Chapter 96: 97 Grey Ash

Chapter 96, 97. Ash Soil

In the wooden cabin’s parlor, Juvet opened the linen sack set aside, revealing the soil within.

“Lord, this is the ash soil you ordered us to bring back.”

Ronin knelt down, prying open the sack’s mouth, examining the soil inside.

He noticed it was not truly gray, but a pale gray-white, existing in small clumps.

He pinched a fragment between thumb and forefinger; with slight pressure, it crumbled. He rubbed it gently between his fingers—fine as powder, the particles minuscule.

Ronin was no geologist, nor had he studied such matters, yet he could still sense this soil was profoundly unusual.

“How much of this soil exists in Ash Soil Village?”

Juvet replied, “Lord, when I filled the sacks, there was so much it felt as if half the mountain was made of this earth. The locals say people once ate it to stave off hunger. But after those who consumed it swelled up, unable to defecate, and suffocated to death, no one dared touch it again.”

Kaolin?

Ronin naturally thought of the word.

But instantly, another term replaced it—his eyes flashed with sudden recognition. “Could this be… kaolin?”

“Wilson, bring me a bowl of water,” Ronin ordered urgently.

Wilson sensed the urgency in his voice and dashed into the kitchen, returning with a ceramic bowl filled with water.

Ronin scooped a handful of the ash soil and spread it on the ground, then poured a little water over it, stirring gently.

Soon, the soil—once dry and non-sticky—began to cling to his fingers, its fine texture becoming unmistakably pronounced.

“This is surely kaolin!”

Ronin was both astonished and elated.

Kaolin was a non-metallic mineral; the purer it was, the whiter and finer it became, possessing excellent plasticity and fire resistance.

In Chinese history, it was precisely because kaolin was discovered and masterfully utilized that porcelain, the pride of the civilized world, came into being.

If they could produce porcelain…

Ronin’s mind stirred with possibility.

In this world, noble tableware and vessels were mostly made of silver—silver goblets, silver cutlery. Some nobles used glass or crystal, but neither had been widely adopted.

As for porcelain? It likely had never existed here at all.

Not to mention the kiln temperatures required—1,200°C—far beyond anyone’s reach. Otherwise, wrought iron wouldn’t have remained unknown.

The bellows he’d fashioned in Timber Town now seemed not only useful for metal smelting, but for firing ceramics as well.

Of course, bellows were merely auxiliary. Producing porcelain demanded other critical steps: processing kaolin into clay, throwing pots, carving patterns, glazing, firing—all challenges to be explored and solved.

If these could be overcome, Timber Town could produce porcelain.

Ronin sighed inwardly, amazed. He never imagined that in the northern reaches of Mount Wu, he would gather iron, silk, and porcelain—all three—within a single domain.

This land had granted him more surprises than he dared hope for.

“Setting aside practical difficulties for now, if we can firmly master these three, especially porcelain, our future is assured.”

With these raw materials and the knowledge in his mind, Ronin already had a preliminary vision of what lay ahead.

“Tomorrow at dawn, Juvet, we depart for Ash Soil Village.”

This time, Ronin’s purpose was no longer merely to meet his subjects—he intended to survey the scale of the kaolin deposit.

“As for you, Wilson, this matter is temporarily concluded. Take two guards and return to Timber Town. Oversee the village heads and group leaders as they learn the new farming techniques.”

Ronin added, “Also, ensure the serfs and tenant farmers observe and study these methods. If everyone masters them, we can send some to these three new villages to teach others.”

Ronin favored a method of dissemination: first, empower a few; then let them lead the many.

“I understand, my lord!”

Wilson memorized his lord’s orders. He felt his burden growing heavier, yet his status rising correspondingly.

At least, the number of village heads and group leaders under him would keep increasing.

“My lord, Commander Riedal also asked me to deliver one more item.”

Juvet reached for a second linen sack resting beside the chair; it clinked softly.

“When we arrived in Ash Soil Village, we took control of Slein and Mamm’s women. The commander placed them, like the others, to continue laboring for you. And this sack contains the wealth of Slein and Mamm—he instructed me to hand it over to you.”

“Oh?”

Ronin took it with a smile, curious. “How much?”

Wilson grinned. “Commander Riedal counted it himself, my lord. Mamm’s fortune was modest—six gold, twelve silver, ninety-eight copper. But Slein’s holdings were substantial: thirty-six gold, forty-eight silver, five hundred thirty-nine copper!”

“Additionally, Slein’s warehouse held five knightly swords, one shield, and a suit of chainmail.”

“Also, it is said the cultivated fields in Ash Soil Village exceed two thousand three hundred mu, and the granaries are filled with autumn wheat—exact quantities still unconfirmed.”

Ronin was taken aback. “Slein certainly lived like a wealthy chieftain.”

While the slain Sir Willie’s savings amounted to only eight gold coins, Slein’s fortune totaled over forty.

And the cultivated land here far surpassed that of Green Bamboo and Purple Fruit. No wonder he was the strongest among the three allied tribes.

How much did Horn and Jennie have stashed away?

Too bad they surrendered without resistance—he couldn’t just seize their private wealth.

But Purple Fruit was the weakest of the three. Surely, they had little to speak of.

Ronin snapped his thoughts back. Obsessing over his subordinates’ personal wealth was no mark of a good leader.

“Juvet, tell Riedal to inform everyone: given the flawless victory of this campaign, every militiaman from Timber Town shall receive three copper coins; every guard, five copper coins. Other professionals—including you, Wilson—shall receive an extra week’s wages, disbursed with next month’s salary.”

Money—he had taken the lion’s share. He must share some, to please his men, especially after a victory.

Those guards and militiamen may not have fought, but their roles in capturing subjects, securing control, and patrolling were indispensable.

Ronin’s grand reward, all told, amounted to perhaps five or six gold coins—barely enough to distribute the gold he’d taken from Sir Willie.

Wilson and Juvet exchanged glances, both seeing joy in each other’s eyes.

“My lord, you are a ruler of perfect justice!”

“Thank you, my lord, for your generosity!”

(End of Chapter)