Princes 14 Childs Play
Part 4: Weapons Check
So how does this work? Caesar asked as he cradled the weapon in his arms.
Very much like a musket, but with a few key differences, Jin explained excitedly. First of all, pull back on this lever, he said, pointing to a metal lever near the bottom of the barrel, next to the stock. Caesar did so. That opens the breech, into which you can insert the cartridge. Pointed end forward.
Caesar carefully inserted the metallic cartridge into the breach. The new cartridges were enclosed in a metal shell rather than paper, and had one conical end and one flat. Also unlike the paper cartridges, these new ones did not have to be opened before loading; they were entirely self-contained, gunpowder and projectile combined into one small, neat, deadly package.
Slide the bolt back, Jin instructed him. Caesar pushed the lever back until it closed with a click. Now raise the weapon to your shoulder, take aim, and fire.
Caesar stared down the sights of the weapon. That target youve set up has got to be well over one hundred yards away, he muttered.
Two hundred yards, to be precise, Caesar, Jin said, his voice even and confident. I understand youve been practicing with a musket?
Since you were but a beam of light in your fathers eye, the immortal leader of Rome responded.
Then you should have no problem hitting that target with this weapon, Jin assured him. When he saw Caesar was about to lick his index finger, Jin interjected. No need to check the wind, Caesar. Not at this range.
Caesar cocked an eyebrow at the engineers self-confident tone. He sighted the target, took aim, and squeezed the trigger. With a loud retort, his shot fired. The shell flew out of the breech and landed at his feet and he felt the familiar kick of the weapon into his shoulder. He lowered the barrel and stared at the distant target.
You hit it, sir, one of his sharp-eyed aides told him.
I can see that, Caesar said, barely hiding his surprise. He could fire a musket all day long at a two-hundred-yard distant target without ever striking it, let alone scoring a bulls eye. But this new weapon had proved remarkably accurate, even on his first attempt. What do you call it again, Jin?
A
rifle, Caesar, Jin said proudly.
All it had taken was the sight of his own son using a basic principle of physics to accurately throw a ball, and everything had become clear. The conservation of angular momentum meant that an object, such as a ball, or a bullet, rotating around a reference point would continue to rotate around that reference point unless acted upon by some external force. Thus, imparting a spin to a bullet gave it greater accuracy and range. It was an idea so obvious, so simple, that Jin still couldnt help chuckling when he thought of how hed missed it all these years.
Once he had the idea, the implementation had been obvious: carve grooves into the barrel of the musket, a process called rifling. Then engineer the bullet so that it gripped those grooves when the weapon was fired, thereby imparting a spin to the projectile. Inspired by this innovation, Jins team of military engineers had also developed the breech-loading mechanism and the new, simpler, and more aerodynamic cartridges. It had taken a few years to perfect everything, but after decades of little progress, the time seemed to fly by.
The sound of the rifle firing echoed across the field as Caesar took another shot. This one was a perfect bulls eye.
Excellent, Caesar said as he lowered the rifles stock from his shoulder. He turned to one of his companions, an angular-featured man with youthful looks but thinning hair. Septimius. How long will it take your firm to start mass-producing these rifles?
The man pursed his lips and considered. It isnt just the rifling, he said. Its the breech mechanism, and the new cartridges
well have to completely retool our munitions factories. Id say we can be ready to make these in, say, six months?
You have two, or I turn the contract over to your competitor, Caesar said sharply. Time is of the essence.
Septimius inhaled deeply, his eyes widening, then nodded. Ill see to it myself, Caesar, he said, then looked away, his mind already considering how to accomplish the task.
Are we expecting to be attacked, Caesar? Jin asked innocently.
Ceasar turned suddenly, his ice-blue eyes staring sharply at Jin in such a way that the military engineer had to suppress a shudder. Then a smile slowly appeared on those ancient, angular features, crinkling the corners of his eyes.
Its of paramount importance that Romes soldiers be as well equipped as possible as soon as possible, he said in an assuring tone. They must be prepared for
any eventuality. Dont you agree, Li Jin?
Of course, Caesar, Jin said with a respectful bow. As he rose, he saw that Caesar and his aides were already walking away, and he could feel his own guts churning.
