Wearing British clothes as a second-generation aristocrat

Chapter 101. The Battle of Cux 8

Chapter 101. The Battle of Cux 8

Upon returning to Cooks, Dugan specifically ordered Ken to find a previously unused warehouse in Cooks Harbor.

In accordance with Hans Ewald's instructions, he also acquired tools such as an anvil, flat-nose pliers, wire cutters, and fine-tooth bending pliers.

The warehouse was further divided by Dugan into four independent areas: a material preparation area, a winding area, a barbed wire making area, and a finished product stacking area, specifically for the mass production of the double-hook barbed wire invented by Hans Ewald.

Under Dugan's directive, all the artisans in Cuxhaven and the surrounding villages who had any connection to iron were gathered here. A total of sixteen blacksmiths and more than thirty auxiliary laborers were all placed under Hans's unified command and control.

So, this ordinary farmer, who used to only repair his own livestock pens in the swamp village, was transformed overnight into a foreman in charge of dozens of people.

At first, many experienced blacksmiths had reservations, feeling that it was absurd to let a country farmer direct them.

But when Hans demonstrated the complete production process in public, explaining in detail the selection of main materials, the angle of the iron spikes, and the bending of the double barbs, all the blacksmiths were completely silenced.

Then, Dugan asked Hans to break down the wire mesh production process into smaller steps.

Some craftsmen were responsible for heating wrought iron wire and drawing it into a longitudinal main line of uniform thickness and a fine iron wire for barbing.

Some people are dedicated to winding thin iron wire and fixing it to two parallel main lines.

Finally, a skilled craftsman used pliers to bend both ends, creating outward-facing double spikes.

"Each step has a designated person in charge, which improves proficiency and speeds up the process," Dugan explained regarding his arrangements.

With this division of labor and collaboration, the entire workforce operates on an assembly line. The output, which was originally only 40 to 50 meters per person per day, has been rapidly increased. In just over an hour, hundreds of meters of barbed wire can be produced, and efficiency has increased several times over.

Everything is ready; the only bottleneck hindering production right now is whether the supply of raw materials is sufficient.

Deken first led a team of fully armed soldiers straight to the Cuxhaven commercial port area.

As a long-established trading port on the North Sea coast, Cuxhaven was once a bustling hub of merchants and warehouses, stockpiling massive amounts of import and export goods. Basic hardware materials like iron wire were always common commodities that merchants kept on hand.

Deken quickly identified his target as August Schulz, the most powerful local Hanoverian businessman.

Schultz's warehouse is stockpiled with a large quantity of iron wire of various specifications, including thick main wires of suitable thickness for fences, as well as thin iron wires for making small hardware accessories, which just meets the production needs of wire mesh.

Upon seeing the military personnel who came to buy wire, businessman Schultz's face instantly lit up with a warm smile, and he was overjoyed.

Previously affected by the French occupation, price fluctuations, and disruptions to shipping, infrastructure construction in Hanover has stagnated in the past two years, and the demand for hardware in the private sector has plummeted.

Von Bock looked embarrassed.

Unwilling to give up, Von Bock gripped the hilt of his knife tightly with both hands again, and with all his might, he slashed horizontally three or four times in succession. In the end, he only managed to cut through a thick iron wire and did not completely cut through the barbed wire.

Von Bock reluctantly sheathed his sword and tried to grip the barbed wire with both hands, but the barbs were spaced very carefully, and Von Bock couldn't use all his fingers to hold the wire, otherwise he would be pricked by the barbs.

However, if only a few fingers hooked onto the barbed wire, no matter how much Von Bock tensed his muscles and pulled to both sides with all his might, the barbed wire remained firmly fixed to the wooden stakes, without moving an inch.

After several attempts, von Bock had to admit that, with only individual strength and without specialized tools like pliers, it would be difficult to quickly destroy the barbed wire in front of him, whether by slashing with swords or pulling with bare hands.

Even after witnessing the strength of the barbed wire firsthand, he did not change his opinion.

Von Bock saluted Dugan: "General, I admit that this barbed wire is difficult for a single soldier to destroy quickly. Even so, soldiers can crawl through the gaps, and cavalry can go around it. It's simply unrealistic to rely on this to stop the main French force."

Dugan glanced around at his subordinates, and without offering any explanation in the face of their doubts, simply smiled faintly: "You think it's useless simply because you don't yet know how to use it correctly."

Dugan said to Colonel Decken, "Tell Hans to keep producing, as much as possible. All the finished products, layer upon layer, are to be laid along the front line of the defenses, in front of the trenches, and between the pits."

"Yes, sir!" Colonel Decken saluted, but then asked in a low voice, "Is it really alright for us to write IOUs to the Hanoverian merchants?"

Dugan remained unconcerned. "This is being carried out strictly in accordance with the law. We've followed the procedures step by step. Whether the War Department pays in the future is no longer our responsibility."