Building a Viking Empire with Modern Industry-Chapter 182: Potential Rivals

A week had passed since Ragnar’s strategy meeting with Leif the Elder and Bishop Aethelwold.

During this time, Leif’s R&D department had fully retooled a small-scale production line for the ’Fire-Lance’ - a primitive matchlock firearm intended to be licensed to the Caliphate.

His contractors, who were assigned to demonstrate the effectiveness of the weapons, had spent some time getting accustomed to the slow-burning match cords and the measuring of powder, but for the most part, the loading procedure was standardized.

As such, Vizier Al-Hakam and Ragnar were now standing on the observation deck of the Iron Works Testing Range.

In the center of the muddy field, several wooden posts were set up, draped in heavy Frankish chainmail and padded gambesons to represent the elite cavalry of the Carolingian Empire... the potential rivals of the Caliphate.

Seeing Ragnar’s contractors rapidly load the Fire-Lances in a span of a little over 30 seconds brought a question to Al-Hakam’s mind, and thus he voiced his concerns regarding the product’s specs.

"Director, if the reload cycle is this extensive, how would I protect my investment from enemy cavalry closing the distance and engaging in a hostile takeover?"

Al-Hakam was unaware of the existence of the Socket Bayonet, and Ragnar did not plan on exporting this proprietary technology.

Thus he smiled, adjusting his top hat, as he responded to the Vizier’s inquiry.

"Ideally, you would diversify your portfolio. You place a unit of Pikemen alongside them to act as a hedge against the charge while your gunners reload.

Once they are primed and the market is favorable, you pull your pikes back to prevent asset depreciation. After the volley has liquidated the front line, you repeat the cycle."

Hearing this strategy, Al-Hakam could envision the formations in his mind and nodded his head in approval; he could not wait to see the ROI of these Fire-Lances.

Thus, after loading the weapons, the contractors aimed the heavy, smoking barrels at their targets roughly 50 yards away.

The Fire-Lance that Ragnar designed was shorter and more robust than the elegant muskets his personal guard used.

There were two reasons for this. The first being that he hated the idea of exporting his best machining techniques.

The second being that a heavier, cruder barrel was cheaper to mass-produce and harder for a foreign smith to reverse-engineer without a steam press.

The Shift Supervisor raised his signal flag and bellowed the command to the platoon of thirty men.

"Liquidation!"

Upon uttering the order, a series of cracks like splitting timber echoed in the air. Thirty lead balls were sent downrange through the smog.

The smoke from the black powder obscured the view for a moment, smelling of sulfur and progress.

After the weapons were fired, they were checked for structural integrity before being racked.

This was the first batch of export-grade hardware, and quality control was paramount.

Seeing the display from afar was an impressive sight, and Al-Hakam had a broad smile on his face, calculating the shift in the balance of power.

After the area was deemed safe by the Safety Officer, Ragnar posed a question to Al-Hakam.

"Would you like to audit the results up close?"

Al-Hakam was instantly intrigued by this offer and silently nodded his head before gathering his robes and following Ragnar down the muddy slope to the field below.

The wooden posts had been splintered, the chainmail torn asunder.

Upon closer inspection, the lead balls had thoroughly penetrated past the riveted mail, through the padding, and deep into the wood.

It was indeed an effective tool against the feudal assets of the period.

Al-Hakam was surprised by the efficiency of the weapons and no longer needed convincing regarding the acquisition. Thus he began the negotiations for the contract.

"I am thoroughly convinced such tools are superior to the composite bows of the West. Tell me, Director, what price point have you set for these assets?"

Ragnar had come up with a business plan in the past week to get the most leverage out of the Caliphate’s vast chemical resources while simultaneously appearing benevolent. Thus he decided to put on a facade of calculating a difficult margin before expressing his offer.

"Current market value would suggest fifty silver dirhams per unit, but under certain clauses, I could restructure the deal and offer you a twenty percent discount."

Al-Hakam immediately took the bait upon hearing such an offer existed.

"What clauses might those be?"

Ragnar put on a corporate smile as he answered Al-Hakam’s question.

"Since we are establishing a strategic partnership, I will place a 20% discount on each Fire-Lance exported to the Caliphate, under the condition that you supply me with Saltpeter and Sulfur at an equally discounted rate. My chemists tell me the soil of the East is rich in niter."

Ragnar’s gunpowder mills were having difficulty keeping up with the demand.

The damp climate of England was inefficient for niter beds. Knowing that the Caliphate had access to vast, arid deposits, Ragnar wanted to secure a supply chain that would fuel his expansion for decades.

Even with the 20% discount, the markup on the Fire-Lances was astronomical, and in doing so, he would secure the fuel needed to dominate the European market.

After careful deliberation, Al-Hakam spoke his thoughts on the matter.

"I can agree to such terms, Director. But in return for the raw materials, I would like the Caliphate to have ’First Refusal’ rights on future batches."

Al-Hakam began to wonder if he was too greedy with his demands, but to his surprise, Ragnar tapped his cane on the mud and nodded.

"That is acceptable. So long as the raw materials flow, the Caliphate is a Preferred Customer."

With this, a merger of interests had been made, and the two men shook hands before drafting up a formal trade agreement. Afterward, Ragnar posed an invitation to Al-Hakam.

"The shift is ending. Would you like to dine at the Governor’s Mansion tonight? My CFO has prepared a feast."

Al-Hakam saw no reason to refuse, especially since the cuisine in City Titan was surprisingly efficient.

"It would be an honor."

With that said, the two men returned to the Mansion, where they sat down at the mahogany dining table. Gyda, as per usual, took her place next to Ragnar, reviewing a ledger even as she ate.

Elfrida sat across from her, dissecting a pheasant.

As for Al-Hakam, he sat across from Ragnar, with Eadwig sulking next to him.

The boy had grown quite irritable over the last week, as Al-Hakam, an essential dignitary from the East, paid no attention to him, despite Eadwig officially being the Guildmaster of Nottingham.

Thus he was visibly scowling while picking at his food.

An action that did not go unnoticed by the others sitting at the table.

Ragnar ignored the boy; Eadwig’s influence was already being liquidated by Gyda’s agents, and he would finally be removed from the board within a few years without anyone being the wiser. Thus he just had to manage the kid’s outbursts for the time being.

Al-Hakam also ignored the boy, as he was well aware of who signed the checks in the Midlands. Thus he decided to ask Ragnar about his projections for the future.

"So, Director, now that you have restructured the Midlands and established a monopoly on the coal trade... what is your next venture?"

Ragnar drank the dark stout from his skull chalice before responding to the nobleman from the East.

"Despite the successful acquisition, large swaths of the supply chain were negatively impacted by the West Saxon sabotage. Mines flooded, rails twisted, labor dispersed. It will take a substantial capital injection to recover from such a disruption. I will spend the next few fiscal years stabilizing the infrastructure and bringing efficiency to the workforce."

Seeing that Ragnar had no immediate plans for further hostile takeovers, Al-Hakam sighed in relief.

At the rate Ragnar’s Brand was growing, one day he could potentially be a competitor to the Caliphate, and it was better to foster a joint venture than a trade war.

As such, Al-Hakam broke a piece of bread before asking another question on his mind.

"I hear you are trying to implement many radical bylaws. Do you not fear a strike by the nobility of England? Or greater yet, a cartel of your neighbors forming against you?"

However, Ragnar’s answer greatly surpassed his imagination.

Ragnar had a calm, maybe even predatory smile on his face as he set down his chalice.

After wiping his mouth with a napkin, he responded as if discussing the weather.

"Of course! Those stuck in the feudal economy will never fully embrace the free market; they will inevitably try to short-sell my stock. In fact, many of the Thanes throughout not only Mercia but also Northumbria are currently plotting a breach of contract as we speak. Yet, I do not fear this litigation. Instead, I welcome it."

Ragnar leaned forward, the gaslight reflecting off his monocle.

"A market correction is overdue. When the ’Old Money’ finally bears its fangs, I will be prepared to liquidate their estates. A Great Audit is coming, Al-Hakam. And when the dust settles, the Iron Empire will hold the monopoly."

Al-Hakam and Eadwig alike were shocked by this answer.

Ragnar was fully expecting a civil war, and he was already preparing the severance packages.

The man clearly had foresight, but what was even more frightening was that he welcomed the rebellion so that he would be able to legally seize their assets.

After hearing such a bold statement, Al-Hakam felt like he should not question the mind of the Iron Father and quickly got back to eating his food.

Eadwig, on the other hand, looked as pale as a sheet of parchment, as if he finally realized he had appointed a shark as his Trustee.

As for Gyda and Elfrida, they were merely enjoying their meal. They were well accustomed to Ragnar’s proclamations of grand strategy and the ruthlessness he would employ to achieve them.

"Pass the salt, dear," Gyda said calmly, not looking up from her ledger.