Chapter 045: The Unsteady Wheels

The soil was first loosened, followed by the digging of a narrow trench to divert river water, instantly transforming the area into a muddy field. However, such mud wasn't yet suitable for brick formation; it required further processing through trampling. Traditionally, if oxen were available, they would be used for trampling; without oxen, humans performed the task. In a novel approach, Luo Chong utilized elephants for this purpose.

Meat-Meat and Grey Mountain, juvenile and playful, found irresistible joy in this muddy endeavor. Frolicking and rolling in the mud, they turned their labor into a delightful game, making it challenging to coax them out, their attachment to the mud rivaling that of wild boars to their wallows. After much effort and the lure of sweet tree roots, they were eventually cleaned up in the river and sent to rest.

Once the elephants completed their task, it was time for humans to take over. The well-trampled mud was packed into molds to form brick embryos which were then left to air dry. The actual brick firing was scheduled for winter, a season of less activity, where the warmth of the brick kiln would provide a cozy respite from the cold, a stark contrast to the harsher conditions of summer brick firing.

The bricks, substantial in size, were destined to reinforce earthen city walls, negating the need for smaller bricks. Yet, progress was slow, not due to the molding of brick embryos but due to the time-consuming process of transporting the mud and formed bricks.

The city's bricks, each measuring 40 centimeters in length and 20 centimeters in height and width, were impressively hefty, weighing approximately thirty to forty pounds each. Transporting such a load, even one brick at a time, was laborious and inefficient, underscoring the need for a more effective transportation solution.

Naturally, this led to the conception of a vehicle, quintessentially characterized by its wheels. Given the current resources, Luo Chong had little choice but to opt for wooden wheels, a concept familiar yet foreign, as his only prior experiences with wheels involved changing tires on cars or tracks on tanks.

Wooden wheels were mostly relics in modern times, often replaced by rubber tires; they were still preserved in places like Great Britain, notably in royal carriages. A wooden wheel typically comprised three parts: the hub, the spokes, and the rim. Luo Chong tackled the creation of these components using traditional techniques, segmenting the wheel's circumference to facilitate bending and binding of the wood, a method observed from crafting barrels.

This initial endeavor led to the creation of a rudimentary cart primarily for transporting mud. It featured a pair of wheels at the front, two legs at the back, and two long handles, resembling contemporary construction carts but entirely crafted from wood. The wheel, though modest in diameter at just 70 centimeters, was made by boring through a solid wooden hub with a heated copper rod, a method devised to expedite the process.

The wheel's rim was fashioned from two bent sections of oak, secured at the seams with U-shaped copper nails, emphasizing durability and a rustic aesthetic. However, this first prototype, though functional, was far from perfect. Its limited number of spokes and narrow hub width meant it wobbled during use, prompting Luo Chong to plan enhancements for future models.

Despite these shortcomings, the villagers were enthusiastic about this new tool, which promised to revolutionize their transport of materials. Yet, Luo Chong remained critical, aware of the cart's primitive construction and the improvements needed to ensure its longevity and efficiency. His experience highlighted the necessity for more spokes to support the wheel's integrity and a broader hub to stabilize the axle, challenges he was determined to address in subsequent iterations.