Then, Zhang Haogu began to give instructions.

Place the steel ingot directly on the anvil and hammer it for a hardness test.

Normally cast steel ingots are very hard and will not have dents after being hammered. Therefore, they need to be covered with a clay mixture containing iron filings or powdered iron ore to enhance the decarburization of the steel ingots.

Zhang Haogu has prepared everything.

However, this requires reheating the steel ingot to a fiery red temperature of about 700 degrees Celsius to 900 degrees Celsius, and then hammering it.

This heat treatment process is repeated until the metal is soft enough to be forged.

The difficulty lies in how to control the temperature of the steel ingot between 700 degrees Celsius and 900 degrees Celsius.

This temperature is a very important key.

Is there any temperature testing machine in this era, so we can only rely on experience, observe the color of fire with our eyes, and forge it when it reaches dark red.

The temperature cannot be too high. If the temperature rises above 900 degrees Celsius, the process will be reversed, causing the carbon to melt. If the temperature is lower than 700 degrees Celsius, the steel will not be fully tempered.

Therefore, this is a technical job that requires controlled heat treatment and mild tempering of the steel ingot. The covered clay, including iron filings or powdered iron ore, decarburizes the surface of the steel ingot. In addition, oxidation also produces the same

The effect of this is that the carbon content of the steel ingot gradually decreases.

In this way, the state of white cast iron can be changed to carbon steel. This process can also be called annealing and spherical treatment.

The steel bar becomes malleable and flexible.

Under the guidance of Zhang Haogu.

At the same time, I also asked a book boy next to me to start recording it in detail.

"This time, we were relatively successful, but that doesn't mean we will succeed every time, so every detail must be recorded!"

Zhang Haogu glanced at the book boy next to him and said: "Don't be literate, just use our colloquial language and record it in detail. Every process must be recorded!!"

The book boy frowned

Zhang Haogu, however, brought a pen and paper, grabbed a charcoal pen and started writing by hand.

"This is data. For example, how many sticks of incense were used, how many cups of tea were used. We must learn to do statistics. The more detailed the data, the better. In the future, when we make steel, you need more detailed records!"

"And there's this..."

In my previous life, I also did a lot of tests and experiments.

What data needs to be recorded is all clear.

While making gestures, Zhang Haogu pointed to the little eunuch beside him.

His palm was completely black, so he washed it in the water.

The book boy on one side was already a little dull.

Zhu Youxiao was a little curious: "Brother Zhang, we are making steel. We only need to master the method, so why bother?"

"That's different!" Zhang Haogu waved his hand and said slowly: "Brother Zhu, let me ask you, do you just want to be a clockwork frog? Or do you want to be a wooden cow or a flowing horse, or something like that?

An iron train that can travel thousands of miles a day?"

"this……"

Zhu Youxiao was stunned, then nodded and said: "Of course I want to make a wooden cow and a flowing horse, as well as an iron car that can travel thousands of miles a day. I also want to try it!"

"That's it!" Zhang Haogu shrugged and said slowly: "This experimental data needs to be recorded. We always need to find the fastest, simplest and most convenient way to produce the steel we need.

dont you agree?"

Zhu Youxiao thought about it for a while, and found that this was true.

How to save money, this is the kingly way.

What's more, although others don't know it, Zhu Youxiao still knows very well that the Ming Dynasty's annual tax revenue is really a bit stretched.

If you want to satisfy your personal hobbies, you always have to find ways to save some money.

…

…

The blacksmith named Wang Chengwu crafted the steel that Zhang Haogu needed bit by bit.

Although, it is not as good as the industrial civilization of later generations.

However, it is more than enough to power a clockwork frog.

Then, Zhang Haogu began to twist the piece of steel in his hand little by little.

Little by little, and very patiently, I made a small clockwork.

I have to say that the technology in this era is indeed not in place, and it is still very laborious to create what you need.

However, this is also the first step,

If the clockwork can be worked out, the spring is not a problem.

Once springs are developed, cannons with longer ranges can be produced, and muskets can even be improved.

All I can say is that this is a small step, but the future is a big step.

Of course, this requires deception, tricking the carpenter emperor into throwing money into it bit by bit.

"Brother Zhang, can this thing really work?" Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but become nervous.

"Okay, you'll know soon!"

Zhang Haogu laughed and stretched out his hand towards Zhu Youxiao: "Give me the toad!"

"This is a toad!" Zhu Youxiao muttered.

"They're all the same!" Zhang Haogu laughed, casually took the agarwood carving from Zhu Youxiao's hand, and then began to assemble it one by one, carefully installing the clockwork.

Zhu Youxiao stared at the toad in front of him.

This toad doesn't have many parts.

It is also extremely easy to assemble.

In fact, this thing is not too complicated. After all, it is just a clockwork frog. As long as the core clockwork is done, other things are easy to do.

After it was assembled, Zhu Youxiao felt as if his breathing had stopped.

Then, Zhang Haogu handed the eradication to Zhu Youxiao: "Brother Zhu, you have been busy working on this matter. Come on, tighten up this clockwork!"

"Is it really possible?"

Zhu Youxiao took a deep breath, and then took it.

Start winding up.

Then, Zhu Youxiao stared at the frog in front of him.

Then, I saw the frog jumping up.

Hahaha!

Zhu Youxiao immediately started dancing, as if he had gotten a great toy.

He originally liked carpentry. At this moment, he had figured out a carpentry job that he could do by himself. The sense of accomplishment in his heart could not be described in words.

After all, this is all my own hard work from beginning to end.

"Brother Zhang!"

Zhu Youxiao looked at Zhang Haogu excitedly: "You told me before that you could make wood move by itself, but I still didn't believe it. Now, I really believe it. It turns out that there really are wooden cows and stray horses in this world. If this

The spring is big enough, so it can really drive an iron cart, a wooden cow, or a horse to move!"

Zhang Haogu smiled and said slowly: "Brother Zhu, it's okay to say that a wooden cow and a horse run away, but if you want to drive an iron cart, you need more than just a spring!"

Zhu Youxiao was curious: "What else!"
Chapter completed!