Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Everyone was talking about how the Tanilia Federation's shameful surprise attack had dealt a heavy blow to the Vineta Navy, but most people did not understand just how great the loss to the Vineta Navy was. In contrast, the Vineta Navy quickly assembled a fleet for retaliation so large that many, including Winters, felt "the Navy seemed to have hardly suffered a scratch."

It was not until this moment that Winters truly realized the extent of the Navy's loss. The Navy was merely putting on a brave front; they had even incorporated coastal ships into the fleet meant for a long-distance sea expedition, with sailors and officers on the galleons enduring harsh living conditions.

"It seems the Tanilians have truly struck a vital blow..."

Cage, however, was unwilling to show weakness in front of the Army. He cheered up and said spiritedly, "No worries, the men are still there. If the ships are gone, we'll just build more. Out with the old, in with the new, it's time to build new ships."

Winters nodded, but the thought of the revenge expedition grew dimmer in his heart.

——Cut——

Not only along the coast of the Senas Sea, even when looking at the entire world, there were very few ports that could supply a fleet as large as the Vineta retaliation fleet.

There were about four hundred small towns in the Vineta Republic, each with around a thousand residents, and fifty-eight mid-sized cities with around five thousand inhabitants. But there were only nine towns with more than ten thousand residents, each one a historically significant and well-known stronghold. Including the suburban population, Sea Blue City had about seventy thousand people, making it one of the most prosperous cities on the continent.

The fleet consisted of forty-three large ships and more than twenty small vessels, carrying over twenty thousand sailors, soldiers, and officers—effectively, the population of an entire city floating at sea.

Only a few major ports like Sea Blue Port and Golden Harbor could dock so many ships at once. The residents of most harbors were not as numerous as those of the fleet, and they could only offer limited fresh water and food.

Lighthouse Port could not accommodate so many people at once, and its docks were not large enough. It would take two days for everyone to disembark at Lighthouse Port, and an equal amount of time to get back on the ships.

In the Navy's original plan, only the twelve antiquated galleys with poor self-sufficiency and tough conditions could dock and rest for a day.

Since the large sailing warships and requisitioned merchant ships carried enough supplies to sail continuously for more than a month, these vessels would remain at anchor off the coast without going ashore.

But just as Winters and Cage returned to The Glorious on a small boat, Rear Admiral Nalesho, who was in charge of commanding the entire fleet, suddenly discovered that the Navy's headquarters had not consulted the Army when developing this plan.

The sailors could endure the cramped and poor conditions on the ships for a long time, but the more than five thousand Army soldiers of the Third Legion might not be so tolerant. Especially since many of them were suffering from seasickness and seeing Navy personnel going ashore while they could not, it was inevitable that they would feel resentful.

"That's how it is, General Serviati." Rear Admiral Nalesho sought out the highest-ranking man in the Third Legion and explained the fleet's actual situation to him truthfully.

"Just call me by my name, Admiral Nalesho," Antonio said with a polite smile.

The gray-templed Rear Admiral leaned forward anxiously and said to Antonio, "Please trust me, I had absolutely no intention of treating your side differently. It's truly out of necessity. Some of the old galleys don't even have a cargo hold; the sailors only have their personal provisions, so they must go ashore to resupply. If any Army officers want to rest ashore, I can send small boats to take you there. I will stay on the ship myself, and as long as there is one Army 'Gentleman' who does not disembark, I will not disembark. The other naval men on the warships will also stay on board. Would that be acceptable?"

Action and reaction between the Vineta Navy and Army had always been confrontational, and the Navy Rear Admiral had already mentally prepared himself, expecting to be drenched with verbal spittle. But to his surprise, he found that the Army Major General across from him had set aside the Army's domineering demeanor and had become understanding and reasonable.

Antonio reached out and grabbed Admiral Nalesho's arm, saying earnestly, "Admiral Nalesho, there's no need for concern. In the face of a great battle, we must be united and forbearing. Since such are the actual needs, you need not consider what the Army might think. My opinion is that of the Third Legion. I have no objections, and the Third Legion will not either."

Rear Admiral Nalesho grasped Antonio's hand with joy and nodded his agreement again and again.

However, Antonio suddenly changed his tone and said, "I do have one small suggestion."

The smile on the lips of the Navy Rear Admiral sagged. He thought to himself: So, this is where he was waiting for me. Expecting the Army to be forgiving was indeed a mistake.

Antonio seemed oblivious to Nalesho's change in mood, earnestly voicing his proposal, "The Vineta Army and Navy are going their separate ways, Your Excellency must be very clear about this. The Army has one chain of command, the Navy another. The result is what we have now, the Navy treats the Army like cargo on a ship, and the Army sees the Navy as mere transport vessels."

"And then?" Nalesho asked with a level tone.

"But my soldiers can also defect from the ships, and your sailors can take to the land. We should establish a joint command for wartime, uniting the two chains of command into one. This is how we can maximize our fighting force. Military actions should not be mixed with political disputes; we must do our utmost to secure victory for Vineta. The Tanilia Federation has hundreds of islands, both big and small, totaling up to a population of several hundred thousand, definitively not the feeble structure that the parliament imagines it to be. If we act separately, we'll give the Federation the chance they're looking for."

"And then?" Nalesho, unmoved, asked coldly, "A joint command that can direct my ships and your troops. Would this joint command be led by your Army or by our Navy?"

"Establishing a joint command is to resolve the discrepancies between the Army and Navy; it's pointless if we continue to quibble." Antonio paused, then said sincerely, "If Your Excellency agrees, I am willing to follow your orders and have you serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the joint command!"

...

Nalesho's aide had been waiting outside Antonio's cabin and, seeing the Navy Rear Admiral come out, he hurriedly asked, "Did the Army disrespect you? Why... Why would you be so accommodating?"

Without a word, Nalesho paced back to his own cabin.

The aide, who had accompanied Nalesho for many years, followed behind, becoming more irritated as he thought, muttering under his breath, "You shouldn't be so courteous; the uncouth soldiers of the Army respect force, not kindness. Why let them disembark at all? Next time I will... "

Nalesho gestured with his hand, signaling his aide to stop, and the aide wisely closed his mouth.

The Navy Rear Admiral slowly sat down in a chair, supporting his knee, and took off his hat, saying with some emotion, "You're mistaken, I was mistaken... There are Gentlemen in the Army after all."

——End——

After the Revenge Fleet arrived at Golden Harbor, an officer from The Glorious read a joint letter drafted by both Generals to all the fleet's personnel—regardless of Army or Navy affiliation.

The letter mainly spoke of three things:

First, it clarified to all sailors the fleet's current situation and the insufficient mooring space at Golden Harbor, announcing that only twelve galleys would be docked for supplies, while other vessels must anchor offshore. It also declared that at any port unable to accommodate the fleet, the galleys will still be resupplied first, with no further notice.

This was a plan initially devised by the Navy.

Second, the Generals thanked all the officers and soldiers of the Army and Navy for their resilience and determination, many of whom had endured poor living conditions and still fulfilled their duties. Though the large ships could not dock, small boats could still transport supplies and personnel in limited quantities. The Generals decided to draw lots for twelve individuals from each vessel to go ashore for a day of rest as a reward. This drawing of lots would also occur at other ports in the future without any separate announcement.

This was a solution offered by Antonio, the Major General of the Army, who said, "Hope must be given to people. With hope, one can persevere."

However, neither of these points shocked the officers as much as the third.

Navy Rear Admiral Nalesho and Army Major General Serviati announced the establishment of a joint command committee. The command of the Fleet and the Third Corps had been transferred to the joint command committee. All military actions against the Tanilia Federation will henceforth be the responsibility of the joint command committee, effective immediately.

The committee was comprised of three voting members, with Nalesho and Antonio each occupying one seat. Both Generals had sent messengers back to the Vineta Military Committee, with the third member to be appointed by the Group of Thirteen.

Army and Navy officers alike were stunned by the news: What, we're all one family now?