He designed a small stamping machine to press cylindrical casings out of brass sheets.
Then, the improved granular black powder, which had a more stable potency, was precisely weighed and loaded into the casings.
The most crucial element was the primer.
Wu Liang used Mercury Fulminate refined in the Chemistry Laboratory, mixed with other chemicals, to create the initial Firing Compound.
He then carefully pressed it into the groove at the bottom of the casing, forming the primer.
Finally, the lead round-nosed bullet was firmly pressed into the mouth of the casing.
The first primitive Metallic Fixed Rifle Cartridge was thus born.
When Suina held the first assembled rifle prototype, and Wu Liang held the first batch of manufactured bullets,
meeting in the workshop, both couldn't help but smile excitedly as they looked at the fruits of the other's labor.
The rifle lay quietly on the workbench.
Its slender body was constructed from sturdy steel and anticorrosive hardwood.
The rifle's lines were smooth yet robust, imbued with a cold, mechanical beauty.
The barrel was a deep black, having undergone repeated polishing and quenching.
The curve of the buttstock perfectly fit the human shoulder.
The bolt-action mechanism gleamed with the unique luster of metal under the light.
"We succeeded!"
Suina stroked the cold gun body, as if caressing her own child.
She and her team had poured too much effort into this creation.
"No, it's too early to call it a success."
Wu Liang's expression was calm.
"It's only a true success when it can successfully fire a bullet and accurately hit the target."
He picked up a gleaming yellow bullet and handed it to Suina.
"Let's go to the Shooting Range."
The Black Rock Tribe's Shooting Range was located in an open valley on the outskirts of the Tribe.
The area was heavily guarded, with both visible and hidden sentries posted on the surrounding hillsides.
When Wu Liang and Suina arrived here with the newly assembled rifle, Akomann and Ignis, who had already received the news, had been waiting for a long time.
"Wu Liang, is this the new weapon you mentioned?"
Akomann rushed over first, her gaze drawn to the rifle in Suina's hand.
"That's right."
Wu Liang took the rifle from Suina's hand.
"Today, I'll give you a demonstration."
He walked to the firing position. Downrange from the Shooting Range, humanoid wooden targets were set up at 100 meters, 200 meters, and 300 meters, respectively.
"Watch closely."
Wu Liang pulled the bolt. A crisp 'click' sounded from inside the receiver as it slid back, revealing the dark, hollow chamber.
He took a gleaming yellow bullet from the ammunition pouch on his waist and inserted it into the chamber.
Then he pushed the bolt forward and rotated the bolt handle clockwise.
"Click!"
There was another crisp sound of metal locking.
The bolt was securely locked, feeding the bullet into the ready position.
Raise the rifle, aim.
Wu Liang's breathing became steady and long.
Front sight, rear sight, target—three points aligned.
"Bang!"
He pulled the trigger.
A gunshot suddenly exploded in the valley!
The wooden target 100 meters away instantly gained a hole the size of a finger in its bullseye.
Wood chips flew!
"It hit!"
Suina, standing behind, let out a cry of surprise.
Akomann and Ignis also widened their eyes, their faces filled with shock.
A distance of 100 meters!
The best archers in their Tribe needed to aim carefully and account for wind speed to possibly hit a target at this distance.
Yet Wu Liang had simply raised the rifle and fired casually, accurately hitting the bullseye!
Wu Liang didn't stop; he quickly pulled the bolt back and to the left.
"Clang!"
A brass casing was ejected from the chamber and fell to the ground.
Immediately after, he took another bullet from the ammunition pouch, inserted it into the chamber, pushed the bolt, and locked it.
The entire process took less than three seconds!
"Bang!"
Another gunshot!
The wooden target 200 meters away: bullseye!
"Bang!"
The third shot!
The wooden target 300 meters away: also a bullseye!
Suina and the other two looked at each other.
"That's incredible!"
Akomann was astonished by the rifle's performance.
Wu Liang turned around and offered the rifle to Akomann and Ignis.
"Want to try it?"
Akomann and Ignis snapped back to reality.
"Yes!"
"I want to try it!"
The two simultaneously rushed forward, vying for the gun.
"Don't rush, one at a time."
Wu Liang handed the gun to Akomann first.
Akomann took the rifle with both hands.
The gun body felt cold in her hands, and the sturdy texture made her instantly fall in love with the feeling.
"I'll teach you."
Wu Liang stood behind her, teaching her hand-by-hand how to pull the bolt, load the bullet, shoulder the rifle, and aim.
His chest was pressed tightly against Akomann's back, and his warm breath puffed against her ear.
"Hold steady... Yes, just like that..."
Akomann's cheeks were flushed, but her entire focus was captivated by the gun in her hands.
Under Wu Liang's guidance, she practiced aiming at the spare target 100 meters away.
"Bang!"
She pulled the trigger.
The recoil caused her body to sway backward, and she nearly lost her footing.
Her shot missed the target, hitting the dirt next to it.
"Again."
Akomann gritted her teeth, reloaded, and aimed again.
"Bang!"
This time, she was prepared, and her body remained steady.
The bullet hit the edge of the target.
"Bang!"
The third shot hit the target body!
"Hahahaha! I hit it! I hit it!"
Akomann let out a burst of excited laughter, hugging the rifle in her hands like her dearest toy.
Next, it was Ignis's turn.
Her talent was equally outstanding; after getting used to the firearm's recoil, she quickly mastered the essentials of shooting.
Soon, she hit the bullseye.
Wu Liang raised the rifle:
"This is the Black Rock Tribe's first generation standard rifle. I name it the Black Rock Type 1!"
"Starting today, the Military Workshop will focus all efforts on producing the Black Rock Type 1 and its corresponding Fixed Ammunition!"
"I must quickly establish a Rifle Battalion and fully equip them with the black rock type 1 rifle!"
While the trials for the black rock type 1 rifle were being completed,
breakthroughs were also happening at the Black Rock Tribe's Medical School.
Inside the Medical School's Sterile Laboratory.
Alesha wore a clean white linen gown, her hair tightly wrapped, and she also wore a mask and goggles on her face.
In front of her were rows of labeled glass culture dishes.
On the Broth Culture Medium in these dishes, patches of greenish-blue mold were growing.
This was the penicillium Wu Liang had taught her to cultivate.
Over the past period, Alesha and her assistants had devoted almost all their energy to studying the mold.
Following the knowledge imparted by Wu Liang, they used alcohol for strict sterilization.
Using the newly manufactured microscope, they observed the growth of the mold and attempted to extract the substance capable of killing germs from the yellowish culture fluid using various methods.
The process was difficult and tedious.
They failed countless times.
Sometimes it was because the culture medium was contaminated by miscellaneous bacteria, leading to the death of the entire batch of penicillium.
Sometimes it was due to improper control of temperature or acidity during the extraction process, rendering the refined liquid ineffective.
But Alesha did not give up.
She led her team working day and night, meticulously recording the data from every experiment, analyzing the reasons for failure, and continuously improving the technique.
Finally, today, they welcomed the dawn of success.
"Dean, look!"
A young assistant ran excitedly to Alesha, holding up a transparent glass bottle.
The bottle contained a little less than half a bottle of light yellow, transparent liquid.