Chapter 411: Seeds of Technology

Early spring in the False Song Hebei West Circuit, the fields beside the official road already showed hints of green.

But this vitality could hardly conceal the oppressive, lingering 'momentum' in the air.

Chen Wen and Zhao Lao Nian posed as merchants, leading a thin horse laden with goods, walking slowly along the dusty road.

Zhao Lao Nian's gaze, like the finest caliper, swept over every detail related to 'technique' and 'material' he saw along the way.

The more he saw, the tighter his brow furrowed.

"Master,"

Taking a break at a tea stall, with no one noticing, Zhao Lao Nian lowered his voice and said to Chen Wen.

"The iron workshops here mostly use bellows made of hide, which is laborious and gives unstable airflow;"

"The plowshares I saw are mostly white-heart cast iron, brittle and hard, prone to breaking, making plowing laborious;"

"Even the cart axles by the road are heavily worn, clearly due to poor quenching craftsmanship, and their bearing structure is also crude."

He shook his head slightly, his tone carrying the particular anguish of a technical official.

"It's not that the craftsmen are unskilled; it's... the prevailing attitude is like this."

"Artisans hold low status; who would value improving their skills? There's no profit in it."

"If merely making a living by following ancestral methods is already hard, who would risk experimenting with novelties?"

Chen Wen listened silently, lifted the coarse pottery bowl, and took a sip of the astringent earth tea.

His 'Shi Yong' spread like invisible tendrils in all directions.

He could faintly sense the stagnation of the 'momentum' over this land, especially in areas related to 'craftsmanship' and 'hundred trades,' where it was like dead water.

Occasionally, he could also catch one or two faint specks of light representing 'ingenuity' or 'potential,' but most were dim and suppressed by the surrounding heavy 'momentum,' making it hard for them to flourish.

"Long stagnation makes reversal difficult."

Chen Wen set down his tea bowl, his gaze turning toward the faint outline of the county town at the end of the official road.

"But it also means that a tiny spark might perhaps ignite unexpected changes."

"It's time to plant those 'seeds' we brought."

Zhao Lao Nian's spirits lifted.

"Master, you are absolutely right!"

He had long been impatient.

The two paid for the tea, continued on their way, aiming straight for the county town named Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping ahead.

Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping's county town was small, its walls somewhat mottled, and the guards at the gate also looked listless.

After paying a small entry fee, the two led their horse into the somewhat noisy market.

Zhao Lao Nian's gaze was instantly drawn to the various shops along the street, especially the clanging iron workshop and the woodworking shop scented with wood shavings.

"Master, I'll go check that iron workshop over there."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod.

"Be careful, don't arouse suspicion."

"I'll take care of it."

Zhao Lao Nian acknowledged, straightened his robe, put on a merchant's amiable smile, and walked toward a not‑far shop bearing the sign 'Zhang's Iron Workshop'.

Chen Wen stopped at a nearby bamboo‑weaving stall, seemingly idly examining the handicrafts while actually observing his surroundings and continuously sensing the flow of 'Fortune Momentum' within the town.

His attention was quickly drawn to a smaller, more remote iron workshop diagonally opposite.

That shop's facade was narrow, the characters on its sign blurred, only barely legible as 'Liu's'.

The forge fire seemed lit, but there was little clanging of hammering, making it seem rather deserted.

What caught his attention more was that, through his 'Shi Yong,' he could faintly sense a tiny speck of light in the direction of 'Liu's' workshop, weak but tinged with a sense of reluctance and struggle.

This was starkly different from the resigned dimness of most nearby artisans.

At that moment, Zhao Lao Nian also returned from 'Zhang's Iron Workshop,' his face showing a hint of realization.

"Master, I've asked."

He leaned in and spoke softly.

"That shop owner is quite talkative, saying his family has been forging iron for generations, using the old ancestral methods; the farm tools and knives they make are somewhat renowned in Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping County."

"In his words, he seemed rather pleased with himself."

"I observed the ironware on display; the quality is indeed passable, but that's about it."

"The craftsmanship is conservative, with nothing remarkable."

Chen Wen, without changing his expression, lifted his chin toward 'Liu's Iron Workshop.'

"Let's go have a look."

Zhao Lao Nian followed the direction, saw the deserted shop, blinked slightly, then nodded.

The two walked up to the door of 'Liu's Iron Workshop.'

Inside the dim workshop, only a man in his thirties, wearing a patched short jacket, stood blankly before a weakly burning forge.

His cheeks were sunken, his brows locked tight, bearing an unshakable sorrow.

Seeing customers arrive, he hurriedly rose, rubbed his hands, and forced a somewhat awkward smile.

"Two… two gentlemen, what would you like? Hoes, sickles, knives—our little shop can make them all."

His gaze swept over Chen Wen and Zhao Lao Nian's decent clothing, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hope.

Zhao Lao Nian remained in his usual amiable merchant guise, smiling and clasping his hands.

"Boss, we're passing through your area and wanted to see if you have any suitable ironware."

"Please, have a look; please, have a look."

Liu the Blacksmith hurriedly led the two to view the few finished items in the shop.

Zhao Lao Nian picked up a hoe, examined the blade closely, then flicked it with his finger, listening to the sound.

Chen Wen then noticed that in the corner of the shop were piled some peculiarly shaped iron lumps, apparently failed products, and also some wooden pieces with crude drawings.

That faint "unwilling" light point came precisely from this man's body and from those failed attempts.

"Boss, this iron… seems to be lacking a bit in the firing."

Zhao Lao Nian set down the hoe and casually commented.

Upon hearing this, Liu Tiejiang's face darkened and he sighed.

"Don't blame me, sir; my shop has little capital, I can't afford good charcoal, I only use mixed wood charcoal, the fire is weak, so this iron… can only be refined to this extent."

"The bellows' leather bag is old, leaks air, and can't generate force."

He pointed to a worn-out leather bellows in the corner, his face full of helplessness.

"I've thought about improving it, but… sigh, after several tries they all failed, wasting a lot of material costs, and life is getting harder and harder."

"The neighboring Zhang's iron shop has good charcoal, full equipment, and all the customers go there."

His words were full of the frustration of being inferior in skill and unwillingness toward the current situation.

Zhao Lao Nian and Chen Wen exchanged a glance.

This is the place.

"Boss Liu, don't be discouraged."

Zhao Lao Nian smiled and shifted the topic.

"Speaking of which, when I was young I also saw some craftsmen in the south who had clever bellows methods, far more effective than this leather bag."

Liu Tiejiang's eyes lit up suddenly, as if he had grabbed a lifeline.

"Sir, you… you really mean it? What kind of method is it?"

Zhao Lao Nian pretended to ponder.

"I don't recall the exact diagram, only a rough idea."

"It seems to be a wooden device called a 'wooden fan', driven by foot power, providing strong and steady airflow while saving effort."

As he spoke, he observed Liu Tiejiang's reaction.

Only saw Liu Tiejiang listening intently, his eyes growing brighter, muttering: "Wooden fan… foot tread… strong and steady airflow…"

He suddenly lifted his head, excitedly looking at Zhao Lao Nian.

"Sir! You… you could explain in more detail? Or could you draw a sketch? I… I am willing to pay for it!"

Zhao Lao Nian waved his hand.

"No need to talk about money, it's just a small effort."

"But I only saw it; my drawing might be inaccurate, so you'll have to figure it out yourself."

"Of course, of course!"

Liu Tiejiang quickly fetched a relatively smooth piece of wood and a small charcoal stick, gazing eagerly at Zhao Lao Nian.

Zhao Lao Nian didn't decline, took the charcoal, and began sketching on the wood.

What he drew was a simplified diagram of the improved foot‑tread wooden fan bellows furnace, long discarded by the Ministry of Works but considered an innovation in the False Song.

Although only a rough structure, it clearly marked the key components and transmission method.

Liu Tiejiang stared, entranced, his breathing quickening.

He is an expert; at a glance he saw the ingenuity in the diagram, far superior to his broken leather bellows.

"Marvelous! Marvelous!"

He was so excited his hands trembled slightly.

"If it could really be made, this airflow… this firepower…"

He seemed already to see the scene of blazing furnace and flowing molten iron.

Zhao Lao Nian finished the drawing and handed the wood piece to Liu Tiejiang.

"Boss, the opportunity is yours; whether it succeeds depends on you."

Liu Tiejiang took the wood piece with trembling hands, as if holding a priceless treasure.

He thumped down, about to kneel.

"Benefactor! Thank you for your guidance!"

Chen Wen reached out to steady him.

"Boss Liu, no need for this; we merchants merely lend a hand, forming a good karmic tie."

Liu Tiejiang thanked profusely and insisted on giving the two the finest newly forged chopping knife from his shop.

Chen Wen and Zhao Lao Nian could not refuse, so they accepted.

After leaving "Liu Ji" iron shop and walking a distance, Zhao Lao Nian whispered.

"My lord, this youth is resolute, pursues craftsmanship, and is usable material."

"This 'seed' counts as planted."

Chen Wen nodded, his gaze deep as he looked back once at the still‑dilapidated small shop.

"Technology is the bone and blood of civilization."

He spoke softly, as if answering Zhao Lao Nian and also clarifying his own motive to himself.

"The Iron Crow seeks to lock this place down; I instead wish to inject living water."

"Today I plant a seed; perhaps one day it will grow into thorns that can shake the foundations."

"Let's go, to the next spot."

"Thus entries: Thus entries: Anping County, and indeed the whole False Song, still have many places that need 'seeds'."

The two figures gradually blended into the bustling crowd.

And in the dim Liu Ji iron workshop, Liu Tiejiang faced the wooden piece bearing a drawing, his eyes blazing with an unprecedented light.

He carefully traced the lines on the drawing, as if he could already hear the wind's howl from the new-style blast furnace.