Building a Viking Empire with Modern Industry-Chapter 116: The Time for Expansion

The young man was quite satisfied with his quarterly earnings.

Despite his grand ambitions to unify the British Isles into a single Common Market, he knew these plans could not be rushed. Capital expenditure required patience. As such, while the rest of Europe was squabbling over bloodlines and borders, Ragnar was tasked by his own ambition to protect the new "Corporate Assets" from potential competitors across the Channel.

Now was the time for expansion in industrial, agricultural, and human resource sectors.

Thus, Ragnar was hard at work at his mahogany desk in City Titan, putting through a series of "Executive Orders" which allowed him to bypass the rudimentary Council of Jarls he had constructed.

As per usual, the Council was more symbolic than it was practical.

Their practical purpose was to decrease the workload on Ragnar’s shoulders by handling petty disputes over sheep, while symbolically, they represented the "Shareholders’ Interests."

The first matter of business was to designate City Titan as the permanent Global Headquarters. With a stroke of a steel-nibbed quill, the grim fortress of Ferro-Concrete became the political and economic center of the island.

As for Industrial expansion, it was time to create a "Southern Branch." Winchester was perfect for the role; it was the former capital, it had existing infrastructure, and it was currently managed by a very nervous King Aethelred.

Ragnar had decided to keep Aethelred on as a "Regional Governor," effectively making him a middle-manager. But he needed someone loyal to oversee the books.

Ragnar signed a document appointing Princess Elfwynn as the "Chief Operations Officer of the South." It was a bold move. A woman, a Saxon, and a former hostage. But Elfwynn understood blueprints, and she hated the Church for lying to her father. She was perfect.

As for military concerns, Ragnar had begun to spread his "Corporate Culture" across the entire region.

Due to the number of Thanes who had been "liquidated" in the hostile takeover, there were not many feudal lords left to oppose him.

Those that remained were too busy enjoying the new heating systems to complain about the loss of their sovereignty.

Though the traditional nobility was outraged by the "Feudal Abolition Act" - which stripped their power to raise private armies and replaced it with a tax-deductible security fee - there was not much they could do.

Their housecarls had all defected to Ragnar’s "Iron Gear" for the dental benefits.

As such, young men of military age began being "onboarded" across the region. They were sent to Ragnar’s training facilities to be indoctrinated into his workforce.

They underwent a rigorous orientation program designed to break down the old identity of "Saxon" or "Viking" and enforce the idea of a "Company Man." Loyalty was no longer to a crown, but to the Brand.

Once the lords had time to lick their wounds, they would undoubtedly prepare for a "Union Strike" (rebellion).

After all, the stripping of their right to hang peasants was not a popular reform among the elite.

Though the local employees of Titan had come to accept these reforms, the Southern gentry would not be so easily persuaded.

Not only did Ragnar have to prepare to put down a future internal strike, but he also had to prepare for the Frankish Crusade that was currently gathering across the Channel.

Speaking of which, Gyda entered the office. She looked exhausted but immaculate in her violet velvet, holding a ledger in one hand and bouncing baby Magnus on her hip with the other.

She placed a heavy report on Ragnar’s desk. With Ragnar’s return, she had resumed her position as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Spymaster.

"The Franks have doubled their investment," Gyda said, her voice tight. "Count Odo was impressed by the train, but the Pope was not. The Church has declared a ’Holy League’ against the Iron Demon."

Ragnar picked up the report. "Numbers?"

"They are gathering in Calais," Gyda explained, pointing to a map on the wall. "Mercenaries from Burgundy, knights from Aquitaine, and a massive detachment of the Order of the Sacred Flame. They are forcefully conscripting peasants along the coast. At the rate they are acquiring assets, they will be able to field a division of between 20,000 and 25,000 men when they land in Kent."

Gyda paused, looking at the baby, then back at her husband.

"That is double our current active duty roster, Ragnar. Unless we resort to pulling the ’Franchise Garrisons’ from the Midlands, we will be outnumbered two to one."

Ragnar contemplated Gyda’s risk assessment carefully. The Frankish Crusade started with 10,000 men. Now they were projecting 25,000. By the time they crossed the Channel, they would be a tidal wave of steel and religious fervor.

However, if he transferred men from the garrisons he stationed across the Midlands, he would be inviting the Saxon Thanes to breach their contracts and start a rebellion, forcing him into a two-front war. He could never allow this to happen. The railways were too vulnerable to sabotage.

There were two options on Ragnar’s hands:

Lure the enemy into Winchester, where he could use the city walls and urban warfare tactics.

Confront them in a Field Battle while being heavily outnumbered.

Such a battle would be massive and would undoubtedly result in a melee. Ragnar’s greatest advantage was his "Range Department" - the ability to field repeating crossbows and Torsion Spikes in large numbers to wear down the enemy before they could close the distance.

But there was another factor..

"If we hide behind walls," Ragnar murmured, tapping his pencil on the desk, "they will tear up the tracks. They will melt the rails to make swords. I cannot allow the Grand Trunk Line to be depreciated."

He came to a decision and announced his plan to Gyda.

"If we withdraw forces from the garrisons to increase our field army, the result would be a breach of local security. Therefore... I will confront the Frankish Crusade in the field. We will meet them on the beaches of Kent."

Though Gyda feared this would be the option Ragnar would take, deep down, she knew he would never hide while someone touched his infrastructure. She merely sighed, shifting Magnus to her other hip.

"It is a high-risk strategy, Director."

"High risk, high yield," Ragnar corrected. "I will increase the production of the ’Type-2’ Crossbows and the ’Spicy Mix’ Grenades. I will seek to draw the enemy forces to an area where the terrain favors a defensive hold... and where I can lay a temporary rail line to supply the front."

Ragnar stood up, walking over to the large map of England. He placed a finger on the coast of Kent.

"Inform the scouts to continue monitoring the shipping lanes. I want to know the moment their fleet leaves the harbor. And Gyda?"

"Yes, Ragnar?"

"Tell Leif the Elder to modify the locomotive. We need to armor the boiler. If I am going to fight a Crusade, I am going to bring the War Train."

Gyda nodded her head in response and smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Of course, Director. I will authorize the budget increase immediately."

With that said, Gyda left the office to manage the accounts.

Ragnar returned to the pile of work on his hands. After returning to a mountain of paperwork, he greatly missed the days of simple trench digging where he was free to yell at interns. Nevertheless, a Director’s work was never finished. England greatly needed agricultural, industrial, and economic reforms.

As such, he quickly got back to signing executive orders that would one day transform this muddy island into the Industrial Engine of the World.

But as he signed a decree standardizing the width of wagon axles, his mind drifted to the south. The Franks were coming. They were bringing knights, faith, and fury.