When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 761 - 716: The Battle Preparations of Thousand River Valley

"This time, the Black Snake Bay war was really worth it." Horn couldn't help but praise as he looked at the beautiful numbers and overflowing amounts on the financial report.

"Don't boast about yourself. Why did you suddenly approve the budget report for Dragon Language Alchemy University this morning?" Thinking of this matter, Qianqian immediately frowned and asked.

"They have developed a key technology, which is absolutely worth the cost compared to the budget." Horn quickly explained to this "manager" of the Holy Alliance.

"But you allocated too much money to the university and those research institutions." Qianqian rolled her eyes, "People outside are even calling you the Clockmaker Pope."

"Only you dare to call me that, right?" Horn smiled as he looked at the gear-filled room decor, "Compared to something like the Merciful Pope, I quite like the name Clockmaker Pope."

"But the funds for the university and research institutions..."

"Don't worry." Horn smiled and pulled out a letter from his pocket, "Armand sent a letter back. Catherine and the others made a huge sum from the Leia people at Windmill Land, estimated to bring in around 200,000 gold pounds."

"200,000!" Qianqian and Madlan exchanged looks, "Mad, these blood-sucking financiers really know how to make money."

Horn was initially smiling, but a flash of inspiration made his smile gradually fade: "I heard that the Leia people are heavily in debt. Do you think this might lead them to bankruptcy, provoking an enemy to attack prematurely?"

Qianqian shook her head: "200,000 gold pounds wouldn't lead to bankruptcy, would it? At most, they'll be seriously weakened.

Moreover, if they're going to go bankrupt, shouldn't their first move be to either rest or attack Windmill Land or Thorn Garden, instead of risking delaying the Imperial Knights' salaries to attack us?"

"That's true." Horn thought it over and found it reasonable. Even if they went bankrupt, they should attack Windmill Land to make money first. Attacking the Thousand River Valley would be more loss than gain, wouldn't it?

"Exactly." Madlan chuckled, "The earliest they would attack is next year. By then, we'll have saved up for another year, ensuring that when King Jiji comes, he won't return."

With the current development speed of the Thousand River Valley, wildly increasing income and military strength, Madlan found it difficult not to be optimistic.

When King Jiji comes to invade next year or the year after, waiting for him won't be a half-complete setup but rather seven or eight fully organized new battle groups.

After all, with the expansion of the Holy Alliance's territory, the manpower from Black Snake Bay can also be utilized by them.

Looking at the two people whose faces beamed with smiles, Horn couldn't help but smile wryly.

Consecutive war victories and prosperous life have gradually turned these high-ranking officials' fear of the Leia people.

Especially during the Black Snake Bay battle, the Divine Punishment Army, trained for three months, fought the Noble Alliance Army of the Clove Corridor as easily as kicking a stray dog aside.

Otherwise, why would the Thousand River Valley People shout that they want to capture the Shattered Stone Plain and the Stone Cliff Town Grassland?

After all, it's a rare peace; it's better not to spoil it.

"True that, but not everyone is a rational being." Horn put down the tax report in his hands, "We still need to be prepared. How's the war readiness of the Thousand River Valley?"

Madlan immediately turned around, went to the door, and poked his head out: "Petier, Bernardo, come over here."

Soon, the two entered the room with large piles of documents. Bernardo stood at the table and began to report:

"Currently, new training camps have been set up in the jurisdictions of Rapids City and Shelley City for the training and drilling of soldiers and recruits..."

"Each camp permanently hosts an infantry regiment, and if necessary, a company leader of fifty can be promoted to lead a hundred, a hundred can rise to a Legion Commander, and veterans train recruits, allowing expansion to half strength, that is, 4 infantry regiments within three months..."

"In summer, Xia Lvcheng is organizing new battle groups with two infantry regiments...but the most significant issue is the severe shortage of Holy Gunners..."

Everyone in the room looked at Horn, their eyes carrying a cautious inquiry.

Horn leaned back in his chair: "Hilov's research has recently hit a bottleneck, so don't put too much pressure on her.

Otherwise, I could bless some in Xia Lvcheng or transfer some Alchemist Priests as workers..."

"Normal transfers are alright, but what about during wartime?" Madlan mentally calculated the numbers and immediately concluded, "Too many transfers will result in substantial workshop shutdowns, and the standard of living for residents is expected to drop significantly."

This is an inevitable outcome, as the Holy Alliance is a nation built upon alchemy workshops.

A significant reason for its rapid development relies on the convenience of alchemy.

"This...we'll revisit this later. If it doesn't work, we'll implement a rationing plan again, for the sake of the motherland and freedom."

Hearing these words, Madlan knowingly took out a notebook and noted it down. This meant he needed to extensively promote this idea to prepare the residents mentally.

The Holy Alliance is different from other places, as the typical cabinet minister ranking is Foreign/Finance Minister, Military Minister, Domestic Minister, and Navy Minister.

However, in the Holy Alliance, the Domestic Minister (Truth Elder) is first, followed by the Minister of Finance (Saint Vault Master), then the Military Minister (Exorcist Leader), and finally the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Evangelist).

After all, the Holy Alliance is surrounded by enemies, so there's not much need for diplomacy.

The extensive functions of the Gospel Court are overtaken by the loyal agents, so Busak, the Evangelist, lacks influence.

Surprisingly, he didn't even show up today for this small meeting; instead, he was active in Xia Lvcheng.

This was evidently unfair to him, but he had no notable achievements, leaving him politically suppressed entirely by his old rival, Jeska.

Horn pondered whether to position Busak as a grand emperor in Black Snake Bay while continuing: "Please, continue."

"Currently, the 24-pound coastal spring cannons and winding machines in Xia Lvcheng are being installed and tuned, expected to be operational by summer..."

"The planned 7 large fortresses and 10 riverbank bastions have been completed, each bastion equipped with seven or eight falcon cannons..."

"Wouldn't this make the Holy Wind a bit too scant?" Madlan interrupted.

Horn waved his hand: "Copper and steel are in tight supply, and if the cannon factory can supply each bastion with 8 cannons, that would be good enough."

That spring warehouse sure consumes a lot of steel and copper; even with Mithril now available, without mass production, it can only be applied on a small scale.

With the issues of the spring engine water pump resolved, it could open up deeper mining.

But the smelting speed isn't fast enough, leaving Horn rotating in anxiety but unable to find a solution.

In a full circle, he shockingly discovered that the problem again fell onto Hilov, the same person responsible for the Flash Furnace and Moon Mercury research.

Even with the alchemy talents absorbed from Black Snake Bay, progress on the Flash Furnace remains minimal.

The crux of the problem is how to ignite the electricity and maintain it for smelting metals?

A person tackling three technologies, even with the sharpest mind among the beastmen, is too much of a burden for Hilov.

"Hilov's recent mental state is not good; she seems to be affected by the matters in Serafe, so enhance protection against Demon Hunters slipping through."

"Alright, I'll arrange it." Petier promptly nodded his head.

"I should have known not to tell her." Qianqian muttered under her breath.

"We must tell her." Horn suddenly became serious, staring at Qianqian, "This involves clues about her mother; we can't hide it for private interests.

...Ladies and gentlemen, I'm contemplating whether to pause certain technologies and focus on one or two. It's better to master than to overreach. What do you think?"