The Shame of the Nobles Plans to Go Global

For the past few months, Lynn has been busy not only manufacturing firearms and cannons but also engaging in diplomacy.

During this time, he researched non-inflatable hard Slime rubber tires. The Electric Arc Furnace wasn't just for making guns and cannons; it could be used for other things too. To make money, Lynn came up with the idea of expanding the Textile Industry.

Although early Steam Engines were rather crude and couldn't be used as drilling machines, they could be fully utilized in Textile Machines, for simple hammering, and for pumping water out of mines. Simultaneously, a Steam Train slower than a person running was produced.

They couldn't afford Railroad Tracks, so Wooden Tracks covered with iron sheets would have to suffice.

Steelmaking using Blast Furnaces and Converters still required further research. Blast Furnaces produced Molten Iron, and to turn it into Steel, a Converter was needed. Breakthroughs were troublesome and expensive.

Since Lynn had invented tires, Carriages also received optimizations. This was another commodity, and merchants flocked to it.

Many were envious, but Lynn was a State-controlled Enterprise. There were no civilian enterprises; it had some elements of a "state" company, not the typical factory-opening model.

A Planned Economy was the most efficient way to enter the industrial age; there was no Stone Age.

The only thing to consider was traitors colluding with outsiders to sell off production materials.

Instead of suppression, Lynn chose to open up channels. He developed Patent Law and the Technology Diffusion Treaty.

For 20 years after a technology was invented, production required a license and the payment of Patent Fees, thereby encouraging technological advancement.

This way, merchants would come to purchase production licenses. If piracy occurred, Lynn would have grounds to prosecute them.

Concurrently, Lynn decided to establish civilian enterprises, holding 51% of the shares himself and distributing the remaining 49%.

Military enterprises, such as those for Steel, Minerals, Guns, and Roads, were entirely under state control at 100%.

Afterward, Lynn wondered if he should try his hand at Bandit Suppression. The results were exceptionally good, and all the opposing Conservatives were silenced.

After all, cannons might not look like much, but when fired, they shot out Iron Balls. In a Magic world, who hadn't seen high-deterrence Magic?

Flintlock Muskets were the same.

In actual combat, they all shut up.

Because Lynn employed tactics used during the era of volley fire, he first used a Skirmish Line at a distance of 200 meters for continuous harassment. As the enemy charged, they gradually retreated, forming small formations, then circular formations, and finally gradually forming a Line Formation. The Infantry in the rear Line Formation remained stationary, aimed their guns, and after a volley, the enemy would rout. Then, they would charge in to finish them off.

When facing Knights, they formed a Hollow Square Formation.

Then, Lynn conducted combat scenarios based on Flintlock Muskets getting wet from rain. The Infantry fought around the Cannons, and after the Cannon barrage, the enemy fled.

After concluding all this, Lynn considered whether he should expand Flintlock Musket production to equip everyone. Someone reported a lack of firearms, and Lynn suspected corruption. It turned out the logistics department of that Foreign Legion was staffed by Donkey-humans.

"Damn stupid donkey!"

Lynn cursed.

After that ordeal, Flintlock Muskets were finally available to every soldier. Any surplus was stored in warehouses. Following an expansion, the troop numbers reached 1,500, with another 1,500 in training and ready for the battlefield at any time.

Filling the ranks with Musketeers could be achieved with just a week of training. For skirmishers, all they needed was to be taught how to shoot.

The rate of armored soldiers was 100%. Artillery soldiers could also wear armor if they wished.

As for Bayonets?

In fact, according to many records from the Line Infantry era, many generals never experienced a Bayonet charge in their lifetime; the enemy usually routed.

The material for Bayonets was not an issue, as they had high-quality Steel.

In the Northern Territory, they had successfully established a foothold. The next step was expansion.

You ask how they would expand without a reason?

Paradox Game War Criminals find excuses for war when faced with an unfavorable map or a desire for resources. It has nothing to do with good or evil, simply a desire to fight.

However, before expanding, they needed to pull off a bit of a "pushing your luck" maneuver.