Alien Knights

In the past history, movable type printing was invented by Bi Sheng (Bi Sheng and Bi Sheng were not the same person) in the Northern Song Dynasty, but it was not popularized in the end.

The reason is divided into software and hardware.

In terms of software, because of the Chinese font, the number of commonly used characters is about 7,000. When arranging letterpress, it is inconvenient to set up a sequence font library. In Latin and English, the number of letters is only 26 (excluding special fonts), relatively speaking, it is much more convenient.

In terms of hardware, Bi Sheng invented the clay movable type printing method. The service life of the block material is not long, and the requirements for the control of the pushing force are relatively high.

In comparison, the invention of movable type printing in 1445 not only improved the printing machine, but also adjusted the formula of ink and blocks. As the inventor, the German craftsman Johannes Gutenberg was the first person who really introduced movable type printing to the world.

In the 2015 "Time" supplement, in the "Top Ten Inventions of the 10th-20th Century AD Ranking", movable lead printing was ranked first, even higher than Edison's electric light and Einstein's theory of relativity. (Don't spout this ranking, just take a look.)

On the other hand, Todd's major is life engineering. In terms of Warcraft: his microbiology and biochemistry are close to the master level, and his applied chemistry and chemical engineering are close to the master level. The knowledge he understands in other subjects may be no different from that of ordinary people.

Lead movable type printing is mainly divided into four basic elements: printing materials, ink, word modules, and printing machines.

So, for Todd:

The printing materials are mainly linen paper or parchment, which are ready-made and easy to solve.

The ink isn't hard to come by, it just involves some simple chemistry and refining. Specifically, linseed oil is boiled and cooled, then a small amount of turpentine distilled from pine resin is added, then mixed with carbon black, copper, lead, and sulfur are added, and the ink is ready after a period of time. The ink, which can be applied to wet metal molds without bleed-through, is one of the most critical elements of movable type.

As for the word module, it is not difficult to make it. Todd intends to use antimony-containing lead-tin alloy (adding antimony can increase the hardness of movable type) as the material of the type block, and tries to determine the ratio of the three metal contents. The casting method adopts the method of convex and concave grooves, that is, the concave shape is made of fine sand or clay, and the convex shape is made of wood. First, the wooden movable type is carved, stamped into the clay, and then the wooden type block is taken out, and then melted lead and tin water is poured into the clay mold, and finally taken out and trimmed, and the lead movable type is obtained.

The most troublesome thing is the printing press, because Todd can't make this thing at all...

He just vaguely remembered that there was a paper feed slot, something like a big seal, a block platform slot, and a stick that could be pushed...

Relying on these vague impressions, he drew a design sketch that made him want to slap himself once he looked at it, and handed it to Aiden Kom.

Todd understands that it is almost impossible to perfectly reproduce the movable type printing press of the 15th century by himself.

Therefore, he asked old Aiden to bring the blueprints to bring the most familiar and reliable craftsmen. At the same time, he also found Rachel, who was more familiar with alien abilities, and hoped that she would help him in making the printing press.

———————————

Soon, in the side hall of the church that night, a group of seemingly out of touch people sat together.

On the left side of the side hall sat Aiden Komm and the two craftsmen whose lives were saved by Todd, and on the right sat Rachel and Huggins. Todd stood on the stage, with a vertical wooden board behind him, and a charcoal pencil in his hand.

Todd tapped the wooden board behind him with a charcoal pen, and said, "Everyone, we gathered here today to make something, and we will have a brainstorm."

"Brain storm?" The people in the audience looked puzzled and began to discuss in a low voice.

Todd patted his forehead with his hand, and thought to himself, he made a mistake in the class as a teacher in his previous life again, and changed his words: "Brainstorming means brainstorming, everyone works together to find a way and come up with ideas."

Todd pointed his finger at the ceiling, and the expression on his face suddenly became very serious: "The thing discussed tonight is a treasure of God. You must never tell others what you hear or see, otherwise you will be punished by the Holy Spirit!"

Seeing that everyone's expressions suddenly became solemn, he nodded in satisfaction, and then began to write and draw on the wooden board with a charcoal pen. He talked about the basic principles of printing to the functions of the machine, and focused on explaining the process of block arrangement and embossing ink.

After talking about all this, Todd turned around and found that the group of people in the audience were silent, and he couldn't help muttering in his heart: Is what he said too complicated?

Fortunately, old Aiden's words dispelled his worries.

"My lord, it is a genius idea to use movable lead type to print paper! People copy by hand, and never thought that they could print letters like this."

After listening to Aiden's words, Todd remembered that in his previous life, it was not until the end of the 13th century that woodblock printing was introduced to Europe from Arabia. In other words, skipping the four generations of printing methods of wood engraving, copper engraving, wooden movable type, and clay movable type, movable lead type printing is indeed a product that has surpassed several centuries.

Todd asked Aiden: "Then can you come up with a design for the machine I requested?"

The old craftsman discussed with his two friends in a low voice, and said: "We have carefully read the master's drawings, and we plan to design such a machine. I don't know if it is correct? We plan to make a wooden platform at the bottom of the machine, fix the movable type on it, and install the stamping plate on the movable type. The stamping plate can be controlled by an iron or copper screw rod, and can be moved up and down..."

Listening to the other party's speech, Todd still felt that he had no intuitive impression. He interrupted Aiden's speech, beckoned, handed the charcoal pencil to the old man in front, and said, "I still don't understand what you said... Come up and draw the specific design plan, and then explain it."

Hearing this, the old craftsman shook his hands in fright, and quickly said, "My lord, don't humiliate me, I'm just a humble craftsman. With you here, how dare I make a mistake?!"

"As I said, tonight's meeting is a brainstorming... Well, I mean brainstorming. Here, there is no distinction, no position, and anyone who has an idea can come to the stage to speak out or draw it!" Todd shook the charcoal pencil in his hand again, signaling old Aiden to come up quickly.

The old man took the charcoal pencil, watched Todd sit in his seat, and tremblingly began to draw on the wooden board. During the period, due to nervousness, I drew the wrong pattern several times.

And Todd looked at the machine design drawing on the wooden board, his eyes became brighter and brighter.

The old craftsman said in a trembling voice while drawing: "There is a pull rod next to the screw rod, which can be pushed by manpower, so that the pressure required for printing can be obtained. Then ink is printed on the movable type plate, and then paper is laid, and the screw rod is shaken, and the writing is printed out through the pressure of the platen."

Todd stood up at this time, couldn't help applauding, and praised loudly: "It's great! In such a short period of time, you can actually come up with such a perfect design!"

Aiden was not greedy for credit, he pointed his finger at another craftsman: "This design was first proposed by him."

Seeing the priest turn his gaze to himself, the latter stood up quickly, bent down and said, "My lord, I used to work in a winery. I found that the grape pressing machine is very similar to this design, so I remembered it."

Todd was very happy, and said loudly: "Everyone, this is what I call brainstorming! After all, one person's wisdom and strength are limited, and everyone's joint thinking is the fastest way to solve problems..."

"My lord..." Aiden looked hesitant.

Todd signaled him to speak up without hesitation.

The old craftsman pointed to the machine's loading platform, bearings, and counterweight bars: "If these parts are made by hand, the fit and level of the parts cannot be guaranteed. To make them, high-temperature stamping and forging are required. There is no such device in the blacksmith shop in the town."

"Stamping and forging?"

Listening to the old craftsman's introduction, Todd remembered the lathe in his previous life.

Old Aiden looked at the drawings on the wooden board and scratched the back of his head: "First, the temperature of the furnace body must be high enough to melt the iron; second, find a way to build a pendant for beating the iron; third, make a mold for shaping parts in advance."

The heat to melt the iron, the weight to hammer the material, and the mold to shape the part.

Todd was thinking about these three things when Huggins behind him whispered something.

"As for the high temperature that can melt iron, Alfonso's squire—Leslie, should be able to help. 』

Todd nodded.

Regarding the latter two matters, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and turned his attention to Rachel.

The nun rolled her eyes and sighed: "I can do the last two things. But can you guarantee that these craftsmen are trustworthy people?"

Todd froze.

Aiden Kom blushed when he heard what the nun said, and retorted loudly: "What kind of talk is this! Without the Holy Son, I'm just a poor man who can't even eat enough. As a man, I should repay my kindness! Let alone my two old friends! They even gave their lives!"

Todd glanced again at Hudgens, who nodded slightly.

Then he thought for a moment, touched the bridge of his nose, and said to Aiden and the other two craftsmen, "Have you heard of alien species?"

Aiden shrank his head, looked at the cross on his chest and said, "I heard people say that those people are 'devil posthumous children'."

"Old Aiden, can you trust me?"

"Of course, you are the Holy Son protected by the Holy Father! You are also an alchemist blessed by God!"

Todd winked and signaled Huggins to close the doors and windows of the side hall, gathered the three craftsmen together, and said in a low voice: "There are some things you may not know, the alien species is not what the church said..."