Compendium of Military Assets, Volume 130

Page Three

Construction of the Fire Dragon

To construct this device, use Mao Bamboo (Maozhu)Likely referring to Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), known for its strength and diameter, suitable for large projectiles. five feet in length. Remove the internal nodes and use an iron blade to scrape the outer skin thin. At the front, attach a head carved from wood in the likeness of a dragon; at the rear, attach a carved dragon’s tail. The dragon's mouth should be angled slightly upward.

The Internal Payload

Inside the hollow "belly" of the dragon, load several Divine Engine Rocket-Arrows (Shenji Huojian)These were standard Ming Dynasty incendiary rockets—arrows propelled by gunpowder tubes attached to their shafts.. Within the dragon’s head, leave a single opening (an "eye"). Gather all the fuses from the internal rocket-arrows together into a single point.

The Propulsion System (The First Stage)

On both sides of the dragon’s head, attach two rocket booster tubes, each weighing one and a half catties (jin)Approximately 0.9 kilograms or 20 ounces..

• Orientation: The nozzles of these tubes should face downward and backward, while their "bottoms" (the forward-facing ends) should point upward and forward.
• Binding: Use hemp fiber (mapu) and fish glue (yujiao)A traditional high-strength adhesive made from fish swim bladders, used here to ensure the boosters do not shear off during the violent acceleration of launch. to bind them securely to the dragon’s body.

The fuses for the internal rocket-arrows are led out through the dragon's head, split into two paths, and protected with oiled paper. These are then connected to the forward ends of the external booster tubes.

Two identical booster tubes are attached to the sides of the dragon’s tail in the same manner. The fuses of all four external booster tubes are then braided together into a single primary ignition cord.

Deployment and Effect

In naval combat, this device should be positioned approximately three to four feet above the water's surface. Once the primary cord is ignited, the dragon will fly across the surface of the water for a distance of two to three li (approx. 1 kilometer)The text describes a remarkably long range for the period, achieved by the aerodynamic lift of the bamboo body skimming the air just above the water.. To an observer, it appears as if a dragon of fire is charging across the river...