Prototype

Hector continued to describe the specific parameters of the Minin Cannon, and the more he spoke, the more it seemed to overlap with the Lord's ideas:

"The caliber of the Minin Cannon is usually around 30 millimeters, which is similar to what you imagined, sir. The barrel is about one meter long, which ensures a certain muzzle velocity and range without being too cumbersome."

"Its main purpose, as you said, is to fire shrapnel, a large number of lead or small iron pellets, creating a deadly barrage at close range. It is specifically designed to deal with densely packed infantry charges, and the effect is terrifying. It can instantly disrupt the enemy's formation and cause massive casualties."

"Of course, when necessary, it can also be loaded with solid iron ball shells to bombard fortifications or deal with small groups of cavalry, but its range and accuracy are far inferior to those of a dedicated field gun."

At this point, Hector changed the subject. "However, sir, the new type of Cannon you've envisioned only weighs fifty pounds... That's far too light! As far as I know, even the lighter versions of the real Minin Cannon typically weigh between two hundred and fifty and three hundred pounds!"

"If you also include the necessary, albeit simple, but indispensable, wooden gun carriage and two small wheels, the total weight of the cannon must exceed three hundred pounds!"

"Three hundred pounds..." Karl repeated the number in a low voice. This was six times heavier than the fifty pounds he had envisioned. The huge weight difference would inevitably bring about fundamental differences in power, range, sustained combat capability, and even tactical application.

His previously envisioned "Crouching Tiger Cannon" had its core advantages in being "ultra-light" and having "extremely high tactical flexibility."

A strong soldier can carry or shoulder it, allowing for rapid deployment in complex terrain, striking the enemy unexpectedly, and then running away.

However, the trade-off is that in pursuit of extreme lightweight design, the barrel must be thinner and shorter, the propellant charge is limited, and the power, especially the range, will be greatly reduced. It will be used more as a "large Musket" for tactical surprise attacks or fixed-point defense.

Hector described the "Minin Cannon" as weighing 300 pounds, requiring a special cannon carriage and three or four soldiers to carry it, or relying on small animals such as donkeys and mules for traction.

Its mobility is obviously not comparable to that of the "Crouching Tiger Cannon," but the heavier barrel means it can withstand a larger amount of propellant, and the longer barrel can give the shell a higher initial velocity and a longer range. The coverage of its shot and the destructive power of its solid shot are far beyond what a 50-pound cannon can match.

It is more like a "small field gun" that can accompany infantry marching formations and provide fire support at any time in the field.

Karl's mind raced as he reassessed the situation, taking into account the actual circumstances in the Northern Territory.

The main terrain of the Northern Territory consists of open plains, gentle hills, and river valleys. Large-scale regular field battles and fortress attacks and defenses are the mainstream, while complex mountain warfare exists, but it is not the main form of combat.

What they needed was a type of firearm that could provide reliable and powerful close-range fire support for infantry phalanxes on the main battlefield, to counter the fearless and dense charges that the Sauron might launch, or to bombard the enemy's simple earthen fortifications.

In this situation, the mountain adaptability advantage brought by the extreme lightweight design of the "Crouching Tiger Cannon" is greatly reduced in value on the Northern Territory plains, and its relatively insufficient power makes it seem like a waste of firepower.

With the resources and time to build a Crouching Tiger Cannon, perhaps other weapons with much greater power could be built.

More importantly, Karl suddenly realized that he held a huge, previously overlooked advantage—horses!

Through trade and capture, Carnford now owns a considerable number of horses, including donkeys, mules, warhorses, and draft horses, probably numbering in the thousands!

This is an extremely valuable strategic transportation resource. The 300-pound Minin Cannon is a burden for an army lacking mules and horses, but for Carnford, which has a large number of horses, it can be easily transported by a strong working horse, or by two donkeys pulling a small cannon cart for rapid maneuver!

This means that the Minin Cannon can keep up with the marching speed of infantry and even cavalry, and can be quickly deployed to the front line when needed. Although its tactical flexibility is not as good as the Crouching Tiger Cannon carried by a single soldier, it is more than enough in the plains of the Northern Territory, with the support of sufficient horses, and may even be more flexible than imagined!

"Sacrificing some unnecessary extreme lightweighting in exchange for much greater power and range, and compensating for the loss of mobility with our ample horses... In this light, the Minin Cannon is indeed a more suitable Cannon choice for Carnford's current needs and resource conditions than the simple Crouching Tiger Cannon concept." Karl quickly came to this conclusion.

Having figured this out, he looked up at Hector, who was looking at him expectantly, and asked directly, "Hector, since you understand the Minin Cannon and have even made one, are you confident that you can build it with the current conditions in our workshop? I mean, successfully cast a usable and safe cannon barrel and complete the subsequent processing and assembly."

Upon hearing this question, Hector not only did not show any difficulty, but his spirits lifted, and his eyes shone with confidence.

He straightened his back, which was slightly hunched from years of hard work, patted his broad chest forcefully, and assured in a loud voice, "Sir! I can take on this task, and I'm confident I can do it well!"

He explained in detail, "Our current furnace, after several expansions and renovations, has absolutely no problem melting and casting the molten iron needed to build a 300-pound cannon!"

"Although clay casting requires experience, it is one of the core skills of our craftsmen. We have accumulated relevant experience in making farm tools, large bells, and even the barrels of those muskets."

"We also have a stable source of mold materials. As for the craftsmen's skills... to be honest, casting the Minin Cannon is less difficult than perfectly crafting a straight Flintlock Rifle, but more difficult than casting a large bell or an ordinary iron axe. It's within the range that our current technical capabilities can handle, and we have a high chance of success!"

He became more and more confident as he spoke, "As long as we have enough materials and manpower, I am 90 percent certain that I can produce the first qualified Minin Cannon prototype for you within half a month to a month!"

"Very good!" Karl was satisfied with Hector's efficiency, but he specifically instructed, "However, Hector, don't be too focused on speed. The main purpose of this first cannon is not to rush it into battle, but to explore and master a complete and reliable manufacturing process."

"You need to record in detail the key data for each step, the difficulties encountered, and the solutions. What we need is the technological accumulation to stably mass-produce qualified products, not a single product that succeeds by chance, understand?"

Hector nodded solemnly, fully understanding Karl's long-term vision. "Rest assured, sir! I understand! The first cannon is crucial for 'testing' and 'verification.' We will ensure every step is thorough and master the process to lay a solid foundation for subsequent mass production."

"Alright! I'll leave it to you then! If you need any support, just ask Edgar." Karl patted Hector on the shoulder, showing his complete trust.