Chapter 440: Zhenguan Tang: Frontline Cannon Barrel Moves Five Centimeters to the Left?

"Brother Chen, is this the new gunpowder weapon you mentioned?"

Li Tai took a stack of diagrams from Chen Yan's hand, examined them carefully, then frowned and asked.

It looks like a burning stick—could this be the new beginning?

Chen Yan said nothing and brought out a large crate from a corner of the workshop.

Li Tai leaned over curiously.

"Brother Chen, what is this?"

In fact, Chen Yan prized this workshop; even Li Lizhi and the others rarely entered. Only Gao Yang, who was not shy, slipped in a few times out of curiosity, but lost interest when he found nothing.

Li Tai, of course, had never been here; today was his first time.

"This is my past failed result; since the third year of Zhenguan, I've been researching this weapon, but unfortunately I failed."

"Take it; perhaps it will give you some inspiration."

As he spoke, he opened the crate, which was filled with guns of varying lengths—or rather, firearms.

Chen Yan wasn't joking; ever since he time‑traveled here, he wanted to make a gun for self‑defense, since lives are cheap in this era.

Alas, he overestimated himself; even after more than two years of effort, he still failed.

The difficulties were considerable: for example, the old iron‑forging techniques were inadequate to produce a proper barrel, and precise drilling and airtightness were also major issues.

Even damn ordinary gunpowder wouldn't work; the powder must be granulated to guarantee power.

The forging technique is easy to improve, as it is now; the others are not.

That is why Chen Yan gave up.

Li Tai took a short firearm from the crate, examined it up and down, left and right, and simultaneously asked Chen Yan various questions about firearms.

The latter answered each question patiently.

After a while, the two sat down; Li Tai toyed with the firearm, thoughtful, and said, "So, the principle of a firearm is simple: it uses gunpowder combustion to generate explosive force, which propels the projectile to kill the enemy?"

"...... Your understanding is fine," Chen Yan said after pondering, "In fact, it's the same principle as when we put iron shards or other sharp objects into explosives."

"However, the shrapnel from exploding explosives flies uncontrolled, whereas a firearm uses a barrel to direct the projectile."

"Got it," Li Tai muttered to himself, not knowing what he was murmuring.

At this moment, Chen Yan brought out from the cabinet an iron pipe fitted with a fire door, supported by a stand.

"This is a fire‑door gun, the original concept behind firearms."

"I've already succeeded in making a fire‑door gun, but it's too bulky and its firing direction is hard to control, so its usefulness is limited. Yet I think it may inspire you more."

Li Tai hurried over, and Chen Yan explained the principle beside him; the former grasped it instantly.

Unlike firearms, the fire‑door gun is quite simple; even if Chen Yan didn't produce a finished piece, just telling Li Tai the principle would allow him to make one quickly.

But this device has one great aspect: the fire‑door gun is the earliest firearm, and because it existed, firearms gradually emerged, eventually leading to true guns of later ages.

Li Tai crouched, examined the fire‑door gun, stroked his chin for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Brother Chen, why must we be fixated on firearms? I feel your fire‑door gun has a better rationale."

"If we make the barrel longer and larger, and switch to a material like bronze, we could fire nothing but explosives, or huge stone or iron projectiles—wouldn't that work?"

"Isn't that more powerful than a firearm?"

Li Tai seemed to have hit a bright spot, growing more excited as he spoke, "In that case, a larger, thicker barrel would endure greater explosive shock, meaning the attack range would also increase."

"If we could launch several hundred meters in one go using explosives, what about portability? Bringing it onto the battlefield would make it a perfect artifact."

"In future damn wars, we could just push our fire‑door gun ahead and bomb everything flat, right?"

"When we meet a mountain, bomb the mountain; when we meet a city, bomb the city!"

Chen Yan:?

"Isn't it...?"

He stared dumbfounded at Li Tai, whose face flushed with excitement, his mind buzzing.

Isn't this damn a cannon?

The young master was still pondering a gun, and you jumped straight to a cannon?

Prince Wei provides technical support, the Duke of Wei commands the overall strategy, tactical leadership!

Zhenguan Tang, the front‑line cannon barrel shifts five centimeters left?

Brilliant!

Sss!

Chen Yan inhaled a cold breath.

Thinking it over carefully... maybe, perhaps, possibly... no problem!

Why not just go straight to the cannon?

Isn't the damn cannon far easier to make than a firearm?

"Wait! Wait!"

Chen Yan rubbed his head, thought for a moment, and finally came to his senses.

He almost got taken in by Prince Wei; previously he intended to make a gun for self‑defense, so he never considered a high‑power cannon, and thus subconsciously missed it.

However, at present, the cost‑performance of making a cannon far exceeds that of a firearm.

"What are you waiting for?" Prince Wei, not knowing his thoughts, tightened his heart upon hearing "wait."

"No, nothing." Chen Yan waved his hand, then said seriously, "I think what you said makes sense, Prince Wei, you truly are a natural talent; as I said before, it's true—you've been purely delayed by the throne."

"Right?"

Prince Wei smiled, "I also think I was previously incited by petty people to vie for the throne; now I realize that science is far better than a throne."

"Of course, thanks to Brother Chen for helping me escape the suffering."

Chen Yan: "......"

He didn't dare to continue the topic, instead he asked: "What do you think, Prince Wei? Now do you believe or not believe that the appearance of gunpowder heralds the end of the cold weapon era?"

In the future, who on the battlefield will still be fighting with blades, damn it!

Chen brother, I have never not believed you! Prince Wei said solemnly, "Since you told me about the hot air balloon that day, I have never doubted your words!"

However, what you said is indeed correct; I feel my idea is very promising.

Well...... I won't tell you anymore, I've taken these things and the drawings, Chen brother, I will certainly not disappoint you, striving to produce the firearm as soon as possible!

Saying that, he impatiently closed the box and hurried away.

Chen Yan hurriedly grabbed him, speaking earnestly: "Prince Wei, I do not deny your idea, and I also acknowledge that the power of cannons.... firearms is greater than that of guns."

You just said you believe me, so are you willing to believe me again?

Is there even a need to say? I definitely believe you! Li Tai said instinctively.

All right! Chen Yan nodded relievedly, "Since you believe me, then believe me once more: the firearm must be perfected, and the gun must absolutely not be abandoned."

Its future is absolutely not limited to what I have described to you!