10. There is no problem with the secret recipe, but you have a problem
"Me?"
Zhou Shu had a look of astonishment on his face. He was just here to make fun of himself, so why did it suddenly involve him?
"Mr. Xiao, I am too young and have little qualifications. I am afraid it will be difficult for me to take on important responsibilities."
Zhou Shu said.
Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing!
Xiao Zongshui pushed himself out inexplicably, who knows what he had in mind.
If you can't hand over three thousand Huben knives in three months, you'll be humiliating...
I’m so full that I only do this kind of thing for myself!
Zhou Shu feels that his current life is pretty good. He just forges two Huben knives every day, and then he can fish whenever he wants and practice whenever he wants. Don't be too happy.
"My lord, how can a young boy like Zhou Shu take on such an important responsibility? In my opinion, Zhang Yibei is more suitable to be the person in charge."
A soldier-forging apprentice said loudly.
Zhou Shu gave him a thumbs up in his heart, what a great assist!
"Are you teaching me how to do something?"
Xiao Zongshui's face darkened, he glared at the weapon-casting apprentice, and said coldly, "Zhang Yibei, do you think so too?"
Zhang Yibei is a man in his thirties, with a strong build and dark skin.
He has been working in Workshop No. 97 for more than ten years and is considered one of the oldest people. His skill in casting weapons is undoubtedly the best in Workshop No. 97.
Zhang Yibei lowered his head and said in a low voice, "No, I will obey the orders of the master."
"Huh, it's best this way." Xiao Zongshui snorted coldly, "If you let me know who is acting against the will and misses the major event of my boss, I will let you know who has the final say in this workshop No. 97!" "Listen to me. From now on, what Zhou Shu says are my words. If anyone is dissatisfied, come to me!"
After saying that, without giving Zhou Shu any room to refuse, he flicked his sleeves, turned around and left.
"In three months, I want to see three thousand tiger knives!"
Xiao Zongshui's voice came from far away, and the whole place became silent.
Until Xiao Zongshui completely walked away, everyone's eyes fell on Zhou Shu.
"That——"
Zhou Shu felt numb in his heart at the sight of those eyes. He scratched his head and said, "Uncles and brothers, just listen to what Chief Xiao has to say..."
"Since the master in charge has given the order, we will naturally obey the order." Zhang Yibei said in a deep voice, "If Brother Zhou has any instructions, just say so."
Zhang Yibei is very prestigious among the weapon-casting apprentices. Since he said this, some of the weapon-casting apprentices who originally had angry expressions on their faces stopped making things difficult for Zhou Shu.
Zhou Shu sighed, he knew that Xiao Zongshui had no good intentions.
As a young man, do I have any actual power? Why should I suppress these old fritters?
Despite Zhang Yibei's nice words, if he really asked him to do something, he might not respond.
"Brother Zhang is joking."
The deal is done. If he really fails to complete the task, Xiao Zongshui may not torture him in any way.
Zhou Shu can only take one step at a time.
"Instructions are out of the question. Everyone is here to complete the tasks assigned by Chief Xiao."
"Brother Zhang, I don't have much experience. If something happens, I have to ask you to give me some advice."
Since you can't escape, then complete the task ordered by Xiao Zongshui as soon as possible.
"Master Xiao asked us to cast 3,000 Huben knives in three months. We now have almost 40 people. On average, one person needs to cast more than 70 knives."
Zhou Shu continued, "Three months, more than seventy guns, this task should not be difficult to complete."
Zhang Yibei nodded in agreement.
Everyone present, except Zhou Shu, is familiar with Zhang Yibei. They are all good weapons-forging apprentices. They usually cast standard long knives, and it is easy to complete four or five swords a day.
Although I have never heard of the Tiger Ben Sword, in Zhang Yibei's opinion, it is nothing. If it can be cast by them, it must be a standard weapon.
Forging more than 70 standard weapons in three months, the average is less than one a day. This kind of workload is much easier than their usual work.
I really don’t know why Chief Xiao would mobilize so many people.
"We won't assign tasks for now. Let's come and take a look at the secret recipe for making weapons. If there are any illiterate people, I will explain it to you. Later, everyone will make a forge to practice their skills first, and then we will assign tasks according to the actual situation."
Zhou Shu said.
Naturally, everyone has no objection, and this is a fairer approach.
After all, everyone has different strengths, so it would not be a good idea to divide the workload equally.
Those who are capable work harder, and if they are put into work, then those who are capable will work harder...
Of course, this mission is a little different, that is, for every weapon forged, there is a profit of one tael of silver!
In this case, everyone wants to share more tasks.
Several people in the team shook their heads secretly. These people still don’t know what is waiting for them.
Zhang Yibei was the first to go to the secret casting recipe left by Xiao Zongshui.
Zhou Shu didn't rob him. The secret recipe for casting was written by him himself. What's there to rob?
Zhang Yibei is a veteran in forging weapons. He quickly read the secret forging recipe, frowned, looked at Zhou Shu and said, "Brother Zhou, this secret forging is not simple."
"I know." Zhou Shu nodded.
"You know?"
Zhang Yibei said doubtfully.
"I helped Master Xiao forge a Tiger Blade before."
Zhou Shu did not say that he was the creator of the Tiger Blade. The weapon-making apprentices who had seen him test the sword were all silenced by Xiao Zong and were not here. Zhou Shu was not worried about revealing his secret.
"Have you ever helped Mr. Xiao forge the Tiger Blade?"
Zhang Yibei was a little surprised.
He was thinking, why didn't Mr. Xiao come to him? His skill in forging weapons is one of the best in Workshop No. 97.
Zhou Shu was thinking, this guy Yibei looks mature and steady, why is he so surprised?
"Hmm." Zhou Shu nodded and said, "According to my experience, it is more than twice as difficult to forge this Tiger Ben sword than the ordinary long sword. It takes three hours to cast one, which is pretty good."
Zhou Shu didn't notice that several people in the crowd looked at him in shock.
Those people were all asked by Xiao Zongshui to try to cast the Tiger Blade before, but without exception, they all failed.
Now how can they not be shocked when they hear that a little-known young man can successfully cast?
Although they were shocked, they each had their own thoughts and did not stand up and tell Zhang Yibei and others about their failure experience.
"Brother Zhang, you are a senior. Your casting skills are much better than mine. You should be able to cast faster."
Zhou Shu continued.
A flash of complacency flashed in Zhang Yibei's eyes. Originally, he wanted to embarrass Zhou Shu, but now that he is so good at talking, let's forget it.
"Everyone, please study this secret recipe first. I'll try casting one first."
Zhang Yibei said loudly as if he was taking the lead.
The most indispensable thing in the Forging Department's workshop is a place for blacksmithing.
Zhang Yibei did not return to his work shed, but directly found a place nearby and started working.
In the sound of "Ding Ding Dang", a group of casting apprentices went to see the secret recipe for casting.
However, not many of the weapon-casting apprentices were literate, so most of them gathered in front of Zhou Shu and listened to his explanation of the secret casting recipe.
In the distance, where no one could see, Xiao Zongshui withdrew his gaze, feeling a little proud in his heart.
"You are playing tricks with me. Now, I want to see how you still maintain your skills! If you can't complete the task, I have many ways to control you!"
Xiao Zongshui sneered twice, stopped looking at Zhou Shu and others, turned around and went into his room.
"Everyone has written down the secret recipe first. Now let's take a look at Brother Zhang's demonstration."
The secret recipe for casting did not take long, and everyone was an expert in forging weapons, so they quickly wrote down the secret recipe.
Zhou Shu called everyone to Zhang Yibei's foundry shed and said loudly.
When Zhang Yibei saw the crowd watching, instead of feeling embarrassed, he became more energetic and swung the big hammer a little faster than before.
Seeing Zhang Yibei's actions, Zhou Shu frowned slightly.
Zhang Yibei is a senior weapon-casting apprentice and is very skilled in weapon-casting skills. He almost strictly follows the secret recipe of the Tiger Ben knife when casting it.
It's just that in Zhou Shu's eyes, there is a paradoxical feeling. How should I put it, it is tangible but not spiritual!
Yes, it is tangible but not spiritual!
Although Zhou Shu's current level of casting soldiers is not bad, his foundation is relatively weak. For a while, he was not sure what the problem was with Zhang Yibei's casting.
"Click——"
Just when Zhou Shu was thinking about what was wrong with Zhang Yibei's casting, there was a sudden soft sound and everyone's discussion stopped abruptly.
Zhang Yibei's movements also stopped in mid-air, and his face was full of astonishment.
"Failed?"
Zhang Yibei couldn't believe that he had been casting standard weapons all his life. It could be said that he could forge a standard long knife with his eyes closed.
Although this Tiger Ben knife looks a bit complicated, it is basically a standard long knife. Zhang Yibei cannot believe that he has failed!
Halfway through casting, the knife blank broke!
Among the crowd, the faces of those experienced people flashed a look that it was indeed the case. They were the same way at the beginning, and they couldn't figure out why it was like this!
"I'll try again!"
Zhang Yibei also had a sense of cruelty, and he threw a piece of iron into the stove again unconvinced.
"Ding-ding-dang--"
Half an hour later, Zhang Yibei looked at the broken blade again and felt a little bad.
This time, he has been extra careful, and every step is strictly in accordance with the secret casting recipe, but why!
Why doesn’t it still work?
"There's something wrong with this secret casting recipe!"
Zhang Yibei said loudly, "This Tiger Blade is impossible to forge!"
"Zhou Shu said that he helped Master Xiao cast one."
Among the crowd, someone whispered something.
Dozens of eyes fell on Zhou Shu again.
Zhou Shu had a thoughtful look on his face. He did not panic under the gaze of everyone, but said, "Brother Zhang, there is no problem with the secret recipe, it's you who has the problem."
"What's wrong with me?" Zhang Yibei was furious, "When I started making soldiers, you were still using urine and mud!"
"Forging soldiers is not about the length of time."
Zhou Shu shook his head and said calmly, "Give me the hammer. I will demonstrate it to you and then tell you what your problem is."