If you traveled back to ancient times, while others ate Guanyin clay, you would actually have giant

To maintain secrecy, these guys actually built a waterwheel inside the arsenal and dug a small ditch to bring river water from outside into the arsenal.

"Truly professional."

Zhou Wu couldn't help but admire the high level of vigilance these people possessed; they truly deserved to be called the imperial craftsmen of the palace, their sense of secrecy was exceptional.

However, once Zhou Wu went inside, he discovered that these people were even more professional.

The waterwheel drives the gears, transmitting power to the drill bit, which drills a hole directly in the fixed barrel. This is much more efficient than manual labor, and since both the barrel and the drill bit are fixed, the success rate is very high.

"Have you calculated how much efficiency can be improved?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, we have now divided everyone into several groups. Some are specifically responsible for drilling, while others are responsible for the production and forging of other parts. The daily drilling output of this water mill is more than double that of our manual labor."

"Okay, that's right. So you mean if we maintain a daily production of one hundred muskets, we'll still have some manpower to spare, right?"

"Yes sir."

Huang Laosan and his group of blacksmiths are now completely convinced of Zhou Wu's abilities. They originally thought that the young Master Zhou knew nothing, but on the contrary, he knows a little about everything.

“Then give me some people; I have a new project.”

Now that the flintlock musket has been built, there is basically no need for technical support for the muskets. Therefore, Zhou Wu wants to set up a technical task force to develop iron field cannons.

"Sir, what new project is it? Count me in."

Upon hearing that Zhou Wu had a new project, Huang Laosan was the first to raise his hand in agreement.

"Okay, pick a few more capable people, and I'll hold a meeting with everyone first to talk about this project."

"Good."

Despite his advanced age, Huang Laosan is now deeply immersed in the passion for weapons development.

. . . . . . .

"Sir, where are we going?"

Instead of holding a meeting at the Firearms Bureau, Zhou Wu led the technical task force selected by Huang Laosan toward the dock.

"Let me show you the new project."

"Look? It's not finished yet, sir. What do you mean by this?"

While everyone was still puzzled, they had already arrived at the dock.

More than ten Bull Demon King-class warships were moored at the dock.

When Huang Laosan and his group set off from the capital to the South China Sea, they also rode the Bull Demon King, but compared to those on the front lines, everyone felt that something was different.

"Sir, this ship seems a little different from the one we took here."

"Take a closer look, are there some extra items?"

With Zhou Wu's guidance, the group finally noticed that there were now some thick metal lumps, as thick as water buckets, on top of the Bull Demon King statue at the dock.

"Indeed, sir. Could it be that this thing is related to our new project?"

"That's right, everyone. This thing is called a cannon. What we see now is called a shipborne cannon, which is specifically used on ships. Because the target of the attack is the hull, the power of the shipborne cannon must be strong, which also makes the shipborne cannon bigger and heavier. Madam Li, fire a shot for everyone to see."

"Yes."

Having made preparations in advance, Madam Lin immediately ordered her subordinates to begin preparations.

"Boom~"

After the deafening roar, everyone looked at the distant target ship, which had shattered into pieces and was floating on the sea.

"This, this... this power is comparable to that of lightning."

The roar of the cannons was like thunder, leaving everyone stunned and unable to recover for a long time. Only after a long while did they look at Zhou Wu with eyes that looked up to a god.

"Gentlemen, now I'll talk about the new project. This new project is the development of one of the new types of artillery: a field gun?"

"Sir, what is a field artillery?"

"I define it as a field gun, which is smaller in size, easier to transport by land, has a wider range of firepower, and can effectively kill the enemy."

"understood."

Because Zhou Wu already had a technological foundation in shipborne artillery in the early stages, he did not start from scratch in the field of artillery. Therefore, after reading these materials, everyone basically has a general understanding of artillery technology.

The first problem to solve now is the material issue: replacing the bronze cannons with iron cannons. Zhou Wu had already tried this before, but to be honest, it was normal for him to fail on his own.

There's a group of people who deal with metal ores all day long; they're definitely better than him alone.

. . . . . . . .

"Madam Li, these muskets are for the Qingyang Army. I would appreciate it if you could send someone to escort them and also arrange for instructors to teach them how to use them effectively."

"Don't worry, my lord."

Lin Niangzi's navy has been fully equipped with flintlock muskets, so any surplus should be given to Niu Er's Qingyang Army.

Everyone in the navy is now proficient in using flintlock muskets. At first, many people were not used to it, but after a period of adjustment, everyone gradually got used to the sound of gunfire.

And they have already started the second phase of practice.

Unlike the army, the navy also needs to be able to skillfully operate flintlock muskets on swaying ships, in addition to the three-stage firing formation used on land.

"A letter has arrived from the capital, Your Excellency."

The newcomer interrupted Zhou Wu and Lin Niang's conversation.

"Give me."

After Zhou Wu received the letter, he realized that two months had passed since the Crown Prince last visited the South China Sea, and this was a letter urging him to hurry up.

"It must have been difficult for His Majesty and the Crown Prince to wait until now to urge us."

The emperor asked the crown prince to write a letter inquiring about the progress of the firearms project. Zhou Wu originally intended to reply, but after thinking about it, he decided to let them see the results with their own eyes, which would be more direct than writing a letter.

"I'd better go myself, since it's a confidential matter."

Zhou Wu led a group of people straight to the capital.

. . . . . . .

The capital city, the imperial palace

"Your Highness, how is the progress of Zhou Wu's firearms project?"

"Father, I believe that although Zhou Wu is lazy, he is very serious when it comes to important matters. He should have already started his research."

"I'm not saying he's been slacking off, but I don't know when this new firearm will be ready, what its effects will be, or whether it will be able to counter the Dazi cavalry."

Li Tiancheng's concerns were not unfounded. Although the Great Dragon Empire had seen significant growth in both grain production and tax revenue in the past two years, the Dazhai cavalry still held a natural advantage in military matters.

After Da Long made money, he also wanted to build an iron cavalry, but he encountered an unsolvable problem right from the start.

There are no suitable warhorses within the territory of Dalong. You must know that if Li Tiancheng wants to build a cavalry, then it is not a small-scale operation like the Zhou Wu Qingyang Army.

Not all horses can serve as cavalry warhorses. The total number of warhorses within the Great Dragon Empire alone is less than a fraction of the number of horses owned by the Dazi.