The progress was steady and promising. The field explosives were buried individually one by one, just close enough to the surface so that a bullet could easily penetrate them and ignite the volatile powder. The oil trenches extended outwards from the gunpowder barrels, as a lone bullet would not be hot enough to light them individually.
Now Gengyo was back atop the wall, observing the changes to the cage around them. The wood was of a much better quality, and the cage stood even higher than before, and would undoubtedly be enough to protect them from the projectiles that were fired at them.
Akiko was busy training with Rin, claiming that she wanted to try out a technique, and so it was much to her misfortune that she was missing out on what Gengyo thought to be a rather exciting occasion.
"So, you've done some testing with this already, Takeshi?" He asked the young smith, as he casually inspected the cannon.
It had taken quite the effort to get it up here. In fact, they had needed to construct a separate pully system just for it. Those efforts were not for naught though, because this new pully system made the transportation of timber to the top of the wall far easier, increasing their work rate even further.
"That's right, Miura-san. As things stand, it should function perfectly." He responded rather confidently, as he held Gengyo's gaze.
"Good… Good. Let's test it then." He nodded with approval. The other smiths were left to work by their lonesome on the other few cannons, and to continue production of the shells and the regular cannonballs.
He squatted down in order to pick up one of the rather unique looking shells. As he brought it up in his arms, the weight was substantial, and he could feel the heavy inner balls rattling around inside the metal casing.
"Wait, I need to fill the barrel with gunpowder first." Jikouji warned, before quickly scooping some of the powder from the crate next to them into the end, as Gengyo slid his shell in after it, grateful to be relieved of the burden.
"Is that right then, Takeshi? We're ready to fire?"
"Yes, it's all good. I would have used more gunpowder than Jikouji – two handfuls should be better for the range we want – but just for a test shot, it will do."
"Mm. Good. I like that you've kept it simple. It will make it easier for our men to operate them."
"That's what I was trying to keep in mind when I was making it." Takeshi agreed, handing him a torch with which to fire it.
A few of the men were looking over, wishing to see the cannon in action as well. "Better cover your ears boys, I expect this will be a loud one!" Their commander called out in warning, before clamping his freehand over his own ears, and lighting the fuse.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM
The sheer vibrations from such a powerful cannon was enough to cause a sudden bout of dizziness – and it had not even been loaded with the ideal amount of gunpowder. It was a wonder that all of them remained standing.
More than the discomfort, they all felt a degree of excitement, as they rushed to look out over the wall, to see the cl.u.s.ter of balls land. They had spread out in the air exactly as intended, and formed a spree of balls roughly a quarter of the size of the normal ship cannonballs, and they travelled with speed and vengeance.
Gradually, gravity worked its pull, and dragged them further towards the ground, rendering them even faster. When they hit the ground, the heavy thunk was more than audible even from the distance they were standing. The earth groaned and gave way, with bits of grass-covered dirt firing high into the air. Even little stones sprung up with irritation.
And then, when the dirt had settled, what was left were eight respectable little craters, with a small battered cannon ball sitting gleefully in the centre.
There was a proud smile on Takeshi's face with a fair degree of relief mixed in there. Had the shot failed to perform at this moment, when he was showing it to the man he admired, then he would have been very embarrassed indeed. He looked up at Gengyo with expectation.
"Hm…" The commander stroked his chin, thinking deeply, evaluating it. "You know… I think it'll do." He announced it with a playful grin.
"More than do, I should think! Look at the damage a single shot has caused! If they ever dare to group up, and get within range, then we'll hold the undoubted advantage." Jikouji stated passionately.
"Haha, I realize that, my old friend. I was just joking." He assured him, patting his shoulder. "Well, Takeshi, colour me impressed. You came up with a design that has thus far been unheard of, and you had the skill necessary to make it a reality, and make a very devasting weapon indeed. Good work."
At the praise, Takeshi looked overwhelmed with happiness as he nodded enthusiastically, and beamed upwards.
"However." He continued in a solemn voice. "I think you are capable of far greater things than this. For your first creation, it was good indeed, and you show promise, yet it is not the most complicated work. Do you not agree?"
The smith's smile faded at Gengyo's change in attitude. "…I do." He looked slightly disheartened, but his commander grinned back at him to show him that he meant no harm.
"Good lad. I look forward to seeing your future works."
"Yes… Yes!" Takeshi exclaimed, regaining his excitement, understanding the nuance within his words. "I'll definitely come up with something even better, just you wait! I'll head back to the forge now, and make sure everything is going as planned. Thank you for your time, Miura-san!"
"See you later, Takeshi." He responded gently to the young smith's childish enthusiasm, as he and Jikouji watched him trot away.
"You didn't have to put it like that, did you? He's a good lad – I reckon he deserved a bit more than to be told his work was simple." Jikouji complained, sensing that the man he'd brought into their fold might be mistreated.
"Perhaps. For someone else, that would have worked. But for men like Takeshi, what matters most is the next project, and then the project after that. There is more joy in the innovation than anything else." Gengyo spoke from his heart, for he understood exactly what it was Takeshi felt. They were a similar breed of man.
"Heh… If you reckon so."
They both stood, looking out over the plains, with the sulphuric smell of burnt gunpowder tainting their nostrils, listening to the steady hammering down of panels, and the hum of workers coordinating each other.
But their moment of quiet was just that – a moment.
"My lord!" A man called out from behind, kneeling down with one knee, and lowering his head. Gengyo turned slowly, recognizing him to be one of the scouts.
"So, they've come, have they?" He asked with a calm smile.
"They have, my lord." The man replied, struggling to keep his voice from shaking.
"Well? How long do we have?"
"I would say a week, my lord. Though it could be longer, if they are unable to maintain this pace."
"A week? That is not so bad. We will have completed all we have needed to before then. Why does your voice shake so strongly? Is it their numbers that you fear?"
"I do not fear them, my lord." The scout insisted. "Yet their numbers are great, it is true. I count their men to at least number in the eight thousand."
"Hoh… So not quite as bad as it could have been." He raised his eyebrows towards Jikouji, still maintaining his smile.
The scout looked up at him sharply. Not quite as bad as it could have been? They were a force sixteen times bigger than their own! Just how bad had his commander truly expected them to of been? Of course, they had all heard what number he proposed they would be assaulted with, but not many believed so many would be summoned – they assumed that to be the worst case.
"Did you catch sight of their mon? It would be nice to know what man we are facing."
"Ah… I did not recognise it myself, lord, but there were three golden leaves encapsulated by a golden circle."
He and Jikouji shared a look of understanding, both knowing just who they were facing.
"As fate would have it, here we are. Of all Imagawa's men, he was whom I least wanted to face."
"The same goes for me." Jikouji agreed.
"Matsudaira Motoyasu, head of the Matsudaira clan, and likely the most competent commander this province has seen. You have done well. Tell your brothers to continue to keep track of their movements. You may go and get yourself something to eat – you've earned it."