Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Military Department: Volume 8

Page Nine

The Heaven-Falling Cannon original: "Tianzhui Pao." This refers to a large explosive shell or gravity bomb rather than a traditional barrel-style cannon. is as large as a bushel. In practice, it is launched high into the air and falls directly into the enemy's nest original: "zeichao," a term used for the camps of rebels or bandits. with a thunderous roar. In the darkness of night, this device causes the enemy to fall into a state of total confusion, leading them to turn on and kill one another. Inside the casing are dozens of flaming chunks that can incinerate the enemy's barracks and stockades, creating a fire that is impossible to extinguish.

These are cast from pig iron and filled with about a bushel's worth of gunpowder. A sandalwood plug is fitted to the bottom; this plug is hollowed out to house a single fuse original: "yaoxian," literally "powder-line.". To deploy them, one must choose a path that the enemy is certain to traverse and dig a series of dozens of pits. The landmines original: "Dilei." are buried in these pits, using small bamboo tubes to protect and lead the fuses, and then the ground is covered with soil to appear exactly as it did before.

A hidden trigger mechanism original: "jiguan," referring here to a hidden firing or ignition system. conceals the ignition; the enemy, unaware of the danger, steps on the mechanism and triggers the device. The landmine then erupts from below with a violent shock, sending flames high into the sky. Shrapnel made of iron shards flies out like a swarm of locusts; anyone struck by them is killed instantly. This is said to be a secret weapon original: "miqi." of Kongming Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD), the legendary strategist of the Three Kingdoms period. While likely anachronistic, Ming-era texts often attributed advanced technology to his genius to grant the inventions historical prestige..