William was looking at a map and was in deep thoughts. He looked young in his late 20s . He was looking at the city map and the country map looking for something.
The king wants to strengthen his military might due to the growing tension with the nehiboring countries so he has asked his court to increase the production of arms.
That's why his father PiersDevereux, Earl of Blackbridge sent him here to look for opportunities. Recently the family started to enter the banking industry but was met with harsh resistance. So they are looking for opportunities to spread their fame.
The major bank in this country are parzi bank, the Red Cross and the royal family. These banks have been present for centuries and there roots run deep in this country and both other banks are backed by the Earl family and the royal bank controlled by the Duke and the king itself.
William closed the map and put it away he has meetings and appointments scheduled today. So it was time to go out.
Around 10 in the morning Emma and Raymond entered the town and they went separate on their own. Raymond got on a cart that was heading towards master smiths workshop. On his way he saw different types of workshops that had chimney spitting out dark smoke it was a different sight from his village and compared to modern time everything was quite novel to him. He obsessed all the workshops and found out this place is a mix of different industries. Smithing was the primary industry but, woodworking, stone mason and more.
As he reached master Smith workshop he could hear the repeated strike of metal on metal. It was 3 M wide and 4 M long it was on the smaller side but it had everything it needs.
Raymond knocked on the door and called out master Smith. He didn't get any reply back. Be knocked harder and shouted master Smith. Soon he heard come in. He opened the door a wave of hot air greated him. He saw a man in his 40s hammering a hot iron and a younger boy swinging a big hammer. The older man was master Smith he was setting the phase for the apprentice. Master Smith would strick a particular part of the blade and the apprentice will strick it with a set phasing. This was a repeated cycle.
Raymond wated for master to finish silently. This is how they do it here.
He observed the forge, just like he remember they use bloomery to extract iron and an average output of a burn is 10 kgs it is extremely low compared to the modern world but in this era 10kg per fire is already good and the best would be 15kg for this size of bloomery.
He saw master Smith finishing his job and walking towards him. He is a big man with broad shoulders. He smiled and patted rays back. you look good boy. How are you. Master Smith spoke
I am feeling good master almost recovert. How are you? Ray enquired.
Am am good, it's been a busy week we have more orders than usual. He smiled
That's good. Ray said Master about my appreciate exam ?
Come let's go sit inside we will talk over a drink. Master said leading him outside the forge towards the house next to it. They sat on a bench. Master Smith offered ale and he spoke.
I am sorry kid I was not able to get the inspector to come done here for your re-exam. I tried my best but unfortunately the high council at the guild had a major change and the old inspector got transferred away to another city.
I went to city guild to talk to the new inspector and he said he already gave your spot to someone else. I tried to complane but of no use. I tried to complain to guildmaster but the counsel was a mess already and it would take atleast few months to resolve. Finally I was able to negotiate a letter of recommendation for you. Master Smith said as he poured himself another drink .
So it's a corrupt inspector and bad luck. Said Raymond.
Actually it's not bad luck it might be good. you will get a recommendation letter. Do you know what people do to get into country funded forge and recently I heard the country might be preparing for war and it checks out as most of the forgery are getting more orders from the city hall.
Raymond frowned upon hearing the news that new is definitely a bad one for current Raymond. If he is not able to pay his taxes in time. They might make him a war slave . He didn't want to go to war. It would be a living hell for a person from modern era.
He must find some way or at least make enough money. Raymond knows lots of way to make money in this era after all he has a mountain of knowledge and he has one of the best AI models with him. Even though it can't help him directly it is a huge information bank. It has been trained on data thats public. That means I have all the technology to bring this society to modern era in paper. But he needs a starting point to do it all. Since he is already exposed to metallurgy and smelling in this era his plan is to start from here. For that he has to be a blacksmith as soon as possible.
Master how is this new inspector, is he reasonable? Asked Raymond
Mmm... Master Smith strocked his beard he said. I think so. Since he gave me the letter of recommendation in exchange for your spot. He might be a reasonable person. Why do you ask ?
For a letter of recommendation to be valid both inspector and the master must sign on it right? Asked Raymond
Yes said master Smith looking curiously at him.
Master I want to negotiating with him!!! Said Raymond seriously
Master Smith was confused. Why do you want that. I have already.. Raymond cut him off and said. Master I have a plan and I want to wager my letter of recommendation for certification of blacksmithing from the guild.
Master Smith was shocked are you mad!!! Suppose he accepts the challenge and you passed the exam but how can you make sure he will not make excuses that might fail you.
Master Smith raised his voice.
Master Smith I am going to make something he can't refute at all. Replied Raymond
And what is that ? Master Smith asked still angry.
Let's go inside the shop I will show it to you said Raymond. Master Smith Smith was curious what the kids is going to show. They went inside the shop. Raymond led master Smith towards one side of the forgery where pieces of armor was assembled. He picked up to parts of the the armor and lined them to the holes that's to be riveted together.
I am going to make an upgraded revet that won't require hammering to seal. I will make a nut and bolt that can be replicated in the same measurement. He turned to look at master Smith and said master Smith I am going to make a machine that makes other machines. Raymond looked expectantly at master Smith.
Boy you are spouting nonsense, how can you make something the same everytime. Every blacksmith in the country knows that's impossible and what evem is a machine? Master Smith took the armor plate from Raymond's hand and put it back where it was. You should stop wasting time. If you have recovered you should get back to work as soon as possible. Master Smith Turner to leave for the furness.
Raymond quickly sprinted forward and got in front of him.
Master Smith, forgive my question, but your skill is in your arm and in your eye, is it not? You know by the color of the iron when it is ready, and your arm knows where to strike. No man can teach that in a book.
He nodded, agreeing.
And you use tools to make your strength greater. This lever on your bellows... it lets you push more air than your own breath could. It is a simple, clever thing, yes?"
Mmmm he started to concentrate.
Master Smith, look at your arm. You pull this lever down. Your arm moves from high to low. That is your strength, moving in one direction.
But when you do this, the bellows does something different. It does not move down. It breathes out. Sideways. Your simple downward motion has been turned into a sideways breath.
The wood and leather of the bellows do not think. They obey a rule. The rule is this: 'When a force pushes down on the lever, you must breathe out sideways.' It can do nothing else. It will perform this trick perfectly every time.
"That trick, Master Smith, is the secret I call a machine.
"A machine is not just a tool. A tool is simple—a hammer just makes your fist harder. A machine is a clever body that changes one kind of motion into another kind of motion. It is a trap for movement.
For example think of the potter. He kicks his foot back and forth, but the wheel turns round and round. The machine's rule is: 'Take this clumsy kicking and turn it into a perfect, smooth spin.
A machine is any body we build—of wood, iron, or rope—that follows a rule of motion.
"It takes a push and turns it into a pull.
It takes a slow turn and makes it a fast turn.
It takes a straight line and makes it a circle.
It is how a craftsman teaches a dead thing like wood or iron to perform a clever and useful trick with force and movement, all by itself. It is the art of commanding motion.
Raymond smiled at master Smith. Keeping his eyes on master Smith.
Master Smith felt like he was enlightened. He was almost touching new concepts in physics.
How did you think of this ?? He was shocked.
Raymond continued. Master Smith, you and I spoke of a machine being a body that follows a rule of motion. Most engines you know follow one simple rule. The water wheel's rule is 'change falling into turning.' The bellows' rule is 'change a down-push into a side-breath'.
This engine we will build is a masterwork because it follows three rules at once, all working in perfect harmony. It is a machine for creating a perfection that no human hand can match.
Behold its three rules:
Master Smith quickly asked all the apprentice who was working there to leave and close the door behind them.
Raymond continued.
The first rule a perfect spin. Like a potter's wheel, it will take the clumsy kicking of a man's foot and turn it into a perfect, unwavering spin. It will hold a piece of iron and turn it without tire or tremble.
The second rule a perfect guide. It will have an iron arm that holds a cutting tool. This arm will not shake. It will not grow weary. It will hold the cutter with a grip of stone, far steadier than my hand or yours after a long day's work.
The third and greatest rule a perfect path. And this, Master Smith, is its soul. We will forge a single, master screw—a rod with a perfect spiral groove. This screw will be the engine's memory. As the iron spins, this master screw will force the cutting tool to move along a path so straight and true that it is beyond what the human eye can judge.
So you see? It combines a perfect spin, a perfect guide, and a perfect path. It commands motion in a way no engine has before.
Master Smith was in deep thoughts and nodded for him to continue
But what is the purpose of such a thing? Its greatest trick is not just making a single, perfect rod. Its greatest trick is making a hundred rods that are all perfect twins. Raymond walked near a forging table.
Master Smith, look at these ten nails you have forged. They are fine nails. But they are brothers, not twins. Each one is slightly different. Each has its own soul. If you forge a bolt for a knight's armour, the nut you make must be fitted to that bolt and that bolt alone.
But this engine... this lathe... can cut a thread on a bolt today, and another tomorrow, and another a year from now, and the same nut will fit them all.
It takes the skill of a master craftsman, your skill, and locks it into a rule of iron that can be repeated forever without error. It does not replace the smith, Master Smith. It makes the smith's finest work eternal and repeatable.
The secret is not 'perfection.' The secret is 'sameness'. And sameness is a new kind of power. Raymond said
You might ask me what will we make with this engine? Raymond smiled.
Bolts and Screws of Iron.We will make bolts for armour, for wagons, for buildings, that can be replaced in an instant. We will make screws that grip wood with more strength than any nail.
More Perfect Machines. With this, we can make the parts for other engines. We can make the perfectly round axles for the miller's water wheel so it spins truer. We can make the spindles for the weaver's loom so they make finer thread. This engine is a mother to other engines.
This machine, Master Smith, does not just make screws. It makes the pieces for a world you and I can only begin to imagine.
Raymond painted was painting a picture and master Smith almost saw it . Master looked at his apprentice in new light he felt like he doesn't know him anymore. After just a week he is a complete new person. The timid kid he knows is not anymore. He can see it in the kids eye the fire that's burning.
Master Smith calmed down and started thinking.
Your have a very good idea that might even change the country but to make it you are gonna encounter lots of hurdles. Master said.
I know replied Raymond. That's why I went your help master. With your guidance I am sure we will succeed.
I will help you as much as possible but before that we have challenge to make.
Soon they left towards the city hall.