Chapter 55: Stratagems (1)

Erwa was initially stunned, then began to recite silently.
“A pagoda, dark and black, thin at the top and thick at the base. One day it will be turned upside down—thin at the base and thick at the top!”
A glimmer appeared in Erwa’s eyes as he continued to recite silently. It seemed he had grasped the rhythm and meaning behind it. He said quietly, “Master… I understand now. I definitely won’t disappoint you.”
At this moment, he realized that there is no distinction of high or low, noble or humble among people or things—any sense of inferiority is self-imposed. Everyone has their own place and value. As long as one masters a skill, their contribution to the Shule Tang army could be just as significant as that of soldiers who fight on the battlefield!
“Come help me draw the bellows.”
Seeing how intelligent Erwa was, Chen Shoucheng felt greatly relieved. He pointed to an iron furnace nearby and gave orders. With such intelligence, if he focused on learning the craft, he could become skilled within three years. (Note 1) Drawing bellows is a necessary part of a blacksmith’s training. These renowned blacksmiths were often ordered by their masters to draw bellows when they were apprentices. Firstly, it was to temper their will and teach them to endure hardship. Secondly, some skills and techniques cannot be taught instantly. As the saying goes, once the apprentice becomes skilled, the master may starve. If learning a craft were so simple, it wouldn’t be so mysterious.
Thus, apprentices often learn little in the first three years, mostly doing menial tasks. Whether they can eventually master the craft depends partly on their own effort and partly on whether the master is willing to pass on his skills.
But of course, Chen Shoucheng wouldn’t hide anything at this point. He was already nearly fifty years old—frankly, half buried in the ground. What was there left to hide? Chen Shoucheng had no sons, only a married daughter. He had been worried about having no one to inherit his craft, but the commander assigned him such a clever apprentice. He was overjoyed—how could he possibly make things difficult for him?
Still, as the old saying goes, one must love what they do. To achieve something meaningful, one must first fall in love with the work. Drawing bellows is the most arduous task, but it’s the fastest way to understand blacksmithing. The moment one no longer resents drawing bellows, they are close to mastering the craft.
Although Erwa didn’t know what Chen Shoucheng was thinking, he without hesitation went to the iron furnace, found a stool, sat down, and began drawing the bellows.

The screeching sound stoked the fire in the furnace, with sparks flying everywhere toward people’s faces. There was also that annoying black smoke, which always found its way through cracks to enter your nose and mouth at the most inopportune moments, making you cry from irritation.
Erwa didn’t want his master to look down on him, so he wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes and continued pulling the bellows.
The hot forging, driven by the bellows, weighed forty or fifty jin and was already red-hot from the furnace, making it easy to place on the anvil. Chen Shoucheng picked a hammer of moderate size and convenient to use, then struck it.
The clanging sound was surprisingly pleasant, and Erwa became so absorbed that the speed at which he pulled the bellows gradually slowed down.
“Don’t stop, keep pulling!”
Chen Shoucheng gave him a glance but continued working without pause. Holding a small hammer in his right hand and tongs in his left, after several blows, the forging had taken on a rough shape. As he turned the metal, Chen Shoucheng warned, “The worst thing for a blacksmith is to get distracted while working. All these forgings are made from the same mold, but the final shape depends entirely on the blacksmith’s skills.”
Chen Shoucheng kept hammering, and the heavy square iron forging gradually became smooth, taking the shape of a round rod.
Erwa dared not get distracted again and focused solely on pulling the bellows. What kind of object could this be? Judging from its shape, might it be a weapon?
As the saying goes, there are three hardest jobs in the world: blacksmithing, rowing boats, and grinding tofu. Though blacksmiths seem glamorous, able to turn metal into sharp weapons with just a few blows, have they ever thought about how hot it gets when the furnace is lit? After just a while of pulling the bellows, the craftsman is already drenched in sweat, and after swinging the hammer a few times, they’re sweating profusely. How much strength and endurance are needed to swing those heavy hammers back and forth?
But then again, which task in the world doesn’t require effort? Without effort, there can be no reward.
This is true whether you’re a farmer or a craftsman.
Chen Shoucheng began shaping the rod, moving it around while gently striking its edges with a special small hammer. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a thick, round iron rod was fully shaped.
Chen Shoucheng placed the round rod in a nearby sink, and with a “sizzle,” a plume of white smoke rose instantly, swirling outward.
“This is quenching—our final step in blacksmithing.”

Chen Shoucheng picked up the forged piece with pliers and examined it, saying, “Look at this forged piece. It was crooked and uneven before, but after the master struck it once, it changed completely. It’s the same with people—sometimes we need to be strict with ourselves. If you strike more now, you’ll suffer less in the future.” After saying that, Chen Shoucheng placed the silver spear on a shelf nearby. “Don’t you like wielding a spear? Once a spear head is attached to this shaft, it becomes a proper long spear. Well, consider this spear as a gift from the master.” “Master!” Erwa’s face turned red with shame. Logically, since he had taken Chen Shoucheng as his master, he should have given him a proper gift as a token of respect. But now, not only had he failed to bring any gift, he had even accepted one from his master. This… “The master says take it. In the future, it’s you who will carry on the master’s legacy!” Chen Shoucheng smiled slightly and said, “Remember, in life, one shouldn’t seek anything else but to have a clear conscience. As blacksmiths, we’re not afraid of hardship. If you can endure the hardships of blacksmithing, you won’t panic even when faced with harder challenges in the future!” “Mm, master, I understand,” Erwa replied in a deep voice as he stood up. “A pagoda is dark all around, thin at the top and thick at the bottom. One day, it will be reversed—thin at the bottom and thick at the top!” Chen Shoucheng laughed heartily. “In this world, no one should look down on anyone. One day, it will be reversed—thin at the bottom and thick at the top! One day, it will be reversed—thin at the bottom and thick at the top…” Tears welled up in Chen Shoucheng’s eyes as he murmured those words silently. Note 1: “Out of apprenticeship” refers to the completion of one’s apprenticeship period in ancient times.