I'm not a lord

Chapter 343 Opening a new era
Lynn's idea was undoubtedly advanced; mounting artillery on ships would inevitably change the war landscape in the North and even the entire continent.

But when he actually put it into practice, he realized how difficult it was.

In late September, Lynn conducted several shipborne artillery experiments on Golden Deer Lake and received a lot of negative feedback from the craftsmen and crew.

"Sir, if we want to move this bronze mortar onto the ship, the hull and deck will have to be extensively modified. As you just saw, the mortar will damage the deck when it fires, and if it is not securely fixed, it may even crash into the other side of the ship!"

Although these crew members were not familiar with the laws of mechanics, they could all see with the naked eye the damage the reaction force of the cannons was causing to the ship's hull.

The solution to this problem is quite simple: first, thicken the deck by adding one or two more layers of solid oak planks.

Secondly, it is necessary to make a special sliding gun mount for the cannon, so that the cannon can slide along a fixed track when it recoils, reducing the damage to the ship's hull caused by the reaction force.

At the same time, wooden ropes, sandbags and other cushioning pads should be added to the bottom and sides of the gun carriage.

After conducting an on-site inspection, Lynn immediately took the time to draw up the relevant blueprints and, with reference to the ship's design drawings, added a new functional area to the hull: an ammunition storage room.

If this were placed in a normal time and space, with the wisdom of the ancients, these problems could certainly be solved through the accumulation of time.

However, Lynn possesses technology that transcends time and space, enabling him to propose the most suitable solution in a very short time.

The external problems of these cannons are relatively easy to solve, but the problems with the cannons themselves are much more difficult to solve.

Mortars are not really suitable for being mounted on ships.

The biggest advantage of bronze mortars is their short barrel.

How short is it?

To put it simply, if there's no pot to cook porridge while marching, you can simply remove the mortar from its mount, bury it in the ground, and it'll be a makeshift cooking pot.

The advantage of a short barrel is that it is relatively easy and cheap to manufacture.

Shorter length means less material, and less material means less money.

Copper is a relatively expensive metal, and in ancient Eastern cultures, it was the most fundamental and essential form of currency, serving as a general equivalent for the exchange of goods at any time.

The North has copper mines, and the price of copper is usually five to six times that of iron, which is a price that Lynn can barely afford.

Every advantage has its disadvantages; being short-lived means being powerless.

The biggest problem with mortars is that they can only fire shells at an elevation angle, and their trajectory is a standard parabola. Not only is the range short, but the rate of fire is also very slow, making it almost impossible to hit moving targets.

This problem wasn't as obvious when bombarding castles, since castles are inanimate objects that don't move. But on the water, it becomes much more difficult to hit moving ships with mortars.

Lynn discovered this problem as early as the first test launch.

The solution is simple: lengthen the cannon barrel, transforming it from a mortar into a cannon or even a serpentine cannon with a larger caliber.

The term "caliber multiple" refers to the ratio of the gun barrel length to its caliber. It is a core indicator for measuring the power of artillery. Increasing the caliber multiple can significantly improve the range and lethality of artillery.

Cannons with a sufficiently large caliber can also lower their barrels during firing to achieve a horizontal firing effect, which is more suitable for naval warfare.

As for how to manufacture cannons with large calibers, Lynn had naturally mastered the relevant knowledge and had drawn up detailed blueprints.

Having the knowledge is one thing, but whether you can actually create it is another matter entirely.

The reason is simple: the larger the caliber of the cannon, the more materials it consumes, the more difficult it is to manufacture, and the more it tests the craftsman's skill and level.

The reason Lynn cast mortars first was because there were no professional cannon foundries in the North at the moment, so bell foundries had to fill in.

Since it's just a cameo, it definitely can't be high-strength; we have to start with the easiest to forge, the mortar.

The foundry guild in Three Rivers City has now provided Lynn with two batches of fifty bronze mortars, and the third batch is about to be completed. The yield rate has also improved significantly, so it's time to upgrade their strength.

"I want to establish a government department specifically responsible for cannon casting. The minister will temporarily be Linas, the president of the Sanhe City Foundry Guild. All personnel related to cannon casting cannot remain in Sanhe City and must be relocated to Chixi County as soon as possible."

With a single order, Lynn commanded hundreds of people to leave their hometowns and relocate elsewhere.

While Sanhe City enjoys convenient transportation, it is located on the front line of the war and is always at risk of being attacked by the enemy forces led by the king.

Furthermore, Sanhe City has a very large population flow, with a large number of outsiders active there for a long time, which is not conducive to technology confidentiality.

Originally, Lynn wanted to move the core manufacturing industries to the vicinity of Golden Deer Lake, but considering the distance was too far and the relocation would be inconvenient, he decided to relocate the core craftsmen located in Baihe Territory to Chixi County instead.

Chixi County has iron mines and relatively mature smelting facilities. It is also adjacent to the Baihe River and has relatively convenient transportation, making it a suitable relocation site.

Lynn then added, "Also, establish an iron smelting and forging department, appoint Eric as its minister, and temporarily set up the department in Chixi County."

Victor scribbled a couple of notes in his notebook, nodded, and replied, "Yes, sir. I will order the Secretariat to send the relevant documents to Baihe Territory as soon as possible."

As Lynn's court officials continued to grow, Victor's secretariat naturally also underwent a major expansion.

Currently, the Secretariat has more than 30 secretaries who are responsible for the official correspondence and order transmission of various departments, such as diplomatic secretaries, financial secretaries, treasury secretaries, legal secretaries, and quartermaster secretaries.

Victor himself served as the chief secretary, responsible for the daily operation of the secretariat, and also attended the Imperial Council meetings, serving as Lynn's core advisor.

Back then, Victor was just a notary in the Three Rivers City court, mainly responsible for drafting various legal documents. In just over a year, he has risen like a rocket to become a favorite of a local lord.

Initially, Lynn planned to train Victor in the legal field, hoping he could work in the central court or circuit court in the future.

But the more I used it, the more comfortable I became with it, and before I knew it, I was using it as my chief secretary.

Lynn picked up the silver wine pot, poured himself a glass of light wine, took a sip, and said, "Before the coronation ceremony, I will go to Baihe Territory to inspect and set up these technical departments in advance, so that it will be convenient for me to guide their work later."

Wealth that does not return home is like walking in brocade at night.

At this crucial moment before his coronation, Lynn naturally had to return to White River Territory.

Although that place cannot be considered his hometown, it is his 'place of origin'. Most of his most trusted core officials and military officers also come from Baihe Territory, so he has to go back for both personal and professional reasons.

Victor then suggested, “When you inspect White River Territory, Your Excellency should bring a large number of troops and officials to make a great show of force. This will deter Otto and prevent him from easily harassing White River Territory.” “Of course I will do that. This inspection also aims to reorganize the White River defense line. From now until next spring, I will most likely maintain a defensive posture, unless Otto really mobilizes all his forces to attack Valley Territory.”

As he spoke, Lynn turned his gaze to the map hanging on the right side of his desk.

The map of the North, which he had drawn himself, was covered with a variety of small markings, some representing castles and cities, and others representing military garrisons or troop movements.

The most striking red triangle mark stopped above the city of Kolen; it was the mark of Otto III, the enemy leader.

The small castle icon at River Bend is surrounded by a red circle, which is Lynn's top priority and most desired target for attack.

Victor also looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and then analyzed:

“Otto’s 20,000-strong new army was only completed this year. At the same time, he is also facing a food shortage and is sending troops to collect food in various parts of the Crown Territory. I don’t think he will put all his forces on the table this year.”

Otto faces more than just a lack of food.

If he really intends to launch a major offensive against the Valley Territory, the key will be how to maintain the army's food transport and supply.

The Valley Territory is full of mountains, and most of the castles of the local nobles are built against the mountains, making them not only easy to defend but also extremely inconvenient to travel to.

The reason Count Harvey was able to conquer most of Mirror Iron Territory was mainly because he plundered enough food from the area.

But Earl of Mirror Iron, or rather, the new Duke of the Valley, Vasa, would never make the same mistake.

His stronghold in Mirror Iron Territory has now been completely scorched, with almost all of his people evacuated to the western territories of Mirror Iron Territory. Only about a dozen castles still have any living people.

Anyway, the Valley Territory is a large area with plenty of ravines and valleys for its inhabitants to hide in.

Without subjects, there would naturally be no grain or livestock to plunder.

When Otto's army arrived in Mirror Iron Territory, they had to solve their own food supply problems, which forced him to establish a functional logistics system.

Establishing a logistics system undoubtedly requires a lot of time.

Victor had personally participated in the establishment of many government departments, and he was well aware of the troubles and obstacles involved. Therefore, he was able to conclude that Otto would not be able to launch a large-scale offensive until next year at the earliest.

This is naturally the situation Lynn would be most happy to see.

If the enemy wants to develop, then let him develop along with them.

For him, time is now the most precious resource. Give him another year or two to develop, and he will show Otto what true cruelty is.

Within a few days, the official documents from the Secretariat were quickly transmitted to Baihe Territory through the postal relay system.

First, the Sanhe City Council received the official document, and then the council forwarded Lynn's message to the foundry guild.

That afternoon, Guild Master Linas summoned the guild's chief craftsmen and publicly announced the orders from above.

"I have some good news to share with you all. Our foundry guild will be moving to Chixi County in the north. Not only will you be moving, but your families will be moving as well!"

Upon hearing this, a craftsman immediately asked with a puzzled look, "Leaving Sanhe City and moving the whole family to Chixi County? Guild Master, what kind of good news is this?"

Other craftsmen also complained: "Yes, our fathers and our fathers' fathers were all citizens of Sanhe City. How can we get used to life in other places?"

"Shut up, all of you! This is Earl Shirakawa's order. Do you dare disobey it?"

But when Linus invoked Lynn's name, the craftsmen all went cold.

For the craftsmen of the foundry guild, Lynn was practically a second parent.

Before they participated in casting cannons, these craftsmen generally had low incomes.

In autonomous cities, income level is positively correlated with political status. Low income means low voice and will be disadvantaged in tax distribution and obligations.

With the advent of artillery, a new type of weapon, the income of foundry craftsmen soared, and their political status also improved. Chairman Linas was even able to speak in the city council.

After all, Lynn never delayed paying the craftsmen's wages and was very generous with his pay.

After calming the group of craftsmen down, Linus shouted excitedly:
"Also, listen up, everyone. The Earl has ordered our Foundry Guild to set up an artillery department. Once we move to Chixi County, you will be craftsmen directly under the Earl. Moreover, the Earl has already married the princess and will soon be officially crowned. At that time, you will be royal craftsmen!"

"Royal craftsman, do you know what that means? I won't even mention the income; the title alone is enough to make other craftsmen drool with envy!"

One of the craftsmen stared wide-eyed in disbelief, exclaiming, "Royal craftsmen? Is this for real? Master, you're not kidding us, are you?"

Linas twitched his mustache and immediately retorted, "If you doubt me, you can go to the city council right now. The official document personally signed by the Earl is on the mayor's desk. You can go and verify it now!"

Now the craftsmen no longer had any doubts, and the entire foundry guild was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

That very evening, a group of craftsmen began packing their luggage and tools and boarded a rowboat bound for Chixi County as quickly as possible.

As for the mortar castings that have not yet fully solidified, and the clay film of the long-barreled cannons that are still drying in the shade, there are special craftsmen who stay behind to take care of them. Once they can be moved, they will be moved to Chixi County as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Eric, the blacksmith in Chixi County, also received Lynn's orders.

He didn't need to relocate, since all the best blacksmiths in the Baihe Territory had already gathered in Chixi County.

This former minor barony has now evolved into the forging center of White River Territory and even the entire Marsh Territory.

This place not only has rows of chimneys and waterwheels, but also a group of miners numbering over ten thousand in the deep mountains to the west.

Wilderness captives and Southern captives worked together in the mines, exchanging fresh iron ore for equally fresh food.

Beside the woodland at the foot of the mountain lies the largest ironworks in the swamp territory, home to thousands of ironworkers. They reduce ore to sponge iron through briquetting, then use hydraulic hammers to remove impurities and forge it into cylindrical iron ingots.

The iron ingots produced in the county are transported to various places by waterway. With the iron mine in Jingtieling shut down, the high-quality iron ingots from this area have gradually become a best-selling product in Nusa Dua.

Today, a yellow furnace body more than ten meters high stands on the west side of the iron smelting site, and the first blast furnace in Chixi County is about to be put into production.

(End of this chapter)