episode_0049

Let’s rewind time a bit.

The organization’s headquarters, located somewhere in the Great Plains.

“The Elaine branch sent us something like this?”

“Yes. It is said that Ismail wrote it. The Ismail who wrote ‘The Wealth of Nations’ and ‘Leviathan’.”

“I told them to send support to defend this land, but all they sent were two books…”

Mahdi Risan, leader of ‘Carmen’ and chief of the largest tribe in the Great Plains, swallowed a sigh.

With a touch of displeasure, a hint of frustration, and a similar amount of anticipation.

“The Elaine branch manager… was Kalia, right? She wouldn’t be such a fool. Does she have that much confidence?”

“Shall we send a letter of protest?”

“Forget it. Check the contents first.”

Honestly, he wasn’t completely free of anger.

But he was the leader of a massive organization.

He knew better than to get worked up over such trivial matters.

When others were sending funds and launching rear-guard disruption operations, she merely sent books.

It must be because she was certain this would be of great help that she took such an action.

If so, figuring out the source of that confidence was the top priority.

“This seems to be a commentary on how to manufacture weapons and bombs…”

“This… a scripture? No, should we see it as a theological treatise on religious views?”

“He discussed theology?”

“Yes. It seems to be about being more faithful to the doctrine and obeying thoroughly; that the holy war is sacred. Something along those lines.”

“Let me see that.”

The tribal chief opened the book, which was labeled as a guide for protecting the faith.

As the head of an organization, he was knowledgeable about religion, so it wasn’t difficult to understand the value of the contents.

‘Is this for inciting other tribes, not us?’

The organization doesn’t believe in religion.

They knew better than anyone how messed up it was to worship a goddess.

The same goes for this tribe. As a group in the heart of Carmen, most of its members were members of the organization.

Except for a handful of outsiders, they don’t even attend weekend services.

But ordinary nomads were the opposite. They relied on faith as much as they lived harsh lives.

Compared to settled people, they were often so devout that they bordered on fanaticism.

‘Since the situation is already dire, there will be plenty of guys who will gladly take up arms if we persuade them well.’

This guide was showing how to use their faith.

To consume their faith and will as a resource so that they could drive out the external enemies.

[Do not spare any effort to guide those who go against and do not follow the clergy. It is the duty of all followers of the goddess to teach those who have chosen the wrong path.]

[To the unbelievers who still adhere to their wrong beliefs, offer the sword instead of tolerance. Make them atone for the sin of following heresy with their own lives. Let them realize firsthand what it means to forsake God.]

It persuades the reader through fundamental claims to be faithful to doctrines and scriptures and urges military action.

It cultivates and encourages the faith of people who are afraid to stand against foreign powers because they cherish their lives, making them willingly go to the battlefield.

Convincing them that it is all an act for God.

It specializes in filling the most essential element in fighting the enemy, namely morale.

It would certainly be effective in uniting nomads who are not well-organized and tend to scatter.

‘If enough people gather, we can use the tactics described later.’

Here, there were even strategic tactics for fighting with all their might in dire circumstances.

A way for nomads with poor firepower, training, and control to stand up against regular troops.

[Move in a hit-and-run fashion thoroughly. If you have inflicted a suitable amount of damage, focus only on retreating and do not bother making additional attacks.

Excessive obsession with achievements and annihilating the enemy can rather cause irreversible damage to allies.]

[In operations, set the highest priority on supply routes, then supply stations and garrisons. No matter how elite they are, armies that have lost their supplies and shelter cannot last long.]

It was an expanded version of the hit-and-run, swarm tactics that nomads traditionally used.

It’s like applying it to the entire war beyond simply using it in local battlefields or some fronts.

A tactic that maximizes the only two advantages nomads have over the enemy: geographical familiarity and mobility.

Since the idea was familiar, it wasn’t difficult to understand.

And what kind of value and strengths and weaknesses it had.

‘A tactic where the commander’s capabilities are important. But the possibility of success itself is enough.’

The commander’s leadership, authority, and power must be strong enough to force long-term guerrilla and attrition warfare on his troops.

If not, there is a high probability that it will fail due to internal strife.

But.

‘I have the conditions without a problem.’

Mahdi Risan was the one who fulfilled all the elements.

Wasn’t he the one who held the best tribe in the Great Plains and a pancontinental terrorist organization?

The tribes that had been competing with him had already been properly beaten by Nabre and Artiom.

He had enough power to suppress complaints and enough authority to enforce orders.

“I like it.”

Mahdi twisted the corners of his lips.

Ismail.

He had only known him as a suspicious scholar, but he was quite something.

To think he would devise and hand over such sophisticated tactics.

He had been watching him because he didn’t know his identity. If he was this cooperative, he could let go of his suspicion.

Should he give him some reward for his past achievements this time?

‘Come to think of it, I heard he was close to Kalia.’

If the two of them were that kind of relationship… it would be okay to give him some support. Combining the charm offensive.

A mansion and farm to live in together, and financial support, he would definitely like that.

Well, it’s called financial support, but it’s closer to compensation and congratulatory money for making a bad adopted daughter’s life blossom.

“Prepare the warriors. A long fight is coming.”

“Yes!”

Mahdi commanded, drawing his sword. In response, the tribesmen bowed down and followed his words.

To drive out the disgusting invaders and protect the organization.

* * * * *

But life never goes as planned.

There was one fact that neither Ismail nor Mahdi had predicted.

“This is the new weapon you made this time?”

“Yes. Would you like to test it out?”

“Then, let’s see–Whoa?!”

“…That’s amazing.”

The anarchist cookbook Ismail had sent contained instructions on how to make old-fashioned rocket weapons.

Like the Congreve rocket, Singijeon, or Hwajeon (fire arrow), it only required basic metallurgy and gunpowder to manufacture.

An explosive projectile that was even easy to carry.

He had openly revealed a manufacturing method that even nomads in harsh environments could easily mass-produce.

“What are the ingredients for this?”

“You just need gunpowder, a wooden stick, and a little paper to wrap the gunpowder. It’s even better if you have an arrowhead.”

“We can easily get that much, right?”

If you don’t consider the quality of the paper, you can secure as much as you want. Or you can use tree bark or scraps of cloth.

Wood is everywhere, and there is plenty of saltpeter, the raw material for gunpowder. There is a saltpeter mine buried in the south.

The climate is ruined and farming is not possible, but the Great Plains is a place rich in underground resources.

The tribe’s blacksmiths calculated that if they had the materials, they could manufacture as much as they wanted.

If they received cooperation from other tribes, they could sufficiently meet the demand on the battlefield.

In other words.

“How long will it take to arm all the warriors with weapons like this?”

“Give me three weeks. I’ll make them quickly.”

“Make it two weeks. I’ll provide as much manpower as you need, so hurry.”

A massive cavalry unit with insane firepower, armed with unguided rockets and exploding arrows, was being created.

A type of soldier comparable to an RPG-shooting technical mobile unit had descended upon the 17th century world.

“But how do you light the fire on horseback? You need to use fire to use these weapons.”

“Oh, that’s not difficult.”

Someone might ask.

Why didn’t such a powerful type of soldier exist on Earth?

Simple reason.

It is difficult to manage embers on horseback.

In an era without detonators, you had to light the fuse with a torch or flint to use a rocket…

Would that be easy while riding in a saddle? Even a master of horsemanship would have to risk his life to do such a thing.

“Have them learn magic. You can learn basic fire magic in a week.”

“Ah! There was such a method.”

But magic exists in this world.

There are many simple things that anyone can use with just a little practice.

Fuse? You can just cast a spell to ignite it.

Anyone can do it, and it’s not difficult.

It’s stranger if you can’t do it unless you have a rare disease that prevents you from using magic.

“There’s still time, so train enough during that time. So that you don’t fumble in actual combat.”

“Yes!”

Thus, the strongest cavalry in the world descended upon the Great Plains.

When Mahdi launched an offensive, the previously unfavorable war situation was easily reversed. To the point that the hard work they had put in felt futile.

–Boom! Bang!

“Tta-hyeong!!”

“Aiee!! Fire?! Why fire?!?”

“Those crazy barbarians are dropping lightning from the sky!! Everyone, run if you want to live!!”

In an era where there was no concept of high-explosive bombs or exploding bullets yet.

The cavalry rocket unit, which had descended upon an era where they were fighting by firing iron balls and lead bullets, had an overwhelming vertical relationship with the enemy.

When Nabre and Artiom’s cavalry charged with their sabers, these guys fired rockets, so the exchange ratio was overwhelmingly one-sided.

They always achieved overwhelming victories in rear-guard ambushes and occasional engagements, driving the enemies away.

“…At this rate, we might be annihilated.”

“Should we retreat?”

“…Let’s hold on a little longer for now. We need to hold on for at least half a year to have an excuse to go back.”

It took only a month and a half for the leaders of the invading forces to start considering retreat.

It was at a speed that made one naturally think of some Elang.

* * * * *

“It seems to be going well.”

It hadn’t been long since he sent the books when a letter of gratitude came from the Great Plains. Thanks to him, they were able to preserve the organization and the tribe.

Well, it was a relief for him too.

If the organization disappeared, he would have to stay locked up in the academy forever. It was worth the effort of sharing his knowledge diligently.

‘Unexpected side effects did occur, though.’

He never imagined that nomads shouting that God is great would appear with rockets… But it’s good. Anyway, the allies have become stronger.

But there was a strange note written as a postscript in the letter. What could this be?

“Kalia.”

“What is it?”

“About this part that says, ‘Please take care of my unworthy daughter.’ Do you happen to know what it means–”

“You don’t need to know! No, don’t try to know! Never!!”

Because Kalia’s face turned bright red and she desperately stopped him, he couldn’t figure out the meaning.

Still, judging from the nuance, it couldn’t be a bad meaning.

Speaking of which. How is that Goddess doing these days?

She must be pissed off since he’s been stirring up trouble so diligently.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, somewhere far away.

“That, that ungrateful bastard. How dare he defy my will?”