Tyranny of Steel

With the war in Iberia entering a new stage, and the King of Austria returning to the fatherland, Berengar had much work cut out for him. He was currently sitting in his office, surrounded by a group of ministers who represented the different aspects of Austria's development.

The first among these men to speak was Field Marshal Eckhard. He voiced his report regarding the conscription of soldiers, their training, their outfitting, and various other factors that went into the rapid expansion of the Austrian Army.

"Your Majesty, I will have you know that we have more than doubled our Army's size. Over the past six months, since you have established conscription, we have trained and outfitted a total of 250,000 Soldiers. Currently, the Needle Rifles have been produced en masse and given to the soldiers and we have begun the introduction of the 7.5cm FK 22 field guns. 

In total, we have ten standard Divisions capable of being deployed and acting independently or together under joint commands across Europe and the Mediterranean. We are currently working on producing sufficient numbers of the next-generation weapons to be employed among specialty units such as the 1st Jaeger Brigade and the Jagdkommandos. 

We project that the next generation of weapons will thoroughly replace the current weapons used by our infantry units within the next three years. So you can rest assured that by the time the Crusaders make their way to ours lands, they will be dealing with a vastly superior armed force.

While you were gone, there has also been significant progress in developing lightweight artillery that can be employed by a single squad of soldiers in the Field. The current prototype is very promising, and I am sure you will be pleased with the results."

Berengar looked over the dossier that Eckhard had given him and was incredibly pleased with the Army's progress. It numbered roughly 250,000 soldiers in total now and was by far the largest and most powerful military globally. 

The young King knew he would have to introduce some updated artillery to accompany the advanced weapons of the infantry. However, aside from that, his military had reached its max potential until things like the combustion and diesel engines could be manufactured en masse. 

However, what drew his interest the most was the progress of the border defenses. As such, he quickly shifted his gaze to his Field Marshal and asked the question on his mind.

"Marshall von Halstatt, please do explain the progress the Army Corps of Engineers has had at our current borders."

Upon hearing this, Eckhard did not hesitate and quickly began to speak of the massive trench system built around the borders of the Kingdom of Austria.

"At the moment, much of the land between Tyrol and Bavaria has been thoroughly entrenched, with a dedicated faction of Border guards handling its defense. There are roughly a hundred meters of barbed wire between our border and into the Bavarian lands; this massive wall of wire stretches across the trench line that has been constructed. 

As for the reinforced cement structures you have designed for future machine gun nests, they are undergoing construction as we speak. By the summer of next year, the Tyrolean-Bavarian border will be thoroughly secured. Currently, the Border Guard assists refugees from the other German States in resettling in our lands while protecting the borders from undesirables. 

I must inform you that the escalation of violence in the Kingdom of France has caused an uptick in French peasants migrating from their homes and towards our borders in the hopes that we will let them in. However, under the command of her Highness Queen Linde von Kufstein, they have been turned away with force if necessary whenever they arrive. Berengar smiled when he heard this remark before commenting on Linde's actions.

"That woman knows me so well. The French can stay in their lands; it is not our responsibility to look after the hungry and poor masses of the world. If they are not German, they are not entering our Kingdom! Now Eckhard, are there any other major concerns I should be made aware of in terms of military matters?"

The veteran Field Marshal immediately shook his head in response; he had caught up with his King on everything he needed to know. Thus Berengar shifted his attention to Chancellor Otto von Graz before asking the question on his mind.

"Tell me, Uncle, what news do you have for me in terms of the development of our Infrastructure?"

Otto immediately handed the young King his dossier, where he began to speak out on a summary of the things that had been accomplished during Berengar's absence.

"To put it simply, the railway and telegraph lines have stretched from Tyrol, across Salzburg, and into the Kustenland. Our projections are that within another two years; your Royal Railway will reach across the Entirety of the Kingdom of Austria, The Grand Duchy of Switzerland, and the Kingdom of Bohemia. 

As for the development of the Capital, it has grown in size. As I assure you are aware, we have had to erect another wall to protect the people, and the area between that wall and the others are filling up as we speak. 

As you may be aware, Triest is now close to being fully industrialized, while Salzburg and Graz are also undergoing significant progress. Before long, Innsbruck, Kufstein, Graz, Salzburg, Triest, and Vienna will all be industrial cities, capable of producing many goods to be transported across your two Kingdoms via the railway, and the rest of Europe via more conventional trading methods."

Upon hearing this, Berengar's smile doubled in size; he was delighted to hear that they had made such substantial progress in such a short period. Perhaps by the time he united all of Germany, his Kingdom would be a fully industrialized nation. However, there was something else he wished to discuss, and thus, he immediately shifted his attention towards Linde, who was standing by obediently dressed in her service uniform. 

"My Queen, is there anything you wish to report to me in terms of international matters that I should be made aware of?"

Linde was hesitant to speak for a while, but after a few moments of awkward silence, she began to open up about the knowledge her agents had relayed back to her.

"There are a few matters of importance. First and foremost, Our neighbors are undergoing a massive economic decline and even entering a state of famine after you have slaughtered the 500,000 men who entered Iberia, hoping to put an end to Hasan's reign. 

As you are aware, most of those men were peasants. Thus, there is a significant gap in men capable of toiling the fields in the neighboring Kingdoms, especially Poland-Lithuania. They have suffered the worse out of our neighbors and blame it directly upon you. 

They did not just send farmers; they sent thousands of their soldiers thinking the war with the Teutonic Order was over. However, the Golden Horde is in a state of civil war thanks to our intervention. Due to some significant operations behind the scenes, the Eastern-Coalition has halted its advance into the Rump State that is the current Teutonic Order. 

Famine ravages Poland-Lithuania and France; after all, despite the French King not wanting to get involved, tens of thousands of his peasants sought glory and a place in the afterlife in Iberia rather than deal with the ongoing war between the English and French Crowns. 

This brings me to my next point; my agents have reported that although operations are going smoothly with the supplying of the enemies of France with firearms and training. The French Crown still refuses to adopt the weapons we have given him. As a result, Prince Aubry has departed from Paris and is heading towards Kufstein as we speak. 

If my information is correct, he seeks an audience with your Majesty, for what exactly I am unsure. I am certain that you are aware of the rumors regarding the French Prince?"

Berengar chuckled when he heard this before mocking his wife.

"They say he has a face as beautiful as any woman and a sinful body. Aren't you afraid that such a slutty trap might catch your husband's fancy?"

Linde's face twisted with revilement before she began to tease Berengar in front of his other ministers.

"I'm more worried about my husband lying with his sister than some amorous twink from France. However, I am positive that neither of those two scenarios will occur..."

Berengar sat with a grim expression on his face when he heard this remark; he would make sure to punish Linde for saying such a thing in front of the others later that night. However, for now, he had business to attend to. As such, he stood up from his seat and gave his orders to the men and one woman gathered. 

"Alright, I have heard enough; you are all dismissed. If I need your services, you will hear from me; until then, continue with your business."

With that said, the gathered ministers departed, leaving Berengar alone within his office, staring out the windows of his Palace. The unintended consequences of the Peasant Crusade to Iberia were sure to have disastrous effects for Berengar's neighbors and the Catholic Church as a whole.

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