I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 180 Stamping Forming Ideas (+1)

……

……

The wooden doors of Frostleaf Town creaked in the cold wind, and snowflakes as small as grains of rice drifted down.

Rod, along with Durant, Sherry, and others, stood at the main entrance, watching the long line approaching.

The soldiers, who had been traveling for many days, looked haggard, but they still marched in neat steps, displaying the spirit of an army.

Instead of being scattered and chaotic like caravan guards and bandits on their way.

"It seems that the discipline training has been effective."

"That's what Rod said casually."

Durant nodded in response, "I barely managed to embarrass you."

Gunther took the lead, quickly walked to Lord Rhodes, and knelt on one knee.
"Good day, Your Excellency. Thank you for your personal welcome."

Gunle's voice was calm and steady, and his face was devoid of its usual playful expression as he reported seriously.
"My lord, as you commanded, the lizardmen near Razorfen Downs have been completely wiped out."

"A total of twenty-six people, twenty-two corpses, and four prisoners were brought back."

"Well, good job."

Rod stepped forward and helped Gunther up with both hands.

Gunle paused, then continued his report:
"The Snow Rabbit slaves number eighty-three, all of them able-bodied men: fifty-seven males and twenty-five females. There are no elderly or children among them."

As Gunle's voice fell, everyone couldn't help but frown.

Sheryl was even more anxious, and blurted out, "Where are the old people and children of the White Claw tribe?"

Rhodes glanced at Sherry, who quickly lowered her head.

"I apologize, my lord, for my rudeness."

In formal occasions, etiquette is quite important.

Sherry knew it was somewhat impolite of her to interrupt Rod.

Rhodes turned around. "Go ahead and tell me, I want to know too."

“I asked those Snow Rabbit slaves, and the children and the old said they were kept in the Bloodscale Tribe's camp,”

Gunle's voice carried a hint of heaviness.
“I interrogated those lizardmen. They didn’t speak, but they had a sinister grin on their faces… The chances of those snow haremen being alive are very low.”

Rhodes narrowed his eyes. "These lizardmen are really ruthless."

His tone carried a hint of disgust.

Different races are different from humans.

Human nature is roughly the same; there are very few people who are extremely good or extremely evil.

But they are different races.

It's not that they are different from humans, but rather that each alien race has a different overall personality.

Some of these foreign tribes are honest and kind, some are gentle and simple, while others are born ferocious, bloodthirsty, and brutal.

Humans considered enslavement and whipping to be torture.

But in the eyes of the lizardmen, hanging up useless slaves, cutting them up, and throwing them into a pot is just the most ordinary thing.

Rhodes naturally wouldn't judge right or wrong.

But this reality naturally pits humans against reptilians.

“Very good, Gunle, these snow hares are exactly what I need.”

Rhodes patted Gunther on the shoulder, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers in the ranks ahead.

"You've done a great job, my warriors. I'm very satisfied with your results. Everyone will be rewarded."

Rod raised the corners of his mouth and said in a loud voice, "The banquet is ready. Now all of you go to the tavern to relax, and then go home and get a good night's sleep!"

"Thank you for your generosity, my lord!"

The soldiers responded in unison, their voices deafening.

Without needing Rod's prompting, Durant waved his hand, and the town's defense force quickly stepped forward to take over the prisoners and slaves.

Gunther didn't move, but leaned closer to Rhodes and asked in a low voice, "My lord, do you know anything about the burial pit?"

A hint of worry flashed in his eyes: "I always felt that it wasn't a good thing."

“Good, Gunther, you’re no longer that old soldier who only thinks about robbery and women.”

Rod looked at Gunle approvingly: "I've already arranged for someone to investigate this matter, and I'll let everyone know when there are any results."

Having said that, Rhodes looked at the soldiers and gave a loud command.
"Attention everyone, target: Frostbreath Tavern, proceed at full speed!"

The soldiers were energized and marched in unison straight toward the town's tavern.

"Then I can go and indulge myself, sir?"

After the soldiers left, Gunle grinned and returned to his original form.

"Go quickly, and remember to report back after the battle tomorrow once you've rested well," Rhodes reminded him.

"Yes, sir!"

Gunle responded loudly and then ran to catch up with the group.

Rod turned to look at Sherry.

"These snow rabbit people are your responsibility. Make them the workforce for the city wall construction as quickly as possible."

"Please rest assured, my lord, they are all very obedient and honest."

Sherry assured her, "I'll rest tonight and we can start working tomorrow."

"very good."

Rod nodded approvingly, "If they are really as hardworking as you say, I can rescue even more Snow Rabbits in the future."

"In addition, I need you to spare ten Snow Rabbits and build me a few more cellars."

"Yes, my lord."

Sheryl agreed without hesitation, looking at the trembling snow rabbit slaves ahead.
"Should I go and appease those snow rabbit people first?"

"Go."

After Rod finished speaking, Sherry rushed into the Snow Rabbit slaves, and immediately a chorus of weeping came from inside.

They were speaking a foreign language, seemingly telling Sherry something in tears, and Sherry nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Durant stepped forward and said, "This Sherry is kind. The White Claw tribe's chief betrayed them before, but Sherry didn't scold anyone."

"Perhaps the traitor is an isolated case; most of the Snow Rabbit people are kind and honest."

Rod said calmly, "But we can't let our guard down. We should keep an eye on things for a while, just like we do with refugees."

"Understood," Durant replied.

"Interrogate those lizardmen thoroughly and see if you can get any useful information out of them. Be ruthless."

Rhodes looked at the menacing vertical pupils and said, "They are inherently ruthless, and ordinary methods used against us won't scare them."

As they were talking, a lizardman prisoner turned and bit the soldier next to him.

Fortunately, the soldiers on the other side reacted quickly enough, smashing their sword hilts hard onto the lizardman's head.

The attacked soldier realized he was being attacked and turned around to punch and kick the lizardman.

"I was just about to say that they are all mad dogs and should all wear muzzles, and now this is what they're doing."

Rhodes shook his head. "Bloodshed isn't for me. You can deal with them. I'm going to farm."

After saying that, Rod turned and left.

……

……

"Dang Dang Dang..."

Rhodes swung his hammer, relentlessly striking the magic-textured steel, while Vivian sat on a recliner, her face covered by Rhodes' coat, feigning sleep.

The blacksmith shop was noisy, with people coming and going, yet everything was orderly.

The other blacksmiths were busy at their forging hammers and rolling mills, and iron ingots were gradually turned into iron plates, which were then transported to the cutting table to be cut into armor plate blanks according to the template.

The cut blanks were handed to Bud, who held the iron sheet in his hand, placed it in the furnace to preheat it, and then hammered it into a human-shaped form.

Just when everything was peaceful and harmonious, Vivian suddenly sprang up, frowning as she stared at the doorway.

Rod stopped what he was doing and followed her gaze.

A moment later, a small head with rabbit ears popped out from the side.

Vivian sighed silently, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes.

"Franny?"

Rhodes looked at the somewhat furtive little snow rabbit and asked, "Why did you come here?"

After confirming that she had found the right place, Franny said happily, "My lord, I can release three earth spikes now!"

"Oh?"

Rod looked at Franny with some surprise.

Four days ago, Franny could only fully control two earth spikes, but today she can control three.

"Look!"

Franny turned around, looked at the stone by the roadside in front of the blacksmith's shop, closed her eyes and exerted force, and three one-meter-long earth spikes instantly shot out, sending the stone flying!
Rhodes nodded in approval.

"Good job, Franny, you're learning faster and faster." "So what should I practice next? Summoning the fourth earth spike?"

Franny's bright eyes were fixed on Rhodes.

Rhodes shook his head. "No, you can try something else."

"Your sister Shirley is digging ditches right now. The soil in those ditches is very hard, and it's very difficult to dig them."

"Perhaps you could try softening the soil a bit to make it easier for your sister Sherry."

Rod smiled and said, "Or in other ways, help your sister Sherry so that her work is not so tiring."

"What do you think?"

"Ok!"

Franny nodded emphatically.

"I knew you were the best behaved."

Rhodes rubbed the rabbit's head and then asked, "You came here not just to deliver a message to me, right?"

"What else do you want? Just say it."

As Rhodes finished speaking, Frannie's cheeks flushed slightly.

She bit her lip and stammered, "My lord... I wonder how Riva is doing."

She lowered her head and whispered, her voice barely audible, "It's been so many days. I want to go back and see him."

Rhodes suddenly realized.

How could I have forgotten about my younger brother, Franny?
Rhodes sighed inwardly; he still had too many things to do.

He said gently, "Don't worry, Franny."

“I will send someone to Black Stone Village soon. If Riwa is in good condition, I will bring him over so that you siblings can be reunited.”

"Really?"

Franny's eyes lit up, and she said happily, "Thank you, my lord!"

She quickly bowed in greeting.

"Then I'm going to practice!"

Rhodes nodded and asked, "Did you come alone?"

Franny shook her head: "Sister Lia brought me here. She handed me over to your guard and then went back."

The guards all recognized Franny; otherwise, they wouldn't have let her in alone.

"Then I'll have the guards escort you back to the manor."

He called out softly twice, and the guards quickly ran over.

"Send Franny back to the manor, and also inform Durant to send a message to Blackrock Mountain."

Rhodes instructed, "Next time you deliver iron, if Riva's health permits, bring him along."

The guard nodded in response.

"Yes, my lord!"

After the guards took Franny away, Rhodes turned and went back to the blacksmith's shop.

He picked up the hammer, about to continue working, when he caught a glimpse of Bud busy at work nearby.

Bard was holding up the hammered armor plates to the wooden dummy, muttering something to himself.

Rod seemed to be thinking about something, then put down the hammer and walked over curiously.

As soon as Bard saw him approaching, he immediately put down what he was doing and stood respectfully to the side.
"My lord!"

Rod waved his hand, signaling him to relax, but his gaze fell on the mannequin on the wooden frame.

He crouched down, carefully examining the shape of the armor plates, his brows furrowing slightly.

"My lord, what are your orders?"

"I asked cautiously."

“Bard, have you thought about something?”

Rod held the metal plate and attached it to the dummy. "Perhaps we can press the metal plate directly onto the dummy and let it fit the dummy's body directly."

"what?"

Bard paused for a moment, then said hesitantly, "What you said is a good idea... but what about the pressure..."

Bard gestured for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, and said helplessly, "Master, I can't think of anything."

“What if I make you a stone mold?” Rod asked.

Bard thought for a moment and tentatively said, "But that would only flatten it out, not create that kind of curve, right?"

"What if I make you into a yin-yang..."

Rod paused for a moment, realizing that the people here didn't understand the concept of Yin and Yang.

After thinking for a moment, Rod changed his mind and said, "Make two models, one concave and one convex, like pressing dough."

As he spoke, Rod turned his left hand into a palm and his right hand into a fist, pressing the two together forcefully.

"Oh my god!"

Bard gasped in surprise, clutching his head in disbelief as he stared at Rhodes.

"My lord, you are simply a genius!"

In an instant, Bard's mind began to work, and the image of two molds joining together to press the armor into shape instantly appeared in his mind.

Pfft!
Bard's legs buckled, and he instantly knelt on the ground, his eyes glazed over.

This scene drew the attention of everyone in the blacksmith shop, and the foreman, Hamo, quickly ran over, looking worried.

"I'm sorry, my lord, Bard didn't mean it. Please don't blame him."

Hammer immediately bent down to apologize, which made Rod laugh.

"He didn't do anything wrong, why are you apologizing?"

"what?"

Hamo paused for a moment.

He assumed that Bard's appearance meant he had offended the lord.

But judging from Rhodes's face, it was clearly not him.

"So what's wrong?"

Hamo looked completely bewildered.

"Help him up and sit down."

"Rod gave the order."

If Bard acts like this, others might think he's bullying his blacksmith.

"Oh, okay, okay."

Hamo quickly followed the instructions and helped Bad up.

Bud muttered, "No wonder you had us take the soldiers' measurements and design specific sizes; it was to make it easier to prepare the molds..."

Rod smiled without saying a word.

Dimensioning is done for standardization, and standardization is the foundation of industrial production lines.

I really hadn't thought of using a mold before.

Since armor cannot be cast, the idea of ​​using molds was immediately abandoned.

Rod only remembered stamping after seeing Bard's gesture.

"Mold?"

Hammer whispered to Bud, "What are you talking about, my brother Bud?"

Bard sighed and raised his hand to show him the gestures Rod had just demonstrated.

"If there is an iron plate between these two fists, the iron plate will take the shape of a fist."

"What a joke, Bard. How could a fist or a palm possibly flatten a metal plate into the shape of a fist? That would take an incredible amount of strength..."

Hammer's voice stopped abruptly, his eyes widened as he looked up at Rhodes.
"This, this, this..."

Hamo was speechless for a moment.

Although he didn't know exactly how to achieve it, he understood what Bard meant.

"Actually, it's just a rough prototype; you'll need to fine-tune the details."

Rhodes said calmly.

Hamo nodded blankly in response.

Fine-tuning... Even hand-forged pieces need fine-tuning.

No armor is immune to minor adjustments...

"Alright, you guys digest this first. This bending and shaping machine needs your blacksmith shop to take the lead."

Rod looked at Hammer and Bard and said, "I'm going to draw up some blueprints now."

After saying that, Rhodes turned and left, unable to help but sigh.

"This damn knowledge, my magic-inlaid steel sword is going to be delayed again."

(End of this chapter)