Free Web NovelThe third batch of grain transport convoys led by Louis arrived at Red Tide Territory in the afternoon.
The people along the street were already accustomed to such a sight. Dozens of carriages, loaded with bags of golden wheat, slowly drove along the main road, all the way to the newly expanded warehouse.
The warehouse opened, and workers moved, registered, and stored the grain in one smooth motion.
Sentinels on the distant high tower silently patrolled, guarding against any possible changes.
Bradley stood in front of the warehouse entrance, holding a record board, and after waiting for a while, he saw the familiar figure dismount, and then he nodded slightly.
"This is the third batch. Fortunately, this warehouse was expanded in advance, otherwise, it really wouldn't fit," Bradley exclaimed.
"Wait another half a month, and there will be a fourth batch," Louis said casually, taking a sip of water, as if talking about the weather.
Bradley didn't respond, just watched as bags of wheat were moved into the dry and clean warehouse.
The sunlight shone down, reflecting a faint glow between the grains of wheat.
A year ago, when Louis proposed to transform Wheat Wave Territory into a specialized grain production area to supply food for all territories under Red Tide,
He didn't disbelieve it; he just felt that such a thing was impossible for anyone to achieve in the chaotic Northern Territory after the disaster.
After all, in the year after the disaster, most territories in the Northern Territory could barely survive on relief from the Imperial Capital.
It was already remarkable that Red Tide Territory could barely maintain order.
But Louis managed to do it, creating the greatest miracle in the history of the Northern Territory without relying on others. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Wheat Wave Territory truly became Red Tide's own granary. And now, this place has become the fundamental guarantee for the entire territory for the coming year; Louis could even sell off some of this grain if he wished, though he wouldn't do so.
"You said then that you wanted Red Tide to no longer rely on others to feed itself," Bradley said softly, "I just thought it was a young man talking tough back then. Now it seems—my vision was too narrow."
The workers' shouts came from inside the warehouse, as bags of grain were continuously moved in like a tide.
Bradley collected his thoughts and smiled: "Before winter this year, this warehouse will probably have to be squeezed even more."
After the grain carts were unloaded, the warehouse doors slowly closed, and the soldier responsible for records presented the ledger. Bradley flipped through a few pages and then looked at the sky.
"Lord, are you going back to the castle now?"
"I still need to go to the back warehouse," Louis replied, "to see how the winter supplies are prepared there."
Bradley nodded and followed him. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The back warehouse area was near the west side of the main warehouse and had been reinforced in the past six months.
Along the way, several small transport vehicles were being dispatched, carrying not grain, but boxes of firewood, cloth, and dry ration packs.
Louis's gaze swept over the wooden barrels filled with pickled radishes and smoked fish nearby.
The warehouse workers sealed the barrel lids and then skillfully carried them into the cellar.
"How are the dry storage and preserved food reserves?" he asked.
"Salted meat, smoked meat, smoked fish, pickled radishes, and dried mushrooms are all being prepared in batches according to the plan. The pickling workshop started two weeks early, and the current progress is over seventy percent," Bradley paused, then opened a second thin booklet.
"Regarding fuel, firewood, coal, and flint marrow oil have been distributed according to population quotas, and two more batches can be brought back before the mountain roads are closed."
"What about the Fireback Turtle deployment?" Louis asked.
"The barracks have completed their setup, and civilian residences are slowly expanding based on applications," Bradley showed a rare expression of satisfaction, "It's a good thing."
They stopped in front of a row of fabric racks, where several female workers were fitting newly made coats for soldiers.
"For cold-weather clothing, the civilian portion is 80% complete, and the workshop is still rushing to make military leather boots and fur coats. As long as the climate doesn't change suddenly, no one will freeze this winter."
"What about medicine?" Louis glanced at the neatly stacked medicine boxes in the corner.
"Regular potions, pain-relieving herb powder, anti-cold paste, and fever-reducing aquatic herbs have all been replenished. We've also re-verified the consumption model reported by the medical camp; each ten households in risk areas will be allocated a set of medicine boxes, implemented according to the new regulations."
Louis looked around, nodded slightly, watching as boxes of supplies were marked and sealed, ready to be distributed to various districts according to quotas in the coming days.
His gaze swept over the warehouse shelves, then looked at Bradley beside him:
"Everyone has worked hard this year. And there have been no major disasters, no wars; it's a rare good year. Since there's enough grain, clothing, firewood, and dry food, there's no need to be too frugal.
This year, we can distribute a bit more; no need to be stingy."
Bradley was momentarily stunned by the words, then smiled faintly.
While other lords were still thinking about how to save resources and hoard surplus grain as a trump card, Louis proactively proposed increasing winter allocations.
This generosity was not only because he felt confident but also because of his genuine care for the people.
Bradley added in a low voice: "No wonder—everyone is willing to follow you."
Louis didn't respond, just walked closer to the warehouse shelf, touched the stamp on a bag of dried mushrooms, confirmed the mark was clear, and then nodded, signaling his adjutant to begin relaying the new distribution instructions.
This winter will be very good.
On a late autumn afternoon, a cold wind with a faint scent of rust swirled over the demonstration grounds in the artisan district.
Louis, wearing a half-cape, walked steadily through the heavy stone gate, his black and gold military robe gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
The demonstration grounds were already set: tools in place, devices stable, a thin layer of coal ash covering the test track, the air filled with the lingering scent of molten metal and alchemy, a burning heat mixed with an oppressive feeling before an imminent explosion.
Mike was the first to greet him, his hands covered in metal dust, but he didn't bother to wipe them.
Wiping his thick palms casually on his trousers, he puffed out his chest and said with ill-concealed excitement: "Lord, all prototypes have been completed according to the blueprints, awaiting your inspection."
Louis's gaze swept over the array of ready-to-go devices in the distance, then over a row of expectant artisans and several alchemists with singed robes, finally nodding slightly.
"Begin," With his command, the entire demonstration ground roared into operation.
Mike waved his hand, and an assistant artisan immediately pulled a rope.
"Activate the folding chevaux de frise, prepare to ignite!"
With a 'clack-thud', three sections of chevaux de frise suddenly sprang out, the mechanism slots automatically interlocking, like the bones of a fierce beast opening up, heavily slamming into the ground.
Each section of chevaux de frise was covered with iron spikes and intertwined stakes, and with a slight tremor, the ground spikes precisely embedded into the stone floor of the test site, not moving an inch.
Then, the alchemy team on the other side immediately took action—a fiery magic core the size of a knuckle was pressed into the activation slot, and the oil pipelines vibrated slightly.
Whoosh! Accompanied by a series of soft sounds, a row of blazing flames shot out along the spine of the chevaux de frise.
The golden-orange fire spread rapidly across the chevaux de frise stakes like a boiling tide, forming a complete wall of fire in just three seconds, sealing off the entire test passage.
The flames crackled, and heat waves rolled.
"Prepare to charge!" Mike shouted.
Two test knights in heavy armor spurred their horses and charged from the other end, their hooves thundering, but as they approached the fire line, the horses hesitated instantly, fear appearing in their eyes.
They tried to bypass it but found that the three sections of chevaux de frise were linked, blocking them completely.
"Retreat!" The knight pulled the reins, forcibly stopping the charge.
Fifteen seconds later, only the charred stake surfaces were still smoking.
Silence fell for a moment.
"Emergency sealing formed within ten seconds," Louis stood by the side of the field with his hands behind his back, "If used at a valley pass, an unprepared enemy vanguard cavalry would be thrown into complete disarray."
Mike grinned: "This thing from our workshop is much more agile than the old wooden stakes at the Northern Territory passes."
The artisans nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Then let's proceed to the next item," Louis said softly, his gaze already shifted to the 'steel beast' under the heavy tarpaulin further away.
The heavy curtain slowly slid down, pulled by chains, and in the next instant, an almost breathtaking sense of oppression suddenly swept across the demonstration grounds.
It was irregularly wedge-shaped, like a slumbering behemoth crouching on the ground.
Its front protruded a sharply angled, heavily armored vehicle front, embedded with narrow observation slits and enclosed arrow slots, like a cold beast's face.
Heavy side armor was added to both sides, with black steel plates connected by rivets overlapping section by section, like the scales of an armored lizard.
And four steel beasts were slowly dragging it out,
They were fully clad in cold-gleaming battle armor, their horned helmets glinting with a cold light, and wisps of pale blue mist emerged from their nostrils.
That was the effect of the Frostleaf Vine potion, used to calm their violent nature and enable them to remain calm on the battlefield.
Iron chains and reins were connected below the front of the vehicle; each footfall was like a heavy hammer striking the chest, making the air subtly vibrate.
"...So this is the steel beast."
Emily stood beside Louis, her gaze unconsciously looking up at the colossal object, her voice so soft as to be almost inaudible.
Her slender figure appeared tiny as dust in the shadow of that giant beast.
“It’s like a moving fortress,” she murmured, her expression filled with undisguised awe.
The steel beast advanced slowly, its massive wheels and tracks grinding and rubbing, emitting a low, continuous rumble, like some subterranean giant turning over in its sleep.
The four armored steel beasts pulling it moved in unison, their iron hooves striking the ground, their armor clanking, each impact like a hammer blow to everyone’s heart.
Cold mist escaped from their nostrils, blue-white wisps of smoke swirling in the air.
Under the control of the artisans inside the steel beast, this colossal creature completed its turning test slowly and precisely.
It glided unhurriedly across the front of the demonstration ground, and everyone present held their breath.
In the silence, an indescribable sense of oppression washed over their hearts like a tide.
This was not a war machine.
This was a moving wall of steel.
“It’s more stable than I expected,” Louis said, his tone still revealing a hint of undisguised satisfaction. “If deployed outside the city—the barbarian cavalry line would be directly smashed into a pile of scrap metal.”
Although the steel beast’s propulsion was somewhat clumsy, that heavy, stable sense of oppression was exactly what he had envisioned on the blueprints.
He nodded slightly, adding, “After a few more rounds of training, once these steel beasts are more accustomed to commands, they’ll be much faster.”
“You designed it well, my Lord!” Mike responded, standing at attention, his face flushed, his voice barely containing his excitement. “We just followed your lead....”
Louis waved his hand, telling him to stop flattering, even though Mike’s praise was sincere.
The exercise was not yet over. With a crisp click as a mechanism activated, the steel beast’s side hatch “clacked” open, and a set of three-pronged hook-spears immediately extended along a sliding rail arm. The metal friction created a sharp echo, like a beast grinding its teeth in the night.
“Hook-spears—ready.”
Mike gave a low command, and the main control artisan pushed his right hand forward. The telescopic arm shot out abruptly and quickly. One hook-spear pierced the air with a sharp cutting angle, savagely stabbing into the wooden shield target on the simulated battlefield ahead.
“Retrieve!”
The hook-claw bit into the shield’s edge, and with a powerful tug, the entire wooden shield instantly splintered and flew apart. A crisp “crack” echoed through the site, and wood chips flew everywhere.
That thick combat shield was torn directly into two pieces.
Immediately after, the second arm extended, the hook-spear flexibly changing its angle, hooking the back edge of another upright wooden shield. With a pull and a twist, it tore, overturned, and reeled it back in—the entire action was seamless, like a metal beast-catching claw repeatedly practicing.
On the demonstration ground, Louis narrowed his eyes, watching very carefully.
“Live combat test, begin!” Mike commanded.
Three knights immediately charged out from the side door, forming a shield wall, launching a short-range assault towards the steel beast.
“Target locked—”
“Adjust propulsion angle two point four!”
“Thrust!”
As three voice commands sounded almost simultaneously inside the steel beast, the first hook-spear on the left instantly thrust out, accurately biting the edge of the front-row knight’s shield. The cable immediately tightened.
The knight was lifted and pulled forward, his shield cracking in response. The hook-claw immediately retracted, sweeping the shattered wood fragments into the cabin.
The two knights behind instinctively stopped to adjust, but the hook-spears were like a chain of claws. The second sharp thrust had already arrived, violently pulling aside the middle-row shield’s corner, disrupting the shield-holding rhythm.
The entire process took only a few seconds. The simulated enemy charge instantly disintegrated, their formation breaking apart.
“The angle for tearing shields is well-designed,” Louis slowly remarked from the high platform, his steady tone betraying a hint of approval. “Combined with the steel beast’s charge, this can disrupt formations and directly penetrate the middle section.”
Upon hearing this, Mike’s eyes lit up. “We’ve also been repeatedly fine-tuning the force and angle. You really saw through it.”
He glanced at the hook-spear arm in the distance and added in a low voice, “This current system can basically deploy the hooks while moving and retract them stably. With continued improvements, it can be installed in the next batch of mass-produced models.”
The giant beast stood silently on the tracks, its massive metal body seemingly awaiting its next command.
Next was the long-range attack test.
“Fire control position ready!” an artisan reported in a low voice.
Silco stood beside Louis, his dark circles so heavy it looked like he hadn’t slept all night. His collar was askew, and his sleeves were messy, hinting at some explosive experiment he’d pulled an all-nighter for.
But his eyes were unusually bright, and he seemed so excited he could bounce at any moment.
“Magic Bomb Arrow, test installation one—fire!”
A crisp “snap” exploded inside the belly compartment. The sliding rail controlling the crossbow vibrated violently, and the arrow instantly pierced the air.
“Target hit!”
The thick iron target at the end of the testing ground exploded with a thunderous roar, flames splashing, the iron surface charred and curled, and a bowl-sized indentation looking as if it had been punched through by an angry fist.
In stark contrast, ordinary arrows on the wooden shield nearby barely penetrated, failing to even pierce the second layer.
Before the blast light dissipated, Silco excitedly shook his sleeves, like an alchemist ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) madman hawking his own explosive toys, pulling out three arrowheads with different engravings from his Pregnant and showing them to Louis.
“Proximity blast, timed blast, delayed blast—we’ve tuned them all! Accuracy test passed!”
His voice, however, betrayed uncontainable pride. “We’ve optimized the blast patterns three times, increasing trigger stability by forty percent. Now, whether you want to blow up one person or a group of people, it can all be done.”
“Controllability of the blast radius?”
“From two fingers wide to three and a half feet, we’ve tested it all!” Silco grinned. “You want a five-shot burst? No problem. Explosions are our alchemy team’s specialty. Path overlay, progressive ignition—we’ve got it all handled.”
Louis nodded gently, his gaze falling on the charred, blast-marked iron target: “Very good. True explosions are for creating tactical space.”
Finally, it was the comprehensive experiment. The testing ground was re-arranged, with a dozen iron shield formations erected on one side, mixed with iron beast targets simulating barbarian formations.
On the other side, the steel beasts stood by, the steel beast itself stood steadily, and several artisans and knights entered its belly compartment and control positions in sequence.
“Integration test—begin!” Mike commanded.
First, the explosive arrow test firing.
Magic-guided crossbows from the distant platform accurately struck the rear of the enemy formation. Several iron shield soldiers “boomed” as they exploded and flew, charred blast marks tearing a gap in the grass.
Then the steel beasts roared. The four armored steel beasts pulled the steel beast into motion, the wheels on the tracks rumbling like heavy war drums.
They smashed open the path and charged into the formation.
The hook-spear mechanism popped out—“click—boom!” Accompanied by the screech of tearing metal, the front-row iron shield formation was violently hooked and ripped apart, splinters of wood and metal shards flying everywhere.
The steel beast then extended its side armor, the internal rails rotating, and the heavy armor structure sealed off both sides like closing a gate, successfully encircling the simulated enemy remnants.
The end launch bay released a cold blast bomb. Half of the beast target exploded in the ice-blue impact, freezing marks like a blizzard gnawing at it.
In just forty seconds, the simulated enemy formation was completely crushed.
After a moment of silence, thunderous cheers erupted within the testing ground.
“Success!”
“Full process! Full process synergy successful!”
Many artisans were so excited they almost jumped, some grabbing their companions’ collars and roaring, “We actually built this kind of war machine! We did it!”
The young alchemy apprentice’s eyes were red. “This level of integrated combat system—something those alchemist fanatics in the Emerald Federation can only pull off—we can do it too!”
Louis stood on the high platform, quietly gazing at the training ground. Then he turned to Bradley: “All those who personally participated in the manufacturing will be commended.”
As soon as these words were spoken, a thunderous cheer erupted once again, even Silco couldn’t hide his smile. While yawning, he chuckled and said to the artisan beside him, “Don’t forget me when you drink tonight.”
In a corner, a figure stood quietly, her eyes dark.
It was Visa. She had come with Sif and watched the entire process. The scene sent shivers down her spine.
Visa gazed at the steel beast, which had slowly stopped in the distance like a mountain. It was something she had never seen on the Northern Plains battlefield.
It was ruthless, steady, and emotionless as it advanced, like a true embodiment of war.
She used to be a barbarian scout, familiar with the rhythm of barbarian army formations and cavalry charges. But if this kind of weapon could truly be mass-produced, she couldn’t understand how the barbarians of the future would resist.
