Sword of Dawn

Page 244

From the appearance point of view, it is rough like a punk product, and it does not conform to the tank design ideas on earth at all.

Almost all of its armor has no bevels and arcs; its armor is also very thin, and at some riveted seams, it can even be seen that its side armor is just thin steel plates; It seems to be quite tall car body and eye-catching large turret.

These designs made the tank much easier to manufacture (which is one of the reasons it was built so quickly), lowered the cost of the tank, greatly reduced its weight, and increased payload and interior space, But this all brings up the obvious problem: its physical defenses seem to be reduced.

In Gawain's original design materials, there were concepts of sloping armor and low bodywork, but in the final product, these two concepts were abandoned.

At the beginning, he also approached Rebecca and Kamel specifically because of these changes, and had a debate, but in the end, he made concessions, because he later discovered that this seemingly defense-reducing design was actually the most effective design. is the most reasonable.

At the beginning, he gave the tank a strong physical defense capability according to the inertial thinking, and wanted to make the future tank able to resist physical attacks such as artillery shells and reduce the hit rate by increasing the armor angle and reducing the height of the vehicle body. But he overlooked one point - the most powerful form of attack in this world, and the only form of attack that can threaten the chariot is magic.

Tanks don't need to face artillery shells at all, and don't even need to think too much about throwing stones. On the battlefield, what it has to face are basically small powerful projectile weapons and powerful magic attacks—small powerful projectile weapons, For example, crossbows and stone bullets can't hurt armor made of thin steel plates at all, and powerful magic attacks with inclined armor or curved armor have no effect at all.

Powerful spells such as Lightning, Pyroblast, and Ice Whip will not "ricochet", and some spells with channeling effects will not miss the target because of the tank's low body. It is necessary to defend against powerful For magic attacks, what is needed is not to work hard on the armor, but to add a set of shield generators to the tank body.

And with the magic shield, even if the chariot encounters a powerful live ammunition attack—such as the shelling of another chariot of the same level—it still has a certain defensive ability, instead of compressing the precious chariot of the chariot to resist the live ammunition attack. inner space.

Under the guidance of this idea, the technicians of the Machinery Manufacturing Institute and the Magic Technology Research Institute abandoned operations such as sloped armor that "do not understand what is useful", and instead designed the tank to be square and human-like. A tall iron box, and two sets of magic shield devices were stuffed into the enlarged internal space, and finally, the thing in front of Gawain was created.

"We've tested it, and its weapons and shield systems work fine," Rebecca said cheerfully beside her, her face full of complacency, "As I said, you can put it in the car shell." Two sets of shields are much more useful than hanging a bunch of slanted steel pipes, and the cost is also low, and it can also reduce the weight... Your previous idea was just thinking about it, it is not practical at all..."

Gawain, who was slapped in the face by the objective laws of this world, couldn't refute Rebecca's words academically, but he could knock his little granddaughter's head off as an ancestor, so he casually patted Rebecca on the head: "I The previous idea was wrong, but who said that my previous plan was because it looked good?"

"Oh..." Rebecca screamed after being photographed, but became happy the next second, "Then you mean that the chariot we are building now is very beautiful?"

I have no idea how she came up with this idea.

Gawain ignored Rebecca, who was already self-satisfied, but looked up at the punk-style "Magic Energy Tank", and asked casually, "The final plan is to use a rail gun?"

The Nicholas egg floated over and made a buzzing sound: "Although the smallest rainbow cannon can barely be installed on the turret, it will almost 'eat' more than half of the energy of the power ridge. As long as it continues to illuminate, it must stop on the spot. Short shots will also seriously affect the stability of the engine, and the heat generated by the rainbow cannon is too high. If it is continuously irradiated for more than 30 seconds, the turret will become extremely hot, and the frost runes cannot be suppressed, and the crew cannot bear it—so In the end, we settled on live-fire guns. Although it requires carrying shells, it’s the only viable solution at the moment.”

Gao Wen nodded, and then looked at the production line behind the chariot: "How long will it take for mass production?"

Nicholas egg pondered for a moment, then buzzed: "Actually...mass production will be achieved in about half a month."

Gao Wen was surprised: "So fast?!"

"Because it is completely 'assembled' with the existing technology, and the production line is directly transformed from the production line of agricultural machinery," Nicholas Dan explained, "The chassis is a general-purpose II agricultural machinery chassis, and the armor is basically An iron box spliced ​​together with rivets and solder joints, the existing welding work platform can be used by modification, the main gun has already been mass-produced in the production line of the military factory, as for other internal devices... the technical content is not high."

Gao Wen nodded slowly, what the iron ball star said was really reasonable.

He wanted to build a tank with all his heart. At first, it seemed like an unattainable goal, but after the magic vehicle was built, the light rail gun was built, and various agricultural machinery were successfully developed, the tank had already been established unconsciously. ready.

Even in the history of the earth, the first tank seems to be something that was "rubbed" after patching together ready-made technologies.

The rough prototype vehicle in front of me may one day develop into something sophisticated, but the current version is really an iron shell on the chassis of a tractor, and a cannon is installed on the iron shell. so simple...

With such a simple thing, it is enough to deal with the challenges that Cecil will face next, and in places other than Cecil... it is also "sophisticated" enough.

"Mass production will be achieved as soon as possible after the final test is completed, and as many as can be produced before next summer," Gao Wen said to Nicholas, and then turned to Philip on the other side, "Choose one who has a high talent in magic machinery and driving." Soldiers, the task of training the first batch of tank soldiers is entrusted to you."

After Nicholas and Philip took orders, Gawain looked at Heidi again: "You are in charge of approving the budget."

Hetty: "...Yes."

The housekeeper Cecil wanted to cry but had no tears—she was dragged here early in the morning to see "farm machinery" just to approve the budget.

But after a brief moment of wanting to cry without tears, Hetty still felt a sense of urgency and deep meaning from Gawain's attitude: "Ancestor, do you think the crisis... will break out within a year?"

"This is the worst case scenario," Gawain nodded. "It's already summer—according to the temperament of the nobles in the royal capital, they should almost be done talking."

Hetty looked into Gawain's eyes and nodded slowly.

According to the original estimation of the ancestors, no later than this summer, the nobles of Ansu will reach a consensus on the issue of repairing the magnificent wall. This is not because their efficiency can really be calculated so accurately, but because the situation determines of.

They have to finish all the wrangling and discussions in the first half of summer in order to ensure that they can organize enough manpower and resources in autumn, select suitable representatives, and follow the elves to start the repair project near the barrier. When it gets colder, the team will need higher costs to start, and in the cold winter, various projects will become more difficult. If the team cannot build a safe shelter camp in time due to construction difficulties near the majestic wall with harsh environment, Then the possible losses and the cost of project failure cannot be afforded by any family.

"Regardless of whether they will finally let me, an 'old man', go out to repair the barrier on behalf of Ansu, the civil war in Ansu will temporarily stop during the repair of the barrier, but they will not stop for too long-the repair and repair of the barrier It will take about one to three years to strengthen the work. Once this problem is solved and all worries are gone, the civil war will restart immediately, and... it will definitely be more violent, and all bottom lines and faces will be torn. By then, If Cecil wants to stay out of it and devote himself to development and make money at both ends... I'm afraid it won't be so easy."

Speaking of this, Gao Wen paused, and continued: "So we must make preparations as soon as possible. Counting the time spent by the engineering team on their way, the repair of the barrier may be completed in the fall of next year at the earliest, and the 'safety margin' left to us Quantity', it will not exceed next summer - it will take time to get used to the production of weapons and equipment."

Hearing Gao Wen's plan that calculated almost every step accurately, Hetty couldn't help biting her lips: "Will the situation really develop as you estimated?"

"In many cases, the plan is inaccurate, and the facts will always exceed your expectations, just like on the battlefield-it is likely that you have made a dozen plans, but when the war really breaks out, it still depends on the commanders to be there Let’s play, even rely on recklessness,” Gao Wen laughed, looking at Hetty and said, “But an excellent decision maker will still make a plan, at least, if we have a plan, we will have something to do, right?”

Gawain himself knew that his analysis of the situation was just an "analysis". Even with the experience of Gawain Cecil, the experience of the satellite spirit, and the experience of his previous life, he couldn't guarantee that his analysis was accurate. But like he told Hetty, at least... have a plan.

Hetty lowered her head and said solemnly, "Yes, I understand."

Gawain nodded, then he turned to the prototype chariot, and said in a cheerful tone, "Okay, let's give this cold, hard man a name—"

Every pair of eyes looked at him expectantly, while he looked up and down at the chariot made of steel.

Square armor, rigid lines, simple and steady shape, straight rail guns...

Honestly, it's like a hammer.

"Let's call it Warhammer, Warhammer I main battle tank."

Chapter 0567 Tower Keeper, Visitor

After summer, the weather is getting hotter day by day.

Even though Ansu as a whole belongs to a northern country, the southern border located in the extreme south of Ansu still has hot summer, and this year, summer seems to come earlier than before.

The Fire Constellation has become a frequent visitor in the night sky, and the duration of the giant sun in the daytime is getting longer and longer every day. The sky that was originally dark at four or five o'clock is now full of morning glow at the same time.

In the wilderness on the northwest border of Luan City, a tall tower stands quietly on the plain. A slight magical radiance flickers in the gaps in the base of the tower. Occasionally, a stream of light slips through the outer walls of the tower, and a huge crystal floats. At the top of the tower, several metal brackets with strange shapes extend from the top of the tower. The rune device at the end of the bracket rotates slowly in the breeze facing the brilliant morning glow.

It was a beautiful, sunny summer morning.

The tower keeper Green woke up from his sleep, and after a simple wash, he came to the upper floor of the tower in a thin shirt and shorts.

The brighter sunlight is shining into the room through the crystal window of the workshop, and outside the window, a group of wild pigeons are flying across the sky.

"...these stupid pigeons... wish they didn't shit on the boosters..."

Green grunted, and casually threw the unfinished pancakes from the night before on the heating table, then pressed the frost rune substrate into the energy card slot on the wall, and opened the ventilation duct of the studio at the same time.

The fresh cold wind blows into the room from the ventilation pipe, dispelling the gradually rising heat, and refreshing Green, who is still a little tired.

The tower keeper let out a sigh of satisfaction—the device that the city sent people to install last month really worked.

He couldn't help but think of the "advertisement" that he saw on the magic net terminal before, the sentence that Kede Family Business Company used as a signboard——

Magic brings convenience to life.

When they first came into contact with this concept, most people were stunned and astonished. Even Green, the tower keeper who dealt with magic devices all day long, never thought about what it would be like when magic completely became a part of daily life. It is a vision, but it is achieved, and it is achieved in a dazzling way.

Magic devices are not only the private property of the lord, nor are they just the property of the "public". Cheap and convenient civilian magic devices are entering the common people. It is really entering the lives of ordinary people.

And they really bring convenience, too.

The metal device outside the window moved slowly, and the tower keeper came to the observation position, watching the huge steel support slowly rise into the air, and the rune structure tower at the end of the support was like some kind of sharp corner facing the morning glow. Sky, then he returned to the workbench, activated the magic net terminal on the workbench casually, took out the notebook, and wrote down the first monitoring record of the day on it:

"... On the 30th of the fire month, sunny, light wind, the first monitoring record of the Luan Magic Network hub tower, the booster is operating normally, the magic energy crystal is operating normally, and the magic network is broadcasting the signal..."

Green raised his head and saw a preset signal screen appearing above the activated magic net terminal, on which the identification mark from the Horsman hub tower and the signal from the lower relay tower flashed one by one.

"The magic network broadcast signal is normal and the strength is excellent..."

Green recorded carefully, without any sloppy.

He is a very conscientious and careful person, and it is for this reason that he was able to get the job of "Tower Keeper"-this job is simple and boring, and requires a high level of magic knowledge, but the income is very good. It's suitable for Green, who has five children and needs the job.

This magic net hub tower is one of the three hub towers in the entire northwest region of the Principality of Cecil. It is an important node to maintain the transmission of the magic net from the Luan area to the Horsman area. It relies on the huge magic energy crystal and buffs on the top of the tower. This tower provides signal transmission and reinforcement services for more than a dozen unattended small relay towers in the plain area, and it also supplies energy for the southern area of ​​Luan City, which is extremely important.

In addition to Green himself, there are two tower guards working with Green, but one of them is responsible for the night shift, and the other has gone out to check the unmanned repeater tower on the plain.

Except for the three technical tower guards, there is a small military station on the lower floor of the tower, and ten fully armed "tower guards" are responsible for guarding here. The tower itself also has its own magic shield. ——All of this is to ensure the safety of the magic net in the northwest border.

As far as Greene knows, the tower will increase its manpower in the near future, and by then, it should be even more lively here.

"It's hard to find people who can skillfully operate these magic devices..." The tower keeper muttered, while pressing the inspection confirmation button on the magic net terminal to send back a safety signal to the magic net control center, he shook his hand. Shaking his head, "I hope he graduated from Cecil College..."

The crispy scent of sweet noodle cakes gradually wafted over, and Ge Lin felt his stomach growl. He stood up and walked towards the heating table.

As a person who doesn't like sociability, he handles his breakfast by himself. Only when the three tower guards are in the tower at dinner time, he will go to the lower floor and have dinner with the tower guards at the military depot. .

But the moment he just got up, a shadow suddenly flashed from the window, which caught the attention of the tower keeper.

Goddess of magic! !Wouldn't it be a flock of pigeons coming to the buffs to shit? !

Green hurried to the window and stretched his neck to look at the distant sky. He didn't see the pigeons that always caused trouble for him, but he saw several huge raptors that looked like eagles rising higher and higher. Fly to the east under the higher rising sun.

And on those eagle-like raptors, the silhouettes of people can still be vaguely seen.

After being stunned for a few seconds, the tower guard realized what those raptors he had never seen before were mentioned in the notification document a while ago, and he had only heard about them in stories before. eagle.

After a brief moment of astonishment, Greene immediately ran to the workbench and called the supreme control center with the magic net terminal. When the internal communication channel was activated, the communication was connected almost instantly. A girl with flaxen hair Appears in holographic projections.

Green said quickly: "This is the Luan Junction Tower——I just witnessed the entry of the giant elven eagle. Please inform the lord."

"Received, thank you for your report."

After hanging up the communication, Green let out a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, he didn't miss this sighting—although he knew that there would be guard towers nearby that would notice the giant eagle of the elves, but he still didn't want his work to have any consequences. mistake.

The tower keeper went back to the window and glanced at the sky where the giant eagle was flying—the giant eagle of the elves was extremely fast, and in just a few minutes, those huge figures had already turned into distant figures. A few small dots, in the backlight of the morning sun, soon became unclear.

Green withdrew his gaze, but his gaze suddenly passed over the slowly moving magic device outside the window, and his eyes froze all of a sudden.

... As expected of a giant eagle, this "weight" is more than that of a dove! !

The tower keeper looked at the "remnant of the giant eagle" on the booster bracket with a look of astonishment, and suddenly felt that this sunny summer morning didn't seem so beautiful.

He returned to his workbench, took out a piece of letterhead and began to write in a hurry—compared to the keyboard of the magic net terminal, this tower keeper who was born as a scribe was still used to this traditional writing tool:

"To Cecil Magic Technology Research Institute and Magic Application Design Bureau:

"...It is recommended to add a protective cover to the high-altitude outdoor magic device, or to add a full-scale shield on the top of the high-altitude facility. The interference of birds is an annoying situation, especially their droppings..."

A burnt smell drifted into Green's nostrils, and the tower keeper jumped up suddenly: "Ouch—my breakfast!!"

Now, this sunny summer morning is really not at all beautiful.

……

The vast wilderness and jungle are passing by quickly below, rivers and lakes are scattered on the endless land like gems dotted on the plain, cities and villages are scattered among the rivers and mountains, and wide roads are like arteries. The settlements—the entire southern border is like a canvas shining brightly in the sun, and every inch of color on the canvas is blooming with endless vitality in midsummer.

The giant eagle flies across the sky, and everything on the earth is reflected in the eagle's eyes.

And under the action of the druid spell, the vision of the eagle was shared with the children of the forest who sat on the back of the giant eagle.

"That mage tower just now looks really strange," an elf ranger turned his head and said to his nearest companions. The unique elf spells channel the high-altitude airflow, so that they will not be disturbed by the strong wind, nor will the sound of the wind affect their conversation. , "It doesn't look like the style of the Four Kingdoms—nor does it look like Violet's mage tower. And I don't know what the crystal on the top of the tower is for. It always feels like it is constantly releasing energy, but it can't sense it. to any specific magical effect."

"Duchess Victoria mentioned that there are many strange things in the southern land," another elf ranger said loudly on the other side, "It is said that they were all brought by Duke Gawain Cecil."

A messenger who was guarded by rangers couldn't help sighing: "Speaking of which, I haven't seen that famous human duke yet—the year he 'died in battle', I was still by my mentor's side."

"I have seen it once, from a distance. I was a guard of honor when the leaders of various countries took oaths in front of the magnificent wall, but I guess he definitely doesn't remember me."

"Then there's no need to doubt it, I definitely don't remember it, your face has no special features..."

Sonia Shuangye listened to the conversation of her companions, but her attention was all on the ground below.

There was a slight white light in her eyes, and under the effect of the vision-sharing spell, she could see what the eagle could see.

"A large number of newly built roads... a large number of newly expanded cities... There are also strange machines in the fields, incredible, incredible," Sonia gasped in amazement, "the human nobles in Silver Castle said that the southern border has been deserted for a century...but It now appears that it is recovering at an alarming rate."

Near her, a ranger guard asked with concern: "Senior Messenger, how is your eagle?"

Sonia Shuangye stroked the giant eagle's feathers and nodded: "Gugu's condition is fine, it says it's much more comfortable now."

"Cuckoo may be a little unaccustomed to the environment," another messenger said. "This is the north after all, and the giant eagle is not used to it. Occasional diarrhea is normal. In fact, the situation is already very good. At least we didn't come here in the coldest winter." of."

"The weather even giant eagles can't adapt to..." Sonia shook her head, "I really don't know what's good in the north..."

At this moment, the elf ranger flying at the forefront of the team suddenly shouted loudly: "High-ranking messenger, it's time for us to fly south!"

Under the command of the masters, each giant eagle uttered a loud cry, and then the whole team turned to the south neatly.

This day is the 737th day of the fire moon in 30 Ansu.

The messengers of the elves came to the southern border.

Chapter 0568 Meeting

Cecil City, inside the Lord's Mansion.

Gawain sat behind the large desk, and Hetty stood quietly beside him. In front of the two of them, a clear holographic projection was emerging above the magic net terminal in the study.

A girl with a sweet smile stands in the center of the projection. On the table in front of the girl, there is a strange device that looks like a short table. The device is supported by four legs, and the top is a flat surface. In a large frying pan, steaks and slices of bread are making a cheerful sizzling sound as they are being fried in hot oil.

Outside the screen, a pleasant narration is sounding: "...Magic Heating Table, the best choice to replace traditional stoves - no need for firewood, no open fire, save your cooking costs, and save your cleaning troubles... …Code Family is always at your service. Magic, bringing convenience to life…”