<h4>Chapter 1257: A National Machine</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>Transn <strong>Editor: </strong>Transn


    “I need an additional ammonia nt and a saltpeter nt. You knew that, didn’t you?” Rnd asked.


    Agatha and Paper had been working on these two materials, but the production rate was not satisfactory due to theck of catalysts. Although their method was much better than the original acid-making method that involved saltpeter, they could not further increase the production as a result of limited manpower and magic.


    After Rnd obtained a copy of theplete periodic table of elements, the chemistryboratory immediately started to make sample elements. With Lucia’s help, the Ministry of Chemical Industry was now able to create a sample for every element on the table, including many rare elements such as tinum and rhodium that were normally used as catalysts in chemical reactions.


    As long as there were enough people, they could build as many nts as they wanted. Mass production might not be the most efficient way to produce war materials, but the original acid-making method was solely reliant on Agatha’s and Paper’s abilities.


    Kyle said slowly, “Your Majesty, we’ve already verified the theories through experiments and simted the acid-making process in a small reaction vessel. As long as we have sufficient manpower, we can start working anytime.”


    “I can offer you all the literate immigrants. You can start after this meeting,” Rnd said. “Also, I n to create a new production line for lead-acid batteries.”


    Kyle nodded inprehension. Perhaps, not many people knew what those things were, but he had learned elementary and intermediate chemistry by heart and certainly understood what Rnd was talking about.


    Lead-acid batteries were also known as storage batteries. It was not even that hard for the Alchemist Workshop to make them, since the only materials required were lead, lead dioxide, and dilute sulfuric acidm, let alone the current Ministry of Chemical Industry. Plus, the experiment on electrolytes with a light bulb was a ssic experiment in high school chemistry.


    The strength of storage batteries was that they could be recharged by supplying water regrly. There was no technical difficulty whatsoever in producing lead and lead dioxide. The reasons that he had not produced them earlier were that they rarely needed storage batteries and had insufficient manpower.


    “How many do you need approximately...” Kyle asked as he produced a notebook.


    “Around 100 per month,” Rnd replied.


    Storage batteries would be mainly used to start off piston engines for the bines. As the bine was the most advanced industrial product in Neverwinter, it was uneptable that it took so long for the ne to take off. Rnd attributed this drawback to theck of manpower. However, with the influx of a great number of immigrants, they could now eliminate this defect.


    With so many additional people, they could literally do whatever they wanted.


    “We would only need around 10 people to finish this small project,” Kylemented sagely as he stroked his beard. “Of course, we still need Queen Anna’s help to manufacture other parts like lead tes and shells.”


    “If you could provide me with detailed drawings, the Ministry of Industry has no issue with that,” Anna said while nodding.


    “Then please give me a few days to think it over, and I’ll send you the drawings shortly.”


    Rnd sipped his tea in satisfaction. After years of education and training, there were now many talented people in the Administrative Office. It was verymon that a project involved various departments. For many projects, Rnd only had to provide his advice here and there in the very beginning, and his ministers would finish the rest.


    “Now, the Ministry of Industry shall — ”


    After the war of Taqu, Rnd realized that there were a lot of things that needed to be improved. Now, he finally got an opportunity to do so.


    First was the fighting capacity of the infantries.


    Rnd called it the “General Purpose Machine Gun n”.


    The basic idea was to produce a lighter version of Mark I type HMG with a simpler structure. The barrel and rack should be separate so that the weapon could be more portable. A cartridge should be used to enable soldiers to open fire immediately in the event of an attack. In that case, soldiers would be able to suppress the Senior Demons and earn time for the anti-demon grenade unit.


    Since there would not be much change in the gun structure, the only way to reduce the weight would be switching over to a lighter material, aluminium alloy and stic made from the slimes of rubber worms, for instance. Both of the two materials were not manufactured on arge scale, but the production of the bines required a lot of them. Therefore, they would not produce many new machine guns.


    But it was better than nothing. Plus, the Aerial Knight also needed machine guns, so this project was very necessary.


    As far as Rnd saw, the First Army could still remain in a superior postion in the Kingdom of Everwinter and the Kingdom of Wolfheart without upgrading their guns. Only the elite unit, who usually took on special missions such as scouting, covering and rescue, would need such an advanced weapon.


    Also, the semi-automatic rifle invented by Van’er was in the process of mass production. Every five soldiers would have a “Van’er Rifle”. The reason that Rnd did not change all the bolt rifles was logistics. Since the linkage was left in the air, the rifle was not actually very durable. It could easily get jammed after multiple shots.


    However, the “Van’er Rifle” could effectively increase the firepower.


    The next project that Rnd had intemtion was the bine. After four months of intense tests, the first generation of bines was finally put into use and was named the “Fire of Heaven”. Although this new model was very simr to the “Unicorn”, and its structure was not extremelyplicated, it was still unrealistic to ask ordinary workers to manufacture and assemble it. As for the production of the engine, it was still reliant on Anna’s ability.


    Having said that, Rnd still nned to gather the top workers in the industrial zones to tackle these potential problems. These people had elevated themselves from apprentices who used to il hammers to excellent machine tool operators. It was also a good time to test how far the industrialization of Neverwinter had gone in the three years after the establishment of the first steam engine nt.


    The only way to suppress the Devilbeasts was to dominate the sky.


    The “Fire of Heaven” was obviously just the beginning of this magnificent endeavor.


    Thest project Rnd had in mind was regarding the new Spidery Monstrous Beast. Rnd nned to create a small-caliber cannonrger than the mortars but smaller than the Longsong Cannons to repel the Monstrous Beasts. The caliber should be around 75 milimeters. It could be easily carried on horses and by soldiers, and Hummingbird did not necessarily have to reduce its weight.


    It was not difficult to make such a cannon. Rnd only needed a few workers from the cannon nt. However, before that, he had to first create a sample cannon and test it out.


    He had discussed these prospective projects with Anna numerous times in private. They soon reached a mutual understanding without any unncessary exnation.


    This would be the grandest manufacturing project in Neverwinter in the history of time, for the project involved nearly 10 nts and a workforce of 20,000 and 30,000 people.


    With the implementation of the immigration campaign, the industrialization in Neverwinter would be even more intense and rapid.


    A machine titled “nation” was set in motion.