Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33 - Ruins
Chapter 34 - Discovery
Chapter 35 - Dancing With A Python
Chapter 36 - The Perfect Excuse
Chapter 37 - Shaliun Gold Coins
Chapter 38 - Return Trip
Chapter 39 - Shocking The Town
Chapter 40 - Splitting The Spoils
Chapter 41 - Treating In The Tavern
Chapter 42 - Bookstore
Chapter 43 - Household Turmoil
Chapter 44 - Making Noodles
Chapter 45 - Disappointment And Gift
Chapter 46 - Choice For The Future
Chapter 47 - Father'S Plans
Chapter 48 - Buying Bullets And Gunpowder
Chapter 49 - Flipper
Chapter 50 - Eriksson'S Little Fishing Boat Dream
Chapter 51 - Shooting Practice
Chapter 52 - Target And Sight
Chapter 53 - Pointless Trivia
Chapter 54 - Three-Dot Sight
Chapter 55 - A Disappointing Hunt
Chapter 56 - Hare Hunting
Chapter 57 - Chain Snare Catches
Chapter 58 - Secret Concoction
Chapter 59 - Lardor Snowhound
Chapter 60 - Claude The Confused
Chapter 61 - Magus Landes'S Diary (1)
Chapter 62 - Magus Landes'S Diary (2)
Chapter 63 - Magus Landes'S Diary (3)
Chapter 64 - Surprise In The Diary
Chapter 65 - The Decision To Learn Magic
Chapter 66 - Claude On The Roof
Chapter 67 - Repercussions
Chapter 68 - Preparatory Work
Chapter 69 - Nighttime Cruise And Fishing Net
Chapter 70 - Night Fishing
Chapter 71 - Hunting Water Birds
Chapter 72 - Crocodile Struggle
Chapter 73 - Limping Home
Chapter 74 - At The Jetty
Chapter 75 - Father'S Decision
Chapter 76 - Two Pieces Of Bad News
Chapter 77 - The Second Diary
Chapter 78 - Basic Spells
Chapter 79 - Claude'S Dilemma
Chapter 80 - Throughout The Year-End Vacation
Chapter 81 - Whale Meat And Tradition
Chapter 82 - New Year'S Eve
Chapter 83 - Half A Cup Of Milk Tea
Chapter 84 - Becoming A One-Ring Rune Magus
Chapter 85 - Mental Shock And Animal Trials
Chapter 86 - The Lady'S Spell
Chapter 87 - Lady Maria
Chapter 88 - I'Ve Been Learning Forbidden Spells?
Chapter 89 - Harmless Spells
Chapter 90 - Black Magic Market
Chapter 91 - Claude'S Request
Chapter 92 - Hunting Wild Boars
Chapter 93 - Magic Tomes And Scrolls
Chapter 94 - Visit From An Honoured Guest
Chapter 95 - You Should Be A Chef
Chapter 96 - Difference
Chapter 97 - Wood Supervisor
Chapter 98 - The Small Hut
Chapter 99 - The Old Street At Night
Chapter 100 - Hurian The Fat Old Man
Chapter 101 - High Prices
Chapter 102 - Magic Crossbow
Chapter 103 - Confrontation On The Road
Chapter 104 - Taking Action
Chapter 105 - Weapons And Spells
Chapter 106 - Wrapped Up And Dealth With
Chapter 107 - Discussion
Chapter 108 - Excuse For Lateness
Chapter 109 - Two Spell Scrolls
Chapter 110 - Ambush And Pursuit
Chapter 111 - Spellbane Dagger
Chapter 112 - Imposter
Chapter 113 - Featherfall
Chapter 114 - Preparation Before Setup
Chapter 115 - Success!
Chapter 116 - Asking For Money
Chapter 117 - Familial Conflict
Chapter 118 - Going Out To Sea
Chapter 119 - Search
Chapter 120 - Discovery
Chapter 121 - Burning Coal
Chapter 122 - Time To Make Some Money
Chapter 123 - Graduation
Chapter 124 - Martial Law
Chapter 125 - Crime
Chapter 126 - Garrison
Chapter 127 - Mayor Robert'S Plan
Chapter 128 - Tricked Veterans
Chapter 129 - Arbeit The Fraud
Chapter 130 - Arbeit'S Whereabouts
Chapter 131 - Search
Chapter 132 - Den
Chapter 133 - Taking Action
Chapter 134 - Encounter
Chapter 135 - Bidlir Blanche
Chapter 136 - Lady Maria'S Reply
Chapter 137 - Turmoil In Court
Chapter 138 - Two Matters
Chapter 139 - Arbeit'S Intent
Chapter 140 - Filling Pockets
Chapter 141 - Wasted Trip
Chapter 142 - The Magus That Robs
Chapter 143 - Battle In The Yard
Chapter 144 - Robbery Complete
Chapter 145 - Jerad'S Thoughts
Chapter 146 - Auction
Chapter 147 - Father-And-Son Talk
Chapter 148 - The Nightmare Comes
Chapter 149 - Modification And Rumours
Chapter 150 - In Debt
Chapter 151 - Despair
Chapter 152 - Turmoil
Chapter 153 - Act Of Creditors
Chapter 154 - Guarantee
Chapter 155 - Move
Chapter 156 - Kefnie'S Confession
Chapter 157 - Lady Maria'S Gift
Chapter 158 - Property Development
Chapter 159 - Angelina'S Secret
Chapter 160 - Angelina Wants To Learn Magic
Chapter 161 - Whitestag In The Fifth Month
Chapter 162 - Confusion And Change
Chapter 163 - Mayor Felidos
Chapter 164 - Doing Wrong With Good Intentions
Chapter 165 - Conscription Order
Chapter 166 - Have Some Whiskey
Chapter 167 - Explanation
Chapter 168 - Urgent Document
Chapter 169 - Execution
Chapter 170 - Detective
Chapter 171 - Suspicion
Chapter 172 - Dispelling Doubt
Chapter 173 - Repurcussions
Chapter 174 - Eve Of Departure
Chapter 175 - En Route
Chapter 176 - Doghunt Tavern
Chapter 177 - City Of Whitewood
Chapter 178 - Whiteroot Powder
Chapter 179 - Shocking Turn
Chapter 180 - Misunderstanding
Chapter 181 - City Lockdown
Chapter 182 - Blunder
Chapter 183 - Reporting For Duty
Chapter 184 - The Four Of Noble Blood
Chapter 185 - Beatdown
Chapter 186 - Infirmary
Chapter 187 - The Whole Story
Chapter 188 - Punishment
Chapter 189 - Confinement
Chapter 190 - Training
Chapter 191 - Training Ongoing
Chapter 192 - Three Day Break
Chapter 193 - Surprising Tentsman Pick
Chapter 194 - Combat Training
Chapter 195 - The Final Counterattack
Chapter 196 - Causing Trouble
Chapter 197 - Settlement
Chapter 198 - Worry And Puzzlement
Chapter 199 - Wonderful News
Chapter 200 - Letters
Chapter 201 - New Recruits
Chapter 202 - Kink-Necks
Chapter 203 - Marksmanship Training
Chapter 204 - Combat Simulation
Chapter 205 - Glory Or Embarrassment
Chapter 206 - The Breakout Of War
Chapter 207 - Arrival Of The Prince
Chapter 208 - The Prince'S Summons
Chapter 209 - Refusal
Chapter 210 - In The Heat Of The Matter
Chapter 211 - Initial Signs Of Danger
Chapter 212 - Nosedive
Chapter 213 - Conclusion Of Battle
Chapter 214 - The Keeper Band Worth Two Bottles Of Wine
Chapter 215 - Prince Hansbach
Chapter 216 - Rangers
Chapter 217 - Lieutenant-Colonel Rosley
Chapter 218 - Ambush
Chapter 219 - Casualties
Chapter 220 - The Battle Reignites
Chapter 221 - On The Frontlines
Chapter 222 - Wilf Stronghold
Chapter 223 - Marching In Line
Chapter 224 - Suppressive Attack
Chapter 225 - Visit
Chapter 226 - Returning For Duty
Chapter 227 - Blackmaple Castle
Chapter 228 - Deployment Strategy
Chapter 229 - Squirrel Village
Chapter 230 - Questioning
Chapter 231 - The Baroness’ Complaint
Chapter 232 - Charm
Chapter 233 - Discussion And Inspiration
Chapter 234 - Major Lederfanc’S Inspection
Chapter 235 - Secret
Chapter 236 - Black Wolf
Chapter 237 - Wolf And The Maiden
Chapter 238 - The Shack Beneath The Rubber Tree
Chapter 239 - With In The Forest
Chapter 240 - Finally Speaking
Chapter 241 - Howling Wolf
Chapter 242 - Rainy Night
Chapter 243 - Skinning
Chapter 244 - Sheila
Chapter 245 - Nature Spells
Chapter 246 - Kindle And Fireball
Chapter 247 - Martial God Asur247
Chapter 248 - Nineteen Magic Scrolls
Chapter 249 - Spell Study
Chapter 250 - Construction Of The Wooden House
Chapter 251 - Enemy Movements
Chapter 252 - Preparations
Chapter 253 - The Battle Begins
Chapter 254 - Night Attack
Chapter 255 - Armies Gathering
Chapter 256 - Pursuing Soldiers
Chapter 257 - Attack And Defence
Chapter 258 - Cannon Bombardment
Chapter 259 - The Camp As Tough As A Fortress
Chapter 260 - Strategy
Chapter 261 - Splendid Victory
Chapter 262 - Triumphant Report
Chapter 263 - Background
Chapter 264 - Leisurely Time
Chapter 265 - Joint Investigation Committee
Chapter 266 - Knighthood
Chapter 267 - Role Reassignment
Chapter 268 - Grand Gathering
Chapter 269 - Coincidental Reunion
Chapter 270 - News From Welikro
Chapter 271 - Explosive Shot
Chapter 272 - Mission
Chapter 273 - Dominion Of Death
Chapter 274 - Castle Landes
Chapter 275 - Remaining A Deadbeat
Chapter 276 - Supply Difficulties
Chapter 277 - Fall Of Rimodra
Chapter 278 - Mistake
Chapter 279 - Withdrawal
Chapter 280 - Siege
Chapter 281 - Shootout
Chapter 282 - Grassland Goldeagle
Chapter 283 - Siege Tower
Chapter 284 - Clash On The Walls
Chapter 285 - Siege Towers Destroyed
Chapter 286 - Escape Route
Chapter 287 - Withdrawal
Chapter 288 - Noble And Peasant Officers
Chapter 289 - The Brash First Prince
Chapter 290 - No Limit To Imbecility
Chapter 291 - Imposters
Chapter 292 - First Lieutenant Perengue
Chapter 293 - A Life Lost
Chapter 294 - Countermeasures
Chapter 295 - Judiciary Investigation Committee
Chapter 296 - Investigation Ongoing
Chapter 297 - Investigation Concluded
Chapter 298 - Train Of Thought
Chapter 299 - The Dust Has Settled
Chapter 300 - Family Visit Break
Chapter 301 - Efenasburg'S Black Market
Chapter 302 - Bandits
Chapter 303 - Bandit Encounter
Chapter 304 - Return Home
Chapter 305 - Mother, Sister, Brother, And Pluto
Chapter 306 - Sister And Spells
Chapter 307 - Lady Maria'S Deliberations
Chapter 308 - Buying Woodland
Chapter 309 - Myriad Changes
Chapter 310 - Kills And Magic Accessories
Chapter 311 - Visits
Chapter 312
Chapter 313 - Peddler Donoby
Chapter 314 - Lieutenant Manrique
Chapter 315
Chapter 316 - Home Stay And Eloping
Chapter 317 - The Sounds Upstairs
Chapter 318 - Laundry Chaos
Chapter 319 - Trash Novel
Chapter 320 - Arrival In The Royal Capital
Chapter 321 - Visit
Chapter 322 - Village Chief Chenova
Chapter 323 - Advanced Strategy Class
Chapter 324 - Rainy Season
Chapter 325 - The Hole Under The Bed
Chapter 326 - Inadequacies
Chapter 327 - Family Correspondence
Chapter 328 - Special Independent Tribe
Chapter 329 - Personnel And Organisation
Chapter 330 - Military Discipline And Healer Transfer
Chapter 331 - Long Distance Training
Chapter 332 - Two New Developments
Chapter 333 - Training Exercise
Chapter 334 - Another War
Chapter 335 - Arrival On Nubissia
Chapter 336 - Port Cobius
Chapter 337 - The High-Commissioner’S Problem
Chapter 338 - Planning
Chapter 339 - Encounter
Chapter 340 - Claude Defence Line
Chapter 341 - Night Attack! Night Attack!
Chapter 342 - Operation Burn
Chapter 343 - Push And Pull
Chapter 344 - Burning Mordo
Chapter 345 - Siblings' Arrival
Chapter 346 - Angelina'S Marriage Matters
Chapter 347 - Victory And Expansion
Chapter 348 - Theatre Of War
Chapter 349 - Great Battle’S Eve
Chapter 350 - Bait And Massacre
Chapter 351 - Battle Of Balingana (1)
Chapter 352 - Battle Of Balingana (2)
Chapter 353 - Battle Of Balingana (3)
Chapter 354 - The General'S Mistake
Chapter 355 - State Of Turmoil
Chapter 356 - Military Budget Debacle
Chapter 357 - Changes In The Corps
Chapter 358 - Truth And Excavation
Chapter 359 - General Fansnik
Chapter 360 - Field Marshal Of The Theatre
Chapter 361 - Problem Solved
Chapter 362 - Spending And Promotion
Chapter 363 - Mister Weyblon
Chapter 364 - Drivick
Chapter 365 - Explosives And Ignition Powder
Chapter 366 - New Theatre Preparation Meeting
Chapter 367 - Sudden Incident
Chapter 368 - Reuniting With An Old Friend
Chapter 369 - Matters Settled
Chapter 370 - Work Horses, Donkeys, Mine, And Factory
Chapter 371 - Monster And Power
Chapter 372 - Hot Air Engine
Chapter 373 - Borkal'S Mission
Chapter 374 - Bull Hunting
Chapter 375 - Dawn Attack
Chapter 376 - The Second Encampment
Chapter 377 - Battle Back And Forth
Chapter 378 - Trade
Chapter 379 - Third Victory
Chapter 380 - General Eiblont
Chapter 381 - Conquest Of Wickhamsburg
Chapter 382 - Strike
Chapter 383 - The Nikancha Call For Help
Chapter 384 - Great Deal For The Nikancha
Chapter 385 - Position Shift
Chapter 386
Chapter 387 - Majid Iii'S Plans
Chapter 388 - Word Of Mouth
Chapter 389 - Sixty Percent
Chapter 390 - Reunion After A Long Parting
Chapter 391 - Father-Daughter Magi
Chapter 392 - Revolver Test: Success!
Chapter 393 - Recruitment
Chapter 394 - General Aljess
Chapter 395 - Attack Drill
Chapter 396 - Gunshots At Midnight
Chapter 397 - Ambushed
Chapter 398 - Assassination
Chapter 399 - Loss
Chapter 400 - Greytower Magi And Countermeasures
Chapter 401 - Thoughts And Self-Preservation
Chapter 402 - The Royal Capital'S Response
Chapter 403
Chapter 404 - Humbling Oneself
Chapter 405 - Discharge Problem
Chapter 406 - Problem Solved
Chapter 407 - Rapidly Changing World
Chapter 408 - War Orphans
Chapter 409 - Civil War And Waves Of Immigrants
Chapter 410 - Conclusive Year-End Report
Chapter 411
Chapter 412 - Downsizing And Shocking News
Chapter 413 - Restructuring And Huge Bombshell
Chapter 414 - Reasoning
Chapter 415 - Rubbish Defence
Chapter 416 - Absorbed Into The Theatre
Chapter 417 - Viscount Godic
Chapter 418 - Averting Trouble
Chapter 419
Chapter 420 - Borkal’S Legendary Exploits
Chapter 421 - Military Industrial Equipment
Chapter 422 - The Purge
Chapter 423 - New Rifle
Chapter 424 - News From Smugglers
Chapter 425 - Western Coast
Chapter 426 - Loan
Chapter 427 - Fundraising
Chapter 428 - Lease
Chapter 429
Chapter 430
Chapter 431 - Claude’S Countermeasures
Chapter 432 - Operation Leak
Chapter 433 - Opinion
Chapter 434
Chapter 435 - Negotiations (1)
Chapter 436 - Negotiations (2)
Chapter 437 - Shiksan Arrival
Chapter 438 - Pre-War Business
Chapter 439 - Defence Line
Chapter 440 - Reason For Loss
Chapter 441 - Night Attack And Ambush
Chapter 442 - Solving The Root Of The Problem
Chapter 443 - Wolffang Band
Chapter 444
Chapter 445
Chapter 446 - Unexpected Developments
Chapter 447 - Attack Mishap
Chapter 448 - Heated Battle At Camp
Chapter 449 - Bloody Clash
Chapter 450 - Merit, Lesson, And The Foolish Nikancha
Chapter 451 - The Wondrous Nikancha
Chapter 452 - Conclusions
Chapter 453 - Meeting And Decisions
Chapter 454 - New Research
Chapter 455 - Tobacco Business
Chapter 456 - Rumours And Going Off-Topic
Chapter 457 - The Nikancha’S Offer
Chapter 458 - Suggestions Laced With Threats
Chapter 459 - Idle Chat And Arrival
Chapter 460 - Nikancha Camp-Flight Incident
Chapter 461
Chapter 462
Chapter 463 - Tricks And Countermeasures
Chapter 464 - Crossing The Floating Bridge
Chapter 465 - Meeting And Surprise Attack
Chapter 466 - Thundercrash’S Assault
Chapter 467 - Surprise Attack Planning
Chapter 468 - At Sea
Chapter 469 - The Grand Push
Chapter 470 - Cleanup After The Great Battle
Chapter 471 - Borkal’S Experiences
Chapter 472 - Private Conversation
Chapter 473 - Blacksail And Eriksson
Chapter 474 - Rebuke
Chapter 475 - Ambassador’S Arrival
Chapter 476 - Piglet Capture Conflict
Chapter 477 - Shock At The Banquet
Chapter 478 - Ambassadors’ Night Meeting
Chapter 479 - Blinded By Greed
Chapter 480 - Aftermath And Self-Governance
Chapter 481 - Deploying On The Mainland
Chapter 482 - Sacred Light Era Year 595
Chapter 483 - The Union Rises
Chapter 484 - Request And Reply
Chapter 485 - Troubling Household Matters
Chapter 486 - The Hunt
Chapter 487 - Tracking
Chapter 488 - Train
Chapter 489 - Blackwind, Stop Licking!
Chapter 490 - Sheila’S Experiences
Chapter 491 - Catching Up
Chapter 492 - Busywork And Misfortune
Chapter 493 - Family Troubles
Chapter 494 - Splitting Family Assets
Chapter 495 - Aid
Chapter 496 - Ironclad And Stahlhelm
Chapter 497 - Declaration Of War
Chapter 498 - Chasing Ambassador’S Away And Maria’S Arrival
Chapter 499 - Conversation On The Train
Chapter 500 - Deciding To Deploy
Chapter 501 - Goals
Chapter 502 - Operation Crescent Moon
Chapter 503 - Arrival And Impersonation
Chapter 504 - War On Two Fronts
Chapter 505 - Triumph Of Ambruiz
Chapter 506 - Station And Choice
Chapter 507 - En Route To Polyvisia
Chapter 508 - Butcher Of Polyvisia
Chapter 509 - Saint Lusk Naval Battle
Chapter 510 - Severe Circumstances
Chapter 511 - Choosing To Fight Or Leave
Chapter 512 - Prelude To Battle
Chapter 513 - Clash In Polyvisia (1)
Chapter 514 - Clash In Polyvisia (2)
Chapter 515 - Clash In Polyvisia (3)
Chapter 516 - Clash In Polyvisia (4)
Chapter 517 - Good News And Lies
Chapter 518 - Appointment And Delegation
Chapter 519 - Captives And Expansion
Chapter 520 - Disassembly And Diversion
Chapter 521 - Prime Minister’S Two Proposals
Chapter 522 - The King'S Scheme
Chapter 523 - Elevation Fee
Chapter 524 - Choice And Solidarity
Chapter 525 - The Council'S Three Demands
Chapter 526 - Solidarity Of Victors
Chapter 527 - Fief Picks
Chapter 528 - Bandit Extermination
Chapter 529 - Really A Misunderstanding?
Chapter 530 - Deploying Troops
Chapter 531 - Prime Minister’S Reception
Chapter 532 - Sharp Negotiations
Chapter 533 - Reparations Negotiations And Arms Deal
Chapter 534 - Two Bits Of Bad News
Chapter 535 - Analysis And Response
Chapter 536 - Ironclad Deal
Chapter 537 - Operation Wildfire
Chapter 538 - Shiksan Captives
Chapter 539 - Tesoray'S Future
Chapter 540 - Family Matters
Chapter 541 - Reorganisation And Voluntary Folk
Chapter 542 - Escort And Transport
Chapter 543 - Court Case Of The Wood
Chapter 544 - Pamigar Revolt
Chapter 545 - Battle Report
Chapter 546 - Looming Threat
Chapter 547 - General Skri'S Secret Message
Chapter 548 - Western Coast Incident Of 603
Chapter 549 - Death Of The Great Chieftain
Chapter 550 - Return Of General Birkin
Chapter 551 - Cape Lodocus'S Handover
Chapter 552 - Homecoming Shiksans
Chapter 553 - To The Mainland
Chapter 554 - Blancarte'S Intentions
Chapter 555 - Worrying Household Matters
Chapter 556 - Clueless Mother
Chapter 557 - Avitelli I Of Bleyotte
Chapter 558 - Fate Of Mambamark
Chapter 559 - Strategic Lies
Chapter 560 - 9Th Month Of Year 604
Chapter 561 - Attacking First
Chapter 562 - The Great Demise
Chapter 563 - Strategic Analysis And Delegation
Chapter 564 - Blancarte'S Suggestion
Chapter 565 - Change Of The Homecoming Shiksans
Chapter 566 - Claude’S Headache
Chapter 567 - National Defence Force And Useless Allies
Chapter 568 - Wolves Abroad, Hyenas At Home
Chapter 569 - Middle Of The 9Th Month
Chapter 570 - Lease And The Court’S Three Requests
Chapter 571 - Refused Requests
Chapter 572 - Arbeit’S Past
Chapter 573 - Two Letters And The National Preservation Fund
Chapter 574 - Reply And Captives
Chapter 575 - General Siegfeld’S Development Plan
Chapter 576 - Official Notice And Lawsuit
Chapter 577 - Awkward Court Case
Chapter 578 - Meanwhile, On The Western Coast
Chapter 579 - Potential For Sheila To Advance
Chapter 580 - Borkal And Eriksson
Chapter 581 - Myjack Joins The Household
Chapter 582 - Borkal’S Failure
Chapter 583 - Visitation
Chapter 584 - The Royal Family’S Ironclads
Chapter 585 - Three Main Intelligence Agencies
Chapter 586 - Royal Navy Scandal
Chapter 587 - Trivialities
Chapter 588 - Attack On Port Wades
Chapter 589 - Battle Of Nubari Islands
Chapter 590 - Dawn Of The Age Of The Ironclad
Chapter 591 - The Western Coast Of Rapid Change
Chapter 592 - Intervention
Categories Genre: Action, Adventure, All, Drama, Fantasy, Ongoing, School Life, Slice of Life, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: BIG, 重生之黑铁的荣耀, ______
Total Chapters in book: 593
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 593 Page No. 592 Page No. 591 Page No. 590 Page No. 589 Page No. 588 Page No. 587 Page No. 586 Page No. 585 Page No. 584 Page No. 583 Chapter 370 - Work Horses, Donkeys, Mine, And Factory
Work Horses, Donkeys, Mine, and Factory
Time flowed rather quickly. In a flash, half a year had passed since Miselk’s return to the mainland. It was currently the 5th month of Year 589, fifteen years since Claude’s transmigration. He was now 31 and the youngest peasant officer ever to be made major-general in the history of the kingdom. He was also the field marshal of the Nubissia War Theatre and folksman of Thundercrash.
Claude was really thankful for Miselk for giving him a chance to climb to this level. Miselk had also set up the command structure of the war theatre and picked cooperative subordinates for him, allowing Claude to smoothly take over operations of the war theatre and continue operations without delays.
Currently, nearly 80 thousand settler households had arrived. There was only one batch left. The first and second batches that arrived had already scattered the seeds over their fields and were awaiting harvest in the 9th month. Similarly, nobody expected that settling them down would cause so many problems to pop up. While Sir Bernard and the rest of the civil administration solved most of the problems, many others popped out and sapped most of Claude’s attention.
Thundercrash was the first among the five folks to be fully staffed, followed by 1st Monolith, 2nd and 3rd. ONly the last, 4th Monolith, wasn’t fully staffed. It had to wait until the last batch of settlers arrived.
Claude had asked Major-Generals Eiblont and Birkin why their units, 1st Reserves 2nd Reserves, had been renamed to 3rd and 4th Monoliths. His seniors replied that they think Reserves was a bad name that made one sound inferior to the rest, so they brought their objections to Miselk and pestered him for a good part of the day to get it changed.
Thankfully, Claude’s minions worked really hard and dealt with most other matters that didn’t require his personal attention. They managed to complete their training in the half-year deadline. Currently, Moriad and Berklin led most of them men in Thundercrash on an excursion in Balingana and Cromwell to familiarise themselves with the terrain. Only Myjack’s fully veteran Strike Tribe remained in Lanu.
“General, what worries me most now is the work horses and race horses. Most of the settlers want to buy work horses for carts or farm work and need race horses as mounts. But there’s no way the three rear colonies can provide them. The price of work and race horses has risen nearly three times in the past three months. They now cost almost as much as war horses…” Sir Bernard was so plagued with worries that his hair had whitened considerably.
But this wasn’t a problem Claude could solve. The five enhanced folks themselves didn’t have enough horses at their disposal. They only had around 30 thousand war horses and some ten thousand work and race horses, yet Thundercrash alone was assigned all the war horses and a few thousand war and race horses. They were a mobile assault force, after all, that tried to mimic the Ranger folk. They had to have at least that many horses to ensure their efficacy.
The other horses were split among the other four corps. Logistics had also been making a huge fuss about not having enough horses to make their shipments and demand for more to be bought, but the problem now was there was nobody to buy it from! Transporting horses from Freia would easily triple the price, and that wasn’t taking into account the possible problems that could kill off the horses mid shipment. Transporting horses was a risky business indeed.
When the lack of horses first surfaced in Sir Bernard’s first few settler towns, Claude had taken out a few thousand horses from the five folks and assigned them to the civil administration to distribute to the rest of the populace to use. Fortunately, Claude instructed for those horses not to be sold, but only rented as he thought the settlers wouldn’t be able to afford them anyway.
Time came to prove that Claude had overthinked. After the horses were distributed, they realised that the demand for them had far overshot the supply. People of this world used horses instead of bulls to farm, after all, and most of the settlers wouldn’t use cows for farming or pulling their carts either.
Anfiston was a rather large colony with a sparse population, so it didn’t have complete traffic facilities. What the new settlers needed most at the moment were race horses to mount and work horses to pull their carts and help with farming. As most of them had received a sum of money from the new nobility when they chose to emigrate, buying a work horse or two wasn’t that big a deal. But the problem now was the supply of horses in the war theatre simply wasn’t enough. All the colonies in Nubissia weren’t able to do even that.
“Perhaps we can purchase some donkeys from the nikancha to replace work horses for pulling carts,” Skri suggested.
The people of Nubissia preferred to breed donkeys as mounts and beasts of burden. Most nikancha also had a few donkeys in their households. Perhaps buying them would indeed be a good idea, but Claude worried the settlers would simply slaughter them for meat to eat. Donkey meat was considered to be a delicacy in Aueras, after all.
“I heard some breeders in the three rear colonies have started a large horse-breeding initiative. Looks like the demand for horses made them aspire for wealth,” Major-General Bolonik said, “I know a few friends who have requested to be granted seed war horses to breed with the work horses and improve their stock.”
This was a fine solution in itself, save for the time required for it to work. It would take at least two to three years for any adult horses to enter the market. However, the war theatre was in urgent need of more horses overall. Even if only a third of those 100 thousand households bought only one work horse each, they still needed some 30 thousand of them. It wasn’t a small number that could easily be met.
When Claude returned home, he noticed Weyblon had come to visit with his wife again. The two cited Claude’s new child as the reason for their visit and brought with them lots of baby products. Around a month ago, Kefnie delivered Claude a new child which they named Beuergarcy, which means ‘blue lake’ in Ancient Hez after the beautiful Lake Lanu. Claude was now the father of two sons.
After breakfast, Claude took Weyblon to his study. Weyblon took a few documents out of his bag and handed it to Claude. “General, the association has agreed to let you have possession of the iron vein in Mosraka Mountains. You may construct your refinery there. We will also take you in as a member of the association and this comes with assorted benefits. This is your permit for owning a mine and the deed for the land nearby.”
Claude was elated. “Thank you, my friend, you really did me a huge favour.”
However, Weyblon still seemed a little perplexed. “General, can I be direct and ask why this is for? Iron mining is an investment that doesn’t pay off. The kingdom produces iron the most and the resource least tapped into in the colonies is iron. Our association only has one iron mine, but we only produce enough to fulfill the needs of the colony. It’s the lowest yielding part of the industry.
“Just last year when the first and second batches of settlers arrived, the demand for iron rose slightly to make the tools they needed. But now that most of the settlers had submitted their orders for our ore to our association, how are you going to turn a profit with your own mine and forge? The settlers can’t possibly need that many tools, after all.”
Claude laughed heartily. “Don’t worry, my friend. Tell your association’s other mine owners that I’m not trying to compete with them with my mine. I’m going to produce military equipment, not daily necessities or farming tools. In fact, it’s going to be a weapon. That’s why I refused your offer to provide me with supplies for free. The reason I want to own my own mine is to maintain a level of secrecy over our project.”
Weyblon breathed a sigh of relief, but his curiosity was renewed. “General, as far as I know, the kingdom has had a tight restriction on the production of military gear, right? Equipment used here on Nubissia have to all be shipped here from the mainland. Why would they let you form your own forge in the war theatre to produce weapons?”
Claude shook his head. “They didn’t allow us to start our own forge. All the gun workshops and gunpowder labs here are built with the kingdom’s approval and are strictly regulated. However, I don’t need the kingdom’s permission as I’m going to invent my own weapons. I’m not going to produce the kingdom’s weapons. That’s why I need an iron mine and my own forge. I’ll make some for my own men to test out. If they are effective, we’ll mass produce them in the war theatre.”
Weyblon’s understanding finally snapped into place. He looked at Claude admirably. Claude had managed to forge a certain path to wealth for himself. Even if Claude’s mine didn’t reap much in raw profit, every enemy killed on the frontlines would justify the efforts. As the field marshal, Claude had no problems with ordering logistics to produce anything he wanted and making a huge profit using the battles as justification.
In truth, Claude wasn’t nearly as sneaky as Weyblon imagined. He only wanted an unexcavated iron vein to get a secret place where he could test out his grenades and maybe mines in the future. This was the trump card he wanted to develop for the upcoming war.
However, the explosive experiments he had his sister carry out had mostly failed, well, not all of it did. Angelina was able to synthesise a safe explosive by using Nubissian red clay as a solvent to stabilise nitroglycerin to make a safe explosive.
The problem was there was no way to produce it on a large scale as the right temperature had to be achieved to produce nitroglycerin itself. Angelina could control the temperature easily with her array through the use of Freeze, but Angelina had no idea how to scale up production, and neither did Claude.
The amount of nitroglycerin that could be produced in a single array was meagre, only enough for three grenades each time, but it took a really long time. The first production run alone took up to five hours. Claude couldn’t have her working day in and out doing nothing but making gunpowder for him, could he?
Since that was the case, they had no choice but to make the grenades heavier to contain more gunpowder and change the way they had to be thrown. What mattered was their explosive range. This would definitely give the enemy a huge surprise. Claude decided that if he managed to invent mines, he would try to research canister shot next.
It wasn’t too hard to change how he used grenades. Normal soldiers could only throw them as far as thirty metres away, so all Claude had to do was to design a mechanism to fire the payload further away. He used a shock-absorbing spring carriages used and an iron plate to make a simple firing mechanism. When in use, the iron plate would be flattened on the ground with the spring underneath it. The grenade would then be slot into the delivery chamber and would be launched some 60 metres away when the spring was loosed.
After a few tests, Claude believed it fit for the battlefield. That was why he requested the mining association for the iron mine that had been abandoned for nearly half a century and decided he would start his own forge to produce his grenades, mines and other contraptions. Weyblon was the one who brought his request to the association and got the paperwork done.
“Friend, I still require your help. If possible, I hope you can be one of our shareholders and manage my weapons forge. I lack a reliable supervisor,” he said honestly.
Weyblon thought that Claude was trying to give him that position as thanks for his help. After all, there was no need to strictly manage a simple iron refinery and forge. He humbly said that he was just helping a friend out and had no need for thanks, but under Claude’s insistence, he ended up taking out two thousand crowns to buy a share of 20 percent and signed the shareholder’s agreement and non-disclosure agreement.
Weyblon didn’t think much of the 20 percent share. He thought that since Claude was willing to offer him an opportunity, he might as well be more generous with it. The way he saw it, two thousand crowns was more than enough to hire the workers required to develop the mine and build a refinery and forge. Claude didn’t need to use much of his own money and could start making profit by managing the logistics in the war theatre right.
Total Chapters in book: 593
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 1391110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 6956(@200wpm)___ 5564(@250wpm)___ 4637(@300wpm)
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