Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 706 - 372: The Creation of the Military Workshops, the Rain God Tiger Squat Cannon!_2

Chapter 706: Chapter 372: The Creation of the Military Workshops, the Rain God Tiger Squat Cannon!_2

"We present to You, the only Sun in the world, the Divine Artifact granted by the Chief Divine for the Kingdom to rule over all!"

Hearing this, Xiulote was taken aback, his heart stirred. His expression remained calm as usual, and he nodded with a smile.

"Rise! You are all heroes of the Kingdom and the Alliance!"

Upon his words, the two Master Casters and technical officials stood up, waiting for the King’s order. A few steps away, Bertade watched the scene with a calm demeanor, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

The smoke cleared, and the Bronze Cannon shone with a golden light once again. The King sniffed and asked in a deep voice.

"Tilipi, what is the success rate of casting Tiger Squat Cannons? If there is an ample supply of copper, how many can be cast in a month?"

Tilipi stretched out his fingers and pondered for a long while.

"Your Majesty, it’s easier to make Tiger Squat Cannons. Their molds are simple, and they require a close range and low airtightness... The success rate is about 60 to 70%! And with the manpower it takes to make one Divine Eagle Cannon, we can produce more than ten Tiger Squat Cannons! So, if we don’t make Divine Eagle Cannons, we can produce 20 Tiger Squat Cannons a month."

Hearing this, Xiulote paused. He mulled over the implications of Tilipi’s words, raising his eyebrows.

"Are you saying that the entire Bronze Workshop, with a thousand craftsmen and apprentices, can only produce 2 Divine Eagle Cannons or 20 Tiger Squat Cannons in a month?"

"Wise Your Majesty, the vast majority of people in the Bronze Workshop are tasked with forging bronze Armor and weapons. There are only one or two hundred people in the Cannon Casting Bureau. Moreover, what currently limits the Workshop’s output is mainly the production of copper."

Chalape, with a beaming face, quickly explained.

Hearing this, Xiulote pondered for a while and then slowly nodded. After all, the shortfall in copper was just too significant!

The Director of the Mining and Metallurgy Bureau, Necali, had written several times, saying miners were being consumed too quickly and requesting more manpower for the mines. The vast mining area, like a greedy monster beneath the earth, was endlessly devouring lives from above and spewing out the sealed-off Wealth from beneath. Now, the copper mines had over three thousand miners, with a thousand averaging over six thousand jin of copper mined and smelted each month, which is to say, twenty thousand jin of copper a month. While that sounds like a lot, it’s really just over ten tons.

All things considered, the Kingdom can only produce around 130 tons of copper a year. And copper is needed everywhere: for Cannon Casting, shipbuilding, Armor, weaponry, farming tools, even arrowheads! When the copper is allocated to these various expenses, hardly any remains.

Although the Alliance had started mining the copper mines in the Weytamo mountain region, the copper production is probably less than half of the Kingdom’s, barely meeting the demands of the Mexican Valley. Including the large copper mines exploited by the Zapotecs in the distant Oaxaca region and the scattered open-pit copper mines of the Maya people... The entire copper output of Central America, in the King’s carefree estimate, would be less than 300 tons a year. Such a copper output is far from sufficient to drive the further advancement of Central American civilization!

Compared to that, the copper output during the Song Dynasty’s Xining Era was 20 million jin, which is 10 thousand tons. And that was just the officially recorded official production, not counting the unknown quantities of private mining. In the Edo period, the peak annual production of the large Copper Mountain mine could reach 1200 tons.

In fact, the Qinganbate mining area is located on Copper Mountain and a giant mine vein, with reserves of tens of millions of tons, exceeding the Copper Mountain, and could continue to be mined until the 21st century! It’s potential for exploitation remains far from being fully unleashed; what it lacks are miners, or slave miners.

Considering this, Xiulote lowered his gaze. The entire Kingdom was permeated with a hunger for war—a profound desire for resources, land, and manpower arising from rapid national development.

"Your Majesty?"

"Hmm. Tilipi, starting this month, cast 1 Divine Eagle Cannon and 10 Tiger Squat Cannons every month! If there is not enough copper, pause the casting and research the casting technology for larger cannons. After testing, hand all the Bronze Cannons directly to the Artillery Camp. New gunners will be recruited into the Artillery Camp. You must assign skilled craftsmen to station there. They are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the cannons and for teaching the operations. Summarize all points of attention into documentation!"

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

Tilipi knelt down and gave a salute.

Xiulote reached out his hand and patted the Master Caster’s hair. Then, he smiled warmly and announced loudly.

"Tilipi, you’ve made great strides in cannon casting! From today on, I hereby confer upon you and your descendants the hereditary nobility of the Kingdom! Hereafter, your family has the right to participate in politics and will forever share in the Kingdom’s prosperity! Praise to the Chief Divine!"

"Ah! I thank you! I thank you for your generosity! Praise to the Chief Divine!"

Tilipi was visibly moved, his eyes moist with emotion. His relentless hard work day and night for the past two years had finally borne fruit!

At his side, Chalape bowed his head, letting out a soft sigh. From this day forth, the Metal Family would be divided into two branches.

"Remember, the Divine Eagle Cannon and the Rain God Tiger Squat Cannon are only the beginning! Next, you must continue to explore the art of cannon casting! Improve the mold-making process, enhance the quality of the cannon barrels, modify the length and shape of the barrels, add more stable gun carriages... And more importantly, manufacture cannons that are bigger, thicker, and longer!"

Xiulote instructed sternly. Numerous images flashed through his mind, albeit fragmented, they pointed towards the future direction.

"When we return, I will draw some illustrations for you to use as reference!"

"Blessed by the Chief Divine! Your Divine Revelation Majesty!"

Tilipi bowed respectfully, his praise sincere, his thoughts drifting far away. Although most of the time, His Majesty’s guidance seemed like disheveled slag, there were always some ingenious ideas, like the fortunate yield from a stroke of luck, that could inspire and save much effort... Hmm, it must be because His Majesty didn’t study carefully during his Divine Revelations! If it were up to me...

"Tilipi!"

"Ah, yes!"

The Master Caster hastily responded.

"How many bronze cannons are there in the Bronze Workshop now? When will the next batch of cannons be delivered?"

"Ah! Your Majesty, we currently have 10 Sun Divine Eagle Cannons and 30 Rain God Tiger Squat Cannons. The new batch of clay molds is drying, but due to the rainy season and the humid air, there’s been a delay..."

"Hmm? A delay again?"

Xiulote raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the Master Caster before him. The man was middle-aged but had already started to go bald and looked much thinner than he was two years ago. The King exhaled quietly, then said calmly.

"Tilipi, try to fulfill what you’ve promised me on time. Do not delay too long."

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty."

Tilipi nodded with a pained expression, agreeing reluctantly, a sigh of lamentation in his heart.

"Your Majesty, when will you go on a campaign again..."

As if hearing his inner thoughts, the King’s voice came again.

"Tilipi, ensure that all the cannons in stock are tested and delivered to the Artillery Camp before October. I have great plans for them next!"

"I obey your orders, Your Highness!"

Tilipi beamed with a radiant smile. He smiled looking at Chalape, the elder brother smiled toward Bertade, the Head Warrior smiled back at His Majesty. Everyone’s face was adorned with smiles. Because war was coming again!