Chapter 84

That day, we visited the city of Portreite, the base of the Medilen family. It is the largest port town in the empire, situated on a small hill.

The brigadier general was with us, but of course, this was not a sightseeing trip. We had been summoned by Duke Medilen Hafven.

Upon arriving at the castle on the hill, we were led to a secret conference room, and Duke Medilen Hafven soon appeared. As always, he was impeccably dressed, looking stylish.

The brigadier general and the members of this family have such good looks...

Probably because the heads of the family have always chosen beautiful partners, accumulating good genes... While I was thinking such impolite thoughts, Duke Medilen greeted Brigadier General Altsa.

" Aunt, and Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz. I apologize for troubling you to come to the family estate amidst your busy schedules."

" No, Duke Hafven. This is our duty as members of the Medilen family."

The brigadier general said this and then smiled at me.

" I suppose I'm just an afterthought. What you need is my staff officer, isn't it, Duke Hafven?"

" Ha ha ha, that's true. But this one is your confidant, isn't he? No, he's your one and only partner."

The brigadier general's face turned bright red.

" Y-You're joking too much."

" Huh? But the letter I received before..."

" Let's get to the main topic, Duke Hafven! Yui, start now. No, Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz."

The brigadier general had lost his composure. At such times, I, as his one and only partner, must remain calm.

Duke Hafven seemed puzzled, so I spoke up.

" You mentioned that you have business with me today. What exactly is it?"

" Ah, that's right. It's nothing more than a casual chat for you. Please relax."

Duke Medilen smiled at me.

Those eyes, even though he's smiling, he's up to something.

" I have a question for you, Lieutenant Colonel Chrombertz, as a reincarnated person."

There it is.

" There's almost no doubt that you are a reincarnated person. Your military plans, which prioritize marching speed and allow for rapid advances and retreats, surpassing the enemy's expectations. And the latest model of the musket, which extends the range several times."

Duke Medilen leaned on his cheek and smiled slyly.

" If you came up with all of these on your own, you would undoubtedly be the greatest genius in history. It's much more convincing to call you a reincarnated person."

That's true. In my previous life, these were developed over generations by talented people. No single person could have come up with them.

Duke Medilen's expression turned serious, and he stared at me intently.

" Reincarnated person, I want to know. What will happen to this world in the future? No, let me ask more specifically. What will happen to guns and cannons?"

It's a relief to have specific questions.

" Muzzle-loading rifled muskets will eventually evolve into breech-loading rifles with metallic cartridges. They can be reloaded in a few seconds."

" Hmm..."

" However, metallic cartridges require very advanced technology. It would be difficult to achieve with current technology."

The percussion cap and metallic cartridge are the challenges. Smokeless powder is also necessary.

I know nothing about chemistry or engineering, so I can only rely on the experts in this world to reinvent them.

" If metallic cartridges become possible, multiple bullets can be loaded into the gun, and it can fire at this speed."

I tapped the table to demonstrate.

Duke Medilen's expression changed.

" Will all infantry carry such guns!? Then the line infantry..."

" Yes. Line infantry will become obsolete. The era of skirmishers will begin. Even our regiment's rifled muskets have the power to rewrite all current military manuals."

Current muskets can only effectively engage targets at about fifty meters. Beyond that, they miss and lose power quickly. That's why they form lines at this distance.

However, if they can kill enemies at two hundred meters, they will engage at that distance.

A bayonet charge, which is usually fatal, would be impossible at this distance. Heavily armed infantry can't run fast. The defenders can easily reload their guns.

Bayonet charges won't disappear, but they won't be the primary means of deciding battles.

I explained this as well.

Duke Medilen looked serious.

" The gun ports in fortresses will also need to be improved. I want to know what will happen to cannons. Is it possible to have rifled cannons?"

The Fourth Division of the Medilen family is the navy, so they are most concerned about ship-mounted guns.

I answered.

" Yes, rifled cannons exist. They will significantly increase range and accuracy. Ship-mounted guns are no exception."

Duke Medilen's face brightened.

" Oh, I see! Then we can turn the detestable Agan navy's ships into underwater monuments. ...No, wait."

Duke Medilen looked at me suspiciously.

" You are a man who chooses your words very carefully. Did you just say 'will increase'?"

" Yes. I am not familiar with rifled cannons. I have heard that smoothbore cannons are still in use. In the new smoothbore cannons, the cannonballs are like mechanical arrows that open their fins after being fired to fly accurately."

To be honest, I don't know much about this, but I've heard that tank guns are like this.

Duke Medilen looked very surprised, with a blank expression. He probably couldn't imagine it.

" Cannonballs with such mechanisms?"

" Yes. However, I was not a military person in my previous life, so I did not have access to such secrets."

Saying this should prevent further probing.

Duke Medilen was very impressed and nodded repeatedly.

" I see... I see. What about ships? Are sailing ships still in use in your world?"

" Sailing ships have become obsolete. The next generation will be steamships with iron armor."

" Steamships?"

Is this conversation going to be long?

I gave a very rough explanation of the concept of steam engines.

" Ships powered by steam."

" The force that makes the lid of a kettle rattle?"

I nodded firmly at Duke Medilen's incredulous face.

" That force. A small amount of firewood can only make the lid rattle, but a large amount of coal can produce a fierce steam that can turn gears."

" Umm... I'll believe it."

He doesn't really believe it. What's with that suspicious look?

Then I'll tell him something even more unbelievable.

" In my time, we extract heat from special minerals and use it to turn gears, just like steam. These gears power enormous warships the size of a castle, which can cross the vast oceans. These warships carry several flying machines, which can fly faster than sound and drop bomb-like projectiles. These mechanical bombs can track enemies to the horizon..."

" Hold on, that's beyond my understanding. I apologize for doubting you, but don't drown me in a flood of knowledge. Teach such a future to my children."

" I apologize for that."

If he understands, that's good enough.

I decided not to explain nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and told Duke Medilen.

" Weapons will advance at a terrifying pace. Developing and operating them will require highly specialized experts and a large amount of resources. Coal and iron ore will become the lifeblood of the nation."

Duke Medilen looked grim.

" It seems this will be a very expensive war..."

" Your insight is correct. In the age of coal and iron, military power will be determined by a nation's productivity and economic power."

" It sounds like a dream, but it's a dreamless story. That's why it's worth believing."

Duke Medilen nodded with a wry smile.

" But if naval ships advance so much, it means there is that much value in controlling the sea. Is that right?"

" Exactly."

This guy is quite perceptive.

Duke Medilen smiled.

" Alright, I've decided. I will take advantage of this opportunity to bring the coastal imperial territories under my control. I will offer protection to the lords of the ports. And coal, right? The empire's coal comes from the western mountains. I will have to reconcile with the Duke of Zihotberg eventually."

In this era, coal is not yet highly valued, but it is produced in large quantities in the Schwaidel Mountains in the western empire. Iron ore is also found there.

The Zihotberg and Mildor families, who control the mountains, will become immensely wealthy after the Industrial Revolution.

Duke Medilen seems to be looking ahead to such a future. He is indeed a shrewd person.

He stared at me intently.

" Your explanation is not a lie, is it?"

" It is correct in my previous world. The laws of physics and chemistry seem to be the same in this world, and the flow of history from the founding of the empire to the present is similar to my previous world."

" Similar?"

" Well, it's a story from about three hundred years ago."

" Are you subtly calling me uncivilized?"

" Not at all."

Duke Medilen, being the nephew of Brigadier General Altsa, has a similar way of pointing out things.

It's true that my previous world is about three hundred years ahead, but I didn't develop the civilization. It's the achievement of the many people who lived over those three hundred years. I have nothing to be proud of.

" My previous existence is the result of countless ancestors overcoming failures and difficulties. I would never look down on the people of any era. This is true for this world as well."

Duke Medilen seemed to sense something from my words. His expression of indifference suddenly turned to surprise.

" I see... Is this what Aunt saw in you?"

What does he mean by that?

Duke Medilen's expression became serious.

" Your achievements and character alone are worthy of high regard. Your knowledge is more valuable than a ship full of gold, but it also means that the secret of your reincarnation must be protected."

Even with Duke Medilen's protection, if it's discovered that I'm a reincarnated person, I could face heresy trials... I need to be careful about how I convey my knowledge.

Duke Medilen solemnly declared.

" The ship named Medilen must now sail through stormy seas. But with your wisdom, the voyage will be safe. Navigator from another world, are you prepared to face the stormy seas in your second life?"

I've already made up my mind.

Since the day I teamed up with that old man.

" Wherever I am born, I am who I am. If I must cross stormy seas, I will do so until I succeed."

" That's a good attitude. I didn't need to ask."

Duke Medilen laughed and continued.

" The Schwaidel Empire has fallen. The capital, Lotsmer, has been captured, and His Majesty the Emperor has been taken prisoner."

Isn't that a bit too soon?