The wedding proceeded smoothly, and there were no further incidents after the procession entered the Duke's mansion.
In the courtyard where the bridal chamber was located, tables were set up, bearing the ancestral tablets of Zhuzi's parents and the ancestral tablets of Hua Niang's parents from her original family.
Fang Er served as the witness, and after the ceremony, the banquet commenced.
Craftsmen from various districts and masters from different guilds came to offer their blessings to Zhuzi.
Even Liu Dacheng, Chai Shao, and Li Xiaogong sent gifts, as everyone knew he was Fang Er's foremost general.
Midway through the feast, Lai Yifa leaned over and whispered into Fang Er's ear, "My lord, the craftsmen you asked me to find have arrived. Would you like to go and see them?"
Fang Er nodded slightly, then apologized to Liu Dacheng before following Lai Yifa to the East Factory courtyard.
Seven people, both men and women, stood in the courtyard.
These individuals had been found by the East Factory from various prefectures and counties. To ensure their dedication, Lai Yifa had also brought their families along.
After introductions, Fang Er explained his requirements to them.
He needed anti-static clothing, which required goldsmiths to create gold thread to be woven into the fabric. The gold thread needed to be of extremely high quality.
This task was most suitable for goldsmiths who worked with gold daily, as they understood best how to process it.
The same applied to weavers; fabric interwoven with gold thread was much more difficult to process than ordinary fabric.
Besides anti-static clothing, there were also carpenters, who were needed to carve the propellant charges.
The propellant charges in rockets needed to be cast into shape first and then baked at low temperatures to solidify.
To maximize the thrust of the rocket, when it first launched, its speed was low and it couldn't generate aerodynamic force. Therefore, the rocket had to accelerate as quickly as possible.
Thus, the lower part of the propellant charge had a petal-like hollow center, which provided a sufficiently large burning surface.
As the rocket accelerated to a certain degree, to conserve fuel, the hollow in the upper part of the propellant charge changed from a petal shape to a circular shape, reducing the burning surface area.
The cast propellant charges would not have perfectly standard shapes, and when such charges burned, there would be deviations from the expected performance, leading to unpredictable consequences.
Therefore, craftsmen were needed to refine the propellant charges to meet the required standards.
Carpenters, who regularly engaged in carving, were undoubtedly the best choice at this moment.
As for painters, their role was to apply color to the rockets.
Rockets were high-precision instruments. If just anyone were to paint the exterior, excessive brushstrokes could lead to droplet-shaped paint spots.
These seemingly small paint spots, when accumulating, could cause deviations in resistance during the rocket's ascent and flight, potentially altering its trajectory.
Similarly, other craftsmen had their respective responsibilities.
After discussing his requirements with them, Fang Er instructed Lai Yifa to escort the others to the workshop area and place them under Liu Eryang's care, keeping only the carpenter.
"What is your name?"
"Replying to my lord, my humble name is Niu Huang. I am from Zheng County, Bian Prefecture." The old carpenter replied, stooping slightly.
Fang Er nodded slightly. He had to admit, his name was indeed auspicious for the task of carving propellant charges.
"I have already explained what you will be doing."
"There are some things I need to tell you in advance."
"Among everyone here, your burden is the heaviest and most dangerous. A single mistake could lead to your complete destruction."
"Of course, high risk also means high reward."
"Your monthly wage will be twenty guan. If an accident occurs, I guarantee prosperity for your family for three generations."
"Consider it. If you feel the work is too dangerous, I can arrange other tasks for you, though the wages will be significantly lower."
"It is better to be upfront about such matters."
The generous monthly salary and Fang Er's promise were enough to alleviate Niu Huang's concerns, allowing him to work with greater boldness.
Likewise, the consequence of potential destruction from a slight oversight would compel him to work with meticulous care.
Boldness and meticulousness were essential for excelling at his work.
After speaking, Fang Er stood aside quietly, awaiting Niu Huang's answer.
A self-mocking smile appeared on Niu Huang's face. "My lord, look at these old bones of mine. Only you would offer such high wages."
"Never mind whether it's dangerous or not. Even if there were no danger, how many more years could I live?"
"With such a high monthly wage and three generations of prosperity within reach, if I didn't accept, it would mean my brain had been kicked by a donkey."
"Since you have shown me such favor, if I don't accept, I would be ungrateful."
"I entrust my life to you. Do as you say. Even if I had to die now, I wouldn't frown, as long as you ensure my paralyzed old mother at home is taken care of."
"Die? Do you think it was easy for me to find you all and bring you back?"
Fang Er glared at Niu Huang as if feigning anger and continued.
"Although the monthly wage is high, it is not given to you immediately. Go to the workshop first and familiarize yourself with the way of working here."
"In a few days, I will tell you specifically how to perform your duties well."
"Yes, my lord, I understand."
Niu Huang nodded repeatedly and was then led by an East Factory guard towards the workshop.