"Nice!" Riz was delighted. The letter from Mezorin has arrived. In his letter, King Nelson has given his permission to allow Ryntum soldiers to land at Napuna port. It was within Riz's expectation as many are waiting for his kingdom to make a move.
Immediately, he called for his Minister of War and Defence, William Geoffrey.
When William Geoffrey entered the king's office, he could sense the excitement in the air, "Your Majesty, why did you call me?"
"I have good news, William." Riz handed him the letter while a wide grin spread across his face. "King Nelson has granted us permission to use Napuna port for our mission. So, start making preparation now as we'll sending aid to Wemeywesto."
William Geoffrey's eyes lit up as he read the letter. "Does this mean, we're finally joining the war?"
Riz nodded, "Yes, it's time to get our soldiers to work. Also, we can finally test our new standard-issued rifle, RR-M303."
William Geoffrey nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will oversee the preparation of our soldiers and make sure our supplies are adequate for the journey."
Just like the king, he can't wait to see the performance of the new firing mechanism, the percussion cap. Though they did test the weapon at the testing facility, it was a controlled environment. Riz and everyone involved in weapon development knew that the battlefield was the ultimate testing ground for any weapon. The unpredictability and chaos of the battlefield couldn't be replicated in a controlled environment.
Riz leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I'll count on you, William."
William Geoffrey bowed deeply. "The army will not let you down."
....
The preparation finished rather quickly. In just twenty-four hours, the crowds of nine thousand soldiers had gathered in their new red and grey uniforms.
Each soldier wore a wool single-breasted coat with brass buttons that shone in the sunlight. Underneath the coat, the soldiers wore a simple white shirt made of cotton. As for their trousers, it was made from the same material as the coat that loosely fit their size to allow for ease of movement.
The soldiers line up in orderly lines, ready to set sail at the Bideford Port. Their presence drew the attention of the people at the port.
The crowds were thrilled to see Ryntum finally take proactive action in this war. Stories about how the founder of the House of Ryntum, Rayleigh saved the Middle Jozia by pushing the Barlians to the Eikadir region began to resurface once again.
Now, generations later, his descendant, King Rizieri, was taking on a similar task. A sense of pride swelled in their hearts as if they were integral parts of important historical events.
Aside from the soldiers, the crowds were particularly drawn to the ships docking at the port. It was unlike any ship they had ever seen before, they has no sail.
Most of the onlookers were puzzled by how it was able to move through the water. Some of the more educated members of the crowd could roughly recognize the ship's propulsion system based on the smokestack.
Shortly thereafter, the black yet lavishly decorated carriage pulled by two horses arrived at the port. It was clear as day who it belong to. The king has personally come to see them off.
As the carriage come to a stop, Riz stepped out in his royal finery. He dressed in a simple red military jacket with black trousers and polished boots. The jacket has minimal decorative designs, reflecting Reri's preference for practicality and simplicity.
A contingent of his guards cleared a path for him as he strode through the crowd, towards the assembled soldiers. He look at the soldiers before flickered his eyes to the ships.
"Your Majesty," Elric called him with a smile.
"Oh?! Elric, I'm surprised to see you guys managed to build the steamboats so quickly."
"Well, it all thanks to the enthusiasm of the people that we managed to build them quickly. The productivity increased as everyone wanted to see them realized sooner." Elric replied.
Riz nodded, "I hope you guys don't skimp on quality and safety."
Elric assured him, "Absolutely not, Your Majesty. We would never compromise the reputation of your company. We have conducted a series of tests on the steamboats to ensure their stability, speed, steering, and braking abilities. Furthermore, we performed pressure tests on the boilers and engines to detect any leaks or weaknesses."
"That's good to hear. Now tell me more about this ship." Riz asked as he pointed at them.
"This ship is seventy-three meters long and seven meters wide, with a gross tonnage of six hundred and ninety tons. It can move to a maximum speed of 18 knots and can carry nine hundred and fifty passengers. It was powered by a steam engine, a triple expansion one that we devised to improve the engine's efficiency."
Riz listened intently, nodding as Elric spoke. A tripe-expansion steam engine is commonly used in maritime applications.
Basically, the energy from the steam produced in the boiler was extracted in three stages, from a high-pressure cylinder, then enters an intermediate-pressure cylinder, to a low-pressure cylinder, before it is condensed and discharged.
It consumes less fuel but produces more power than a single-expansion steam engine.
After listening to Elric's explanation, Riz spoke briefly to the commanding officer who was in charge of leading the troops to Napuna. He then turns to face the soldiers, trying to speak some words of encouragement. His voice was steady and unwavering.
"My dear soldiers, as your King, I would like to express my gratitude for your unwavering commitment to our kingdom, leaving your loved ones behind. You're about to depart to the tremulous region of Caushilbo where most of the cities inside it have fallen into the hand of Barlia. The task ahead of you is not an easy one and some of you may not return home."
The soldiers stood at attention, their faces reflecting a mix of determination and apprehension. Riz continued, "However!! I guarantee all of you that the kingdom will take care of them for you. So, rest assured!! Go forth with courage and honour. The people here will wait for your success."
A few soldiers looked visibly moved by the king's words, their eyes becoming misty with tears. Most of them are relieved to hear that their families would be taken care of. Not only them but the people in the port were also moved by the speech.
Riz took a step back, giving an opportunity for the soldiers to bid farewell to their families.
The soldiers began to find their families amidst the sea of people. It was emotional and heart-wrenching to see the mothers hug their sons, wives clung to their husbands and children clutched onto their fathers.
Tears flowed freely. The soldiers tried to reassure their families that they would return home soon. Some of the soldiers were stoic, trying to look courageous while giving their families farewell hugs. Others openly sobbed because they might never again see their loved ones.
After ten minutes or so,
"It's time to depart!!" The commanding officer's voice boomed across the port, signalling to the soldiers that it was time to depart. With heavy hearts, they bid farewell to their families and made their way toward the waiting ships.
The sailors made the necessary preparations for departure. Once the anchor was hoisted, the steamboat's engines hummed to life, releasing plumes of smoke into the sky.
The ships slowly began to move away from the dock. As they move, gentle waves were created which rocked the boats moored at the port.
As the steamboats gain momentum, the chugging sound of their engines echoed across the water. The boats churned up the waves, leaving a trail of foamy white water.
Despite their sadness, the crowds were mesmerized by the sight of the steamboats moving away from them. For all of them, this is the first time they see the ships moving effortlessly across the water without a sail. It was a new experience to see the giant paddlewheels that churned up the water and the towering smokestacks.
The people stood in silence, eyes fixed on the boats. They were trying to memorize every detail so they could share it with their friends. Without a doubt, the ships would become a hot topic among the people for days.
As the ship became smaller and smaller until it was just a speck in the distance, disappearing into the horizon. Their loved ones are no longer within their sight.
Eventually, the crowds dispersed from the port, continuing their daily activities. And the same goes for Riz. He has no reason to stay under the intense sun any longer.
The king is not worried about his soldiers. It's not like they'll be stuck in the sea for a few days. In a few hours from now, they'll arrive at Napuna port and will immediately head to the Wemeywesto, the capital of Bagyarosia.
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