How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 239: Fire Chariots (2)
This was Chesapeake’s government building, so to speak. A place where the Council of Six and I held meetings and conducted official business.
Having slept for a long time in an awkward position there, my whole body was screaming in pain, so I did some simple stretching. My body recovered instantly. Wow, a body that doesn’t need to worry about scoliosis.
Anyway, I said to Raleigh while swallowing a yawn:
"There are so many things to think about. I thought it would be better to stay here rather than waste time going back."
The things to think about were obvious.
Florida.
"How much time did you predict we have left?"
"...At least a year, or more."
"Yes. With so much time, we also have a lot to prepare."
The Viceroyalty of Nueva España doesn’t have powerful enemies around it. At most, they just need to fend off petty English and French pirates and control dying indigenous peoples.
Therefore, forces numbering in the hundreds to thousands are just scattered all over a vast land , where millions live.
The military power of Nueva España will probably not be seriously inflated until other powers begin full-scale advances into America.
So even if all the regular troops of Nueva España were combined, they would be insufficient to properly attack Florida.
It will take a long time for them to properly gather their capabilities, complete invasion preparations, and start a second war.
But that...
"We also have a long way to go before we’re prepared. Isn’t that right?"
"..."
There’s too much to prepare.
There’s no way to wage war right now.
This means we have no preparation beyond the means to defend when enemies directly invade this land.
I sigh and say:
"It’s understandable that weapons are lacking. But without Spanish seamen, we don’t even have soldiers, do we? No one knows who should fight or how..."
"What? No one to fight? What do you mean by that?"
"...What?"
The person who interrupted me and asked was... um...
Of all people, it’s Oitotan.
How did that person become a council member?
...Well, he sold a lot of goods in France, and also sold everything he took to the natives, achieving numerous diplomatic successes.
He’s the only person in this land resembling a professional diplomat, and he even serves as the head of the Agricultural Knight Order.
Annoyingly, Oitotan was competent in peculiar areas. So now I’m facing him as a council member.
I sighed and said to Oitotan:
"We have many native warriors, of course. We could probably mobilize thousands. But confronting Spanish troops with their bows and spears... would be suicidal."
Of course, without machine guns, one could say the power gap between Europeans and non-Europeans isn’t that severe yet.
But what I’m talking about isn’t simply about power. The difference between stone axes and steel swords is significant, of course. But there’s an equally important issue.
"They are accustomed to waging war to annihilate opponents under a unified command, in units of thousands to tens of thousands. And they also have personnel trained solely for war."
Organization, training, things like that.
Spain, in particular, is a nation that boasts one of the largest standing armies in Europe. They can never be underestimated...
"Hmm? Don’t we have such people too?"
...Is he going to say something strange again?
Although about 20 years have passed since our first meeting, the image of Oitotan fixed in my mind is still that of the young house-poor gambling addict from the beginning.
How persuasive could the words of such a person be?
Still, thinking that I shouldn’t ignore him since he’s a council member, I rested my chin on my hand and nodded at Oitotan’s words. Oitotan excitedly said:
"We have our knight order too!"
...See? He’s saying something strange again.
"I’ve heard that knights originally referred to excellent warriors in Europe!"
"That’s true, but we only borrowed the name from there. Not for that purpose..."
"We often fight wild beasts, and we’re also skilled at riding horses because we need to cultivate large areas! Also, apprentices follow the orders of knights, knights follow the orders of captains, and captains follow the orders of the knight commander. Why can’t we fight people?"
"..."
Hmm.
It sounds plausible, but...
Um...
"So if our hundreds of knight order members advance against enemies! Driving those tractors! And defeat the enemies..."
"How exactly?"
This doesn’t seem right after all.
"Steam tractors are slow, moving at just a brisk walking pace, and they’re not easy to turn. They weren’t made to attack anything in the first place."
"But didn’t you, Mr. Nemo, drive an excavator against Spaniards?"
"That’s because it was fast and maneuverable. Even if it wasn’t made for attacking, couldn’t it be used that way?"
"..."
I thought he might present some plausible opinion, but he’s just making an absurd argument about using agricultural steam tractors in war.
No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense. How could tractors that move just slightly faster than a person walking briskly be weapons...
"A tractor unit? That’s a good idea."
"...Walter?"
...Huh?
"No, thinking about it, it’s clear. It can’t help but be good."
"What’s this all of a sudden..."
"Think about it, Mr. Nemo! What if those massive tractors moved surrounded by Lexan and iron plates on all sides?"
If we surround them with Lexan and iron plates?
Well, it would be safe from enemy attacks. But...
...
...
...
Huh?
Why can’t I think of any disadvantages?
"Imagine driving those tractors into the middle of the enemy. Is there anything better for breaking infantry formations?"
There isn’t.
"If our infantry moved behind those tractors, wouldn’t that automatically provide cover?"
That’s right too.
"Moreover, if such objects advanced at the forefront, they would naturally instill intimidation in the enemies! I understand now, Baron!"
"That’s right, Vicente!"
...Right.
Come to think of it, it seems familiar. Hmm.
"What if we attach cannons or blades to attack the enemies!"
"Eleanor, that’s a very good idea."
Ah.
That’s a tank and an armored vehicle.
Wait, there must be some limitations? Similar concepts had existed since ancient times, but they weren’t properly realized until the 20th century.
There must have been a clear reason for that... surely...
"...Power."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
Found the limitation.
Until the 20th century, there was no power source to propel such heavy vehicles on land.
But now we have it.
We made steam engines.
...
...
I turn slightly toward Oitotan.
"Amazing, Oitotan! Such insight!"
"It’s nothing."
"Thanks to you, the history of warfare is about to change!"
"It’s nothing."
"You’re a genius!"
"It’s nothing."
...His shoulders have ascended to heaven.
Apart from feeling somewhat annoyed, I was dumbfounded.
Really, is it possible?
==
"Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve conveyed everything."
"...And they still come forward to offer support?"
"Yes."
"..."
The queen sipped a beverage called coffee in front of Raleigh. Then she asked:
"It’s an absurd question, but I’ll ask since we’ve already experienced many absurd things."
"Anything, Your Majesty."
"Does the angel perhaps have the power to kill thousands of troops?"
"He has not revealed such powers to us."
"Then why? No, how?"
Yes. The question "how" should precede "why."
"This community has fewer people than Italian small states. If you draft even a few thousand, or even a few hundred, there will be few able-bodied men left in the community."
"That is correct. He is aware of this fact."
"...Does he think that alone can change the course of the war?"
Elizabeth says with a frown:
"At best, you would send a few hundred. How meaningful would that be against the thousands of troops Spain sends?"
Then Raleigh tilts his head slightly before the queen... and smiles.
"You’ll know what significance that has in a few days."
"In a few days?"
"Yes. Mr. Nemo will invite Your Majesty, and you’ll know when you come then."
"What will I... know?"
Raleigh answered:
"Overwhelming presence."
And then.
"Attach the war implements!"
"Attach the blades!"
"Activate!"
"Yes, Sir Oitotan!"
The queen saw it.
Koo-koo-koo-koo-kung!
Overwhelming presence was made of steel.
