Chapter 213 - 189: Super Armory
The facility was fully equipped, with each workshop serving a specific function and containing the appropriate tools and machinery.
Although the Sword and Saber Workshop was named as such, it could actually produce other short-bladed weapons as well.
The Long Weapon Workshop was responsible for polearms and other long weapons. Because this involved long shafts, some of its tools differed from those in the Sword and Saber Workshop.
The Armor Workshop was thirty times the size of the old Leather Armor Workshop, spanning a full 1,500 square meters. In addition to space for leatherworking, it also had a dedicated area for forging Iron Armor.
Tall wooden racks stood in neat rows, complemented by water basins, tanning pools, drying frames, and a complete assortment of tools.
In the distance, the sight of numerous furnaces and forging stations, along with separate areas for polishing armor plates and lacing them together, was truly spectacular.
The Bow and Crossbow Workshop covered a thousand square meters. Compared to the old Bow and Arrow Workshop, its tools were clearly much more specialized.
The Research and Development Workshop was primarily for creating various types of weaponry, including large-scale siege engines. It was also responsible for testing and evaluating certain weapons. This workshop also spanned 1,500 square meters.
The Divine Machine Workshop was the area dedicated to building large-scale contraptions. It had the largest footprint, covering nearly 2,000 square meters. It was where machines like the Car-Mounted Crossbow could be constructed. Massive pieces of equipment stood on either side like giant beasts—tools used to assist in forging large siege engines.
From now on, however, the Divine Machine Workshop’s primary task would be to create killing machines designed to hunt large beasts.
Finally, the storage warehouse and materials depot were responsible for storing finished equipment and raw materials, respectively.
The massive complex had a clear division of labor, and the different workshops were separated by walls and iron gates.
A watchtower stood at each of the four corners of the Yanwu Military Equipment Supervisor.
This place was, in essence, a super-armory covering 8,000 square meters.
It was capable of mass-producing equipment on an assembly line.
’But we need people! We’re still so short on people!’
Qin Ziwen sighed to himself. To get this armory up and running, he would need at least three or four hundred craftsmen.
’I thought it would develop toward quality, but instead, it evolved toward quantity.’
’Still, its overall capabilities are far greater than the three original buildings combined.’
’I guess that’s acceptable.’
’And I need to make preparations for the iron mine soon.’
Previously, the Level 2 Iron Mine was more than enough to supply the daily needs of a single Blacksmith Shop and Bow and Arrow Workshop. But for a super-armory on the verge of starting operations, it was clearly insufficient.
The group of apprentices and helpers who were brought in stared in awe, like country folk visiting the big city. Even though they were from the modern era, it was rare to see such a spectacular example of ancient architecture.
They were led to the Bow and Crossbow Workshop and the Armor Workshop, respectively.
These two areas would be their future workplaces.
Meanwhile, the Sword and Saber Workshop and the Long Weapon Workshop became Li Tieshan’s domain.
Although these two workshops were the smallest.
That was only relatively speaking; combined, they still covered over a thousand square meters.
Enough space for a hundred blacksmiths to work.
"Sir, I never imagined I’d have such a large..." Li Tieshan’s hands trembled. He had expected the Blacksmith Shop to change, but he never imagined it would be *this* big!
It didn’t bear the slightest resemblance to the old building.
Back in the old days, a place like this would have been a restricted government compound.
You’d be beheaded for trespassing!
Qin Ziwen asked, "Do you have enough men?"
"Sir, definitely not! There are so many furnaces here. It would be a huge waste not to use them," Li Tieshan said quickly.
"Alright, let me think about it." Qin Ziwen began to ponder. ’Where can I get more blacksmiths?’
’Since the scale has increased, professional blacksmiths are hard to find, but there should be plenty of amateurs.’
’Doesn’t Old Luo have a ton of students?’
’Surely not all of them want to be on the front lines. For those willing to work, I can offer them positions. I’ll have Jia Liangcai set up a promotion system. To start, I can just cover their meals, and later on, I can offer other benefits.’
’I can recruit people this way not just for blacksmithing, but for the Armor Workshop and the Bow and Crossbow Workshop too.’
𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Meanwhile, the workers in the Armor Workshop and the Bow and Crossbow Workshop had already begun their tasks. At first, they were chatting and laughing, but soon the noise gradually faded away.
When Qin Ziwen came to check on them, he found that basically everyone had their heads down, diligently focused on their work.
Their work efficiency had more than doubled.
After leaving the Yanwu Military Equipment Supervisor, Qin Ziwen found Luo Gang and explained his purpose.
Luo Gang listened and thought seriously for a long moment before asking, "Do you have enough food and water?"
Qin Ziwen replied, "For the short term, yes."
He had recently hunted quite a few beasts, and with his previous stockpiles, he wasn’t short on food for the time being. With the Fish Pond, water wasn’t a short-term problem either. That was why he dared to make such an offer.
"In that case, I support you. This will also relieve a great deal of pressure on us," Luo Gang said with a smile.
Qin Ziwen asked curiously, "Teacher Luo, aren’t you afraid I’ll poach all your people?"
Luo Gang replied meaningfully, "As long as they can eat their fill and live with dignity, what difference does it make where they are? You and I are both Descendants of Yan and Huang."
Luo Gang stated frankly, "However, I can’t force them to go. All I can do is tell them exactly what you’re offering and let them decide for themselves."
"You’re a man of principle, Teacher Luo."
Afterward, Luo Gang quickly spread the news.
The many students still in the Gated Community received the message. It wasn’t just the students; other residents heard about it as well.
Someone muttered jealously under their breath, "Tch, he’s just recruiting for hard labor. Only those naive students would fall for it. They’re so easy to trick."
"But he’s providing meals."
"..."
"Providing meals?!"
The people who had been disdainful just a moment ago stared with wide eyes, as if they had heard something unbelievable.
Some of them couldn’t even get enough to eat, yet the Qin Alliance was actually promising to provide meals? Where did they get so much food?
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible."
The stubborn ones remained stubborn, but the smart ones were already on their way.
"Master Zhao, is the Qin Alliance still recruiting?" someone asked, having secretly sought out Zhao Pu.
Zhao Pu remained impassive. "We are. But aren’t you with the Alliance Association?"
"Heh, I’m asking for my wife. I joined the Alliance Association, but she hasn’t joined anything yet."
"How about this: I’ll go back and ask our leader. As you know, even though the Qin Alliance isn’t large, we have more rules. A lot of people have been trying to join recently, so I need to check with the leader."
"Brother Zhao, I hear you’re still single, and Shuhuan is getting so big. Have you thought about remarrying? I have a cousin, from our Gated Community. She’s an honest woman of few words. She was married, but... well, we’ve all been transported here, haven’t we? It’s not much different from being widowed," someone chimed in, smiling as they tried to play matchmaker.
Zhao Pu was getting a headache. It took a great deal of effort to politely refuse and send the person away.
In a single afternoon, he dealt with no fewer than twenty groups of people coming to inquire.
He knew why, too. Ordinary members of the Qin Alliance were given priority to become "workers."
That’s why these people had set their sights on joining the Qin Alliance.
But he didn’t dare to rashly agree to so many people joining all at once.
Just then, he spotted his savior.
"Mr. Jia! Mr. Jia!" Zhao Pu’s eyes lit up. ’This old man is full of clever schemes; he’s sure to have an idea.’
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