Chapter 318 - 316: Landing on Silver Jade Territory

Chapter 318: Chapter 316: Landing on Silver Jade Territory

Some people always scoffed at the Four Great Inventions of ancient China. Some even considered it shameful to bring them up, thinking they were crude and unsophisticated.

But Duane didn’t agree.

In their original historical context, the advent of woodblock printing and movable type was a revolutionary breakthrough in the history of human information dissemination.

It profoundly influenced the development of culture, education, and even political and social structures, driving the course of history forward.

This was why some believed its significance far transcended the technology itself.

Duane knew of two types of printing: one was woodblock printing, and the other was movable type.

The former was suitable for small amounts of fixed content, while the latter was better suited for varied text.

In Chinese history, the main reason movable type failed to become widespread was the enormous number of Chinese characters.

At least tens of thousands of type pieces were needed, which made storage and management difficult.

But it was perfectly feasible in this world. The script here was more like the Latin alphabet, which didn’t require nearly as many type pieces.

"Movable type printing consists of three main steps: creating the type, typesetting, and printing."

Duane took out a pen and paper and began writing down the detailed process for movable type, so that the person in charge could learn and use it in the future.

"Type pieces are generally made from high-hardness metals to make them wear-resistant and more durable."

"However, metal type is a bit more difficult to make. In the initial stages, clay type will be a perfectly good substitute."

Although clay type had a short lifespan, the number of characters required was small and they were simple to make. At worst, he could just make a few extra sets as backups.

Duane began to organize the method for making the type pieces.

First was the selection and refinement of the clay. Yanger was familiar with this, so he could handle it.

The second step was to carve the master forms into hardwood.

Duane’s Basic Manufacturing Skills had already reached Perfection Level, and his handiwork was exceptionally fine. He just needed to forge a set of sharp chisels for himself and use oak or the Black Iron Wood from the Secret Realm for the carving.

After creating the incised master forms, the next step was to press wet clay into them to produce raised, reversed characters.

After that came air-drying, firing, and polishing to ensure all the final type pieces were of a uniform height.

And with that, the creation of the type pieces was complete.

Next was typesetting. This wasn’t technically difficult; it just required someone who was literate.

However, to prevent the type from shifting, a corresponding chase would also need to be made, which was a minor problem for Duane.

The final step was printing.

Duane glanced at the ink on his desk. It was the Basic Magic Ink he had made for crafting Spell Scrolls.

The materials used were pine soot and animal glue, mixed with Basic Magic Energy Essence.

Using it to print books for ordinary people would be an incredible waste.

The ink for movable type required high viscosity so that it would adhere to the raised parts of the type without seeping into the gaps.

The flaxseed oil refined from the linen grown on Black Forest Island would be a very suitable material.

’That makes for a complete process!’

As Duane looked over the notes on the paper, he began to think about potential improvements. When he considered the durability of the type pieces, an idea suddenly struck him.

’When Natalia was describing her family’s fortress, she mentioned that the walls of Sea Cliff Castle were reinforced with the Level 6 Earth Magic, the Hardening Technique. I wonder if it could be applied to the type pieces.’

The Hardening Technique could make earth elements arrange themselves more tightly, thereby increasing the hardness of soil and even stone.

Logically, type pieces made of clay should also fall within the scope of what could be hardened.

Duane decided to ask for the Spell Model for this Hardening Technique the next time he went to Sea Cliff Castle, and then try it out when he returned.

On the morning of the third day, Emerson left Black Forest Island with the transport team for the Star Velvet Mammoths.

On that very same day, Heck’s ship returned to Black Forest Island, picked up Duane, and set sail for Silver Jade Territory.

This was an exclave that Duane had possessed for four months but was now visiting for the first time.

Five days after departing from Black Forest Port, Duane arrived at a concave fjord.

"My Lord, this is a truly natural, fine harbor!"

Heck explained happily, "Originally, the territory Sir Trenton demarcated for you had no suitable place to build a port. If you wanted a wharf, you would have had to reshape the terrain yourself."

Ports and wharfs can’t be built just anywhere. They have requirements for water depth, waves, terrain, and more.

With current technology, transforming a location unsuitable for a port into one that could support one would undoubtedly be an incredibly difficult undertaking.

"I heard Owington mention it last time. You all did a good job with this!"

To be precise, when Owington and Kaelon discovered that there was no suitable place for a wharf within the territory, they immediately protested to Sir Trenton.

The other party had already completed his work and naturally didn’t want to redo it, so he refused to alter the territory’s boundaries.

In the end, it was Kaelon’s subtle threats and Owington’s declaration that "the money’s already spent, so if you can’t get it done right, we’ll just flip the table" that forced him to extend Silver Jade Territory’s borders south along the coastline to this point, completely encompassing the concave fjord.

Silver Jade Territory’s shape thus changed from an irregular circle to a long strip running along the coast, just like the map of the Republic of Chile in southwestern South America from Duane’s memories.

Duane stood at the ship’s bow, gazing at the lush, green land. The verdant hills rolled on and on, but their slopes were gentle.

Only upon entering the Jade Mountain Range would one find continuous high peaks.

It was an undeveloped, uninhabited land, just like the Southern Plain.

The only difference was that this wasn’t a plain. It was better suited for terraced farming, much like many areas around Broken Wave City.

"Heck, have you ever been to the Starfall Islands?"

Duane asked, "Specifically, Viscount Freddy’s Scorching Wind Territory."

Heck paused for a moment, then shook his head. "I’m sorry, my Lord. Before I started following you, I mostly sailed along two routes: the Kingdom’s east coast and the Michaelson River. I’ve never been to the Starfall Islands."

He asked, "Is there something you need me to arrange?"

Duane nodded slightly. "After the supplies for Silver Jade Territory are mostly delivered, I need you to familiarize yourself with the shipping route from Black Forest Island to Scorching Wind Territory."

"And not just you. Mackenzie, Jim, and the others need to learn it as well. The more, the better!"

Heck’s heart skipped a beat. If this was just for simple trade, a few captains familiar with the route would be enough. The Lord wouldn’t need to specifically emphasize that the more people who knew the route, the better.

His quick mind keenly grasped Duane’s underlying intention, but since his lord hadn’t said it outright, he didn’t press for details.

It wasn’t something that was easy to ask about, anyway.

"My Lord, you can rest assured and leave this matter to me!" Heck patted his chest, full of confidence.

Heading west from here, they would enter the Flowing Silver Fjord.

To get to Viscount Freddy’s Scorching Wind Territory, one simply had to sail north along the Flowing Silver Fjord to the northern part of the Starfall Islands.

Aside from being a long journey, the route wasn’t particularly dangerous.

"I’ll be going to the Silent Shore soon. Count Kais’s fleet is very familiar with this route. When the time comes, I’ll have someone introduce you to their fleet’s captain so you can exchange information with him."

Heck was overjoyed. He had thought he would have to scout the route himself, but he hadn’t expected the Lord to use his connections to help him get familiar with it ahead of time.

"That makes it even simpler! At most, after two runs, I’ll have the route down perfectly!"

With a Nautical Map and an introduction from an experienced veteran, it truly wouldn’t be a problem for someone with Heck’s ability.

"Just one thing, my Lord. We’ll need a reason to dock at Scorching Wind Territory."

He said, "After all, our relationship with them isn’t exactly good, is it?"

The conflict between Viscount Freddy and Duane had once escalated to the national level, causing the former to suffer losses and making the relationship between the two sides extremely tense for a time.

Therefore, they needed a legitimate reason to dock, or others would assume they had ulterior motives.

Duane thought for a moment and said, "Just say we’re there to discuss trade. Viscount Freddy’s Secret Realm has Meteorite Ore, Secret Silver Ore, and fertile soil resources that I want. If we can buy them, we’ll buy some."

"Besides, haven’t they hunted a lot of Demon Beasts? I also need their hides and Magic Crystal Stones."

Parchment was unsuitable for making High-Level Spell Scrolls. Special materials were generally used, the most common of which was the hide of a Demon Beast.

Heck nodded. "I understand!"

With a legitimate reason, and with an up-and-coming figure in the Pruck Kingdom like Duane backing him, Viscount Freddy wouldn’t dare do anything to him.