398: Chapter 398: Building an AK47!

Rome wasn't built in a day, and technology cannot be achieved overnight.

Although the Great Qin had built its first Internal Combustion Engine, its thermal efficiency was only 4%.

This thermal efficiency was extremely low.

Today's hybrid vehicles can achieve a staggering 48% thermal efficiency!

The gap here is huge!

To improve thermal efficiency, the fuel must be allowed to burn more completely.

High-temperature and high-pressure working fluid makes the fuel easier to ignite, and the combustion becomes more rapid and thorough.

This requires a compression stroke.

Its core function is to compress the "working fluid" inside the cylinder—either air or an air-fuel mixture—to increase its temperature and pressure, creating conditions for subsequent combustion and work.

The working process of a four-stroke Internal Combustion Engine consists of intake, compression, power, and exhaust.

The basic process of the compression stroke is that after the Internal Combustion Engine completes the intake stroke, it enters the compression stroke.

Both the intake and exhaust valves are closed to ensure the cylinder is sealed and to prevent the working fluid from leaking.

Driven by the crankshaft, the piston moves upward from the bottom of the cylinder to the top.

As the piston moves up, the cylinder volume decreases sharply, the working fluid inside is compressed, its volume shrinks, density increases, and its temperature and pressure rise significantly.

Gasoline engines use a mixture of "air + gasoline mist," while diesel engines use pure air.

Gasoline engines rely on spark plugs for ignition, while diesel engines rely directly on the high temperature generated by compression for self-ignition.

The temperature at the end of compression in a gasoline engine is about 300-500°C, with a pressure of 3-10 MPa; for diesel engines, it can reach 600-800°C, with a pressure of 3-6 MPa.

Compared with gasoline engines, diesel engines are significantly different due to the differences in fuel and compression conditions.

Gasoline engines have high rotational speeds, usually over 5000-6000 rpm, and fast power output, making them suitable for scenarios requiring high speed and flexible power, such as passenger cars and motorcycles.

Diesel engines have low rotational speeds, usually below 3000-4000 rpm, but have high torque and can output great power at low speeds, making them suitable for heavy-duty, low-speed, and high-load scenarios, such as trucks, tractors, and ships.

Zhao Fusu initiated projects for both types of engines, allocating a large amount of funding for the researchers at the Great Qin Academy of Sciences to conduct the R&D.

Once the single-cylinder gasoline engine is developed, he can build motorcycles.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusu couldn't help but feel excited.

Tanks are large and heavy, making them suitable for diesel engines.

One cylinder is not enough; at the very least, it needs six cylinders!

This requires a very high technical threshold.

The most difficult part is the material for forging the cylinders.

Under high-pressure operation, if the material used to forge the cylinders is not strong enough, it will definitely cause the cylinders to explode!

Zhao Fusu was not in a rush to build the tank so quickly.

After all, they hadn't even fully grasped the four-stroke cycle of the Internal Combustion Engine yet, so how could they develop a six-cylinder diesel engine so quickly?

However, he was not in a hurry.

He was currently only planning to launch an economic war against the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions, not a military war.

Zhao Fusu went to the Defense Academy again.

He was a man with a phobia of insufficient firepower.

The current revolver only holds six rounds, which is far too weak.

He was going to start developing the AK.

The reliability of the AK in extreme environments is almost "insane."

This is the core advantage of the AK.

Because there are large gaps between the AK's bolt and receiver, and between the piston and cylinder, it allows for normal operation even after mud, sand, dust, moisture, or even a small amount of foreign matter enters.

For example, in harsh environments like deserts, rainforests, or mud, even if sand or mud enters the barrel or receiver, the AK can still fire after a simple shake or wipe.

Zhao Fusu wanted to develop the AK as part of his preparations for attacking the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions.

The Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions are located in a desert with heavy sandstorms, making them the perfect place for a firearm like the AK.

The AK has a simple structure and an extremely low maintenance threshold. This is because the AK has only a few dozen core components, most of which are made using simple processes like stamping and forged steel, with no complex or precision parts.

Disassembly requires no special tools; a soldier can complete it using a single bullet. As long as the retaining pin is knocked out, it can be disassembled, and the cleaning and lubrication steps are minimal.

Even if militias or civilians without systematic training can quickly master basic maintenance, it is especially suitable for battlefields with weak logistical support.

The Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions are two thousand kilometers away from Xianyang, which is exactly why such a low-maintenance weapon is needed.

The durability of the AK is "tough," and its lifespan is extremely long.

Core components such as the receiver and bolt use thick-walled forged steel, and the barrel is chrome-plated for corrosion resistance and wear resistance. It can withstand rough handling, such as being dropped, knocked, or even run over by vehicles, and still be able to fire normally.

The service life of a single rifle generally exceeds 10,000 rounds, and some well-maintained old guns, such as the AK-47s produced after World War II, are still in use on battlefields today, far exceeding the design life of most rifles.

The production of the AK hardly requires high-precision machine tools; the receiver uses a stamping process, and the requirements for part tolerances are low. It can be said that it is low-cost, easy to mass-produce, and suitable for large-scale equipment.

After some tinkering by Zhao Fusu, the first AK47 of the Great Qin was hand-crafted by him, an eighth-level machinist.

Holding the gun, the heavy texture filled him with an inexplicable sense of excitement and anticipation.

He knew deep down that this gun could have revolutionary significance for improving the military power of the Great Qin Empire.

Next was the test firing to check the performance of the AK47 he had created.

On the military testing ground, the scorching sun hung high.

Zhao Fusu, dressed in a simple yet imposing black military uniform, walked slowly toward the center of the testing ground with steady and powerful strides.

In his hand, he held the AK47 assault rifle.

Under the sunlight, the metal parts of the gun gleamed with a cold and sharp light, like a beast ready to pounce.

Because this AK47 was hand-crafted by him, he was very familiar with the structure of the firearm.

To prevent the barrel from exploding.

He skillfully pulled the bolt to check the basic condition of the firearm. His movements were fluid, demonstrating his familiarity and mastery of the weapon.

Subsequently, Zhao Fusu inserted the magazine into the gun, stood sideways, and assumed a standard shooting stance.

His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, tightly locked onto the target in the distance.

The onlookers focused their gaze on Zhao Fusu; the scene was so quiet that only the sound of the breeze blowing could be heard, and everyone was looking forward to that shocking moment.

"Bang!"

As Zhao Fusu pulled the trigger, a crisp and loud gunshot instantly broke the silence, echoing over the entire testing ground.

A dazzling flash of fire spewed from the muzzle, and the bullet flew toward the target at high speed like a black lightning bolt.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the bullet accurately hit the bullseye, passed through it, struck the ground, and kicked up a cloud of dust.

Zhao Fusu did not stop; he pulled the trigger continuously, the sound of gunfire roaring repeatedly.

The AK47 jumped in his hands as bullets poured out like raindrops, accurately hitting the target.

Every shot was accompanied by massive recoil, but relying on his own immense strength and superb shooting skills, Zhao Fusu steadily controlled the firearm.

During the shooting, Zhao Fusu keenly felt the performance characteristics of the AK47.

Its rate of fire is extremely fast, and its firepower is very fierce, which will undoubtedly cause great deterrence to the enemy on the battlefield.

Moreover, the stability of the gun exceeded his expectations; although the recoil was not small, as long as one mastered the technique, one could control the shooting direction very well.

After a round of shooting, Zhao Fusu put down the gun and carefully checked its condition.

The gun body was slightly warm from continuous firing, but the overall structure remained solid, with no malfunctions.

He nodded slightly, very satisfied with the initial performance of the gun.

Seeing this, the people around gathered around.

Among them was General Wang Jian.

Their eyes were full of amazement and envy, and they were full of curiosity about this new type of weapon.

Zhao Fusu looked at them and said with a smile: "This AK47 will become a powerful weapon for our Great Qin Empire army. Its powerful firepower and reliability will allow us to gain a greater advantage on the battlefield."

"Mm!"

General Wang Jian nodded in response.

His eyes were shining, clearly very fond of the AK47.

Zhao Fusu continued: "Next, I still need to conduct more tests and improvements on it to ensure that it can adapt to various complex battlefield environments."

"Good."

General Wang Jian replied: "When you finish testing, remember to let me try it too."

"Okay."

Zhao Fusu nodded in response.