Chapter 426: Copper Mine
Roland could barely contain his excitement. He reached into his belongings and produced several pieces of copper ore, presenting them to Simon with both hands.
"A copper mine?"
Simon’s eyes lit up.
Copper was more than just a material used to mint coins in the Eldorian Empire. It was an essential resource for manufacturing weapons, machinery, tools, and countless other products.
For Brambleford, whose industrial development was accelerating, the discovery was worth far more than its immediate monetary value.
"My Lord, finding this mine was no easy task," Roland explained enthusiastically. "It took more than two years of searching before we finally located it. Mining operations have already begun. Once production increases, Brambleford will be able to mint its own copper coins!"
"Mint coins?"
Simon glanced at him before shaking his head.
"Of course, My Lord!" Roland replied. "Every vassal prince who discovers a copper deposit eventually establishes a mint. Copper coins are the most common currency in the empire. Surely, you intend to do the same?"
"Of course, we’ll mint coins. But we won’t do it recklessly."
Roland looked puzzled.
Simon understood the problem all too well.
In the Eldorian Empire, most rulers regarded coin production as a convenient way to increase their available funds. Whenever a prince needed money, he could simply order more copper coins to be cast.
Few understood the consequences.
When the number of coins increased without a corresponding increase in economic output, their purchasing power could fall. Some rulers went even further, mixing inferior metals into their coins to stretch their copper supplies.
The result was a chaotic currency market.
In one town, a copper coin might buy a steamed bun. In another, a customer might need three coins to purchase the same thing.
Merchants distrusted unfamiliar currencies, ordinary people struggled to judge the value of their money, and dishonest officials profited from the confusion.
Simon had no intention of following their example.
He would establish a mint, but its production would have to be controlled. The coins needed a consistent weight and metal composition, and their circulation had to be managed carefully.
If Brambleford wanted its currency to gain the people’s trust, simply stamping a prince’s emblem onto a piece of copper would not be enough.
There was another reason he welcomed the discovery.
Brambleford had finally secured a strategic industrial resource of its own.
And its timing could hardly have been better.
As the New Year approached, Simon was preparing to launch an offensive against Split Rock. The army would need more firepower, and his military workshops were already experimenting with improved artillery.
Now, with a copper supply available, he could instruct Bjorn to begin producing six-pound bronze field cannons.
Unlike the massive siege guns used to batter fortress walls or the heavy artillery mounted aboard warships, field cannons needed to be relatively light and easy to transport.
Bronze was a promising material for the job.
Historically, bronze cannons had been widely used in European armies, including during the Napoleonic era. The metal’s casting properties made it suitable for manufacturing artillery barrels, provided the alloy and production process were properly controlled.
For Simon, the discovery had opened another door.
"Begin mining and transporting the copper ore to Brambleford," he instructed. "I’ll have the Machinery Department start work on bronze field cannons as soon as the first batch arrives."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Roland immediately acknowledged the order.
Then, as though remembering something, he added, "The mine is approximately 180 miles northwest of Brambleford. If everything goes according to plan, the first shipment should arrive in five days."
Simon nodded.
"That will do."
He considered the matter for a moment before issuing another instruction.
"There’s something else. Send people to search for gold in West Hollow and silver in Ashenford. Those are the other resources I need."
Roland smiled knowingly.
"Understood, My Lord. I’ll make the necessary arrangements."
Having delivered the good news and received his orders, Roland bowed and departed.
Simon watched him leave before turning the pieces of copper ore over in his hand.
The metal would serve an immediate purpose in the manufacture of artillery, but that was only the beginning.
As Brambleford’s industries expanded, copper would become increasingly important. It could be fashioned into countless tools and components, and, with the necessary advances in manufacturing, drawn into wires for future electrical applications.
The mine was therefore more than a source of raw material.
It was an investment in Brambleford’s industrial future.
Satisfied, Simon returned to his chamber.
Elin was waiting for him.
They had been separated for half a month, and there was no shortage of things to discuss. Yet some reunions required few words, and the hours passed before either of them gave much thought to the outside world.
***
The following morning, Simon finally rose from bed in the middle of the morning.
There was a saying that a capable leader could remain leisurely while his subordinates worked themselves to exhaustion.
Simon was beginning to appreciate its wisdom.
Baldwin managed the civil administration, while General Benjamin oversaw military affairs. Both men were hardworking to the point of obsession, and under their supervision, Brambleford’s prefectures and army continued to operate smoothly.
Simon had no intention of interfering with matters that were already being handled effectively.
After washing and eating breakfast at a leisurely pace, he learned from a servant that Elin had left for the textile workshop with Joan earlier that morning.
He immediately understood.
Elin had been occupied with designing and producing women’s underwear, and the workshop had become one of her principal concerns.
Simon couldn’t help smiling wryly.
It seemed that everyone around him had found something to keep them busy.
Since there was little reason to remain idle, he decided to visit the military workshop and inspect the latest developments in the Monkingo Cannon. He also wanted to discuss the production of the new field artillery with the craftsmen.
When he arrived, Fjord was already waiting.
"My Lord, you’ve come at just the right time!"
The craftsman’s face brightened. Without wasting a moment, he brought out a newly manufactured mortar and placed it before Simon.
"Take a look at this. It’s our latest design."
Simon leaned forward to examine the weapon.
His eyes quickly lit up.
Fjord had made considerable improvements to the original Monkingo Cannon.
The earlier design had been crude, but this new version was beginning to resemble a proper mortar. Instead of relying on a cumbersome mounting arrangement, it rested on a square metal base plate.
The barrel was secured between two metal supports by a pair of trunnions, allowing it to pivot vertically.
This simple change made aiming considerably easier.
The base also had handles, allowing two soldiers to carry the entire weapon over short distances. The mortar could therefore be repositioned quickly without requiring a large team or a heavy transport carriage.
For an army that needed to move rapidly across the battlefield, such improvements were invaluable.
Simon circled the weapon, examining its construction.
"Not bad at all. You’ve made real progress."
Fjord grinned.
"I followed the principles described in the technical textbooks you provided, My Lord. I’ve also redesigned the shells."
He produced a projectile and handed it to Simon.
Unlike the crude explosive containers used in earlier experiments, this shell had a hollow wooden plug fitted into its body. A fuse passed through the plug, and rotating the fitting allowed the craftsmen to adjust the fuse’s position.
The design was still primitive, but it represented an important step forward.
Simon examined the shell.
"Does this mean you’ve managed to control when it explodes?"
"Not precisely," Fjord admitted. "The timing remains inconsistent, but it’s considerably better than what we achieved with the old powder barrels. We’ve also reduced the problem of premature explosions inside the barrel."
He pointed toward the wooden plug.
"By adjusting its position, we can influence the fuse’s timing. It’s not perfect, but it gives us much more control than before."
Simon nodded thoughtfully.
The development was promising.
Previously, the army had struggled to make its explosive projectiles reliable enough for practical battlefield use. A shell that exploded too early was useless at best and dangerous to the soldiers operating the weapon at worst.
Even an imperfect improvement could make a substantial difference.
"Let’s see what it can do," Simon said.
Fjord immediately turned toward the craftsmen standing nearby.
"Prepare a demonstration for His Lordship!"
Two men moved into position and set up the mortar at the designated testing area.
They prepared the weapon and positioned a target approximately 300 meters away.
"My Lord, we’ll attempt to reach that distance," Fjord explained.
Over the past several months, he had studied the mathematics behind projectile motion. He could now estimate how a shell would travel through the air and where it would land based on the weapon’s elevation.
His calculations were not yet sufficiently accurate for precise targeting, but they were far better than simply guessing.
Simon folded his arms.
"Proceed."
The craftsmen completed their preparations and moved clear of the weapon.
At Fjord’s command, they initiated the test.
A muffled boom echoed across the testing ground.
The shell shot upward, following a curved trajectory through the air before descending toward the distant target area.
Simon tracked its flight with interest.
The projectile landed approximately 300 meters away.
A moment later, it exploded with a sharp report several meters above the ground.
The sound echoed across the workshop grounds.
Simon raised his eyebrows.
The shell had performed better than he expected.
Fjord, however, looked somewhat embarrassed.
"My Lord, the biggest problem is still the timing. The shells don’t explode consistently. Sometimes the results are good, but at other times the timing is completely off."
He hesitated before adding, "We still have a great deal of work to do."
Simon turned toward him.
"Why are you dissatisfied?"
Fjord blinked.
"My Lord?"
"This is already a considerable improvement over the previous design."
Simon gestured toward the mortar.
"Your weapon can be carried by two soldiers, repositioned quickly, and used to deliver explosive projectiles over a considerable distance. The shell’s performance still needs improvement, but you’ve established a foundation we can build upon."
He had expected setbacks. Developing reliable artillery was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
The important thing was that the workshop was moving in the right direction.
"Begin producing more of these mortars for the Brambleford army," Simon ordered. "We’ll continue improving the design as we gain experience."
"Yes, My Lord!"
Fjord’s expression brightened immediately.
Then Simon’s tone became more serious.
"There’s another matter I want to discuss with you."
Fjord straightened.
"I’m listening, My Lord."
Simon looked toward the workshop’s other artillery pieces.
"The copper mine has been discovered. Once the first shipment arrives, we’ll have the materials needed to begin developing bronze field cannons."
He paused to ensure that Fjord understood the importance of what he was about to say.
"The mortars are useful, but I want artillery that can support our troops during an advance, break enemy formations, and help us capture fortified positions."
Fjord’s eyes widened.
Bronze field cannons!
He had spent much of his time improving the existing weapons. Now his lord was proposing an entirely new artillery project.
Simon continued.
"Our next campaign is approaching. I want Brambleford’s army to have a decisive advantage when it marches against Split Rock."