Chapter 36: The Workshop's Miracle

Crops bathe in sunlight and rain in the fields, growing wildly.

And the workshop area of Jiao Tu Zhen likewise welcomed a silent revolution.

Chen Wen deeply knows that high-quality iron, like salt, is the spark of civilization, and must be made to burn brighter.

The blacksmith shop became his first key focus point for "technical breakthrough".

The furnace fire burns all day, and the clanging of hammering iron has become one of the most inspiring melodies of Jiao Tu Zhen.

But after observing for several days, Chen Wen discovered that efficiency still had huge room for improvement.

Shi Dun's craftsmanship is good, but it relies almost entirely on personal experience and feeling.

To forge a farming tool or weapon, from smelting iron, hammering, quenching to polishing, is all done by one person.

It takes a long time, and size and weight inevitably have minor variations.

That day, Chen Wen held two farming axes that had been forged almost simultaneously.

But the farming axes, with clearly different blade angles and weights, were found by Shi Dun, who had just taken a break to drink water.

"Master Shi, you've worked hard."

Chen Wen handed over the farming axe.

"Look at these two axes; if used in battle or to chop hard wood, would they feel the same?"

Shi Dun's dark face showed no expression, he merely muttered:

"Hand-forged, there will inevitably be slight differences, but it doesn't affect use."

"If we could make every forged axe come out as if carved from the same mold?"

Chen Wen proposed his idea.

"Not only the same, but we could forge them faster."

A flicker of doubt and disbelief flashed in Shi Dun's cloudy eyes.

Chen Wen said no more, but picked up a piece of charcoal and began drawing on a smooth stone slab.

He drew a disassembly diagram: the blade, the handle, and several key parts' "clamp board" molds.

"We don't seek one-shot forming."

"We can first concentrate on smelting the iron, with strong apprentices responsible for repeatedly hammering to remove impurities, producing uniformly specified iron bars."

"Then, using hardwood to make molds, when forging the blade blanks, we use the molds to clamp the critical dimensions, ensuring consistent blanks."

"Edging, quenching, and installing the wooden handle—these steps can also be separated, with dedicated persons in charge."

"For example, someone specially tends the fire to control temperature, someone specializes in hammering the rough blank, someone handles fine edging, someone excels at quenching to master the fire..."

8 times the logical thinking and spatial imagination actually gave rise to the idea of a modern assembly line production concept.

And it could be broken down and explained in a way that the craftsmen of this era could understand.

He explained in detail, even personally picking up a hammer to demonstrate how to use the molds for limited forging.

To ensure standardization of the basic shape.

Shi Dun initially listened with furrowed brows, thinking this was outright fantasy.

"Forging iron is a craft; how could it be divided like chopping vegetables or slicing meat?"

But looking at Chen Wen's clear blueprints and hearing that step-by-step interlocking process,

and then considering the benefits the new farming tools would bring, he remained silent for a long time, speaking in a muffled, deep voice:

"... Let's try it."

Reform is difficult.

In the first few days, the blacksmith shop was in utter chaos.

Artisans and apprentices accustomed to working alone bumped into each other, and efficiency did not rise but fell.

Some complained, some doubted.

Chen Wen was not in a hurry either; he just stayed in the blacksmith shop.

8 times the observational power let him quickly spot the problem—perhaps the workflow connections were not smooth.

Perhaps a certain mold dimension needed fine-tuning.

He promptly pointed it out, patiently coordinating.

Gradually, the chaos subsided, and a new rhythm began to form.

When the first batch of ten farming axes, made entirely according to the new process, were laid out together, everyone was stunned.

They were nearly identical, with length, width, blade curvature, and even weight differing hardly at all!

Moreover, the time taken to forge this batch of axes was shorter than the time Shi Dun alone would need to forge five!

Shi Dun picked up two axes, swinging each with his left and right hand.

Feeling that astonishing consistency, his usually calm face finally showed an expression of shock.

His gaze toward Chen Wen completely changed!

From previous politeness it turned into genuine admiration from the heart.

"Chief... this method is divine!"

A young apprentice shouted excitedly.

【Successfully implemented standardization and preliminary assembly-line production, greatly increasing ironware production efficiency and quality, innovation and practical ability enhanced (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+200!】

【Current WP: 4831】

The success of the blacksmith shop greatly motivated others.

The carpentry group's artisans came to the door on their own initiative.

Following Chen Wen's earlier mention of the water wheel, they made several models based on the vague description.

But they either wouldn't turn, or would turn a few times and then fall apart.

Chen Wen actually didn't know the detailed structure of the water wheel either.

But he had 8 times the learning ability and spatial deconstruction ability.

He had the woodworkers bring the failed models, disassemble each part, and repeatedly observe and ponder.

"Here, the mortise and tenon structure isn't strong enough; it can't withstand the impact of the water flow."

"The angle of this blade is wrong; it doesn't catch power and instead increases resistance."

"The connection point between the axle and the support frame needs reinforcement……"

He analyzed while redrawing the sketches with charcoal.

Break down the water wheel into major modules such as base, axle, blade, and transmission device, then refine the design of each module.

He emphasized structural stability and effective force transmission, rather than pursuing complex shapes.

The woodworkers gathered around him, listening as if entranced.

They never imagined that a seemingly complex device could be disassembled step by step and fully understood.

Under Chen Wen's guidance, the new water wheel model began production.

This time, each step had clear goals and standards.

A few days later, a water wheel model about a foot tall was set up beside the small stream.

When the stream water struck the finely adjusted blades, the water wheel began to turn slowly.

And it grew steadier and faster, driving a small stone mill model through a simple transmission mechanism!

"It's turning! It really is turning!"

The woodworkers cheered and leapt, excited like children.

This meant they might be able to make the real thing!

A water-powered device that could bring power to Jiao Tu Zhen, usable for irrigation and even food processing!

【Guiding the research and development of basic water-powered devices, solving technical problems, enhancing knowledge application and inspiration ability (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+180!】

【Current WP: 5011】

The workshop area of Jiao Tu Zhen had completely changed its atmosphere.

No longer merely repetitive manual labor, but filled with the vitality of discussion, experimentation, and innovation.

From the blacksmith shop came rhythmic, efficient collaborative striking sounds;

In the carpenter's shed, craftsmen intensely discussed the drawings and models.

Chen Wen moved among them; perhaps he wasn't the most skilled in craft.

But he was the one who could ignite inspiration, point the way, and twist scattered strength into a single rope.

The eight-times ability brought not only efficiency, but also a vision and methodology transcending the era.

The artisans' miracles were taking shape in his hands, bit by bit becoming reality.

For Jiao Tu Zhen's future, a more solid foundation was being forged.