Chapter 724: Technical Advancement

Inside the barracks, the oil lamp crackled.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) spread the record paper on the wooden table.

Xu Da, Tang He, and Guo Rong gathered around.

Chang Yuchun also stood to the side; although he couldn't quite understand those chaotic waveforms, his expression was solemn.

"Is this signal... clearer than last time?" Xu Da asked.

"No." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) shook his head. "It's more chaotic."

He pointed to the three relatively clear pulse clusters on the paper.

"But there is order within the chaos."

"Look here—at the start of each pulse cluster, there are three short spikes."

He picked up a charcoal pencil and marked the paper.

"Does it resemble... some kind of preamble? Or rather, a delimiter?"

Tang He frowned and examined closely.

"Indeed. After those three spikes comes the actual signal content."

"But the content is too chaotic; no pattern can be discerned."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) fell silent.

He stared at the final segment of high-frequency fluctuation.

That fluctuation was unusually regular, like... a heartbeat.

Or rather, like the rhythm of some kind of warning.

He recalled the old woman's description of the "blue mist."

He recalled Chang Yuchun's mention of "soldiers whose eyes glowed blue."

He also recalled the lump of metal in his pocket.

"Guo Rong."

"Here."

"Take a few men and go now to fetch those two blacksmiths who fled from Huaiyuan."

"Remember, be courteous."

"Yes."

Guo Rong turned and left.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked toward Chang Yuchun.

"Chang Yuchun, the plan for the cavalry's northern reconnaissance tomorrow remains unchanged."

"But you will take on an additional task."

"Please, chief, give your orders."

"Along the way, pay attention to observe the soil, vegetation, and water sources."

"If you see any abnormal color—especially grayish or bluish—take a sample and bring it back immediately."

"Also, when you encounter fleeing civilians, carefully ask about their hometown's climate, harvest, and whether there are any strange illnesses."

Chang Yuchun nodded.

"I've noted it down."

"Go on, rest early, and set out at dawn."

Chang Yuchun clasped his fists and departed.

Only Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang), Xu Da, and Tang He remained in the barracks.

The oil lamp swayed.

"Brother, have you thought of something?" Xu Da asked softly.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) pulled from his bosom that dark silver-gray lump of metal.

He placed it on the table.

Under the oil lamp's light, it gave off a dull sheen.

"This piece of metal, I obtained it by accident while smelting iron the day before yesterday."

"At the time, the furnace temperature was at least twenty percent higher than usual."

"The blast was stronger."

"The timing of charging the materials was also precisely spot-on."

He paused.

"I suspect... this thing might have a resistive effect against 'that kind of thing.'"

Tang He widened his eyes.

"What kind of thing?"

"The blue mist. Or rather, those rumored soldiers impervious to blades and spears."

Xu Da sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Brother, do you mean... this thing can counter sorcery?"

"I don't know." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) shook his head. "But we must try."

At that moment, footsteps sounded outside the door.

Guo Rong brought in two middle-aged men.

Both had dark faces, muscular arms, and thick calluses on their hands.

Upon seeing Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang), they performed a somewhat awkward salute.

Chief.

You two masters need not be overly polite. Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) gestured for them to sit down.

I invited you two here late at night because I want to ask about something.

He pushed that lump of metal over.

Take a look, do you two recognize what this is?

The two blacksmiths exchanged a glance.

The older of the two carefully picked up the lump.

He weighed it in his hand.

He then brought it close to the lamp for a closer look.

He even scratched the surface with his fingernail.

Chief, where… where did you get this?

I accidentally produced it while smelting iron." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said truthfully.

The old blacksmith's eyes widened.

By accident?

Yes.

May I ask, Chief, what ore were you using? What charcoal? How big was the furnace? How was the bellows?

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) answered each in turn.

After hearing him, the two blacksmiths fell silent for a while.

The younger one spoke first.

Master, this… this couldn't really be…

The old blacksmith raised a hand to stop him.

He turned to Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang), his expression solemn.

Chief, I've been a blacksmith in Huaiyuan for twenty years and have seen many strange things.

But I've only heard rumors about such a situation.

What rumors?

Rumors from the end of the previous dynasty." The old blacksmith lowered his voice, "They say that some old masters, when forging swords, if the furnace fire is pure blue, the timing and conditions are right, and they pour their heart and blood into it, they can forge 'strange iron'.

Strange iron?

Yes. Its color differs from ordinary iron; its texture is tougher, harder, and more resistant to rust.

It is said… it can ward off evil.

He said the last three words very softly.

The barracks were completely silent.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) stared at the lump.

Can it be reproduced?

The old blacksmith gave a wry smile.

Chief, it's a matter of luck. Out of a thousand furnaces, you might not get one batch.

But if you really want to try…

He hesitated a moment.

We can try improving the bellows furnace.

Improve?

Yes. You just said the furnace temperature was twenty percent higher than usual.

Then we'll find a way to raise the temperature another ten percent.

Make the bellows more even.

Make the charging more precise.

Perhaps… this could increase the chance of producing strange iron.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang)'s eyes lit up.

What do you need?

Labor, materials, time.

Give as much as you need." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said decisively.

Tang He, starting tomorrow, all resources of the workshop will be prioritized for the two masters.

Xu Da, assign a company of infantry to obey the two masters' commands.

Guo Rong, you will be responsible for coordination.

All three responded at once.

The two blacksmiths, flattered and startled, repeatedly waved their hands.

Chief, we must not…

We must." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) rose.

You two, if this thing is truly useful, it could affect the lives of tens of thousands.

Please.

He clasped his fists solemnly.

The two blacksmiths exchanged a glance and also returned the salute solemnly.

We… will do our best.

It was late at night.

The camp gradually grew quiet.

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) sat alone at the table, spreading out the record sheet again.

He stared at that segment of high-frequency fluctuation.

He examined it again and again.

Suddenly, he picked up a charcoal pencil and began to draw on another blank sheet.

He converted the waveform into points and lines.

Converting it into some kind of… code.

He tried to apply the simple coding rules he had previously deciphered.

It failed.

The signal's content was too chaotic.

But that high-frequency fluctuation…

A flash of inspiration struck him.

He marked out the intervals of the fluctuation.

Long. Short. Short. Long.

Long. Long. Short.

Short. Short. Long.

This rhythm…

He closed his eyes and simulated it in his mind.

Then he suddenly opened his eyes.

"Is this… a direction?"

He grabbed the map.

Northeast direction.

Three long intervals, like a major direction.

Short intervals, like fine adjustments.

But what exactly does it point to?

He stood up and walked to the crude star chart hanging on the wall—one he had drawn from memory, used for navigation and timing.

Suddenly, he noticed a few points he had casually marked earlier on the edge of the star chart.

They were the positions where abnormal meteors had been observed.

He connected those points.

Pointing toward…

North-northeast.

"Could it be…?"

His heart raced.

Did the signal from the east indicate the observation direction?

Or was it indicating the direction of the threat's source?

He immediately returned to the table to re-examine those three pulse clusters.

If the first three peaks are separators.

Then the garbled code after that…

Could it be an encrypted, more complex message?

Does it require a new decryption rule?

He realized he might have come into contact with a higher-level communication.

But where is the key?

He had no way of knowing.

All he could do was wait.

Wait for the next signal.

Wait for more clues.

Or…

Wait for more certain bad news from the north.

The sky gradually lightened.

On the east side of the camp, the artisans' quarter was already bustling.

Two blacksmiths directed the soldiers, building a new furnace beside the original bellows furnace.

"Here, reinforce it! Use rammed earth mixed with crushed stone!"

"Enlarge the air inlet! But adjust the angle of the inlet so the wind swirls!"

"Divide the feed opening into two layers! Upper layer for ore, lower layer for charcoal, to be controlled separately!"

Xu Da stood to the side, watching the unprecedented commotion in the artisans' quarter.

Tang He walked over.

"Where is the elder brother?"

"He's still in the room, studying that paper."

"Didn't you sleep all night?"

Look, the oil lamp is lit.

Tang He sighed.

"The northern situation…… is it really this serious?"

"I don't know." Xu Da shook his head, "But the elder brother never makes a fuss over nothing."

Just then, Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) walked out of the barracks.

His eyes were bloodshot, but his spirit was still okay.

He held a newly drawn diagram in his hand.

"Both masters."

He walked to the furnace.

"Take a look at this."

He unfolded the drawing.

On it was drawn an improved blast furnace structure diagram.

Not only was the furnace wall thickened, the air inlet was adjusted.

And inside the furnace chamber, a three‑layer flow‑diverting baffle was designed.

as well as an external preheating bellows.

The two blacksmiths stared, dumbfounded.

"Chief…… you…… you still understand this?"

"A little." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said, "If we build according to this, will it work?"

The old blacksmith examined it carefully for a moment.

"Yes!"

His voice was somewhat excited.

"This design… ingenious! The wind can be recycled, and the furnace temperature can at least increase by another thirty percent!"

"Then build it." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) said, "I want to see the new furnace lit within three days."

"Three days?" the young blacksmith exclaimed.

"Materials are sufficient, manpower is sufficient." Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) looked at Xu Da.

Xu Da nodded immediately.

"I will personally oversee it."

Zhu Yue (Zhu Yuanzhang) raised his head.

Morning light pierced the clouds.

A new day.

A new attempt.

And in the north.

The thirty horsemen led by Chang Yuchun have already set out.

Hooves shattered the morning dew.

Toward unknown shadows.

They galloped away.