Chapter 413: The Unsuccessful Blossom Shell

"Hmm, then once the official model is ready, start mass production. I hope to have two hundred cannons by next year."

At the testing field, Xiao Ming patted Chen Qi on the shoulder.

Then he asked, "Can these powder containers withstand the explosion force? Won’t the clay pots shatter?"

Strictly speaking, the Tiger Cannon is like a modern mortar. Its real power comes from explosive shells. That is why the powder container combined with the Tiger Cannon can show true power, since the powder container itself is like a blossom shell.

The only problem is the timing of the powder container explosion is hard to control. Last time when using powder containers to attack a city, many exploded too early or too late on the Shanhai pass city wall. Some even failed to explode.

According to Niu Ben, at that time, having half of the powder containers explode on the wall was considered good.

Because of this instability, the original blossom shells were not favored by the army. Especially on warships, these timed shells were like ticking bombs.

If stored improperly, they could blow themselves up.

"Your Highness, I forgot to mention this. The powder containers cannot withstand the explosion power, so the workshop made hollow iron balls," Chen Qi said.

He pointed to a craftsman who took an iron ball from a wooden box and handed it to Xiao Ming.

Seeing the iron ball the size of a baby’s head, Xiao Ming laughed. This was the original blossom shell, called a timed bomb in the West and known as the lost blossom shell of the Ming Dynasty.

This blossom shell was an iron ball with a fuse inserted inside. The gunner cut the fuse shorter or longer according to the distance to control the explosion time. Like the powder container, it was unstable.

This primitive blossom shell was rarely used in Western armies, making up only about one tenth of their ammunition.

"Not bad, not bad, but the explosion timing is unstable, right?" Xiao Ming said with a smile.

He was not angry, but happy. No matter what, this was a blossom shell. For the workshop, it was progress. With this foundation, they could continue to develop the next generation.

Xiao Ming’s words made Chen Qi look ashamed. "Your Highness, one reason we keep experimenting with the Tiger Cannon is the problem of shell explosions. I found firing these shells with the Tiger Cannon is dangerous. It’s even less safe than using a catapult, because the gunpowder ignites the fuse inside the barrel once it explodes."

"You could try inserting a hollow wooden tube in the fuse hole, putting a slow-burning fuse inside it, and adjust the burning length by turning a wooden plug. This would be safer than stuffing the fuse directly into the fuse hole," Xiao Ming said.

Before the invention of the modern fuse, this was the only way to improve the safety and usability of blossom shells. The problem was that gunpowder in the barrel ignited the fuse near the shell, making it very dangerous.

Putting a hollow wooden plug, adjustable by rotation, could control the burning length of the fuse and make the shell more stable.

But this blossom shell was still far from the level of the 19th century Napoleonic shells. It could only be called a one and a half generation blossom shell.

"Yes, yes, how could I be so stupid," Chen Qi said excitedly, pacing back and forth. "Your Highness, I will study this wooden plug shell right away."

Xiao Ming nodded and did not disturb Chen Qi anymore. He knew once Chen Qi found a new idea, he would work day and night, ignoring everything else. Talking to him now was like talking to a wooden block.

After seeing the Tiger Cannon, Xiao Ming did not leave immediately but went to the artillery workshop, where craftsmen were busy producing cannons.

Because the demand for exported cannons was huge this year, the number of iron molds in the workshop had tripled, working day and night nonstop.

At the same time, two other kinds of molds also increased three times. One was for the city defense cannons Qingzhou was using, the other for ship cannons.

This year, galley ships needed many cannons, and the production of ship cannons was in full swing. The newly added twelve galleys needed at least a thousand cannons. This was a heavy task for the workshop and a huge expense for the treasury.

A thousand cannons, even if each cost 2,000 taels, meant two million taels of silver, not counting ammunition costs.

Not managing the business, one would not realize how expensive everyday goods were. Xiao Ming deeply felt the pain of “cutting flesh” now.

That was why he decisively ordered a defensive stance against the barbarians. They couldn’t keep fighting like this because the economic gains from fighting the barbarians were too little. The war would drag him down.

Because of money, he also sold arms. Without selling arms, where would he get money to make cannons and guns?

Walking past the artillery workshop, Xiao Ming decided to keep expanding the sales of export cannons domestically, and the export of matchlock guns should also be promoted. It was not easy for the workshop to make a profit.

Leaving the artillery workshop, Xiao Ming entered the firearm workshop where Song Changping was supervising matchlock production.

Inside, some craftsmen were assembling matchlock guns. Song Changping reacted fast; the order had just been given and was already underway.

"Your Highness, these matchlock guns are very simple. Five thousand guns can be delivered in two months," Song Changping said confidently.

Xiao Ming picked up a finished matchlock gun to inspect it. These guns had no bayonets, only barrels, much less advanced than flintlocks.

Compared to cannon profits, matchlock guns were even more profitable. So Xiao Ming attached great importance to their export.

He said, "Now the firearm workshop has business. You can consider expanding production like the artillery workshop. Each gun model can have a part of the workshop focused on producing it so the work won’t get mixed up."

Song Changping nodded, "Yes, Your Highness. I will arrange this soon."

Xiao Ming continued, "Production is one thing, but don’t neglect research on new gun models. Chen Qi has the Tiger Cannon, so you must work hard to improve flintlock range and accuracy."

"Your Highness, my team is already researching new guns. I believe soon you will see more powerful flintlocks," Song Changping said.

Looking at the busy workshop, Xiao Ming gave an approving glance to Song Changping. This man was always honest. If he said he was researching, then he really was.