Chapter 190: The Steel Federation
Chapter 190: The Steel Federation
The meaning behind choosing Steel as the nation’s name was perfectly clear.
It symbolized not only a country built upon steel and its workers, but also the unyielding will and conviction of its people.
The new nation retained Newhaven’s council system.
However, with its territory greatly expanded, the number of seats on the Newhaven Council also had to increase.
On the day the nation was founded, the people of Newhaven celebrated wildly.
Thalric, on the other hand, was filled with dread.
When Newhaven controlled only a single city, it had already beaten Thalric into submission.
Now that it possessed all the territory of the Grand Concord Dynasty, the strength of the new nation was almost impossible to imagine.
Thalric trembled at the thought.
On the surface, the Thalric people called Caelum’s country the Nation of Steel.
In their hearts, they knew it would be more accurate to call it the Empire of Steel.
The council system was merely a tool that helped Caelum manage complicated affairs.
Ultimate authority still rested firmly in his hands.
Half a year after the founding of the nation, the situation had completely stabilized.
The vast number of talented people trained in Newhaven moved through the country like new gears, replacing the decayed parts of the old age one by one.
The immense machine known as the state was renewed.
Then it slowly began to turn.
Warlords throughout the south emerged soon after the Nation of Steel was established.
They were destroyed by Newhaven’s armies almost immediately.
Automatic rifles, heavy machine guns, and various forms of artillery were more than enough.
Even without bombers, the regional warlords had no chance against Newhaven’s forces.
Only death awaited them.
From that point onward, the eastern continent finally settled into peace.
Thalric lived in constant fear, worried that Caelum might one day decide to destroy them as an afterthought.
When the Grand Concord Dynasty still ruled, Thalric had been arrogant beyond measure.
Now, they were terrified of making the slightest move.
During a council meeting, one member asked, "Leader, the latest military expansion has been completed. Our total armed strength now stands at two hundred thousand. Should we begin preparing the western campaign?"
The captured expeditionary soldiers had been frightened out of their wits.
Newhaven had learned about the current state of the west without much effort.
Kingdoms filled the land.
The church stood above all.
Divine authority surpassed royal authority.
Most importantly, the expeditionary army had found no sign that black powder or flintlock muskets existed in the west.
At least, neither had appeared openly.
"There is no need to rush."
Caelum shook his head.
"Crossing the mountains on foot is too slow. Rather than waste time doing that, we should build more airships and transport our forces directly."
Besides, crossing the mountains on foot carried real danger.
The army might suffer losses without ever entering battle.
Since the west remained in the age of cold weapons, there was no reason to hurry.
A single airship could carry only a few dozen people at most.
The Nation of Steel currently possessed only five airships.
Sending such a small number of soldiers would be meaningless.
Even transporting one thousand troops would require all five airships to make several trips.
The efficiency was far too low.
"Leader, I have drafted a proposal to secure complete control over the surrounding nations. I hope you will review it."
Caelum accepted the document from one of the council members.
The entire proposal could be summarized in four words.
The Steel Federation.
Caelum approved it.
That same month, the Newhaven Council announced that the Nation of Steel would hold a military parade three months later to display its strength to every country.
All surrounding nations, large or small, were invited.
Thalric was included.
Each country sent envoys to Newhaven to observe the parade.
They were all curious about the true strength of Newhaven’s military.
How powerful did it have to be to conquer the Grand Concord Dynasty in such a short time?
When the day of the parade finally arrived, aircraft filled the sky above Newhaven.
They flew overhead and turned the distant land into a sea of flames.
Hundreds of mortars stood in perfect formation and bombarded targets two kilometers away.
The earth trembled beneath the assault.
When the envoys witnessed the terrifying display, their scalps went numb.
They could not hide the fear in their eyes.
One after another, their faces turned pale.
No wonder the army of the Grand Concord Dynasty had suffered such a crushing defeat.
Flesh and cold steel had no hope against firepower like this.
The Thalric envoy trembled slightly.
He seemed to remember the day the Thalric capital was bombed.
Although he had survived by chance, he would never forget the bodies scattered throughout the burning ruins.
After the parade, a member of the Household Guard approached the envoys.
"Gentlemen, the Leader invites you to discuss an important matter."
Only after entering the council chamber did the envoys see Caelum for the first time.
At first glance, they froze.
The man seated in the First Chair was far too young.
He looked not even thirty.
Yet this young man had risen to power in less than ten years.
First, he captured Valdren with overwhelming force.
Then he destroyed the Grand Concord Dynasty.
Along the way, he had even found time to crush Thalric.
He was a living legend.
Calling him the mightiest ruler in the history of the east would not be an exaggeration.
After seeing the power displayed during the parade, the envoys understood the truth clearly.
Even if every surrounding nation united, they would still have no chance against Newhaven.
Caelum showed no deliberate intimidation.
Even so, the envoys stood before him sweating with fear, uncertain what to do.
Caelum spoke with a smile.
"Gentlemen, I have a proposal here."
The following year, the Steel Federation was established.
The Newhaven military parade had made every surrounding nation understand the gap in strength.
They had no real choice.
They could become allies of the Nation of Steel.
Or they could become enemies.
If they chose hostility, the next invitation they received would not be to watch a military parade.
They would become the targets being bombarded during one.
The surrounding nations were too small and too poor in resources.
Conquering them would waste time and effort.
Afterward, the Nation of Steel would also need to invest resources into developing their lands.
That was hardly worthwhile.
Rather than conquer them directly, it was better to establish a federation centered upon the Nation of Steel.
The surrounding nations could join as autonomous regions.
In this way, Caelum only needed to send their people to Newhaven to learn selected knowledge and technology.
They could then return home, develop their own industries, and become part of the federation’s industrial network.
How far they developed would depend on their own ability.
If they succeeded, the industries they created would ultimately support the Nation of Steel.
Either way, the Nation of Steel would not lose.
The surrounding countries had no reason to reject such an offer.
Thus, the Steel Federation was officially established.
Through it, Caelum brought the entire eastern continent under his rule.
In the years that followed, every region of the east devoted itself to developing industry and commerce.
As the economy and industrial system became more complete and advanced, the technology and research of the Steel Federation surged forward.
One barrier after another was broken at astonishing speed.