Chapter 20: Tuo (Two) 2/3 Seeking Recommendations and Favorites

  "Father, what's your big brother's name?" Cao Peng couldn't help but ask curiously.

  "Happy birthday."

  Never heard of it...

  "Father, does it mean that if the furnace temperature is high enough, we can forge swords?"

  Cao Ju shook his head and sat down, taking a deep breath. "It's not that simple. The furnace temperature is just one aspect, there are many subtleties involved here."

  "Little buddy, why are you suddenly interested in this?"

  "Oh... I previously broke a knife for Tiger Head Brother in Zhongyang Town."

  I promised him that I would compensate him with a knife... but a good knife costs a lot of money. So I thought, why not make one myself?

  "Really!" Cao Qu said with a nod: "A man should be true to his word."

  However, an ordinary hunting knife wouldn't cost much. If you want to buy one, I'll let your brother-in-law handle it later."

  Deng Jie is also well-connected in official circles.

  To be honest, every year there are eliminated weapons in the government office, Deng Ji can buy them out at that time and send them to Wang Mai.

  Ke Cao Peng seems to have thought of something from their previous conversation.

  "Dad, Tiger Head and I are brothers!"

  We agreed that in the future we would build a career together. But this body of mine... Father, I want to forge a knife with my own hands, to fulfill the feelings of brotherhood."

  To be honest, Cao Ju really didn't want Cao Peng to learn how to forge iron.

  This line of work isn't a promising career... That's right, throughout history there have indeed been great masters who were respected and renowned far and wide. But how many people can actually become great masters? There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of blacksmiths in the world. Those who truly stand out are extremely few.

  In Cao Ju's heart, he still hoped that Cao Peng would one day find a famous teacher and seek an official title.

  What Cao Peng said also makes sense, this brotherly love and righteousness, indeed cannot be measured with money...

  "If you want to learn, then go ahead and learn." Cao Jin thought for a moment, and said in a soft voice: "But I can tell you that blacksmithing is hard work, your body won't be able to take it. If you can't hold on, just let Dad know early. If it really doesn't work out, Dad will help you with the hammering, we'll think of a way together."

  "Got it, thanks Dad!"

  Cao Peng smiled and his face lit up, delightedly standing up.

  He has thought of a good way, if it can be successful, maybe it will help his father rise to fame.

  "Little friend, it's getting late, you should go back and rest."

  Cao Peng responded with a sound, got up and went back to his room. However, he didn't immediately return to his room, but instead sneaked into Deng Ji's study and took away several sheets of hemp paper before returning to his own room. Speaking of paper, everyone knows that it was invented by Cai Lun, hence the name "Caihou Paper". In fact, paper existed as early as the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, and Cai Lun's "Caihou Paper" was just an improvement in craftsmanship.

  At the same time, there was another kind of paper called Zuo Bo paper, which was created by Zuo Bo, a calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is also known as Zi Yun paper. The quality of Zi Yun paper is exquisite and has a reputation for being bright and radiant, making it a treasured item among the sons of aristocratic families and renowned scholars.

  However, whether it is Cai Hou paper or Zuo Bo paper, the cost is high and it is not something that ordinary people can use.

  Even in government offices, more use is made of a paper made from hemp fibers, commonly known as hemp paper.

  Even if it's just a piece of hemp paper, not everyone can own one. Deng Jie might not have been able to own one either if he wasn't working as a minor official in the government office.

  Cao Peng didn't dare take too many, so he just took a few.

  He returned to his room, dimmed the oil lamp and picked up a pen made of black charcoal to draw a simple pattern on the paper.

  Bellows, actually is a wind box.

  However, the term "wind box" did not appear until the end of the Eastern Han dynasty.

  What is referred to as a bellows, most commonly is a tool composed of a wooden box, piston and valve. In his previous life, Cao Peng had indeed seen this type of double-acting continuous bellows. However, he didn't particularly understand the internal structure, only vaguely remembering some characteristics.

  He leaned against the bed railing and painted for a while before feeling somewhat tired.

  He rubbed his face, put away the paper and charcoal pencil into a small bag beside his pillow. This thing can't be thought of all at once, it needs to be slowly pondered. Unfortunately, he didn't study science and engineering back then, otherwise he wouldn't have to go through so much trouble.

  If Old Man can forge a good sword, he might just win Cao Cao's appreciation.

  To know, in this year and month, to forge a good sword requires too much time and labor. Swords are different from iron spears and halberds, with stricter requirements. During the Three Kingdoms period, due to limited conditions, swords forged from hundred-fold steel could not become standard equipment.

  So in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", a term often appears: 'Jiao Dao Shou'.

  For example, Guan Gong's side often had 500 knife guards, which can be said to be his elite. In fact, the knife guard was the sharp soldier of the shield at that time. According to the records in the Three Kingdoms, Wu Jiang Ding Feng relied on three thousand knife and shield soldiers to win a complete victory; later, when the national power of Wu declined, Jin sent troops to conquer Jiangdong. Sun Wu's general Shen Ying led five thousand knife and shield soldiers, charging into the Jin array three times, killing the Jin army greatly... The power of these knife and shield soldiers can be seen in general.

  After Sima Yan ascended the throne, he once forged a sword to strengthen military power; The Shu state also had a famous general named Pu Yuan, who forged three thousand refined steel knives and established meritorious service.

  If Old Man can make this Hundred Refining Sword widespread, no matter who it ends up with in the end, it will definitely be put to good use!

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  Unconsciously, it has dawned!

  Cao Peng got up early, put on his clothes, put on his shoes and walked out of the room.

  In the front yard, the iron furnace in the shed has already taken shape. However, Cao Qu's shadow is nowhere to be seen, presumably because he was too tired last night and hasn't gotten out of bed yet.

  Wang Mai had made all preparations and was waiting for Cao Peng to arrive.

  The two of them looked at each other and nodded.

  One in front and one behind, they walked out from the main gate, along the peach forest path, and started jogging.

  Wang Mai was very unaccustomed to this slow running, he liked sprinting... but Cao Peng's body didn't allow that kind of unrestrained running.

  This slow run can best strengthen his lung capacity and exercise every inch of muscle in his body.

  After running in the peach forest for about half an hour, their bodies were warm and sweaty. Cao Peng and Wang Mai arrived at the empty space behind the yard by the river bay, which would be their training ground from today on. Wang Mai exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, facing the morning sun, and began to stand in a stance.

  Cao Peng took advantage of his still warm body and slowly practiced a set of Tai Chi.

  Start with the opening posture, feet standing upright... Left Golden Rooster Grinds Mortar, Shocking Foot Pounds Fist and Wraps Clothes... Cao Peng can feel that his body, following the movements of Tai Chi, is stretching his tendons and meridians. The feeling of full-body relaxation is very comfortable. After all, he has a certain foundation, from the perspective of his state, he can easily enter a state of emptiness and stillness. But for some reason, Cao Peng suddenly stops practicing.

  He looked around and saw that Wang Mai was still standing there, with no one else nearby.

  Just now, he clearly felt as if someone was secretly peeking...

  Is it just an illusion of mine?

  Cao Peng thought of this and shook his head hard, continuing the fist method from before. After finishing a set of Tai Chi fists, Cao Peng didn't rest just yet.

  He was running slowly on the riverbank, and every few steps, he would make a strange movement, accompanied by a weird howl from his mouth.

  In the Bai Yuan Tong Bei Quan, there is a set of eight pieces of Brocade. The old martial artist from the previous generation passed on to Cao Peng not only the eight pieces of brocade but also eight true sayings. It's similar to the Buddhist true sayings and secret methods, through different movements, making different sounds to strengthen the internal organs.

  Each of the eight true sayings was accompanied by an action, and it took Cao Peng more than half an hour to finish.

  The whole person was like being fished out of water, dripping with sweat.

  Wang finished his training and was practicing the Eight Trigrams Fist's Golden Eight Styles on the riverbank. Cao Peng walked slowly along the riverbank to calm the boiling blood in his body. Suddenly, he stopped and stood at the river's edge, gazing into the distance. The river wasn't wide, and one could clearly see the opposite bank.

  This thorny water is like a boundary river. The east belongs to the jurisdiction of Zhēnyáng County, and the west belongs to Níyáng.

  On the other side of the river, under a row of weeping willows, stood an old man.

  Cao Peng looked back and the old man also sensed it. The greyish white beard under his chin danced in the morning breeze. He nodded towards Cao Peng, as if greeting him.

  Then he danced with his fists and feet, and performed a set of boxing moves.

  It's just that this distance is a bit far, Cao Peng can't see very clearly.

  It seems that the other party is also a morning exerciser... Judging from the old man's clothes, he seems to be from a wealthy family. Everyone is exercising in the morning, and no one is spying on anyone else. Anyway, we are separated by a river, and everyone doesn't interfere with each other. If you insist on arguing, it might be yourself who disturbed the other party.

  So Cao Peng didn't mind and just smiled, taking it as a response.

  "Afu, what's next?"

  "Keep practicing!"

  Cao Peng and Wang Mai practiced on the riverbank until nearly dawn before stopping to prepare for their return.

  Subconsciously, Cao Peng glanced at the other side of the river and found that the old man had vanished.

  "Ah Fu, what are you looking at?"

  "There's nothing to see... let's go back."

  As he was about to leave, Cao Peng turned his head and took another look.

  There was a strange feeling in his heart, he and the old man would meet again!

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