Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 1950 1420: Self-Sacrifice, the True Grandmaster Blacksmith!

"Namu Amida Butsu! Tiantai Sect's saving grace, Buddha's compassion... We can only repay with self-sacrifice, without regret or complaint!"Facing Mori no Kiyoshi's salutation, an old craftsman with one arm stepped out from the group of craftsmen. Although he also showed some anxiety, he mustered his spirit and returned the salute to Mori no Kiyoshi and the group of Monk Soldiers.

"Mori no Kiyoshi, Master Monk, from now on we will never return, unable to go back to our hometown and ancestral graves... We only wish for you to cherish Buddha's compassion, to take care of the rest of our tribe and villagers a little... And if the Golden Body of Buddha can be molded, and our name can be left engraved on the stone at the Temples and Shrines for the reward of a better afterlife... then even if I die in the Land of Shandan, I would not regret! ...Namu Amida Butsu!"

"Namu Amida Butsu!… We sacrifice ourselves without regret!…"

Following the old one-armed craftsman stepping out to return the salute, a few young apprentices also followed behind the old craftsman, bowing to return the salute to Mori no Kiyoshi.

The Japanese tend to have a weaker sense of self-assertion and are easily dictated by higher authorities and the collective. In this strong atmosphere, one by one, all the craftsmen, whether genuinely willing or not, wept as they bowed farewell to Mori no Kiyoshi. Mori no Kiyoshi was even more empathetic, eyes filled with tears, praying devoutly.

"Namu Amida Butsu! May all beings be free from suffering and attain happiness, and all become enlightened!..."

"Chief Divine! What is this situation? This?!..."

On the other side, Zuwaro with the Kingdom's Warriors, though not understanding the words spoken opposite, could discern a thing or two from the expressions and actions. He was greatly shocked!

This time the trade with the Japanese craftsmen was completely different from the last time, when Koyozaki warriors put blades to the craftsmen's throats, forcing them with cries and protests! These craftsmen actually seemed to be willing, ready to be exchanged to the Northern Ezo?...

"...Damn! Could it be that this person, who can't handle swords and guns, is not a Great Merchant, but a senior priest of some 'Buddha God'? This means of bewitching people's hearts is just like those long-haired Maya priests?..."

Zuwaro looked Mori no Kiyoshi up and down again. He was a bit apprehensive, couldn't help but look up at the other. Mori no Kiyoshi had already finished chanting the last sutra, and brought the one-armed old craftsman to Zuwaro's presence, introduced respectfully.

"Respected Golden Chief! This is Tietian Zongyi of Mountain City School, a great swordsmith of Good Business Object! He is a renowned great swordsmith who once forged the famous Business Objects sword 'Chiyosaki' for the Hexagonal Clan in Omi! His most proficient technique is the 'Thousand Forging Technique,' a secret passed down for hundreds of years in the Mountain City School!..."

"Although during the Shogunate's two invasions of the Hexagonal Clan, Tietian Zongyi, the grand swordsmith, had his right arm chopped by the looting soldiers and can no longer forge famous blades... but his blacksmithing skills and abilities, even in the talent-rich Capital City, are outstanding! His vision, his experience, his methods in teaching apprentices, are truly those of a master craftsman!"

"What? A grand master in Iron Forging, a genuine senior master? Just this old man with one arm?..."

After listening to Mori no Kiyoshi's high praises, Zuwaro looked at the old craftsman before him with skepticism. The old man was dressed plainly, of short stature, his right arm hung empty, and half his hair was white, uncertain of how many more years he had to live. His old face was full of wrinkles, indeed showing a confidence seldom seen in ordinary craftsmen, but when he saw the "barbarously ferocious" Shandan Great Chief, he couldn't help but shiver all over, his knees going weak.

"Namu Amida Butsu! I am indeed Tietian Zongyi! Even though I've lost one arm... even with just this left arm, I can forge a Jade Steel Good Sword! And as for forging experience, I apprenticed under Great Master Imaizumi Sohaku of Mountain City School at twelve, completed my apprenticeship and established a sign at twenty-four, and now at fifty-two years old... If compared to these forty years of experience, there aren't many in the Capital City who can match me!"

Old Master Tietian Zongyi took a deep breath, struggling to maintain his posture, bowing to Zuwaro. Then, he glanced at the smiling Mori no Kiyoshi, then at the frowning Zuwaro, clasped his hands with his only left hand, and declared loudly.

"Buddha's compassion, self-sacrifice! Today I entrust this old life of mine to the Northern Barbarians... ahem... into your hands, Great Chief! However, my lifetime's experience and skills, for a Buddha offering in return... it must be ten pounds of gold!"

"What?! You want ten pounds of gold? Not for yourself but for this Great Merchant?!"

Zuwaro was once again greatly shocked! Not because the amount of ten pounds of gold is significant, for it is just ten gold talismans... He was shocked to see, for the first time, a rabbit sold by the fox was still asking for money on behalf of the fox! Could this be, finding an old 'Death Warrior,' cooperating to deceive him together?

At this moment, his assessment of Mori no Kiyoshi was elevated once again, bestowing upon him an honorary title from the snowfields and highlands, the cunning "White Fox" among the Japanese!

"Hmm..."

Zuwaro pondered silently. The old craftsman, Tietian Zongyi, was somewhat apprehensive, yet he forced himself to remain composed, waiting for a response from the "Shandan Chief." Having lived to this age, witnessing the many trials of the Capital Region, he was certainly no foolish "rabbit." Other craftsmen might not see clearly, but having sailed all the way here, he saw everything clearly!

In the name of relief, the Tiantai Sect put them on a ship, transporting them from the Capital Region straight to Ezo! And the ship that carried them was full of Monk Soldiers, with several hundred Ezo land warriors involved at the rear; the final trading partners turned out to be the Shandan people, and the trade was for gold!

"Buddha! Transporting and selling people under the guise of relief, collusion between Tiantai Monk Soldiers and local warriors, secret dealings with the Shandan Tribe in Ezo land, trading large amounts of gold!... Which of these isn't a deadly secret?!"

Faced with such a situation, did Tietian Zongyi have a choice? Knowing these secrets, could he still escape? It was impossible! Even for the reputation and face of the Tiantai Sect, they wouldn't let him return to the Capital Region alive! He had no choice, and neither did any of the craftsmen here!

Therefore, he could only be sold like goods to the Shandan people. Accompanying Mori no Kiyoshi in this act of "self-sacrifice," upholding the face of the Tiantai Sect, raising his own value... this wasn't just his only option, but also beneficial for all craftsmen, and for the kin and villagers!

As for now, he wasn't bargaining for Mori no Kiyoshi's price but for his own! The ten pounds of gold for selling himself represented his worth, the higher, the better!

In reality, he had already lost his right arm for blacksmithing and was quite old; relying on one old arm, how could he possibly craft a good sword? But it was impossible for the Shandan people to have him forge a sword on the spot. If it was merely about sharing experiences and methods, then he was indeed a true "Good Business Object Great Swordsmith"! There were very few in the Capital City who could match him!

As for when he arrived at the Shandan Tribe, should they find he couldn't forge... after all, having spent ten pounds of gold, they wouldn't just behead him with a single strike, would they? And if it was about taking apprentices, given his profound experience, as long as the apprentices weren't too foolish, teaching a few skilled in crafting the Jade Steel Blade wouldn't be a problem!

"Hmm... witnessed by the Chief Divine! If you truly possess the skills of a Great Master... not only ten pounds of gold, but even a noble title among the Kingdom Tribe would be rightfully yours... Tie Zhu! Go and inquire, see whether this old craftsman indeed possesses the level of a Great Master!..."

"Yes, Great Chief!"

The Kingdom Blacksmith Matsushita Tetsusuke took a deep breath, bowed his head in salute. Facing this one-armed old man who claimed to be a "Master Swordsmith," he now felt a strong sense of crisis. He must muster his best skills, pose the most difficult questions, and stump this old fellow! Otherwise, once the other arrived at the tribe, his status as an Ironsmith Master might not be secure!...

"Chief Divine's blessing! Master Zongyi, may I ask, what is the most difficult point in the Jade Steel Technique?..."

"Ha! What's difficult in the Jade Steel Technique? It's nothing more than two points! The first point is selecting the iron!... Red Eye Sand Iron is the inferior iron, while True Sand Sand Iron is the superior iron! And the best True Sand Sand Iron all comes from Chuyun country; the color of that iron sand is black or dark gray, and its texture is delicate and even. I can tell at a glance!"

"If the best True Sand Sand Iron isn't available, and only superior Red Eye Sand Iron is at hand, then during the iron smelting process, one needs to burn it an extra day, and the yield of Jade Steel will be reduced. If the iron material is even more inferior, the quality won't reach that of Jade Steel, producing only refined iron close to Jade Steel!"

Seeing the Shandan Chief at first made the old craftsman, Tietian Zongyi, tremble with fear. But upon encountering the "Japanese Ironsmith" that emerged, he immediately straightened his spine. After a few exchanges of words, he discerned the other's level and arrogantly assumed the demeanor of a Good Business Object Great Master guiding the younger generation!

"The second point is iron refining! Build a 'Tatara Furnace', which is five feet high, five feet wide, and eight feet long, equipped with a large bellows. Then, alternating layers of iron sand and charcoal, using the 'Blowing Tatara' furnace iron smelting method, directly produce Jade Steel!"

"As for the specific process... when the iron sand enters the furnace, first blow the bellows to stoke the furnace, increasing the temperature for a full day until it reaches the golden hue with a hint of blue, known as 'yamabuki color', which signifies it's ready! Then, let the yamabuki fire burn continuously for three days and nights, thirty-six hours! Three apprentices take turns to bellows, ensuring the fire color and temperature don't decrease! Every quarter of an hour, stir the molten iron once, allowing it to burn away the charcoal powder. Observe the color of the molten iron, supplement charcoal powder as per experience, and discharge the iron slag from the bottom of the furnace every half day..."

"Until after three days and nights, the furnace fire gradually diminishes, then retrieve the block form of Jade Steel! If its color is silver gray, black, and blue, with a shiny glimmer, then it's accomplished!... With my skills, from every hundred pounds of True Sand Iron Sand, about thirty pounds of Jade Steel can be obtained!"

"And once you have this Jade Steel, employ the Mountain City School's Thousand Forging Method with layers upon layers of forging, combined with the secret techniques of quenching and tempering... let alone an ordinary Jade Steel Blade, even a Famous Sword can be easily achieved! With one strike, it could even hew through more than half of a robust bull!"