NOVPUBUpon hearing Tilipi’s analysis and inference, Xiulote looked surprised. He gazed at the true master caster, affirming the other in his heart for the first time.
From countless transmigration novels of the future, Xiulote knew that the biggest problem with early cannon casting was the inadequacy of the clay models used.
The clay models for the cannons had high requirements for moisture, soil, and casting craftsmanship. The models were made of compressed clay, whose internal moisture was hard to dry thoroughly. During the casting process, the steam inside the clay model would heat up and evaporate, creating a honeycomb-like pattern of holes in the barrel, causing the cannon to leak air or even explode when fired. Therefore, the moisture inside the clay model needed to dry naturally. As the size of the cannons increased, so did the drying time, stretching from several months to half a year. If it was a particularly humid rainy season, the drying time would have to be extended even further.
"Tilipi, your thoughts are quite good! The past few months have been a rainy season with abundant rainfall, and the air is moist; the clay models need to dry longer. The issues with the trial-produced cannons are your responsibility, but they are forgivable! Now it is the drier September, and the rainy season will end with the harvest in October... I will give you another four months’ time to complete this batch of Divine Eagle Cannons!"
Upon hearing this, Tilipi sighed in relief. Chalape’s face also showed joy. The two exchanged glances and knelt down to perform a ritual salute simultaneously.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your leniency! Your magnanimity is like the boundless Great Lake..."
"Continue, finish explaining the process!"
Tilipi stood up, walked to the front of the bronze furnace, and continued his explanation.
"Your Majesty, once the clay model of the barrel is completed, we can start up the furnace, melt the bronze for the cannon casting. You see, by the outlet at the bottom of this furnace, there is a deep pit in the ground intended for placing the clay model. We position the cannon’s clay model with its intake opening facing up, placed in this pit..."
As Tilipi spoke, he motioned with his hand. Two apprentice craftsmen carefully placed the cannon’s clay model into the pit, barrel opening up.
"Next, fill up the pit, then use clay to create a conduit connecting the furnace’s outlet to the clay model’s intake opening, guiding the molten bronze into it... This step must also control the fire properly, the flow rate of molten bronze should not be too fast to avoid displacing the core inside the clay model... Then wait until the bronze inside the clay model naturally cools down, then excavate the clay model from the ground, and finally break it open to retrieve the cannon..."
Xiulote listened patiently to the cannon casting process, recalling several half-understood terms and fragments in his mind.
"Natural cooling... I seem to remember a term in cannon casting called ’water cooling self-tightening’. This should involve making the core’s model hollow, filling it with water, causing the barrel to cool and contract from the inside out, greatly improving quality... No, the clay model cannot have water poured into its hollow; that must be the iron mold.
Iron mold... The clay model is disposable, needing to be broken open to retrieve the cannon. The surface of the iron mold is much smoother, can be reused, and has almost no water vapor or sand holes. Iron mold water cooling is the big secret for transmigrator’s cannon casting!... Hm, iron molds are relatively easy, the metallurgical technology by the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties should be sufficient. Yet, water cooling requires a very high level of technology, probably only achievable in modern times. And most critically... I still don’t have any iron."
Xiulote shook his head. He contemplated the cannon casting process in his mind for a moment, then instructed.
"Tilipi, remember my words! Other than increasing the drying time of the clay molds and polishing the inner walls of the barrels, the body of the Divine Eagle Cannon can also be thickened again, the bronze usage increased from 250 jin to 300 jin! Once the casting is complete, if there are no leaks, add five copper hoops to reinforce the body! A qualified bronze cannon must also be fitted with claw nails and copper trips for stabilization during firing!"
Bertade had already drawn out notes on inner polishing, thickening the barrel, five copper hoops, and stabilizing fixtures, then handed the drawings to Chalape. Chalape smiled gratefully, and the Head Warrior also responded with a gentle smile.
After finishing the essential points of the process, Xiulote paused to reflect, and a phrase he remembered surfaced in his mind.
"Clay model casting, cast ten to get two or three, then one can be called a master!"
Although he did not know which era this saying came from, the size of the cannons it referred to, whether it referred to bronze or iron cannons, it still gave insight into the difficulty of cannon casting. For the American civilization at this stage, early exploration into cannon casting could only rely on sufficient quantity to randomly meet quality standards.
With this thought in mind, Xiulote resolved to issue an order solemnly.
"Chalape, Tilipi, heed the command!"
At these familiar words, Chalape’s knees trembled, and he knelt to the ground again with his clan brother.
"Drying the clay mold requires time. In these few days, you all must work harder and make the clay molds for 40 Divine Eagle Cannons!"
Upon hearing this, Tilipi’s body trembled, and he looked at the King before him, asking in shock,
"Your Majesty, 40 Divine Eagle Cannon clay molds! That’s 300 jin of bronze each, totaling 12,000 jin! Plus another 48,000 jin for casting Copper Armor, that’s 60,000 jin of bronze! The bronze stockpiled in the warehouse over years still doesn’t even reach half this amount, and this hasn’t even taken into account the large consumption of bronze farming tools..."
"Tilipi, this is a Royal Decree!"
Xiulote interrupted the Master Caster, sternly rebuking him.
"You just do your best! As for the bronze ore, I will start resolving that matter soon, it won’t delay the Workshop’s production!"
The Workshop instantly fell silent, everyone bowed their heads, following the will of the King.
"Tilipi, for the 40 Divine Eagle Cannons clay molds, if you can successfully produce 5 usable ones, you will be deemed qualified! If you can produce 10, I will promote you to a military noble, making two nobles from the Metal Family!"
The King said indifferently, then his expression turned stern.
"If by next February, you haven’t produced even 5 qualified Divine Eagle Cannons... then prepare to face the Alliance’s military law and sacrifice yourself to the Chief Divine!"
Hearing the King’s command, Tilipi first showed a look of joy, but then sweat began to bead on his forehead. He knelt on the ground, and after quite a while, he began to speak with difficulty.
"Your Majesty, I obey your command, willingly serving you to the death!"
"Hmm, good!"
Xiulote watched for a moment, then slowly nodded. Next, he looked at the kneeling master Craftsmen before him, his expression was extremely serious, and his words left no room for defiance.
"Chalape, Tilipi, your task is heavy! I am giving you another hundred captured Coppersmiths from Ihuatzio City! These four hundred Coppersmiths will arrive within two days. The two hundred Samurai escorting them will be stationed around the Workshop to tightly ensure your safety."
Of course, the so-called stationing also had other implications. After taking on the Bronze Cannon project, the Bronze Workshop became the most secretive military location in the Fief, and also the most critical place in all of America!
"Starting today, the area of the Bronze Workshop will be expanded, the workforce increased, and an additional wall will be built. All Craftsmen will be incorporated into the Kingdom Legion, under military law governance! Without permission, no one is allowed to leave the craftsman’s camp even by half a step!"
"Tilipi, Cannon Casting is linked to the future of the Alliance, as well as the survival of the entire world… You carry the heavy burden bestowed by the divinities, and need to invest all your energy, focused solely on research. If you can continuously improve in Cannon Casting, I promise you the fortune of a hereditary nobility!"
The King’s voice became gentler. He gently patted the Master Caster’s shoulder, his face again showing a smile that made the other tremble.
"The Divine Eagle Cannon clay mold requires four months to dry. During this period, you need more practice and experiments. Here is another cannon blueprint for you to study. This cannon is only 40 centimeters long, with a bore of 4 centimeters, and an outer diameter just over 10 centimeters. It is short, light, and thin, weighing only a quarter of the Divine Eagle Cannon, with an estimated dry time of just one month for the clay mold, which is much easier than the Divine Eagle Cannon... Give you two months, and produce the first prototype cannon!"
"Ah... I obey your command. Your Majesty, what shall we call this type of cannon?"
"Hmm, the Alliance has Eagle Warriors and Tiger Warriors. Eagle Warriors belong to the Sun God’s Legion, Tiger Warriors to the Rain Divine’s Legion. Since we have the Sun Divine Eagle Cannon, let’s name this cannon the Rain God Tiger Squat Cannon!"
