Kingdombuilding: All My Inventions Are Novelty

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Monti came running toward the first-class sail warship, his face tense with urgency.

Only moments earlier, Simon and Desmond had been admiring the newly launched vessel. Now, both turned toward Monti with a growing sense of unease.

As soon as Monti climbed aboard, he barely glanced at the warship.

"Your Highness, something has happened."

Simon’s expression hardened.

"What happened?"

"Fishermen from Burnham reported seeing a group of strange people while fishing offshore. Their ships look very similar to our galleons." Monti took a breath before continuing. "They fired muskets at the fishermen. Three men were wounded."

Desmond’s expression changed.

"Did they identify themselves?" He asked.

"The fishermen said the strangers were tall and had red hair. Their ships carried flags with three horizontal stripes."

"Three horizontal stripes! What colors?"

"Red on top, white in the middle, and blue at the bottom."

The moment Monti finished speaking, Desmond’s face became grim.

"Your Highness..."

He didn’t need to say more.

Simon already understood.

"It must be the Dutch."

Desmond nodded.

"It can only be them. If they have discovered Ashenford naval port, then we are in serious trouble. The Dutch just defeated Prince Valeric’s fleet. They wouldn’t sail all the way here without a reason."

Simon eyes narrowed.

The distance between Split Rock and Ashenford was roughly 1,500 kilometers. A Dutch fleet suddenly appearing near Ashenford was certainly not a coincidence; there had to be something here that interested them and Simon already had a suspicion.

"Valeric..."

He quietly repeated the name.

Duncan had told him about Prince Valeric’s meeting with the Dutch envoys. Simon still didn’t know exactly what had been discussed. But the timing was too perfect. The Dutch defeated valeric fleet, then they appeared at Ashenford; there was clearly a connection.

Simon’s thoughts moved rapidly.

Duncan had also mentioned that after defeating Valeric’s fleet, the Dutch forced him to purchase matchlock muskets from them. Previously, he had purchased firearms willingly.

This time, however, he had been forced into the deal, and if he wanted to save himself, he would naturally reveal everything he knew about Brambleford’s firearms. Especially the fact that Brambleford could produce matchlocks much more cheaply.

A merchant would never ignore such information. Neither would the Dutch.

Simon’s expression turned cold.

"So that’s it."

Desmond looked at him.

"Your Highness, Prince Valeric probably told them about our firearms."

The realization made the atmosphere aboard the ship even heavier. If the Dutch were interested in Brambleford firearms, then Ashenford was not their destination by accident.

It was their target.

Simon immediately began issuing orders.

"Send fishing boats to scout the surrounding waters. I want constant reports on the Dutch fleet’s movements. Take three warships and patrol outside the bay."

Desmond’s eyes sharpened.

"Understood."

Only three of the existing warships were equipped with cannons. The newly launched vessels were still waiting to receive their full armament, and if the Dutch somehow discovered the hidden harbor and sailed inside, those unfinished ships would have no ability to defend themselves.

To Desmond, the new warships were more than just vessels. They represented months of work by countless craftsmen and sailors; he would not allow the Dutch to destroy them.

After arranging the naval defenses, Simon’s attention shifted toward the land. He had completely lost his mood to admire the newly launched warship.

He and Monti disembarked and walked toward the shore.

"The Dutch have always maintained connections with the Red Wolf Pirate," Simon said. "They may not know this bay’s exact location, but the Red Wolf operating around Ashenford certainly do."

His expression became serious.

"We cannot take that chance. Immediately order the Ashenford army into the city. Strengthen the defenses and prepare for an attack."

Monti nodded.

Before he could answer, O’Neill spoke hesitantly.

"Your Highness..."

Simon looked at him.

O’Neill scratched his head.

"The Dutch have muskets, while most of our soldiers still use bows and swords. If they really attack us, how are we supposed to fight them?"

Simon frowned. He understood what O’Neill was really pointing at. Some generals outside Brambleford had long been unhappy about the difference in equipment between their armies and the Brambleford troops. But this was hardly the moment to discuss fairness.

"I know what you are thinking."

O’Neill immediately became nervous.

Simon continued calmly.

"It isn’t that Ashenford will never receive muskets. Brambleford’s firearm production is still limited. After the Westham troops are equipped, Ashenford will receive its share."

O’Neill s eyes brightened.

"So His Highness hasn’t forgotten us?"

Simon stared at him.

The general immediately smiled awkwardly.

"Your Highness’s wisdom is extraordinary. The Ashenford soldiers will certainly be encouraged by this news."

He quickly cupped his fists.

"I’ll gather the troops immediately."

Simon nodded.

But inside, he had no intention of allowing the Ashenford army to fight the Dutch head-on. At their current stage, there was still a considerable gap between the two sides. The Dutch possessed firearms, disciplined infantry, and battlefield experience.

While soldiers in Ashenford lacked all three advantages. Even their armor would provide only limited protection against musket fire. And without cavalry, Ashenford would have difficulty responding to a mobile enemy.

After O’Neill left, Simon turned toward Monti.

"Send someone to Brambleford immediately, tell Benjamin to dispatch Brambleford troops to Ashenford."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Monti hesitated before speaking again.

"Your Highness, Ashenford is becoming dangerous. You shouldn’t enter the city."

Simon looked at him.

"Stay here at the naval port instead. If something happens to you in Ashenford, I will be unable to explain it."

Monti’s voice became firm.

"If Your Highness insists on entering the city, I will accompany you."

Simon shook his head.

"The situation is still unclear. Don’t assume the worst."

Then he suddenly remembered something.

"Where is Burnham?" He asks.

"Burnham is in the opposite direction from the naval port. It’s about 150 km from Ashenford city." Monti replied.

Simon stopped walking. His expression changed.

"Then the Dutch fleet should be close to Ashenford by now."

The hidden naval harbor was approximately thirty km from Ashenford. Two enormous reefs stood at the entrance, forming a natural gate that concealed the harbor from ships approaching from the open sea; that concealment had been one of the reasons Simon chose this location.

But now, he could no longer assume it was safe. Because he feels the Red Wolf Pirate might know about it. And if they did, everything could change.

Monti immediately returned to Ashenford to organize the city’s defenses.

Simon remained at the naval port, he stood near the shoreline, staring toward the distant sea.

There was nothing he could do except wait, for the cannons and the reinforcements to arrive in time; the situation could still be controlled.

If they didn’t...

A year’s worth of preparation could be destroyed in a single day.

***

Night fell.

The naval port remained unusually quiet. But no one slept peacefully. Sentries were stationed along the coast, patrol boats moved through the darkness, and every distant light on the horizon was treated as a potential enemy.

Simon remained awake until dawn.

By noon the following day, a scout finally arrived.

"Your Highness!"

The soldier dismounted and hurried forward.

"Speak."

"The Dutch fleet has anchored north of Ashenford!"

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

"How many?"

"The scouts estimate roughly a thousand Dutch soldiers have landed. Wearing gray uniforms and carrying muskets. And almost two thousand Red Wolves have landed with them."

The surroundings fell silent.

Simon’s expression became heavier.

"Two thousand Red Wolf..."

The scene he had feared most had finally appeared.

The Dutch and the Red Wolf had joined forces. And they were heading straight toward Ashenford. According to the scouts, the Red Wolves were guiding the Dutch inland.

Simon stared in the direction of the city.

The colonial powers of the future rarely relied solely on their own soldiers. They often used local forces to expand their influence, allowing natives to fight and govern on their behalf.

The principle was simple. Divide, Recruit, and Control.

The same pattern was now appearing before him.

The Dutch had found willing allies among the Red Wolf. And the Red Wolves were more than happy to cooperate with a powerful foreign force if it meant gaining an advantage over their enemies.

Simon had previously heard that the Dutch maintained as many as ten thousand soldiers in the region. But seeing only a thousand Dutch soldiers here gave him another piece of information.

Perhaps their true military strength was much smaller.

He estimated that the Dutch force actually stationed in the region probably numbered no more than three thousand.

That was good news.

But it wasn’t good enough. Because the Dutch clearly intended to compensate for their limited numbers by using the Red Wolf forces.

"Four thousand..."

Simon quietly calculated the enemy’s strength.

The Ashenford army had been expanded to nearly ten thousand soldiers since construction of the naval port began. On paper, Ashenford possessed more than twice the manpower of the enemy. But numbers alone meant nothing. Four thousand soldiers equipped with muskets were a completely different opponent from four thousand men carrying swords.

Simon looked toward the distant horizon.

For the first time since arriving at Ashenford, he felt the true weight of the situation.