Chapter 61: Turning gears and flowing ideas
Over the span of several intense days, Lucen and his team pushed out breakthrough after breakthrough.
Their first innovations were focused on improving the forge. Lucen introduced the mold, a simple but revolutionary concept for the people of this world. Instead of hammering metal into shape, molten metal could now be poured into carved molds, saving time and producing consistent shapes.
At first, the blacksmiths were skeptical. But when they saw the uniform components for the arquebus emerge from the molds, it was clean, precise, and identical, and their doubts melted faster than the ore in the crucible.
Even Robert was amazed by the simple idea, yet immensely useful.
"Wow, it’s so simple, but why hasn’t anyone thought of this before? I would really want to open up your head to see how that mind of yours works." Robert spoke jokingly, though it didn’t entirely feel like a joke.
The next thing they created was something that would revolutionize the town: the waterwheel. Before building it, Lucen had to ask his father’s permission.
After explaining to the Iron Duke what the waterwheel was and the possibilities it held, the Iron Duke did not hesitate to agree.
It wasn’t easy. Lucen designed the basic structure, while the craftsmen cut planks and shaped paddles.
Together, they built a wooden channel to redirect part of the river’s flow, ensuring steady movement. With Robert calculating the flow rate and torque, and the blacksmiths forging the iron fittings using the new molds that were made, the wheel was soon set in place, turning steadily with the current, ready to power whatever they connected next.
They had failed several times before making this one wheel work. It was a practice of trial and error, especially since this was the first time they built something like this.
It was unlike anything from his past life, not even the clunky wheels from low-budget historical movies came close. This waterwheel was crude, rough-hewn, and jarringly angular. But as it groaned into motion, creaking like an old ship catching wind, it was a sight that stole everyone’s breath.