Clearing Out the Spies

The interrogation deep inside the dungeon made decisive progress. Intelligence Bureau Richter personally oversaw the operation, conducting multiple rounds of repeated and cross-cutting interrogations of the captured spy chief Thomson, constantly digging deeper into the details and verifying his confessions.

Ultimately, it was determined that there were seven more spies hiding within Carnford, and their accents, physical characteristics, and the approximate area of their initial planned activities were also identified.

Based on this valuable intelligence, Richter quickly dispatched several elite teams to secretly conduct targeted verification and identification in various Tunbao, construction sites, Shantytown Area, and even market shops.

The results quickly surfaced, largely matching Thomson's later confession: these seven spies did not adopt a long-term infiltration strategy, but were eager to act, thus exposing their whereabouts.

One man found a job as a helper in a government-run shop that supplied daily necessities to the Tunbao, hoping to use the opportunity to get information about the people and goods coming and going.

The other three infiltrated the construction site, using their physical strength to work and thus gain an opportunity to observe the internal structure and defensive weaknesses of the Tunbao.

The other three simply lived as ordinary refugees scattered throughout the Shantytown Area, responsible for spreading rumors and creating panic.

After identifying the target, Richter took decisive action to make the arrest.

Without alerting the spies, several locations acted almost simultaneously, successfully capturing all five spies on charges of "suspected theft" or "disturbing the peace" and taking them back to the dungeon. After a brief but rigorous interrogation, they confessed to being assigned by Leon to infiltrate Carnford to carry out sabotage and reconnaissance.

The punishment was public and severe. After consulting with Karl, Richter had the five newly captured spies, along with the previously executed spy, paraded through the streets in the newly built No. 1 and Stockaded Village Number Two and Shantytown Area.

At each location, propaganda officer Tommy publicly announced their identities as spies and their crimes to the assembled civilians and soldiers.

After the public announcement process was completed, eight spies, including Thomson, were taken together to the execution ground outside the Shantytown Area and publicly beheaded.

Blood once again stained the soil red, and their corpses were hung on conspicuous wooden poles beside the main roads leading from several Tunbao to the outside world, left to be exposed to the wind and sun as the most direct warning.

This series of iron-fisted actions caused a huge shock among the people.

Fear and a sense of security were strangely intertwined: fear of the Sauron's pervasive infiltration and the Lord's Residence's merciless punishment; and a sense of security stemming from the Lord's Residence's efficient counter-espionage capabilities and unwavering determination to safeguard the territory.

A consensus that "Carnford law is strict and inviolable" began to take root.

At the same time, military development is also accelerating.

Under the full leadership of Brendan and Roland, the recruitment and training of the Main Corps was remarkably successful.

Due to the large number of refugees and their high enthusiasm for joining the army, the actual number of recruits quickly exceeded the initial plan of 2,500, reaching more than 3,000. Therefore, Karl split the Main Corps into two Infantry Regiment.

The First Main Regiment was commanded by Brendan, while the Second Main Regiment was commanded by Roland.

Each of the two regiments comprised several battalions and companies composed of mixed pikemen, Musketeers, and Swordsmen and Shieldbearers, forming a clear command hierarchy and operational order.

In addition, the Militia Camp of the three Tunbao have been initially established, with a total strength of nine hundred men.

Although their equipment and training levels are inferior to those of the Main Corps, they are familiar with the local terrain, are both farmers and soldiers, and serve as an important auxiliary and reserve force.

At this point, Carnford's total visible force numbered nearly four thousand, and if the reserve personnel undergoing training were included, the number would reach a mere five thousand.

Although this army has a high proportion of new recruits and its equipment is not yet fully standardized, its backbone is supported by veterans who have survived countless battles, and its morale is high and its training is rigorous.

The upgrading of weaponry and equipment is another key pillar in the Carnford Army enhancement.

Thanks to the three drilling machines that the Schmidt Family brought from the south, and the tireless efforts of engineer Morr, military production is gradually getting back on track.

Significant progress has been made in the musket workshops.

The workshop was located beside a fast-flowing stream, Morr cleverly used water power to build multiple water drills and water hammers.

Water drills are specifically designed for drilling gun barrels, offering far greater efficiency and precision than manual drilling; water hammers are used for forging gun bolt components and armor plates.

Thanks to more sophisticated drilling equipment, the Flintlock Rifle produced in Carnford were able to reduce their caliber from about 20 millimeters in the early, crude Matchlock Rifle to a more standardized 17.5 millimeters, which was more economical in terms of materials and gunpowder.

This improved range and accuracy, and also reduced the burden on soldiers.

However, a key technical problem still plagued the workshop: reliably mounting the bayonet on the Flintlock Rifle.

The current process is still unstable. The welding of the bayonet lug and the polishing of the tenon rely heavily on the experience and feel of skilled craftsmen, resulting in a very low success rate.

Of the first batch of two hundred qualified Flintlock Rifle that passed inspection, only twenty were successfully fitted with usable bayonets.

Karl was not surprised by this result. He prioritized issuing all twenty of these precious, complete Flintlock Rifle to the most elite musket companies of Brendan's regiment, while the new muskets issued to other units could only be used as ranged weapons for the time being. Soldiers still needed to carry short swords or machetes at their waists for close combat.

Despite its imperfections, the proportion of Matchlock Rifle in the entire army is rapidly decreasing, while the ability to project firepower has made a qualitative leap.

In terms of Cannon, progress has been even more encouraging.

The cannon-making workshop, overseen by Elmont, was deliberately placed by Karl on the shady side of a secluded hill, far from the main castle and residential area.

The area is relatively densely wooded and has a secluded terrain; the only path leading up the mountain is also strictly controlled.

To ensure absolute security and secrecy, Karl even drew one of his most reliable companies from the Main Corps and stationed it permanently at the foot of the hills. He also set up three sentry posts on the only road leading to the workshop, and no one was allowed to approach without a specific pass.

On this day, Karl personally rode over to inspect the area.

Along the way, he passed through three checkpoints in succession. Each time, he was strictly stopped by the conscientious sentries who carefully checked his identity token and face before respectfully letting him pass.

Even the Lord himself, without exception, abided by the rules he had set.

This tight security satisfied Karl with the secrecy surrounding the workshop.

Riding up the hill, Karl arrived at the workshop area surrounded by wooden fences and soldiers, where he met Elmont, who had been working diligently there for over a month.

The sight before him startled him slightly: in just over a month, the once neat and tidy young man was now unkempt, with messy hair, a stubble beard, and his craftsman's clothes covered in oil and dirt, looking exactly like a wild man.

However, in stark contrast to his disheveled appearance were his eyes, which shone with intense excitement and focus, as if a fire were burning within them.