Chapter 202: Rifling

To achieve good airtightness, the caliber of rifled bullets was often made equal to or even slightly larger than the bore diameter, making loading extremely laborious.

It often required hammering the ramrod with a mallet to push the bullet into place, which frequently led to the dangerous bursting of the barrel. The Minié ball, however, was different.

The diameter of the conical bullet was slightly smaller than the bore diameter. The base of the bullet had a conical hollow, plugged with a wooden stopper. Upon firing, the gas pressure forced the stopper into the hollow, expanding the base of the bullet to grip the rifling tightly. This sealed the gap between the bullet and the barrel, preventing gas leakage while imparting high-speed spin to the bullet under the pressure of the rifling.

This solved both the problems of rapid loading and airtightness simultaneously.

Using the Mana Crystal Shaping spell, Minié-style lead bullets could be produced quickly. Lead bullets have a low melting point and are toxic, making them the most lethal ammunition.

Ace looked at the 300 finished rifled flintlock muskets with satisfaction in his eyes. This was the power of Magic, and this was the power of science. When the two combined, weapons far surpassing the technological level of the era could be created.

Based on the same theory, Ace created steel-barreled rifled cannons, which need not be elaborated on here.

It is worth mentioning that the greatest advantage of the steel-barreled rifled cannon is its powerful penetration. Paired with Minié-style cannonballs suitable for artillery, it becomes a powerful armor-piercing shell. Even a powerful low-level Monster would likely be crippled if not killed by a single shot.

Ace made a total of 30 rifled cannons. Looking at these freshly made muskets and cannons, he muttered to himself with satisfaction:

“From this moment on, the terrifying power of the monster known as gunpowder will be unleashed, and mortals will also have the power to protect themselves!”

A month passed in the blink of an eye. The territory’s water storage dam, aqueducts, water towers, and water supply and drainage pipeline networks were completed.

It was mid-autumn. At noon, the sun scorched the earth. On the flat marble central square, all the residents of Nightlight City had gathered. In the center of the square was a large fountain made of pure white marble.

This was the completion ceremony for the three-month water storage, supply, and drainage project. All Wizard Apprentices and residents in Nightlight City were summoned here.

Ace wore a black Wizard robe, the hexagram badge shining brightly in the sun. Under the scorching sun, he should have been sweating profusely, but not a single drop of sweat appeared.

Having completed the initial magification of his body and soul, he was hardly affected by cold or heat. In other words, he possessed a physical talent similar to heat and cold resistance.

He looked around at the crowd and cast the Lesser Spell Amplification on himself. His magnetic voice spread to every corner of the square:

“Today is a lucky day. A few days ago, we just completed the harvest of the farmland north of Nightlight City. We achieved an unimaginable bumper harvest, and the two major granaries in the city are full!

Here, I thank all the territory residents present and absent, thank everyone for their hard work over the past year. Now is the time for us to celebrate and enjoy.

I can proudly announce that we no longer need to tighten our belts. As long as the Work Points meet the standard, everyone can eat their fill!”

As Ace finished speaking, the residents present began to cheer from the bottom of their hearts. Being able to eat one’s fill consistently sounds easy, but in reality, many residents had lived hand-to-mouth since birth. Only now did they begin to feel a tangible sense of belonging to the territory.

After a year of effort, the barbarian-born Freemen had undergone huge changes in hairstyles, clothing, language, habits, and other aspects. Unlike other city-states, the budding of a unique humanistic culture of the High Tower Territory had appeared. Coupled with the expectation of being well-fed, in another generation, or twenty years, a brand-new culture and a brand-new people would form here!

“We not only want to eat our fill, but we also want to eat safely and richly!

The territory farm has begun planning for planting vegetables and fruits. Not long ago, we also discovered high-quality pasture grass and are planting it in large quantities. In the next few years, we will raise and graze a large number of cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, chickens, ducks, and fish.

In the future, your dining tables will not only have white bread but also roasted lamb legs, roasted suckling pigs, and steamed fish. As long as everyone unites closely around the High Tower Wizard collective, life will only get better!

Just a few months ago, we encountered a huge flash flood. Nightlight City was almost completely submerged. Thanks to the Wizard Apprentices present who cast spells, we were saved. I propose that everyone give a warm round of applause to the Wizard Apprentices present!”

Even without using any mental influence spells, Ace’s powerful mental power spontaneously infected everyone. They recalled the scene of being saved by the Wizard Apprentices when the flash flood came, and the scene of Ace and others killing Monsters when the farmland was attacked. After a moment of silence, thunderous applause erupted.

After a long while, Ace pressed his hands down several times before the crowd finally stopped. Listening to the crowd’s chirping low discussions, envying supernatural power, being grateful to the Wizard Apprentices, and longing to become Wizard Apprentices, Ace felt that this was the social atmosphere he wanted to create.

He continued with satisfaction: “To thoroughly solve the impact of flash floods, and for the daily water use and drainage of everyone present, we used the great power of Magic to build a giant dam fifty meters high in the west of the valley!

With it, we no longer need to be troubled by flash floods, nor worry about irrigation during dry periods.

In addition, we used the power of Magic to build four arched aqueducts, four water storage towers, dozens of distribution towers, and a countless network of water supply and drainage pipelines. From today on, we can use the sweet water of the River of Luminous Light without leaving our homes!

This is the power of Magic. Magic is the primary productive force. Magic is the primary driving force. Magic accelerates production. Magic changes life!”

Shortly after Ace’s voice fell, the four water storage towers began over-pressured water supply. In a short while, the large fountain behind him began to spray water automatically. The trial water supply of the entire pipeline network project was successful!

Only with excessive water supply can there be sufficient water pressure. The excess water supply was used to clean every block in the morning and evening, then carrying the mud and dirt, it flowed into the lower reaches of the river along the developed underground drainage network.

After a year, this city with Citizens, Reserve Citizens, Freemen, and a small number of Sin-bearing Slaves was finally built. The entire city was guarded by city walls eight meters high. Inside the city were crisscrossing paved straight roads and orderly stone buildings. On the farm north of the city, straw from the bumper harvest was concentrated for composting, and vegetable and fruit plantations were being reclaimed.

Across the river, a large amount of pasture grass seeds were sown by workers. Wizard Apprentices used Lesser Nourishment spells to moisten the grass seeds and accelerate their growth. This would be the future pasture.

Two wide paved avenues connected the western dam and the northern mining area to Nightlight City. This was not just a large town, but a thriving city. All it lacked was a larger population.

In the initial stage, Ace did not plan to conquer a large number of barbarians. Even as slaves, a certain base of civilized population was needed to better assimilate them.

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