Chapter 1082

More importantly, these Master Jianong cannons, because they had been neglected for years and possibly affected by moisture—even though they had clearly been maintained properly before—still exploded the moment they fired during the Moon Eclipse Night, wounding quite a few of his soldiers.

"Lin Cheng, what you don't know is that these Master Jianong cannons are actually very old imperial cannons. Five years ago, the Ministry of Works already announced it would no longer develop Master Jianong cannons, let alone be responsible for their follow-up. If you want to modify this batch of cannons, I can agree to it."

"As for modifying the cannons, I'll do my best to give it a try." Compared to repair, Lin Cheng still preferred modification. He also had the silhouettes of many modern weapons in his mind, and if he modified them, he would inevitably modify the cannon's form along with it.

He just didn't know which one would be better to choose. A cannonball cannon? Or a handheld rocket launcher?

"Mm, all the required materials and relevant personnel, I will have someone prepare them for you."

"I need heat-resistant materials, and as much basic metal as possible."

"That works. Tomorrow I'll have someone deliver them to the armory. It's getting late today, so let's head back first. I've had people prepare the best restaurant rooms for you."

"We'll just stay at the military camp. It's closer and more convenient."

Lord Xuan Wuji agreed immediately.

He had originally expected Lin Cheng to be rather fussy about food and lodging, but he hadn't expected him to be so down-to-earth. This was far better than those noble sons who came to his place every year to leech off him.

In the evening, after Lin Cheng and Qianhui ate a lavish dinner at the military camp, they were arranged to stay in a single tent for two.

The armory was not far away, which indeed made it convenient for them to go back and forth.

On the other side.

Lord Xuan Wuji was composing a letter in his own residence. First, a report to Your Majesty, requesting permission to modify the empire's heavy catapults, explaining the full circumstances of the incident. He felt Your Majesty would most likely agree, since this was a good thing after all. Second was his initial impression and personality analysis of Lin Cheng. The current Lin Cheng was still just a youth who didn't quite understand the ways of the world, and indeed needed to see more of the world.

Previously, Dongfang Hong had let the name Lin Cheng appear before the empire's high officials for the first time, but it hadn't drawn much attention—after all, every year there were simply too many such talents recommended by the various city lords. Now, his letter would inevitably deepen the impression of Lin Cheng's name in the eyes of those important figures.

As for whether the empire's high officials would actually value Lin Cheng, he didn't know.

All he could do was this much. The current internal situation of the empire was too chaotic.

When it came to hammers and other tools, they began the dismantling work on the heavy catapults one after another. There were a total of twenty heavy catapults in the armory. Even if they dismantled half of them, a preliminary estimate of the materials could manufacture fifteen new-style Xiangyang cannon catapults.

The catapult work was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Lin Cheng also threw himself into the research of the Master Jianong cannons. The Master Jianong cannons were different from catapults—whether in principle or complexity, they were several times that of catapults. Moreover, the storage place needed to be very dry. Once affected by moisture, whether the cannonballs or the cannons themselves, accidents were extremely likely to occur. In his memory, there were also a great many types of modern and contemporary cannons, with great variations in power. To be precise, depending on the environment and battlefield, the roles the cannons extended into were also different.

For example, close-combat handheld shotgun cannons, operated by humans, firing lethal lead-pellet shot at the enemy; siege-type giant siege cannons, with a bore exceeding 800mm in diameter, powerful but with short range; long-barreled cannons, different from the Master Jianong cannons that evolved from siege cannons.......

There were also naval shipboard Master Jianong cannons, but the Eternal Night Legion belonged to the army and didn't need shipboard Master Jianong cannons.

"As for the specific design..."

For Lin Cheng, it was no small hassle. The design drawings he sketched out one after another—even though they were merely rough drafts—he still found fault with them time and again.

Master Jianong cannons were a product of the modern era, while catapults were a product of ancient times. The otherworld truly lived up to its name as an otherworld—every kind of war weapon was complex and backward.

If one absolutely had to say something, then in the ancient era on the continent, the prevailing magitech was indeed super-modern magitech.

The combination of magic and technology was irresistible, endlessly fascinating.

Magic claimed to make the impossible possible, while technology could greatly enhance efficiency.

Magitech could both make the impossible possible and greatly enhance the efficiency of doing things.

"Aaaargh, so indecisive." As Lin Cheng drew and drew, his hand unconsciously sketched out a giant mecha, a product of magitech.

In the ancient era it was called a magic puppet; interpreted through mechanical arts, it would be a war weapon's automaton. But this automaton had absolutely nothing to do with the Master Jianong cannon he wanted to improve. Helpless, he could only crumple it into a ball and toss it aside. As luck would have it, this paper ball happened to hit Qianhui, who was drawing beside him, right on the head.

She was drawing two stick figures living happily together, but this paper ball caused her to make an erroneous stroke, ruining the entire drawing.

Crack—the pen broke.