In front of us is a stone mountain, with bare rock walls and not a trace of weeds growing on it. This mountain is not only high, but also big. What's more terrible is that it has almost no slope and is completely straight up and down.
Feng Yuheng looked up, her chin stretched so hard that it hurt, and she could see a little bit of the mountain peak at the end of the clouds. She couldn't help but sigh: "It stands tall in the sky. Is this the kind of mountain you are talking about?"
Xuan Tianming explained to her: "This mountain is called Xutian. It is the highest mountain in the Pingxu Mountains and the most dangerous one. This mountain stands vertically, with its peaks reaching into the sky. It is surrounded by rocks, and there is no possibility of climbing.
.”
She asked curiously: "What about you? Can you get over it with Qinggong?"
Xuan Tianming shook his head, "We are not immortals. Even if we borrow Qinggong to climb the mountain, we still need to step on it many times in the middle. What's more, although the barrier mountain we climbed is high, it is still less than 30% of the Xutian Mountain. Ruyun Mountain
, no matter how powerful the Qinggong master is, he will not be able to get over it even if he is exhausted."
"So that's it." Feng Yuheng still raised her head and looked up, thinking in her mind, "You said, this camp is not far from the capital, and such a high mountain can be seen from the capital.
Ah, why have I never noticed?"
Xuan Tianming pointed forward and told her: "The capital city is on the back side of the mountain. There is a big river over there. The air is always moist, and the mist rises and directly reaches the clouds, which just hides the mountain."
Feng Yuheng felt miraculous when she heard that, and now she was at the foot of the mountain alone, and was extremely shocked. However, something even more shocking was yet to come, when Qian Li pointed at the big stone mountain in front of her and told her: "County Lord, Xutian Cave
Right inside this mountain."
"Huh?" Feng Yuheng was immediately stunned. Inside the mountain? Could it be... "This mountain is actually empty?"
Xuan Tianming couldn't help but laugh when he saw her being so stupid, and said softly: "If you are really curious, you can uproot this mountain, stuff it into your sleeve, and take it back to study it slowly."
She shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, my sleeves don't have such a big space, this is a mountain!"
While talking, Qian Li had already taken a few steps forward. There were heavy soldiers guarding the front. She took a closer look and found that the mountain directly opposite seemed to be somewhat different, but she couldn't tell what was different. She could only
Pushing Xuan Tianming, he followed Qian Li and walked forward.
Finally, the mountain was within reach. When the soldiers guarding the mountain saw that they were coming, they quickly knelt down and saluted. Xuan Tianming called them up and said lightly: "Open the mountain." Dozens of soldiers rushed forward collectively.
, and pushed them up the mountain together.
Feng Yuheng stroked her forehead. She heard about the Foolish Old Man moving the mountain in the fable. Now she saw a real-life scene of soldiers pushing the mountain. Thinking about it, she was a little excited!
At this time, there was a "bang", and a gap was pushed open on the mountain by these soldiers. Then the soldiers continued to move, and the gap became larger and larger, and finally formed a huge stone gate.
The door that opens against the mountain is so huge that it is quite shocking when you see it with your own eyes. In an era without any mechanical production tools, it is not easy to open such a mountain door.
But the hard part was still at the back. As soon as the mountain gate opened, the soldiers immediately returned to their positions. Qian Li made an invitation to everyone, then strode forward and took the lead into the mountain gate.
Xuan Tianming squeezed Feng Yuheng's little hand and said, "Come on, let's go in too and let you see the legendary Xutian Cave."
With great curiosity, she pushed her wheelchair forward and followed Qian Li into the mountain gate.
The cool wind came directly towards her face, causing her to shiver. Suddenly she remembered the natural caves in the south in her previous life, which were also built by hollowing out the mountains. She also visited it once with a tour group. It was hot inside,
It's as cold as winter inside, but as beautiful as a fairyland.
Looking here again, the Xutian Mountain towering into the sky was hollowed out as high as a seven-story building in the 21st century, and then various strange buildings were built in this hollow mountain. She noticed that there were circles around the mountain wall.
There are stairs, with patrolling soldiers walking up and down constantly, and there is also a watchtower, which is very high after five steps. The soldiers standing on it should be able to clearly see the whole scene of the Xutian Cave.
This is only the part that can be seen at a glance. There are many passages around, and I don’t know where they lead.
Someone inside had already stepped forward to greet them. After bowing, they said, "Sixteen blacksmiths and their apprentices are already waiting at the furnace. Should the general go there to meet them, or should he ask them to come over?"
Xuan Tianming said: "Let's go to the furnace land."
The man nodded and took the initiative to lead the way.
Before Feng Yuheng could recover from the shock, Xuan Tianming had already begun to tell her about the origin of Xutian Cave - "This place was built by the founding emperor of Dashun, and it took 30% of Dashun's labor force to build this place.
The mountain was excavated and built to such an extent. Later generations of kings devoted themselves to the construction of Xutian Cave, more than building their own mausoleums. It was not until my great-grandfather’s generation that the Xutian Cave was truly completed and ready for investment.
use."
Feng Yuheng could imagine the perseverance of the ancients when they devoted themselves to a great building generation after generation, but she could not understand what the purpose of hollowing out such a mountain was?
Xuan Tianming knew that she understood what she was thinking, so he took the initiative and said: "Actually, when Dashun was established as the capital, this place was built to avoid disasters. At that time, Dashun's territory was not so vast. After long battles, the whole country was destroyed.
Everything is in ruins, waiting to be renovated. In addition, the surrounding four countries are watching with eager eyes. If anything is not done, the country will be destroyed. Therefore, the monarch has to choose an easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack place on the outskirts of Kyoto as a place to save his life at the critical moment.
The mention of the Heavenly Cave was proposed at that time. The previous kings of Dashun did not live long, and after three generations, the national crisis was not completely resolved, so the Xutian Grotto continued to be dug. Until the fourth king
After succeeding to the throne, the country is secure, but building this place has become a habit and a belief."
Feng Yuheng understood, "Xutian Cave has become a symbol. As long as the place is good, the king can feel at ease, and it also symbolizes the prosperity of Dashun. Now, Dashun is already the most powerful country in Middle-earth, with borders in all four directions."
With heavy military defense, even if there is a war, it will definitely be fought with real swords and guns, so the monarch will naturally not think about hiding in the Xutian Cave. So this place is an advantage for you, right?"
Xuan Tianming corrected her: "It gave us an advantage. I chose the steelmaking site here. I'm afraid that in the future, this will become the place where you spend the most time every day."
Feng Yuheng smiled and said, "Not bad, I like it here."
While they were talking, everyone had walked to what the soldiers called the furnace place. That place was an independent space connected to the main cave outside by a path. When the path went in, it was this small cave.
It is said to be a small cave, but it is compared to the big cave outside. In fact, this cave is not small at all. According to Feng Yuheng's calculations, it must be at least two hundred square meters. Countless wall caves are dug around the mountain.
Someone has already set up an iron-making furnace there.
Qian Li clapped his hands at the people in the furnace and said loudly: "Everyone, come here to meet our general and the Lord of Ji'an County!"
Everyone knows that the general of the Northwest Army is the Ninth Prince who is most favored by the Holy Emperor today. Everyone also knows that the Lord of Ji'an County is the Ninth Prince's future concubine. She is also the miracle doctor who is said to be even more powerful than her grandfather Yao Xian.
Everyone knows that the only person in Dashun who can make steel is the head of Ji'an County.
So as soon as they heard that they were coming, the sixteen blacksmiths and their respective apprentices rushed forward and knelt down to worship, chanting: "Your Highness, the Lord of the County, is a thousand years old!"
It was the first time that Feng Yuheng heard someone shouting that Qian Sui was brought along with her, and she felt a little uncomfortable for a moment. Xuan Tianming was naturally used to this scene, so he raised his hand and said: "Everyone, get up!
"
People stood up tremblingly. Feng Yu Heng looked at these blacksmiths. Most of them were elderly, and the youngest one looked to be over forty-five years old. The apprentices they brought were all very young, mostly in their teens.
Year old appearance.
Looking around again, there are many tools placed beside the furnace, including a large bellows, as well as charcoal and iron charcoal. They are blacksmiths after all, and all preparations are based on blacksmithing, but the tools are very complete and very professional.
.
She took the initiative and asked those people: "Do you know what brought you here?"
All the blacksmiths nodded and replied: "Yes, it is to make something called steel."
Someone who was bolder asked: "I heard that the thing called steel is very hard and can break iron as fast as mud. Is that true?"
He asked, and everyone opened their eyes expectantly, waiting for Feng Yuheng's answer.
She deliberately did not answer immediately, but took the opportunity to observe the eyes of these people. After looking at all sixteen, she couldn't help but nodded with satisfaction. They were indeed the best blacksmiths. Although she did not see their craftsmanship,
But this kind of pure enthusiasm in the face of new and good things cannot be faked. Only people who are absolutely passionate about their profession will behave like this when they hear that they can further improve their realm.
attitude, these blacksmiths are all such people.
She felt slightly relieved and began to make steel. What she was afraid of was that there was only craftsmanship but no fanaticism. No one in this era had ever come into contact with real steel. The first time she made steel, it was very likely that ten furnaces, twenty furnaces, or even hundreds of furnaces would be made.
All of them will fail. Or they don’t have firm faith and perseverance, they simply can’t bear this temper, and they can’t bear this kind of torture. What they want is this kind of person, even if their skills are poor, it won’t be a big deal for her little by little.
Teach, as long as the passion is still there, everything is possible.
She told everyone: "It is an exaggeration to say that iron can be broken like mud, but there is indeed a big difference in the toughness of steel and iron. Steel is a metal that is harder than iron. Theoretically speaking,
Steel is an alloy, while iron is a separate texture. The main difference between them is the carbon content. To put it more bluntly, steel is an iron-based alloy with a carbon content greater than or less than a fixed value. I put it this way
Maybe everyone doesn't know -" she said as she handed her steel knife to Bai Ze, "Bai Ze, go and try it for everyone, so that everyone can understand the difference between steel and iron."
Bai Ze happily took the knife and was about to try it when he heard an old man in the blacksmith pile suddenly shout: "Wait a minute!"