CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 236: THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CROSSBOW

Kadesos swallowed a mouthful of saliva to moisten his somewhat dry throat and continued, "Under the carpenter group, we have also divided into three sub-groups—bows, crossbow arms, and arrow shafts.

The making of bows is the most troublesome and also the most important. Previously, we allocated fifty skilled carpenters, led by Midosacus, who, after nearly two months of repeated testing, have all mastered how to make a qualified crossbow. However, the time needed to make a bow is quite long; the fastest takes at least nine days. With sufficient suitable yew wood, fifty carpenters can make fifty crossbows in ten days without issues.

Making crossbow arms is relatively simple, but since carving the grooves and planing the chamber for placing the crossbow mechanism must be very precise, we also arranged five skilled carpenters for this task. Each can make two crossbow arms in one day. Therefore, we previously entrusted the assembly of the entire crossbow to this group. If each is assigned a few carpenter apprentices, completing the manufacturing of fifty crossbows in ten days is entirely possible.

The materials used for arrow shafts, after many tests, we found that elm wood is the best. Its making is not complicated, but it requires considerable time to plane slender wood strips into qualified arrow shafts. At the same time, feathers are inserted at the tail, notches made well, and arrowheads fixed properly. Initially, the arrow shaft group had ten carpenters. After two months of practice, one person can make six arrow shafts in one day...

Moreover, I have reported to Capito about organizing a bowstring group in the Weaving Workshop, consisting of five women skilled in hemp twisting. Each can make four qualified bowstrings in a day...

If you, Leader, give the order to start mass-producing crossbows, based on our current group setup, we can manufacture fifty crossbows and five hundred arrows in ten days. If we further optimize manpower allocation and increase the carpenters making crossbows, even more crossbows can be made in ten days..."

Maximus listened attentively and made no comment but instead asked, "I remember I also insisted earlier that the crossbows you make must have interchangeable parts for easier maintenance."

"We have kept your orders in mind and execute them accordingly," Kadesos answered seriously. "After repeated tests, we have defined a fixed size for each component of the crossbow. Each group’s leader is the quality gatekeeper for every part made by his group. He must measure the finished parts with a ruler. Any that are of poor quality or not the right size will be sent back for remanufacturing..."

As Kadesos spoke, he gestured towards Sistos.

Sistos immediately summoned a few craftsmen to pick up the two crossbows on the wooden table and quickly dismantle one of the crossbow mechanisms. Then, they mixed the parts of both mechanisms, reassembled them on the crossbow arms, and, after loading the strings and setting the triggers, everything worked smoothly.

Seeing this, Maximus finally cast a smiling gaze around at each craftsman and loudly praised, "You have done very well! Your diligent research not only lets you produce powerful crossbows in such a short time but also perfects your manufacturing process, making this new weapon more efficient for mass production and delivery to our soldiers!

I hope you continue this vigorous research spirit to keep improving your Iron Workshop’s management system and casting process, applying it to all future weapon manufacturing! Let our Nix Tribe’s Iron Workshop surpass all of Rome’s armories and become the best in the entire Mediterranean! What do you say?!"

"Yes!!" the craftsmen shouted excitedly in unison.

"In light of your outstanding performance at the Iron Workshop this time, I decided to reward you all!" Maximus pointed forcefully at the crowd and loudly said, "Kadesos, later, bring me the list of personnel who performed excellently in this crossbow-making process. I will propose it at tomorrow’s Political Affairs Hall meeting. I believe that during the tribe’s autumn harvest festival, some among you will be able to go on stage to receive the tribesmen’s cheers!"

The craftsmen became even more joyful, and suddenly someone shouted, "Thank you, Leader!"

Instantly, the chorus of gratitude erupted, interrupting what Maximus was about to say. He had no choice but to face everyone with a smile until silence returned.

He then looked at Sistos again, asked, "To mass-produce these crossbows, are there any difficulties needing my intervention?"

"Leader, yes!" Sistos responded without hesitation, "The yew, oak, and elm wood for making crossbows and arrows is abundant in the surrounding mountains, but our workshop cannot afford to waste manpower cutting them. I hope the tribe can regularly send Reserve Tribe Members to do this task."

"This should not be a problem. I will mention this to Volenus," Maximus readily agreed.

"What we lack most is the hemp for making bowstrings. I have inquired with the Reserve Tribe Members, the Segestica people have flax fields along the Sava River, and the Aldeans cultivate some flax near their Main Camp. We have no dealings with the Segestica people now, but the Aldeans are our allies. We can purchase flax from them just like buying iron ore."

"Hmm, I’ll have Pigeris negotiate with the Aldeans."

"The iron required for crossbows is not much. If it’s just for making crossbows, the iron ore our tribe purchases periodically from the Alde Tribe is already enough. But, if we are going to make other weapons, we may need to buy more iron ore.

Also, the Iron Workshop needs to build two more blast furnaces to meet pig iron smelting needs. At least two more hydrological hammers should be built to help our Iron Workshop better forge ironware, thereby saving manpower and allowing everyone more focus on the casting of daily ironware and weapons..."

"Hmm, I will discuss this matter with Capito. After the autumn harvest, the construction team should be relatively free and can build more blast furnaces and hydrological hammers for you. As for constructing them, it will require Spukala’s planning."

"Thank you, Leader!"

............

The Nix Tribe’s tribesmen, working together, finished harvesting all the wheat fields in four days. Simultaneously, sun-drying, grinding, sorting, winnowing, and storing the wheat into personal granaries took a total of 6 days.

However, they cannot rest just yet. They still need to collect the straw from the threshing field, make it into stacks, and according to the new suggestions from the Agricultural Department, transport most of it to personal fields for burning, mixing the ash into the soil as fertilizer, leaving a small portion for other uses such as roofing, cement wall covering materials, making chicken coops... etc.

Just after they finished, the Agricultural Department pushed again, urging them to re-plow the land quickly and divide it into three parts: one part for planting alfalfa and other fodder to feed livestock, fallow for two years to preserve fertility; another part for legumes to enrich the soil, to be left for cultivation next year; and the last part for tilling, loosening soil, harrowing, and fertilizing, preparing for winter wheat planting after October...

Furthermore, the Agricultural Department also suggested leaving a few mu of land for planting flax, so at harvest time, they could not only weave clothes but sell to the Weaving Workshop for extra income.

Thanks to previous assistance from the Agricultural Department, the tribesmen’s wheat grew well and they had a bountiful harvest, so most are willing to continue listening to the department’s suggestions.

Meanwhile, Maximus issued a decree via the Political Affairs Hall: other tribesmen may take a short rest, as long as they complete the tri-field transformation on their property by early October. However, those belonging to the First Legion must finish these labors by September 15.

Due to Maximus’s prestige and already receiving news that "they will soon head out to battle," the members of the First Legion are willing to obey orders.

Additionally, the Agricultural Department dispatched many Reserve Tribe Members, providing significant support, so the members of the First Legion felt no resentment.

Throughout the entire autumn harvest, the sky remained clear. It was only after the tribesmen began re-plowing that there were a few brief showers, cooling the weather, softening the earth, and benefiting farming activities.

The favorable weather conditions led to more acceptance of the rumor that "Maximus is a progeny of the Danu Goddess."

............

In the early hours of September 16, Casaridaoa awakened early, lighting the firewood in the hearth skillfully in the darkness. When the fire started burning steadily, he hung a large pottery jar full of water from the chain and sprinkled two handfuls of oats inside, starting to simmer porridge slowly. Then he covered it and took two large loaves of bread baked a few days ago from the food cupboard, placing them atop the pottery jar to warm slowly from the rising heat.

Next, Casaridaoa picked up the nearly empty water bucket from inside the house, went out of his door, and washed his face with the remaining water, rejuvenating himself instantly.

He then carried the empty wooden bucket, opened the wooden gate to his yard, and walked directly towards the riverbank.

At that time, dawn was breaking, and the light in the village was still dim. Insects were still singing from the night, but many were already walking on the roads, mostly having the same destination as Casaridaoa—the Water Channel in front of the Water Wheel.

The giant water wheel creaked as it slowly turned, pouring buckets of river water from mid-air, which splashed into the Water Channel and flowed forward joyfully...