Our family is in decline

The words were overtly and covertly instilled in him that "the higher-ups are no longer optimistic about the war potential of guns, and believe that guns are useless and not as good as ordinary cold weapons."

Lance noticed that most of his blueprints were of various gun designs, which was an insult to a researcher who had devoted his life to this area.

"Oh~ I really want to kick those guys' butts with my boots! Have their brains been stuffed into cannons and blown out? Guns will be the leader in future wars."

"But this is a fact, isn't it? The cost of equipping a thousand-man artillery force is enough to equip an ordinary army of five thousand, not to mention the huge research funding behind it.

The top management is willing to allocate funds because they want to see these 1,000 people defeat 5,000 people. However, when facing the enemy, the effect is not as good as that of an ordinary army. So why do they continue to allocate funds? "

Lance spoke very directly, but this was the reality. Even Eugene could not deny the problems faced by guns in actual combat, and looked frowning.

"Why did you quit the academy?"

Lance opened his mouth to break the deadly silence, but Eugene didn't feel the need to hide anything and spoke directly.

"They stopped funding, canceled my project, and disbanded my entire team. I withdrew from the college in protest. Unfortunately, the students and craftsmen who followed me were also dragged down by me~"

"What project are you working on?"

"A research on the lightweight transformation of artillery. Now those guys think that lightweighting artillery is not as good as using muskets directly, so the mainstream trend is to continue to increase the poundage and make more powerful and heavier artillery. So. My research was not taken seriously..."

Speaking of this, Eugene was also a little lonely. His research was not recognized, and he was expelled as a model. The behavior of the college made him feel a little chilled.

Lance also understood that if the funds were sufficient before, he could try to bloom on multiple lines. Even if he failed, he would still be within the tolerance. If he succeeded, he would make a profit.

But now that open source is gone, we can only reduce expenditures. This kind of non-mainstream will naturally be eliminated first, saving some money to maintain the research direction of mainstream development and destructive power.

As a manager, Lance understood that the academy was logically sound, but the way those people dealt with it was too rough, which was really hard for him to understand.

"Come to my side and I will fully support your research."

Lance went straight to the point and extended an olive branch, but it only made Eugene surprised.

"You also want to study artillery?"

"Any questions?"

Lance was very direct and calm, and didn't think there was anything wrong with his statement.

But his fearless attitude made Eugene laugh and couldn't help but ask.

"Do you know how much it costs to cast a cannon? How much money does the college invest in our project team in a year?"

"How much?" Lance still looked calm.

"The smallest six-pound cannon costs 800, and the college invested 60,000 in our team alone last year." Saying that, Eugene stood up excitedly and gestured to emphasize: "It's not copper coins, nor Silver coins, gold coins! Sixty thousand gold coins!"

No matter how you say the name of Master, it is still very bluffing, but the fact that he is still sitting here after leaving the academy illustrates the situation.

Not everyone can afford this thing, even the nobles cannot afford the exaggerated consumption. Only this city of wealth is qualified to spend millions of gold coins every year on development and research, but now it is estimated that the funding has been cut in half.

"I can afford it~"

Lance's calm words immediately caused Eugene to get stuck, and he didn't even have time to put down the raised gesture.

"Who are you?" Eugene realized something. This young man was not joking.

"Forgot to introduce, I am Lance Hamlet, the current lord of Hamlet." Lance smiled slightly, but his posture was slightly oppressive.

"Hamlet~" Eugene couldn't help but frown when he heard this, sat down slowly, and thought for a moment before he seemed to remember something.

"Hamlet once did have power that was equal to Totnes, but that was more than ten years ago. Now Hamlet has declined to the point that no one even knows his name. How do you have the financial resources?"

Eugene spoke very straightforwardly, without any mincing words, and directly pointed out the current situation of Hamlet.

After hearing this, Lance couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He originally wanted to show off his noble status, but was immediately exposed.

It’s all my fault, ancestor, this prodigal son~

"This is not something you need to know. You just need to know that I have the ability to provide you with everything you need to research, and you just need to provide me with better artillery." Lance had a straight face and did not show much reaction. , one sentence will bring it up.

"You yourself already know the performance of the artillery unit in actual combat. Sixty thousand gold coins are enough to form a thousand-man cavalry. Why do you insist on this?"

Eugene didn't understand why such a run-down nobleman pursued artillery. Logically speaking, these nobles preferred traditional soldiers, just as most of the people in the army who opposed guns were noble generals.

“Because I see the huge potential of guns and I believe that human war guns will have an absolute advantage in the future.

Now a shabby local lord forgotten by the world, a craftsman ostracized by the academy, let's work together to prove to the top brass of Totnes that it's not you, but them. "

It had to be said that Lance really hit his mark, and he was not convinced.

This research direction was originally a request from the college, but now it has become the reason for disbanding his own team.

Ignore their efforts over the years and throw them away like trash.

How can this be true?

"Okay, but I have a request."

"explain."

"I need to bring my team with me. They were also kicked out of the academy because of me."

"Okay~" Lance smiled slightly, "But you may not need to go to those craftsmen."

"How can we cast without craftsmen?" Eugene felt that this guy was playing tricks on him?

"Hahaha! Because I have already found those craftsmen, but you can try to contact the craftsmen who are still in the academy workshop to see if they are willing to follow me."

When Eugene heard this, he understood that this person was serious. He originally thought that he had money but no place to spend it, but now he seemed to be a well-thought-out person.

"Okay, I'll go back and find them. I don't know if you can take it."

"You underestimate me~"

He is worried that he doesn't have enough talents. He dares to take as many as you want. Regardless of whether it is useful or not, he will first bring Hamlet back.

…………

Winston brought the craftsmen over to join them, and unexpectedly found Master Eugene and a researcher he didn't know among them.

He originally only heard about it from the craftsmen and wanted to ask Lance to give it a try, but he didn't expect that he actually asked him to do it.

Not only him, but also the craftsmen did not expect that Master Eugene was also there. They all sighed at the employer's magical power, and the slight anxiety they had initially dissipated.

The masters are here, they should not be deceived~

"My lord, how did you convince Master Eugene?"

"It's very simple, give him what he wants." Lance smiled slightly, there was nothing that money couldn't solve.

He took out a bag and handed it to him, "It's hard for you to run back and forth these days."

The moment Winston took it, he felt something was wrong in his hand. He had been playing iron for half his life and was very sensitive to the weight of the metal. The coins inside were definitely not copper or silver coins.

Afraid of making a mistake, he opened it and took a look and found that it was really gold coins. More than twenty gold coins were enough for half a year's salary.

"Sir...is this a mistake..."

"That's right, one for each person you introduce, here are twenty-three."

"Isn't this too much..." Winston looked flattered. He originally thought that Lance would be polite, and the most he would give was a few copper coins and silver coins, but he didn't expect it to be so exaggerated.

"I never treat people badly who do things for me." Lance raised his hand and patted Winston on the shoulder, with a friendly smile on his face.

"Sir, I want to discuss something with you."

"Just tell me if you have anything to say."

"Can I go with you too?"

"Oh!" Lance was a little surprised. There was a reason why he was friends with Winston.

As the golden hammer of the Forging Competition, there is no room for his skills to survive here.

"Haha~" Winston laughed awkwardly and explained: "Everyone knows what happened that night. I can't stay in Totnes anymore."

"Hahaha!"

Lance understood what he meant. He stole the show that night, but in the opposite sense.

The Stove Tavern was originally a gathering place for craftsmen. Within two days, almost all the craftsmen in the workshop knew that he had made a fool of himself that night and became a joke among those guys. How could he withstand the fact that he used to like to brag about his good face?

"Welcome, of course."

After receiving a positive answer, Winston looked excited and seemed to have made some decision. He took off the cloth strip from his back and raised his hands.

"This is my work that won the award at that time. Please accept it."

Seeing this, Lance didn't take it directly. Instead, he fell into thinking.

He could sense that Winston did not plan to surrender after getting the gold coins, because when he came, Lance noticed the cloth strips he was carrying behind him, which meant that he was ready to follow him before he came.

After a moment's hesitation, Lance couldn't help but pick up the cloth and open it. A two-handed long sword that was as exquisite as a work of art appeared.

But it perfectly balances practicality. You can feel the impeccable feel when you hold it in your hand. It is sharp and sharp, and it looks sharp just by looking at it.

"It is indeed an award-winning work, just like a work of art~" After playing with it for a while, Lance had to admit that it was perfect, even better than the one in the collector's showroom.

"At that time, I won the prize for cutting thirteen pig leg bones in a row, but my long sword was the only one without any chipping or nicking. There was no burr when cutting the cable, and it was as sharp as ever." Winston couldn't help but corrected himself when he heard this, and asked Lan Si proved it was a real sword.

"Hahaha~ I know this is a good sword, but are you sure you want to give it to me?"

"After the awards were announced, there were bids on the spot. I didn't sell anything from the asking price of one thousand liters to three thousand gold coins. Those merchants didn't understand at all, so how could they be worthy of the weapons I made? Only people like you, sir, are worthy of this. A sword."

Winston's habit of bragging had returned, but there was no denying that it was the truth.

This is his most proud work. If it falls into the hands of those who don't understand, the sword will be covered in dust, so he has been reluctant to sell the sword.

It wasn't until he met Lance that he was convinced and willing to offer the sword.

It has nothing to do with money~

"The sword is a good sword, but I want to pass it on to other people." Lance liked it very much, but he didn't want to accept it because he liked it.

"Why!" Winston looked surprised. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with his sword, so he quickly asked, "Do you think there is something wrong with this sword?"

"Listen to me first, it's not the sword's problem, it's my problem." Lance raised his hand to appease him, and then explained, "Because I don't know how to use a sword, if you give him to me, it's just a pearl covered in dust. , but there is a real swordsman in my territory, and I believe he will not insult your sword."

Although Lance has been undefeated so far, the fact is that he doesn't know how to use a sword. At least he is not a master of swordsmanship. He just relies on his reaction, perception and strength to forcibly increase his status.

The difference is that the long sword in Leonard's hand will not be much worn after a fight, while his sword is almost like scrap metal after a fight.

He wouldn't feel bad if other ordinary swords were broken, but if he wielded this sword like a fire stick, he would be a bit reluctant to part with it. In addition, this sword was too light for him, so he might as well hand it into the hands of a more suitable person.

After hearing this, Winston understood the reason, and for a moment he admired Lance even more.

It stands to reason that you can accept it and forward it directly, and you will have nothing to say at that time, but the adult asked you about it and explained it in detail, which gave you enough face.

"Since this sword is given to you, I have no objection to how you arrange it."

"Don't worry, he will never let you down. The weapons you build are destined to drink blood from the enemy."

Lance stroked the sword lightly, and then he realized that he didn't have a weapon that he could use, so he simply opened his mouth to Winston.

"Speaking of which, go and see what materials are needed and list them for purchase. I need you to build a weapon for me."

Come to life!

What is the honor of being a craftsman? Of course it was a big shot who used a weapon he made.

If the lord can use the weapons he made, he will have one more topic to talk about when bragging to others.

"Remember to show off your golden hammer strength." Lance pointed out with a smile.

"Don't worry, sir, I will do my best!"

Lance communicated with the craftsmen and technicians, agreed on a time and place, and asked them to go back and prepare as soon as possible.

It's okay for a bachelor like Winston, but some craftsmen have to support their families and need some time.

In this era, if we separate, we will rarely have the chance to see each other again. Basically, family members who can leave will follow.

To some extent, their willingness to leave Totnes must be a blow to the academy. They have worked hard for half their lives, only to find that this is not their home at all. Leaving may be a good choice.

Anyway, Lance welcomed them and promised to arrange housing for them...