"The iron core and copper body technology uses steel for the inner layer with low carbon content, iron concentrate for the middle layer to withstand pressure, and copper sleeve for the outer layer to prevent cracking, forming a 'steel frame and iron body' structure. The tube wall is thin, lightweight, and low-cost, which greatly reduces the rate of tube bursting."
Upon hearing Murong Huai's words, the master craftsmen exchanged bewildered glances. They knew about iron and copper, but what was steel...?
"Um, may I ask, Your Highness, what is this steel...?"
Upon hearing this, Murong Huai realized that the Douluo Continent currently lacked chain steel technology, only the ability to purify iron essence. He then provided a brief explanation.
"Hmm... Steel is a metal that is harder than iron and is a type of alloy. I will write down the steel smelting method, as well as the structure of the new cannon barrel and the shell when I get back today. That's all for today."
"Yes, Your Highness."
...,
Upon returning to the Murong residence, Murong Huai immediately immersed himself in his room, drawing blueprints for the new cannon barrel and the detachable structure of the cannon carriage.
It took Murong Huai about an hour to complete the drawing. Next came the method of steel smelting.
"If you want to reduce the carbon content of iron, you can use the frying process to produce steel. This involves heating pig iron to a semi-liquid state and then oxidizing and removing elements such as carbon, silicon, etc., by blowing air or sprinkling in concentrate powder, thereby reducing the carbon content and obtaining steel."
Concentrate powder... and gunpowder also needs appropriate improvements..."
Another hour passed, and Murong Huai finally finished drawing a total of sixty-eight blueprints, including new cannon barrels, shells, explosive shells, steel smelting technology, and so on.
It's good to have a powerful force. All they need to do is draw up the design, and the rest will be done by others. If they can't even make something by looking at the blueprints, then those master craftsmen should just go home.
After finishing everything, Murong Huai put it in a box and said to the door:
"Tuzhen, come in..."
Upon hearing this, Tu Zhen pushed open the door and came in.
"What are your orders, Your Highness?"
"Send these things to the workshop in the west of the city. Apart from a few master craftsmen, no one else is allowed to see them," Murong Huai said, handing the box to Tu Zhen.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Tu Zhen accepted the box, bowed, and turned to leave. Tu Zhen was extremely loyal to the Spirit Hall and would not reveal these things.
Murong Huai yawned, "Finally it's over. It's really not easy for a six-year-old like me. The Spirit Hall would fall apart without me."
After saying that, Murong Huai lay down on the bed to rest. After all, he was only six years old and was still very sleepy.
...,
Two weeks later,
Plains outside Wuhun City.
At this moment, there were several figures on the plain: Murong Huai, Qian Daoliu, two guardian elders, Tu Zhen and two others, more than a dozen craftsmen, and a hundred guards.
The master craftsmen had completed the forging of everything a day earlier, and the Hongyi cannons had been completely revamped.
The gun barrel uses iron core and copper body technology, which not only enhances its sturdiness and greatly reduces the rate of barrel explosion, but also reduces its weight across the board. The wheels of the gun carriage are also covered with leather with a toothed surface, making it easier to move around.
Murong Huai, dressed in a black robe, stood on a high slope, his eyes piercing as he surveyed the three rammed earth walls, eight hundred meters, one thousand meters, and one thousand five hundred meters away, and the three- or four-meter-high targets, each constructed of a dozen or so wooden fences.
These targets were made by craftsmen overnight to test the power of the newly manufactured Hongyi cannons in the workshop.
"Huai'er, let's begin. Let your teacher see the weapon of war you mentioned." Qian Daoliu looked at the Hongyi cannon, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
"Okay, teacher, just you wait and see."
"Load, solid shot!" At Murong Huai's command, a craftsman quickly pushed a perfectly round iron ball into the breech of the first Hongyi cannon.
This solid shot weighs over ten kilograms, with a smooth, mirror-like surface that gleams with a cold, metallic sheen in the sunlight.
Murong Huai held his breath and watched as the dark muzzle suddenly spewed out an orange-red tongue of fire, and the solid shot tore through the air like a meteor, heading straight for the farthest target.
"put!"
Boom! With a deafening roar, the solid shot precisely pierced the target 800 meters away. The target shattered instantly, a two-meter diameter gap was torn in the rammed earth wall, and flying debris rained down. The solid shot did not stop, but continued to fly for dozens of meters before hitting the ground.
"Your Highness, this solid shot is about twice as powerful as the last one," the Lion said, analyzing the power of the shell.
Murong Huai nodded; he was very satisfied with the result.
"That's natural. This new type of shell incorporates steel, which not only increases its hardness but also reduces its weight. The redesign of the gun barrel allows for an effective range of 800 meters and a maximum range of 1,000 meters, and its power is naturally greatly enhanced."
"Good, the power of this cannonball is comparable to a Soul Emperor's strike." Qian Daoliu was somewhat surprised when he first saw this weapon.
"Teacher, this is just the basics. The real power of this cannon is yet to come." Murong Huai smiled and then continued to give orders.
"Loading ammunition, hollow bullets, filling with gunpowder."
The loading process for the second cannon was more cautious. The gunners pushed a hollow projectile covered in sheet metal into the breech. This projectile was filled with gunpowder and its surface was covered with tiny holes. After the fuse was lit...
Boom!!
The hollow-point bullet was ejected from the cannon barrel, traveled a kilometer, and struck the target directly. However, it did not shatter immediately; instead, it tumbled for a full three zhang (approximately 10 meters) beside the rammed earth wall.
Then came a muffled but terrifying roar, followed by a horrific explosion that instantly shattered the entire rammed earth wall into pieces. Chunks of earth spread out in a fan shape, the force of the explosion pulverizing all the surrounding targets.
"Beautiful! Even a mid-level Soul Emperor wouldn't dare underestimate this attack! Well done!"
"The power has increased several times over! Well done..."
"..."
Immediately afterward, Murong Huai continued to give orders, "Prepare for the third round, load the explosive shell."
The loading process for the third cannon was even more complex. Craftsmen used specially made wooden mallets to compact the gunpowder inside the shell. This shell was covered in dents and had an intricate internal structure, capable of splitting into hundreds of curved iron pieces upon explosion.
Murong Huai smelled the sulfur in the air and fixed his gaze on the target 1,500 meters away.
Boom! Unlike the previous two destructive explosions, this one produced a perfect spherical kill, with terrifying blasts spreading outwards and flames and thick smoke shooting straight into the sky.
The earthen wall at the center of the target was blown high into the air by the blast wave, and all the targets within twenty paces were thrown horizontally, with the closest ones even being melted into fly ash by the high temperature.
The hundreds of arc-shaped iron pieces that broke off from the projectile reaped all obstacles like the scythe of death, with the furthest fragments still embedded firmly in the ground seventy paces away.
Looking at the final exploding shell, everyone was filled with shock. The mass destruction of this exploding shell was enough to create a hellish scene when the enemy launched a dense charge.
Qian Daoliu was also unable to calm down at this moment. A terrifying explosion occurred 1,500 meters away, with a power reaching that of a high-level Soul Emperor, even comparable to a Soul Saint, and it was also an area-of-effect attack. His fingers traced the still-warm cannon.
Solid shot delivers precise destruction, hollow shot provides tactical suppression, and explosive shot inflicts mass casualties—these three types of ammunition are like three sharp swords, precisely targeting the needs of soldiers on the battlefield: breaching cities, blocking cavalry, and annihilating the enemy.
The Pope of the Spirit Hall stared at the shattered target in the distance, his heart filled with turmoil.
Behind him, Murong Huai was quite satisfied with the power of the Hongyi Cannon. Such power was sufficient to reach the lethality level of a level six or seven soul tool during the second stage of the Dou Divine Realm. However, soul tools require soul power to use.
But as long as there are enough shells, these Hongyi cannons can fire continuously. Besides, with further development, all sorts of other firearms will emerge in the future, Murong Huai thought to himself.
"Since the Sun Moon Empire of Dou Er is developing soul tools, then I will lead the Spirit Hall to develop firearms and hot weapons, not just the Red Barbarian Cannon, but also guns, grenades, and so on."
Since there's no innovation, then I'll lead the Spirit Hall to usher in the first Industrial Revolution on the Douluo Continent!!!
END of the chapter-----
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