The sun shone brightly over the fields as Miguel, Elnar, and some farmers gathered around the new plow prototype. The large and imposing plow was ready for its first test. Pulled by a robust red horse, it looked like a promising machine that could revolutionize agriculture in the barony.
“Let's begin,” said Miguel, watching intently as a farmer climbed onto the small platform to guide the horse. The horse started pulling the plow slowly, and the blade cut through the soil with ease. The farmers watched with interest, murmuring among themselves about the potential of the new tool.
Elnar, next to Miguel, was equally curious. “If it works as expected, this will save a lot of time and effort,” he commented.
Miguel nodded, focused on the plow's movement. The first pass was a success; the plow cut uniform rows in the soil. The men watched with enthusiasm, already imagining the benefits this innovation would bring to their crops.
When the farmer began the second pass, something went wrong. There was a loud metallic sound, followed by a creak. The plow started to shake, and suddenly the blade tilted to the side, going off course.
“What happened?” shouted Miguel, running towards the plow with Elnar right behind him. The farmer stopped the horse, and everyone gathered around the damaged plow.
Miguel knelt to examine the blade and noticed that the support was loose. “It looks like the blade support didn't hold,” he said, touching the metal piece that was supposed to keep the blade firm. “It could be an issue with the fastening or the material.”
Elnar observed closely. “Maybe the metal isn't strong enough to withstand the constant pressure,” he suggested.
Miguel nodded in agreement. “We need to reinforce this part. If the support isn't firm, the blade will always go out of position.”
As Miguel examined the plow more closely, Elnar pointed out another possible cause. “Look here, at the base. It could be that the pressure is concentrating too much at this point, causing the wear.”
Miguel frowned, thinking of a solution. “We need to redistribute the pressure along the support and maybe use a stronger metal. I'll adjust the design to strengthen this area.”
He stood up and looked at the farmers who were watching with concern. “We'll fix this. This was just the first test, and adjustments are normal. Thank you for being here to help,” said Miguel, trying to ease the tension.
The farmers nodded, visibly relieved by Miguel's response. As they began to dismantle the plow to take it back to the workshop, Miguel and Elnar discussed possible improvements to ensure the next test would be a success.
Miguel was sitting in his office, the sound of a pencil scratching paper the only noise filling the room. He was deeply concentrated on the design improvements for the plow prototype. After analyzing the blade support failure, he had an innovative idea. The blade was made of wrought iron, a robust material, but it clearly wasn't enough to withstand the constant pressure of the plow.
He thought of a solution: creating a more resistant metal alloy. If he could add carbon during the iron smelting, he could create a more durable material capable of withstanding the hard work in the field. He knew where to find the necessary carbon; the village was full of coal deposits.
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Determined, Miguel quickly got up from his chair, put away his sketches, and headed towards Arthur's smithy. On the way, he thought about the best way to explain his idea to the blacksmith. Upon arriving at the smithy, he was greeted by the rhythmic sound of hammers striking metal and the intense heat of the furnaces.
Arthur, noticing Miguel's presence, interrupted his work and approached to greet him. “Good morning, my lord. What brings you here today?” asked Arthur, wiping sweat from his forehead with a cloth.
Miguel smiled and shook Arthur's hand. “Good morning, Arthur. I have an idea I'd like to discuss with you,” began Miguel, trying to convey his excitement. “I was thinking... have you ever tried smelting a different material along with the iron?”
Arthur frowned, intrigued. “No, I've always just smelted iron. What do you have in mind?”
Miguel picked up one of the mercenaries' armor pieces that were piled up in the smithy and showed it to Arthur. “What if we added carbon to the iron during the smelting process? The carbon can be extracted from the coal we have in abundance. This could create a more resistant metal alloy.”
Arthur looked closely at the armor piece and then at Miguel. “Carbon, huh? I've never heard of that before... it sounds interesting. It's worth a try,” he said, beginning to share Miguel's excitement.
“Great!” exclaimed Miguel. “Let's do some tests. I want to see if we can create a more resistant blade for the plow. I'll help you with the process.”
Arthur agreed, and the two began working together, preparing the iron and coal for smelting. Miguel explained how the carbon could bond with the iron to form a harder and more durable alloy. Arthur, although skeptical at first, became increasingly excited about the idea.
With the furnace heated to its maximum, they began the smelting process, carefully adding the coal to the molten iron. The intense heat and red glow of the furnace created an almost magical atmosphere as the liquid metal transformed before their eyes.
Miguel watched closely, hoping his theory was correct. If they succeeded, not only would they have a more efficient plow, but they could also revolutionize the manufacturing of tools and weapons in the barony.
Arthur, focused, skillfully handled the metal, controlling the temperature and mixing the materials with precision. “This might actually work,” he murmured to himself, eager to see the results.
After some time, they poured the molten metal into molds and eagerly awaited the cooling. When they finally removed the pieces from the molds, they examined the result carefully. The metal alloy appeared brighter and sturdier than regular iron.
Miguel smiled, satisfied with the progress. “Arthur, I think we did it. Let’s test these new blades on the plow and see how they perform.”
Arthur nodded, also pleased with the work. “Let’s do it, my lord. I’m eager to see the results.”
With that, Miguel and Arthur began preparing the new blades for the plow, eager to test the durability of the new metal alloy they had created together.
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Miguel, Arthur, Elnar, and some farmers were gathered again, eager for the test of the improved plow. Miguel was confident that the new metal alloy, developed with Arthur, would resolve the previous issues. Arthur was curious and excited to see how the new metal would perform under the pressure of fieldwork. Elnar, always by Miguel’s side, watched the preparations closely.
The plow was hitched to the large red horse, which was impatient to begin. One of the farmers took position, ready to guide the animal. Miguel gave the command to start. The farmer pulled the reins, and the horse began to walk, dragging the plow across the soil.
The first pass was a success. The blade cut through the earth easily, leaving deep, even furrows. Miguel watched every movement closely, ready to spot any problems. But, to his delight, everything went perfectly.
“Let’s go for the second pass,” Miguel said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
The farmer guided the horse again. The blade continued to cut through the earth without any difficulty. Arthur looked at the plow with a mix of pride and admiration. He knew they had created something special. Elnar, beside Miguel, let out a slight sigh of relief.
By the third pass, the tension began to ease. The farmers watched with interest, hoping the success would continue. Elnar cast a confident look at Miguel, acknowledging the effort and innovation they had put into the project.
The fourth pass was as successful as the previous ones. The furrows were perfect, and the blade seemed tireless. Arthur couldn’t contain a satisfied smile. He was impressed with the durability and efficiency of the new metal alloy. Miguel noticed the enthusiasm in the blacksmith’s eyes and felt a wave of pride for what they had achieved together.
By the fifth pass, everyone was visibly more relaxed. The plow continued to work smoothly, cutting through the earth as if it were butter. When the pass was completed, the farmers hugged each other, excited about the success of the new plow. They knew this tool would revolutionize how they worked the land, making the process much more efficient.
Elnar looked at Miguel with a look of confidence and gratitude. “You did it, Miguel. This plow is going to make a huge difference for all of us.”
Arthur was also excited. He approached Miguel and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “This blade is incredible, my lord. I’ve never seen anything like it. This metal really makes all the difference.”
Miguel smiled, relieved and satisfied. “We did it, everyone. This is just the beginning. We have many more innovations to implement, but this is a great step forward.”
With the success of the test, Miguel knew they were on the right path. They had overcome a significant challenge and could now focus on other projects to further improve life in the barony. He thanked everyone for their dedication and hard work, feeling more confident than ever in his role as a leader and innovator.