Screeeech~~~~
The machine tool whirred, and Liu Eryang stared intently at the workpiece blank in his hands, occasionally adjusting the angle between the workpiece and the tool.
After a full hour, he was drenched in sweat, his face flushed. He held out two workpieces to Fang Er.
"Please, my lord, take a look!"
After a careful inspection, Fang Er placed the workpiece on the workbench. He aimed the steel rod at the hole on the steel ingot and gave it a firm push.
It sprang back.
He pushed again, and it sprang back again.
Adjusting the level, he gently inserted one end of the steel rod into the hole. kanshu Wu.ξà
After a moment, the steel rod slowly sank.
It went in!
It really went in!
Old Liu wasn't boasting; he was truly amazing!
Fang Er burst into laughter, exclaiming "Good!" three times in a row.
"From today onward, you are the first Grand Craftsman of the workshop, no, of Great Tang!"
"R-really? I... I'm a Grand Craftsman?"
Liu Eryang stammered, looking at Fang Er.
"Yes, from now on, you are a Grand Craftsman!"
"Come, tell us how you did it!" kanδん
Fang Er was very curious how this fellow, who loved to boast, had improved so rapidly.
Liu Eryang scratched his head, looking embarrassed, making it hard to associate him with the Liu Eryang of before.
"Master Liu, tell us!"
"Yes, yes, Master Liu, impart your experience to us."
"Master Liu, you can't keep this to yourself; even my lord doesn't hoard his knowledge like you."
Seeing Liu Eryang standing there silently, a group of craftsmen began to tease him.
They ate from the same pot and slept in the same pit, so they spoke without too much formality.
However, there was an undeniable hint of respect in their words.
"Well, if I tell you, you mustn't laugh!"
Liu Eryang looked at them, his face flushed.
"Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare to laugh at you," Fang Er reassured him, patting his shoulder.
With his guarantee, Liu Eryang took out a handful of something from his pocket.
He opened his palm in front of everyone, revealing a handful of sheep's wool!
"My lord previously said that precision is paramount. This hole in the copper ingot is too small for a micrometer to enter; one can only rely on touch. This requires extremely sensitive fingers. I tried many methods, and eventually, by chance, I discovered that sheep's wool, due to impurities, varies in thickness. So, I went to the sheep pen and got this wool."
"After bringing it back, whenever I had free time, I would stroke the wool. I stroked it while sleeping, and I stroked it while using the latrine. While stroking, three days ago, I suddenly became able to clearly feel the difference in each strand of wool."
"Look, if you don't believe me, these two strands of wool differ in diameter by 0.02 millimeters."
After speaking, Liu Eryang selected two strands from the wool and handed them to everyone.
Mo Ming was the most excited. He squeezed into the middle of the crowd and took the two strands of wool. However, no matter how he stroked them, he couldn't feel any difference. The same result occurred when they were passed to others.
"Measure them with a micrometer," Fang Er said with a smile from the side.
Mo Ming went to fetch a micrometer. This instrument's smallest measurable dimension was 0.01 millimeters. After measuring with the micrometer, Mo Ming's face was filled with shock: "Teacher, it's exactly 0.02 millimeters!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the craftsmen present erupted in commotion.
Hiss!
0.02 millimeters! He could discern such a minute difference by touch! It was simply incredible, truly miraculous!
"Hahahaha, what's all the excitement about? Let me have some fun too!"
Li Shimin, who had just returned from outside, passed by the workshop. Seeing the hustle and bustle, and Fang Er present, he led Cheng Yaojin and the others over.
News that the Emperor was visiting the Duke's manor had spread yesterday. Therefore, the moment he uttered "朕" (I, the Emperor), the scene instantly fell silent.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed."
The craftsmen quickly bowed.
"Rise, rise. Anzhi, what has happened here?" After nodding slightly to the craftsmen, Li Shimin curiously asked Fang Er.
He had spent two days in Shenyang, and the changes here were immense. Although he hadn't been here before, Cheng Yaojin, who was with him, had. Cheng Yaojin knew perfectly well what Shenyang had been like before. He was curious to see what new marvels Fang Er would create.
"Your Majesty, it is one of the craftsmen under my command whose skill has reached the standard I set for a Grand Craftsman. Therefore, his companions are celebrating him," Fang Er replied truthfully.
"Oh? What is a Grand Craftsman?" Li Shimin asked with surprise. He had never heard of such a title.
"Look at this." Fang Er took out the steel rod from the set of workpieces and handed the entire set over, gesturing for him to insert it.
Li Shimin tried to insert it but failed.
He tried again, and it still wouldn't go in.
After several failed attempts, his initial curiosity ignited his fighting spirit.
"I am an Emperor on horseback, born a military man. If I can't even get this little hole to accept this, where do I put my face?"
"Damn it, I refuse to believe this!"
"I clearly saw with my own eyes just now that this little rod was taken out of the hole. Why can't I put it back in?"
On the side, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Jingde, Chai Shao, and Li Xiaogong wore expressions of utter disbelief.
Could this have stumped even the Emperor?
"Boy, are you sure you don't need to smear some oil for lubrication to get it in?" Li Shimin asked Fang Er, holding the rod.
Fang Er: "..."
"What do you think this is? Smear oil for lubrication?"
"No need. You can tell by touching it whether there was oil before, can't you?"
Li Shimin rubbed the steel rod between his hands, confirming there was no grease. "That's strange. I don't believe it can't be inserted!"