Building an empire which the sun never set-Chapter 70: The Opening Moves of War

After Anna's departure from Pendralis, Arthur quickly returned to his rigorous work schedule. Expanding the facilities for mass production of newly developed weapons became his top priority. This involved manufacturing the necessary machinery, establishing new production plants, and organizing the supply chains for raw materials and semi-processed goods. Orders were placed with various companies to ensure smooth operations. A week passed in this intense activity before Arthur received the latest intelligence reports regarding the Syvatoslav Kingdom. Arthur meticulously examined the reports. Pendralis had been conducting espionage operations in Syvatoslav for years to monitor its military capabilities and internal political dynamics. According to the intelligence, like many other nations, Syvatoslav had acquired some of Pendralis' technological advancements during its industrialization process. Initially, their arms production was based on the traditional workshop system, where small-scale gunsmiths manufactured arquebuses. This method allowed them to produce only 5,000 to 10,000 muskets per year, with each firearm differing in size and quality due to the lack of standardization. However, the spread of Pendralis' technologies, albeit in a limited capacity, had begun to increase production efficiency and standardization.

Syvatoslav's ruler, Emperor Ivan, had modernized state-run armories using these technologies, boosting production capacity. Technical knowledge, including literature on industrial management and factory organization, had leaked through trade and espionage. Machines such as drill presses, essential for steam engine manufacturing, had found their way into Syvatoslavian workshops despite Pendralis' export restrictions. Intelligence reports suggested that some of these technologies were smuggled through third-party trade networks, while others were obtained by bribing Pendralisian engineers or stealing blueprints through espionage operations. The battlefield effectiveness of firearms during the Maraz War had prompted multiple nations to invest in firearms development. One notable advancement came from an engineer in the Frankish Kingdom, who invented the flintlock mechanism. This innovation quickly spread, allowing Syvatoslav to begin mass production of flintlock muskets. Although rifling technology was widely known, most nations lacked the necessary metalworking capabilities to mass-produce rifled barrels. Despite acquiring a few lathes and drilling machines, even in defiance of the Pendralis export ban, Syvatoslav had not yet developed the capacity for large-scale rifled firearm production. Thus, their infantry primarily relied on flintlock muskets. Meanwhile, Arthur recognized that the Usman Empire's firearm production was falling behind Syvatoslav's rapidly growing output. With Syvatoslav manufacturing tens of thousands of flintlock muskets annually, Usman's reliance on imported weapons made them vulnerable. Seizing an opportunity, Arthur established a flintlock firearm factory specifically to supply the Usman Empire, ensuring they could arm their forces without depending on slow and inconsistent local production. The increasing demand for flintlock weapons among merchant ships for self-defense at sea further contributed to their proliferation.

Syvatoslav had leveraged industrial techniques, such as division of labor, and rudimentary steam engines to integrate more machinery into production. With the concurrent establishment of coal and iron industries, their musket production had reached an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 units annually. The looming war had directed significant resources toward arms manufacturing, making such figures achievable. This was facilitated by Syvatoslav's centralized government structure, where the weapon workshops were directly owned by the emperor and operated by serfs under military oversight. In contrast, the Usman Empire's weaker central authority and internal political instability had hindered its industrial progress. Although Pendralis had equipped the Usman army with flintlock muskets, it remained numerically inferior to Syvatoslav's forces.

The Syvatoslavian army was not only larger but also better organized due to its centralized command. Their artillery production included approximately 1,500–2,000 iron cannons ranging from 12 to 24 pounds and an additional 400–500 heavy siege cannons annually. However, their ability to produce rifled or steel artillery was severely limited, with a yearly output of only 50 units due to the scarcity of advanced metalworking machines. Even these were often of inconsistent quality, as their engineers struggled to maintain the precision required for effective rifling. These limited rifled cannons were prioritized for elite artillery units or strategically vital fortifications, as mass production was still out of reach. In comparison, Pendralis' firearm production stood at around 500,000 rifles per year, with the capability to double output if necessary. These were all rifled Lee-Enfield variants, and their artillery manufacturing ranged between 3,000 and 5,000 steel cannons. Additionally, Pendralis' ammunition production capacity was ten times greater than that of any other nation. Arthur understood that the growing pressure from Pendralis had pushed other nations to invest heavily in armament production. However, he estimated that it would take at least five to ten years for them to match Pendralis' level, assuming they could rapidly expand their foundries, machine tool production, and workforce training. Yet, even with aggressive expansion, their reliance on outdated infrastructure and a lack of skilled engineers meant that closing the gap with Pendralis would take far longer than their rulers imagined.

After thoroughly reviewing the reports, Arthur carefully gathered the documents and placed them in his drawer. Meanwhile, in the capital of Syvatoslav, Emperor Ivan was holding a meeting with his military commanders and government officials. Seated at the head of a long table, he turned to General Grigoriy Rostislavich, the commander of his forces.

"When does the attack begin?" Ivan asked.

Grigoriy responded with a firm voice, "Majesty, our troops will assault Oria Fortress tonight. The Usman Empire has reinforced its forts along the Tursk River, making Oria Fortress the most strategic target in the region. Once we capture Oria, the remaining fortresses will fall quickly. Beyond Oria, there is no substantial force capable of resisting us for at least 150 kilometers. We can take the region with little opposition."

Ivan nodded. "What about the eastern Black Sea front?"

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"Our forces have completed their preparations," Grigoriy said. "The attack is set to commence tonight, at the same time as the assault on Oria."

Ivan fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. He was not particularly concerned about the Usman Empire, confident in his ability to defeat them. His real concern was Pendralis. Like other rulers, he had witnessed its overwhelming power during the Maraz War. He knew that Pendralis supported the Usman Empire not out of any particular allegiance but because they controlled trade in the White Sea. If Syvatoslav gained access to that sea, Pendralis' interests would be threatened.

Although Pendralis had politically aligned itself with Usman, Ivan believed they had no intention of directly intervening in the war. Even if they did, the geography of the Black Sea, unlike the Maraz Strait, would put them at a logistical disadvantage. Still, he instructed his aides to closely monitor Pendralis' actions.

One of his advisors cautiously raised a concern about Pendralis potentially escalating their support beyond arms shipments—perhaps sending military advisors, funding mercenary groups, or enforcing a naval blockade. Ivan dismissed the notion for now, convinced that logistical constraints would prevent Pendralis from intervening directly. However, he still ordered intelligence agents to remain vigilant.

Unbeknownst to Ivan, his wife, Yelena, had already learned of the council's discussion. Through a network of spies and informants within the palace, she kept herself informed of her husband's war strategies. But she did not care for Ivan's military ambitions—her concerns lay elsewhere. She loathed her husband, not just for his ruthless pursuit of war, but for the way he treated her as nothing more than an ornament to his reign. The empire belonged to him, and by extension, she was his possession. That, she could not accept.

Yelena had long considered the possibility of removing Ivan from power. His arrogance, his blind hunger for conquest, and his belief in his own invincibility would be his undoing. War consumed his thoughts, and in that obsession, he had become vulnerable. His trust in his generals and ministers was limited, but in his own invulnerability, he had become blind. She had seen kings fall before—not by the sword of an enemy, but by betrayal from within. If Ivan pushed too far, if he overextended himself in war, she would not hesitate to act.

The court was filled with discontent. Some nobles feared that Ivan's aggression would bring ruin upon Syvatoslav, while others whispered about their diminishing influence in his increasingly centralized rule. These were men who could be swayed, men who longed for a ruler who understood the delicate balance of power rather than one who sought only to expand it. A coup was not a matter of possibility, but of timing.

She would wait, as she always had, for the right moment. If Ivan stumbled—if he suffered a defeat, if Pendralis or the Usman Empire proved more resilient than he expected—then she would strike. Not with a blade, but with whispers, promises, and the carefully placed hands of those who already resented him. The empire would survive without him. In fact, it might even thrive. And if Yelena had her way, it would not be Ivan's name remembered in history, but hers..

Under the cover of darkness, the Syvatoslavian forces moved into position around Oria Fortress. The night air was heavy with tension as hundreds of soldiers crept silently through the dense underbrush, their blackened faces blending into the shadows. General Aleksey observed from a nearby hill, his spyglass trained on the fortress walls. The Usman garrison inside was unaware of the impending assault. The first phase of the attack began with sappers placing explosive charges along the southern gate, the weakest point in the fortress' defenses. A muffled detonation shattered the silence, and the wooden gate splintered under the force of the blast. The sappers had carefully placed their gunpowder charges along the weakened joints of the gate, using pre-dug tunnels to conceal their approach. Their precise placement ensured a clean breach, avoiding unnecessary destruction that could hinder their own troops' entry. Though the initial explosion had thrown the defenders into disarray, they quickly regrouped, forming defensive lines within the courtyard. For a brief moment, the attackers stalled—but overwhelming numbers and the element of surprise ultimately tilted the battle in Syvatoslav's favor. Before the dust settled, Syvatoslavian musketeers unleashed a devastating volley into the fortress, cutting down the stunned defenders. With a thunderous roar, the main force surged forward, scaling the walls with ladders. The Usman troops scrambled to mount a defense, but the surprise attack had shattered their cohesion. In the chaos, Syvatoslavian cavalry charged through the breached gate, cutting down defenders in brutal close combat. Despite fierce resistance, the fortress fell within hours. By dawn, the Syvatoslavian banner flew over Oria, and the Tursk River's defensive line had been compromised. The road to further conquest now lay open.