147 5.36 Plan To Move Forward And Progress. Time to Mass Produce! (1/2)
The foreman came forward immediately to us and I handed him the 50 gold coins as promised and he gladly receives. We told him that we are pleased with the progress and wanted him to elaborate on the next day's planning.
*If we don't engage in this kind of manner, some foreman took the fact that we take if for granted as we leave the work entirely to them*
”Senior and Junior Master, we had completed the foundation of marking the floor plan of the house, erected the main 6x6 pillars near the 4x4 hardpoints where we had inserted into the ground. The whole frame of the roof had already been completed and erected and secured with bolts and nuts.”
”Our plan for tomorrow would be as follows:
1. Setting up the reed bamboo for the entire roof with waterproofing and glazing with an elevated opening in the kitchen area as well as the middle of the house about 6 inches of opening to let the draft out and protected with a wire mesh so that birds or bats won't be able to enter through the opening.
The design would look like a small roof on top of a roof. The kitchen one would be a 4x2 feet ventilation while the main house would be a 6x6 feet in size.
2. Setting up the gutter for the roof and side drainage outlet for a water catchment at the back of the house.
3. Installation of all exterior panelling boards, windows, louvres as well as the main door for the entire exterior walls.
4. Setting up the bathroom, concrete tub, concrete base with drainage and both clean and dirty kitchen complete with the sideboards, cabinet and rocket stove area.
5. Setting up a drainage system around the house that leads to the sewer system by a 6x6 half-round pipe underground with a mesh on it.
We will update you on the status when we're midway through the construction.
”Thank you Kayu-San for your elaboration on the plans for tomorrow. You are a man with an eye for success and aims higher than the usual target. I am proud of you to be engaged in our process of building this house.”
”Furthermore, this house even looks better than the one we are living in,” I added and praised to elevate his ego and pride in his profession.
”It is an old fabricated design. However, if you planned to rebuild it next time, please do consult me and we could work around a simpler budget.” offered Kayu-san of his service that he had made a good impression on the first day.
”Depending on our Master here. If he wishes to, then we will consult with you, if not then we just leave it as it is then. But do you think you could build a second storey?”
I asked since we would be paying higher tax in the future. I intended to create living space on the 2nd floor while the 1st floor would be used to store our goods and materials.
”Yes, we could. The extension of the existing pillars would be made by a mix of 6 millimetres round bars and the middle part would be encased in concrete about 8x8 inches from the centre. It's like joining 2 pieces of free-standing pillars.”
*Luckily I had witnessed the construction of such buildings before when I was stationed in the Philippines and can use it as an example*
”Very interesting Kayu-san. Please enjoy the mid-afternoon tea and touch up what your men had been doing for the whole day. Thank you for sharing your plans for tomorrow and we hope to see more progress after this.”
Kayu-san bowed deep and left to join his workers and quickly attended to their work since they would be ending their work by 5 pm. Hiko-sama was happy that at last, he could tell the time and not lose track of time ever.
Later we saw 4 people walking up to our paths and I recognised one of them to be the Blacksmith's apprentice. ”Here comes fortune, Sensei!” I remarked as I saw them and said I go and hide first and Hiko-sama to stall them. To hide first means I would be bringing the plates of [Refined Iron] plates from the Realm of Mind to the real world. All 118 plates of them.
I hurriedly left the terrace and closed the door after me and went to my bedroom. I immediately went into my meditative state and soon I opened up my eyes and was in the Blacksmithing area. I quickly knocked out the [Refined Iron] plates on the ground and made sure I emptied everything from the moulding set.
After ensuring that everything had been cleared I immediately logged off my meditative state and returned to the real world. I took the piece that I had given to Hiko-sama and placed them together. I took several cloth bundles and made a bundle of 30 plates each and tied them up. After making 4 bundles I carried them slowly to the main door and put on my face mask.
I opened it up a crack and Hiko-sama was entertaining the apprentices of his experiences as a Samurai. I signalled to Hiko-sama that each bundle contains 30 plates. Hiko-sama then told the apprentices to wait a while and took the bundles out one by one.
Exchange of good and coins soon performed and Hiko-sama checked all the coins are exactly at 540 gold coins which were made up of 27 bundles. The apprentices also checked the quality and quantity and were surprised to see a mark on the plates and they asked what it meant.
Hiko-sama proudly mentioned it was the name of his corporation and RI means [Refined Iron] at 97% purity. We both knew what Kuro-san was doing with the plates and we need to mark it in case someone would claim it is theirs. So right now, soon the other 2 blacksmiths would deal directly with us in the future.
Business is a cutthroat deal. We can't depend on one but as a general. We can't afford others to monopolise but we should be the one monopolising instead.
Hiko-sama pushed the money to me and I double-checked it. Well, as long as there's scrap, there would be money in it. Dealing with hot property is simple. It's all sold within a blink of an eye.
After they had gone, I opened up the door and unmasked my face. ”Just like that. One or two hours of work and we earned 540 gold coins! So what is your plan now?”
”We can make 120 pieces at one go for the moulding sets. I was thinking of creating up to 200 pieces which means I need a total of 40 moulding sets.”
”The making of the [Refined Iron] is simple as its a single process. For [Purified Iron] plates, it would be a double process. The first process would be removing the slag and then it would be aerated and poured from a height into another smelting pot.”
”It means it would be 2 furnaces, 2 bellow pumps and 1 would be higher than the other, right? Why should it be aerated because I know removing the slag, removes the impurities, right?”
”Aerated improves the oxygen content level inside it and also churns out from the bottom of the smelting pot thus the slag could be properly removed.”
”What can the slag do?” Hiko-sama asked while I explained its just another part of iron oxide that is useless and can't be used at all except turning it into weights.”
Hiko-sama nodded as he thought of this. Then an idea strikes me. We could use the worker to collect weapon scraps at the northside after their work and to send in by hand carts. There are 10 men and 5 handcarts would be good enough to fill the upcoming orders.
”Sensei, could you talk to the men if they want to earn extra for another hour of work? 10 men 5 handcarts full of weapon scraps. 1-hour extra work. 1 silver each.”
Hiko-sama understood what I meant and he approached the men. All of them agree since they would be paid 1 silver for just an hours work to collect weapons parts for 5 handcarts full. No questions asked.
Hiko-sama showed a thumbs-up and I prepared the coins and passed to Hiko-sama, so he would be the paymaster while I hide in the shadows like bushido and throws coins like a shuriken. Whoosh! Whoosh!
My gold coins that were acquired from the sales also was kept safe by Hiko-sama. I advised him that tomorrow he would bring the hangers to Patent it and then make a deposit of 500 gold coins to my savings account.
I looked at our handcart and discovered that we still had some weapon scraps that could be made into 2 batches of [Refined Iron] plates and hope that the killings over at the duelling grounds would not cease as other's losses are someone's gains. I sneered at the idea of taking advantage such as these.
What would happen if there are no more weapon scraps over at the duelling grounds? Should we be miners to look for iron ores then turn them into pig irons thus turning them into [Refined Iron] instead? Because it seemed that the process would be more tedious.
Or I straight use iron ore, coal and limestone to create steel instead? Hmm... I should ask the Director of the corporation for more insights into these matters. Why should we buy something when we could gather things for free instead, right?
*Ding! *Another idea struck me. I approached Hiko-sama and asked him if he could make the foreman drunk again and then entice him to hand over his metal junk for us at a few pieces of silvers per hand cart or several pieces of gold per horse-drawn wagon.
Hiko-sama smiled as he soon fetched 2 jars and 3 cups for our little session later. Soon Hiko-sama called for the foreman and he came running expecting that he had made a mistake somewhere. ”Yes Senior and Junior Master, is anything the matter?” he asked in a panic matter.
”Nothing is wrong, we would like to invite for some drinks later after 5 pm because we have a business proposal for you,” Hiko-sama said as he spreads his hands.
”Oh, alright... What kind of business proposal are you talking about?” he asked hurriedly half expecting a windfall of fortune coming his way.
”Remember we discussed smelling nice for the ladies? I have the samples here with me. I would like to show you and let you try and see if your wife and mistress would be impressed. I am sure you are impressed with it right?”
”Yes... Yes... I would definitely join you. Is it the sake that we drank the other day? The taste is exquisite, rather mild and fruity but really intoxicating! In that the case, I see to my work first because as you can see I can't talk or walk straight after I drank half a jar of that fine yumeshu.” he quickly bowed and then back to work.
”Good man! No drinks during work and pose a hazard to workplace safety.” I thought to myself and I asked how many jars he got left and was told it would run out in 3 days time.
”Haa... Haa... Its time to top up again soon. It's on me, Sensei. No problem, as long as you are happy, I am happy as well. Haa Haa Haa!” we both laughed as we joked about us having a relaxed time together after clearing some hurdles in life.
Soon it was close to 5 pm and after tidying up their workspace and their tools, the workers then proceeded to carry the 5 handcarts and heads to the northern gate.
Hiko-sama went to fetch his 5 treasured bars of soap and sat down at the garden while I helped to carry a jar of yumeshu and joined them. Hiko-sama poured the 3 cups and handed one to the foreman and was advised by me to take sips instead as we do not him to be drunk and clouded his visions and thoughts.
Hiko-sama presented the 5 bars of soaps and asked him to take a whiff on every single one of them. I just remembered that after smelling the bar of soap, the person would not get drunk! Instead, he would feel fresh and rejuvenated!
”Wow...! It smells like perfume! The perfume here is too dear. 2 gold coins for a 10 ml bottle. But this..... Aaaahhhhh..... It feels so fresh, so invigorating and leaves me with a tingle of freshness!”
”These are my treasured samples. It is out of shape and I used them for samplings only. Like a sales gimmick. The actual size is a 3x3x3 inch and weighs 50 grams.”
”And you told me its 1 gold a piece? It is very cheap you know, it is like buying 5 bottles of perfume for just 10% of its value!”
”I am glad you like it very much Kayu-San. Come, let's cheers on it! Kanpai!” as Hiko-sama raised his cup and we 3 clinked it.
”By the way, Kayu-san, what do you do with your scraps of metal? So you send it to a foundry for sale or remodelling into something else?”
”Ah... There's no foundry here in Kitakata. We just keep it in the factory and collect rust and dust. We had many projects before and it nearly filled up a quarter of our warehouse.”