the Maesters but also guides them; you are simply our guiding light."

The next day, Eddard took Robb and Jon to inspect the estates near Winterfell, with the direwolves Grey Wind and Summer following Eddard.

The male direwolves Grey Wind and Summer are the new darlings of Winterfell; the direwolves are growing larger and larger, and some residents of Winter Town are becoming afraid of them.

In the Stark Estate, some farmers are driving plow horses and oxen to plow the fields.

"Father, your curved plow." Robb pointed excitedly for Eddard to see.

Ever since they had the curved plow, Winterfell and Winter Town phased out the heavy plows; all heavy plows were sent to the forge to be melted down and forged into curved plows.

A curved plow can be pulled by only two plow horses, whereas a heavy plow often required five to eight plow horses; as a result, production efficiency has greatly increased.

The tenant farmers of the Stark Estate can use the curved plows, plow horses, and oxen provided by Winterfell, and the families of the tenant farmers can go to the forge, candle factory, stables, winery, mill, and other places to work, earning copper coins, and the children of the tenant farmers have the opportunity to learn a craft. Therefore, the vast majority of the residents of Winter Town have all joined the Stark Estate and become tenant farmers.

After the Salt Ban was introduced, many hidden populations in the Winterfell domain were discovered, and Eddard moved them from the hills, mountains, and Wolfswood to Winter Town, settling them in the Stark Estate. The population of Winter Town increased by tens of thousands in a few months.

Eddard, Jon Snow, and Robb arrived at a small coal mine, where the workers were digging out coal.

Due to limitations in productivity, coal mining is a very dangerous task, and the coal mine can only be mined on a small scale. The residents of the North generally use wood for heating and cooking, while coal is used for forging ironware.

Many forging furnaces in the forge operate simultaneously every day, and the forge master Mikken and the smiths Karon, Wote, and others lead apprentices every day to forge armor, swords, plowshares, pots, and more; Winterfell needs to store more coal.

Winterfell household guard Desmond is responsible for this mining area.

"Lord Eddard, we can transport back three wagonloads of coal here every day! The coal storage room of the forge is almost full."

Eddard said: "If the forge cannot hold it, send it directly to Winterfell; the Winterfell warehouse has plenty of space."

Looking at the coal piled up like a small mountain, Eddard could not help but wonder, if he accumulated enough coal and invented a steam engine, could he build a "Steam Castle"?

Eddard estimated that a Steam Castle would require not only technology but also magic, but now the return of spiritual energy has not yet arrived, and the magic dragons have not yet been reborn; it is better for Eddard to keep his feet on the ground, as daydreaming about a Steam Castle is useless.

A soot-covered worker pushed a small cart over, and the direwolves Grey Wind and Summer went over and sniffed around the worker, scaring the worker into standing frozen in place. Robb and Jon whistled, and only then did Summer and Grey Wind abandon the worker and walk around in the pile of discarded ore, occasionally digging with their paws.

Eddard rummaged through the ore pile, and Robb did not understand, "Father, what is the use of these waste stones?"

"One can also find treasures in waste stones!" Eddard told Robb, "Don't forget, we discovered quartz sand in the waste of the iron mine, and quartz sand is an important raw material for the glass workshop."

Robb frowned, "Is there quartz sand here too?"

Jon and Robb followed Eddard to rummage through the ore pile together, and Eddard discovered a piece of realgar, which he put in his pocket.

Before long, the direwolf Summer trotted over to Eddard with a blood-red stone in its mouth; Eddard was surprised to discover that this was a piece of Cinnabar Stone. Eddard understood that Cinnabar Stone is a very valuable mineral that can be used to extract dyes, can be used in alchemy, can be used to make medicine, and is even a good medicine for treating seizure.

Catelyn's sister Lysa and the son she bore with Jon Arryn, Robert Arryn, have long been plagued by seizure and are physically weak; Eddard has always been mindful of collecting prescriptions for treating seizure, and the discovery of Cinnabar Stone undoubtedly provided Eddard with a good medicine.

Besides being used to treat illnesses, Cinnabar Stone also possesses high economic value.

The North is an important wool-producing region in Westeros, and the wool textile industry of the North occupies an important position in Westeros. Eddard believes that by using Cinnabar Stone to extract dyes and add color to the wool clothing produced by the Winterfell workshops, the wool clothing of Winterfell will be even more popular.

Cinnabar can also be used for writing, and Cinnabar writing can be preserved for a longer time than ordinary ink.

Whether in Westeros or Essos, precious ancient manuscript copies are worth a fortune; those copies are recorded on fragile parchment or ancient scrolls, and many of the handwritings are no longer clear; Cinnabar writing can allow precious copies to be better preserved.

Eddard excitedly stroked the head of the female wolf Summer, "Good girl, you have performed a meritorious service."

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(End of chapter)