Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: From Primitive Era Chieftain to Space Age Emperor
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The Whirlwind Tribe began preparations for war.
While steadily sending scouts to the enemies, they first reinforced their cavalry forces.
With the development of iron-bronze, various combat weapons would change, but it brought truly remarkable improvements to the cavalry.
They started by redesigning the stirrups, carving oak into hollow ovals, wrapping them in leather, and then thinly slicing iron-bronze plates to encircle them like rings.
Combining the wood's elasticity with the metal rim greatly enhanced stability.
At the joints, they hammered copper rivets in diagonally to create thin work-hardened layers.
The upper ring of the stirrup was heated iron-bronze, bent into a U-shape while soft, and tightly sewn shut with leather straps.
Until now, even with stirrups developed, mobility had been shaky due to weak tension strength.
That was inevitable in an era without metal.
However, with these reinforced stirrups, the limits on maintaining balance vanished, making it possible for riders to stand while in motion.
This alone meant a boost in accuracy for mounted archers.
Metal development enabled one more thing: horseshoes.
In an era without developed roads, horseshoes might seem like overkill, but if they could be made, fitting them would be advantageous for long-distance maneuvers.
In human history, horseshoes appeared in the early 10th century.
Definitely overkill, but since they could liquify iron-bronze for casting, molds allowed custom production.
On soft ground, reasons for horseshoes included avoiding stone bruises.
Horses normally didn't need shoes for everyday use—they only sprinted like that in danger.
Without pure iron, they adopted thin crescent-shaped plates fitted around the hoof.
They carved small grooves at four points based on the hoof's angle, drove iron-bronze nails in diagonally, and on the final strike, flattened the nail heads to resist bending.
There would be more frequent replacements compared to pure iron, but no one could argue it wasn't far better than nothing.
They also refurbished bits, chest straps, and girths.
With metal rings, buckles, and pins, they anticipated improved horse mobility and precise control.
Meanwhile, Red Rock selected women with strong bones and trained them, but without compensation, top performance was impossible, so they offered the following benefits.
1. Exclude those pregnant or within one month post-birth from training and all labor.
2. Extra rations.
3. Latest-model houses.
4. Exemption from all duties upon population growth.
Inevitably.
If women weren't involved from the start of civilization, discrimination would arise, squandering chances for rapid growth.
Women were people too—intelligent beings—and there was no reason not to utilize them in the primitive era.
But there was a problem.
Red Rock, in charge of training, grumbled in frustration.
"Stifling! They're so fragile—how can they be warriors!?"
"I said they're not the main force. Auxiliaries. Train them at half strength."
"They can't even keep up with that."
"Then quarter strength."
"...Got it."
I needed to scout myself too, but first, I finished the crossbow design, produced one, and planned to pass on the technology.
But the design process was tough from the start.
I racked my brain to recall everything, but making a powerful crossbow required delving into complexities.
With technical limits, they had to settle for a simpler approach.
No steel springs for the bolt, so composite prod.
Thin oak core, thin horn plates on the front, sinew bundles on the back, fixed with glue.
Iron-bronze caps wrapped the ends to prevent cracks, and a center ring prevented twisting.
With the prod arched and gradually bent while drying, the horn compressed while the sinew gained tension and repulsion.
The stock was yew carved into a cross shape.
A shallow V-groove on the top for the bolt, with a thin bone plate on the wrist guard.
Trigger was a simple lever.
Cocking the string for a bolt was impossible by women's strength alone, so they made belt hooks and two types of foot stirrups for distribution.
It was a basic crossbow, but recent bow production had reached a level where they could produce strong bowstrings.
Once bolts were made, it was complete.
They thought the initial prototype would take a day, but it required significant skill and trial-and-error.
By pouring in the engineers, they finished in three days—proof that once a technology advanced, progress steepened.
"Everyone, good work!"
"Shouldn't we test the power now?"
Quick Hand prodded.
Engineer instinct—he wanted to demo the power right away.
*
At dusk.
The first human crossbow demonstration was held in the city square.
I demonstrated slowly loading the crossbow.
The women auxiliaries watched intently, but the male warriors observed closely too.
During war, hanging a loaded crossbow on the horse and firing even one shot in a pinch would deliver serious power.
I loaded with the hook and fired at a log.
Thung!
Thwack!
As expected, accuracy wasn't great, but it buried deep into the wood.
Cheers erupted simultaneously.
"Incredible!"
"Women can fight too!"
The warriors weren't fools—they instantly grasped the crossbow's value.
Slow reload?
No matter.
If 200 auxiliaries loaded up and volley-fired even once at the enemy, it would unleash tremendous power.
Or crossfire like musketeers.
Tactics were up to how they were used.
This time, I had the auxiliaries pick up crossbows.
Using the belt hook as I had.
Foot in the stirrup, pull with thighs and hips to cock.
Awkward at first, as expected.
But watching them load, there was clear room for improvement with practice.
"There's a sight there. Not precise, but way better than eyeballing."
Align sight with target and fire.
Thung!
Thwack!
The women were startled by the unexpected power.
"No way..."
"Is this the auxiliary power the chieftain mentioned!?"
"Exactly."
"With auxiliaries alone, we could sweep the enemies!"
That was true.
In an era without proper arrows, crossbows would be devastating.
Crossbows weren't omnipotent, but plenty of room for improvement.
As metallurgy advanced, mechanical crossbows would surely come one day.
The women looked somewhat relieved.
Mastering such a weapon meant they'd rarely face slaughter in war.
Eagle's Eye shouted excitedly.
"Great Whirlwind!"
"Uoo!"
I calmed the tribesfolk.
"Produce and distribute per blueprints. Tomorrow, commanders scout with me."
"Got it!"
*
My house was at the northern end of the city.
While the whole city developed, this area felt empty—intentional, as I planned a palace here someday.
Residents: three.
No luxury of maids yet.
Me, White Flame, and Wise Flower living together.
Lately, nights sometimes felt scary.
Alternating nightly squeezes, but now they often teamed up(?), turning those into near-death ordeals.
Irrefutable justification.
"We haven't given up yet."
"Right. Whirlwind must have heirs. When the city grows and expands, won't blood kin be needed?"
"......"
Perfect logic.
Today was a squeeze day with both, blending bliss and mortal peril before a brief rest.
"Huu."
Sometimes I missed cigarettes.
After six rounds total, half-dead, White Flame asked.
"Whirlwind. Are women warriors truly necessary?"
"Of course. Women are human resources too."
"Then I want to lead them."
"White Flame?"
"You've always said leaders must set examples. Shouldn't your first consort embody that word 'example' you love?"
"Well, yes."
"If second consort Wise Flower assists as advisor, it'd be the perfect example."
Noblesse oblige, maybe?
Such thoughts before power even bloomed?
For a moment, I wondered if this was right.
What queen went to war personally?
Extremely rare historically.
Set that precedent, and all future consorts might end up on battlefields.
"Hmm. That's..."
"Whirlwind. If you as top leader uphold duty, we must too. Who'd follow a cowardly ruler? One day, we might lose control of those 200 women."
Something smacked me in the head.
Even appointing Wise Flower as women warriors' captain, I'd resisted sending consorts to war due to preconceptions.
Ancient civilizations rarely sent women to battlefields.
Ancient kings venturing out was passive; employing women forces was no different.
In the end, I lost on principle.
"Alright."
"Good! I'll train starting tomorrow. And one more thing."
"...?"
"We haven't abandoned having children. We'll set the 'example' for all women and definitely produce Whirlwind's child!"
"What!?"
I had no idea why the conversation swerved there.