Munitions Empire

Chapter 12: 12 Brunas' workshop

Soon, after having eaten the food they brought on the carriage, Old Roger, who saw Tang Mo and Wes come out of The Earl's Mansion, approached Tang Mo and asked with some nervousness, "How did it go? Did it work out?"

He didn't expect Tang Mo to come out so soon, so he thought Tang Mo had failed again. But soon, Tang Mo's reply made him overjoyed: "It's settled, we're heading back to Brunas right now! Production starts tonight."

"That's... really great." Old Roger excitedly punched his own palm, and then saw... a large group of people.

Yes, Earl Fisello's trusted officer Tagg was leading fifty fully armed soldiers, ten cavalrymen, along with a total of thirty carriages. The convoy was, to say the least, impressively grand.

These weren't luxury carriages that could only accommodate three or four people; they were true transport carriages that could carry ten people each.

The carriages were full of people, most of whom were looking at Tang Mo and Roger standing by the side with curious eyes.

Many carriages were also loaded with supplies including food, coal, iron ingots... In short, most of the carriages were heavily laden, and the bustling activity also drew the residents of Wolf City to join in the excitement.

Earl Fisello stood by Tang Mo's side, looking at the long line of carriages, and said to Tang Mo, "Finding so many large carriages on such short notice wasn't easy. I have done my best. There might be a shortage of food, but in a few days, when these carriages return, I will have them make another trip."

"Thank you for your support, Lord Earl! I will repay your trust with a plentiful supply of ammunition and weapons," Tang Mo said, watching carriage after carriage pass by, unable to calm his excitement.

This was the first deal he had made since coming to this world, and it was also a critically important one.

Once he returned to Brunas, everything would get better! His workshop would surpass Shireck's and become the very first "factory" in the true sense in this world!

"I am very much looking forward to it!" Earl Fisello glanced at Tang Mo and nodded.

He had no reason to worry, as Tang Mo was accompanied by his trusted officer Tagg and thirty soldiers left in Brunas. If Tang Mo still managed to slip away, then Tagg would surely become a laughingstock.

The caravan set off, a truly majestic spectacle. With so many soldiers in tow, not even the most brazen bandits would dare to target such a convoy.

Besides, there were knights bearing the wolf flag of Northern Ridge, clearly visible even from a distance as they traversed the Vicious Forest.

However, such a troop could not travel too swiftly. Tang Mo had made the journey here in just one night, but returning to Brunas would take two days and more.

It couldn't be helped, carriages could not move quickly, which is why a knight could cover three hundred miles in a day, but a military force that could advance 120 miles in a day would be described as descending like heavenly soldiers.

So, when Tang Mo returned to Brunas once again, it was already the afternoon of the third day.

As his carriage appeared at the workshop's main gate, a young apprentice with an apron hanging around his neck excitedly ran back into the workshop and loudly told everyone he passed, "The boss is back! The boss is back!"

Tang Mo jumped down from the carriage and waved to several older workers from the workshop and the apprentices following them. Then he heard their excited cheers, for they saw the carriages carrying vegetables and food just entering the workshop yard behind Tang Mo.

"I'm back! How have things been these past two days? You all haven't been slacking off, have you?" Tang Mo patted the clever little apprentice and asked with a smile.

"Of course not! I and my master made three qualified lock mechanisms! Exactly to your specifications," boasted the little apprentice proudly.

"Haha! Come boast to me when you can drill rifle barrels by yourself!" his master, a burly middle-aged man, laughed heartily upon hearing his apprentice's boast.

The master was in charge of drilling rifle barrels in the workshop, and he was very skilled, considered one of the more formidable workers there.

Gradually, the laughter quieted down as everyone saw not only the carriages transporting vegetables, but also knights bearing flags and wearing armor entering the yard.

Then followed soldiers carrying matchlock guns jumping down from the carriages, led by an officer who was directing a bunch of people in various outfits, queuing up beside the carriages with their luggage and bedding.

Noises rose and fell in confusion; Old Roger was even too busy to exchange words with the old friends in the workshop.

Wes, on the other hand, was at leisure, heading straight to the stables to check on the fine horse he had ridden there. Having been responsible for driving the carriage on the previous trip to Northern Ridge, he had to leave the horse here.

The workshop, originally with a little over a hundred people, suddenly saw an influx of an additional hundred-plus, immediately throwing the scene into chaos.

The new workers looked around curiously at their new living environment, while some were helping the soldiers carry all kinds of supplies from under the wagons.

Baskets of coal were lifted from the wagons and haphazardly piled in the yard, alongside messy sacks that contained various bottles and jars of alchemical materials that Tang Mo had purchased in Wolf City.

Tang Mo wanted to experiment with smokeless gunpowder, so he had procured some chemical reagents and experimental flasks and the like.

Chemistry isn't quite like mechanical engineering, where you just need the blueprints and the corresponding materials to make it work. Chemistry requires experimentation, so Tang Mo could only grope his way forward.

He wanted to quickly produce smokeless gunpowder so he could completely crush the complacent Shireck Consortium in the fields of cannon and rifle technology.

Once his weapons were the only ones that could sweep through the battlefield, he could become the undisputed King of Arms in this world.

Tang Mo didn't know if there were other transmigrators like him who could create weapons far beyond their time, but he felt he should forge ahead and inject new energy into this world in his own way!

Watching the yard grow increasingly noisy, Tang Mo felt he should do something to end the chaos. He shouted at Roger, "Roger! Clean out those unoccupied dormitories, four to a room... let them find familiar people to bunk with."

He needed to arrange accommodations for these workers who had come from afar to ensure they could work for him with peace of mind in the coming days.

The workshop had over two hundred workers and apprentices at its peak, so there was enough space here.

In this era, workers didn't have any kind of union organization, and their private lives were squeezed to almost nothing. Most of them lived in the factory all year round, and those who had families could only afford to go home for a day each month.

For local laborers, it wasn't so bad, but for those who worked in other places, it was quite miserable. Many times, after being away from home for over five years, they finally saved enough money to return in prosperity just to find their child had turned three...

While issuing orders, he pointed at the wagons full of vegetables, "Have the soldiers help; take the vegetables and grain to the cafeteria! Tell Aunt Cui Xi to prepare a good dinner, treat everyone!"

"Understood!" A plump woman who looked to weigh about 200 pounds beamed with a smile and affirmed, "Yes!", before going to tend to her vegetables and grain.

Meanwhile, Tang Mo continued to command everyone, "Tagg! Take care of the money matters for now... Roger! Hey! Roger! Sorry, let Boris take them to the dormitories!

And later, you and Tagg distribute this month's pay to everyone!"

"No problem," Tagg, dressed in the bright yellow military uniform of Leite Kingdom, immediately responded.

Then Tang Mo continued speaking to Tagg, "The remaining money will be mostly used for purchasing raw materials; leather from Northern Ridge, timber, coal, steel, and even bristles—I need it all! Have these returning knights relay to Lord Earl that we can offset the bill with these goods, either way, I want them."

Tagg nodded slightly again and promised, "Alright, I will have them convey this to the Earl after they return."

He approved of Tang Mo's approach to buying raw materials in abundance because that was the sign and process of a workshop that wanted to expand its production.

If Tang Mo was only distributing money, he would doubt Tang Mo, worrying that he might deceive the Earl and run away with the funds.

Now, by converting as much gold as possible into materials, Tang Mo wouldn't be likely to run away with large quantities of supplies. So, Tagg felt reassured and a smile appeared on his face.

When it came time to allocate the dormitories, Tang Mo showed an embarrassed expression, "Let your soldiers stay in the dormitories too!... It might not be enough, and if that's the case, set up tents near the open field used for target practice! Have them take turns staying in tents... I will find a good location and expand the dormitories as soon as possible. For now, they'll have to endure.

We'll give priority to the workers since our main task is production, and we have no other choice."

"There's no problem on my side. I will take care of the people I've brought," answered Tagg, who was rather indifferent, as during military campaigns, everyone used to stay in tents; seldom did anyone complain.

The soldiers he brought this time were all well-trained and fiercely loyal elites, each known by name, considered as his own trusted forces.

Watching the Dwarf engineer stagger over, Tang Mo continued, "Mathews! You will share a room with Roger! I'll give you the blueprints later, familiarize yourself with the tools and equipment here as soon as possible. We'll be starting work soon."

"Ha! I am still more eager to see your needle guns," Mathews replied, a bit car sick and thus appeared slightly groggy as if drunk, but he answered quickly, still with a strong nasal tone.

Tang Mo smiled, "You can take a look at the needle guns produced later on, but for now, we only have seven guns left here, and soon they will all be handed over to the Earl's knights!"

"Alright then! I hope you won't disappoint me," Mathews said, standing next to the disorderly line of workers.

"Rest assured! I never let people down," Tang Mo affirmed confidently and continued to busy himself directing the chaotic scene.