usatvline Chapter 475 Successful Artillery Test Firing
Chapter 475 Successful Artillery Test Firing
"Good!" Ying Zheng slammed his hand on the table, his eyes shining with admiration. "As you said, prepare for the military parade. Issue the order to have Meng Tian, Wang Jian, and other generals come to the palace immediately to discuss the matter."
With Ying Zheng's order, Xianyang City sprang into action. News of the military parade preparations quickly spread throughout the streets and alleys, and the people discussed it animatedly, anticipating the grand spectacle. Meanwhile, Qin's generals, upon receiving their orders, rushed to the Xianyang Palace.
When Meng Tian, Wang Jian, and others entered Zhangtai Palace, their faces were full of doubt. They were initially taken aback when they learned of the planned military parade, but quickly grasped its significance. As seasoned generals, they naturally understood the importance of a military parade in demonstrating national power and deterring enemy nations.
With Ying Wuyou's involvement, preparations for the Qin military parade proceeded in a tense but orderly manner. They meticulously selected the parade ground, planned the parade procedures, and rigorously trained the soldiers participating in the parade. From the soldiers' marching formations to the display of weapons and equipment, every detail was repeatedly considered and rehearsed.
At the same time, Ying Wuyou was also working on the production of the cannon.
In the dense forest at the northern foot of Mount Li on the outskirts of Xianyang, a troop of armored soldiers moved silently through the morning mist. Ying Wuyou wrapped his black cloak tighter around himself, his fingertips tracing several sheets of paper hidden in his sleeve, on which were densely covered with the improved gunpowder formula.
Since proposing the strategy of using a military parade to intimidate the six nations, she has turned her attention to a longer-term plan—artillery, a powerful weapon that could completely rewrite the rules of war.
"Princess, we've reached the outer perimeter of the workshop," Zhou Xun, the commander of the personal guards, whispered. Ying Wuyou looked up and could faintly hear the clanging of iron forging from within the three-zhang-high rammed earth wall. This workshop, converted from an old iron mine, was now heavily fortified by the Qin army's elite troops, making it difficult even for birds to cross.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the pungent smell of sulfur mixed with charcoal assaulted the senses. More than twenty craftsmen were gathered around a long table, the copper pot bubbling with a strange purple glow from the saltpeter solution. The man at the head of the group was none other than Xu Fu, who carefully added bits of charcoal to the solution with both hands.
"Mr. Xu, how's the progress?" Ying Wuyou stepped forward quickly. Xu Fu turned around upon hearing the voice, surprised for a moment: "Reporting to the princess, according to your suggested ratio of 'one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, and three parts charcoal,' the test explosion was successful yesterday!" He lifted the straw mat, revealing the deep crater blasted into the ground, with scorched soil at the edges still emitting wisps of smoke.
Ying Wuyou crouched down, picking up the remaining powder with his fingertips. Although the explosive power was far less than that of later cannons, it was still a groundbreaking breakthrough. However, the pungent smell of sulfur made him frown—such a strong odor, even deep within the underground workshop, could easily be detected by a sharp-nosed spies.
"Stop the open flames immediately!" Ying Wuyou suddenly ordered. "From today onwards, all material proportions must be made in sealed earthenware jars, and the vents must be covered with water-soaked linen!" The craftsmen looked at each other, but Xu Fu seemed thoughtful: "Is the princess worried about the odor leaking out?"
“Not only that.” Ying Wuyou unfolded several sheets of paper, on which were drawn nested workshop structure diagrams. “From raw material mining to finished product casting, it must be divided into five independent processes, with each workshop only responsible for a single link. All craftsmen sign a life-or-death contract, and their families move into the military reclamation camp, claiming to be laborers building the imperial mausoleum.”
Zhou Xun gasped, "Princess, managing such a large number of personnel would require at least five hundred elite troops..."
“Five hundred is not enough, add another three hundred secret guards.” Ying Wuyou’s expression was stern. “If the news leaks, not only will the artillery plan fail, but the six kingdoms will definitely launch a joint counterattack. Remember, those who leak secrets will have their entire family executed.”
As night fell, Ying Wuyou was still busy in his study. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the unfinished blueprints for a bronze cannon on his desk. These blueprints, designed to resemble the Red-Clad Cannon, required helical rifling to be engraved on the inner wall of the barrel, and provisions for a touch port and trunnions at the breech. But what truly worried Ying Wuyou was how to ensure the cannon could withstand the impact of an explosion, given the limitations of bronze casting technology.
Ying Wuyou racked her brains for a long time, but still couldn't come up with a proper solution. Helpless, she could only put these annoying worries aside for the time being. After quickly washing up, she climbed into bed as usual and went to sleep early.
The next day, as dawn broke, Ying Wuyou got up early and quickly got ready, preparing to head to the workshop in Lishan.
As soon as Ying Wuyou stepped out of the gates of Chaohua Palace, she saw Zhou Xun hurrying over from beside the carriage. When he got closer and saw Ying Wuyou, he quickly lowered his voice and said, "Princess, someone requests an audience."
Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou was surprised. Following Zhou Xun's gaze, she saw a middle-aged man standing not far from her carriage. Ying Wuyou looked closely and quickly recognized him. It turned out that he was Li Cang, the Junior Chamberlain in charge of the iron industry in Qin.
At this moment, Li Cang was carrying a wooden box in his arms. The box looked quite heavy, and the contents inside must have been quite substantial. When Ying Wuyou's gaze fell on the box, Li Cang seemed to notice her stare, so he quickly jogged over to meet her.
When he was just a step away from Ying Wuyou, Li Cang stopped and said respectfully, "Princess, this is fine iron transported from Bashu. It has been forged thirty times according to your requirements."
Li Cang opened the wooden box, revealing a gleaming iron block with an unusual bluish-purple sheen. "However... such a waste of manpower and resources, if the Left Chancellor and the Censor find out..."
Ying Wuyou picked up the iron block and examined it carefully: "Everything will come to light during the military parade, so Lord Li need not worry."
Next, the workshop entered a period of even stricter secrecy. The craftsmen were required to work blindfolded, raw materials were transported in sealed earthenware jars, and even the daily waste was to be sunk into the Wei River. Ying Wuyou was stationed at the workshop, personally supervising every step of the process. When the first completed bronze short cannon was slowly pushed out, everyone in the workshop held their breath.
The cannon had a streamlined shape, with cloud and thunder patterns engraved on its surface to conceal the rifling. A fine bronze percussion cap was inlaid at the breech. Xu Fu tremblingly loaded the gunpowder and put in the ceramic projectiles, after which the group retreated a hundred paces away.
"Light it!" With the command, the tinderbox lit the fuse. After a brief silence, a deafening roar tore through the night sky! The projectile flew out like a meteor, crashing heavily into the earthen wall three hundred paces away, blasting a gap more than ten feet wide.
Ying Wuyou clenched his fists, his heart pounding like a drum. While its power couldn't match that of later cannons, it was enough to blast open the gates of any city. However, his joy was fleeting—the sound was so immense that it could be heard for miles around.
"Prepare twenty cowhide drums immediately, and fire them all at the same time during the next cannon test!" Ying Wuyou decided decisively. "Starting tomorrow, a five-mile radius around the workshop will be designated a restricted area. Anyone who approaches will be killed on sight!"
Everyone responded in unison, indicating that they understood.