I Reincarnated as a Prince Who Revolutionized the Kingdom-Chapter 16: Overseeing the Progress

November 1st, 1689 – Loretto, Training Grounds

Prince Bruno de Elysea stepped onto the hard-packed dirt of the training grounds, his polished boots crunching softly underfoot.

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Before him stood a formation of 500 men, their ranks perfectly aligned. Each soldier wore the standard-issue uniform of the Elysean army, and carried a standard-issue muskets.

The army was meant to be 1,000 strong, but logistical delays had limited the availability of weapons, as blacksmiths and craftsmen worked tirelessly to fulfill the demand. Still, the discipline in the soldiers' posture and the intensity in their eyes was enough to draw a faint nod of approval from Bruno.

General Berthold approached briskly, his boots stirring dust as he came to stand beside the prince. He saluted crisply, his stern face betraying no sign of fatigue despite weeks of overseeing the troops' training.

"Your Highness," Berthold greeted. "The men are assembled and ready for inspection."

Bruno scanned the lines of soldiers, his gaze sharp and evaluative. He stepped closer, observing the steadiness in their stances, the resolve etched into their expressions. Though fewer in number than intended, the men before him radiated readiness.

"They look disciplined," Bruno remarked, his tone neutral but approving. "Though I understand the shortage of weaponry persists."

Berthold inclined his head. "Yes, Your Highness. The blacksmiths and craftsmen are working around the clock, but production remains slower than expected. We are prioritizing quality over speed to avoid any equipment failures."

Bruno nodded. "Good. I'd rather have half an army properly equipped than a full one ill-prepared. What is your assessment of their readiness, General?"

Berthold's chest swelled with pride as he answered confidently. "The men are ready, Your Highness. They've undergone rigorous drills, learned formation tactics, and are adept with the weapons we have so far. Morale is high, and discipline is holding firm."

Bruno turned to face him directly, his piercing gaze locking onto the general. "They'll need that discipline, General. On December 1st, we will march on the rebel base. I want this force to be sharp, unyielding, and prepared to crush their operations entirely. Can I rely on them to deliver?"

Berthold straightened further, his tone firm. "Without question, Your Highness. They will not falter. Are we going to stick with the plan that you have drawn?"

Bruno nodded. "That's still the best plan we can draw given with our limited resources and time."

Berthold inclined his head, his expression resolute. "Understood, Your Highness. We will focus on perfecting the execution of the plan during the remaining weeks. The officers are well-informed, and the men are showing promise in their drills."

Bruno nodded before leaving the area.

***

Thirty minutes later, he visited the alchemy workshop which is just five blocks away from the blacksmith workshop where the weapons are being manufactured.

"Your Highness...I didn't expect you'd visit so soon," Elias greeted him with a bow.

"At ease Elias," Bruno said.

Elias straightened, his hands still dusted with residue from his latest experiment. The alchemy workshop was bustling, its shelves lined with vials of various substances, and the air heavy with the scent of sulfur and ammonia.

The rhythmic hum of machinery filled the room, emanating from the corner where the Haber-Bosch reactor stood—a massive contraption of pipes and valves that dominated the space.

"I wanted to see the progress myself," Bruno continued, his sharp eyes scanning the workshop. "How are the operations proceeding? Have you managed to stabilize the process?"

Elias gestured toward the reactor, leading Bruno closer. "We've made significant strides, Your Highness. The reactor is running efficiently, and we've begun producing ammonia in quantities sufficient for your planned operations."

Bruno examined the machine closely, his hands clasped behind his back. The reactor hissed softly, a controlled release of pressure escaping from its valves.

"Good, ammonia production is key to ensuring we have the explosives and ammunition necessary for the campaign. How soon can we meet the required output?"

"Given the current pace, we should be able to produce enough ammonium nitrate within two weeks to arm the artillery units and provide additional reserves. However, scaling up beyond that might require additional resources and manpower."

Bruno nodded thoughtfully. "Two weeks will suffice for now. The blacksmiths and craftsmen are already under strain; we cannot afford delays on their end. Looks like after we exterminate the rebels, I'll have to increase production."

"By means of what?" Elias inquired.

"By opening more workshops and factories. We are going to industrialize this island."

Elias's eyes widened briefly at the mention of industrializing the island, but he quickly composed himself.

"A bold plan, Your Highness," he said. "Industrialization would not only enhance production but also cement Corse's strategic importance within Elysea."

Bruno nodded. "Precisely. After this campaign, I intend to reorganize Corse entirely—not just administratively but economically as well. We will no longer rely on antiquated systems. The island will become a hub of progress."

"And it will be an honor to be a part of it..." Elias paused as he noticed Bruno walking over to the completed batch of ammonium nitrate.

"Elias."

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"I want to do a test. I need enough ammonium nitrate to breach the gate of a fortified rebel stronghold. Something powerful enough to destroy both reinforced wood and iron."

"How much do you need, Your Highness?"

Bruno crossed his arms, thinking through the details of the intelligence reports. "The gate is approximately 3 meters tall, 2 meters wide, and 20 centimeters thick. Reinforced wood with iron bars. Assuming its tensile strength is around 50 MPa for the wood and considerably higher for the iron, I estimate we'll need at least 5,000 kilojoules of energy to breach it."

The explosive energy of ammonium nitrate is approximately 3.85 MJ/kg.

Bruno began muttering aloud. "5,000 kilojoules divided by 3.85 megajoules per kilogram... that's approximately 1.3 kilograms of ammonium nitrate. Factoring inefficiencies and ensuring success, we should double that."

He raised his head, meeting Elias's gaze. "Prepare 3 kilograms of ammonium nitrate for the test."

Elias blinked, visibly impressed by Bruno's rapid computation. "Three kilograms? Understood, Your Highness."

"When would you like this prepared?"

"Immediately," Bruno replied firmly. "I want a test conducted within the next two days. I will construct a gate to match the dimensions similar to the fort the rebels are hiding."

Elias bowed deeply. "It will be done, Your Highness. I'll begin the preparations immediately."