Chapter 59: I'll Slaughter the Bastards

The smoke of battle was gradually clearing.

The soldiers and officers of the Xilong Garrison were clearing the battlefield.

Zhao Tieying dragged his exhausted body, limping all the way up to General Chen, and heavily dropped to his knees.

"Thank you, General, for saving this humble subordinate's worthless life!"

His voice was hoarse, his forehead pressed against the blood-stained earth.

General Chen leaned over and hauled him to his feet in one swift motion. "Zhao Tieying, don't thank me for your life."

He turned his head and shouted, "Lin Chuan! Get over here!"

Lin Chuan trotted up to them. "General!"

"If you want to thank someone, thank this kid!"

General Chen patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder.

"If it weren't for his Wind-Thunder Cannons throwing the Wolf-Rong vanguard into complete chaos, you bastards wouldn't have held out until the reinforcements arrived."

"Lin Chuan of Tielin Fortress?"

Zhao Tieying’s eyes widened as he carefully sized up the young man standing before him.

This was his first time laying eyes on Lin Chuan.

Yet he had heard the General mutter this name countless times.

The lad was still just a newly appointed platoon commander, yet he had already achieved such a remarkable military feat.

"This subordinate greets Commander Zhao!" Lin Chuan saluted with cupped fists.

"No need for formalities!"

Zhao Tieying hastily waved a hand, a grimace of pain crossing his face as he pulled at his wounds.

"With the General right here, what's the point of such elaborate courtesy?"

General Chen laughed heartily. "Lin Chuan, that Wind-Thunder Cannon of yours truly rendered a massive service!"

Zhao Tieying was completely baffled, bewildered by what he heard.

"General, was that earth-shattering commotion just now caused by this... Wind-Thunder Cannon?"

"Precisely!" General Chen gestured enthusiastically. "A simultaneous volley of twenty iron tubes blew the Wolf-Rong's rear formation straight up to the heavens!"

Lin Chuan chimed in at the right moment, "The principle is actually quite simple. We just use gunpowder to project an explosive charge..."

"Wait!" Zhao Tieying suddenly interrupted.

He stared hard at Lin Chuan's face, then glanced at General Chen.

"General, such a fine piece of weaponry cannot be monopolized by just one unit!"

General Chen's eyes bulged.

"You damned rascal! Why do you think I wanted these Wind-Thunder Cannons in the first place? Wasn't it to protect a bunch of turtle-spawn like you?"

"Heh, heh, heh, heh! Thank you for your care, Grandpa General!" Zhao Tieying grinned shamelessly.

The General laughed out loud. "Lin Chuan, how long will it take to teach my men how to operate these things?"

"Reporting to the General!"

Lin Chuan's eyes lit up. "They are quick to learn, two days will suffice. Only..."

He rubbed his fingers together. "The manufacturing process is rather cumbersome, and they are prone to bursting in the barrel. Each cannon can only be used once... Once this subordinate conducts further research and makes improvements..."

General Chen was momentarily stunned, then burst into sky-ward laughter.

"Ha, ha, ha! Well played, Lin Chuan! Are you taking a roundabout way to ask me for silver?"

He waved a large hand dismissively. "Don't talk nonsense with me! I just confiscated a hundred thousand taels a few days ago, I've got plenty of silver!"

"General, it really isn't a matter of silver..."

Lin Chuan pondered for a moment. "A single cannon costs fifty taels to make, and factoring in wear and tear, plus the explosive charges, it comes out to at least eighty taels..."

Listening to the figures Lin Chuan was quoting, Hu Dayong's jaw nearly hit the ground.

When in reality, five taels of silver was more than enough...

"However..."

Lin Chuan changed his tune. "Given the General's profound favor, this subordinate is endlessly grateful. Let's just say ten taels per cannon..."

"Enough, enough!" The General waved a hand. "There are no outsiders here, stop playing dumb with me. A hundred taels each, give me a hundred of them first! I'll go demand the funds from Military Inspector Wang—dammit, let's see how many guts he has to refuse the allocation!"

Rubbing the back of his head, Lin Chuan chuckled sheepishly, "General, wouldn't that be a bit too embarrassing for me?"

"Piss off!" General Chen cursed. "The border garrison grand review is in two more days. Make a couple first and bring them over... The Eagle-Brave Garrison... they've got money, demonstrate it to them... Damn them, for turtling up and refusing to send troops! I'm going to let these cannons slaughter them!"

He shot Lin Chuan a meaningful look.

Understanding instantly, Lin Chuan cupped his fists. "This subordinate obeys!"

Over the next two days,

the fires in the blacksmith shop at Tielin Fortress burned unceasingly through day and night.

Blacksmith Zhao and a dozen apprentices labored day and night, the clanging ring of the blacksmith's hammer never stopping.

The anvils, originally used for crafting farming tools, were now piled high with semi-finished iron tubes.

Even the women who cooked meals came to help pull the bellows, making the entire workshop as hot as a steamer.

"Platoon Commander!"

Blacksmith Zhao ran over, his face covered in soot, followed by two burly apprentices carrying a strange-looking object.

The thing was yellowish throughout, its cylinder bound tightly with several iron rings.

"A newly made sample, take a look..."

Lin Chuan put down his ledger and reached out to touch it.

The texture felt wrong.

"Hmm?" He felt it more carefully. "Wood?"

"Yes, a walnut wood core wrapped in three layers of bamboo strips."

Blacksmith Zhao wiped the sweat from his brow and explained, "Bound tight with wrought iron rings, and the seams sealed with fish glue and lime."

Lin Chuan's eyes lit up.

He tapped the barrel; the sound was dull and solid. "Tested it?"

"Three rounds fired, no cracks!"

Blacksmith Zhao gestured excitedly, "Except the range is only about seventy percent of the iron tubes..."

"What about the cost?" Lin Chuan asked.

"Twenty percent!" Blacksmith Zhao replied.

Lin Chuan's mental abacus instantly clattered away in his mind:

The cost of a wooden tube is one-fifth of an iron one. Although its lifespan is short, it's meant to be a consumable item anyway...

Even though the range is only seventy or eighty paces, it's just right for selling to other garrisons...

"Good!" He nodded. "Make ten first! Bring them along during the grand review!"

Blacksmith Zhao nodded in agreement, then suddenly hesitated as if he had something more to say. "Then... should we still make the original ones?"

"Make them!" Lin Chuan smiled. "The Xilong Garrison will keep those for its own use."

As they were talking, the rapid sound of hoofbeats came from afar.

Pang Dabiao arrived in a cloud of dust, leading a cart behind him.

"Brother Lin, the General's letter of appointment!"

He swung down from his saddle and pulled a red-lacquered, sealed scroll from his bosom.

"Brother Pang, what letter of appointment?"

Lin Chuan took the scroll and unrolled it to take a look.

The four gold-stamped characters "Deputy Commissioner of Ordnance" leaped into view.

Lin Chuan was momentarily dumbfounded.

This was a genuine sixth-rank military post, a full two ranks higher than his current position as a platoon commander!

"The General said."

Pang Dabiao wiped the sweat from his face and smiled.

"We're demonstrating the Wind-Thunder Cannons at the parade ground tomorrow, you need an official and proper status."

He suddenly lowered his voice. "Also..."

Pang Dabiao turned and beckoned to the men behind him.

Personal guards stepped forward carrying several heavy wooden chests.

When the lids were opened, the blinding glare of pristine silver ingots flashed in the sunlight.

"Ten thousand taels, for the first batch of Wind-Thunder Cannons! The General told me to bring it to you."

"Oh my, thank the General for his immense favor!"

Blacksmith Zhao and his apprentices had already stared themselves silly.

"Right," Pang Dabiao suddenly remembered something and untied a bundle from beside his saddle. "The General also had me bring this."

When the bundle was shaken out, it turned out to be a brand-new set of sixth-rank military official robes!

An embroidered lion insignia graced the indigo satin fabric, and the copper buttons were polished to a brilliant shine.

"Tomorrow at the parade ground review, the General wants you to wear this."

Pang Dabiao winked. "The garrison commanders from all the nearby posts will be coming to observe..."

Lin Chuan understood immediately.

The General intended to sell the Wind-Thunder Cannons at a handsome price right in front of the commanders of all the garrisons!

"Don't worry, Brother Pang!"

He patted his chest. "Tomorrow, I'll definitely give those lords a real eye-opener!"