Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 76, Section 75: The Hundred-Refined Steel Method
There is no environment for using ice in the smelting plant.

A massive workshop rose from the ground, with stoves and pots reflecting a mix of red and orange hues. Heat waves rose in the air, making the air around them seem to ripple and distort.

The iron official politely replied, "If you need anything, I will have someone summon two metalworkers. Stepping into this place, the heat is truly harmful to your health."

Qin Shi shook his head: If she wanted to find a metalworker, she could find one in the Imperial Household Department. Why should she have to endure the trouble of traveling herself?

At this moment, find a spot against the wall away from the fire, so that your long skirt won't hinder the workers' movement and could easily cause you to get burned.

"I will slowly observe along the wall; you may go about your business, Lord Iron Official."

Since it was a rare occasion for such an important person to visit, the iron official naturally bowed repeatedly, saying, "It's just a small matter. Other iron officials will handle it. I will simply serve you today."

He ordered his men to quickly clear the path along the wall, and then followed Qin Shi step by step with great patience, looking around as they went.

There are no blast furnaces nowadays, but due to the mature bronze smelting technology accumulated over thousands of years, the iron casting technology has also been greatly improved.

Remarkable technological advancements and the practical needs of frequent wars have resulted in furnaces that are not short today, typically ranging from one and a half to two meters in height.

Each furnace, depending on its output, is equipped with four to sixteen large leather bellows.

Iron-smelting furnaces were evenly distributed here, and the high roofs blocked the scorching sun. The air was filled with heat waves, and Qin Shi was already sweating profusely after taking only two steps.

Further away, the area was enclosed by a wall.

Firstly, it is a forbidden area, thus preventing people from spying on it.

Secondly, it was to prevent the unrest of the slave mob, who might rush in and start a fire, thus making the situation uncontrollable.

Inside, people were sweating profusely, one person desperately pouring orange-red solution or forging, and after fifteen minutes someone would take their place, having to be splashed with cold water in a corner.

Otherwise, the heat will pass quickly.

Qin Shi looked up at the extremely high roof, which was simply supported by beams and pillars and covered with layers of reeds: "Why not work as a blacksmith in the open shade?"

The iron official gave a wry smile: "Your Excellency, our Iron Official Workshop can only catch its breath this year."

Further ahead, if the King intends to conquer the six states, all the ironworks in the Qin state will need such roofs so that they can continue to operate without fear of rain or snow, thus avoiding delays in the war.

However, he was aware of Qin Shi's concerns, and at this moment he took the initiative to say, "The roof beams are made of wood and stone as the base, and the outside is made of yellow earth, so they are not easy to burn."

"The roof beams were also sparse, and were only covered with a few layers of reeds for support."

"If a fire were to accidentally start, the metalworkers would leave quickly and let it burn the roof off and fall into the furnace without any consequences. They could simply remelt the iron ore later."

Only in this way can we be unaffected by fluctuating weather and have people working anytime, anywhere.

Qin Shi fell silent.

She simply focused her attention on the furnace.

The technique used at this time was cast iron softening, which had been in use for a century, and therefore the technology was very mature.

The so-called cast iron softening technique involves remelting hard but brittle pig iron in a furnace.

After being shaped, the iron ore is annealed and cooled, which forms a layer of harder and tougher steel on the surface. This allows different types of iron ore to be used for a long time.

Slightly inferior ones were made into farm tools, while the better ones were sent to weapon forging workshops.

Qin Shi examined it carefully, then asked, "Is this the best craftsmanship available today?"

"This……"

The iron official hesitated for a moment. Wu Zi immediately said, "We came here carrying the King's silk scroll, and we don't want to ask about the secret techniques. What is there that we can't say?"

The iron official bowed and said, “Go further ahead and into the depths, there are craftsmen that the king brought from the states of Yan and Chu. They possess the secrets of metallurgy and have been forging weapons for the Xianyang Imperial Guards.”

The states of Yan and Chu were the most powerful and formidable states during the Warring States period!
Qin Shi thought for a moment, then exclaimed with delight, "Could it be the [Hundred Refinement Steel] technique?"

The iron official's face immediately turned ashen: "I have guarded this place strictly and have never allowed a single word to escape, so why has Your Excellency..."

Qin Shi reassured him, "Don't be afraid. I know a little about this kind of craftsmanship. It's not your fault."

The hundred-refinement steelmaking method was not invented at this time; in fact, it had been used for hundreds of years, dating back to the Spring and Autumn Period when Ou Yezi was already using it.

The mighty sword Tai'a, which the king obtained from the State of Chu, was crafted using this method. It was forged by the renowned craftsmen Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang before the State of Chu annexed the State of Wu.

The formidable military strength of the Yan and Chu states, aside from other factors, was also inextricably linked to their superior weaponry.

In comparison, the forging technology of the Qin state was slightly inferior.

Upon hearing her words, the iron official felt much more at ease. Furthermore, because Qin Shi mentioned the secret method of refining steel, he felt a bit closer to her and was no longer as polite and respectful as before.

At this moment, he even took the initiative to ask, "May I ask what this esteemed gentleman wishes to forge?"

Qin Shi then laughed: "What I want to forge, none of your techniques can forge."

The iron official vehemently denied it: "Absolutely not! Even ordinary metalworkers here can't do it, but master craftsmen who know the secret method of refining steel can."

But would renowned craftsmen like Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang help her forge farm tools?

Or, can farm tools made in this way be widely used?
Ultimately, if civilians want to use better equipment, they have to use equipment that the military has already phased out.

As you slowly walk through it, the huge and numerous bellows continuously blow air, and the roaring firelight leaps and makes a sound.

The shouts of the craftsmen and the constant sounds of hammering and forging made the place noisy.

Qin Shi finally understood what he wanted to know.

She couldn't personally visit the secret method of refining steel, but she could roughly deduce it.

Although such skills are rare, they don't require high furnace temperatures, only 1,000 to 1,300 degrees Celsius. This is similar to the forging temperatures used in glassmaking today, so her previous ideas could basically all be realized.

Qin Shi looked at the iron official and asked, "Are those craftsmen from Chu and Yan still willing to work wholeheartedly for Your Majesty?"

Future generations will take the process of unification today for granted.

This mountain weighs down on everyone whose country has been destroyed and whose family has perished, like a heavy shackle.

Ordinary people at the bottom of society, struggling to survive, are only concerned with having enough to eat, so as long as they are safe, their resistance is not so strong.

But the more capable a person is, the more they are suppressed by shackles.

Although these master craftsmen are not well-known in historical records, they are all outstanding figures in their respective fields.

As someone who excels, how could they easily give in?

The iron official hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your Majesty is the chosen one of Heaven, and they will naturally submit to you."

Tuoyue: as mentioned before, it refers to an ancient version of a bellows or a fire-blowing tube.

Tai-a: tai4e1, also called (Tai-a)

Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang, while Mo Xie, whom everyone often hears about, are not among the blacksmiths.