Translator: CinderTL
The Alden army's demolition operations against the dwarf tunnels far exceeded expectations. The yellow explosive, based on picric acid, demonstrated its overwhelming power in combat, completely overturning conventional understanding of demolition warfare.
Unlike Black Powder, yellow explosive is a true high-energy explosive. Its detonation mechanism isn't combustion but rather a supersonic chain reaction known as a detonation wave. This shockwave travels at over 7,000 meters per second, far exceeding the speed of sound, instantly tearing rock apart from within and pulverizing it.
Black Powder, though commonly referred to as "explosive" in Northwest Bay, is actually a low-velocity explosive. Its primary function relies on rapid combustion, or deflagration, to generate propulsive force through gas expansion within a confined space. When ignited in the open, Black Powder merely produces a burst of flames and thick smoke, lacking any destructive shockwave. Only when sealed within gun barrels, rock fissures, or iron pipes can it effectively "blast" targets.
This was precisely why, when using Black Powder for blasting in the past, the Northwest Legion's Combat Engineers had to drill holes, fill them with powder, tamp it down, and seal it with mud. Any oversight would result in nothing more than a puff of smoke. Even successful blasts often only cracked the rock, failing to completely destroy it.
Picric acid, however, was different. Even when ignited in open air, it detonated violently in a process known as detonation, generating powerful shockwaves and immense destructive force—a fundamental difference from Black Powder.
During this operation, the yellow explosive, despite being used in the partially sealed tunnel, still produced a violent detonation. The three charges detonated in rapid succession, collapsing the main passage and ultimately sealing the entire tunnel section.
Over the past six months, the Weiss Academy Chemistry Department had conducted extensive research to transform picric acid from a laboratory discovery into a combat-ready military explosive.
Initially, crude picric acid was extremely unstable. Friction, impact, or even temperature fluctuations could trigger accidental explosions, resulting in severe injuries to one researcher. To address this, Hoffman led research into purity control, employing multiple recrystallization processes to remove impurities and significantly enhance stability.
Wells discovered that pure picric acid remained impact-sensitive. Drawing inspiration from the lord's concept of "desensitization," he experimented with mixing it with inert materials. After dozens of trials, he finally determined that melting picric acid crystals with 10% beeswax, then cooling the mixture into solid blocks, created a buffering layer around the crystals. This significantly reduced mechanical sensitivity without compromising the explosive's potency.
To prevent the explosives from failing in the damp tunnels, the chemistry department developed a dual-layer packaging method: an inner coating of paraffin wax and an outer seal of tin foil, all housed within wooden crates and iron-clad boxes. The fuse system was also upgraded from traditional slow-burning fuses to mercury fulminate primers connected to detonating cords, ensuring reliable detonation even in high-humidity, oxygen-deprived environments.
After three months of rigorous testing and refinement, Weiss Academy finalized the "Type 01 Desensitized Picric Acid Explosive": yellow, wax-sealed blocks, each weighing one pound, resistant to impact and moisture, and suitable for long-term storage.
It was this standardized explosive that demonstrated its epoch-making power during the demolition demonstration outside Mountain Throat Fortress and the tunnel-sealing operations. This half-year of intensive research and development was not merely a technological breakthrough; it marked Alden's military-industrial R&D transitioning from empirical experimentation to systematic engineering.
Derrick sat in his office at Mountain Throat Fortress, his fingers trembling slightly as he gripped the quill. On the map spread across his desk, several dwarf tunnel entrances were marked with red circles, resembling a hunting net ready to be drawn tight.
He took a deep breath and began to write rapidly on the paper:
To the General Staff of Alden Town:
The new explosive has been successfully deployed in combat, far exceeding expectations. All three main tunnels in the eastern Rocky Mountains have been completely sealed, trapping the dwarf forces that ambushed our troops inside. These tunnels will remain impassable for the foreseeable future. This explosive is undoubtedly the key to our swift victory over the dwarves. I urgently request the immediate dispatch of at least one hundred pounds to clear the remaining known tunnels. Our current stockpile is down to just two crates, insufficient to sustain operations. We desperately need reinforcements.
After finishing the letter, he personally sealed it with wax and dispatched a messenger to the telegraph station at Windbreath Fortress.
Alden Town's telegraph system had been extended to Windbreath Fortress on the Yellow Earth Plain. Station by station, coded messages were relayed via flag signals. By evening, the contents of this urgent dispatch were being discussed at a meeting of the Alden Town General Staff.
The following morning, a reply was transmitted back to Windbreath Fortress via the same route, then delivered by swift horse to Mountain Throat Fortress.
When Derrick opened the letter, he found not only approval but also a series of stern warnings:
"The second batch of yellow explosive, totaling 120 pounds, is being transported via wartime railway from the Eastern Front Arsenal to the Yellow Earth Plain. Estimated arrival within seven days. Your unit must dispatch a dedicated team to the final station for retrieval."
"Reiterating: This substance is extremely unstable. Friction, impact, or high temperatures can trigger detonation. All personnel handling it must undergo rigorous training. Transport must be conducted without jolting. Storage should be dispersed across multiple locations in cool, dry areas, strictly prohibiting open flames."
"Life takes precedence, but do not squander the efforts of Lord Marquis and the scholars of the chemistry department. Any mishap will not only result in casualties but also destroy our decisive weapon against the dwarves."
After reading the letter, Derrick, who had been feeling somewhat elated by their recent victory, immediately became cautious again.
He summoned his adjutant and ordered the selection of a group of steady, veteran soldiers to undergo explosive handling training under Derson's supervision. He also ordered the clearing of separate storage rooms in various parts of the fortress, arranging sandboxes and isolation barriers as instructed in the letter.
Once more yellow explosive arrived at Mountain Throat Fortress, Derrick issued the order for a full-scale extermination operation.
"Find the tunnels and blow them up," he declared at the war council. "They love digging holes, don't they? Let's make sure they never come out again."
Guided by scouts, the Alden forces began to penetrate deep into the eastern ridges of the Rocky Mountains. Every dwarf tunnel entrance they discovered, regardless of size or whether enemies were present, had explosives planted at critical support points and detonated.
Often, a single blast would collapse an entire tunnel section, fracturing the rock strata and sealing off dozens of meters with rubble, making it impossible to clear in the short term.
The dwarf's prized tunnel network began to crumble. Tunnels originally used for ambushes, retreats, and surprise attacks were systematically destroyed, severing communication with multiple outlying strongholds.
When the dwarves attempted to counterattack, they became easy targets for the Alden musket lines. The flintlock muskets' range and rate of fire far surpassed the dwarves' short bows and slings. After just three volleys, over half of the charging dwarf formations lay fallen.
Forced to abandon many strategic strongholds, the Stonemason Clan retreated deeper into the mountains. The Alden forces advanced steadily, sealing off every tunnel along their path, leaving no escape routes and eliminating potential threats.
In this methodical manner, they gradually approached the core territory of the Stonemason Clan.
(End of the Chapter)
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