Deepwood Motte, North Bailey.
While the Steel Fist Group went to wash themselves clean, Garon walked briskly toward the workshop near the hill.
This workshop had been specially built by Garon for Maester Beckman.
Ever since Garon beca Lord of Deepwood Motte half a year ago, Maester Beckman had formally sworn fealty to him once again.
From then onward, the two frequently discussed the affairs of Deepwood Motte together.
During that ti, Garon gradually learned that Maester Beckman was a scholar highly proficient in military science and dicine.
He also possessed unusually unique insights regarding weapon research.
In his previous life, Garon had spent countless hours browsing weapon forums and arguing endlessly with people online.
Even before transmigrating, he had once debated whether the Qing composite bow or the English longbow was superior, accumulating a large amount of theoretical knowledge.
Under such circumstances, the two naturally got along very well.
Deepwood Motte was located deep within the Wolfswood, so nearly everyone living there was an excellent archer.
As a result, most of their discussions revolved around bows and arrows.
Through Maester Beckman, Garon learned that the common bow materials across Westeros included yew, weirwood, goldenheart, dragonbone, and several others.
Each material had its own strengths and weaknesses, but among them, the most commonly used were longbows crafted from yew.
The longbows of Westeros were extrely similar to the English longbow from Garon's previous life, possessing excellent range and rapid firing speed.
However, to Garon, who had seen countless famous historical bows in his previous world, even the English longbow still possessed room for further improvent and optimization.
Thus, the idea of improving the longbow was born.
"If the improved longbow succeeds, combined with the natural archers of Deepwood Motte, I'll possess a true trump card."
"When the ti cos to fight the South, recreating England's victory over France won't be impossible."
In the European history of his previous life, England had once defeated France decisively at the Battle of Agincourt through the overwhelming power of longbown, achieving one of history's most famous victories where the weak overca the strong.
It was also one of the greatest monts in the history of English archers.
After recalling that battle, Garon persuaded Maester Beckman to begin researching thods to improve the longbow.
Maester Beckman agreed imdiately.
However, he only requested one condition.
Once the improved bow was completed, he hoped to organize the craftsmanship and theories into written records and send them to the Citadel for publication.
After so consideration, Garon agreed.
Thus, the workshop before him was established.
At that mont, Garon pushed open the workshop door and walked inside.
Instantly, a strong fishy odor assaulted his senses.
Garon swept his gaze across the chaotic workshop and found almost nowhere suitable to step.
Cut logs and half-polished bow staves littered the floor everywhere.
Wooden arrows were scattered randomly throughout the room.
On the workshop's right side stood a large iron pot suspended above a blazing fire by an iron fra.
Maester Beckman stood beside it drenched in sweat, stirring the thick gelatinous substance inside with an iron rod.
Garon quickly walked over.
The closer he approached, the stronger the fishy sll beca.
Leaning over to inspect the pot, he discovered it was filled with fish bladders currently lting into glue under the intense heat.
"Scholar, why not let servants help with this?"
Garon looked toward Maester Beckman and could not help asking.
The scholar was around sixty years old, nearly bald, with only sparse strands of white hair remaining at the sides of his head.
Around his neck hung a Maester's chain forged from iron and silver links.
Garon had repeatedly told him before that strenuous labor such as boiling fish bladders could easily be handled by servants.
But Maester Beckman simply shook his head.
"This concerns a secret process. I feel safer doing it myself."
Then his eyes brightened with excitent.
"My lord, you were correct before. Glue truly can be extracted from fish bladders."
"I conducted earlier experints, and the adhesive strength is even greater than glue boiled from animal hide."
When Beckman and Garon previously discussed composite bows, they had naturally touched upon the use of animal-hide glue for bonding materials together.
Unfortunately, ordinary hide glue perford poorly, resulting in unsatisfactory composite bows.
That was when Garon rembered fish bladder glue.
Its adhesive strength far surpassed ordinary animal glue, and composite bows made using it would certainly exceed traditional longbows.
Thus, Garon deliberately revealed the concept of fish glue to Maester Beckman, successfully arousing the old scholar's curiosity and pushing him toward researching it.
And as expected, Maester Beckman did not disappoint him.
At that mont, Beckman looked overjoyed.
"The earlier fish glue I produced was still immature, yet its adhesive strength already surpassed animal glue."
"Once this latest batch is fully purified and perfected, I believe your idea for the new composite bow can absolutely beco reality!"
"At that ti, when I publish the craftsmanship through the Citadel, the Archmaesters will surely be astonished by my achievent!"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing Beckman laugh loudly, Garon's expression beca slightly strange.
Maester Beckman was excellent in nearly every aspect except for one flaw.
He was excessively enthusiastic about publishing research through the Citadel.
It reminded Garon of graduate students from his previous life obsessively publishing SCI papers and trying desperately to gain recognition even for trivial discoveries.
Still, Garon calmly reminded him once more.
"Scholar, we already discussed this before. If the bow is truly completed, it must not be revealed to anyone for at least three years."
"This concerns the safety of the North."
Maester Beckman continued stirring while laughing.
"My lord, rest assured. I understand the importance of this matter."
"The birth of the new bow will absolutely change the nature of warfare."
"If it becos known too early, the advantage you possess will vanish entirely."
Because Beckman himself was proficient in military science, he naturally understood that the power of the new composite bow far exceeded that of traditional bows.
He also clearly understood Garon's true intentions behind ordering the research.
But since Maester Beckman had already sworn loyalty to Garon, he naturally had no intention of exposing his lord's trump card.
Then Beckman wiped away sweat and reminded him seriously.
"However, my lord, the new bow places extrely high demands on the user."
"You must prepare yourself ntally."
"Among the people outside, I fear at least half would struggle to continuously draw the new bow."
Garon nodded calmly.
"I already have a solution regarding that matter."
He did not elaborate further.
Beckman sensed the aning behind his words and wisely chose not to ask.
Instead, he said, "My lord, the workshop environnt is unpleasant. You should leave first."
"Once the boiling process succeeds, I will imdiately send soone to notify you."
Garon nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Scholar."
Seeing Beckman had nothing further to discuss, Garon turned and began walking out of the workshop.
But just as he reached the doorway, a mory suddenly flashed through his mind.
It was his encounter with the Three-Eyed Raven within Winterfell's godswood.
"Maester Beckman…"
Garon hesitated briefly before turning back toward the puzzled scholar.
"Scholar, how much do you know about the history of House Glover?"
"The history of House Glover?"
Beckman leaned upon the iron rod thoughtfully for a mont.
"The origins of House Glover can be traced all the way back to the Age of the First n."
"What exactly does my lord wish to know?"
Garon's eyes flickered slightly.
"Scholar, have you ever heard any rumors about House Glover making so kind of promise to the old gods?"
Maester Beckman imdiately fell silent.
He remained deep in thought for quite a while.
Only after the crackling sound of burning wood snapped him back to reality did he slowly frown.
"My lord… I do not believe such rumors exist."
Garon asked again to confirm.
"Not even anything remotely similar?"
Seeing Garon's unusual seriousness, Beckman hesitated further.
"Hm… it's difficult to say."
"The history of House Glover stretches back far too long. There are countless scattered stories and records."
"I cannot organize them all imdiately."
Then Beckman slowly proposed,
"How about this, my lord? Once I finish dealing with the fish glue, I'll return to the Maester's tower, search through the records carefully, and report back afterward."
Garon sighed inwardly.
He knew the amount of information inside the Maester's tower was enormous.
Finding such vague historical traces would certainly not be easy.
Thus, he simply shook his head.
"No need."
"I was rely asking casually."
After speaking, Garon turned and walked out of the workshop.
Leaving behind a thoroughly confused Maester Beckman.
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