Roland has been thinking about bullets for revolving firearms for a long time. Round lead bullets and bulk gunpowder are too outdated. Considering Anna's processing ability, it is technically feasible to directly manufacture copper-cased ammunition. The key is how to ignite the black powder loaded in the cartridge case without a reliable primer.
The primer of the early metal shell fixed-loading bullets is generally mercury fulminate, which is extremely sensitive to impact. Pull the trigger to activate the firing pin, which stimulates the mercury fulminate at the bottom of the bullet to fire, thereby igniting the propellant and shooting the warhead out of the gun chamber.
It's a pity that he couldn't remember the raw materials needed to make mercury fulminate. Literally, there must be nitric acid and mercury, but it can be seen from the handwritten reaction formula that the reaction of these two substances will only Generates nitrate* mercury.
Moreover, just knowing the raw materials does not mean that the finished product can be successfully produced. Whether the solution has concentration and temperature requirements during the reaction process, and whether or not to add a catalyst are also key factors affecting the preparation of the finished product. What's more, due to its sensitive properties, mercury fulminate can easily trigger an explosion when it is manufactured, and if he is not careful, he will lose two fingers, so he has not dared to try it himself.
Therefore, Roland had no choice but to settle for the next best thing. In the case of using metal bullet casings, he still used the flint ignition method, which required that the spark could enter the inside of the bullet casing and ignite the gunpowder. So first of all, holes must be left at the bottom of the cartridge case to prevent the gunpowder from leaking out.
Obviously, there is an irreconcilable contradiction between these two points: the larger the opening, the faster the gunpowder leaks. If the opening is too small, it will be difficult for the sparks shot from the flint to ignite the gunpowder inside.
He needed something that could be easily ignited by sparks, while blocking the opening to prevent gunpowder from leaking.
The first thing that came to Roland's mind was nitrocellulose, also known as collodion.
It was also one of the few chemicals he could remember that could be used in weapons because it was made from very simple materials: cotton soaked in a mixture of two strong acids. Acids are the most commonly used sulphuric and nitric acids and are not dangerous to produce. He originally wanted to wait for the alchemist to be recruited before starting the trial production of fire cotton, but now that he has made a seven-day appointment, he decided to roll up his sleeves and end in person.
Picking up the quill, he wrote the long-awaited idea on scratch paper.
First of all, cotton, preferably woven and undyed muslin, was brought back from the ducal palace and was now piling up in the castle warehouse. Cotton yarn needs to be degreased, otherwise the grease attached to the surface will hinder the nitrification. Most traversers are familiar with the thing that removes grease, which is sodium hydroxide, also commonly known as caustic soda. At the same time, it is also the raw material for making soap: add sodium hydroxide solution to the grease, stir it evenly, and then put it into the mold to solidify, and then the soap for washing can be obtained. It's just that Roland has been busy developing industry and agriculture and fighting foreign enemies, so he has no time to develop such daily necessities.
As for how to make sodium hydroxide, the easiest way is probably to electrolyze salt water. So the prince discovered that in order to build a new type of bullet, he first had to start with a DC generator.
*****************
Ashes walked by the Chishui River, feeling a little depressed.
Ever since those witches knew that she was here to persuade the Sisters of the Mutual Aid Society to leave Border Town, their attitude towards her also cooled down, no longer the enthusiasm they had when they first met last night.
Moreover, she noticed that most witches practice their abilities in the backyard of the castle, which shows that Roland has also found a way to avoid being devoured by magic. The original plan to use this vital piece of information to gain the witches' favor has been shattered. Apart from explaining the pros and cons to them individually, and persuading them to leave, there is almost nothing I can do.
What surprised Ashes most was that Roland Wimbledon didn't change much in appearance, but he had an indescribable temperament in his gestures, which was incompatible with the image of a playboy in the past.
Why is this happening? He used to be an incompetent person, and the first thing he thought of when encountering things was to escape, not to mention standing up for others, and even what he did, he was afraid to take responsibility. Thinking of that harassment, but a look of hatred made him fall to the ground in a panic. Tilly heard the sound, but he lied that he had accidentally fallen, and blamed the fifth princess for why he had to find such an ugly woman as a bodyguard.
Since then, Ash's feelings for the Fourth Prince have dropped to the lowest point.
She thought that such a person would be the best solution, but she was completely unable to gain the upper hand in today's negotiation, especially after the other party said that there would be a one-on-one test, she found that she couldn't even use force to coerce because the other party did not escape. Instead, he intends to answer his own doubts head-on by means of a test. Threatening him personally at this time has no use other than reducing the witch's favor.
Ashes sighed. If only she could be as smart as Tilly, any problem would be solved in front of her. If she encounters such a situation, she must be able to come up with a solution, right? The ease and anticipation when he came here are gone. If he didn’t want to help Tilly as much as possible, Ashes really wanted to get on the boat to Clear Water Port and leave Greycastle as soon as possible.
Before she knew it, she found that she had stepped out of the town. The other side of the river was no longer a lush wheat field, but an uncultivated woodland.
Just when Ashes was about to turn back, there was a sudden wave of magic power behind her, she turned her head subconsciously, a dagger stabbed from her cheek, and then slashed horizontally. The surging magic power has turned into a huge wave, Ashes felt that half of his cheeks were stabbed with pain, and the other party's coherent moves were obviously not something ordinary people could do. She no longer hesitated, let her body fall completely, avoided the dagger swept in front of her eyes, and ejected herself with one foot.
However, the other party disappeared out of thin air and reappeared behind him in the blink of an eye. Ashes didn't even see how the other party moved.
She drew out the giant sword and rotated her body in a circle, driving the blade to make a dull whistling, and the speed was so fast that a large piece of dust was raised on the ground. The attack method without dead ends can remove any threat within the attack range of the sword, but this move fails in front of the opponent's strange movement.
Oops, she thought to herself, her muscles were tense, and when she was about to force the opponent's next attack, the shadow disappeared from her face. The dust fell slowly, and the man was standing not far from her, playing with the dagger in his hand.
It was Nightingale.
"Is this a warning?" Ash frowned.
"Of course not," she put the dagger in her waist, "I just want to see the strength of the extraordinary."
"Really? I thought you meant to say"
"Let you leave Border Town quickly, or else I'll be rude to you?" Nightingale interrupted, "In that case, what's the difference between me and Hakala."
Hakkara? Why did she mention the former head of the Commonwealth? Ashes thought puzzled.
"You can persuade each sister with confidence that if someone is willing to leave with you, I don't think His Highness will stop you, and of course I won't. But..." Nightingale paused, "Don't try to hurt or threaten His Royal Highness Roland, or you will come down. I won't stab it on purpose once." Having said that, she grinned and disappeared into the air, "Enjoy your life in Border Town."
Sure enough, I still came to warn myself, Ashes shook his head. (.)