Medieval: Kingdom Come: Deliverance

Chapter 138 Gunpowder Factory

In medieval Europe, iron smelting technology lagged far behind that of the East.

European-style wrought iron furnaces are mainly constructed of clay and stone, and their height is usually maintained between 1.5 and 2 meters.

The operation of a wrought iron furnace involves layering hematite and charcoal fuel, and maintaining combustion with the help of natural ventilation or a simple bellows. However, limited by the upper temperature limit of charcoal combustion (approximately 1200 degrees Celsius), the iron ore can only undergo a partial reduction reaction, resulting in porous, spongy iron blocks.

The sponge iron block contains a large number of impurities, and blacksmiths must repeatedly forge it to remove these impurities, eventually obtaining malleable iron with a carbon content of less than 0.1% and excellent ductility. However, this production method is inefficient; a single smelting process in a forge furnace takes 6 to 10 hours, and the daily iron output is only 20 to 50 kilograms, with an iron ore utilization rate of only about 50%.

Until the mid-14th century, a major breakthrough was made in blower technology. Water-powered blowers were gradually promoted in Germany and Sweden. The water-driven bellows could generate wind pressure of 0.3 to 0.5 bar, which significantly increased the air volume and allowed the combustion temperature to be raised to 1300 to 1400 degrees Celsius, thus enabling iron ore to be completely melted into liquid pig iron.

This type of pig iron has a carbon content between 2% and 4%, making it ideal for casting large tools.

Even so, Europe still only used small furnaces of about 3 meters to smelt pig iron. To obtain steel, they still needed to use the "carburizing process" to carburize the surface of wrought iron, which was inefficient. Toledo steel and Frankfurt steel were examples of this type of folded forging carburized steel. But it was still far inferior to the Damascus steel of the Ottoman Empire.

Meanwhile, the Ming Dynasty had already begun using large vertical furnaces ranging from 6 to 9 meters in height, along with wooden box blast furnace technology, producing 2000 catties of pig iron per furnace per day. They had also mastered the methods of frying and pouring steel.

By 1403, the Ming Dynasty had established an "early industrial" system that used coal as fuel, blast furnaces and steelmaking techniques as its core, and was capable of large-scale production of pig iron and steel. Meanwhile, Europe was still in the "handicraft" stage, relying on charcoal and using primitive blooming methods for small-batch, high-cost production.

All of these were recorded in the book "Tiangong Kaiwu" (The Exploitation of the Works of Nature), and Peter took the opportunity to recall and record these design concepts for use in building his own steel industry.

These technological knowledge and techniques from the East now represent an overwhelming advantage in Europe.

A favorable wind lends its strength, sending me soaring to the heavens!

Wherever there are people, there is a need for food and lodging. Even if there is no entertainment, there should still be a place to go out and relax.

After Peter decided to develop the iron mine in the northern forest, an industrial zone consisting of iron ore, charcoal, and iron smelting, along with its supporting residential area, quickly took shape.

Because it belongs to the military industry, Peter named it "Military Industry Park No. 1".

Leaving Park One, Peter headed straight for the valley in the direction of Nebakov, where the Izera River flowed swiftly.

The Nizhny Semih and Nebakov mills were built on the banks of the Izera River, using the water flow to power waterwheels that made a creaking sound, like the sigh of an old man in his twilight years.

Mills were essential production tools in the Middle Ages, and monopolizing mills was part of a lord's exercise of power. This was similar to a lord monopolizing bread ovens or grape presses. Lords would force peasants to use their mills, strengthening the peasants' personal and economic dependence on them. If peasants built their own mills or used small stone mills, they would be fined or even imprisoned.

During his village reforms, Peter abolished the mill tax and allowed villages to build windmills and mills collectively and for ordinary people to grind their own grain.

Peter decided to convert the two gradually abandoned mills into an armory to manufacture weapons, armor, bows, and arrows.

Peter gazed at the rushing river, recalling the simplified diagrams of mechanisms he had drawn in his mechanical principles class in college, and a bittersweet nostalgia welled up within him. Those courses he had once complained about as tedious had now become powerful tools for changing the world.

"My lord, this mill is my family's heirloom..." Krezer watched Peter gesturing by the waterwheel, fearing that the young lord would ruin his livelihood.

"That's not your family's ancestral property; it's the lord's ancestral property."

Peter smiled and corrected the flaw in the other person's words. Medieval millers were often like this, thinking that because they were running the mill for the lord, they treated it as their own, engaging in all sorts of embezzlement and misappropriation. This is how the stereotypical image of the medieval miller originated.

Seeing Krezer's distressed expression, Peter smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, I just want to make your mill more valuable."

Peter stood by the rushing water, watching the water-powered turbine. The blueprints for the water-powered forging hammer he had seen in the museum before his transmigration flashed through his mind, and he quickly drew them on parchment with charcoal.

"Lengthen the waterwheel shaft and install a cam here..." He drew on the stone slab with charcoal. "When the cam rotates, it will lift this beam..." He explained in detail how water power could be used to drive the forging hammer: "The waterwheel rotates, and through this linkage mechanism, the rotational motion is converted into a reciprocating motion. See, this allows the hammer to automatically strike the iron billet."

Seedorf's eyes widened: "My God! This is equivalent to the work of ten blacksmiths in one day!"

"That's not all," Peter continued, adding annotations on the diagram, "we can also design hammers of different weights for different processes. Heavy hammers for initial forging, and light hammers for finishing."

Antoine's voice trembled with excitement: "My lord, where did you learn all this knowledge? This...this is simply divine revelation!"

"Um," Peter rubbed his nose and said, "Actually, Venice, Milan, and other forging meccas started using it a hundred years ago. It's just that they kept it a secret, so the technology hadn't spread here yet."

"It's quite remarkable that you, sir, were able to obtain such a secret."

"God! If this can be built, we will never again have toil away as apprentices grabbing sledgehammers!" he exclaimed. His rough fingers trembled as he stroked the pattern on the slate. "God! If this can be built, we will never again have toil away as apprentices grabbing sledgehammers!" He recalled the days when he was young, when his arms ached so much after swinging the hammer for three hours straight that he could barely hold a spoon.

The blacksmith Antoine exclaimed incredulously, "This forging hammer will be equivalent to the strength of ten strong men! From now on, we can forge our own Toledo steel and plate armor!"

"Effortless, precise, and tireless," Peter said confidently. "Soon we'll have similar forging equipment, and our weapons and armor will catch up!"

The arsenal workers were all in high spirits, except for the former miller, Crizer, who sighed as he glanced at the mill, which had been renamed "Military Industrial Park No. 2," before following Peter back to Camp Lion.

Lion Camp is now divided into two parts: the outer Lion Canyon military camp and the inner Griffin Village, which is mainly engaged in production.

In a secluded cave at the Griffin Camp, a highly classified gunpowder factory, codenamed "Military Industrial Park No. 3," was under construction. Krezer was Peter's intended factory manager.

"Krezer, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you weren't a good person."

Peter's blunt words reminded Krezer of the scene when they first met: Peter, sword in hand, unhesitatingly beheaded the second-in-command of the Ulcer Gang, Po Jaw, and recognized the black powder that Krezer was developing at a glance, even saying that he would take this secret and live off it for the rest of his life!

"I'm no good person, and you're no good either, Lord Peter!" Krezer cursed inwardly, but said aloud, "You have a good eye for people!"

Peter laughed, "Judging from your actions of developing gunpowder and wanting to sell it for profit, and later helping Jan JSKA ambush the army of the vassal lords of Borgo, I was right. You must have sold a large quantity of gunpowder to JSKA and made a fortune, right?"

"No, no. Jessica was a penniless wretch. He promised to pay after the battle, but before I even received payment, he was defeated. Five barrels of gunpowder wiped out my entire stock, and I didn't get a single Grosshin for the payment!"

Krezer began to complain about being poor and miserable, as if he were afraid that Peter would raid his home.

"Not a single item has been paid for?"

Peter asked curiously, "You didn't even pay the deposit? Did Jessica find something wrong with you too?"

"Um, sir, that's too hurtful of you to say that."

Krezer wore an innocent expression and said, "I'm actually a righteous person, and I'm disgusted by the cruel rule of Polgao. Especially after hearing that you were also involved in the ambush, I confiscated the deposit and delivered the goods directly. Who knew JASKA would be so useless! Of course, sir, I don't mean for you to assume JASKA's debts, even though you are also one of the beneficiaries of my gunpowder weapons."

"Haha, as expected of someone who attended Prague University. It's a waste of your talents to keep you as the miller. So I've decided to give you a more suitable position—manager of the gunpowder factory. Your assistants, such as Zinecke, Henzel, Malik, and Willa, will also continue to be your employees. I will pay you a reasonable salary."

Krezer asked listlessly, "Sir, may I refuse?"

He used to be a miller, embezzling a large sum of money every month. Not to mention he had the technology to make gunpowder; he could easily make some and sell it to make a fortune. Why should he stay here and take a fixed salary?

"Can't."

Peter smiled and replied, "If the other person were a good person, I might feel pity. But you are not, so I refuse."

"Ah, oh, sir, God is my witness, I am a good Christian, I am a good person." Krezer cursed even more inwardly. So this was what they were waiting for. But it seemed too late to change his tune now.

Peter shook his head and said, "You should know the power of gunpowder, such a powerful weapon. If the technology were allowed to spread to my enemies, what kind of impact would it have? I didn't let you leave, but I didn't completely detain you either, nor did I intend to kill you. On the contrary, I gave you considerable authority. You should thank me for my mercy."

"Thank you~"

The Crezers, under the power of the strong, had no choice but to bow their heads. But upon closer reflection, Peter wasn't entirely wrong. Had it been a different lord, they might have already hanged themselves or spent their lives in the dungeon grinding gunpowder.

The essence of the push-pull tactic is to "slap someone and then give them a treat," using force to coerce and incentives to tempt them.

Now that they've used force to make Krezer realize he can't escape, they should offer some benefits and use incentives to entangle him.

"Did you know that there are still many areas for improvement in gunpowder? I have a gunpowder formula from a mysterious Eastern power that is more advanced than your own research and more powerful than what the Ottomans possess. Would you like to see it?"

"think!"

"I can give you the improved formula to develop, and once successful, the new gunpowder will be named after you—Kreizer powder. Do you want it?"

"think!!"

"Once my gunpowder army is fully formed and we no longer fear the surrounding lords, the secret contract on you will naturally dissipate, and you will regain your freedom. I will also give you a large sum of money. Do you want it?"

"think!!!"

"If the gunpowder factory becomes a powerful department in the future, and you wish to remain in your position, I will continue to appoint you as the gunpowder superintendent, overseeing the development of numerous gunpowder weapons under my command, and granting you land based on your military achievements. Do you want that?"

"Yes!!!" Krezer exclaimed excitedly, "Lord Peter, I've figured it out! Working under you means a bright future. This is clearly a revelation from God. I'm determined to be the gunpowder factory manager!"

"Ding! Krezer's affinity has reached 60. He has voluntarily become your subordinate. Do you wish to open the character panel?"

"yes!"

Name: Krezer Farmer Level: lv7 (662/700)

主属性：力量16、敏捷12、活力14、智力18、魅力12

次属性：爆发12、防御10、闪避10、口才14、视野16。

技能：拉丁语lv15、学识lv12、潜行lv8、偷窃lv12、磨麵|v6、火药製作lv1

4

Talent: Miller (White Talent. Profits by manipulating weighing equipment, misrepresenting loss rates, or hoarding flour. Projects under his management have +1 output.)

Scientific researchers (Blue talent: Passionate about researching new things and tirelessly putting them into practice.)

Loyalty: 61

Remaining points: 6 attribute points, 6 skill points

How to put it? As a miller, his "stealing" skill is much higher than his "milling" skill. He truly lives up to his stereotypical image of a miller.

"Kreize, kneel down!"

Peter suddenly drew his sword, startling Krezer, but he was still too nervous to resist and obediently knelt down.

Peter tapped him on the head with his sword, adding half his points and upgrading his gunpowder skill from Iv14 to Iv20. A warm current instantly flowed through his body, clearing Krezer's confused eyes.

"Blessing! It must be the Lord's Blessing that so many people are talking about! My God, I'm actually fortunate enough to receive this honor!"

Krezer was trembling and speaking incoherently.

"Ding! Krezer's loyalty +5"

Peter gave Krezer a taste of success beforehand because he was afraid the dishonest guy would try something. Now that he'd had a taste of success, he could trust him with the gunpowder factory in the future.

After Peter sheathed his sword, he took out a piece of parchment from his pocket, on which was written a flowchart of the process for making "particle gunpowder".

Peter instructed, "Remember, safety comes first. All processes must be separated, and open flames are strictly prohibited."

Kreiser nodded earnestly. The former miller found himself involved in a world-changing endeavor. He recalled his youthful obsession with alchemy during his studies at Prague University, research that his teachers had dismissed as "unproductive," but now it finally had a purpose.

"My lord," Krezer said suddenly, his voice serious, "I swear to you, I will create the most powerful gunpowder in the world for you!"

Peter nodded in satisfaction.

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