123 – Finding Work (4)
Cokes.
A block of high-purity carbon produced by burning away all impurities in bituminous coal.
If you put bituminous coal into a blast furnace that is sealed so that gas does not pass through and then go through a carbonization process where you heat it, you can get coke by removing all inflammable impurities such as sulfur in bituminous coal.
In modern times, the removed impurities are also collected separately to make gas fuel, fertilizer, or put into cigarettes, but in this era, such a complicated process is close to luxury, so first of all, coke is aimed only at obtaining coke. You need to make a crafting blast furnace.
‘aaa…Why did I say that?’
I tried to talk confidently with the momentum, but to be honest, I’m a little scared.
There were no precious metal mines or copper mines, but bituminous coal and iron ore were not simply abundant in the border area with the empire, but open-pit mines, so there would be no burden in terms of supply and demand for materials… And there are so many different parts between theory and practice, so I think I have to try a lot.
I was having fun because my work was reduced, but to make it work again, I’m crazy. I’ll just stay silent.
‘Still, it’s fortunate that cast iron is easy to make.’
Cast iron can be made with only charcoal without coke, but if coke is used, the size of the blast furnace can be greatly increased.
Looking at the smithy earlier, there was a cast iron furnace that used charcoal as fuel, so the production of a large cast iron furnace that uses coke should be left to the artisans. If the job is successfully completed, assuming that iron ore is steadily supplied, we will be able to extract tremendous cast iron.
…But was coke originally used to make cast iron?
If you see that there are gods of concrete and steel in architecture, you can say that there is a god of coke in steelmaking.
If coke, a lump of pure carbon, is used well, it can make steel, which is the beginning and end of the season, by removing all impurities from iron and controlling the carbon content.
Hmm… If coke production succeeds, it will only make cast iron, but it’s a waste to use it all, so even steel once—- oops…!
‘No, no. I’m crazy.’
To say that he was going to make steel, he turned firmly even when he turned.
Once there is coke, it is somehow possible to smelt steel. Steel is smelted simply by inserting a crucible containing cast iron into a simple blast furnace filled with coke and blasting hot air from underneath.
However, there is a limit because the production volume is too small. If you want to use it for military purposes, you have to produce it in large quantities, not small amounts, and then you have to make a converter or something… I don’t know about that. My main field is chemistry, not metallurgy.
‘No, even if my main field was metallurgy, the result would have been the same.’
I remember that the electric furnace had to blow hot air from the bottom at a high pressure enough to penetrate the molten cast iron and to have no pressure difference per area, but this is impossible with pre-modern technology. Even the craze isn’t the only thing I have to worry about, so no matter what I do, making a converter is impossible.
If converters could be easily made with pre-modern technology, it means that steel with high tensile strength, hard and unbreakable could be easily mass-produced due to the elasticity of iron man motifs, so countries in Africa and Asia would not suffer from imperialism.
…It has high tensile strength and is hard and unbreakable.
‘Don’t think… Don’t think…’
When I think about steel, my mind gradually turns to smelting steel. If I, who is not a major, proposes to make a converter, I will have to go through a lot of trial and error, and in the process, of course, I will lose a lot of money.
It is best not to even trade grapes that cannot be picked or eaten. If you keep lingering on grapes, your stomach will twist. Yes, therefore, sour grapes… Sour grapes…
…Still, I’ll have to try the crucible method at least once. Even if the production is small, you can extract steel, so there’s no reason not to.
…………
Kurrureungㅡ!!
“Oh…”
The test of the 120mm cannon, no, the actual battle was successful in its own way.
That wall was built very meticulously compared to other walls, as it protects Dijon, the capital city.
However, Dijon’s outer walls were not completely destroyed. It’s just a little hole, but it looks very cramped for soldiers to enter through that hole.
“Hmm… That’s not enough. I think the reason is that the weight of the projectile is too light and the rate of fire is too low.”
“I can see that to my eyes.”
“By comparison, a catapult powered by weights can launch boulders weighing about 200kg over 150m, so it seems better to use a catapult than to use this expensive cannon in a siege.”
Jang, the father-in-law who was watching from the side, shakes his head and sighs. It may seem crazy that a 120mm diameter cannon ball is so light, but if the comparison target is a 200kg stone flying like a Meteor… It can’t be helped.
Perhaps this is the first time they have ever shot directly at a castle wall. Expectations must have been as high as that, but it seems that he was quite disappointed to see the power that even the toes of the catapult could not follow.
“But isn’t it easier to transport than a catapult, quick to fire, and easy to operate? Even if it lacks power, if you fire a lot, the wall will collapse.”
“Yes, that’s right. Right now, the technology is not very good, so the result is not satisfactory, but later, if the technology is sufficiently developed, it will be possible to tear down the wall beyond making a bigger hole in the wall.”
…For some reason, it seems that the horse has thorns.
The craftsman’s words seem to praise the potential of the cannon, but on the other hand, it sounds like the cannon has its limits, so wake up.
Is it because of the mood?
No, it’s not my mood. It’s something I realized after I was enrolled into the ducal family, but if I thought it was my mood, the probability that it wasn’t my mood is over 90%.
“…Wouldn’t it be nice if the caliber was bigger?”
“Of course, the destructive power will increase more, but the cost will increase proportionally.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Yes, make the gun barrel big enough for a person to fit in. Did you say that the catapult throws a 200kg stone? Then I’d like it to be able to throw a 600kg stone, which is three times that amount. “
“Yes?”
“Of course, it will take a lot of material, so there is no need to make many. I will only make two and use them for siege purposes. Know that. Oh, scrap the 120mm cannon and focus on making the 65mm cannon.”
The shoulder width is roughly 40cm for an adult male, so you should make the aperture more than 40cm. In other words, assuming that the cannonball is perfectly spherical compared to the 120mm cannon, the volume difference is at least 37,000 times when only the volume is considered.
The father-in-law, who quickly realized the fact, asked me dumbfoundedly if he had just heard it right, but I reassure him that he did not hear it wrong.
What, what?
You started first.
…………
“…Your Majesty, do you know how surprised I am?’
“That… I’m sorry.”
“…”
A normal Leclerc would have been furious with his lord not to apologize to his servant, but now he just listens to my apology and stays silent.
I can’t help it, I fired a cannon into the wall without consulting you…
“What is that… It was also a wall to be demolished anyway, and a purpose to test the power of the cannon… Huh?”
“…Since you are the owner of this country and this city, your majesty will take care of yours, but I can’t interfere. However, please let me know at least a few hours in advance.”
I can’t help but raise my head.
The atmosphere was so turbulent that I tried to say something to make an excuse, but Leclerc didn’t go against my opinion and just asked me to inform him in advance.
No… I’d rather be angry…
“Hmm… So, were you satisfied with the cannon?”
“…No, it didn’t come out as powerful as the investment. Look at the hole in the wall.”
Perhaps it was then that I realized that I was uncomfortable, Leclerc cleared his throat a little and changed the subject of conversation very artificially.
“Isn’t that what a new technology is originally? At first, the performance is very poor, but as time goes by, it gradually develops, and in the end all the technologies used before it become useless.”
“Surprisingly progressive in a place like this.”
To think that Leclerc, who always adheres to strict etiquette and is very authoritative and stuffy, would say something like that? Even before the administration was subdivided, I was in charge of finance, so I thought I would react more sharply.
“The nobility of the nobility and the dynamism of technology cannot be seen on the same line.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
At my slightly surprised answer, Leclerc smiled as if it was not a big deal and said so.
I am very lucky to have such a loyal and flexible vassal.