Chapter 255: High Carbon Steel

Yancheng.

While the new goods from the Prince's Mansion were causing a sensation in Jinling, Zhao Xu was in the Armory Bureau admiring the Great Song's first Vernier Caliper with Wang Ying.

This caliper was cast from pure steel and, having been polished, appeared bright white.

On the edge of the steel ruler were uniform graduations.

After the first Original Ruler appeared, it became much easier to engrave markings by referencing it.

Therefore, once the technique for the Vernier Caliper was mastered, the graduations became a simple matter.

"Hmm, very good." Zhao Xu examined the Vernier Caliper repeatedly, feeling very satisfied. "Our Armory Bureau needs a group of craftsmen capable of fine handiwork; you must keep this in mind."

The precision that the human eye can judge is 0.2 millimeters.

Therefore, for workpieces requiring precision within a 0.2mm margin of error, humans can polish them by hand.

The existence of the Original Ruler and the Vernier Caliper relies on the precision of the human eye.

If people are provided with some tools, this precision can be further improved.

He still remembered a contemporary news report where a certain aviation aircraft industry often required manual polishing due to the low quantity of fighter jet parts, high processing precision, and great difficulty.

One of its bench workers even increased the manual polishing precision to three-thousandths of a millimeter.

From this, it can be seen that human potential is limitless.

Of course, this is just an example; that bench worker was also only able to achieve it with the help of a contemporary high-magnification electronic microscope.

He could not provide such advanced tools.

However, after Glass comes out, magnifying glasses can be considered.

With the Vernier Caliper and a magnifying glass.

If these craftsmen can manufacture fine parts like clocks, their skill level will be sufficient.

"Yes, Your Highness. Both this Original Ruler and this Vernier Caliper were made by a craftsman named Mo Wen," Wang Ying said. "The subordinate has already increased his monthly wages."

Zhao Xu nodded, revealing an amused expression. "Mo Wen? This name is quite interesting."

Wang Ying also laughed. "Speaking of which, this matter should be credited to Zhou Yi. This Mo Wen is a craftsman from Jinzhou and was previously a carving craftsman."

As they were speaking, he saw a craftsman pass by and immediately called out, "Mo Wen, come here."

Zhao Xu looked in the direction of Wang Ying's finger and saw a very short, dark-skinned young man, only about 1.5 meters tall, walking toward him.

The young man's face naturally carried a dull expression, and upon reaching Zhao Xu, he bowed to Zhao Xu under Wang Ying's reminder.

Then he lowered his head and said nothing.

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xu helped Mo Wen up.

He said: "Making the Original Ruler is a great achievement; what reward do you want?"

"Official Wang has already rewarded this small one," Mo Wen replied.

"Official Wang is Official Wang, and this Prince is this Prince. Today this Prince is happy, so you may just speak your mind," Zhao Xu laughed.

Upon hearing this, Mo Wen glanced at Wang Ying and saw Wang Ying nod.

At this moment, his body suddenly began to fidget uneasily.

After stammering for a long while, he said: "Because this small one is dark and short, I am now twenty-five and still a bachelor. Can Your Highness reward this small one with a wife?"

"Hahaha..." Wang Ying and Zhao Xu laughed at the same time.

Seeing this, Mo Wen,

thinking the two were mocking him, lowered his head again.

But the next sentence from Yan Wang immediately made him feel a surge of excitement: "Director Wang, the matter of finding a match for Mo Wen is left to you. This Prince gives you one month—no, ten days. If you cannot get it done, you will be fined one month's salary."

"Oh, Your Highness, just leave it to this subordinate. Even if I can't get it done, a two-month fine is fine too," Wang Ying laughed.

Mo Wen was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Zhao Xu teased: "However, once you have a wife, you cannot neglect the work at the Armory Bureau."

"That certainly won't happen," Mo Wen chuckled naively.

However, the request Mo Wen made reminded Zhao Xu.

It is not a good thing that this Armory Bureau is like a monk's temple.

The ancients taught that of the three unfilial acts, having no descendants is the greatest.

If this problem is not solved, some of the older craftsmen might not focus on their work.

During this period, Zhou Yi had been sending the slaves he bought to the Armory Bureau every few days.

The men were kept in the Armory Bureau, while the women were temporarily settled and kept for use according to his requirements.

Thinking of this, he said to Wang Ying: "It is not just Mo Wen's matter; as long as they have reached the age and do not have a family, arrange it for all the craftsmen."

The conversation between the two was clearly heard by the craftsmen working nearby.

They immediately wore joyful expressions and winked at each other.

They seemed to have more strength when working.

Seeing this, Wang Ying gave a bitter laugh. "Your Highness truly has unique insight. How did this subordinate not think of this? As the saying goes, only with a family can one have peace of mind."

The two chatted for a few more sentences.

Zhao Xu and Wang Ying went together to the Crucible Steel workshop.

The Vernier Caliper had been made, and the problem of fine parts for the Flintlock had been solved.

But this was only solving one part of an entire chain.

The Boring Tool for reaming the Artillery and the Drill Bit for drilling the gun barrels had yet to be settled.

And this had to rely on High Carbon Steel.

Coming to the Armory Bureau this time, besides inspecting the Vernier Caliper, his main purpose was to have Wang Ying refine the High Carbon Steel.

The hardness of steel changes with the amount of carbon content.

The less carbon content, the softer the steel; conversely, the more, the harder it is.

In the Crucible Steelmaking Method, adjusting the carbon content of the steel only requires adjusting the ratio of pig iron to wrought iron.

Zhao Xu was clear about these ratios.

So, he simply had Wang Ying fetch paper and a brush, and he wrote down three ratios on the paper.

This first ratio was the ratio for producing soft steel, the second was the ratio for medium carbon steel, and the third was the ratio for high carbon steel.

While writing, he began to explain the significance of carbon in steel.

Because Wang Ying was busy and unable to attend lectures at the schoolhouse every day, he could only take this opportunity to educate him.

"So that's how it is." Wang Ying suddenly realized.

What Yan Wang was telling him was the key to adjusting the hardness of steel.

Previously, the Armory used medium carbon steel to make Armor, weapons, and cannons.

At this moment, he told the craftsmen to clear out a crucible, brought over a scale, measured the weights of the pig iron and wrought iron, and placed them into the crucible according to the ratios to melt.

Under the high heat of the Coke, the iron blocks quickly melted.

When it turned into pure molten steel, after removing the impurities floating on top, Wang Ying ordered the craftsmen to pour the molten steel into a mold.

Before it had completely cooled, he had the craftsmen take it to be forged into an awl.

"Bring a steel plate over." Once the awl was finished, Wang Ying impatiently ordered the craftsmen to bring over a steel plate.

Then he personally took a hammer and struck the awl into the steel plate.

"Ding... ding..." After a few light sounds, the awl pierced through the steel plate.

Next, he found an awl made of medium carbon steel and struck it a few times; the tip of the awl bent, and it only went in halfway.

The facts before his eyes left Wang Ying completely convinced.

He said, "Your Highness's knowledge truly makes this subordinate admire you."

Zhao Xu's expression was slightly smug; he was just about to talk about using high carbon steel to make Drill Bits and Boring Tools.

At this time, a guard protecting the Armory came to report that Chang Wei had arrived.

Ordering the guard to let Chang Wei in, Zhao Xu picked up a brush to draw the specifications and parameters for the Drill Bit.

He hadn't drawn more than a few strokes when he heard Chang Wei's urgent voice coming from outside.

"Your Highness, a major incident has occurred; Jincheng has been breached by the Xiliang soldiers, and now the Xiliang army is sweeping across the three eastern commanderies of Jinzhou, heading straight for Feihu Pass."