The alliance military commanders stationed in Suez were busy every day.

This was because the situation had completely changed from what they had expected when first ordered to deploy to Suez.

—With both the Mamluks and Spain weakened, consider it like going on a vacation.

As the high-ranking officials had said, initially it felt almost like a retreat. But it wasn’t a demotion. Despite being weakened, Mamluk cavalry occasionally caused disturbances, and thieves from desert tribes required attention as well.

Therefore, among the alliance military commanders stationed in the Suez region, Suez was evaluated as follows:

—The best place to increase one’s value while having fun and just paying a little attention.

However, these commanders’ “sweet time” disappeared when the Empire began constructing a fortress.

Watching the Empire’s fortress gradually take shape, the alliance military commanders acknowledged its utility while pondering methods to breach it.

—We now live in a world where cannons have become central to warfare. Traditional walls are like barn doors before cannons.

—If our country’s fortresses were modified in this way, their defensive capabilities would be strengthened.

Having reached this conclusion, the alliance military commanders each sent lengthy reports to their home countries without the knowledge of other commanders, including relevant sketches, other information, and their own assessments.

And sooner than expected, replies from their home countries arrived.

—Secure and submit as much detailed information as possible.

—Identify and report on the reactions of other alliance countries.

The alliance military commanders who received these orders from their home countries sighed.

“Whew~. The good days are gone.”

***

The alliance home countries were not merely sitting idle either.

“We must acknowledge their superiority in defense.”

“We too must reconstruct as many of our fortresses as possible in this manner, or at the very least, the fortresses we absolutely must protect.”

Having reached this conclusion, the alliance countries began busily reconstructing their fortresses.

This was a natural choice.

France, having fought the Hundred Years’ War with England and now in an uncomfortable relationship with Spain.

Portugal, similarly growling at Spain.

Florence, experiencing large and small armed conflicts with other city-states.

The Ottoman Empire, enthusiastically expanding its territory but increasingly facing the need for defensive fortifications.

All the alliance countries needed superior defensive facilities.

Consequently, based on the reports and sketches sent by the Suez commanders, the alliance countries began reconstructing their fortresses.

France began reconstructing the Paris fortress and the Bastille, Portugal its capital and central trading port Lisbon, Florence the walls of the city split by the Arno River, and the Ottoman Empire the walls of Edirne in a manner similar to the Empire’s style.

***

As the alliance countries began reconstructing their capitals’ and major strongholds’ fortresses in the Empire’s style, neighboring countries watching this started to react.

“Why are they doing this?”

“They’re all doing this simultaneously? Why?”

Seeing the alliance countries’ movements to build new fortresses or reconstruct existing ones simultaneously, all the neighboring countries began to question “why?”

“What do they have in common?”

Analyzing the neighboring countries’ political situations and various information to solve this question, they soon found the answer.

—They are all countries that have formed an alliance.

—All these alliance countries have deep connections with the Empire.

—The fortress the Empire is building in Suez is very similar in shape to what the alliance countries are building. Judging by the timing, the alliance countries are following the Empire’s style.

Additionally, the neighboring countries’ military commanders reported to their lords:

“It’s difficult to overcome with the means we currently possess!”

Eventually, like ripples spreading out, the neighboring countries of the alliance countries also began constructing new fortresses in the style modeled after the Empire’s.

Thus began the trend of “Empire-style fortresses,” which would mark a significant chapter in European architectural history.

***

Regardless of what their home countries were doing, the alliance military commanders stationed in Suez pondered methods to breach the fortress being built by the Imperial forces.

“I think it would be difficult to even scratch it with the cannons we have now.”

At the Ottoman military commander’s words, other alliance military commanders also nodded.

“If ordered to attack that fortress, what would be the most appropriate tactics in your opinion?”

At the French military commander’s question, the other commanders’ answers emerged simultaneously.

“Isolation.”

“Blockade.”

“Blockade.”

Though all the commanders offered the same opinion, their expressions were not bright.

“Blockade is indeed the most correct answer, but the problem is that the fortress was built anticipating this aspect as well.”

***

When the Imperial Joint Construction Corps determined the location for the fortress, they spent the most time looking for a place that satisfied two prerequisites:

—Sufficient water source.

—Close proximity to the military port to be constructed simultaneously.

To meet these conditions, the Joint Construction Corps’ engineers thoroughly searched the entire Suez Gulf and drilled dozens of holes for wells.

The result of these efforts was the fortress now entering its final completion stages.

***

“Since it supplies its own drinking water, there’s no solution to that problem. The conclusion is that the only answer is to seize the port connected to the fortress, cut off the supply route, and then let it wither.”

Nodding at the Florentine military commander’s words, the Portuguese military commander continued.

“The problem will be the Empire’s warships. Only by blocking those warships can we cut off the supply route.”

“I agree.”

“Since we don’t know much about ships, let’s call in captains and ask them.”

At the Portuguese military commander’s suggestion, all other commanders nodded.

Before long, captains of Portuguese trading vessels invited by the commanders arrived.

The captains invited to a gathering disguised as a banquet changed their expressions at the alliance military commanders’ question.

“You’re asking if we can sink the Empire’s warships?”

“That’s right.”

Having heard a definite answer, all the captains made similar expressions.

‘What kind of idiotic fools are these?’

Reading those expressions, the alliance military commanders suppressed their emotions and asked again.

“Is there something we’ve misunderstood?”

“You suddenly ask if we can sink Imperial warships, isn’t that strange? We’re getting along well, so why sink them?”

“Isn’t there such a thing as a ‘what if’?”

At the Portuguese military commander’s words, the captains’ expressions also became serious.

After organizing their thoughts briefly, the captains began to speak one by one.

“A frontal approach would certainly fail.”

“I agree. Imperial warships are not only insane in firepower but even more insane in defense.”

“To that extent?”

At the French military commander’s question, the captains nodded.

“Why do you think we wait for Imperial warships and merchant ships to depart so we can move together?”

“I briefly counted, and these madmen carry more than 50 cannons on each ship.

More than 50 cannons on a single ship! Have you ever seen all those guns firing simultaneously? You’d wet yourself just watching.”

At the captains’ words, the alliance military commanders’ faces turned ashen.

To these commanders, the captains delivered the final blow.

“Consider it the Lord’s grace that a railway is being laid from Suez to the Mediterranean. If a water route had been opened, the master of the Mediterranean would have changed.”

“Indeed! Indeed! Even now, Imperial naval officers have been asking about Africa, which is making me quite anxious!”

Suddenly, at the last captain’s words, everyone’s attention was sharply focused.

“Did you say the Land of Flowers—no, the Imperial Navy has been asking about Africa?”

“Yes. According to what I’ve heard, since Ming, which is next to the Empire, went to Africa in the past, the Empire might attempt it too. I think that’s probably why.”

As soon as he finished speaking, other captains also pretended to know.

“Ah! I heard that story too. Didn’t a eunuch serving the Ming Emperor lead a fleet to the east coast of Africa?”

“Wasn’t that just a rumor?”

“It doesn’t seem to be just a rumor. I briefly visited Ming and heard that there are records.”

“Hmm… If Ming did it, then the Empire is highly likely to do it as well.”

“And if it’s the Empire, they’ll prepare even more thoroughly.”

While the captains were engaging in lively discussion on the topic of ‘the Empire’s exploration of Africa,’ the alliance military commanders—especially the Portuguese military commander—were immersed in thought with serious expressions.

‘The Empire in Africa? The possibility is certainly high. The Empire isn’t unaware of Africa after all.’

‘How should we respond if they bypass Africa and head north? Should we open our colonial cities?’

‘No, beyond that, why? If they want to trade, there’s no need to go the long way around. What exactly are they planning?’

The alliance military commanders were even more confused after hearing unexpected information.

But their final conclusion was all the same.

‘I must inform my home country.’

***

While the alliance military commanders’ minds were becoming complicated, weapons to be deployed in the nearly completed fortress arrived in Suez.

The alliance military commanders watching cannons with thick wrappings around their barrels being unloaded wore expressions full of envy.

“As expected, cannons made of iron.”

“Iron cannons… while we still use bronze cannons.”

“Is anyone familiar with England’s attempts to make cannons from cast iron?”

“I heard they’re trying hard, but so far there’s no news of any good ones being produced.”

While exchanging rumors about cannons, the commanders’ gazes remained fixed on the weapons and soldiers being unloaded from the ships.

As they observed the weapons being unloaded, the commanders soon noticed something strange.

“Huh? Something’s odd.”

“You noticed it too?”

“You as well?”

The commanders examined the unloading cargo with faces full of questions.

For several months afterward, the Imperial Navy continued to bring weapons and soldiers to be stationed at the fortress.

Whenever an Imperial Navy ship arrived, the alliance military commanders would come to the dock and examine the unloading cargo and soldiers.

And all the commanders reached the same conclusion.

‘There are no fire carts!’

‘Omitting fire carts! What is the Empire thinking?’

The Type B fire carts introduced in the latter half of the war over Suez had left a strong impression on the alliance military commanders.

For dealing with approaching enemies, Type B fire carts were even more useful than cannons.

However, before long, the alliance military commanders discovered why there were no fire carts.

This was because unfamiliar weapons were being positioned in places where they thought fire carts should be placed.

“What is that?”

“It’s much smaller than a fire cart…”

The commanders, curious about the identity of the new weapons, immediately found the answer when familiar ammunition boxes were placed next to these mysterious weapons.

‘The Empire has improved their fire carts!’

That very day, carrier pigeons flew into the skies over Suez.

And within a few days, the alliance countries urgently dispatched messengers to Suez.

The rulers of the alliance countries who sent these messengers placed their hands on their foreheads.

“A new fire cart! These crazy Imperial bastards!”

Though they sent messengers due to military pressure, the rulers could roughly guess the answer.

If the Empire had pushed aside existing fire carts and deployed new ones, their superior performance was certain without even seeing them.

Then it was certain that the military would advocate for their adoption, which would surely return as a political and economic burden.