** Author Note **
Heya readers, sorry i'm gonna be breaking my streak here today, only doing a single chapter post for the end of Volume 3, theirs a bug going round and i got hit with it, got this one finished and now off to rest and recover, will do my best for regular release and start of Volume 4 tommorow.
Stay healthy, Stay Frosty :)
***
A few weeks passed by peacefully
Just as our internal affairs were getting back on track, a problem arose.
The mountains in front were protecting us, but the coast was completely empty.
It was true that the sea blocked the invasion of the enemy, except those with a sufficient navy.
That's why i chose this place, but it's a different story when the surrounding countries have fleets.
"That's the problem with Bridget."
"Yes."
"Why are there only four ships?"
"There's a reason for that, it seems the previous king of Bridget was defeated badly in a naval battle with Carthage. After that, they lost control of the sea completely. Speaking of Carthage, isn't it a territory with a strong navy since the time of the Ancient Empire? During the time of the emerging ancient kingdoms, they built a huge port in Carthage and a large fleet that went across the continent. It was the Carthage family of the Ancient Empire who took the lead in building the large fleet, and since they founded the country, their naval power has been strong for generations."
That's what I thought. Carthage is a port city, and it's a naval country, that's their strength they utterly fail in comparison when battling on land.
I decided that it would be better to raise an army, and it was the King of Bridget that I killed that made that happen.
"Then we have a rather serious problem. Look at it."
I pointed to the map.
The route from Estren to Brinhild, Raihein, and Berthaquin is too close.
If Estren invaded the sea with a large fleet, it would be troublesome.
The front is blocked by mountains, and even if we can somehow defend the sides, we are completely defenseless against an enemy coming from the sea.
If they were to form an alliance with another country and one side invaded from the mountains and the other from the sea, the problem would become serious.
No, an invasion from the sea alone would be a problem.
The geographical advantage of being surrounded by mountains makes it difficult to invade.
However, if they were to attack from the sea, it would be easier.
Besides, they could choose their battlefield.
They would have to come in from the sea and fight on land, but it would be a problem if this land, which had not yet been developed, became a battlefield.
Even if I was confident that I could win, there was still the possibility of serious damage to my well-tended farmland.
This land must not become a battlefield for at least a year before it is stabilized, lest we all begin to starve.
If I go out and fight, and my territory is invaded, the unification of the continent will not be feasible.
If I lied about creating the safest place for them to stay, the people would probably leave.
Who would want to live in a place where the fishermen living along the coast are worried that the ships might attack at any moment?
It's like leaving the back door open, with your entire fortune laying on the kitchen table.
"That's a big problem...I looked into the process of occupying the Bridget territory after the king's death, and it seems that there is a reason why there was no movement in Carthage even during such a chaotic time."
"What reason?"
"The king of Carthage is currently avoiding war due to his advanced age. In addition, the king has been unable to produce an heir, and there is a fierce dispute among the nobles, who are divided into factions, over who will be the next king."
The struggle for the throne.
Since no successor has been decided, each faction will try to set up a king who will allow them to take control of the country's government.
"So it's unlikely they will start a war. Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes, sir."
Fihatri nodded, but I was considerably more negative.
I couldn't remember the succession issue, but there was one important person in the game that I remembered clearly.
There would soon be a coup d'etat here in Carthage.
That person seized the royal power and embarked on a war of conquest, where he played a very active role with his superior abilities and his special military unit called the Grand Fleet.
He grows into a man who will fight for the supremacy of the continent in the future.
The coup d'etat had occurred after the fall of Lunan, if it hadn't happened yet, it would soon.
Carthage would later become a very dangerous nation.
"Most importantly. What if we could make this great fleet of Carthage ours?"
"Carthage's Grand Fleet?"
Fihatri looked at me as if to say, "What are you talking about?"
It was a normal reaction, since he was worried about being attacked, but suddenly hearing me say about acquiring the strongest navy out of the blue seems to have caused him to short out.
"The question is, what would happen if we had this huge fleet? The mountains stop the enemy from getting in, but they also make it inconvenient for us to get out. But with a fleet like this, we can easily travel anywhere on the continent."
"That's true. A fleet like theirs would definitely increase our war potential and secure future trade routes."
So I need to get my hands on that fleet, or at the very least a portion of it.
"Send a messenger to Carthage. I'm sending a delegation to request an alliance."
Of course, there was no way they were going to enter into this alliance officially, which was completely unprofitable for them.
An alliance was just an excuse.
To completely remove the danger of the empty rear, that was my biggest challenge right now.
If I could obtain about 150,000 troops, and if I could at least guarantee the stability of the people and agriculture, then I would finally be able to declare the founding of my country and embark on a full-scale campaign on the continent.
It is impossible to train 150,000 troops in a situation where I do not know when the enemy will invade.
If they invade frequently, the number of troops will dwindle.
In order to train 150,000 troops, we also need to increase our population and Carthage actually had the solution to that population problem as well.
Historically pre-industrial revolution having 10% of your overall population as professional soldiers would be a thing unheard of since at best they could field 1% of their men professionally as the other hands were needed for the fields, but with our mechanical uses of the plow, heavy plow, and horse collar the amount of land being managed per head exponentially increased, along with our expected yields allowing the existing army to remain without needing to be disbanded, and within the next year I could even look to expand it further.
***
Miri was busy meeting farmers who had been farming in the Brinhild area for generations, hearing their opinions and providing insights garnered from the new methods deployed in Aquitania, most of which caused their eyes to bulge followed by cheers among them at the thought of increasing their profits and having more food for everyone to eat.
She was very serious in her approach to the work she was entrusted with.
Yuri followed Miri around as her guard and the peasants were very cooperative due to her charm level, and the misunderstanding that she is my wife.
She was also in charge of training a portion of the army, these were refugee's who'd arrived from Roserun after hearing their princess had moved here, so she had a lot of work to do.
"I'm going to the Carthage Kingdom."
I visited Yuri and talked to her.
"The Carthage Kingdom? What brings you there?"
"To secure the rear...I think."
"I'll be ready."
Yuri had planned to go with me, however, this time it was not to be because there were many parts of the system that would not operate properly without her in Brinhild.
All of Brinhild's internal affairs right now are assisted by her.
The training of the army is also more efficient with her, she is like a cheat.
In addition, in order to hide from the public eye, I can't be accompanied by someone who stands out.
Yuri's very presence was conspicuous, so she was not suitable to accompany me this time.
"I'll go alone this time. In the meantime, I need you to train the army and take care of internal affairs. I need you to stay here. To take care of our people so I have a home to come back to upon my return."
"..."
Yuri's cheeks puffed up at my words, she didn't seem to like it.
The blonde's furrowed brow scared me.
But ultimately she accepted with a light bit of reddening to her face.
*** End Of Volume 3 ***