"What do you two think?"
Jero Bonaparte turned his head to look at the Logistics Director Nie’er and the Director of the Military Equipnt Departnt. On such matters, Jero Bonaparte did not wish to impose his own thoughts onto the Ministry of War.
In Jero Bonaparte’s eyes, the Grand Napoleon Cannon’s effective (service) life would be only about 7-8 years. It was entirely a makeshift solution to satisfy France’s "lack of firepower" during the Crian War, and the future direction of France’s developnt was not in expensive bronze smoothbore guns.
Rather, it was in more durable large-caliber rifled steel guns and breech-loading rifles with adequate gas seals.
Jero Bonaparte had decided that after the Cria was concluded, the French Army would implent a gradual rearmant plan, with breech-loaders gradually replacing muzzle-loaders.
If the French logistics departnt had not yet developed suitable breechers, they might as well first copy so Dreiser Needle Guns for the French Army to use.
The French Army can only begin to summarize the formation tactics of breech-loaders by using them earlier.
Otherwise, using breech-loaders with formations for muzzle-loaders would be a laughingstock.
If the Ministry of War finds it too expensive and is unwilling to buy, Jero Bonaparte would naturally not insist because it is his factory.
At worst, secretly selling to Sardinia and Naples, or if that doesn’t work, the slaveholders across the ocean on the new continent is also a very good choice.
As ti progresses, the southern slaveholders will surely realize they have no possibility of reconciliation with the North.
By then, they will inevitably seek external assistance.
France can then export Napoleon Cannons to them.
As long as the southern slaveholders have enough money, they can achieve even more glorious achievents than in history.
The advance of General Robert Lee into Philadelphia would beco possible.
Of course, all this is but Jero Bonaparte’s wishful thinking of a beautiful future.
Right now, the most important thing is whether the Ministry of War’s procurent delegation is willing to pay for the Grand Napoleon Cannon.
After a mont of contemplation, Nie’er instinctively glanced at Jero Bonaparte.
"Don’t mind my opinion! If you think it would be helpful for the war, feel free to purchase it!" Jero Bonaparte reassured Nie’er with his words.
After pondering for a long ti, Nie’er spoke, "Mr. Baxilio, can you guarantee delivery of 300 cannons within three months?"
"This?" Bashirio hesitated for a mont, biting his teeth, he said, "If the Ministry of War is willing to assist in the planning, I can deliver 300 cannons within three months!"
"Very well! However, your company may need to authorize a batch of cannon manufacturers!" Nie’er nodded in agreent to Bashirio’s request.
"No problem!" Bashirio readily agreed to Nie’er’s terms.
Subsequently, the few people present personally tested the firing before leaving the shooting range.
Back at the headquarters park of the Northern Industrial Group, Bashirio and Nie’er signed a contract under Jero Bonaparte’s witness for purchasing cannons from the Northern Industrial Group.
The Ministry of War purchased a total of 1,200 12-pound field guns from the Northern Industrial Group, each priced at 2380 francs (Bashirio once again lowered the price), totaling 2.856 million francs.
Moreover, the first batch of 300 cannons must be delivered within the month, and no delays are allowed.
Next, Nie’er also signed a surrounding order for cannons worth 3 million francs with Bashirio, including standard fixed-loading flas, solid shells, grape shots, etc.
This nearly 6 million francs order is sufficient to sustain the Northern Industrial Group and all the armant factories in the upstream and downstream industry chain.
"When the cannons roar, gold flows!" Jero Bonaparte couldn’t help but exclaim as he watched 6 million francs completed right before his eyes.
The Crian War hadn’t even started yet, and the pre-war mobilization alone had already cost tens of millions of francs.
Although these tens of millions of francs are state money, Jero Bonaparte still felt a bit distressed.
However, thinking about the potential to solve employnt problems, Jero Bonaparte felt slightly better.
"Your Majesty, we’ll reclaim everything we’ve invested from Russia!" Nie’er comforted Jero Bonaparte.
"Yes!" Bashirio also chid in: "As long as the Empire defeats the Russian Empire, then all our losses can be compensated!"
"Let’s hope so!" Jero Bonaparte shrugged helplessly and said.
Nier, who was to sign the agreent, did not linger much. After bidding farewell to Jero Bonaparte in haste, he imdiately returned to the Ministry of War with the head of the Military Equipnt Departnt to inform Minister Kuzen Montebon about the procurent news.
Jero Bonaparte showed no signs of wanting to leave. He ordered Bashirio to gather all the staff responsible for artillery developnt to hold a small eting with them.
Bashirio imdiately took action, and shortly gathered all the mbers of the artillery developnt team within the Northern Industrial Group.
The mont these team mbers saw Jero Bonaparte, they each displayed different expressions. So had joyful looks on their faces, seemingly awaiting comndation from Jero Bonaparte; others seed sowhat uneasy, as if guilty about sothing.
Looking at this group of artillery "experts," Jero Bonaparte smiled and said kindly, "Ladies and gentlen, I had Bashirio gather you here not for any other reason! Firstly, congratulations on securing the Ministry of War’s order with your excellent design!"
After saying this, Jero Bonaparte applauded the crowd present, and Bashirio quickly followed suit.
The team mbers’ faces showed expressions of pride; having the Emperor applaud for them was sothing they could have only dread of.
When the applause stopped, Jero Bonaparte spoke again: "Your design is indeed comndable this ti, and the capabilities of the field gun have significantly improved compared to before. However, you have overlooked a major issue..."
Jero Bonaparte paused, then continued: "You have overlooked the cost issue! Buying one cannon costs more than 2500 francs, 10 cannons cost more than 25,000 francs, and 100 cannons are 250,000 francs. Such a cannon can only be afforded by a wealthy nation like France! Your cannons not only need to be used in France but also sold to countries worldwide! How many people are willing to spend 2500 francs on this thing!"
Upon hearing this, the team mbers present bowed their heads in contemplation.
"Of course, I understand! Bronze itself is quite costly, and casting one could likely cost over 2000 francs!" Jero Bonaparte didn’t criticize blindly but spoke from their perspective: "Therefore, I hope you can use other materials, such as the now cheaper steel, for making the artillery!"
One of the researchers imdiately understood Jero Bonaparte’s intent and hurriedly asked, "Your Majesty, do you an you want us to produce artillery that can be fired from the breech?"
"Exactly!" Jero Bonaparte nodded to the researcher and said: "Breech-loaded shells can save more ti than muzzle-loaded ones, and steel-made barrels can have rifling added to make them more stable."
"But there is a certain airtightness issue with breech-loaded shells!" The researcher responded to Jero Bonaparte.
During this era, both breech-loaded cannons and rifles had the potential problem of airtightness. Without resolving these issues, qualified artillery could not be manufactured.
Jero Bonaparte naturally had a strategy to address this issue.
"Can we add a breech block to the rear of the breech-loading cannon?" Jero Bonaparte suggested gently.
"Breech block?" The researcher looked at Jero Bonaparte in confusion.
"Precisely! By using a breech block, the entire artillery can form a closed environnt when fired, reducing the leakage of gas!" Jero Bonaparte explained to the researchers present, then requested Bashirio to find him a sheet of paper and a pen.
Bashirio quickly brought paper and a pen to Jero Bonaparte.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Jero Bonaparte recalled the wedge-type breech block of the Krupp C73 artillery he had seen on a forum in his previous life.
As an artillery enthusiast back then, he even made a small model of the C73 Krupp cannon according to the artillery’s blueprint.
It could be said that the pioneering wedge-type breech block of the C73 artillery was deeply carved into his soul.
While reminiscing about assembling the model in his past life, Jero Bonaparte sketched various diagrams of the C73 breech block’s structure on the paper.
The surrounding researchers dared not breathe, staring intently at Jero Bonaparte’s drawings.
Spending approximately over an hour drawing while thinking, Jero Bonaparte finally copied the essence of the Krupp Cannon’s wedge-type breech block from his mind.
"That’s right! Just like this!" Jero Bonaparte nodded in satisfaction at the draft-like cross-sectional view and component diagram of the wedge-type breech block he had drawn. This was all he could do; the rest needed to be left to these professionals.
The researchers present gazed at the wedge-type breech block in Jero Bonaparte’s hand as if entranced, unable to believe that a statesman managing a country understood artillery better than them.
Their pride as artillery researchers was crushed by Jero Bonaparte without rcy.
"So, what do you think? Is it feasible?" Jero Bonaparte asked the researchers present.
The researchers remained silent, their eyes still fixed on the wedge-type breech block, as if trying to engrave every structure of the wedge-type breech block into their minds.
Reviews
All reviews (0)