I built a manor in the Middle Ages

Chapter 196 Saltsmith
Looking at the messy pile of things, Luc waved for Paul to bring him a filter.

A thin linen cloth stretched taut by two wooden sticks is laid on top of the earthenware pot; this has always been the filter used in the saltworks.

"Sir, should we filter out this brine?"

Paul limped over and asked tentatively, as he had never done this before.

“Yes!” Luke said decisively. “This time, we’re not just going to filter the brine directly, we’re also going to add a few pieces of charcoal to the container.”

"charcoal."

Despite his doubts, Paul obediently placed a few pieces of charcoal in the pot, covered it with linen, and then, together with Grell, picked up the pottery and poured the brine into it all at once.

Looking at the mixture of rainwater that kept falling, Luc sighed.

The estate was in dire need of rebuilding, so much so that he had forgotten about it.

The brine extracted from rainwater, after being filtered and boiled, has far more advantages than boiling and filtering salt stones that have been broken up!

What may seem like a simple adjustment to the steps actually saves not only some fuel and manpower, but also allows the salt to be diluted naturally by rainwater, increasing the purity of the salt by at least one-third.

As for charcoal.

Luc recalled the scene of his first haphazard attempt at making salt, when he had used charcoal.

At the time, I thought it was a last resort and didn't take it to heart. But this time, I was inspired by Jason's carburizing process. Maybe it will be useful.

Soaking in the salt overnight had no effect on the salt stones.

But after a while, when Paul boiled a small pinch of salt from the boiling clay pot, Luc still nodded affirmatively.

Because the brine really works, and charcoal really can act as a second "filter"!
The brine poured into the charcoal miraculously did not become cloudy; instead, it became even clearer.

After fiddling with the salt grains in his palm, which were even shinier than before, he thought for a moment and then boiled them a second time. This time, the fine salt, which was slightly closer to the one in his memory, finally appeared before Luc's eyes.

"Oh my God, I have never seen salt as white as snow."

Paul's eyes widened, and with Luc's tacit approval, he pinched off a small amount and put it in his mouth, exclaiming, "The bitterness is much less! Sir, this is truly amazing!"

Hearing Paul's exaggerated tone, Greer and the others also gathered around. Greer, a key member of the workforce, took a sip and found that there was indeed some improvement, but it was far from as exaggerated as Paul had described.
I couldn't help but look at this sycophant with a bit of helplessness.

Luke, both amused and exasperated, collected the remaining salt grains. Salt processing, like iron smelting, was still in its initial stages, and he knew it was far from reaching the level he remembered.

"At least the approach is correct!"

"We need to find a way to build a brine pool."

The brine needs to collect natural rainwater, so like a reservoir for farming, a reservoir, a shallow pit for crushed salt stones, and corresponding ditches need to be dug.

Luke turned his head and looked at the turnip seeds laid out in the field not far away.

June is the planting season for turnips, and Greer and Paul's wives were just about to plant them when Luc arrived, still clutching their plows.

"In a few days I will reward you with enough iron hoes."

Luc opened his mouth slightly, and before anyone could thank him, his next words filled Greer and the others with both fear and excitement:
"I need to sign a contract with you, in the name of God!"

……

Due to the large scale of the project, the brine pool has been temporarily put on hold and will be considered for excavation once the turnips have been planted.

Luke rode on his horse, with Ryan following behind. The eighteen-year-old boy kicked pebbles idly, muttering to himself:

“Sir, I met some stonemasons when I was in Provence. They said they had their own rules, and the stonemason’s skills were passed down orally from generation to generation, so no outsider ever knew the specific techniques.”

“I think we should start developing our current group of salt workers in the same direction.”

The contract signed by Luc and Paul was simple and brutal: the methods for charcoal adsorption and brine would be kept strictly confidential for life in the name of God, or they would be punished by God. Luc would also swear in the name of his family that if anyone leaked the secret, he would hunt them down to the end.

Moreover, from now on, they will not be allowed to step out of the saltworks unless Luke gives them permission!
Of course, Luc's sacrifices were also extravagant.

Not only will the food supply be more abundant, but they will also be paid wages, which will be in kind, since Finney and the others have nowhere to spend their money.

Secondly, the existing two acres of land will be tax-free indefinitely, and their descendants who inherit the status of saltworkers will also be exempt from military service.

Yes, Paul and his colleagues were, in a strict sense, salt makers, no longer miners.

"Sir, should I also swear an oath?" Ryan was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his head and asked seriously.

"you?"

Luke glanced at Ryan. If you really wanted to delve into it, Ryan had almost mastered all the technical secrets of Knightsburg Manor, but Luke obviously had no intention of doing so and turned to ask about other things.

"Forget about you, how's your serf doing lately?" "Ah, you mean him? He's been much more obedient ever since I punished him by not letting him eat."

When Ryan mentioned the serfs assigned to him, he slowed his pace, his tone somewhat helpless.

The newly arrived serfs were, in a strict sense, abducted. Some of them, seeing that they could eat their fill, became accustomed to their fate and settled down, while others were not so obedient.

For example, Ryan's slaves didn't dare to run away openly, since they were in the deep mountains and didn't dare to escape. They just often slacked off while working, which angered Ryan a lot, and Ryan could often be seen scolding them.

"As long as he behaves, that's fine. If he doesn't listen, just punish him by making him do hard labor for a few days."

"no problem."

There's plenty of work to do on the estate; it's very easy to make people suffer.

The two, mistress and servant, spent the whole morning going back and forth. When they returned to Knights Castle, they saw Mary standing outside the castle, craning her neck to look north. Upon seeing them, she quickly ran over.

"My lord, my lord, I have discovered another flock of wild sheep in the south!"

"We haven't found anything for over a year, so we're here to let you know!"

Mary's face had become fatter, and her voice trembled as she spoke. Luke and Ryan couldn't help but exchange a glance. Hey, of course we have to catch livestock!

"Bring all three dogs with you. I want to see how hunting goes with a pack of dogs!"

The two female dogs weren't showing yet, so a little running around wouldn't hurt. They also took the heavy crossbow with them and, after some consideration, handed it over to Ryan. Jason still hadn't found a suitable apprentice and was currently mining alone.

This time, Luke plans to wipe out the entire flock, so the unruly lead sheep must die.

With his equipment ready, before leaving, Luc instructed Old Eck to pour maple juice into some of the blueberry field to see the effect.

He always felt that the acidic maple juice was perfect for blueberries.

"Remember to add some wood ash to neutralize it."

With their excited pack of dogs, tongues lolling and tails wagging, and a map in hand, the group boarded a raft and paddled to the other side, following the directions Mary had indicated, before heading deeper into the mountains.

The group of people from the manor had explored most of the surrounding valleys, and soon Luke and his companions spotted about seven or eight goats not far from where they had hunted the bear.

There are many wild populations of these cashmere goats. Unlike the two of them who racked their brains before, this time Luke had many helpers. He simply waved his hand, and Charlie, who had been holding back for a long time, rushed out of the bushes like lightning!

Behind it, two female dogs with slightly mixed coat colors followed closely. The three dogs, as if by telepathy, split into three directions and subtly surrounded the flock of sheep, their barking echoing through the mountains and forests.

The fierce barking of the dogs threw the already ruffled sheep into chaos. Only the lead sheep stepped forward, lowered its head, and prepared to defend itself with its horns. At that moment, Ryan quietly raised his heavy crossbow, pressed it against his left shoulder, took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.

Ryan's left shoulder twitched slightly, and then the crossbow bolt with the stone arrowhead pierced the goat's belly with precision and ferocity. Caught off guard, the lead goat was pulled back several steps by the force of the impact, blood seeping out. With a pitiful bleat, it was bitten on the neck by Charlie, and after a couple of thrashings, it died.

"Hey! Master, this heavy crossbow is really good!" Ryan couldn't help but stroke the heavy crossbow and praise it loudly.

"I can't wait to see what Iron Arrow feels like!"

Luke then raised his whip and, together with the dogs, began to drive the remaining sheep.

"One, two, three, seven sheep, sir, congratulations, your herd has expanded again."

Ryan smiled and congratulated Luc. Because of the sheep and the low cashmere production, Luc had already decided before setting off that these sheep would be raised as meat sheep.

They can also produce goat milk when they mate.

Unfortunately, goat milk is an intermittent food source, and the estate has no reserves left. However, there is still a little bit left from the rendered butter and cheese, which may be enough for three or four meals.

“If only I had a cow,” Luc exclaimed.

“Sir, I heard from George that there seem to be cows in Cooper Castle.” Ryan stroked his chin, seemingly lost in thought.

Without their lead sheep, the flock was quickly driven back to the estate. Along the way, a few temperamental sheep tried to butt people, but Luc whipped them into submission and handed them over to Mary, who was experienced in herding. Before they could leave, they heard about old Eck watering the blueberries, and then, as they were about to leave, they heard another sound coming from the other side of the Agate River.

"What's going on? Is George back?"

Luc turned to look at the opposite bank and examined it closely. Sure enough, through the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves, he saw George's distinctive face.

"It's not time to pay the bridge toll today, is it?" Ryan did the math. George would come back every thirty days, and hadn't he just paid it last time?

The answer will be revealed soon.

George, who was struggling to paddle the raft over, said in an unprecedentedly serious tone:

"Sir, that fellow Berry wants to summon you to Fort Cooper!"

(End of this chapter)