Translator: churnie
Unedited
Thinking of this question alone will cause headaches, not to mention there’s a surprised Hong Yu stares at him and waits for an answer, Feng Ming tossed aside what was on his mind and shakes his head, “I guess you were the first to come up with this idea, I’m just guessing based on the fire kiln you said.”
“Can you guess it too?” Hong Yu is greatly admired that he’s watching Feng Ming up and down, it takes a long time before he said, “No wonder everyone said that Xirei’s Duke Ming is wise and farsighted, If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes today, who would have believed it?”
Feng Ming grimaces secretly, smirks for a long time, and then turned back to the previous topic, “Although the fire kiln is more expensive than an ordinary stove, the spending should be limited, I can fund it.” Anyway, the Xiao family has a lot of money, so as a young master, he naturally has to help spend a little. “Do you have any other questions?”
The brief silence before him is obviously has something else to do.
Feng Ming looks at the two of them, and asks in a pleasant manner, “Is there anything else?”
“There is one other thing, I think I have to explain it to you first.” Wu Qian thinks for a moment and shows Feng Ming a serious look. “The reason why I brought Hong Yu to see you this time, in addition to the financial support needed to open a foundry, it’s also because Hong Yu needs someone with powerful background for backing him up. “
“Backing up?” It seems that Hong Yu has a lot of problems, Feng Ming looked at Hong Yu in astonishment. “Did you offend many people?”
He can’t see it, such a clean and pretty look…
“I will offend people soon.” Hong Yu smiles bitterly. “Because when I set up a foundry this time, not only should I conceive my idea of casting swords that i had for many years and hope to make some useful improvements to the current casting technique. I also want to recruit a group of potential disciples to train more excellent swordsmiths and let the swordsmithing skills developed. This is my wish that I made to the master.”
Feng Ming nods and says, “All right.”
Looking at the expressions of the two people in front of him, he frowns and asks, “What’s the problem?”
Wu Qian sighs, “Of course there are problems and there are still many problems.”
“Uh?”
Wu Qian says, “Casting is an ancient industry which is different from other ordinary farming textiles, because the sword and armor are all the things that the nobles and even the great king wants to obtained. In many industries, this industry is more respected, even young people with a wealthy background have devoted themselves to it, becoming a precedent for a generation of masters.”
“Um.” Feng Ming still nodding.
He had nothing else to say, because until now, he didn’t quite understand what Wu Qian meant.
Hong Yu looks at his expression, knowing that he didn’t understand, he explains it, “Although the foundry industry belongs to the civilian industry, not all civilian children can join. To get started, you have to formally become an apprentice to a master and there are many rules in this industry. There are a lot of default rules for apprenticeship alone, for example, if any of the parents, sisters and brothers have committed crimes, they cannot be brought into the door of the swordsmith, a born disabled is regarded as hated by the gods in many places, so, those who have a disable among their relatives can’t become disciples of the swordsmith. These cumbersome rules not only constrain young children who wish to learn from the master, but also constrain the swordsmiths who are capable of accepting apprentices.”
Feng Ming suddenly realized, “If Hong Yu breaks the rules and no longer cares about the family situation of the learner and carry out a method to take apprentice as long they were talented, you may offend others, at the very last you will be excluded by your peers.”
Hong Yu says bitterly, “Not necessarily, but definitely. At that time, master will come forward and scold me. Maybe I’m too young and impulsive and i should wait until I get a little fame before doing this.”
Wu Qian says flatly, “No, when you don’t have fame and fortune now, you won’t take action for fear of being excluded, when you become famous and respected in the future, how can you have the courage to abandon everything and realize your wish?”
“Wu Qian is right.” Feng Ming also shows a serious expression. “I finally understand why Wu Qian brought you to see me. Oh, this is the first time I have been selected as a backer. Do people usually look for Backer so straightforwardly?” At the last sentence, there’s a curious baby expression on his face.
He made Wu Qian laughs, “Of course not, usually they will tactfully fawning to win a favor, but I can’t do that kind of thing, so I have to be straightforward. But if I haven’t talked with you about The Grace of Order, I will never rush Hong Yu over here like this, don’t you think that the restrictions on the swordsmith’s acceptance of apprentices, etc., have great similarities to the respect and esteem of the noble and ordinary people?”
“Correct”. Feng Ming nods and sighs, “I didn’t expect that there was such an unfair hierarchy between civilians and civilians. Hong Yu, don’t worry, I will definitely help you with this favor. I will supply money and even the iron you need, The Xiao family can also supply. Uh … can it be supplied?”
There is very little imposing manner of Xiao Family’s young master, he actually turns to look at Rong Hu and Luo Yun’s faces. Rong Hu nods, “When this subordinate went back he will record this. For the detail information, after this subordinates discuss with Luo Deng later, he will send a special person to contact Hong Yu.” Luo Yun has only one request for Feng Ming, don’t make the Xiao family lose face. As for the Xiao family’s property, he never cared. He gave a cold stare to Feng Ming and says in a deep voice, “Young Master can make his own decision.”
Feng Ming got his consent turns back happily and says to Hong Yu, “As for the backer, this is the first time for me, I really don’t know how to be a backer. How about this, the foundry is yours, but sign a supply agreement with our Xiao family, most of the weapons you cast in the future will be supplied to the Xiao family, in this way everyone knows your relationship with the Xiao family, what do you think?”
Hong Yu is overjoyed, his eyes are sparkling and says with smiling, “This is the best, I don’t even have to worry about how to sell the created items, but don’t worry, the weapons I cast will never be inferior and the price sold to the Xiao family will be the cheapest.” Feng Ming nods.
He doesn’t care about the price, anyway it’s just friendly sponsorship.
On the contrary, Wu Qian is excited and tells Feng Ming, “Xiao Family’s willingness to buy things from his workshop is really a benefit to both sides, In addition to the financial support needed to set up the workshop, Hongyu has always been worried about the livelihood of the workshop, knowing that most of the foundry masters had friendship with the influential nobles and he will offend the entire foundry industry, maybe no one would buy his things, he also plan to accept poor disciples, all of them do not need academic aid, and he also will provide food and accommodation, which makes the expenditure more expensive, with a big customer like the Xiao family, most of the problems are solved.”
Everyone chat enthusiastically, Feng Ming asks for a while and learns more about the strange regulations in the foundry industry from Hong Yu’s mouth. It turns out that not to mention a good position such as a general or a noble, even if you become a swordsmith, there are requirements such as identity and background. The strict class system is reflected in every industry.
Nobles look down on ordinary swordsmiths (If a master who can make a sword is appreciated by the nobles, it will be different), the swordsmiths look down on the peddlers, and the peddlers look down on the farmers who lived the hardest life.
All living beings are suppressed to death under a rigid system.
No wonder Rong Tian’s Grace of Order is like a boulder thrown into the stagnant water, arousing layers of exciting splashes, because this has something to do with the lives of too many people.
After chatting for nearly half an hour, the topic changed back to the original armor.
“It turned out that Wu Qian had ransacked the finances in his mansion and sent them to you.” Feng Ming’s laughter sound briskly in the side hall.
“Certainly not.” Despite Hong Yu’s gentle appearance, he’s actually carefree and soon became familiar with Feng Ming, solved the difficult problems such as the funds of the workshop, but also talk about humor and rumor, had nothing to hide. “The money is spent for buying raw materials, a pair of armor requires a lot of iron materials and it costs money. I work for nothing, and he keeps urging, I worked for him for more than a month, and finally I got a few young brothers to drove out the armor.”
Wu Qian says, “It’s not that I want to force Hong Yu to work, but I can trust his craftsmanship, If i find a famous master to make it, it’s expensive, I’m afraid it costs two or three pairs of armor, only one pair can be bought, there are even fewer soldiers can wear armor. If I find a master I don’t know to make it, I’m worried that it’s all shoddy products, what’s the difference between not wearing it? After Hong Yu finished his work, he was so tired that he fell ill, and I still feel guilty.”
Hong Yu is silent for a while, he tilt his head and smiling at Wu Qian, “This time you helped me a lot, we don’t owe each other anymore.”
Feng Ming still remembers such things as making armor, and asks Hong Yu the casting talent, for an advice, “is there any way to improve the casting technique and make more armor with less money for the benefit of ordinary soldiers?”
“Wu Qian and I have thought about this question for a long time, but no matter how much we improve, it’s impossible to achieve the goal to put on the armor for the whole battalion.” Hong Yu’s face darkened and his elegant eyebrows frown slightly, “As soon as this account is calculated, it will be clear that even if everyone in the foundry is willing to work for nothing, doesn’t even count the cost of hot charcoal at the time of construction, just the material cost of the armor alone is a large sum of money, even if only one tenth of the soldiers were equipped with armor, buying so much iron is also a terrible amount.”
“Beside, iron is not grain, it can be planted by sending more people to plant it. This thing needs to be mined and collected, and mountains must be found before it can be mined. Now the situation in the world is uneasy and the Kings of all kingdoms are actively preparing for the army. Iron and copper are needed everywhere, even if you have money, you may not be able to buy enough iron.”
Wu Qian sighs, “In the eyes of many people, the lives of ordinary soldiers are not worth even a pair of armor”.
Feng Ming deosn’t know what to say for a moment and sighs with Wu Qian.
When it comes to discussing this realistic problem, not to mention Wu Qian, even the young master of the Xiao family, who claims to be the richest in the world, is deeply powerless. Even with his financial resources, he may not be able to raise enough money to prepare a life-saving armor for all soldiers in Xirei, the amount is too huge.
Moreover, if he does this, without Xiao Zong’s shot, maybe Lady Yaoye would come and feed him a handful of poison first — it’s understandable a failure that has ruined Xiao family’s century-old foundation, and his veritable prodigal of the family is also cleaned up.
In this troubled world, it’s not easy to be a responsible nobleman, there are too many unfair things to worry about.
Feng Ming finally realized how hard it was to be a compassionate superior.
“After all, the most important thing is the issue of materials.”
Iron and copper are scarce, the noblemen are more willing to spend it on the weapons to attack the enemy rather than the soldier’s protecting armor?
Feng Ming suddenly says, “if you don’t have to use iron and copper as materials, it will be much easier.”
Wu Qian and Hong Yu look at Feng Ming strangely.
Feng Ming says, “Why are you looking at me like that? I just make a suggestion, maybe we can find a way if we discuss it, science can be improved by a wild idea.”
“What can we use without iron and copper as a material?” Hong Yu shows a serious face and discuss with Feng Ming seriously. “The weapons used in the war all are made of iron, the sharpness and hardness are determined according to the texture of iron and copper. If you choose less tough materials, the weapon will break into the helmet and you can’t protect your body, so you must choose materials that are tough enough.”
Wu Qian also says, “If there is a cheaper and tougher material than iron and copper in this world, the kings in the world would have used it for weapon and armor. It can be seen that this kind of thing does not exist at all. Do we have to make armor out of stone? it’s so bulky, can the soldiers still move while wearing it?”
Feng Ming is splashed with two basins of cold water by them and touches his nose, “when I hear you say it, it really doesn’t seem to be very practical. Aih, what should I do?”
Seeing him sighing loudly, Wu Qian laughs again and comforts him, “Don’t worry, it’s not something that can be figured out by a few of us sitting down, the kings in the world had long thought about such things for increasing the strength of their respective kingdoms. This kind of thing broke my head. Be more patience, there may be a solution in the future.”
Feng Ming nods.
At this time, Qiu Yue walks in from the side door, and after saluting Feng Ming, she solemnly says, “Chief Luo Deng said that there’s an urgent matter to ask for instructions, please Duke Ming immediately come to discuss it.”
Feng Ming startled. “What’s the matter? Can’t he wait to talk?”
Wu Qian and Hong Yu received Feng Ming’s personal promise to set up a foundry with funds and iron supplies and has been satisfied with the promise of protection, knowing that Feng Ming has another important matter, they didn’t want him to delay, they all stand up to leave.
Feng Ming also stands up and regretfully says, “We just talked for a while.”
Hong Yu’s pale red lips are slightly raised, very kind and pleasing to the eye. “The foundry can’t be built in a day or two, how many materials and much money is needed to build a fire kiln, and so on, I will come over and discuss it with you. Maybe I will come again tomorrow. “
Wu Qian stands beside Hong Yu also says, “I’m idle and have nothing to do, I’ll accompany Hong Yu to come. If Zhuang Pu can spare his time, I also will invite him.”
The two left.
Feng Ming followed Qiu Yue to the side hall, while walking he asks, “What’s the matter? Luo Deng asks me to come over in such a hurry? Is it possible that the Xiao family’s fleet has been sunk again?”
As soon as Qiu Yue changed her serious expression, she puffs like beautiful flower. “I lied to King Ming, what’s so important about Luo Deng? It was the Great King who was waiting impatiently in the room, and told me to get rid of the guests so Duke Ming can come back.”
Feng Ming’s dangling heart was then put down, his teeth itching with anger and she squeezed Qiu Yue’s face, “You are more and more disobedient, actually listen to Rong Tian’s words to do bad things, be careful I punish you.” With that said, he strode toward the resting inner room.
Qiu Yue looks at his glorious back and stands smiling with her lips closed, suddenly she feels something different, she turns her head and her face immediately sank, she asks, “What are you looking at?”