Munitions Empire

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"Stop touching it; this is real metal! Thick steel plates so solid there isn't even an echo when you knock on them!

We're not just covering a wooden warship with metal skin, we've actually used genuine steel plates to construct the hull!" As Tang Mo almost set his own kitchen on fire, he saw the two elves cautiously reaching out to touch the steel plates of the ironclad warship, and the accompanying Harry spoke up.

This warship, Brunas No. 1, had returned to Brunas to refuel coal and water and replenish its ammunition. It also needed to repair some damage, including a few spots that had been hit by solid cannonballs.

However, for this warship, such minor damage was hardly worth mentioning; most of the places that were hit only had shallow dents.

When the two elves got a close look at this warship, they were utterly astounded by its grand and magnificent presence.

It was their first time seeing such a warship, a bizarre one without sails but with two big smokestacks.

As Harry walked forward, he explained to the two of them, "The warship under your feet is brand new. Its cannons can destroy any sailing warship!"

Passing by the bridge, he pointed at the aiming device above, "See that thing above your heads? An aiming system like this has never been seen in this world before. It can help our guns lock on to targets 8 kilometers away, and if needed, we can open fire from that distance!"

In this era, naval aiming was mostly still reliant on the naked eye, and the elves were hearing for the first time about such a precise aiming system.

Looking up at the armored, reflection-style aiming device, they were initially unclear about how it worked.

But even if they couldn't grasp the advanced principles behind the equipment, they were still intimidated by the all-metal bridge.

Even just imagining standing on such a large and steel-protected bridge commanding naval warfare made them realize it was indeed far safer than directing battle from the exposed deck at the stern of a traditional sailing ship.

Those tall masts and ventilation shafts, every piece of equipment was new to them and incredibly mysterious in their eyes.

Finally, they reached the bow of the ship and saw the massive turret fitted with two 120mm caliber breach-loading cannons.

Their own navy gunners manned the cannons behind wooden hulls while the enemy's navy gunners operated more advanced firearms protected by steel plates. As a result, the battles were frustratingly uneven... The two elves couldn't help but lament this fact silently.

At that moment, Harry began to describe the warship's armament, "Two in the front, one in the back, a total of three main guns mounted in two rotating turrets. The gunners, shielded by steel plates, can attack the enemy at ease."

"We're using new ammunition, a broadside from which can sink a first-rate sailing warship!" he said, touching the thick barrel with confidence.

"This is a flagship product of the Great Tang Group's Shipbuilding Industrial Division; a single warship like this could overturn an old-style navy of a kingdom... You can comfortably pursue the enemy and effortlessly sink those pitiful lambs," Harry said, grinning mischievously at the two elves, who were still gazing around in wonderment like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.

Then, his words became less pleasant, "You've experienced it firsthand, so you should have no doubts about what I'm saying! Don't doubt the power we have; you simply can't resist it!"

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The remark about first-hand experience really hit home. The elves' faces immediately darkened, for they had come from afar over the incident of Southwater Port being bombarded.

Harry, regardless of their grim expressions, continued to jab at their fragile nerves, "This kind of warship can reach speeds of over 35 kilometers per hour. Your warships don't even have a chance to run; we can hunt you down to the ends of the earth and sea."

"Don't even think of relying on luck, for our warships have night-combat capabilities! See this searchlight? It can provide illumination at night, just like a lighthouse, and find targets more than a kilometer away to continue the attack!" he said while pointing to the searchlight covered with a tarpaulin, "So, no sailing warship could escape from such pursuit...

You've already tested this, so I won't go into further detail."

One should not slap the face when hitting someone! The two elves really wanted to remind Harry not to keep poking at their fragile nerves.

Yes, they had been beaten, and miserably at that... but, but there was no need to keep bringing up such embarrassing affairs, was there?

Before they could even voice their objection, Harry threw out another detail that caught their interest, "Actually, that's not even its most incredible feature. The truly most powerful aspect is that it's equipped with a telegraph system. You've used the telegraph yourselves, so you naturally know how great it is."

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They had indeed experienced the wonder of the telegraph and came with the desire to bring this magical device back to the Poplar Kingdom.

So they listened seriously to Harry's introduction, forgetting all the unpleasantness from earlier: "You will be able to contact your warships at will, no matter where they are in the great ocean, you can easily mobilize these forces!"

"Believe me, there is nothing more comfortable than this feeling. Just send a telegram and warships thousands of miles away will immediately execute orders... What could be more exhilarating than that?" Harry ended the topic there.

The two elves were still immersed in the grand vision of the Poplar Kingdom having a telegraphic system, capable of commanding troops from afar.

Unfortunately, before they could indulge in their beautiful vision for too long, Harry brought them back to the harsh reality: "Actually, my introduction isn't really about selling to you two, after all, you still have to pay a debt of 14 million Gold Coins, and in the short term, it's unlikely that you have the extra money to buy such advanced weapons and equipment."

He smiled as he made a gesture for them to disembark, indicating that they were free to leave the ship: "I'm just using you for practice, so that I can sell better to others when they come to buy warships..."

Fitteral almost spat out a mouthful of old blood, moving with steps heavy as if they weighed a ton.

As he walked, Harry continued, "Of course, introducing this to you is also to make you realize that your Navy is outdated, and that the threats I have mentioned are actually very simple for the Great Tang Group."

"Soon, there will be four Ironclad Warships patrolling your waters, and your hope of receiving any materials from the sea will be dashed." Switching to a threatening tone, Harry once again reminded the two elves that the Ironclad Warship before them was the enemy's weapon: "So, I advise you to go back and think it over, and repay the 14 million Gold Coins as soon as possible...

After all, if you refuse to repay the debt, the consequences will be dire."

"This is more despicable than the Shireck Consortium! All countries will dread you and see you as a thorn in their side..." The deputy envoy could no longer contain himself, wailing in despair.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Fitteral, in reality, we maintain friendly cooperation with many countries... For instance, we've already signed an agreement with the Leite Kingdom to construct three Brunas-class Ironclad Warships, helping Leite Kingdom to build a modernized Navy," Harry rebutted dismissively.

Then, he didn't forget to twist the knife in the bleeding hearts of the two elves: "However, this may not be good news for you because the Leite Kingdom will likely declare war on the Poplar Kingdom and participate in attacking your coastal ports..."

"..." Indeed, the faces of the two elves turned even uglier, as if they had returned home to see their lover fighting with their wife.

As Harry walked down the warship and stood on the dock, he turned to point at the Brunas No. 1 Warship and said, "You've seen it yourself, there is a huge disparity between our weapons and equipment. We could attack you without paying any price. Given this disparity, it's quite audacious of you to maliciously default on payments and refuse to repay the interest."

This time, Fitteral did not deny the matter of the 14 million Gold Coins but deferred saying he had no authority to decide: "I don't have the authority to agree to these terms... I can only send someone back to consult... "

Even he may not have realized it, but he had begun to fear, to acquiesce to the demands of the Great Tang Group.

Harry casually reminded Fitteral of the preciousness of time: "No rush, we have plenty of time... But you must understand that you are the ones who lack time! With every day that passes, the alliance forming against the Poplar Kingdom grows stronger, and your chance to expand diminishes."

"Wait until your neighbors... for instance, the Songmu Kingdom... pay for Ironclad Warships, or import breech-loading cannons and needle guns... It will be too late to repay the money then." After saying this, he looked at the two elves who were holding back their frustration, almost suffocating from it.

"14 million is not a small sum, even our King has to make a careful decision, I need time! Please, you must... help me." Finally, Fitteral took off his gem-studded ring and secretly handed it to Harry, pleading in a low voice.

Harry looked down at the decent-looking ring in his hand: "Hmm?"

"This ring is worth at least 300 Gold Coins..." Fitteral, worried Harry may not recognize its value, quickly stated.

"We have warships in Southwater Port, you know, and of course, there are telegraphs on our Ironclad Warships... If you need to contact the Poplar Kingdom in the fastest way, I can think of a way to help..." Harry pocketed the ring and then said, "That's as far as I can help you."

Like a drowning man grasping a lifeline, Fitteral was so grateful he almost cried out: "...Thank you! Thank you so much!"

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