Upon hearing Tang Mo's counter-question, a smile appeared on Mathews' face. He was very confident in his expertise and began with a laugh, "I think, maybe it's just ? Hahaha! Did I guess right? What an interesting little fellow."
"Close enough. Anything else to add?" Tang Mo did not conceal anything and nodded in acknowledgnt of Mathews' guess. He too was curious to see how far Mathews could get relying solely on experience.
Mathews continued, "The idea of using tal cartridge cases isn't unique to you."
He glanced at Tang Mo, and upon seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes, he continued with a smile, "Don't underestimate the craftsn of this world; they are much stronger than you think. They are very creative and haven't confined their own thinking."
"Even the Shireck Consortium has invested a large amount of money in true firearms reform. They have a dedicated assault team, brimming with new ideas every day." After explaining, Mathews pointed at himself, "I was once part of such a team, but I soon left."
"Oh?" Tang Mo was indeed interested in this gossip and looked at Mathews, eager for him to continue.
"My philosophy didn't quite align with theirs, so ultimately, I was driven out," Mathews said with a self-deprecating smile before returning to the topic of firearms design, "In fact, ten years ago soone had already proposed using tal cartridge cases to achieve fixed charges, allowing soldiers to reload as quickly as possible in complex battlefield environnts."
As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, "tal cartridge cases have many benefits. They can be reloaded quickly, allow for breech loading, and even waterproofing—practically a perfect choice for bullets."
Tang Mo nodded. It seed that Mathews knew quite a bit about fixed ammunition, and he ntioned many of its advantages.
Yet, he still mischievously asked a rather infuriating question, "Then why abandon it?"
Mathews did not show the slightest timidity, and said directly, "If you want to say it, then I'll tell you."
He stretched out his hand, making a number one gesture, "First, the problem lies in processing—manufacturing tal cartridge cases is very troubleso. Under normal circumstances, to produce qualified bullets, you need a very complicated manufacturing process."
As he spoke, his eyes filled with regret, "This limited the production of bullets... Of course, what also limited the production was the production of tal itself... Using expensive tal cartridge cases ant definitely higher costs, and coupled with the difficulty in processing, the price was unbearable!"
This is the helplessness of weapons developers—sotis, not every advanced weapon will be purchased by everyone.
Most often, the people or nations using weapons will pay more attention to cost-effectiveness and other aspects. Hence the inevitable compromise: soldiers consider the Tiger tank the best, while generals believe the best tank is the T-34.
"Anything else?" Tang Mo looked at Mathews as if he were a pile of glistening gold, asking with a laugh. He was no longer evaluating Mathews; he was mining, excavating the most dazzling treasure in the world.
Mathews was ready to answer any question and continued, "There's also the issue of gunpowder! The gunpowder currently in use, no matter how finely it is ground and impurities removed, still leaves behind a small amount of residue after combustion."
"This residue remains in the gun chamber and gun barrel, severely affecting a firearm's second shot! If we do not improve the gunpowder, and only enhance the cartridge cases, it's simply a waste of ti!" he explained with a sense of resignation.
Improvent in firearms entails simultaneous advancents in propellant, bullet design, firearm design itself, and the evolution of tactics.
The innovation in propellants has spurred the developnt of bullets, which in turn has resulted in changes in firearm design. And the constant evolution of tactics has also indirectly determined changes in firearms.
The developnt of weapons is often constrained by stagnation in several aspects at once. Therefore, making a breakthrough in just one aspect usually ends in vain.
To achieve progress in these areas requires a great deal of ti accumulation and countless experintal explorations. Without this buildup, real evolution cannot be achieved.
The arrival of Tang Mo caused progress in so many aspects all at once, which was the fundantal reason he was able to get ahead of the Shireck Consortium!
"Muskets can jam due to the residue in the chamber and barrel after repeated shooting; they can burst! The final experintal result was that the action of cleaning the chamber still had to be maintained. The steps of loading the firearm were not significantly simplified, and the rate of fire did not increase markedly.
Compared to the massive investnt, such an improvent was too minor," Mathews concluded with an expression of desolation in his eyes.
"Hmm, you're right," Tang Mo agreed with Mathews's series of analyses because he knew they were correct. As a "future man" who had witnessed everything, Tang Mo certainly wouldn't doubt Mathews's words.
"Another thing, the prir ignition device of the tallic cartridge... This is the fundantal reason why tallic cartridges have not beco widespread! You're well aware that you invented fulminate of rcury, and before this substance existed, dreaming of a simple, safe, and effective bullet firing chanism was just that—a dream!" Finally, Mathews looked at Tang Mo again and said earnestly.
"Hahahaha!" Tang Mo burst into laughter, knowing that Mathews was praising him because the prir device he had invented was truly the ultimate in simple and convenient bullet prir solutions!
It was an absolute certainty; even over a hundred years later, the basic design of firearm prirs remained essentially unchanged. The only difference was that the prir material had been switched from the rather unsafe fulminate of rcury to other substitutes.
After Mathews accurately guessed a series of weapon design sches, he looked at Tang Mo with admiration and said, "Honestly, I really want to lift your skull and see what's inside your head... You're truly a genius, a... great genius."
With the tone of an adorer, he evaluated Tang Mo's feats, "Before I t you, I had never seen soone with such a terrifying ability to improve in the field of chanics. People like you simply shouldn't exist. Even if a team was given one of your steam engines to disassemble and study carefully, it would take them at least a year to fully understand it!"
"Thank you for the complint!" Tang Mo made a gesture that belied humility, accepting the heartfelt worship from Mathews.
Mathews clearly hadn't planned to stop there and continued, "But I also know that you're extrely skilled in the field of chemical alchemy! I know you've produced many remarkable things in that little storeroom of yours that no one is allowed to enter! So I'm even more baffled by you. Normal people often need years or even decades to master a skill, but you... are only seventeen!"
"You could also consider a monster..." Tang Mo said, smiling as he made a clawing gesture.
"I'd rather believe you're the god of craftsn," Mathews laughed and pointed at Tang Mo, saying, "Do you know? I always had faith that soone could make a weapon capable of continuous firing... That's why the designers at Shireck thought I was crazy, and indeed, I didn't have the ability to convince them.
They drove away, believing I was a madman, because they felt that rapid-fire weapons were divine arms, technologies that were impossible for re mortals to master."
"Now, you can," Tang Mo pointed at Mathews, telling him.
Mathews waved dismissively, unconcerned with the thought of going back to convince those fools, "But I don't deign to persuade them anymore! One day, they will see with their own eyes Tang's weapons crushing their junk on the battlefield, and at that ti, they'll realize that everything I said was right!"
"Mm-hmm." Tang Mo very much agreed with this point of view; if debates were useless, then let the guns argue on the battlefield. The louder the voice, the more convincing it would be.
Looking up at Tang Mo, Mathews's eyes were filled with fervor, "Honestly, for an old man like to et a patron like you at my age, it's truly a very fortunate thing. If you're willing, please accept this misguided fool. I will serve at your side and beco your most loyal servant."
"Can I trust you?" Tang Mo asked Mathews in the noisy workshop.
Mathews swore solemnly, "Of course, I swear upon the na of Mathews, willing to beco your follower until the end of my life. From today on, you, Tang Mo, are my master!"
"Then, Mathews, welco to officially joining Tang's Weapon Workshop," Tang Mo smiled down at the robust old man who might be just over four feet tall and said with the sa gravity.
"Thank... thank you..." Mathews was a bit shy, his face covered with a beard, so Tang Mo couldn't see the Dwarf blushing.
However, Tang Mo had initially planned to show Mathews the new drawings he had finished, so he turned his head, signaling for Mathews to follow, "Since you're willing to offer your loyalty, then co with , I'll show you sothing good."
"Sure thing, Master," Mathews responded heartily to Tang Mo and started to follow him.
Now it was Tang Mo's turn to feel a bit awkward; he still wasn't quite used to being called "Master." So he halted, beginning sowhat uncomfortably, "Uh... that title..."
"What's wrong with that title?" Mathews looked at Tang Mo, puzzled, and asked back.
"Nothing, nothing... Co on!" Tang Mo adjusted for a mont and finally decided to make use of the title with a historical air, gesturing again for Mathews to follow.
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