A Peaceful Land of the Orcs (2.4)
The decision regarding the organization of the unit was conceived by Gustav himself.
In other words, Gustav Falkenhayn possessed extraordinary military talent.
Of course, he had the support of the Ministry of the Army and the General Staff of the National Army, but it was he who ultimately reviewed, decided upon, and implemented the proposals and issues they raised.
In the first place, without his abilities and accompanying competence, he would never have succeeded in rescuing the Dark Elves (though he himself, never revealing this to anyone, especially not to Dineluth, harbored a deep, unspoken regret, wondering if he could have saved more).
As for his political acumen—
One need only look at the very nation he spent approximately a hundred years building, its unprecedented fusion of races, and especially the prosperity of its capital, Wildschwein, to understand.
In civil matters, he seemed particularly knowledgeable about industrial development.
He reformed agriculture, established industries to produce iron and steel, and brought prosperity to the country.
When he first undertook reforms to the national structure a century ago, it is said that no one around him could fully comprehend his vision.
However, he began by creating several experimental fields, which would later be called agricultural trial stations, using them to demonstrate his methods. He authored agricultural texts and traveled across the nation to teach new farming techniques, irrigation methods, and land improvements.
For the Dwarves, he established industries centered on mining and steel production.
Dineluth herself was recently astonished to see the latest standardized equipment issued to her unit by the Orcsen Army: breech-loading 57mm mountain guns and 75mm dual-purpose field and mountain guns.
Not only the barrels but even the carriages were made of steel.
And not just ordinary steel.
This was the result of years of effort, as Dwarven technological research had finally succeeded in large-scale casting of a material called Morim Steel.
Among the Dark Elves, this material was used for traditional mountain knives given as coming-of-age gifts—highly valuable and precious items cherished throughout one's life.
A type of low-alloy steel, it boasted an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, far superior in strength and hardness to standard steel, and highly resistant to cold.
In Elfynd and many human nations, they were still using ordinary steel, iron, or in some cases, even bronze for cannons. The superiority in durability, range, and accuracy was obvious.
The technology and production capabilities used in weaponry serve as a direct indicator of a nation's industrial strength.
As of the year 876, Orcsen's annual pig iron production reached 1.2 million tons, with steel production hitting 900,000 tons.
Though the casting techniques for Morim Steel were classified as military secrets, civilian heavy industries also produced ample cast iron and cast steel, using them to build the nation's rail network, structures, and ships.
Efficient railways and ships enabled the transport of massive amounts of goods, unimaginable by horse-drawn methods, further enriching the nation—
However, similar agricultural and industrial revolutions were occurring around the same time in human nations. It could be said that the changes were the result of mutual influence among countries.
What set Gustav's policies apart was his proactive integration of the strengths of demon races, incorporating magic into his efforts.
For example:
The bearskin hats, regulation caps, forage caps, and sun helmets worn by high-ranking officers like Dineluth had thin metal plates affixed to their interiors, inscribed with composite magic combining catalytic cooling and airflow.
During the summer, this magic detected rising temperatures and automatically cooled the interior of the hats, greatly easing the wearer's activities.
The remarkable aspect of this magic was that, depending on its configuration, it would automatically deactivate at night when temperatures dropped, avoiding adverse effects.
More large-scale, high-performance versions of this technology were used in food storage facilities, railway freight cars, passenger cabins and cargo holds on ships, and engine compartments.
The effects were astonishingly profound.
Food preservation technology advanced, the transport capacity of goods increased, and living spaces became supremely comfortable.
In the past twenty years, as Gustav's reforms bore fruit and began to interact synergistically, even in Wildschwein, a landlocked capital deep within the continent, fresh seafood from the North Sea became readily available at ordinary market-level prices.
This was a technological innovation utterly unattainable by humans. The inscribed magic techniques required the mana of the creator to even exist.
Other similar examples existed.
In Orcsen, alongside its railway network, there was human-style telegraph technology. However, the military also selected individuals with mana to serve as personnel for magic communications and magic medical treatments.
The military’s magic communication network had been developed to the point where every battalion and larger unit had at least one dedicated channel, enabling instant communication with higher command units.
The effect was enormous.
The difference in combat effectiveness between armies that relied on messengers or telegraphs and those capable of immediate communication at the battalion level, even during field operations, was staggering.
It was said that this system was implemented to compensate for the low mobility of the Orc-dominated forces.
Magical communication was also used in civil affairs. The Orcsen Postal Ministry handled not only mail and telegraphs but also magic communication, with private individuals and businesses utilizing it to expedite commercial transactions.
The leadership that achieved all this.
The persistence.
—This individual’s talents were extraordinary.
It was as if he had seen a completely different world from theirs, possessing foresight and depth of thought that seemed almost otherworldly.
Dineluth could not help but feel a sense of awe, akin to reverence.
What do you think about this chapter?
