Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 150 Super Heavy Infantry!

With coke, the heavy armor and weapons needed by the Trapped Camp can be forged much faster.

Although the armor of the late Eastern Han Dynasty was systematic, it lacked protection for the joints and could even be obstructive.

Therefore, Cao Yan wanted to combine designs from later generations to improve the heavy armor and shields of the Trapped Camp.

At this moment, Cao Yan is discussing improvement plans for armor and shields with the blacksmiths.

He knew some of the hidden armor structures of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and also understood the curved mechanical design of European plate armor. This knowledge became a source of inspiration for his military improvements at this time and place.

Cao Yan said to the blacksmiths, "Change the shoulder armor to a three-piece hinged design, forging curved plates from wrought iron, and then stringing them together with sinew, just like I drew."

"???"

The blacksmiths stared at the scribbled blueprints, utterly bewildered.

But they dared not ask questions rashly, and could only nod repeatedly, much like students in class who did not understand but had to pretend to understand.

After the explanation,

Cao Yan then instructed the craftsmen to weave raw silk soaked in tung oil into a net and sew it between the cowhide linings.

In this way, the impact force can be distributed throughout the entire armor, thereby reducing the impact force of blunt weapons on the armor.

He also recalled seeing Persian armor in a documentary, and then sewed the inner chainmail layer to the junction of the shoulder armor and groin armor, which could both prevent stabs and not affect joint movement.

As for the shield, Cao Yan instructed the craftsmen to carve the shield surface into a five-degree arc, resembling the parabolic structure of a Roman shield, and to add three horizontal wooden reinforcements to the back plate so that the force could be evenly distributed.

Meanwhile, the leather wrist strap on the inside of the shield was designed with an adjustable buckle, based on the principle of later carabiners, so that soldiers could quickly release it when charging with the shield and, if necessary, use both hands to wield a knife in combat.

Once the first improved armor was completed, Cao Yan couldn't wait to personally put it on and demonstrate it.

He put on a new type of helmet designed with reference to Byzantine helmets.

This type of helmet has two to three layers of chainmail face coverings, covering the entire face and mouth.

The chainmail neck guard and face guard extend all the way down to the chest, providing ample protection for the body.

The helmet only exposes the eyes, which undoubtedly provides the best possible protection for the head and neck.

When he raises his arms, the hinged plates of his shoulder armor spread out like wings, neither hindering his movements nor hindering his vital areas under his armpits.

The old craftsman touched Cao Yan's breastplate and exclaimed in admiration, "I've been making armor all my life, and this is the first time I've ever seen such a masterpiece of craftsmanship!"

However, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the armor and shields, so Cao Yan doesn't need to worry too much about these details.

Just as Cao Yan took off his armor, Chen Dao returned.

Although he looked travel-worn, his eyes were extremely bright.

Upon seeing Cao Yan, Chen Dao quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and said, "General, I have successfully carried out my mission and brought my father and younger brother safely to Chenliu County."

With a smile, Cao Yan reached out to help Chen Dao up and asked gently, "Uncle, was your journey long and smooth?"

Chen Dao stood up and respectfully replied, "General, the journey was generally smooth. However, we encountered a group of Yellow Turban remnants halfway through, which delayed us for two days. Fortunately, the brothers you selected are all elite, and we were able to defeat them without much trouble."

Cao Yan nodded slightly and said, "Now that your family has arrived in Chenliu, you can serve in the army with peace of mind. You will need to put more effort into the training and cohesion of the Trapped Camp."

Chen Dao's eyes gleamed with joy as he clasped his hands in a fist salute again, saying, "General, rest assured, this humble general will do his utmost to forge the Trapped Camp into an invincible force. However..."

Seeing that he hesitated to speak, Cao Yan said, "Shuzhi, please speak freely, there is no need to worry."

Chen Dao hesitated for a moment before speaking, "This humble general has heard that this army is all clad in heavy armor, but my physical condition..."

Upon hearing this, Cao Yan laughed heartily, patted Chen Dao on the shoulder, and said, "From today onwards, you will live in my residence. You will have plenty of meat every day, so eat as much as you like!"

"Ah, this..." Chen Dao was overjoyed and almost drooled on the spot...

Cao Yan is currently earning money from soap making and restaurant profits, so he's not short of cash at all. Supporting Chen Dao would be a piece of cake for him.

Time flies, and the end of the year is here again.

Over the past few months, the craftsmen have been working day and night to complete the production of 800 sets of improved heavy armor and shields before the end of the year.

However, at this moment, what Cao Yan longed for most was Tang Mo Dao.

The Tang Mo Dao is about ten feet long and weighs twenty pounds, with the blade alone being more than a meter long.

The New Book of Tang records that Zhang Xing wielded a Mo Dao (陌刀), and with a single stroke, several men would fall dead, terrifying the enemy soldiers. The Mo Dao troops advanced like a wall on the battlefield, cleaving men and horses in two wherever they went, demonstrating their formidable power.

The heavily armored infantry of the Trapped Camp defend with shields in the front row and wield long-handled swords in the back row to kill enemies. Whether you are infantry or cavalry, anyone who dares to come will be cut into pieces.

Just thinking about such a scene is exciting!
The Tang Mo Dao uses a steel-filling method, with the carbon content of the blade precisely controlled between 0.6% and 1.5%, achieving the golden ratio of hardness and toughness.

Unfortunately, the blacksmiths in the workshops have not yet mastered this skill, and the system has not rewarded them with any relevant blueprints, so they can only learn it slowly by trial and error.

Although the horse-slaying sword existed at this time, it was mostly used as a sword by palace guards and was hardly ever used on the battlefield. Therefore, Cao Yan ultimately chose the horse spear.

During this period, Chen Dao ate meat every day to nourish himself, and with the careful guidance and repeated "training" from Jing Wei, Zhao Yun and others, he finally developed a strong physique and can now move freely even when wearing heavy armor.

The sun was shining brightly that day, making it a perfect time for training.

On the drill ground, eight hundred soldiers of the Vanguard Camp, dressed in improved heavy armor and holding new shields, broadswords, and lances, stood in neat formation with impeccable military bearing.

Cao Yan and a group of generals stood on a high platform, watching the Trapped Camp drill.

After surveying the front lines, Chen Dao shouted, "The Trapped Camp, listen to my command!"

"Here!" the eight hundred soldiers responded in unison, their voices deafening and echoing throughout the entire training ground.

"Today is the day to test the results of my Trapped Camp's training. Everyone, give it your all and don't disgrace my Trapped Camp!" Chen Dao shouted again.

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers' response remained as imposing as ever.

With Chen Dao's command, the Trapped Camp began its drills.

Their steps were synchronized, and they moved forward slowly, like a moving steel wall.

The shields in their hands were interlocked, forming an impenetrable defensive line.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Dao ordered a change of formation.

The soldiers moved swiftly, forming a circular battle formation in the blink of an eye, with shields on the outside and spears on the inside, creating an impenetrable barrier.

No matter which direction you attack from, it will be difficult to break through this impenetrable wall.

Subsequently, Chen Dao ordered a charge drill.

The soldiers of the Trapped Camp shouted and charged bravely toward their target.

Although their charge was not fast, they maintained their neat formation at all times, and their imposing presence was awe-inspiring.

The generals on the high platform were all amazed when they saw this scene.

Zhuge Liang's eyes widened, and he muttered to himself, "Has my brother-in-law created a bunch of steel monsters?"

Dian Wei's eyes lit up: "I love it so much!"

Zhao Yun couldn't help but exclaim, "Shuzhi is indeed remarkable. In just one month, he has managed to train the Trapped Camp to such an extent."

“Oh my! This Trapped Camp looks much more imposing than the Young Master’s Mandarin Duck Army,” Xiahou Lan agreed.

Cao Ang: "..."

(End of this chapter)