Also, after returning, immediately instruct Lillian to have the flagship of the Sea Fortress on standby at all times!
The goal is to be able to set sail within five minutes as soon as I arrive!
Maybe I will need it tomorrow morning!
Thinking this in his mind, Xia Zhe solemnly explained to Lillian during dinner.
Seeing that Lillian also agreed very seriously, Xia Zhe's heart, which had been hanging in the air, finally settled down a little.
Dinner was not over yet when Archimedes suddenly rushed in.
As soon as he saw the king, Archimedes looked aggrieved and started talking excitedly.
"My king is wise! In today's battle, the catapult army of the first line of defense did not listen to my command at all! They were still throwing ordinary stones that had no additional effect! They simply refused to use the bombs I invented! You know, that was the super weapon I invented! Those idiots are really going too far!" said Archimedes.
bomb?
Did you really unleash the bomb?
Why haven’t I heard you mention it these days?
Xia Zhe was stunned when he heard this and hurriedly asked for the details.
Wang intended to intervene and support him, so Archimedes naturally told Xia Zhe everything he knew. He immediately explained to him everything that had happened in the past few days.
It turned out that after listening to Xia Zhe talk about a lot of void principles that night, Archimedes felt like he had found a treasure, and the next day he used an experiment he conceived to verify it.
The verification results show that Wang’s theory that combustion requires air and the theory that the driving force of the explosion is the air pressure generated by the violent combustion in a confined space are both correct!
All of this completely refreshed Archimedes' worldview and gave him full confidence.
Archimedes immediately began designing and developing the hollow iron ball bomb proposed by Wang.
Through many attempts, he quickly solved several key problems.
Archimedes adjusted the air and kerosene in the sphere to the optimal ratio so that once ignited, it would generate maximum air pressure.
Archimedes also thoroughly calculated the thickness and structure of the sphere, ensuring it wouldn't break apart when dropped from a high altitude. He also ensured the internal explosion pressure would be sufficient to completely shatter it, breaking it into hundreds of sharp fragments.
The most difficult part is the fire starter.
After much trial and error, Archimedes finally decided that papyrus from Egypt, which had been soaked in kerosene in advance, dried, and then wrapped into dense, thin rolls, would have the best effect in starting fires.
Even when spinning at high speed in the sky, the fuse made of papyrus can still burn steadily inward and eventually ignite the kerosene inside the bomb.
To prevent the kerosene from rolling at an angle that would extinguish the fuse, Archimedes also designed four fuses in different directions on the surface of each bomb.
In this way, after actual testing, the probability of the bomb exploding after it falls to the ground is over 90%!
The lethality is even more gratifying.
Not only would anyone within a ten-meter radius be pierced by shrapnel, but the remaining kerosene would continue to burn, potentially igniting a large area.
Archimedes believed that if the amount of projection was large enough, it would be much more effective than a simple stone attack!
"Is it really that good? Why didn't I hear you mention it a few days ago?" Xia Zhe was a little skeptical when he heard this.
"This is a super theory taught by the king. How dare I test it in a high-profile manner? What if the Persian spies discover the production method? Wouldn't that reveal the secret in advance?" Archimedes explained.
Archimedes really put a lot of effort into keeping the secret of this super weapon as much as possible.
But at the same time, this practice of not upholding justice at all also deceived its own people.
It was not until today on the battlefield that Archimedes made an embarrassing discovery when he wanted to use the bomb in actual combat.
None of the generals in charge of the trebuchet corps paid him any attention. Everyone thought he was just trying to curry favor with the king and that he couldn't possibly be as powerful as he advertised.
Rather than launching these so-called bombs and making a fool of themselves at the Persians, it would be better to just throw the rocks we had prepared. That way, it would be much safer!
"Winning a war depends on surprise! How can we possibly defeat the Persian army of 30 million by playing it safe?"
After listening to Archimedes' complaints, Xia Zhe nodded in agreement.
Xia Zhe knew the situation of today's battle very clearly.
If we continue to play like this today, it is really unknown whether we can hold on tomorrow.
In that case, let Archimedes take a gamble.
Anyway, the joke was mainly because Archimedes was embarrassed, and I was at most guilty of a minor crime of being deceived.
If he couldn't hold on, he had already planned to abandon the army and escape on his own ship. Compared to escaping, writing a few more minor crimes could be completely ignored!
"So, Wang, you agree to come forward?" Archimedes asked after hearing Xia Zhe's complaints.
"That's right! Lillian, go and pass on my order. Tomorrow all the catapult legions will obey Archimedes' command. Let him decide when to use his bombs and how many to use!" Xia Zhe nodded and gave orders to Lillian beside him.
"yes!"
Lillian responded immediately, then turned and walked out.
"Great! That's great! Thank you, King! Thank you, King!"
Hearing Xia Zhe's straightforward arrangement, Archimedes' blood boiled, and he knelt down on one knee excitedly, tightly grasping the king's right hand, and kept thanking the king!
Archimedes was very proud and always believed that his intelligence was far superior to those roughnecks who only knew how to fight. He always believed that as long as he had real ability, he would always be recognized by others!
However, after experiencing what happened today, Archimedes came to his senses.
The fundamental reason why I can achieve great things is not because of my own ability, but because of the king's support! Otherwise, no matter how good the things I researched behind closed doors are, if others don't want to use them, there is nothing I can do!
Fortunately, Wang himself is a great scientist.
Only Wang can understand my love for invention and can give me theoretical guidance!
Only by following closely beside such a sensible king can one's vast knowledge be truly transformed into reality and leave a glorious name in history!
"You should hurry up and prepare too!" Xia Zhe said.
Feeling uncomfortable being gripped by Archimedes's rough hands like tree bark, Xia Zhe quickly reminded him to go back and prepare.
Upon hearing this, Archimedes nodded vigorously, then stood up with gratitude, and left with his hands dancing.
Ten minutes later, Lillian, who had delivered the order, returned.
Xia Zhe didn't dare to pin his hopes on Archimedes, so he hurriedly arranged for Lillian to go and see the flagship at the port again.
It wasn't until he received the latest news confirming that the flagship was in good condition and that all the sailors on duty were on standby and not slacking off that Xia Zhe felt relieved and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning.
Before Xia Zhe got up, the army of Persian King Xerxes was deployed in front of the first line of defense of the Greek coalition forces.
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