A canyon in the Northland has been hearing roaring sounds from time to time recently. The nearby beasts were frightened by these frequent sounds and fled farther away.
Because there is no prey, most human hunters will no longer approach the valley. Even if there are occasionally serious curious guys who want to find out, they will be stopped by patrolling soldiers outside the valley and undergo strict investigation.
Only then will he be released and given a stern warning.
"Sir Richard, although the steam crossbow is still not stable enough, we have really found the explosive gunpowder you said. You are really a genius."
Bellucci, who was in charge of the research and development of gunpowder, was accompanying Richard to watch the power of the gunpowder explosion in the canyon. He saw a soldier lighting the fuse from a distance and quickly got into the hole dug nearby.
The medicine pack exploded with a bang ten seconds later. Half of the wooden targets within ten meters of the surrounding area fell down, and the remaining ones were also damaged. No target was intact.
"Look, Sir Richard, this is equipped according to your instructions. It also contains more than a hundred pieces of iron. This explosion has a radius of 20 meters within its killing range!"
Bellucci couldn't help but dance when he introduced the gunpowder bag to Richard, obviously unable to contain his inner excitement.
On the other hand, Richard was equally excited. Although the explosive power of this gunpowder packet was a bit insignificant compared to the things he had seen in his previous life. In comparison, this thing could only be regarded as a large firework, but in comparison,
At this time, it was a breakthrough from scratch.
It doesn't matter if the power is not enough. As long as the proportions are adjusted correctly, even if I increase the weight, the entire 20-pound large medical bag can be fired and directly thrown with a trebuchet, and the killing power is definitely considerable.
It can also be made into a small medicine bag of several kilograms, which can be transported directly into the air by griffons and dragons, and then accurately thrown directly from the air to the enemy's military formation. Then soak some feces in the iron sheet, and it can also be used to treat enemies scratched by the iron sheet.
The army caused secondary damage.
In just an instant, several simple and easy to implement yet very vicious methods of use flashed through Richard's mind.
Of course, it is difficult for this level of gunpowder to play a decisive role on the battlefield. When modern artillery and flintlock guns appeared, they could not absolutely suppress cold weapons. But as a tactical weapon, gunpowder
The bag is enough. At least with the Hunter family's air power, it will be no problem to catch the orcs off guard and win one or two battles first.
It's a pity that Richard's understanding of this aspect only goes so far. The following musket and artillery technology is just a concept. He has only a partial understanding of the principles and can only draw a sketch of the appearance for the researchers.
, just leave it to the other party to slowly develop it. I'm afraid there won't be any finished product every few years.
Of course, after the emergence of gunpowder, its role may not be fully reflected in the military. In the future, the Hunter family can also use gunpowder to improve efficiency when building roads and mining.
Of course, these are all things for later. The most important thing now is to apply gunpowder to the military as quickly as possible, and try to teach the orcs a lesson in the upcoming battle.
“How is the production of gunpowder now?”
"We have no shortage of materials. There is a saltpeter mine not far from Miracle City. Mining is very convenient. The other two materials are even easier to obtain. As long as we send more manpower, we can produce several hundred kilograms of gunpowder in one day. Limitations
Ours is just a transportation problem."
The cost of preparing black gunpowder is indeed not high. Several materials are almost free for Richard, who owns the entire Northland and River Valley. The only cost is transportation, especially the transportation and storage after the production is completed.
.
It is necessary to prevent both fire and moisture. Although Richard is not a professional, he still has some basic common sense. When the black powder experiment was just successful, Richard ordered Bellucci to make a preservation and transportation plan, forming a complete set of transportation plans.
As safety and management methods increase, transportation costs and storage costs will naturally increase.
However, when he heard this output, Richard nodded. A few hundred kilograms a day is quite a lot. At least it is enough for the current stage when it can only be used to make explosive bags. Start preparations now, at least when the war begins.
Tens of thousands of kilograms of black powder can be produced.
"Well, let's allocate a batch according to the current optimal ratio. Be sure to pay attention to safety."
"Don't worry, Lord Richard, there won't be any sparks in the storage place."
"Also, we must pay attention to keeping it secret. Before we go into battle for the first time, I don't want to hear any news about it outside. Do you understand?"
Although the target of the war is the orcs, spies have actually appeared among humans. Richard is worried that the news of black powder will be leaked, and the suddenness of his first appearance will be lost.
"Currently there is no way in or out of the valley. Anyone who has seen the power of gunpowder must not leave the valley until the ban is lifted."
"That's good."
The valley is now not only managed by the responsible Bellucci, there are also people from Yusidu mixed in, monitoring at all times, and there are a large number of patrols blocking the outside. As long as there are not people like Richard who can teleport,
The secret of gunpowder will not be spread out for the time being.
"Is the Griffin Knight ready?"
After giving instructions about production and confidentiality, Richard asked about the griffin's actual preparations. Today he came over to see the cover-up of gunpowder explosions. It was not just about watching a gunpowder package explode several fixed wooden targets. That kind of usage
It doesn't really mean much.
The key is still the issue of delivery. It is indeed convenient to use trebuchet tip cannons for delivery, but the Northern Route Army has to pass through the jungle. This kind of war equipment is difficult to transport. The main idea now is to use griffon knights or dragons for aerial delivery.
"Sir, look over there!"
"Bah!"
Just when Richard was asking questions, more than a hundred griffins flew over the canyon. Most of these griffins still had a petite rider sitting on them. The leader was Sang, the leader of the griffin knights.
Delin.
As a new recruit, Sandrine works very hard and is always the most active and diligent in training. She also trains her soldiers very strictly. With Sandrine leading by example in training, the other knights under her
They also practiced hard to become familiar with the new tactics of the gryphon. After two months of training, these carefully selected gryphon knights were basically able to complete simple tactical coordination actions with the gryphon, and complete a combined attack on the enemy in the air.
.
And Sandrine's efforts are naturally rewarded. Sandrine has already obtained the training camp spot that Richard promised before, and her strength has been successfully improved from the knight's elementary level to the knight's intermediate level, which makes her even more motivated.
.
For example, the fixed-point delivery technology that was added not long ago has become proficient in her skills. Now she wants to show Richard the results of her training with this group of gryphon knights.
At this time, the equipment of the gryphon knights has changed slightly compared to before. After the emergence of black gunpowder, the original hand ax used for throwing downwards naturally has no meaning, leaving only a weight-reduced lance and a
A short crossbow freed up about ten kilograms of weight and turned it into two square medicine bags.
"We have arrived at the designated location, prepare!"
Sandrine, who was flying at the front of the team, suddenly raised a red flag in her hand. The surrounding griffin knights quickly took out flint-like objects and ignited the medicine bag hanging on the gryphon.
The lit medicine bag was thrown from the sky.
"Boom! Boom! Boom..."
More than a hundred explosive packets fell to the ground at the same time, causing a continuous roar of explosions. Coupled with the echo of the valley, ordinary people would probably have hearing damage.
However, because of Richard's size, ordinary people in the valley had already worn earplugs, which had little impact. Beings above the knight level would not be hurt by the sound of the explosion. Of course, if they were standing in the explosion range
That may be another story.
A burst of thick black smoke suddenly rose from the place where the explosive package had blown up. The thick smoke produced by this primitive black gunpowder could sometimes even obscure the battlefield. It took several minutes for the black smoke in the entire valley to gradually dissipate.
, you can barely see the place that was bombed by the Griffin Knights just now.
A few hundred meters in radius was a mess, and half of the densely erected wooden targets were destroyed. If these were all orcs, the orcs would have lost hundreds of people in this round of bombing alone. This is comparable to a direct contact with a knife and a gun.
Killing orcs is much easier.
"Precision throwing!"
However, the demonstration was not over yet. As Sandrine waved the flag of another color again, the gryphon knights who had just finished throwing quickly turned around and then rushed towards the ground, less than five meters away from the ground.
At a distance of ten meters, they suddenly stopped and corrected their flying posture. At the same time that the griffins made this move, the riders on their backs also dropped another explosive package.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The range of this attack was not as good as before, but the effect was better than the previous one, because the explosive packets were thrown intensively and exploded with greater power in a small area. Almost all the wooden targets standing around were blown to the ground.
As the two explosive packs were released, the gryphon knights also completed their display actions, all took off, and left in a neat line.
"good!"
After watching the Griffin Knight's demonstration, Richard was quite satisfied. The accuracy of this throw was above his expectations. The accuracy of the throw from an altitude of more than 100 meters was also more than half, and the rest was not too off the mark.
, which can be regarded as expanding the strike range, and the precise throwing within fifty meters has reached 100% accuracy. Almost all the griffin knights threw the explosives within the target range. This can be achieved on the battlefield as long as the opponent's attack is suppressed.
With air power, the gryphon knight's lethality against ground enemies is greatly enhanced.
This is just the usage of the gryphon knight. If it were replaced by a giant dragon, it would be directly loaded with two 100 kilograms of black powder packets. Throwing one away would not be much less powerful than a heavy cannon.
After completing the demonstration, the gryphon knights who circled in the air returned to their station. Now they also belong to the blocked group. Before using black powder, they cannot contact the outside world at will...
"Lord Richard!"
Sandrine, who led the team to complete the task of dropping explosives, quickly came to Richard. Sandrine, who got off the griffon, was wearing tight-fitting leather armor, which looked somewhat heroic in line with the strength of her knight.
Sandrine, whose strength has just been promoted to the intermediate level of knight, has a high-spirited feeling, and she even looks much younger.
In the past, knights were her biggest goal. With the resources of the Lanster family, it was impossible for a woman to be promoted to the level of a great knight. However, the resources of the Hunter family were much richer than those of the Lanster family, and she could obtain them with merit.
, easier to obtain than the Lanster family's resources, and now her target has also been set on the Great Knight.
Sandrine thinks that she can also fight for those knight potions that can improve the level of fighting spirit training. Therefore, whether it is practicing fighting spirit or training soldiers, she works more hard than before at the Lanster family. In the past, she just sat back and fulfilled her duties.
As long as she can live up to that little jinnaar, now she has to strive for more credit in the Hunter family.
"Lord Richard!"
After arriving in front of Richard, Sandrine bowed respectfully, and Richard nodded in response and asked:
"Can all gryphon knights achieve this accuracy now?"
"Currently, only the most elite of more than a hundred knights can do it. There is still a gap between the rest. The ones who performed better are mainly the former sword eagle knights. After all, the newly recruited warriors have a short flight time and can complete the tactics.
Action is no longer easy.”
Faced with Richard's question, Sandrine answered truthfully. The training of gryphon knights is no better than that of infantry. They still have to overcome their natural fear and rush into the sky. Two or three months of training is still too short. Fortunately, they have the sword before.
Only with a little foundation in the Eagle Knights can the Griffin Knights form an army so quickly. Otherwise, if they had to train everything from scratch, it would conservatively be estimated that it would take half a year to basically form combat effectiveness.
Richard nodded. He naturally understood that the training of a gryphon knight was not easy. Sandrine's current achievements were largely due to Sandrine's success. There was no need to demand anything more. He just gave a few more instructions to strengthen training.
"Sandrine, do you have any way to control the explosion height of the explosive package?"
"Control the height of the explosion?"
After Richard raised this question suddenly, Sandrine didn't react at first. Only after Richard explained it did she understand what Richard meant.
"Theoretically, it should be possible. The length of the fuse and the throwing height can be controlled. As long as the time is calculated well, it should be feasible for the explosive package to explode at a height of about two meters."
After thinking about it for a while, Sandrine gave a positive answer, and Richard immediately promised:
"If you ask fifty gryphon knights to do this within twenty days, you will have completed the task. After the task is completed, you will be given a knight's potion as a reward."
When Sandrine first heard about twenty days, she felt that there was not enough time. Before she could raise an objection, Richard blocked her with the next sentence.
Twenty days, as long as a few dozen of the most elite people control it, it doesn’t seem impossible?
"Yes, Sir Richard! We will start a new training program immediately!"
Of course, Richard's request was not decided by a slap on the butt. If the explosive package could be controlled to explode in mid-air about two meters away, the casualties caused would definitely be several times greater than the explosion after landing...