The Great Ming in the Box-Chapter 254: You Make the Fire Cap
A short while later, Li Da and Gao Yiye arrived at the entrance of the firearms bureau.
The firearms bureau truly lived up to its reputation as the “hottest” department in Gaojia Village, changing daily like never before. In just a few days, another group of guards stood watch, each equipped with a waist knife, looking very serious.
This was Xu Dafu’s request. As he had put it: “If even the tiniest spark got inside the firearms bureau, a massive explosion could occur. Such an important place can’t rely solely on me for protection. We must have better safeguards; otherwise, all of us might be blown sky-high one day by mischievous children.”
Thirty-Two agreed after hearing this. Besides the militia, he hired an extra team of guards solely to protect the firearms bureau, forbidding any unauthorized personnel from entering.
Naturally, the Saint Lady wasn’t considered “unauthorized personnel.” Everyone bowed respectfully at the sight of her, as she represented the Deity.
Xu Dafu immediately emerged from the bureau to greet her. “The Saint Lady is here! Has the Deity issued orders? Er… Even though you are the Saint Lady, I must ask… Could you please step back just a little? If you happen to be carrying a fire starter…”
Everyone: “…”
This was absolutely ridiculous!
Gao Yiye wasn’t angry. With a smile, she spread her hands. “Relax, I have no fire starter. Neither does Li Da. We’ve been very careful before coming so as not to trouble you.”
She took Li Da several steps back anyway. Xu Dafu cautiously approached, closing the door firmly behind him. No one entered; the conversation stayed outside in the open courtyard. Such hospitality reflected pure caution.
Even Li Daoxuan, watching this little spectacle from above, found it intensely amusing. This guy… Even the Saint Lady’s face holds no sway? Thankfully, I’m floating in the sky. What if I were inside the village? Would you dare stop me if I approached your bureau’s gate? I’d love to find out!
Meanwhile, Li Da began his lengthy explanation, detailing his query about the “fire cap.”
Xu Dafu listened intently. He summarized, “So, inside the gun, a spring drives a pin forward to strike the bullet. Then, with a ‘bang,’ the bullet shoots out?”
Li Da nodded. “I’m baffled. How does it actually work?”
Xu Dafu picked up a twig and sketched a large bullet on the ground. With the tip of the twig, he pointed to its base. “There’s a fire cap here, right?”
“Exactly!”
Xu Dafu grasped it nearly instantly. “Clearly, this ‘fire cap’ is a peculiar ignition device. When the firing pin hits it, the fire cap combusts. That ignites the black powder at the front, which explodes with a ‘bang,’ propelling the bullet out of the barrel…”
Li Da saw it too. “Ah! That makes sense! But… Could such a thing even exist? Something that ignites gunpowder just by being struck?”
Xu Dafu: “Of course! Many materials spark violently upon impact. Strike two knives together hard enough, and sparks fly, don’t they?”
Li Da’s eyes lit up.
Xu Dafu continued, “Flint ignites fiercely when scraped. Plenty of things catch fire on friction! That’s precisely why I’m terrified of anyone entering the bureau – terrified they’ll inadvertently spark something, sending us all sky-high.”
Li Da’s eyes shone brighter. “I get it! I just need to craft this impact-ignitable material into a fire cap for the bullet’s base. The pin strikes it, and ‘bang!’ Ha ha! The Deity was right; this is your expertise.”
Xu Dafu’s expression darkened. He shook his head. “Brother Li Da, it’s not that simple. While yes, many things spark, making it reliable is another matter. Take striking knives: Can you guarantee sparks every single time? Can you control their size? Can you be certain they’ll ignite powder every single time? If you can’t, what happens when your firearm misfires on the battlefield? Wouldn’t your firearm soldiers just die for nothing?”
“Caution! The core of working with pyrotechnics is caution!”
Li Da wiped sweat from his brow. “Er… Hmm… True…”
Xu Dafu stated, “I need time to think thoroughly. Discovering material that reliably sparks from a pin strike every time, capable of igniting powder… that is no simple task.”
Li Da asked, “So you’ll take charge of researching this?”
“Nonsense! Naturally it falls to me,” Xu Dafu replied. “Testing requires constant gunpowder trials. Do you think I’d hand you gunpowder? Your place is a blacksmith’s shop showering sparks all day long. Leaving a keg there would surely blow the whole artisans’ well sky-high sooner or later!”
Li Da wiped his sweat again. “Ah… Very well. I’ll leave it to you with confidence. I’ll return to focus on other components.”
Li Da departed. Gao Yiye stayed, smiling brightly at Xu Dafu.
Xu Dafu turned to re-enter the bureau, then paused. Realizing the Saint Lady was still beaming at him, he looked up. Sure enough, the low cloud symbolizing the Deity hovered overhead.
Understanding dawned. “Saint Lady, has the Deity another message?”
Gao Yiye smiled warmly. “The Deity has an item to show you.”
Xu Dafu’s spirits lifted instantly. “An immortal object?”
Gao Yiye confirmed, “Yes! Hehe. The Deity says this relates directly to crafting the fire cap. Seeing it, you’ll immediately grasp the method.”
Xu Dafu was thrilled. “My deepest gratitude to the Deity!”
Li Daoxuan’s hand descended. To ensure visibility, he wore the Infinity Gloves. The enormous golden hand settled before Xu Dafu. Seeing the Deity’s divine appendage so near made the gunpowder maker tremble violently from head to toe. “Ah! This… This is the first time witnessing the Deity’s golden hand so closely!”
Gao Yiye scrambled up the immense hand like a little monkey and sat comfortably in the palm, gesturing to Xu Dafu. “Come up. The Deity will take us somewhere distant.”
Xu Dafu was overwhelmed. “This… I… May I? Who am I to deserve such an honor?”
Gao Yiye urged playfully, “Hurry up! The Deity’s time is precious!”
Rushing forward, Xu Dafu clambered onto the palm. The great golden hand lifted smoothly, carrying both tiny figures aloft. In moments, they were set down on a small, barren hilltop far from the village.
Li Daoxuan gently placed them down. He then retrieved a crackle popper from his fireworks collection. Pinching it carefully between two fingers, he lowered it into the world-box right in front of Xu Dafu, waving it gently. “Memorize this object. It explodes solely upon impact. I’ll demonstrate for you now.”
Chapter 254: You Make the Fire Cap
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