Master Sid's so-called pleasant surprise didn't surprise Laurist. He had refined a new type of steel, which he named Sid 303. Laurist found that Sid was becoming more and more similar to Master Xiluba. He was used to using his own name to name his newly discovered objects, hoping to leave a lasting legacy.
According to Master Sid's introduction, the elasticity of this Sid 303 steel was currently the best among all steels. It was the most suitable to be used as a spring and the arm of a crossbow. Moreover, through experiments, the chariot steel crossbow made from this steel could shoot further and fiercer, reaching a maximum distance of more than 400 meters and so on …
Laurist found that Sid seemed to be looking forward to using his newly invented spring steel to replace the steel crossbow arms of all chariot steel crossbows, but Laurist rejected the suggestion. At present, the chariot steel crossbows equipped by the family could dominate the market. Even if other forces obtained a few chariot steel crossbows, they wouldn't be able to replicate the steel crossbow arms of the chariot steel crossbows. The family didn't need to spend a large sum of money to upgrade the chariot steel crossbows. However, this spring steel was still a pretty good technology reserve.
Compared to Sid's disappointment, Laurist was more interested in the new high-temperature smelting furnace used to refine this spring steel. After two years of experiments, Sid had finally trial-produced a refractory brick and used it to create a furnace that could use high-temperature flames to refine black iron ores. This spring steel was the new product of this high-temperature smelting furnace. After the black iron was calcined into molten iron, Sid had done countless experiments and added various metals before grasping the material ratio of this spring steel. To be precise, this should be a type of alloy steel.
However, Laurist didn't understand steel and iron smelting techniques, so he wasn't very interested in the various things that Sid had to pay attention to during the steel smelting process. The only thing that made him feel regretful was that this world didn't have coal or oil. He didn't know whether it was because the forest was too rich in wood or because they hadn't discovered these two energy ores, but the people of Galinthea used firewood and charcoal to forge. When raising the temperature, they would add fire crystal powder. However, although the fire crystal powder could raise the temperature, it couldn't last long. This was probably the main reason why it was so difficult to climb the technological tree in Galinthea.
"Master Sid, I'd like to ask something. Did you make any improvements to the Cross Bow used by the light cavalry a few years ago to lower the production cost?" Laurist asked.
Sid had an awkward expression on his face. He hesitated for a moment before replying, "Apologies, Your Highness. Because the production cost of the Cross Bow is too high and the process is too complicated, Master Fallin and I didn't continue researching after the order was cancelled by the family. I was busy building the high-temperature smelting furnace and experimenting with the new steel. while Master Fallin Fallin, Fallin, Fallin's, Master Fallin Fallin Falist.
It took two years to Fallin Fallin's production, and Fallin. Fallin: Fallfallin, Fallin Fall. 2. Fall. Fallin Longs Fallin Fall. Sid. "Fall," Sid "Falls" Fall, Master "Fallin (Prince Has Fallin)" Bow "'s Took to Long)" t " After all, Sid and Fallin Falist had put a lot of effort into the Cross Bow a few years ago, and there was no way to improve it.
"I remember Master Sid saying that the main reason for the high production cost of the Cross Bow is the steel of the crossbow arm, right? The elasticity of the steel is so unstable that only a few qualified products can be used to make the crossbow arm. Moreover, it isn't a large piece like the crossbow arm of a war chariot, but a crossbow used by a single person. Therefore, there is a lot of waste when forging the small crossbow arm. That's why the production cost of the Cross Bow is so high, right? "Laurist asked.
"Yes, Your Highness." Sid nodded and admitted, "Because the smelting furnace was extremely unstable, the properties of the steel refined from each furnace were different. Even if the ratio of the materials used was the same, the same situation would occur. Moreover, the elastic steel can't be obtained through continuous forging. We can forge fine iron into steel, but this steel will lose its elasticity after forging for a long time. That's why the steel suitable for making the Cross Bow is extremely difficult to refine. That's why the production cost is so high. We need to refine ten batches to get one or two batches of qualified elastic steel … "
Laurist nodded, "Since that's the reason, why didn't Master Sid think of using this new spring steel on the Cross Bow? The formula for Sid 303 has already been fixed, the quality is stable, and the production is also large. I think it should be able to greatly reduce the production cost of the Cross Bow. "
Sid stared blankly for a moment, then became wild with joy, "That's right, why didn't I think of this? I was only thinking about the war chariot crossbow, but I forgot that the family has always been looking for a long range weapon to replace the longbow. Your Highness, I'll immediately go find Master Falist and have him refine the Cross Bow … "
"Wait, Master Sid, there's one more thing." Laurist called out to Sid, who was about to break into a run, "Discuss this with Master Falist. If the elasticity of this steel is really as outstanding as you say, try forging it into a cavalry bow that can be used on horses, and then compare its performance with the longbow. The family's hunting cavalry has already been rebuilt, and we are in need of a weapon that can be fired from a warhorse and not be inferior to a longbow. "
"Your Highness, I understand. We will definitely try to create a weapon that the family needs as soon as possible. For the sake of the family, we will not hesitate to die ten thousand times!" Sid immediately became fanatical.
Looking at Sid's receding figure, Laurist slapped his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. To put it bluntly, he was now wondering if the family's technological tree had gone awry. In Laurist's heart, the ideal long range weapon, no one had been willing to research the musket. Sid and the others had gone further and further down the path of the crossbow. Even the steel they researched and refined was the elastic steel suitable for forging crossbows, and they were unwilling to spend the effort on researching muskets …
Now, the Norton Family's war chariot crossbow was at the forefront of long range weapons, and it was incomparably sharp. This was indeed the work of Sid and the others, but they were now stuck in a dead end, researching how to improve the crossbow to shoot further and more fiercely. Although Laurist had provided the musket blueprints and component blueprints, it seemed like these masters had no intention of delving deeper into it. Perhaps Laurist should consider whether he should establish a new research center to research muskets, but it was difficult to find a suitable candidate …
After leaving the Darksteel Refinery, Laurist's last inspection was of the Steel Furnace Fort. This was the family's weapons production center in the Blade Peak Mountain Range. Sid's side would forge weapons and armor and transport them here, then polish and embed them to become standard equipment for the family's armed forces. This was a large military production base with three thousand people. Apart from supplying the family's armed forces, it also produced and assembled equipment for the family's allies, as well as military equipment for export.
The manager of the Steel Furnace Fort, Baron Camelot, was already waiting here. Currently, the most important military task of the Steel Furnace Fort was to produce sixty thousand sets of standard light cavalry armor for the hunting cavalry. This batch of standard light cavalry armor was Master Sid's latest design. After accepting the suggestions of the Hunting Cavalry, Master Sid had redesigned the armor and made many improvements. At the same time, according to Laurist's orders, the original black had been dyed into a grayish black.
Baron Camelot had been in charge of logistics and support during the Iberian Kingdom's invasion last year. He had accomplished his mission excellently, and had received special praise from Laurist. Although the flames of war had been extinguished, Winston and the southern provinces were still building various defensive facilities, so Baron Camelot's mission as the logistics manager was not over yet. He was just not that nervous. Baron Camelot appointed an assistant to oversee the operations in the capital of Winderbree, and he himself ran back to the Steel Furnace Fort to receive Laurist's inspection.
It was already the seventh of August when he returned to Monolith Castle from the Steel Furnace Fort. Laurist went to the training grounds at the back of the mountain to see Shiwald, and returned to his study. He found Fatty Shi sitting on the sofa with a large stack of documents waiting for him. The more important matter this time was the military budget for the reorganized Northsea Fleet and the reestablished hunting cavalry. There was also a letter sent from Roaring Bear City. It was from Princess Sylvia to Laurist, and she said that she liked the scenery of the Cherry Blossom Ridge Manor that Laurist had gifted her. Because there were a few places that needed to be fixed, she would return to Monolith Castle in a few days.
"Have you sent out the invitations?" Laurist asked as he read through the documents.
In Galinthea, invitations were sent to friends and family half a year in advance for a noble's wedding. This was especially true for Laurist, the Grand Duke of the Northern Lands and the head of the Norton family. Not only did he have to inform all the lower level lords of his family, but even all the noble families in the Andinak Kingdom had to be informed. This was not a matter of whether they were close or not, but it was a matter of a noble's reputation. Fortunately, the second prince had purged almost all the nobles in the Andinak Kingdom a few years ago. There were not many nobles left, so Laurist did not have to interact with nobles that he was not familiar with at all. He was very satisfied with this.
He was going to marry Princess Sylvia in November, and sending out the invitations at the end of June or the beginning of July was already very hasty. On the Galinthea Continent, some noble families with deep roots often had to notify the guests a year in advance for their marriages. This was because the continent was too big, and the journey was too long. Also, the guests needed time to prepare gifts for the newlyweds. However, Laurist did not have to go through so much trouble. The Norton family's influence was only in the northeast of the former Crimson Empire. Any further and they were also nobles in the Andinak Kingdom.
"Basically all of them have been sent. However, only a small number of nobles in the kingdom's capital have said that they will personally come to congratulate you. Basically, the nobles that the second prince has recently promoted have said that they will not be present due to official duties, but they have said that they will send gifts to congratulate Your Highness on your wedding, "Fatty Shi replied.
"Then what did the second prince say about it?"
"This is the strangest thing to me," Fatty Shi said with a frown. Fatty Shi frowned and said, "Our messenger didn't see His Majesty. He said that the invitation was taken away by the chief steward of the palace, and then he was told to wait for news at the courier house. In the evening, the steward sent a reply saying that His Majesty is busy and will not be able to attend the wedding of the Grand Duke of the North. However, he will send a messenger to represent him to congratulate him. After the messenger returned, I was puzzled. What is the second prince planning? He did not even attend your wedding, and the situation in the kingdom is very peaceful. It is as if he is hiding and did not even summon our messenger. This is already very rude … "
Laurist put down the document in his hand. "I don't know if you have heard about the situation. The Ford Commercial Alliance and the Southern Kingdom have started a war. Because Lempard was forced to the frontlines, it will take some time before the actual situation can be reported back. But what I am puzzled about is that His Majesty should know about this, so why is the capital as calm as before and there is no abnormality? Logically speaking, His Majesty should be taking advantage of the situation. His ambition is to unify the territory of the former empire. Now that the Commercial Alliance has taken over a few provinces of the empire, I find it very strange that His Majesty has let go of such a good opportunity. "
"Hmm … I have not heard of it. It has nothing to do with our family anyway." Fatty Shi shook his head. "Our family is too far from the Commercial Alliance, so it is normal for the news to be delayed. But His Majesty's two legions are in a stalemate with the Commercial Alliance and their vassal forces at the border, so he should have known about this long ago. According to what you said, this is indeed a good time to make a move, but His Majesty has not done anything. This is really not normal. Sigh, do you think it is possible that His Majesty is not in the capital, so he did not even summon the messenger we sent to deliver the invitations … "
Laurist was stunned. Fatty Shi's random thoughts seemed to have opened up a new train of thought. He pulled the bell, and Genolio came in from outside the study.
"Genolio, immediately send someone to find Tagger," Laurist ordered.
Tagger quickly appeared in front of Laurist.
"Tagger, immediately send a messenger eagle to ask all the intelligence investigators in the capital. Order them to find out how many days has it been since His Majesty has appeared in front of others. Who is currently in charge of the kingdom's administration and military affairs? Has anything abnormal happened in the palace? "
"Yes, Your Highness. I will do it immediately."
Three days later, Tagger appeared in front of Laurist.
"Your Highness, this is the report sent by the intelligence investigators in the capital. They said that His Majesty has not appeared in front of outsiders for almost a year. According to the servants and maids in the palace, they have not seen His Majesty in person for a long time as well. However, it has been confirmed that His Majesty has been staying in the innermost area of the palace. There are a thousand of his most loyal guards around him, and no one is allowed to enter. There are rumors that His Majesty has contracted a strange illness, which is why he has been living in seclusion. However, the head of the palace and the three ministers of the kingdom can still go in to see him. Some of the documents are signed by His Majesty himself. His style of handling affairs is still the same as before, so the situation in the kingdom is still very stable. People have also forgotten how long it has been since they last saw him … "
"Strange illness?" Laurist rubbed his chin. "Impossible. What kind of strange illness could make the second prince, who is a Gold 3-star warrior, collapse? This is impossible. Could he have been assassinated or poisoned by some strange poison? "
Tagger thought about it and replied, "Your Highness, I don't think it's possible that he was assassinated. Otherwise, the capital would have been in chaos. It doesn't seem like he was poisoned either. If he really was poisoned, the palace would definitely invite many pharmacists. Just like when his father, the third prince, was poisoned by an assassination, and all the pharmacists in the capital were invited to the palace. However, there is a situation worth paying attention to. Your Highness' cousin, Christie, seems to have lost His Majesty's trust. She has been relieved of her position as the commander of the guards, and is currently living in seclusion at home … "
"Oh?" Laurist furrowed his brows. "Is this situation true?"
"It's true, but Miss Christie doesn't seem to be willing to tell us the reason. However, she said that she will bring her entire family to the north to attend the wedding before Your Highness's wedding, "Tagger replied.
Laurist lowered his head and turned around twice. This matter was really strange, but he could be sure that the second prince had been staying in the palace for some reason. Forget it, there was no need to worry about him for now. There would be a day when the truth would come to light. At that time, he would naturally know what the second prince was up to.
"Let's do this for now. Have someone keep a close eye on the palace. If there is anything strange in the capital, report it immediately," Laurist said.
"Yes, Your Highness."
…
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