Chapter 566 — The Warhammer

"Because it is entirely 'pieced together' from existing technology, and the production line was converted directly from an agricultural machinery line," Nicholas Egg explained. "The chassis uses the General-II agricultural chassis directly; the armor is basically an iron box joined by rivets and weld points, and the existing welding platforms can be used with minor modification; the main gun is already in mass production on the munitions factory line; as for the other internal devices... they require no great technical sophistication."

Gao Xi slowly nodded; what the iron-sphere being said was indeed only to be expected.

He had set his heart on building a tank, and at first it had seemed a goal beyond reach—but once the arcanomechanical carriage was built, the light railgun built, and the various agricultural machines successfully developed, the foundations for the tank had, without anyone noticing, been laid complete.

Even in Earth's history, the first tank had, it seemed, been "scratched together" in just this way—ready-made technologies pieced and hammered into shape.

This rough prototype before him might one day evolve into something sophisticated and advanced, but for now it really was just an iron shell over a tractor chassis, with a cannon mounted on the shell—as simple as that...

Yet something as simple as this was already enough to meet the challenges Cecil would face next—and beyond Cecil's borders... it was "sophisticated and advanced" enough as well.

"Once the final tests are done, begin mass production at once; before next summer, build as many as you can," Gao Yang said to Nicholas Egg, then turned to Philip on the other side. "Select soldiers with a high aptitude for arcanomechanical operation and driving; the task of training the first batch of tank crew is yours."

After Nicholas Egg and Philip each acknowledged their orders, Gao Yang looked to Hedy: "You are in charge of approving the budget."

Hedy: "...Yes."

Cecil's chief steward was ready to weep—so this was why she had been dragged out at dawn to look at "agricultural machinery": to approve a budget.

But after that brief moment of despair, Hedy still sensed something urgent and profound in Gao Song's manner: "Ancestor, do you believe the crisis... will break out within a year?"

"That is the worst case," Gao Yan nodded. "It is already summer—judging by the temper of the capital's nobles, they should just about be done with their wrangling."

Hedy looked into Gao Song's eyes and slowly nodded.

By the Ancestor's earliest estimate, at the latest by this summer the nobles of Anseth would reach consensus on repairing the Grand Wall—not because their efficiency could truly be calculated so precisely, but because the situation would decide it.

They had to finish all their wrangling and deliberation in the first half of summer in order to guarantee enough manpower and resources to organize in autumn, select suitable representatives, and follow the elves to the Barrier to begin the repair work. Drag it out too long and the weather would turn cold; setting out would then cost more, and in the cold winter every task would grow harder. If the party, in the harsh environment near the Grand Wall, could not establish safe shelter camps in time because of construction difficulties, then the losses they might face and the price of a failed project were more than any single family could bear.

"Whether or not they finally bring this 'old man' out of retirement to represent Anseth in repairing the Barrier, the Anseth civil war will pause for the duration of the repair work—but they will not pause for long. Repairing and reinforcing the Barrier will take roughly one to three years; once that problem is solved, with all their worries behind them, the civil war will restart at once, and... it will be all the more ferocious for it. Every bottom line and every shred of face will be torn away. By then, if Cecil wants to stay out of it, keep its head down developing, and profit from both sides... I fear that will no longer be so easy."

Here Gao Yang paused, then continued: "So we must make ready as early as possible. Counting the engineering corps' travel time, the Barrier may be repaired as early as the latter part of next autumn, and the 'safety margin' left to us will not extend beyond next summer—once weapons and equipment are produced, it takes time for troops to adapt and shake them down."

Listening to this plan, which calculated almost every step precisely, Hedy could not help biting her lip: "Will things really unfold the way you estimate?"

"Most of the time, plans are wrong. Reality will always outrun your expectations—just like on the battlefield. You may have drawn up a dozen contingency plans, but when the war actually breaks out, it still comes down to the commanders improvising on the spot, or even just charging in blind," Gao Rong said, rising to his feet and looking at Hetty. "But a good decision-maker will still make plans. At the very least, with a plan we have something to do, don't we?"

Gao Yang knew full well that his analysis of the situation was just that—analysis. Even with Gao Yang Cecil's experience, with the experience of the satellite spirit, with the experience of his past life, he could not guarantee that his analysis was accurate. But as he had told Hetty, at the very least... there had to be a plan.

Hetty lowered her head, her tone solemn. "Yes, I understand."

Gao Yan nodded, then turned toward the prototype war chariot, his voice lifting with evident pleasure. "Well then, next let us give this cold, hard, hulking brute a name—"

Every pair of eyes turned to him with anticipation, and he looked the steel-built war chariot up and down.

The squarely squared armor, the rigid lines, the plain and solid silhouette, the railgun extending in a dead straight line...

Honestly, it really did look like a hammer.

"We'll call it the Warhammer—the Warhammer Type I main battle tank."