Chapter 1011

Chapter 1011: Casting Cannons

In Hanhai City, within the military manufacturing camp,

Molten iron, glowing red, cascaded from the refining furnace, its fiery sparks casting a glow on the bronze faces of the workers. The oppressive heat filled the workshop, making each breath a struggle.

Yet, the craftsmen, undeterred, meticulously poured the molten iron into the prepared clay molds before moving on to the next phase of their work.

A robust craftsman, with a bare chest and a broad back, declared in a deep voice, "Lord Wang, I assure you, this time we will succeed in casting. Should we fail, you may have my head!"

Wang Chen responded with a light chuckle, "It’s not that dire."

Following Shangguan Wuji’s submission, he promptly presented the previously drafted cannon blueprints to the military manufacturing camp for casting.

Outside Hanhai Pass, the Yan army amassed, daily erecting new catapults and siege engines. It was evident to all that upon completion, they would launch an attack on the city.

Facing the hundreds of thousands of Yan troops, the fifty thousand strong Hanhai army was significantly outnumbered.

However, the Hanhai army’s strategic defense of the formidable pass provided a considerable advantage, making the Yan army’s strategy clear: to overwhelm the city walls with an array of siege machinery.

Against such a formidable force, the heavy crossbows and catapults within Hanhai Pass were insufficient.

Wang Chen was confident that his "invention" of cannons would leave an indelible mark on the enemy!

Initially, the cannon casting process was fraught with difficulties.

Despite Wang Chen’s provision of blueprints and casting techniques, the first batch of iron cannons was riddled with issues, rendering them unusable.

However, the advanced metallurgical skills of this world and the expertise of the military camp’s craftsmen, under Wang Chen’s direct supervision, led to relentless experimentation and the eventual discovery of the correct casting method.

Once the iron solidified and the clay molds were removed, the cannon was quenched in pine oil, revealing a dark, formidable iron cannon.

This cannon, nearly ten feet in length and weighing several thousand pounds, was crafted entirely from fine iron.

Wang Chen knew that copper was preferable for casting front-loading smoothbore cannons due to its lighter weight and resistance to explosion.

However, Hanhai County was rich in iron ore but scarce in copper, which was produced in insufficient quantities for cannon casting.

Fortunately, the fine iron produced in the military camp was of superior quality.

After the craftsmen finished polishing the cannon’s interior, Wang Chen ordered it to be transported to the military training ground.

The success of this endeavor would be determined by the first few shots fired!

Gunpowder and cannonballs were prepared in advance; the gunpowder, wrapped in silk, was tightly packed into the cannon, followed by the loading of solid cannonballs weighing over ten pounds.

They aimed at dummies positioned hundreds of steps away.

By then, a large crowd of Hanhai soldiers and Yulin Guards had gathered at the training ground, all curious about the cast iron cannon mounted on the carriage, puzzled by Wang Chen’s creation.

Wang Chen chose not to disperse the onlookers, as the introduction of such heavy weaponry could significantly alter the future of warfare and boost the morale of the Hanhai army.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wang Chen personally took a torch and ignited the fuse.

Boom!

With a deafening roar that seemed to shake the very heavens, the cannon’s mouth erupted with a burst of scorching flames, and the round cannonball instantly shot out, speeding towards the dummy formation hundreds of steps away.

The soldiers observing the demonstration were utterly unprepared, many left stunned as if struck by lightning.

In fact, they handled the situation quite well; ordinary people might have lost control out of sheer terror!

But the outcome of this cannon fire left everyone utterly astounded.

A dense formation of dummies was pierced by a straight gap, surrounded by shattered debris, and a large pit appeared on the stone wall behind, with cracks spreading like a spider’s web. A black round iron ball was deeply embedded in it!

Everyone who witnessed this scene felt a shiver run down their spines.

Although the cannonball did not penetrate the stone wall, the training ground’s surrounding wall was built from hard blue basalt—tall, thick, and extremely sturdy. The effect achieved was terrifying.

It was important to note that this was not the attack of a higher-level fighter but the destructive power unleashed by a weapon capable of mass production!

The Hanhai soldiers present were no fools. They immediately thought that if they could set up hundreds of cannons on the walls of Hanhai Pass, then would the hundreds of thousands of Yan army soldiers and numerous siege engines still pose a threat?

Everyone exchanged excited glances, unable to hide their enthusiasm.

"Continue!"

After checking that the cannon showed no cracks or hidden damage, Wang Chen immediately ordered the reloading of ammunition.

Several soldiers clumsily cleaned the cannon’s bore and loaded it with gunpowder and cannonballs again.

This time, Wang Chen instructed them to load grape shot.

Once more, a cannon roared on the training ground.

The rumbling sound called the commander of the Hanhai army, Shangguan Wuji, over.

The sixth-level martial honor fell into a long silence after witnessing the cannon’s power.

His gaze was sharper and more discerning than that of ordinary soldiers.

The cannons forged by Wang Chen posed no threat to someone of Shangguan Wuji’s caliber; he was even confident that he could block cannonballs head-on using his Qi.

The problem was, how many sixth-level martial honors were in the entire region?

Moreover, as long as the materials were sufficient, these cannons could be produced endlessly. If hundreds of cannons fired at Shangguan Wuji alone…

Could he block them all?

Most importantly, these weapons could even be operated by ordinary people!

Realizing the role of cannons in warfare made Shangguan Wuji feel extremely conflicted.

However, he was not an ordinary person and quickly suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He exclaimed, "This iron cannon is indeed a vital tool for city defense. With it, Hanhai Pass is unbreakable!"

"My lord Wang, I have never admired anyone in my life; you are the first!"

In response to the Hanhai army commander’s praise, Wang Chen lightly smiled and said, "General, you flatter me."

A vital tool for city defense?

The cannon was more than just a city defense weapon; it was a battlefield artifact!

But Wang Chen had no intention of revealing this point for now. He instructed the craftsman who had come to test the cannon, "Pass the word down: the military manufacturing camp will begin full-scale production of iron cannons starting today."

"In five days, I want to see at least ten iron cannons set up on the walls!"

The craftsmen in the manufacturing camp immediately knelt on one knee, replying, "As you command!"

"Go ahead."

Wang Chen nodded.

Having only cannons would not be enough; they needed matching gunpowder. He had already provided the formula for gathering materials to manufacture it, but time was running short for Hanhai City.

Wang Chen’s gaze turned toward the distant rolling snow-capped mountains, his thoughts drifting thousands of miles away to the imperial capital.

He wondered if Xi Jun was safe there!