1603 Fall

About half a year passed after the War of the Iberian Succession – a conflict between the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Netherlands(*The United Kingdom for short from now. I’ve inherited England from my mother Mary I and inherited the Netherlands from my father Felipe II. And I’ve conquered Scotland and Ireland, also reclaimed Calais in exchange for supporting Henry IV during the French Civil War.) and the Iberian Union(*Spain and Portugal)

While the United Kingdom was winning every battle in the seas and have conquered Cuba, made every Spanish and Portuguese viceroy in Central and South America neutral or pro-United Kingdom, it already lost or in the danger of losing almost 2/3 of the Netherlands – it’s main continental territory except Calais – to France.

‘Okay. I won’t be surprised if the Regent Elizabeth – not Elizabeth I in original history, but the Queen Mother of France, Mother of Louis XIII, wife of the late Henry IV, and daughter of me and Maria(*The late princess of Austria) - the current commander of the Armée de Terre(French Army) is the reincarnation of Bonaparte Napoleon or Genghis Khan.‘

Even the famous Maurice – the Prince of Orange and my in-law – who was an excellent general that defeated the Spanish Army and led the Netherlands to independence in original history couldn’t stand a chance against her.

‘Holy sh*t. She would have been an excellent Margrave. If I had known her talent earlier, I would, never, ever have made her the Queen of France. I would have wed her with, like Philip Sidney or another high rank noble in England and would have used her as commander in this war!’

Maurice, who knelt before me, was in rags. There was no sight of him being confident like 6 months ago when he was appointed as the commander of the United Kingdom’s Army and Navy at the start of the war. The United Kingdom’s Army and mercenaries were no match for the French Army led by Elizabeth and didn’t win a single battle against her troops.

“Does it makes sense! How can you lose whenever you fight against France?”

“...I’m sorry, your majesty.”

Now, out of 17 states that make up the Netherlands, 7 states are occupied by France and 5 states are under attack from the French Army and are on the brink of falling into the claws of the Lioness – the nickname of the Regent Elizabeth. At this rate, the United Kingdom might have to give up the entire Netherlands and Calais.

‘No! Over my dead body! I won’t follow the same path as my mother, Mary I!‘

Not only English, Scottish and Irish but also Dutch have fulfilled their service toward the United Kingdom like paying taxes and serving the mandatory military service for the last 30 years and they are also my people! If I give up them now, not only the Netherlands, but Calais, and all other foreign colonies and the viceroys of Spain and Portugal whom I’ve turned to my side or made neutral in this war might switch sides.

“...It’s okay, as they always say, you can’t cry over spilled milk. Now, tell me, Prince Maurice. What’s the difference between us and the French army, except the Lioness?”

“...Our army can’t keep up with their firepower and mobility, your majesty.”

“Strange, why is that?”

“The French don’t use Arquebus. Instead, their Cuirassiers only wear breastplate and casque and are being protected by Dragoons and Musket Cohorts during the battle. Also, their muskets are the only half the size of ours and their cannons are much smaller than ours which can be pulled by pack horses. So...”

As he slurred the end of his sentences, he stared at the Minister of Defence, Philip Sidney, who is in charge of military supplies.

When I also glanced at him, Sidney shook his head and replied

“Your majesty, and Prince Maurice. How can I change all the supply system of the entire kingdom, when all soldiers currently use the same weapon made under the standard system, at once?”

“...Once? It was for 6 months! You, Philip Sidney, were taking a bribe from the guilds, and refused Maurice’s urgent request, weren’t you! And that put Maurice and his troops in deep waters till now!”

“I...I’m sorry, your majesty! P...please have mercy!”

“...I’ll discuss your punishment later. For now, that’s not important! I won’t care how much it costs and how many blacksmiths are hired! So, Minister Sidney, make our weapons lightweight just like those of French at whatever cost, right now!”

“Y, yes, your majesty!”

“Prince Maurice? I’ll entrust you another 160,000 soldiers drafted from England. Even if it costs an arm and a leg, protect and reclaim the Netherland states from France!”

“Of course, your majesty!”

At their king’s fire and fury, Sidney and Maurice knelt before him – I, Edward VII, king of the United Kingdom – and showed him respect before they left to do their job.

And 7 weeks later, new weapons were distributed to all troops of the United Kingdom’s Army and Navy. For one thing, the United Kingdom has long been on a wartime system. Also, since the United Kingdom’s industrial power has reached the top in Europe now, it was no big deal if there was no corrupt bureaucrat on the way.

(*I’ve invented the Gregorian Measurement Unit – which is equivalent to the Metric System in the original history and killed the pound/yard/inch in 1588 and spread it to entire Europe via Papal State. Also, there is 3 manufacturing complex in England now. One in Portsmouth was made in 1598, and the other two were made in Manchester and Birmingham in 1601. See the chapter 「The Death of Felipe II and Elizabeth's Ambition」, and the chapter 「Like father, like daughter」)

With the change being completed, I’ve fired Sidney from his post and appointed Walter Raleigh as the new Minister of Defence.