Chapter 147: Casting Artillery

The rooster crowed three times.

The sky was still dim when Wang Ying sat up from his bed.

His wife, Wang Shi, was startled awake and glanced at him. "Why so early today?"

"His Highness has returned from Shanggu Commandery. Yesterday, he sent word for me to go to the Armory early, saying there is something new to develop." Wang Ying rubbed his eyes and yawned, but his voice was full of excitement.

"Then I will warm up some porridge for you; eat it and go. His Highness's affairs cannot be delayed. That we can afford a courtyard in Yancheng now is all thanks to His Highness's appreciation for you." Wang Shi put on her clothes and rose.

When Wang Ying was down on his luck, he had not changed his clothes for five years, always patching them again and again.

She had thought they would live in such poverty for a lifetime, never expecting her husband to have the simple luck of the simple-minded, gaining the appreciation of Yan Wang and becoming an official in the blink of an eye.

After eating the porridge, Wang Ying straightened his official robes and was about to leave when a dark shadow blocked the doorway.

"Father, take me to see His Highness too. Even serving tea and water for His Highness would be fine," the shadow said.

"Stay aside. Does His Highness lack someone like you to serve tea and water?" Wang Ying rebuked him angrily.

The shadow was none other than his son, Wang Chong.

"Husband, just take him with you. Chong'er is not young anymore; it is time to let him go out and do something," Wang Shi pleaded.

Wang Ying frowned. His son, Wang Chong, had traveled far and wide with him since childhood, and through constant exposure, he did not care for the classics and histories, instead favoring various crafts.

Since Yan Wang took control of Yan Commandery, even children of humble families had the possibility of studying to become officials, so he had made his son study to become an official in the future.

But Wang Chong's nature was hard to change, and he kept clamoring to go to the Armory.

Having despaired of the path of Wang Chong studying to become an official, he sighed and said, "Let's go. I will beg His Highness this time to see if I can secure a menial job for you at the Armory; otherwise, you will find it hard to even take a wife."

The father and son arrived at the Armory.

At the entrance of the office, he saw guards from the Prince's Mansion standing there.

He hurriedly led Wang Chong inside.

"Your Highness, this official is guilty; I am late." Wang Ying's face was full of shame.

Zhao Xu was sitting in the seat Wang Ying usually occupied.

He raised his head and smiled, "It is not that you are late, but that I arrived early. It is fine; I took the opportunity to inspect the Armory."

Then, he glanced at the youth beside Wang Ying.

Seeing that his features were somewhat similar to Wang Ying's, he understood; he knew Wang Ying had a son, seventeen this year, who had not yet married.

"Commoner Wang Chong pays respects to Your Highness." Seeing Zhao Xu staring at him, Wang Chong immediately bowed.

"No need for formalities." Zhao Xu looked Wang Chong up and down.

Wang Ying hurriedly said, "Today, when this official came to the Armory, my son insisted on coming along. Because he has been clamoring to serve Your Highness, I agreed; it would be good to keep him at the Armory to do odd jobs."

"Your Highness, who among the young and strong in Yan Commandery does not wish to serve Your Highness? This commoner has followed my father in his travels since childhood and has seen all kinds of crafts. If Your Highness does not mind, this commoner is willing to contribute his efforts."

"Oh, is that so?" Zhao Xu laughed.

In ancient times, a son inheriting his father's profession was a very common thing.

Wang Chong's words were not empty boasting.

Nodding, he said, "Since that is the case, you may stay by your father's side and assist him."

"

"Many thanks, Your Highness." Wang Chong was overjoyed, and Wang Ying also revealed a smile.

"Your Highness mentioned today that there is something new to develop; I wonder what it is?" Wang Ying remembered the main business.

Zhao Xu pointed to the drawings on the table and said, "It is this: Artillery!"

"Artillery!" Wang Ying and Wang Chong looked at the drawing.

Wang Chong said, "Why does this look a bit like a Firearm?"

"The principle is similar, but the power is vastly different," Zhao Xu said. "A Firearm can only shoot a Stone Bullet a hundred meters, while Artillery can launch an Iron Ball three or four li, or even further."

Wang Ying and Wang Chong were dumbfounded upon hearing this; this simply exceeded their imagination.

"If it is truly as Your Highness says, wouldn't one shot turn the enemy into a pulp?" Wang Ying said.

Zhao Xu nodded noncommittally, "I came today to teach you the technique for making Artillery; you must oversee its development."

Having said that, he flipped to the next page, which depicted a technical diagram.

The technical diagram was also annotated with text, which Zhao Xu had written in his own language to ensure Wang Ying understood as much as possible.

"Iron Mold Casting Method!" Wang Ying read aloud.

Then he continued reading, "The method of Iron Mold Casting: according to the size of the Artillery, divide it into four to seven sections. First, make a Mud Cannon, and according to the number of sections of the Mud Cannon, make the iron molds. Divide each section of the mud model into two halves, use a wooden board to shape the inner surface to make it smooth and regular, then dry it for later use.

Place a pre-made handle inside the mud model so that it becomes integrated with the iron mold during casting.

When using the mud model to cast the iron mold, place the muzzle section upside down on a mud-made flat board, fill one half with mud, and after drying, cover it with the mud-made flat board, tighten the mold, and after pouring, the first section of the iron mold is obtained."

While reading, Wang Ying nodded.

With these texts paired with the drawings, he gradually understood the key points.

Wang Chong said, "Your Highness, isn't this just making an Artillery out of mud first, and then using the mud cannon to cast an iron mold in reverse? Farm tools are made this way."

Zhao Xu nodded upon hearing this; the iron mold was not a new invention, as the ancients had long mastered it.

The Iron Mold Casting Method simply utilized this type of mold to achieve low-cost, mass production of Artillery.

This method was invented during the late Qing Dynasty by an official named Gong Zhenlin.

He had participated in the Opium War, and feeling the strength of the foreign powers' ships and cannons during the war, he painstakingly researched this method of cannon-making.

However, the Qing court at that time was not only corrupt, but its technology was also quite limited.

They still used pig iron to make cannons; although the output of cannons increased, the quality did not, and they often exploded.

This also led to this cannon-making technique not being valued.

Now, he had brought this method out.

This way, he could produce Artillery at a low cost and in large quantities.

Moreover, since the Armament Bureau has already mastered the technique of refining liquid steel, it is entirely possible to use steel to manufacture Artillery.

After all, liquid steel technology only appeared in the eighteenth century and matured in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, after which it was used on a large scale to manufacture guns and Artillery.

Although his Crucible Steelmaking Method can only be called rudimentary and has a low output, it is sufficient for his needs.

In the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, the primary material for Artillery was iron; iron is hard but lacks toughness, and its drawback is that it easily bursts its barrel.

Therefore, many countries at that time chose to use bronze.

Bronze has good toughness, and the Artillery made from it is very reliable.

But its drawback is that it is expensive.

Steel, however, avoids these two drawbacks, being both inexpensive and having good toughness.

"Since that is the case, this Viscount will wait for your iron molds," Zhao Xu said to Wang Chong.

Wang Ying's temperament is somewhat introverted and dull, but Wang Chong seems to have the opposite personality to his father.

For him, it is good to have a young person in the Armament Bureau.

They can liven up the atmosphere and also serve as a reserve of talent.

"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Ying said.

The two of them, father and son, had previously personally made clay molds and other such things.

This thing is not unfamiliar to them.

Zhao Xu nodded and then remembered one more thing.

He called Wang Chong over again and whispered a few words in his ear.

"Can it really be done this way?" Wang Chong was delighted.

"Do you dare? This could be very dangerous," Zhao Xu laughed.

Wang Chong patted his chest, "Your Highness, just leave it to me."