Border Town has been relatively calm this week.
According to Iron Axe and Brian, the evil beasts 'strength and numbers would gradually increase as the Evil Demon's Moon persisted. Seizing the opportunity of the current defensive pressure being low, Roland dispatched another single-masted ore-laden ship to Willow Leaf Town.
With the commissioning of the No.1 steam turbine at Beipo Mine, the workforce has been halved while production has steadily increased, now reaching pre-collapse levels. The mechanization has significantly reduced labor requirements.
Meanwhile, Roland implemented a groundbreaking reform of the mining production system, shifting from fixed compensation to performance-based pay. He tasked Barov with compiling data on the daily average output from previous years as a benchmark, with workers receiving additional rewards for reaching specific production targets. Those who discovered new gemstone veins were even granted special incentives. This initiative significantly boosted worker morale, transforming the entire mining area into a hive of activity.
With the leftover ore in hand, Roland naturally wanted to do something with it.
In addition to adding Steam No.2 to the production plan, he also plans to manufacture a batch of manual machine tools.
Machine tools have a long history. In layman's terms, they are essentially workbenches for processing tools. Thus, an anvil can be regarded as the most primitive machine tool—crafted and fixed by hand.
While handcrafting was manageable, manual fixation proved impractical. To address this, artisans incorporated snap fasteners or grooves into workbenches for securing components. A prime example is the early musket and燧发枪 (sui fa gun) barrels, which were handcrafted by hammering them onto an anvil with grooves.
Later, the need of machining could not be satisfied by the manual striking and milling, so the machine tools were divided into different kinds according to different uses, different fixing methods and machining tools, and the manual and mechanical linkage effectively improved the disadvantage of the different strength of the pure manual output.
Roland considered the manual milling machine.
Although milling machines offer diverse functions, their primary purpose is to manufacture involute gears, which allows for a simplified structure. The setup typically requires only a pair of slots to secure the gear plate and a rotating steel grinding disc. Custom grinding discs specifically designed for gear cutting can be easily produced with Anna's assistance. The process involves grinding the tool's tip into a trapezoidal shape, heating it to a red-hot state, then using an iron rod to create indentations. After quenching in water, the customized grinding disc with high rigidity is ready for use.
After resolving the key issue, Roland promptly summoned Carter to hire two carpenters to craft the milling machine base, while Anna continued working on other metal components in the castle's backyard.
It must be said that with Anna, metalworking became as effortless as molding clay, especially after she mastered the art of controlling flames. Now, even the initial shaping of small pieces was done by her hands, molding rough outlines. Watching the other person melt iron ingots into viscous molten metal and knead it repeatedly, Roland couldn't help but marvel.
Without Witch, these ideas in his mind might have taken over a decade to materialize.
Two days later, the first simple milling machine appeared in the backyard.
Roland hasn't been idle lately. Gear design remains his forte, and he has engineered a gear set to regulate speed and stabilize steam engine output. The corresponding gear plate has been cast, and the milling process will commence once the milling machine is assembled.
Gears are nothing new. Most mines worldwide have long relied on livestock to pull wooden gear systems and winches for drainage. This time, Chief Knight was finally satisfied—after all those trips to Your Royal Highness, he could finally understand what the other side intended to do.
Roland also brought three blacksmiths and their respective apprentices to learn how to operate the milling machines in the yard. As he couldn't personally handle these machines daily, he needed to train a team of skilled workers.
After the crowd had completed their formal bows, Roland began demonstrating how to use a milling machine for gear processing.
He didn't mind playing the role of a skilled fitter in front of everyone. After all, there were all kinds of princes in this era, with diverse hobbies. Coupled with his reputation for unconventional behavior, operating the machine tool came naturally to him.
Chief Knight stood by, pouring warm lard for him—though wasteful in an oil-free era, it was better than nothing. The lard, once poured over the millstone, would settle into the ceramic basin below, ready for reuse.
Roland first carves the toothed marks on the gear plate at the designed angle, then vertically fixes it on the workbench. Next, he moves the grinding wheel above the gear plate, aligns it with the engraved lines, and steps on the pedal. The pedal drives the wooden wheel, transmitting power through the belt to the grinding wheel's rotating shaft.
Then he steadied the grinding wheel handle with his hand and gently pulled it down, causing the rotating wheel to slowly engage with the gear at a 90-degree angle.
The toothed disc was made of cast iron, while the grinding wheel was hardened steel, making the cutting process effortless. The air was thick with the aroma of lard, which made the blacksmith and apprentice—both long deprived of meat—swallow their saliva in unison.
After the demonstration, the contract signing followed. Border Town's commerce was still in its infancy, and industry was nowhere to be seen. Neither steam engines nor machine tools would be immediately snapped up by shops upon their creation. In this era, most people failed to recognize the profound significance and latent commercial value these innovations held. Thus, Roland had to take the initiative to promote the use of machinery.
The contract stipulated that the blacksmith shop using the milling machine must produce at least one set of gears weekly, with all materials supplied by Castle and a processing fee of 10 silver dragons. Additionally, a weekly machinery usage fee of 2 silver dragons was required. This arrangement was not a free gift but rather a lease-like arrangement.
After the Demon's Moon, the blacksmith's shop saw a sharp drop in business. With no other income streams, the only viable opportunity was the order personally commissioned by Your Royal Highness, which everyone readily accepted. Roland also mentioned that this was merely the first milling machine, with several more to come in the future. Those interested could apply at the town hall.
"Your Highness, why not state the processing fee as 8 silver dragons directly in the contract?" Carter asked, puzzled, after the blacksmiths had left.
"Though the numbers are identical, their implications differ," Roland explained. "This is likely the first commercial lease agreement in Border Town. I need to establish an industry standard." Chief Knight wiped his forehead. "Your Royal Highness seems to be rambling again," he said, though he was no stranger to this. With a feigned attentive expression, the Highness would continue his monologue.
"A strong start creates a virtuous cycle. Currently, only I need to purchase the gears, so I provide the machine tools. They contribute labor and receive wages in return. When others develop similar needs in the future, they'll realize that buying the tools for self-production yields far greater profits than hiring labor," Roland paused. "This way, when facing new challenges, they can first mitigate risks through alternative production methods. I, too, can profit from leasing, while the future development of new ventures is determined by market demand. This forms a self-reinforcing cycle."