Amidst scattered gunshots, the target in the middle of the shooting range gained more and more bullet holes.
After checking the number of bullet holes, the artisan told Song Changping the result.
“Not bad, two more shots than the flintlock gun.” Chen Qi stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the shooting results. Today, he and Song Changping were both testing new weapons.
Song Changping nodded in satisfaction. To compare the difference between the percussion cap gun and the flintlock gun, he specifically transferred two elite soldiers from the Qingzhou Army.
After testing, this batch of manufactured percussion cap guns had a faster firing rate, and after the drenching experiment, they could guarantee a higher firing rate than flintlock guns.
“These two extra shots are enough to change a war”.
Song Changping let out a light breath. He had worked tirelessly for more than two months on this percussion cap gun. Now, the first batch of 6,000 percussion cap rifled muskets had been produced and could officially be equipped to the army.
With the skilled use of steam engine lathes and the two newly built production lines, manufacturing gun barrels and rifling was now very simple.
Firearm production moved away from cumbersome traditional processes and directly into the assembly of parts, greatly increasing the speed of firearm production.
This was also why a batch of percussion cap guns could be produced so quickly after their development, and they could have manufactured more if not for the scarcity of materials.
However, in view of this, the Grand Council had now issued an order that the firearms equipped by the Great Yu Empire army would be returned to the military workshop in batches for modification, to reduce the production cost of firearms.
These firearms, besides flintlock guns without rifling, also included matchlock guns captured from each battle. Of course, unqualified gun barrels still needed to be returned to the steel workshop for remelting.
Chen Qi rubbed his temples. “I just don’t think these two extra shots make much difference. On the contrary, continuously innovating weapons will add a considerable burden to the imperial treasury”.
“Two extra shots are enough to change a war. We cannot stop innovating weapons just because it’s wasteful. We might be lazy, but the enemy’s firearms are constantly improving,” Song Changping said. “Currently, the Great Yu Empire is only fighting Goryeo and the Golden Tent Khanate. If we fight the Dutch, with the same number of troops, we might not gain much advantage, but with new weapons, it’s different.” Song Changping retorted.
Chen Qi said, “The battlefield primarily relies on artillery. Short-term battles mainly rely on artillery’s long range to disrupt enemy formations. The musket formation is just for a single shot in battle. Is that true?”
Song Changping’s face flushed. Chen Qi’s words left him unable to refute. He was right; during this period, the Great Yu Empire army mainly relied on artillery, and the musketeers had not fully utilized their role.
However, recalling the recent Battle of Haigucheng, he said, “But in this Battle of Haigucheng, Ye Qingyun used rifled muskets to suppress the barbarian artillery, which shows that the range of rifled muskets can already threaten artillery. If your artillery doesn’t increase its range, it will also be eliminated by firearms in the future”.
After a pause, Song Changping continued, “And now firearms have more powerful gunpowder. The range of rifled muskets can now reach 900 meters”.
Chen Qi’s mouth formed an “o” shape. “Song Changping, you must be bragging. How can a musket’s range reach 900 meters?”
With a light chuckle, Song Changping said, “Yesterday, we tested the percussion cap rifled musket with smokeless gunpowder, and the effect was astonishing. A 900-meter range, with guaranteed accuracy within 500 meters. I sent someone to look for you then, but you didn’t come”.
Chen Qi suddenly remembered. Indeed, Song Changping had looked for him yesterday. At that time, he was discussing rifled cannons with the artisans and didn’t have time to pay attention.
“Are you planning to make artillery withdraw from the battlefield?” Chen Qi said with a wry smile. “But fortunately, rifled cannons are making progress now”.
Song Changping fiddled with a paper cartridge. This cartridge contained smokeless gunpowder and a conical projectile. Relying on the rifled musket, the power of the firearm had increased significantly.
Chen Qi mentioned rifled cannons, and he suddenly became interested. He said, “Didn’t your rifled cannons always have no progress?”
“Not before, but His Majesty personally sent me a blueprint, so this matter is no longer difficult”.
Chen Qi shook his head. “Previously, rifled cannons always had artisans load from the front, and the rifling would quickly wear smooth from the shells. It wasn’t until I saw the blueprint given by His Majesty that I understood that rifled cannons should be loaded from the breech. So I am now researching breech-loading artillery”.
Song Changping couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this. “People eat with their mouths; who eats with their butt…”
At this point, he suddenly stopped laughing, his expression strange. He knew very well that cannons and firearms were actually similar in principle. Now, the Emperor’s intention in giving Chen Qi this blueprint seemed not simple. Could this also be telling him that if it worked for cannons, it could also work for firearms?
Thinking of this, Song Changping stopped chatting with Chen Qi and took the new firearm directly to the temporary palace.
After being announced, he met Xiao Ming.
“Is this the percussion cap rifled musket?” Xiao Ming said with interest, taking the firearm from Song Changping’s hand.
In fact, after Song Changping’s experiment, he had obtained the data for this firearm: a 900-meter range, with guaranteed accuracy within 500 meters.
And this data finally reached the standard of contemporary Minié rifles. Reaching this point was truly difficult. For him, firearms had also opened a new chapter.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Song Changping looked triumphant. This new firearm comprehensively surpassed the previous rifled flintlock guns in both range and firing rate, and there was no worry about misfires due to rain.
Nodding excitedly, Xiao Ming smiled. He wasn’t surprised that Song Changping produced this firearm, because Qingzhou Province’s industrial standards were now capable of producing this type of firearm.
Such a small modification to a rifled flintlock gun was simple.
“Now that the Great Yu Empire is surrounded by foreign enemies, the emergence of this firearm is very timely.” Xiao Ming fiddled with the firearm. He mused, “How about naming this model of firearm the Conqueror Musket?”
“Conqueror Musket?” Song Changping said, “Does Your Majesty intend to use this firearm to deal with the barbarians?”
“That’s right. The Golden Tent Khanate is always a major threat in the north. Until now, the Great Yu Empire could only adopt a defensive stance. Now, with this long-range firearm, dealing with barbarian cavalry will be easier. For the next two or three years, the military machinery department will focus on modifying and manufacturing this type of firearm. When the Great Yu Empire’s national strength recovers, I will lead the army on a northern expedition!” Xiao Ming clenched his fists.
Only by eliminating the border troubles in the north could he confidently participate in the Age of Discovery. Otherwise, the barbarians would constantly tie down most of his troops, which would make him very uncomfortable.
The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my at /c/caleredhair
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