But Niu Liang and the others also needed to follow the blueprints for production. The roles of the parts in the entire waterwheel were not entirely clear, so they could only guess in their hearts, resulting in the finished products always being somewhat unsuitable. Even with the dimensions marked by Fang Er, they couldn't be perfectly fitted.
Either the dimensions were slightly off, or the wrong type of wood was used.
For the first three to four days, they learned through trial and error, only having the chance to ask Fang Er for guidance when they occasionally saw him.
During these days, their admiration for Fang Er's skill grew.
There was a common issue with all technical trades in this era: hoarding knowledge and fearing that others would learn their skills and take their jobs.
However, their young master, Fang Er, was so generous. For anything they asked about, Fang Er would explain everything he knew without reservation.
This is why, on the fifth day, they finally succeeded in building their first waterwheel.
The subsequent three waterwheels were made with increasing proficiency and speed.
Fang Er entered the courtyard and watched the busy men without speaking, standing to the side and observing their work.
"Alright, it's done. Let's assemble it."
Niu Liang finished polishing the last part in his hand and said to the men behind him.
Upon hearing Niu Liang's words, Wang Wu started assembling the waterwheel with Lin San.
The four carpenters and three apprentices worked together. With this being their fourth waterwheel, their movements were very skilled.
Before they could finish assembling, Fang Er already knew the outcome. He exited the courtyard and found Zhao Hu.
Previously, he had asked Zhao Hu to scout the installation sites for the waterwheels.
Upon meeting Zhao Hu, he asked him to take him to the chosen locations for final confirmation.
The two rode out of the manor.
Fang Family Manor had about fifteen to sixteen hundred mu of cultivated land, with a lot of wasteland around it. Due to the drought, no one had bothered to reclaim it.
Fang Er carefully walked along the side closest to the Dragon Head Canal.
He selected two locations for installing the waterwheels.
However, in another location, which was about a li away from the farmland and three to four li from the manor, there was a large expanse of wasteland. After asking Zhao Hu, he learned that this wasteland was unclaimed. Fang Er made a plan in his mind.
When he returned to the manor, Niu Liang and the others had already fully assembled the waterwheel and were sitting in the courtyard resting.
He arranged for them to go with Zhao Hu to install the waterwheels.
Fang Er then returned to his own courtyard.
As soon as he entered his home, Zhuzi told him that Eunuch Deng had come again to deliver an imperial decree.
Upon entering the courtyard, he indeed found Eunuch Deng sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea and watching the fish swim in the water.
"Cavalry Commander Fang, were you startled yesterday?"
Eunuch Deng quickly got up to greet Fang Er when he saw him enter.
"Thank you for your concern, Eunuch. Fang is fine. May I ask why you have come?"
Fang Er asked with confusion.
Could it be that Li Er wouldn't allow him to retaliate privately?
This didn't make sense. Didn't Li Er hate the Five Great Clans very much?
"Cavalry Commander Fang, good news! I am here to deliver an imperial decree. Congratulations to Cavalry Commander Fang on your promotion. Look, from the ninth rank to the upper third rank, a promotion of two levels. You are now a Commander of Imperial Martial Arts of the eighth rank, upper third rank."
After speaking, Eunuch Deng, without putting on airs, directly handed the imperial decree to Fang Er.
"This? You're just giving it to me like this? No incense table or anything?"
Fang Er asked, puzzled.
"There's no need for further trouble. From my perspective, Cavalry Commander Fang, you have a limitless future. Following the rules every time is too troublesome. You save trouble, and I save trouble, isn't that good?"
Eunuch Deng said with a smile.
Then, he took out a box from his embrace: "This is a gift from the Emperor for you, to help your little girl recover her health. This is a good item from Goguryeo. It is said to have grown for several hundred years to reach this size. Keep it well."
"I thank His Majesty on Fang's behalf. Fang remembers this kindness."
Fang Er opened the box and saw a ginseng root, as thick as a child's arm. He didn't care about promotions or ranks. The eighth or ninth rank meant nothing to him. However, this ginseng was extremely important to him right now. He only wished he could see Xiao Qing happily jumping around in front of him as soon as possible.
"The Emperor was not mistaken, and neither was I. Cavalry Commander Fang is truly a man of feeling. Alright, I won't stay long. I shall take my leave. When I have a day off, I will come over to ask for a cup of wine. I wonder if Cavalry Commander Fang would welcome me?"
Eunuch Deng patted Fang Er's shoulder and stood up from his chair.
"You are always welcome. I will escort you, Eunuch."
He escorted Eunuch Deng out of Fang Family Manor.
Coincidentally, Cheng Chu Mo and Yu Chi Bao Lin arrived together, just as they reached the manor entrance.
Eunuch Deng greeted them, then rode away with his guards back to the palace.
"What brings you two brothers here?"
Fang Er asked Cheng Chu Mo.
"They came last night, and there was nothing specific, so why are these two running over again?"
"Brother Fang, Bao Lin heard about what happened here last night and insisted on coming to see."
Cheng Chu Mo pointed at Yu Chi Bao Lin.
"Brother Fang, the items I promised you a few days ago, I've brought them today. I've been busy with training recently, so I was late in delivering them. You won't blame your brother, will you?"
Yu Chi Bao Lin pointed to a bullock cart behind him, on which a pile of things was placed.
Fang Er stepped forward and saw crucibles, anvils, hammers, and other tools, even a furnace!
"I say, brother, why did you bring the furnace too?"
Fang Er asked, patting the furnace.
"My father said that ordinary furnaces don't have enough heat. This furnace of his can forge meteorites from outer space, so he asked me to bring it to you."
Yu Chi Bao Lin said proudly.
This statement was accurate. Ordinary blacksmiths' furnaces could only forge pig iron or refined steel. However, meteorites, especially alloy meteorites, were truly difficult to process with ordinary furnaces, primarily due to issues with the furnace's design and materials.
Design flaws meant the heat could not be focused, and material problems could cause the furnace to crack if the temperature became too high.
Fang Er was surprised and very satisfied.
He took the two back to Fang Residence and unloaded the items in an empty courtyard.
"Brother Fang, I've brought all these things. Can I witness your craftsmanship?"
Yu Chi Bao Lin looked at Fang Er expectantly.
Fang Er looked up at the sky: "Alright, it's still early. I'll show you my skills."
He had Zhuzi bring charcoal, and Fang Er ground the charcoal into powder, setting it aside.
After lighting the whole charcoal, he placed it into the furnace.
There was also a bellows on one side of the furnace.
Zhuzi pulled the bellows, and soon the fire in the furnace grew stronger and stronger.
The furnace was slightly conical, wider at the bottom for a larger air intake and narrower at the top to better focus the heat.
Fang Er poured a shovel of charcoal powder from the top into the furnace opening.