However, Franz did not mass-manufacture weapons in Tyrol, because those weapons would completely change the battlefield landscape of the entire era, and even the rules of war.

Franz was afraid that if he interfered too much in the course of history, he would be eaten up by the times, and then enter a completely unknown era, losing his advantage as a time-traveler, after all, the fear of the unknown is rooted in the genes and is not so easy to overcome.

In addition to artillery and breech guns, Franz's highest hopes were grenades. In fact, grenades are nothing new in Europe, and even grenadiers themselves are derived from the word grenade.

However, the grenades of this era are very different from those of later generations, and they look more like the spherical mines of later generations, usually for 5 kg, 10 kg, and 20 kg models.

The 5 kg model can also be understood, almost the weight of the shot put in later generations, it is not a problem for a strong person to throw about 15 meters, but it is a problem for ordinary adults to throw 7-8 meters.

As for the 10-kilogram grenade, even if a strong man wants to throw 10 meters, it is very difficult, and the 20-kilogram grenade is even more against the sky, Franz does not believe that someone is embarrassed to go to the battlefield with a 20-kilogram grenade.

In fact, 10 kg grenades and 20 kg grenades are defensive grenades, and the reason why they are so heavy is that they are afraid that the other party will throw them back, after all, the lead of the grenade at that time was cut by the grenadiers themselves, and usually in order not to blow up themselves, the lead will be left longer, which leads to the dilemma that the other party may throw it back.

Especially in siege warfare, as the defending side is already in a small terrain, if a grenade is thrown back and explodes, it will be a huge blow to the soldier's spirit and body.

A 5-kilogram grenade may be able to throw a dozen meters in a straight line, but it is almost impossible to throw a 20-kilogram defensive grenade back into a 3-5 meter high wall stack.

However, with the development of rifles and artillery, grenades gradually faded out of people's field of vision, and only backward countries such as Austria and Russia would use them in defensive warfare.

Franz hoped that weapons experts would reduce the weight of the grenade to less than 0.5 kilograms, because even the later famous wooden-handled grenades were only 0.6-0.8 kilograms, of which the warhead usually weighed no more than 200 grams.

Austrian weapons experts did not understand Franz's intentions, but after repeated tests, if they wanted to maintain the lethality of the grenade, they needed a minimum charge of 1.5 kilograms, and with a wooden handle, it could indeed be thrown farther.

Even an ordinary soldier can be thrown up to 25 meters away, but this is still not comparable to the distance of a rifle.

Franz understood their thoughts, but he could not tell them that trench warfare and street fighting would become the mainstream of warfare in the future. Even if it is said, it is estimated that no one will believe it.

But something shocked Franz when a group of rocket engineers invented the grenadier canister, a magical piece of equipment, based on the principle of a rodless spin rocket.

One of them, a rocket engineer named Ethan Borna, built a miniature launcher, which was the prototype of the grenadier.

This weapon is lightweight, easy to carry, and can also provide considerable firepower, and the range is much higher than the throwing distance of infantry, up to 80 meters.

Although 80 meters is really ridiculous compared to the 300-meter range of the grenadiers of later generations, this does not affect it to become a major killing weapon on the battlefield of this era.

In fact, the main problems affecting the range are air tightness and propellant, which is a hurdle that cannot be bypassed in the development of weapons, but Franz's understanding of yellow powder is not enough for him to explain its principle and experts clearly.

Moreover, the explosive power of this gunpowder was amazing, which also put an end to the idea of Franz doing experiments himself.

In fact, in Vienna, Dr. Schönbein had already tinkered with collodion, but he contributed it to the medical cause, treating wounds, sealing corks, etc.

Nitrocellulose was the main raw material for the world's first smokeless gunpowder, but it is a pity that Austrian weapons experts selectively ignored this great invention, and the result was, of course, blown up.

In fact, Austria still has a long way to go from nitrocellulose to smokeless gunpowder, but Franz is not in a hurry, after all, he is still "young".

At this time, the most profitable business of the entire arsenal was the sale of rifled gun barrels, which cost as much as 15 florins on the market, and in terms of quality, they were far inferior to the products of the Franz arsenal.

Therefore, it is impossible to expect Franz to reduce the price, after all, the arms business is the money of foreigners, and as for the purchase of the domestic military, it is still a profitable business to sell rifled gun barrels.

Rhine, Ruhr industrial area.

Alfred Krupp looked at the manganese steel in the crucible in amazement, because its price could completely bankrupt a small businessman, and it would take a dozen or even dozens of pots to make a cannon.

There is no doubt that no country in this world would accept such a price. He smiled self-deprecatingly, and could only turn this furnace of molten steel into swords and kitchen utensils.

Werner von Siemens, who could really change the history of steel making in Prussia and in Europe as a whole, is still happily inventing in his prison in Magdeburg.

There is a saying, "It is gold that always shines." "Werner von Siemens, whose inventions in prison aroused the interest of King Wilhelm IV of Prussia.

As mentioned earlier, the Prussian king was ostensibly a very gentle man, and he was able to borrow money from Krupp to tide his family over, and he pardoned the inventor who was in prison.

Wilhelm IV hoped that Siemens would contribute more patents to Prussia, and the latter would naturally be grateful to the king for his actions, completely ignoring Franz's solicitation.

Because there is no place in the whole of Prussia that is more anti-Austrian than the army, and Siemens, as the captain of the Prussian artillery, has also received the favor of the king, and it is even more impossible to have a good impression of Austria.

At the same time, Siemens' release from prison attracted the attention of another person, a farmer from Pomerania.

After his release from prison, Siemens was sent to the Spandau Fireworks Factory, where it was an honour to be able to enter the Fireworks Factory, as their products were displayed in front of the Kingdom and the distinguished guests of various countries.

He loves his new job and uses his ingenuity to create several fireworks that have never been seen before. The fireworks and the annual income of 500 florins were very satisfying for Siemens, as he was able to pay for the tuition of his two older brothers and take care of their younger brothers.

One day, a young man with a face like a knife and an axe chisel with a slightly gloomy temperament found Siemens.

"Hello, Mr. Siemens."

"Hello, sir. How can I help you? If you want to book fireworks, you'll have to wait until next month, and you should know that there are many celebrations and festivals lately. ”

"No, sir. I feel like you deserve a better life. ”

"I'm sorry, sir. Did I hear me right, you're saying that fireworks factory employees work better? ”

"Yes, you heard it right. I hope you will join Mr. Krupp's steelworks. The young man replied in a very firm tone.

(End of chapter)