Preface
Ancient swords were once described as "sharpening iron like clay" with magical abilities, but today's knives seem to be unable to do this feat. This begs the question, why ancient knives were so sharp, while modern knives can't achieve the same effect?
So, what is it that makes an ordinary sword "sharpen iron like clay"? is it a peerless weapon made by a master, or does it contain an unknown mystery, or is it just an exaggerated rhetorical device?
1. The dilemma of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty, since its founding, has been an unrivaled power at that time. However, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, a threat from the north plunged the vast empire into an unprecedented crisis.
The Huns, with a mysterious new weapon, inflicted heavy losses on the Han army on the battlefield. The soldiers of the Han army were all terrified, because their iron-clad weapons were like paper paste in front of this divine weapon, and they were broken with a single slash.
This situation made Emperor Wu of Han feel very puzzled and angry. As the most powerful empire at that time, the military power of the Han Dynasty had always been feared by the world, how could it be so helpless in the face of a new weapon?
"How can this be? How can our weapons be so fragile?" Emperor Wu of Han was furious, he could not accept that his army had been routed like this. This humiliation not only dealt a blow to the military deterrent of the Han Dynasty, but also seriously damaged the prestige of the emperor. Therefore, he ordered to send spies to investigate the origin of this magical weapon of the Huns.
The spies followed the line and finally discovered the secret of this divine weapon. It turned out that this peerless weapon that could "sharpen iron like clay" was not developed by the Huns themselves, but obtained from a small country with a little-known name, the Dayue Clan. This undoubtedly shocked Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, because it meant that the Huns had mastered a killer weapon that the Han army could not resist.
2. The secrets of the Otsuki clan
Although the national strength of the Otsuki clan is meager, it has made considerable achievements in iron-smelting technology. They were able to create steel swords of the highest quality and sharpness, and were even able to "sharpen iron like clay". This magical sword-making technique was undoubtedly the most advanced in the world at that time.
However, the fate of the Otsuki clan was not terrible. As a small country, it was unable to resist the invasion of the Xiongnu, so it could only be forced to send this kind of magic weapon to the Xiongnu in order to protect itself. This helpless choice filled the hearts of the king of the Otsuki clan with anger and helplessness. They knew that this kind of magic weapon would be used by the Xiongnu to oppress other countries, but they could not do anything.
This predicament of the Dayue clan also aroused the sympathy of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. As the most powerful empire of the time, the Han Dynasty was naturally capable of protecting this small country from the Xiongnu invasion. As a result, Emperor Wu of Han decided to personally intervene and form an alliance with this small country in order to obtain their secret skills in iron smelting.
3. Zhang Qian's diplomatic feat
In order to achieve this goal, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent the famous ambassador Zhang Qian to the Western Regions. The diplomatic trip was a difficult one. Although the king of the Dayue clan was wary of the strength of the Han Dynasty, after seeing Zhang Qian's sincerity, he finally dispelled his doubts.
With a sincere attitude and thoughtful courtesy, Zhang Qian finally persuaded the king of the Dayue clan. The other party not only agreed to form an alliance with the Han Dynasty, but also personally taught the country's iron-smelting secrets to the craftsmen of the Han Dynasty without reservation. This was undoubtedly a great diplomatic victory, which not only strengthened the military strength of the Han Dynasty, but also laid the foundation for friendly relations between the two sides.
From then on, the relationship between the Great Moon Kingdom and the Han Dynasty became increasingly close. The frequent cultural exchanges and technical cooperation between the two sides have brought the relations between the two countries to an unprecedented height. This was undoubtedly a major change in the international landscape at that time.
Fourth, the evolution of iron and steel technology
Thanks to the teachings of the Dayue clan, the steel process of the Han Dynasty began a earth-shaking change. The craftsmen continued to improve and innovate according to the methods of the Dayue Clan, making the weapons of the Han Dynasty more and more sharp.
During the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, people mainly used bronze to make weapons, which was hard but also brittle. In the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, iron tools began to appear, but the quality of iron at that time was uneven, some were very hard but lacked toughness, and some were good but not hard enough. This continued until around 100 BC, when the technology of making steel really matured.
Steel's combination of hardness and toughness makes it the material of choice for high-quality weapons. But it's not enough to have good materials, it's all about craftsmanship. The craftsmen of the Han Dynasty learned the secret of "warm quenching" from the Otsuki Kingdom, which made the hardness and toughness of the steel sword reach an unprecedented height. In the Song Dynasty, craftsmen raised the quality of steel to a new level.
These technological advances not only greatly enhanced the military strength of the Han Dynasty, but also made the miraculous ability of "sharpening iron like clay" a reality. With this peerless divine weapon, the Han army was finally able to suppress the threat of the Xiongnu and re-establish its military supremacy.
5. Peerless soldiers in the Ming and Qing dynasties
Time flies and comes to the Ming and Qing dynasties. In these turbulent times, warlords of all stripes fought endlessly, and the demand for high-quality weapons became increasingly urgent. To meet this need, craftsmen during the Ming and Qing dynasties created a new sword-making process in which different types of steel were repeatedly folded and mixed, thus pushing the sharpness of weapons to unprecedented heights.
With this kind of craftsmanship, they were finally able to create those legendary "iron as clay" peerless magic weapons. These swords are invincible on the battlefield and have become the coveted treasures of countless warlords.
The manufacturing process of these peerless divine weapons can be described as a persistent pursuit of perfection. Experimenting and innovating, the craftsmen finally found a way to bring out the best in steel. They repeatedly folded and mixed different types of steel, and through this complex process, the hardness and toughness of the weapon were raised to an unprecedented level.
This quest for perfection is reflected not only in the craftsmanship of sword-making, but also in the attention to detail that the craftsmen pay attention to. They sharpen their blades over and over again to ensure that every inch is of the highest standard. Only in this way can we create a peerless divine soldier who can truly "sharpen iron like clay".
Sixth, the challenges of modern science and technology
However, this myth of "cutting iron like clay" has gradually lost its halo under the impact of modern technology. Today, mechanized production has led to a significant increase in the quality standards of steel, and high-quality steel has become more popular. In this case, it is difficult for even the sharpest sword to achieve the point of truly "sharpening iron like clay".
The root of this change lies in the progress of modern science and technology. With the continuous development of metallurgical technology, the quality of steel has reached unprecedented heights. Even ordinary swords are made of materials that far surpass those of the best weapons in ancient times. This means that even the most elaborate ancient divine weapons can hardly show the magical ability to "sharpen iron like clay" in modern times.
However, this does not mean that the ancient phrase "sharpening iron like clay" is an exaggerated rhetorical device. On the contrary, it is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients, the highest praise for the level of craftsmanship of the time. At that time, being able to make such a sharp weapon was undoubtedly a remarkable achievement.
Behind this achievement is the persistent pursuit of perfection by the craftsmen. They continued to improve their processes and innovate their technologies to finally find a way to harness the full potential of steel. This desire for perfection is the embodiment of human wisdom and a spirit that we should always learn and pass on.
epilogue
Advances in science and technology will eventually obsolete all the old. However, those peerless soldiers should not be forgotten, they bear witness to the process of human relentless pursuit, and demonstrate the craftsman's dedication to perfection.
This pursuit has not disappeared because of the changes of the times, on the contrary, it has existed in our lives in a completely new form. Today, we have more advanced manufacturing technology and are able to make better products.
That dedication to perfection will always be with the footsteps of mankind and inspire us to keep moving forward. Only in this way can we maintain our due creativity and competitiveness in a rapidly changing world and become the leader of the times.