บท 128: Matchlock Rifle

"What's that dear?"

Fuku asked, as she sat up in bed, sipping on a cup of herbal tea. They'd been out for a walk together earlier, so she was feeling rather tired.

"A matchlock rifle, mother. I'm trying to find out how it works."

He had one of the servants travel to Toyokawa and pick up a matchlock rifle on his behalf. He, of course, could have gone to one of the various weapon smiths that were busy replicating such models, but he preferred the idea of dealing with foreigners, as their lack of language meant no one would talk about his purchase.

It was an interesting piece of equipment, but he had no real idea how it was meant to work. In his life he'd never held much interest in weaponry, and, as a result of gun laws in his country, he had never even held a gun.

He had a rough idea of how they work: gunpowder was ignited within the barrel, and a musket ball sat on top. The explosion from the gunpowder propelled it.