Tyranny of Steel

News quickly spread of County Lothar's execution and the forfeiture of his lands in favor of Berengar and his Dynasty. In the year since Berengar had been reincarnated into this world, he had gone from a lowly Baron's son to the Count of Tyrol. The young man was quite satisfied with his accomplishments, and despite his grand ambitions to unify the German-speaking regions, he knew these plans could not be rushed. As such, while the rest of Germany was at war, Berengar was tasked by Duke Wilmar to protect Tyrol from potential enemy advances through the Bavarian alps, which he was more than happy to do.

Now was the time for expansion, not just in military matters but industrial, agricultural, and educational sectors as well. Thus Berengar was hard at work putting through a series of executive orders, which allowed him to bypass the rudimentary parliament he had constructed. As per usual, the parliamentary system was more symbolic than it was practical. Their practical purpose was to decrease the workload on Berengar's shoulders, while symbolically, they represented the people's interests. 

The first matter of business was to change the capital of Tyrol to Kufstein; with a stroke of a quill, the city that had been the political and economic center of the region for centuries had been shifted to Berengar's homeland. As for Industrial expansion, it was time to create a second Industrial city. Innsbruck was perfect for the role; it was nearby and maintained by a loyal member of what he considered to be his family; after all, Liutbert was his lover's brother. Thus he was practically an in-law. 

Berengar had made Liutbert the Viscount of Innsbruck and his Chancellor, at least until a time where he could expand his power and make the man a proper Count like he was born to be. As such, he tasked the man with leading the charge to reform Innsbruck's, defenses, industry, and agriculture. As for military concerns, Berengar had begun to spread his military reforms across the entire region; due to the number of men who had died in the civil war, there were not many men-at-arms left to oppose him, and those that remained would not have the guts to do so. 

Though the Lords of Tyrol were greatly outraged by the military reforms which stripped their feudal powers to raise their own forces, there was not much they could do as their armies were exhausted, and they knew the power Berengar had in his hands. As such young men of military age began being conscripted across the region and sent to Bernegar's training facilities to be indoctrinated into his military, they would undergo political indoctrination as a part of their training. It was a system designed to break down the old identity of the feudal regions among his forces, enforce the idea of a German Nation, and ensure loyalty to Berengar and his Dynasty. 

Once the lords had time to lick their wounds, they would undoubtedly prepare for rebellion; after all, the stripping of certain parts of their feudal powers was not a popular reform, even among the nobility of his own region. Though the local nobles of Kufstein had come to accept these reforms, the rest of the Tyrolean noblemen would not be so easily persuaded. Not only did Berengar have to prepare to put down a future rebellion, but he also had to prepare for the Teutonic invasion that is currently marching towards his borders. 

Speaking of which, Linde had a report in her hands, which she placed on Berengar's desk. With Berengar's return, she had resumed her position as his spymaster, but in reality, she spent most of her time looking after their child. However, at the moment, the child was with Henrietta while she informed Berengar of the latest news regarding the Teutonic Army marching on their borders.

"They have doubled their numbers through their marches. The moment they entered German territories, they began forcefully conscripted levies from the regions they passed by. Considering the majority of the Holy Roman Empire was in chaos at the moment, nobody has been able to stop them from doing so. Though the levies are not well equipped, they can be used as cannon fodder to overrun our numbers. At the rate we are currently going, we will be able to field a small division of between 10,000 - 15,000 men when they reach our borders. However, that will be less than half of the Teutonic Army's numbers by the time they enter Tyrol. Unless we resort to drafting men from the garrisons, it will be a tough battle."

Berengar contemplated Linde's words carefully; the Teutonic Army started with 10,000 men. Still, now they were at roughly 20,000 men with several more months of marching before they reached Tyrol; at the rate of their expansion, they will easily have 30,000 men by the time they arrived at his borders. However, if he transferred men from the garrisons he stationed across Tyrol, he would be inviting the Lords of Tyrol to take advantage of the crisis against him and start a rebellion, forcing him into a two-war front. He could never allow this to happen.

There were two options on Berengar's hands, lure the enemy into Kufstein, where he could use the near-impenetrable city walls to his advantage, or confront them in a field battle while being heavily outnumbered. Such a battle would be massive and would undoubtedly result in melee combat. Berengar's greatest advantage would be to field rifled muskets in large numbers and wear down the enemy forces at a distance with gunfire and artillery shells before they finally clashed. As such, he came to a decision and announced his plan to Linde.

"If we withdraw forces from our garrisons to increase our field army, the result would be an unmitigated disaster. Therefore I will confront the Teutonic Army in the field with as many men as we can muster."

Though Linde feared this would be the option Berengar would take, deep down, she knew he would never hide behind Kufstein's walls while the Teutonic Order ravaged his land. She merely sighed as she listened to Berengar as he explained his plans.

"I will increase the conversion and production of 1417/18 Rifled Muskets and will seek to draw the enemy forces to an area whose terrain gives me an advantage. With this, we have a much higher chance of defeating the enemy. Inform the spies to continue monitoring the Teutonic forces; I want to know about any potential growth as quickly as possible."

Linde nodded her head in response and smiled

"Of course, master, anything for you!"

With that said, Linde was dismissed, and Berengar returned to the pile of work on his hands. After returning to a mountain of paperwork, he greatly missed the days of battle where he was free to act as he pleased. Nevertheless, a Count's work was never finished, and Tyrol greatly needed agricultural industrial, and economic reforms. As such, he quickly got back to signing executive orders that would one day transform Tyrol into the seat of power of the future German Empire.